13% on Friday the 13th

Those of you who have been hard-core team collectors for a decade or so, on average how many cards do you figure you need when you land a random lot of your team's cards?

I've never really kept track. But it's something I'd like to figure out. So I'm using a bunch of Dodgers that I received from Johnny's Trading Spot as kind of the guinea pig test case. John and I are trying to work out a deal for that John Smoltz autograph card I pulled, but in the meantime he landed about 300 random Dodgers on me.

Out of those 300 cards, I counted 40 that I needed. That comes to 13 percent.

You may have winced at that number. But I can tell you're not a veteran team collector. I am actually thrilled that I need that many. You may think that there are very few Dodger cards that I need. I don't see it that way at all. I see Dodger cards that I need every day. And they're not super fancy or old Dodger cards. They're random base cards from like 2 years ago that I need.

So 40 Dodgers I have now that I didn't have yesterday? That is success.

And it's the reason you will see all of them here tonight.

Some of these were nowhere near my radar. A late '90s promo card and players from two '90s prospect sets? They weren't even on my want lists.

Also not on my radar. A 1989 Score World Series card that I probably should have grabbed for my collection 28 years ago.

Players long forgotten and cards that don't scan well. That can only mean one thing: cards from the turn of the century!

Players shown with one team and listed with another. That's a good way to avoid my want list, no matter how hard I try to get them on there.

I have no idea what's going on with my '95 Archives want list. It claims I have all the '55 Topps-style cards already. Clearly I do not.

Parallels and inserts!!! Moss has covered the bullpen gate at Dodger Stadium!!!

This card completes the '96 Leaf Preferred Dodger set. At last something I can cross off completely. Thirteen percent AND a team set completed.

This is probably not a Dodger card, but it's too cool to leave out. Pepsi apparently produced a set in 1995 recognizing all the sports events and leagues it sponsored. This card pays tribute to the Los Angeles Pacific Coast League team in 1941.

Did you know there was a 5-by-7 card of Smokey the Bear congratulating Steve Sax on his ability to throw to first base again? The things you discover in this hobby.

Finally, these are some cards from the 1979 TCMA Stars of the '50s Dodgers set.

OK, now you've seen all of the ones John sent.

And now you've seen all 40 cards.

Or all 13 percent.

I couldn't have asked for any more than that.