Night Owl Cards

   Like several other bloggers I received a nice care package from Bob of the best bubble a couple of weeks ago.   I'm just getting to it because -- yes, life has reared its ugly head again. But also it took me a number of days to figure out exactly what I had once I spilled the contents. Lots of oddball stuff and other items I don't come across every day.   I'll separate these into "STUFF I KNOW," "STUFF I FIGURED OUT" and "STUFF I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS".     * STUFF I KNOW*   Yes, I know this is a 1996 Finest card. I have it already. But I've suckered myself into collecting both the cards with the coating intact and the ones with it removed. I need help.     A 2013 Gypsy Queen mini of former Dodgers reliever Paco Rodriguez. 2013 was the year for Paco Rodriguez cards. Rodriguez last pitched in the majors 11 years ago and he's now 35. We're all old.       Another Dover reprint card for the collection of one of my pre-war...

   What would you say collectors who aren't bloggers think of us collecting bloggers, if they think about us at all?   Would they think we're wildly dedicated to the hobby? Probably not. But we are.   Would they think we're wasting our time, writing a bunch of words nobody has time to read anymore? Maybe.   Would they think we're stodgy, focused only on old cardboard (defined as anything before the '90s) and traditional ways of collecting -- buying packs, holding on to base cards. Some would, I think.   But I happen to think that card bloggers have the most varied and interesting collections. Sure, there's a bit of pack rat in all of us collecting bloggers, but those hoarded stacks of cards are so damn fascinating. In this world of specialization -- just take a look at what the grading aspect of the hobby focuses on -- I'm glad my collection is eclectic. It's not as eclectic as some but it's more eclectic than most.   All I need to do is look through...

  It was a very uneventful and quiet Christmas this year. Not a lot to boast about as far as gifts go.   Unlike last year and the last few years, my sister-in-law did not get me any cards. I'm assuming she couldn't find any under the current Fanatics landscape because she always tries her best to get some for me. She did get me a Target gift card but there's nothing online to buy right now as far as 2025 product unless I want to pony up for a hobby box. (I won't bother checking the store in town).   I've yet to receive all my gifts so perhaps there's something card-like in the near future. But I won't pout about it because right before the holiday hit, I received a couple Christmas wishes that came with cards from both The Best Bubble and Too Many Verlanders .   They get it and it sure is appreciated. I'll show off the cards from The Best Bubble first.     Right before snapping pictures of these cards for this post, the Best Bubble cards slipped out of ...