Night Owl Cards

Hi there!* This is just a quick post to let you know that I've finally completed the Dodgers team sets for all three years of Topps Big. Topps Big was the knock-off on Topps' mid-1950s sets, both in look and size, that was all the rage when it was first issued in 1988. The next two years, 1989 and 1990, were issued to less enthusiastic response before fizzling out. But I've mentioned this set a couple of times before. Let me just show you the complete Dodgers team sets: Here is 1988, the paint-splatter set. These guys are pretty special since most of them led the Dodgers to their most recent World Series title. Here is 1989, the alphabet flashcards set. The Dodgers team set grew in size seeing as they were the defending World Champions. And here is 1990, what I call the Ocean Pacific set, because it seems to have a surfer art vibe. This team set is filled with new big-name acquisitions that didn't pan out. Two of those disappointm...

I didn't expect May to be a month of austerity. My traditional austerity months are March, August and December. Yet, here we are, in a month in which I've barely been able to pay for vending machine chips, let alone a box of whatever Topps is inflating the price on today. This has really cut into my plans to devote this year to acquiring specific needs of mine: Dodgers, set wants and some nice items for fellow bloggers. I had also hoped to go on a spending binge specifically geared toward all of the Dodger cards I still need from 1987-93, excluding annoying parallels like tiffany sets and the like. The plans are still in place. Just delayed. Fortunately, I've gotten the word out sufficiently. This note from Jeff appeared in the mailbox the other day: This is the way to think, everyone. Please follow Jeff's example. He pays attention and that is always to be commended. Jeff is an Angels fan and frequent commenter on a couple of my blogs. He's sent m...

No doubt, the Nebulous 9 has been a tremendous way to obtain the cards that I want. If you don't have one of these things on your sidebar yet, then you're probably wondering why there are no card shows anymore and why the drug store on the corner doesn't sell cards. Kidding. But really, neanderthal, think about it. Unless you're one of those people with impossible collections, it's about as effective a tool for obtaining cards that I have ever come across. Sometimes, it can be TOO effective, which I'll demonstrate in a minute. But first, I'm showing a card from 1990 Fleer that was a former Nebulous 9 need. I am not ashamed. I hold my head up high. I admit my faults. Yes, I placed a 1990 Fleer card on the Nebulous 9 list. We can't all bust cases every day. AJ of The Lost Collector took pity and sent the single card to me out of the goodness of his own heart. Keep in mind, he's a Yankee fan. So this was epic. Still kidding. In my def...

Before you jump to any conclusions, let me just say that the "less fortunate" in this case is none other than me. OK, on with the post: I'm not sure what I expected to receive this Christmas. But I am certain about a few things: 1. I made it known that I wanted cards. 2. I write out a list every year, and I was very specific about which cards and brands I wanted. 3. I pointed out blasters during family trips to the store. 4. Several family members observed that I was much more into cards than I had been in previous years. 5. My blog isn't a secret to certain family members. Despite all of that, another Christmas has come and gone without me receiving any new cards. I'm happy with my gifts and I don't mean to sound ungrateful. But I'd be much happier if some of those gifts included cards. I admit that I am envious of some of the bloggers out there -- the ones with grandparents who find cards for them at flea markets, the nephews who receive a ...

I cannot possibly begin a post about 1976 Topps cards without opening with the debut of the famed Astros rainbow uniforms on cardboard. This was the first year that these unis appeared on cards. What a glorious mess, eh? All I can think of is "A Christmas Story" when Ralphie comes down in the bunny outfit and his father looks at him and says, "Are you happy in that?" That's what I want to ask the Astros of that era, "were you happy in that?" Hey, I was around in the '70s, but you can't blame that on me. I was just a kid. I've already scolded my mom for some of the get-ups she put me in during the '70s. Anyway, those 'Stros are part of a monster box of cards I received Thursday from Eric of the 1987 Donruss blog . It's a new blog with thoughtful posts on his favorite card set (personally, I prefer '84 or '85 Donruss). Eric's also a Dodger fan (that's right, we're multiplying ). Eric recently bought some '...