Night Owl Cards

My Allen & Ginter mini frankenset features 27 empty slots. You'd think that even in a 350-card frankenset with 323 slots filled that it would not be extremely difficult to fill up the remaining spaces. You'd think that even if a mini wasn't going to fill an empty slot, it could still crack the frankenset. Look at the above page. It's filled with players like Ryan McMahon and Yunel Escobar, guys dying to be knocked out of the club. Just about every other page is like that, too. But I find that time and again, minis are trying and failing to make the binder. Some of this, I believe, is because Topps earmarks certain numbers for certain "types" in its A&G set. And if I like that "type" -- perhaps it's a baseball legend or a notable off-beat nonsports card -- then a card at that number may be continuously denied. You could be a card of Ryne Sandberg but there is only one Rod Carew, son. But still, I get hopeful when I come into a c...

The Awesome Night Card series has slipped from a once-a-week staple to once-a-month to "has it really been five months since I've done one of these?" The future doesn't look good for the ANC series. It will always be a part of the rotation, because I'm still collecting night cards and you never know when one will suddenly strike my fancy so forcefully that I will be required to post it. But the days of seeing an ANC post even once a month are gone. And, you know, I think that's OK. I just don't have a lot to say anymore on today's ballplayers -- the primary topic of most night cards -- and could use a break in stressing my mind trying to "stay relevant" in the baseball world. I'll bet Josh Hamilton could say the same thing. He hasn't played since 2015. I just read a story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that said Hamilton was supposed to show up for some Hall of Fame festivities down in Arlington this weekend, but he called ...

I received a few Dodger cards from Adam of Cardboard Clubhouse recently. Among them was this 1977 Topps Dodgers team card. It's the first card to feature Tommy Lasorda as the Dodgers' manager. I am nostalgic over team cards and have written a few posts wishing for their return. But I admit that when I was collecting at this time, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the photograph. The people were so tiny, there were so many of them. I had a bicycle to ride. So I decided to take a closer look at this team photo for the first time. I spotted many of the familiar faces, Russell, Cey, Lopes Garvey, Baker. But my attention quickly turned toward the back row. I think you can see it now. The fifth guy from the right, standing next to who I believe is Rick Rhoden, has his head down! I know it must be difficult for a photographer to make sure 30-plus people are facing toward the camera, but come on! It's the team picture! There's a guy looking DOWN! Who is th...