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Pocket card produces desired results



Sometimes it feels like I'm traveling on a different wave length than a lot of card bloggers. I guess that's what makes life interesting.

An example:

Almost two years ago now, the phenomenon of "wallet card" swept the nation ... er, the nation's card blogs. I got caught up in the hysteria, too, but then I realized "wallet card" wasn't doing what I wanted it to do.

For many, "wallet card" was an opportunity to take their chosen wallet resident out on a tour and take photos of the card in various places. At least one blogger is still doing this. Then again, he lives in a place where there is a lot to see.

But that's not what I wanted to get out of wallet card. Instead, I wanted to re-create the damage that I achieved as a child when I loved a card so much that I carried it around with me.


Like this card. This is one of two Dodger cards from the 1975 set (the other was Steve Yeager) that I carried around with me for a period in my pocket.

Of course, as a 9-year-old, I didn't have a wallet. And that was the problem with wallet card -- it just couldn't reproduce the loving damage of a card stored in the pocket of a kid in Toughskins on the playground.

Wallets are very adult. They're created to keep things neat and tidy. They produce neat and tidy damage.

And, that's why I invented "pocket card" for 2016.

Nobody paid pocket card much mind. Probably because I mentioned it only briefly in passing at the end of a post. But I was serious about it. I was going to put that Panini Donruss Mike Piazza card, up at the top of this post, in my pocket and see if could create some natural '70s style wear-and-tear.

The card went in the pocket where it could absorb the most damage in the shortest span of time -- my left front pocket. That way it could get mixed in with car keys and spare change. ... I know, kids don't have car keys and spare change. But consider those the rocks and spare M&Ms of the adult world. Same dif.

The Piazza card went in my pocket in mid-July and emerged for good this past weekend.

Here is how it looks now:


THIS!

THIS is what I was wanted. A cool worn card as if I had rolled around on the playground with it for a couple of weeks, but in 2016 in the pocket of a grown man!

Here is the back:


Yup, pocket card had achieved its mission in a mere two months time.

In fact it had done so well that I noticed something while I was at work on Saturday.

I had gone back to the break area and stared at the vending machine (I don't buy much from it anymore, I just stare at it and think about what I used to eat). I reached casually into my left pocket and pulled out pocket card.

I noticed a new development. It was as if the cardboard had shifted. I took ahold of an end and it peeled back ever so easily -- just like taking blue tape off of a team bag full of cards.

The card was now two cards:


Jackpot!

You know, as a kid I always wondered how they put baseball cards together. I never had the heart to peel one apart then. Of course, I figured out the baseball card production model long ago, but pocket card had gone the extra mile.

I was so gleeful about this development -- really, I was -- that I returned pocket card Piazza to my pocket. I'm not even sure why. All that's left is for the card to disintegrate.

But I'm not ready to let go of my childhood just yet.

Comments

Jeremya1um said…
The back reminds me of the back of some of my 1990 Donruss cards I had as a kid.
Unknown said…
Getting there, but missing the ever important fading. Leave it in the back window of your car for a few weeks. ~cardsplitter
Chris said…
Part of me read this and thought "Nooooo! Stop! Why?" But as I read to the end I realized what you were trying to accomplish - and you nailed it. Great job!
Matt said…
Never thought of trying pocket card. I did wallet card and forgot my card was in there til the other day. Damage was done.

I think hat card should be next. For those who wear hats all of the time. Or I guess we could call it #sweatcard
CaptKirk42 said…
I too am on a different wave length from most of the card blogging blogiverse (blogaverse? Blogsphere?) I never got into the wallet card thing partly because I didn't want to damage yet another card in my collection, and two I wouldn't be able to decide which card to use. Also I would have to had decided on a card super fast to make the time period it was intended for. If I recall the original "wallet card" experiment was only intended for a year. For me the card would have to have some kind of special meaning. My view is still the same I don't feel like sacrificing a card. Also (another also yeah bad writing skills) I would feel very awkward pulling a card out of my wallet and taking a picture of it.
Anonymous said…
I really like the pocket card look. I'll continue to use this method on my late '80s Topps cards.
defgav said…
That card looks great!

I also have a Coaster Card that I put beverage cans on at work. It's a (facedown) 91 Donruss Benito Santiago and is still in decent shape despite being in use for several months now. But it's more a case of finding a useful purpose for junkwax than an experiment with wear & tear.