Night Owl Cards

I've decided that indeed I have another series on this blog. "Legends of Cardboard" will one day soon take up residence in the tabs up top. This is going to make for some uncomfortable and unpopular decisions in the near future as I'll have to remove something that's already up there. But I'm ready for it. Besides, my blog, my rules. As you might recall by the first Legend of Cardboard post , I am trying to reclaim the phrase "legend of cardboard" and define it properly. A "legend of cardboard" is not that all-star you looked up to when you were a kid, leafing through your bubblegum cards. That is a "legend of the game." A true "legend of cardboard" is a player who 10-to-15 years after they stopped playing would be totally forgotten by fans if not for their very memorable pictures on baseball cards. These pictures rise above the average photo of their cardboard peers so much so that it's obvious that they have...

Usually, I have a fairly good idea of what I am going to write about before I start a post. You don't last long in my line of work unless you have a plan heading into deadline. But, golly, this is Series 2. Everyone has seen the design since way back in January (even longer for those who saw the previews back last summer). And a whole crowd has eyeballed the cards in Series 2 already. You're bored. I'm bored. Allen & Ginter isn't until freakin' August. Why go on? Well, I'm not a defeatist. When there is new product to beat to death, it's my job to turn it into a bloody pulp. So I tried out a few things on Twitter and found out that, "yes, I do have something to say." What I'm saying is pointless drivel. But you're used to that by now. So let's see pointlessness in hanger box form. But first I better show you some tidbits from the loose pack that I bought from Target solely so I could scan the wrapper for the top of the ...

Today, Russell Martin is handing over the crown. He has reigned for a full year as "The Best Card of 2008." But now it's time for a new card to take on all the responsibilities that are necessary with such a lofty title. Like I promised before , I am going to count down the best cards of 2009. At one point I had thought of posting a poll so folks could vote on their favorites. But I do enough damn polls. I'm sick of them. So, I'm going communist on this blog. You're going to accept whatever card I determine as the best and you'll LIKE IT. The ruler has spoken. This list is restricted to cards that I pulled during the past year. And I'm not including "hit" cards -- relics or autos. They're too unique -- well, relatively speaking. It's hard to compare them to regular cards. The list didn't change a lot from the first one I did back in August. That's because I did the bulk of my 2009 card shopping in the first eight months...