Night Owl Cards

I've increasingly made the weekend a rest period from blogging. I started the practice during the NFL season. People don't read blogs much on the weekend, and on Sundays during football, it's almost pointless to put something up, unless you blog purely for your own entertainment (which actually I do). So, I figured I'd give all of us a break one day on the weekend. You're stuck fighting crowds in Walmart, or the hardware store, or the park, or whatever nightmare scenarios you people with Monday-through-Friday jobs endure. You don't have the time. Today was going to be one of those days that I wouldn't blog. To pass the time before going to work, I cataloged some cards instead, because the hobby is a constant. That's when I came across this card: It's a 1950 Bowman card of Dodgers infielder Bobby Morgan. I received it from Scott Crawford On Cards . He had planned to send it to me quite some time ago. But during that time, I got another '5...

Two or three weeks ago, I received one of those packages in the mail that makes you work. I'm not referring to the hunting I go through to figure out whether I have the cards pulled out of the package, although there was some of that. I'm talking about actually getting into the package. In fact, when Daniel of It's Like Having My Own Card Shop sent it, I think he had a feeling I might need a few tools to open up the thing. All that tape. So, so, much tape. With some scissors and a pocket knife and the utmost care, I finally got the stubborn item open. Now, let's see if it's worth all of the trouble. We start slowly with a Collector's Choice silver signature parallel of '90s mega-prospect Wilton Guerrero. One day all of the '90s prospect cards I own of Guerrero, Karim Garcia and Roger Cedeno will rise up and take over the world. But for now I'll just add this one to the binder and eye it warily. More prospects. This player ac...

As you know, I live in a city that is considered by many of its inhabitants as an outpost bereft of the diversions that many city dwellers take for granted. It's kind of ironic because the county in which I live is the fastest growing county in the state and has been for several years. While every other county in New York state is dying, mine just keeps on expanding. Yet, everyone complains that you can't find anything here. Although I'm quite satisfied with where I live, I do agree with my neighbors in one area and that is when it comes to buying cards. I've said it over and over, but there is no acceptable card shop, new product is often delayed at least a week in comparison to other areas, and card shows require clearing of the calendar and a full tank of gas. I definitely do not live in a mystical magical card land. But from my point of view, mystical magical card lands DO exist. I can pinpoint four areas in particular: 1. The Southeast, North Carolin...

Dick Williams is remembered as the manager who led the Impossible Dream Red Sox to the World Series title and the Swingin' A's to back-to-back championships in 1972-73. He's remembered for his hell-raising, do-what-I-say leadership style that worked with the Expos and Padres, too. But Williams was a Bum first. He was a Boy of Summer who hit .309 in 36 games for that Dodger team in 1952. He is immortalized in Roger Kahn's book as a single, free-spirit who joined Kahn in a night of ogling dancing girls during the sportswriter's year of covering the team. Williams, as you know, died Thursday at age 82. The Hall of Famer is the latest of several Brooklyn Dodgers from that period to pass away in the last year. Duke Snider. Clyde King. Billy Loes. Ken Lehman went before him. And, of course, Jackie, Furillo and Hodges are long gone. Each time a Bum leaves this earth, you'll hear or read baseball fans say, with a note of resignation, "that's too bad. T...

I chose that blog title because whenever I read a baseball notes column in a newspaper, they often throw some short, one-sentence items at the end with a catch-all title like "extra bases" or "foul tips" or something. That's what this is post is: a bunch of foul tips. First, I displayed a bunch of 1972 Topps because I just found out last night that there is a new 1972 Topps Blog up and running! It's operated by MMayes, who was a frequent commenter on the now-defunct 1988 Topps and 1978 Topps blogs. As sad as I was to hear that Andy wasn't continuing the '78 Topps blog, I'm glad someone has decided to take up another card-by-card blog challenge. MMayes says he doesn't have Andy's statistical background (who does?), but he's going to try to make each card as interesting as possible. Check it out. Speaking of '72 Topps, here is a card from that set of Game 4 of the 1971 World Series, which I mentioned in this post as being the firs...