Little this, little that

 

My first COMC order of the year came in today. I've settled into averaging out to two COMC orders a year. It used to be more than that, but there are more options now and also COMC prices have been unreasonable in many cases for several years, so I've been forced to comparison shop.

 

My first order of the year is usually smaller than the one that often shows up in the fall. But both orders usually show how scattered my interests are. I read stories about collectors working on some super-focused, often highly unattainable pursuit and only that pursuit. Every time, I am filled with feelings of admiration/envy (wish I could do that) mixed with feelings of relief (glad I chase more than one thing!).

 

This order is very much this-and-that. It took almost exactly a month to show up, which is fine, though I was expecting earlier based on the lightening speed from several months ago.

 

 

One of the first items I put in my cart were the last two Dodgers I needed from 2024 Stadium Club. Per usual, I suspect certain Stadium Club cards are short-printed every year, though they are not labeled as such. This year one of them seemed to be the Jackie Robinson with its unnatural colorization. Glad to be done with this team set. Per usual, the SC inserts don't interest me, and this year's color parallels make me recoil, especially those pink-medicine ones.

 

 

Just two Kershaws this time around, I'm done chasing the TCDB player collectors. The Bowman Platinum card on the left is a long overdue arrival from 2020. The 2024 Mystical insert is the base version -- one of those deals where I had one of the parallels but not the base, and ooh, that's irritating. Also, yes, this is the first time I noticed that the card contains a panda wearing a propeller hat and apparently licking a lollipop, and also a tiger. I am obviously missing something.

 

 

So I'll move on to the goofy that I understand! It's been awhile since I've done anything with my beloved Wacky Packages. I focused on a few originals from the first year, 1973, of which I have very few. I remember the Gyppy pop sticker from my childhood very well. A parody of one of the core memories of being a kid in the 1970s??? Gimme. All three of these are great. Can't wait to pursue some more.

 

 

More kid nostalgia. Heritage did a good job about three years ago of adding '70s players in some of its inserts in the high numbers series. It still does that, though not as well lately. So I've been going after the 2022 Heritage insert cards. I may chase other years, too. But right now I need to come off that high of being able to add a new John Mayberry card to my collection for like the first time since 1983 (yes I have his recent A&G card).

 

 

Probably should've added more than a single Dell Stamp Dodger, considering how many I need. But they're so flimsy for the prices asked and there's like 30 stamps per team. So Willie Crawford has to do for now.

 

 

A few Maury Wills cards from the start of this century. Someone -- probably Heavy J Studios -- turned me on to how cheap many of Wills' cards are. I knew that already, just needed a reminder. So here are some newbies.

 

 

 Obligatory Heritage insert catch-up. After landing the Kershaw NP from 2018 Heritage, the discovery that I didn't have the other two Dodgers in the set was, for once, swiftly resolved.

 

 

 Here is where I probably should have focused more of my energies this time around, but I think subconsciously I'm trying to keep this 1969 Topps chase going because I'm gonna be sad when it's finished. All three of these are upgrades and I just upgraded my upgrade list (heh) and there are only five more upgrades to do! There are also eight other cards I need, which is still the major challenge.

 

 

This was another early addition to the COMC cart. There are two different 1970s TCMA sets devoted to the 1941 Dodgers -- one of the most under-the-radar Dodger World Series teams. You can tell by the look of the cards here that there are two distinct sets (but both very '70s). The two cards on the right are from the 1973 set and the other four are from the 1978 one.

 

The two '73 cards are "Hot Potato" Hamlin and Lew Riggs. I have so much more work to do here. I'm doing better with the '78 set with just over halfway (and the Cookie card landed!). But it's also a large set -- 43 cards! I regret I wasn't five years older and aware enough to order the full set out of the TCMA Advertiser, it would have saved so much leg work.

 

Here are two more TCMA needs, both of Jim Gilliam.. The card of the left is from the 1979 1950s set and the other one is from the 1980 1959 Dodgers set. More than halfway on both sets -- need to focus, focus, focus!!!

 

 

Here is another set that I wouldn't mind trying to chase til the end of my days. Landing 1977 OPC cards are so much fun. The bottom two are different from their Topps counterparts. The top card is a second card as one is in the Dodger binder already.

 

 

There is always randomness within the randomness -- usually related to the Dodgers. I like picking up cheap Chad Billingsley cards and any Albert Pujols Dodger card. The Paul Shuey wraps up the 2003 Topps Total team set. The Davey Lopes is a nice add from that pesky 2005 Rookie Cup set with all its numbered color parallels. Prices are still a pain but it's nice no one remembers Lopes ... wait, maybe that's not good.

 

 

 And finally Lopes' infield mate. No, this is not some rare blank back or Venezuelan card. It's your common variety 1977 Topps card of The Penguin.

 

I was going through my team binder several weeks ago when I realized that each copy of this card that I own has some sort of condition issue.

 

 

 Those are all of them. The top two and the one on the left are each from the team binder. The top two cards are nicked and scuffed with some fuzzy corners. The bottom left card has a crease in the upper corner. The card at the bottom right is from my '77 binder, and it's still got a light crease at the bottom and a bent corner.

 

None of these are major issues in my collection but this is a central card of my all-time favorite player, I should at least own a semi-pristine version of this card!

 

So now I do.

 

And now the COMC order for the halfway point of the year is done. Per usual, this means updating several different binders and collections -- all of which will be a joy.

 

Imagine if I had to update only one binder or box. Then what would I do?