Staying in 1983

My email is on the blink in terms of sending photos, so I am writing and posting this from my phone, photos and all, for the first time. Let's see how this goes (I've heard wonderful things 🙄).

The other day I received an envelope from Rod of Padrographs with a single card in it. Also inside, a one word note that said, "Enjoy!"

 

OK, I will! A Tony Gwynn rookie doesn't arrive every day.

But I was confused.

 

I've recently made noise about acquiring a Tony Gwynn card from 1983, but it wasn't the Donruss card. I have maybe 40 non-Dodger 1983 Donruss cards in my collection and, sure, I think about trying to complete it someday. But I've never had a want list up for '83 Donruss in the history of this blog and it's probably going to be a good while before one ever shows up ... or I even consider completing it seriously. (Gotta do 1982 Donruss first anyway).

 

The one I really wanted is the 1983 Fleer Gwynn card. That's the one that would complete my '83 Fleer set.

 

But I'm guessing there was a bit of confusion on Rod's part. He's had a really difficult summer. I hope he's seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't imagine sending off a "just-thinking-of-you" card to someone on the other side of the country in the middle of dealing with everything he's dealing with.

 

But that's Rod. And I admit it sure is cool to have the Gwynn rookie as one of the 40 cards I own from 1983 Donruss. Maybe that's what he intended anyway. Early '80s cards that I don't have already are always cool.

Besides, it's probably good that he didn't send the 1983 Fleer Gywnn card anyway.

Because it showed up in the mail today, from Sportlots.

The 1983 Fleer set is complete!

I've now finished the first-four of Fleer, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. That was the pinnacle of Fleer as far as I'm concerned. Once 1985 hit, I totally lost track of Fleer until around 1990. But those early '80s Fleer sets are dynamite.

This blogging hobby is funny. I've owned the 1983 Topps Tony Gywnn rookie since finding it in a pack in 1983.

Then, in a matter of a few days -- almost 40 years later -- I get the other two Gwynn rookies.

 

Maybe there's hope for that '52 Robinson yet!