Another surprise, another set to build

So yesterday I posted about finding a 1968 Topps Bench rookie card for a smidge over the cost of a blaster box. I had thought that the Bench might be one of the last cards that would find it's way into my '68 album. In fact, I had more than once thought about putting a bid on ebay for one of those reprints but thought better of it.

That Bench (along with  '68s Clemente, Carew, Rose, and #1 Clemente leaders card which I need to get when I have some money) was in a small stack of cards that one of the employees had elsewhere. As I set the Bench aside and the other '68s, I passed a 1969 Mantle, some other '69 stars and then I saw them ... three of them to be exact in varying conditions. Surely, there must be a heavy crease, pen marks, torn back ... nope!

Again, for the cost of 2012 Topps blaster box, I picked up this cornerstone card of the 1973 Topps set. Sure, a couple of soft corners and some of that black ink seen on many a '73 card, but no way I was going to get this particular card, in this condition on ebay or COMC at this price. And with that, I begin chasing down cards from the set of my birth year. I have posted a want list to the right. In the next day or two it should be up to date as I still sifting through what I have.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Just a heads up, I have decided to put a couple sets from the 1980's together as well. 

The 1984 Topps set (and Traded set), which I favor design-wise over the 1983 issue. 

The 1986 Topps set (already have the Traded set) for it's black borders, the Red Sox magical run and then historic defeat (still can't fathom why Topps didn't do traded cards of Dave Henderson and Spike Owen), and maybe the best Topps Traded set of the 1980's. Speaking of Traded set omissions, how did Steve Carlton with an airbrushed uni not make that set? The certainly did the artwork for the 1987 Topps box panel cards. 

And lastly, the underrated 1988 Topps set ( have the Traded set). It's set that I see getting more love for it's design and it's photography. The photography in the '88 set I feel is far superior than that of the well-loved 1987 wood grain issue. The pictures seem more crisp, colorful, and I like how the players "pop up" above the team names. The Traded set isn't too shabby either. Forget about worth, but look at the players in it. Alomar, Grace, Sabo, Weiss, and Wells rookies, Kirk Gibson donning Dodger blue, Dave Parker and Don Baylor in A's green and gold, Gossage in a Cubs pullover. The USA team with Jim Abbott and Tino Martinez.

In the coming week I plan of posting those needs lists as well. Still sorting and putting things in order so please stay tuned. Hopefully someone has a stack or two they are tired of looking at and will want to trade away. Again, thank you for reading!

Random pickings of a quarter box

So this morning after dropping off my daughter at school and in between grocery shopping stops, I hit a LCS (they also carry gaming cards, comics, & video games) in Worcester that I had only been once before. It's a small card section but did manage to find a quarter box while picking up some sheets.

Below is what I picked up ...

Quite the mix going on here.

1967 Topps Dave Morehead
Why I grabbed this card? For my 1967 Red Sox Team page. Dave played a role on the '67 dream team by contributing five wins in the August–September stretch drive.
Greatest career moment? Morehead threw a 2-0, no-hitter for the Sox against Cleveland in 1965. He showed flashes of brilliance, particularly early in his career, but extended success was thwarted by arm trouble.
Interesting card note: Front pic is taken from Spring Training. Graduated from Herbert Hoover High School, the same school that produced Ted Williams.

1975 Topps Paul Lindblad
Why I grabbed this card? For my 1972–74 A's Team page. Paul picked up a win in the 1973 World Series against the Mets.
Interesting career tidbit? Lindblad would go on to finish 18th in the American League MVP voting. Guys he finished ahead of; Don Baylor, Bert Campaneris, Bobby Bonds, and Carl Yastrzemski.
Interesting card note: Front pic is taken at the Oakland Coliseum. That turnstiles were first put into use in 1878. 

1975 Topps Dave Hamilton
Why I grabbed this card? For my 1972–74 A's Team page. Paul pitched in the 1973 World Series against the Mets.
Interesting career tidbit? Traded by the Oakland Athletics with Chet Lemon to the Chicago White Sox for Stan Bahnsen and Skip Pitlock. Obviously the A's outfield could have been pretty amazing with Lemon, Rickey Henderson, and Dwayne Murphy.
Interesting card note: Front pic is taken at the Oakland Coliseum. Date of birth is 12-13-47 ... just think, in three years his birthday will be 12-13-14. That is pretty cool.

1977 Topps Tim Foli
Why I grabbed this card? For my Cycles collection. On April 21, 1976, Foli hit a single, double and triple against the Chicago Cubs before the game was suspended. When the game was resumed the next day, Foli hit a home run to complete the first cycle in Montreal Expos history.
Interesting career tidbit? Was the first overall pick (New York Mets) in the 1968 amateur draft. Was involved in trades that included Ken Singleton, and brought Rusty Staub to the Mets and was involved in a deal with the Pirates that sent Jay Buhner to the Yankees.
Interesting card note: Front pic is taken from Spring Training. Date of birth was yesterday, December 8th. Happy belated birthday Tim.

1977 Topps Lee Lacy
Why I grabbed this card? For my 1977–78 Dodgers Team page.
Interesting career tidbit? Played in four World Series' from 1974–79, where he batted a weak .231. He did earn a ring with the "We Are Family" Pirates in 1979.
Interesting card note: Front pic is taken at Candlestick Park. Had a streak in April 1975 with 24 hits in 13 games.

1986 Topps Marty Barret
Why I grabbed this card? For my 1986 Red Sox Team page.
Greatest career moment? Was the 1986 ALCS MVP, while batting a .367 clip in helping the Sox come from behind and beat the California Angels.
Interesting card note: Front pic is taken at either Tiger or Yankee Stadium. This was the first year in which Topps included the stat line for Game Winning (GW) RBI on the back of it's cards.

2010 Allen & Ginter mini Francisco Liriano
Why I grabbed this card? For my 2010 A&G mini set.
Greatest career moment? Throwing one of the ugliest no-hitters in recent memory. on May 3rd, 2011 when he threw the first complete game and shutout of his career in no-hitting the  White Sox, 1-0. He still had problems with his control, however, as he walked six batters and threw only 66 of 123 pitches for strikes, but his defense turned three double plays and a number of gems behind him.
Interesting card note: Front pic/sketch shows the patch for the final season at the Metrodome.
Card number 338, a short print.