That's 200

Everyone likes when they hit a collecting milestone (at least I think they do).  A certain number of posts or a blog anniversary or even something as simple as reaching a certain number of cards towards a set.  Doesn't hurt when it's a vintage set that everyone loves seeing on the blogosphere.  

On the weekend I received a couple of eBay purchases, one of them bringing the total cards in my 71-72 OPC hockey build to an even 200!  

For a couple of years I've been picking away at the set, a couple of cards here, a few cards there.  I know that this set will be the marathon of marathons since there are a trio of rookie cards that are going to break the bank.  I've readied myself to get special permission to buy those cards.

But for now, 5 cards that fit into the weekly budget will do just fine, even if George Gardner in the center of a trio of Canucks has a nicely dinged corner, but that's OK for this collector because my main goal for this set is no paper loss on the backs.  I've seen many cards over time from this set that were previously taped into binders or onto other cardboard posters, only to be removed and have paper from the back torn away.  Which is such a shame because the backs of these cards are wonderful.  

200 out of 264 cards in the binder.  A few more commons and minor stars to grab then it's off to get a lot of big names. 

Ouch

Robert

Serial Saturday #41: Two more Sakic's on the way to 1000

Inspiration struck in a couple of different ways for this post.  Naturally, the pair of serial numbered cards you're going to see shortly, but I've also been buoyed by a pair of bloggers who have recently hit the 1000 card mark for one of their player collections.

A couple of days ago P-Town Tom notified us that he hit the 1000 card mark with his Ryne Sandberg collection with this post celebrating that milestone.  Love that the card he chose from the group that put him over the top glows in the dark, well done!!

While I wasn't aware of the approaching achievement by Tom, AJ's Tino Martinez milestone was more in my radar, as I followed it on Twitter for a while as he counted down to 1000.  AJ's post notifying us all of his accomplishment with this post .  I also liked AJ's choice for 1K, as it was the silver signature parallel from the 2000 UD MVP set, long one of my favorite parallels out there.

I've been collecting Sakic cards since the early 90's, and it is one collection that I never gave up on or decided to pare down or sell.  I did go quite a long time in the early part of the 21st century without adding to it, but since I started blogging almost a decade ago, I've off and on noted the additions to the collection, which now stands at 832 cards, including these 2 serial numbered cards.

If I had a preference for this insert from the 2002-03 Rookie Update set, is that Joe Sakic should have been featured with a younger star player that might have looked up to him as a role model. Otherwise, the card for me is just fine as it's always good to add a serial numbered card to the collection. 

Artifacts is a set that should be right up my alley; serial numbered cards, colorful parallels and lots of rookie and star power.  Alas, the packs are a bit too pricey, and my luck with blasters in the past has been pretty awful for the most part, so I'm pretty much down to buying singles on the secondary market for as cheap as possible. 

Both of these cards hit the mark price wise, each was $1.99.  Maybe it's time for me to get cracking on the Sakic collection a little more on eBay if I can keep finding prices such as these...

Enjoy the hobby!!

Robert

Any excuse for a post

Yes, that's right, I'll do anything to generate another post.  I spent a portion of Tuesday evening working on the Blue Jay piles on my desk, trying to get some cards onto the spreadsheet and off of the want list.

As I was going through the box of cards I received from Kevin at The Card Papoy blog, I noticed that I was creeping towards a "milestone" of sorts. 

The Blue Jays spreadsheet that I maintain has 4 tabs.  One for cards from 77-89, one for 90-99, one for 00-09, and one for 2010-now.

The 77-89 tab has been the slowest to grow over the past few months, but finally on Tuesday I hit the 1000 card mark for that time period.  What monumental card brought me to 1000 you ask?

Yes, I know it's not one of the elite Toronto players from that decade.  It's still #1000, and with the number of cards that are still available from that time period starting to dwindle, I've got to celebrate sometime, right?

Hey, it could have been worse.   I could have put NSFW in the title and made you want to look...

thank you for the cards Kevin, there's another post to come for the box you sent me!!

thanks for reading, Robert

The votes are in, and a milestone

Another week, and another round of 16 match is complete.  To be honest, I did not expect the vote to be this close for the 59T vs 66 T match, but in an 11-9 "thriller" (the last 2 votes broke a 9-9 tie), the winner is...

1959 Topps.  I thought the '66 set would get some love, but I didn't expect the match to go down to the very end.  As always, thank you to all who voted, and I will have the tournament page updated tonight with this result.

I know that there is a blogger or 2 out there that is a fan of Russell Martin.  I've gained quite an appreciation for him while watching him play for the Pirates during 2013 & 2014.   They announced at the start of the telecast tonight that this is Martin's 1000th game behind the plate.

2013 Heritage #364

Russell earned a lot of praise for how well he handled the Pirates pitching staff last year.  The Pirates really struggled during his time on the DL this year.  He's got a few good years left in him, but I'm not sure that at age 31 he has enough time left to hit the 2000 games caught plateau, which would be quite an accomplishment for a catcher (there has only been 5 catchers to catch 2000 games in the history of MLB).

The next match for the tournament could be another lopsided affair, as 1980 Topps faces 1969.

Then again, maybe not...

thanks for reading, Robert

70 percent complete

Another milestone for the serial insanity set, cards #1046-1050 are being posted tonight, which brings the set to the 70% point.

Doesn't appear as if I'll hit the 1100 card goal by the end of the year, but thanks to those out there who gave it the ol' college try!!

Enjoy the next 5:

Card # 1046:  Jon Gaston

Serial Number:  716
26th card out of 50 for the Astros

I'm sure that the incredible 2009 season he had in the California League had something to do with this 2010 Bowman Chrome card being produced.  139 games, 35 HR, 100 RBI and 114 runs scored is a great season no matter what level of baseball you're playing in.  Unfortunately at age 27 and having only reached AA so far, it's not looking good as far as making the bigs...

Card # 1047:  Jon Lester

Serial Number:  726
35th card out of 50 for the '13 World Series Champs

Two cards in a row of guys named 'Jon'.  This Jon has had a few seasons of big league success, and reached a milestone in 2013 by winning his 100th game.  5 out of his 6 seasons as a full time starter he's won 15 or more games....not too shabby.

Card # 1048:  Cole McCurry

Serial Number:  875
21st card out of 50 for the Orioles

2nd card in this post featuring a purple bordered 2010 Bowman Chrome card.  Cole has bounced back and forth in the minors between the rotation and the bullpen, but AAA he's spent all his time in the pen with less than stellar results.  Another prospect that may be running out of time at age 28, we'll see if he gets a shot this year with the Braves...

Card # 1049:  Marco Scutaro

Serial Number:  1301
32nd card out of 50 for the Giants

Immediately when I see this card I think of GCRL...a great double play shot (sorry Mr. Votto).  I wonder if Scutaro is going to be the next "ageless wonder".  The Giants signed him to a 3 year deal before the 2013 season which will take him to the ripe old age of 40.  A full season this year should see Marco hit the 1500 mark in both games played and hits for his career.

Card # 1050:  Alfonso Soriano

Serial Number:  399
34th card out of 50 for the north siders...

I had totally forgotten that Alfonso was traded for A-Rod.  Take a look at this post and see what you think of the comparison of that trade to a more modern deal, Brandon Phillips for Miguel Cabrera (if that were to happen).  It's hard to believe that Jon Hart also took on that much money ($67 million of Rodriguez's contract after he left was still paid by Texas) and lived to tell about it...

Thanks for reading, Robert

Another 2012 goal bites the dust, my 500th post.

Post # 500 has arrived.  Boy, a lot has happened over the first 499 posts.

• I've made a lot of friends in the blogosphere and completed a lot of trades.
• I've posted quite a lot about my favorite teams (Blue Jays & Leafs), and also completed a few posts about my favorite player (Joe Sakic)
• I've run a few contests that have had some decent turnouts.
• I've had a few posts that have rang out (poor slang, I know) in the blog world (write what you want dammit...)
• I've seen a lot of new blogs start, and I've seen some veteran bloggers leave or take extended breaks away from blogging.

