Sunday, April 15, 2012

Card Show Pickups - Clay Enjoys Building Miniature Race Cars - VROOM!!

While in Kansas City this weekend for some disappointing Royals baseball, I was able to find something good in the Independence Mall Card Show.  After going to the show for the 2nd time in the last year, the dealers were pretty much the same, even the same locations in the mall.

My main goal was to get as many 1973 cards for my set.  I went with about $25 in my pocket hoping that would get me something good considering that I am mainly down to mostly star or high # cards.  If I would have had $5 more dollars I could have walked away with the crown jewel of the set, the Mike Schmidt rookie.  While that would have been nice, the condition wasn't quite what I wanted to put into my set so I had to pass.  Now even though I had the extra $5, and condition has never been a main focus for me in collecting this set, the 2 choices were very subpar.  Instead I spent at total of $14 and got the following....

First, the horizontal cards, a Willie Stargell and some Rookie Pitchers.  One of the things about the 1973 set is their quality action photography.  Granted technology has improved, but I can just envision some guy sitting in the 8th row taking this photo with his Kodachrome Instamatic camera.


Next, we have some of the vertical cards including some of my stars that I needed.  Jim Palmer, Juan Marichal, Al Kaline, and Thurman Munson.  Lesson learned on the Munson card...never quit looking for a card just because you found it already.  I found the Munson card for a price I was willing to pay, but then when browsing through some other 73s from the same dealer, I found a card in better condition for $2 less than the original.  I think he may have been a little miffed that he lost out on that extra $2.  My gain!

I was able to find three "All-Time" leader subset cards that I needed.  Any day that I can add Hank Aaron, Cy Young, and Walter Johnson to my collection is a good day.


And finally, to the reason for the title of the blog post.  Too many times, I often forget to take some time and read the backs of the cards that I buy.  I guess it is the "rush" to get them put in their rightful spot in the binder.  It's like I think they can't wait to get to their new home.  Anyway, one back caught my way and that was of the Clay Kirby card and the Topps cartoons.  "Clay enjoys building miniature racing cars."  I can see Mr Kirby sitting in his home in December with one of those magnifying lamps painting one of his prized cars, and saying "VROOM!" when he realizes he has built another masterpiece.


Kirby would play for three different major league teams, the Padres, the Reds, and the Expos.  His career win-loss record was 75-104.  He led the NL with 20 losses in 1969.  He would then die at the young age of 43 in 1991.  Here's to Mr. Kirby.  He probably never thought he would be the inspiration to a blog post.  Kirby had a big hand in Padres lore as he almost pitched a no-hitter.  Unfortunately, a pinch hitter would be used in the 9th for Kirby as the Padres were trailing 1-0 (he had given up 5 walks but no hits). For more on this interesting Padre story, which is a MUST READ, see this article.

These 12 cards bring my 1973 want list down to 36 cards!


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Two Recent Pickups for the UD Legendary Jerseys Collection

My latest two pickups for my quest to get the complete 2000 Upper Deck Legends Legendary Jerseys insert set arrived this week.  This brings my total number of cards to 28 out of 52.  The two players are both members of the 3000 Hit Club and both members of the Hall of Fame.  One of them was a the legendary base stealer of the Cubs and Cardinals, the other a great slugger mainly the Padres and Yankees.

Here they are......
Lou Brock

Dave Winfield

On a side note, I remember buying the Sport Americana Baseball Player Address Book and I was excited to start asking for autographs.  I remember a wonderfully nice and complimentary letter to Lou Brock.  I never got a reply, and never wrote to another player again. :(

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Line Score of the Day and Opening Day at the K this Friday.

So after listening to most of the game on radio, I turned on the TV to witness the end of the Royals-A's game today.  The best line score of the year belongs to Jonathan Broxton, the new Royals closer.


Broxton (BS, 1) (L, 0-1) 0.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP

After opening the bottom of the 12th with a strikeout, Broxton saw a error by SS Alcides Escobar put a runner at 1st.  He then followed with a walk, another walk, a groundout to tie the game, a hit batter, and then another hit batter to lose the game.  Instead of ending the season opening road trip at 4-2, we now head home at 3-3.  Here is hoping the results against the Indians on Friday is a little better.

Opening Day at the K!  Home of the 2012 All Star Game.  I'll be there.

2011 Opening Day - Royals vs. Angels



Monday, April 9, 2012

Surprise Package from Crinkly Wrappers

Ted from Crinkly Wrappers responded to one of my recent posts and said he would like to send some cards my way.  Today, I got that package and did it have some great cards.  First, he sent me 28 cards to fit into my 2011 Year of Topps Insert set.  A lot of great additions including this 1959 Roger Maris Kansas City Athletics card.  I always wonder what might have been if many of those Yankee greats would have stayed with whatever Kansas City team they first played for.  I would love to put the 1973 Goose Gossage into my 73 set; however, I will have to leave that spot open until I get the "real" one.


Speaking of 1973 Topps, I found 2 high number cards included in the package including former Royal, Darrell Porter.  With these two cards, my 1973 Topps set now needs only 48 cards to be complete.


Finally, Ted sent over a bunch of Royals including the obligatory 2010 and 2011 All Star selections:  Joakim Soria and Aaron Crow.  Also included were my first Topps stickers from 2011 and 2012:  Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer.  With the All Star game in Kansas City this year, I would love for these two Royal favorites to be named to the All Star team to represent the home town team.




Thanks Ted.  To send this only a few days after the incident at your house is amazing.  If you are like me, sometimes it is the cards that gets my mind off the things I don't wish to think about.  Thanks again and best wishes to you and your family.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

1983 Topps Set COMPLETE - Thanks to Johngy and the One Card Challenge

Today, I received a package from Johngy.  The long awaited Whitey Herzog to complete my 1983 Topps Set that I started back in, well, 1983.  I posted my request on Night Owl's One Card Challenge page and within a couple of weeks arrived this wonderful card that immediately went to its rightful spot inside the 1983 Topps album.

1983 Topps Album - Page 21 - Cards #181-190

29 Years after it began, I can now set it is complete.  Thanks Johngy!