It's amazing to me how my card blogging past continues to pop up in the present, whenever it feels like, and surprise me in all kinds of wonderful ways.
If you haven't discovered this for yourself already, Robert has returned to blogging after suffering some serious health issues. I wholeheartedly wish him the best, and I was thrilled to read that he says connecting through blogging is part of his recovery!
This bit of news arrived at the end of the week that had already provided a blast from my card blogging past. On Monday or Tuesday, I received a large envelope in the mail from a reader, Nolan, who reminded me that we had communicated and traded in the past. I do remember that. I made a futile effort to find evidence on my blog or through email, but I know we connected.
I pulled the above publication out of the envelope and it drew me instantly into the 1970s. Everything about it is '70s through and through. And because of that, I was a kid again as I looked through the pages.
This "magazine" was published by Sports Stars Publishing Company, a.k.a., SSPC. You know what that means ... there are cards afoot!!
But before I get to that, let's look at what made this a magazine and therefore something I would have loved to look through as a youngster.
There are individual write-ups and stats for 44 of "baseball's top players." Since this is called "All Star Gallery," all of the starters from the 1977 All-Star Game are featured, as well as hand-picked reserves who also were named to the '77 ASG. The '77 game is the first one I remember watching so of course this is right in my zone.
Directly in my zone.
The 1977 season was a big one for The Penguin and Penguin fans. It was the year that he broke the Rose blockade and won the starting All-Star spot for the National League at third base. This write-up alone is a reason for me to own this item.
Lots of other examples, too. It's getting more difficult to find fans who remember when Lyman Bostock was a huge, upcoming star. This publication is proof.
Some great old photos within, too.
Willie Randolph's page features the famous take-out slide by the Royals' Hal McRae. A lot of you may have only seen the video, but there it is in black-and-white, as we used to say.
This publication does not contain many ads but the ones it does have are all ones I viewed with longing.
I've shown this one before -- a few times, probably. But not as many times as I viewed it in the sports publications from the late '70s. Only $12.99, you guys. Yeah, we were intrigued. Who was this Renata Galasso?
Baseball Quarterly Magazine. Remember when it was "Quarterly" and not just "Baseball Magazine"? I do and it was the greatest publication I knew, better than Sports Illustrated because it was JUST BASEBALL. I eventually did get a subscription for it and love it.
A full-page TCMA ad!! This is very familiar, the TCMA Advertiser used to come to my door. No, I never did get the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth Belt Buckle.
Viewed this particular poster ad a lot, too. It's possible this is where I ordered my Ron Cey poster that hung on my wall across from my bed for several years. P.S.: Love the fonts used in this thing.
But I've put off showing the cards for long enough, so here they are:
Yes, it's that panel of 1978 SSPC Dodgers, the ones I pined over for years until finally securing a panel a year ago.
At that time it was an easy decision to cut the panel up into individual cards. But now that I have the full panel again, still connected to the magazine, I can keep it intact! Every time I look at it, it will be as if I just pulled it off the magazine rack at the drug store in 1978.
The back cover where you could order magazines with other teams' cards. This order form explains the ways of the 1978 SSPC set a lot better than the individual cards that I've picked up over the years can. First of all, the "set" is confined to certain teams. Second, the separate "special edition" part of the order explains why the Phillies and Yankees card backs (I have the Yankees ones) are different than the cards for the other teams.
Going through that was divine. And I sure appreciate Nolan thinking of me after he found it with a box of cards he picked up.
He also included this Kal Daniels Moo-Town Snackers card that I left on my Nebulous 9 for far too long. I might have a couple too many copies now.
All in all just a wonderful day when that showed up and a wonderful day yesterday to see Robert's $30 A Week Habit blog spring to life again.
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