Night Owl Cards

I've made some sort of attempt to collect a current set ever since I returned to modern cards in 2006. Even during years when I didn't like the flagship Topps brand, I either focused on another current set or made a half-hearted attempt to collect flagship. But I feel myself doing none of that in 2016. Sets that I have collected enthusiastically in the recent past -- Allen & Ginter and Stadium Club -- will get no more than token treatment. Heritage, the only set with promise, sabotages itself with shortprints every year. (I will still buy periodic packs because pack opening is the essence of the hobby). As I take greater control of what I want to collect, I've already sensed that I am placing greater attention on vintage and the quirky corners of this hobby. And that's coming out in what I buy and apparently in what I write about -- because others seem to be noticing it, too. In the last week or two I've been hit with card packages with the overriding t...

I recently received a package from Tony of Off-Hiatus Baseball Cards , who is about the only man I know who writes baseball card blog posts as long as I do. Something he sent made me stop for a moment, and as usual, do a little research. But first, the most important thing: the Dodgers he sent. Let's look at them in all of their splendor:  This completes the 2014 Bowman Dodgers team set for me ... I think - one never knows with Bowman. And here's an extra blue parallel of Guerrero since he might get DFA'd soon because for some reason the Dodgers feel compelled to have Carl Crawford play for them again. Speaking of Carl, this card completes the silver foil version of the Dodgers' Chasing History insert set for me. There were way too many Dodgers in this set. Stuff like this almost convinces me to start collecting Colorado Rockies instead of Dodgers. Life would be so much simpler. Depressing, but simpler. I have an unhealthy n...

I still get emails from people periodically asking me for advice on how to run a blog. No, not Hope Solo , although she could learn a thing or two from me, but from regular card-collecting people. Some want to know how to get started, or how to get trades going, or how to get some interaction. My advice is simple and nothing no one else hasn't said already: you just have to be yourself, write about what you like, and maybe most of all: get out there. How does one "get out there"? Well, like I said, you have to be yourself and write what you like. Don't write things on your blog that you don't believe or don't interest you. There is a temptation to do that if all you're looking for are readers or comments. But it won't end well. Write often. Yes, that takes time and none of us have time. But like anything in life, you get what you put in. Writing often not only attracts readers and keeps you in their very active and busy lives, but it makes y...