It's that last point that I will discuss more here on post #500.  First off, I have to say this to everyone.

I really do enjoy this.  I try to let the enjoyment I have for writing, and for our hobby, show in my writing.  Yes, I do at times get very negative and surly.  Part of that stems from the current mood that I may be in.  I am human after all.  The point I'm trying to make is that in general, this is a great hobby, and writing about it has only enhanced my enjoyment 100 times over.  There have been a select few that have even taken the time to express their appreciation for what I have written by telling me as such in an email.  That always means a lot to me, thank you.

I am also spoiled by all of you.  I can turn on my computer, head on over to blogger, and look at a myriad of blogs that cover a variety of topics, all about card collecting.  Keeps me off of the streets....

I enjoy watching new blogs start, or finding blogs that may have been writing for a couple of months already.  It's great seeing new people "come out of the woodwork" and start writing about cards.

It's also great seeing the veteran bloggers allow us a little glimpse into their lives, their histories, their interests outside of cards.  I've even seen two of my favorites allow us even deeper into their lives by sharing their health issues.  Right out there in the open, for the whole world to see.  I hope to use them as a model over my next 500 posts and expose a little more of myself to you all (don't go there......).

It's also been sad to see some of the bloggers that had been around for a while leave the blog world.  Interests change, lives change, whatever the reason, sometimes people have to move on.  To those who took the time to explain to us, the blogosphere, the reasons you were leaving, I profoundly say thank you.  Closure is good, whatever the reason. 

Now, one thing that you must know about me is that I don't stick with things over time, which is why I'm not making a big to do about 500 posts.  If you see me get to 3 years/1000 posts, you'll know that I'm truly serious about keeping this blog going. 

I hope that you will continue to read my insanity...maybe over the next 500 posts I'll be able to explain to you why this might be the best name ever to appear on a hockey card.

How many people do you know named after the highest point in the sky?

As always, thank you very much for reading, Robert

25K comes today

Just want to say thank you to all those who take the time to read my little slice of craziness.

I should hit the 25,000 page view mark sometime this morning, and your support is greatly appreciated.

Who knows, I may have to do a little something to celebrate...

Thank you all for reading!!  Robert

Milestones and millstones?

As I've said a couple of times before on the blog, I do enjoy writing.  It's a task that I've grown to really enjoy over the past several months.  The most challenging part for me sometimes is thinking of titles for posts.

The reason I chose this title today is that this is my last day on vacation, and I needed something easy to write about.  It's a pain in the ass to take pictures of cards, load them on to the laptop and then upload them to the blog (for some reason it takes forever....).

Millstone is defined as a heavy and inescapable burden.  Blogging is just the opposite for me.  It is a task that is fun and challenging at the same time.  I've enjoyed doing it for quite a while now, and can see myself continuing this blog for the foreseeable future. 

Now milestones are easier to talk about.  The month of May has shown me that even when I'm not around, I'm still around.  I hit 2,000+ page views for the 5th straight month; not too shabby for not posting for 6 days this month.  I also set a one day record for page views with 161, which for me is awesome. 

I'm also getting closer to 100 followers (I've been stuck at 98 for a while now).  As I did with 50 followers, I will run a contest once I hit 100.  What I will do, I don't know.  I plan on giving away cards (naturally), I don't have any plans to throw any cards away (not yet anyhow), and with the mixed bag of emotions regarding this years sets, I'm not sure what to give away. 

First things first, have to find two people who have been hiding under a rock to start following the blog.  Once the milestone is hit, the millstone of running the contest will be on!  Maybe if I'm lucky, by the time I get home Monday I'll be at 100....

For those of you who have plans this weekend, whether it be a long drive to visit relatives or a backyard BBQ, please whatever you do, do it safely and responsibly.

Thanks for reading, Robert