Non-cards that fit naturally into my collection

 

I've said many times that I try to keep my collecting to cards. There's not enough room for extras like memorabilia and bobbleheads and various knickknacks. Besides, a lot of that stuff doesn't appeal to me.

But if you know the code, i.e. what makes me tick, then you might be able to find an "in" into my collection without throwing cardboard pictures at me.

I've got two examples.

Recently, I received an email from a blog reader, Stephen, who said a few nice words about my blog and offered up something that he thought would fit nicely into my collection.

That is a custom-made 1975 Topps-themed box. Am I tempted to pull my entire '75 Topps complete set out of its binder and throw it into this box? Yes, yes I am.

This box is 1975 through-and-through with all but the bottom panel containing a color combo from that year.

Side panels.

End panels.

 

Open the box and another '75 Topps color theme greets you.

I used a card sample at the top of the post to reflect all of the color combos used on the box.

Stephen said he started creating custom boxes to add some color and proper Topps tributes to the old, boring white storage boxes. He said the general box layout is based on the 1986 Topps factory set design (there was no factory set in 1975).

He also provided print-out pictures of his other Topps set-themed boxes, from 1970-85.

1970, 1971, 1972, 1974

1973, 1975, 1976, 1977

1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

 

1982, 1983, 1984, 1985

Now, this would be an excellent space-saving device. Imagine moving all of these sets from my binders into these boxes. A very colorful alternative!

However, I probably can't do that. I like binder-viewing too much.

I could put my 1975 Topps buyback set into this box, I wouldn't have to worry about the cards getting nicked as almost all of them are in off-condition shape. But I've also gotten kind of addicted to filling page slots in that particular quest.

So, for now, this will be a nice display item that simply screams, "this is night owl's collection!!!"

OK, the other non-card item I just received also contains a 1970s theme.

Yup, another Penguin accoutrement.

This 1978 7-Eleven Slurpee cup arrived from Jim, you know, the guy who traded me the last card I needed to finish the 1956 Topps set.

 

That write-up is a little painful. But very '70s!

The cup is now displayed on a shelf in my card room that contains items like this. They're mostly Ron Cey items because he's about the only player for which I'll accept stuff like this. The Penguin's my limit.

 

Most -- not all -- of my non-card Cey collectibles.

So there you are on this fine holiday weekend (it's just a regular weekend off for me, back to work tomorrow). Nothing too hardcore and super carefree ... just like the 1970s.