Life is a series of adjustments

 

The sooner you figure that out the easier life will get. I bet it takes people until their 30s to realize that, and many even later in life. I think I was in my 40s, and I still wonder if I know how to adjust.

Because it's not just solely being aware that life is a series adjustments but to be at one with it, to be at peace with the new development and that there will always be new developments, and LFG.

 

For example, there's card show coming up in a couple of weeks. Not only that but -- new development -- there are two card shows in essentially the same area going on at the same time.

I've had it marked on the calendar for months because shows don't come around all that often, my last one was five months ago. Why I plan stuff out anymore is beyond me, because I'm not even sure I'll go to the card show now because -- new development -- money is suddenly tight.

With new developments and adjustments popping off all over the place, it's good to have backups.

My backups come in the form of people who collect like me and send me stuff. People like Jeff at Cardboard Catastrophes.

He sent me some cards a week or so ago that is mostly stuff I will be looking for -- if and when -- I go to the card show. I do get distracted from time to time at card shows by shiny stuff and some cheap '80s find, but the main objective, the first thing on my list -- always -- is vintage.

Yes, exactly.

That's a whole bunch of the set I'm currently collecting, 1970 Topps. That's not even all of it. And, weirdly, these are all upgrades because -- here's a new development -- I'm apparently a big shot who owns more than two-thirds of the set already. Trading Card Database says it's 86.3% complete!😮😮. I am aghast.

I'm very happy to be able to upgrade many of these. That six-player leader card is a delight and suddenly my favorite leader cards are ones with at least five players on them.

But honestly I hope to do better at that potential card show selecting '70 Topps. I'd be scolding myself if I brought home that many dupes. I have a difficult time adjusting to self-selected dupes.

These three team cards are new to the collection though. Notice the pinholes on two of the three. Certainly not anything that will keep them out of the set binder but somebody had an obsession with putting all of the team cards on the bulletin board.

So dupes or not, that would be a good solid first 20 minutes at a card show. And I didn't need to spend any cash on these. I can adjust to free cards better than just about anything else.

Now for three separate cards that Jeff sent that all speak to me in their own way:

I'm not sure what kind of card this is, possibly a one-off issue. But I do have a Bobby Bragan autographed card in my collection already. The trouble with that one is he shares card space with his fellow baseball Bragans (there's a bunch). So I like this solo version.

Jeff made sure to point out the back, specifically Bragan's Fantasy Camp Highlight. At my age, I can still run and I can still swing a bat (not at anything coming at me faster than 30 mph, probably) but I can't imagine sliding into a base without paying for it for months.

Second card.

The encasing of a 1973 O-Pee-Chee Very Good checklist will never not amuse me. I know that more than a few collectors are all about complete graded sets. That's insane to me, not only unnecessarily difficult but also everything is in PLASTIC.

Grading baffles me, unless the card is known to be counterfeited or is going to land some sort of windfall. Otherwise I think collectors were brainwashed starting about 25 years ago. And people talking about which kind of holders they like best -- that gets the dog head-tilt.

I have five cards in my collection that are graded. Let's review and why they're still imprisoned:

1. 1953 Bowman Pee Wee Reese

-- The card isn't in the best of shape, it's one of the best Dodgers cards of all-time, and I'm afraid what would happen if I broke it out.

2. 1966 Topps Bart Shirley/Grant Jackson

-- The famed hoarded high-number card, I should really break it out but just haven't had the guts to do it as I spent plenty for it and what if something went wrong?

3. 1976 Kellogg's Mark Fidrych

-- Same as the previous two, except Kellogg's 3D cards are even more fragile. Not doing it for this momentous card.

4. 1955 Topps Karl Spooner

-- Someone sent me this. I have the card already, not encased. Sure, I'll keep it as is.

5. 1982 Topps Burt Hooton

-- Again, someone sent this to me and it's bizarre this card was graded -- yes, even if someone's doing the graded set thing.

I think I'm going to have to add a sixth graded card to the collection. I own the '73 OPC Dodgers checklist already, why break it out? But that probably means I'll look at releasing the Spooner. I can't have more than five graded cards.

Third card.

 

This thing is perfect.

 

It's a 1963 Jello card of The Greatest. It's been ripped off a cereal box, handled a thousand times or so, stuffed into a few pants pockets and used as a bat apparently.

 

It doesn't bother me a bit that it does not have sharp corners or that can barely read the career ERA number. If a less-loved copy landed in my lap, sure I'd replace it, but I'm not about to look for one.

 

It's funny, sometimes I care about card condition a lot and sometimes I don't care at all. Depends on the situation, I guess. 

I hope I can find cards like these if I'm lucky enough to go to that card show. And if I can't, well, I'll adjust.

Because -- new development -- there's another one the following month.

Oh, and -- another new development -- I was told yesterday there's plans for a card show ACTUALLY IN MY CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES.