Catching up with the post the other day in which I pleaded to folks to take some of my Dodgers dupes -- your requests have been noted.
I'll gather what I have for specific player interests (Jeremy doesn't know it until right now, but I sent an envelope to him Friday). Chris Johnson and Brett Alan are throwing caution to the wind and willing to take whatever cards I want out of the house.
So, speaking of post-office trips, I stopped by before work Friday. There was no line and I was out of there with a little time to kill before going into the office. I decided to stop at Walgreen's on the way for a couple of items.
I've mentioned before that Walgreen's is one of those drug stores on my list of offending outlets who either don't sell cards or make things difficult. Walgreen's has made things difficult. Its cards for the last four years are in a locked glass box, way back where the toys are, far away from the registers. If you want cards you have to walk back all the way up, flag someone down and then trail them like a good little boy so they can unlock the cabinet. I refuse to do that. Certainly not for a hanger box of 2025 Topps.
So when I go to Walgreen's now, which is seldom, there are no card thoughts in my mind. I grabbed a package of pens I needed for work and walked to the checkout desk. In front of me was a customer who was buying the whole store. So I stood there looking around.
To my surprise, there was a stand-alone display to my right with -- what's this? -- trading cards? Not under lock-and-key?
I looked at what was available. There were packages displaying 2021 Topps Chrome and 2023 Topps Chrome. There were some nonsports somethings, whatever takes up half of card shows these days. And there was something called a baseball "mystery pack". I was tempted, but it cost $2 more than the Chrome packs and they were too much already at $7.99.
But I had to buy something -- this was cause for celebration! The wayward drug store has found its way!
So I picked up the 2023 Chrome. The packaging advertised two "factory sealed" packs. I assumed that meant two packs of 2023 Chrome, but that's not the way MJ Holdings rolls.
The other pack was a 12-card pack of 2024 Topps Series 2.
OK, there's not going to be much here that I need, kind of getting ripped off, but again it's cards at a drugstore.
That's the flimsy Chrome pack (why I haven't bought Chrome from a store shelf in years). Nothing exciting -- I have all the Dodgers already -- but not the worst pack.
The 2024 pack did produced a numbered card in Giancarlo Stanton, so not a complete loss (Arraez is a dupe).
That's the rest of the pack (sorry for the fuzzy image, not a lot of light today). Not a bad little pack but I have two complete sets of 2024 Topps sitting in the card room so nothing I can use except maybe for trade bait.
I am happy though that I have another card option around town for as long as Walgreen's is willing to play. I still mourn the loss of Rite-Aid around here because they sold cards a lot.
There is another drug store chain that is prominent in the region that has never sold cards in the 30-plus years I have lived here. I do not go there except when absolutely necessary. I would be stunned if I happened to walk in and see cards there (like when I spotted them at the hardware store last summer).
So, Kinney's Drugs, you're still on the list.
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