Night Owl Cards

  I feel sorry for early readers of Night Owl Cards. Back then, I'd get to Christmas and all I had to show for it as far as gifts was socks. And then they'd have to read me whine about socks . How about that for content? No wonder the views were so low. Over the years, the holiday gifts have gradually become more card-like. And the last couple of years the card-gifting has gone into hyperdrive. Last year I received an entire complete set from the year, a common Christmas gift for young collectors going back to leafing through the Sears Wish Book. But 2021 was the first time I ever experienced that. Now we're at 2022. Jackpot.   Between my wife and her sister, I landed three different blasters of current cards and what, I guess, is now a Christmas tradition of a complete set for the year! Note to self: do not open too many 2023 packs.   The key part of this is 2022 Topps is actually a set I like, unlike last year's.   Also, I specified what kind of 2022 cards I might ...

Let me tell you, the Walmart closest to me is STOCKED UP this year in the card department. I don't know what came over it. For years -- as long as this blog has been around -- Target has beaten Walmart senseless when it comes to card stocking. It's been no contest. But this year is different. Out of habit, I go to Target first, because it's the big box with the latest cards. But more often than not this year, I leave with nothing, which used to be the pattern at Walmart. Now, I'm going to Walmart, and finding what I need! Around 6:30 p.m. Friday (a terrific time to be at Walmart when you want to avoid crowds, by the way), I found a card shelf filled with 2018 product. Boxes and boxes of Allen and Ginter and Series 2 everywhere. To a lesser degree, Stadium Club and Big League and Opening Day. Some monster boxes of Chrome for $39.99. I almost missed the Archives rack packs stashed over to the side on the middle shelf. I grabbed four of them and headed for the c...