Night Owl Cards

Back when bipping was all the rage, I got bipped about seven or eight times. The most of one single card I received was 64 1990 Donruss Diamond King Bryn Smith cards. At the time, that was considered epic . Ha, ha, who in their right mind collected 64 of the same card of Bryn Smith? People couldn't get over it. But that was the tail end of bipping. For the most part, peace settled over the card land and has reigned for the last five years or so. If you see a bipping nowadays it's quickly snuffed out and reported to authorities. We are living in a society here. This is pretty much understood by everyone who operates a card blog or reads one. We have made progress. We have evolved. We moved on from bipping to bitching about squirrels on cards, to bitching about online exclusives, to tweeting about trades, to tweeting about fake digital cards of Star Wars characters. This is evolution, everyone! We can't go back! So, please tell me what the hell is this: I am n...

Merry Christmas all! Can you see me on this card? I'm standing on the red present there. I hope everyone has a pleasant holiday, receives all the cards that they desire, and I promise not to get jealous if you do. I thought that today on this festive occasion, I'd show some cards sent to me that either arrived today, on Christmas Eve, or that showed up with season's greetings. As usual, you people are so much more on top of things than I am. I have cards that I meant to mail a week-and-a-half ago still sitting in the same spot I placed them with the greatest of intentions. But still, even with my pokey habits, I can provide some helpful hints about sending cards at Christmas. So let's see some of them: 1. DO: Send cards with an actual Christmas card. That's what Duff of Bleedin' Brown and Gold  did. He sent the Christmas card you see up top. I didn't expect anything from him at all. He was planning to send some of those Surf team books to me ...

I received a very nice package in the mail about a week ago from Mariner1 of Emerald City Diamond Gems . He helped with a few Dodger/set needs, which you'll see later. But also in the package was this: That's nine 1981 Topps Terry Forster cards. Actually, I think I missed one. There were 10 in the package. As a veteran bippee, I looked around for the confirmation note. The "ha, ha, you got bipped, sucker" note. I didn't find one. So, I'm confused. Was this a bipping or not? Don't leaving me hanging. I have received packages in the past in which there were more than 6 or 7 of the same card without an accompanying note, but that was before the whole bipping epidemic. Now that bipping his officially passe, I'm wondering if Mariner1 executed a stealth bipping. Maybe he didn't leave a note so he could bip with impunity. Very clever. If that was the intent. I suspect not. Or maybe I do. I'm still a little skittish you know. But a...

I'm so glad this bipping nonsense is over. What a relief it is to walk to my mailbox and pull out a package that contains individual cards, each one distinct from the next. What joy that I no longer have to reassure my wife that I do not have an unhealthy obsession with Alex Gordon just because I have eight of his Timeline card. As a six-time bippee I know what havoc bipping can create. The sleepless nights, the panic-filled days. The binge drinking. Your life makes no sense. The very thing you love -- a card package -- had become the same thing that you dread. People would ask me, "did you get another card package today?" I didn't want to tell them anymore. I used to be proud of my puffy envelopes. Then, they brought nothing but shame. What was it all for anyway? Was it for bragging rights? "Look how many Dave Gallagher cards I can send you." Or maybe it was a power trip. "I'll teach you to root for the Mets. Here are 45 Tim Bogar...

I received two packages in the mail the other day. Both were similar in one special, super-fantastic way. But at the start, I regarded each with suspicion. I've never been a suspicious person. I always give people the benefit of the doubt, and I've been known to give someone a second or third chance. But all of that has changed ever since the evil genius from Wisconsin road into town. Now, I'm living in a world of  human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, and mass hysteria . I need an exorcism on my mailbox. The first package arrived from Brian of 30-Year-Old Cardboard . I opened it with the precision of an explosives expert. What came out was an envelope with a handwritten message. I have really come to loathe hand-written messages. This is what it said: Well, if that isn't a prelude to a bipping, I don't know what is. I opened the envelope and was greeted by another envelope. It said this: Great. Creative packaging designed to produce an a...

My thoughts exactly, Catherine. It is time to put the bipping mechanism in full effect. No more holding back. Who is going to stop me? Oh, I've bipped here and there. But that was amateur stuff. There are pros out there and they're throwing off the curve. I have been bipped FIVE times. What the hell is going on? I thought everyone got bipped once, had a good laugh, and then went back to fuming about the color of the jersey swatch on their Aramis Ramirez relic card. This is like the kid who goes to kindergarten for the first time, comes home and says, "I'm glad that's over," only to be informed that he has to do it again 180 times a year for the next 18 years of his life. I've been bipped by Bonds, Willis and Hershiser. Then a package came from Matt of the aptly named Heartbreaking Cards. I knew what was inside because Matt's been bipping like rabbits. I don't think he's ever going to stop. The first thing that came out of the package wa...