Night Owl Cards

Like many guys, I refuse to grow up. I put on a good front, but really, I'm about 14 years old. There are just some things that never change no matter how old you get. Baseball is always fun to watch. Girls are always fun to watch. Bugs are always fun to watch. Pretty much in that order. And because of my profession, the worst day of the entire year is always in September and the best day of the year is always in June. For 40-something years, I have rooted for the last day of school. A lot of people have long since given up that wonderful feeling of childish anticipation. Those poor, poor people. June is just another month to them. But like I did as a kid, counting down the seconds on the last day of school, I still count down the hours until the high school sports season is no more. That last day this year was Saturday. And one of my co-workers said, "we should have a party." And so we did. It didn't last long. September-to-June was a long slog. But we wer...

I have always thought that someone should issue an Olympic trading card set during an Olympic year. It seems like a natural. But I can only remember insert-type Olympic sets, usually focused on one particular sport, included in a larger, non-Olympic set. This is the first time I've seen a card set that encompasses multiple Olympic teams. And I say, it's about time. Unfortunately, Topps limits the set to U.S. athletes only. And as you can see by the labeling, some may not even end up as Olympians. They are "hopefuls" right now. That's kind of stinky. But I think issuing the set before the Olympics is a little more appropriate than issuing it after the Olympics, when everyone knows who the athletes are but have probably moved onto something else. The Olympics are a very "of the moment" event. They're almost like a fad, something that's here and gone. They don't have a lot of staying power. But, when they are taking place, there is no...

As much as I'd like to stand here and expound on the hotness of Hope Solo, I don't have the time today. Instead, I'm going to show a couple of Allen & Ginter-heavy card packages sent to me by Spiegel and Spankee, the most messed-up law firm ever created. Kidding. Spiegel is Spiegel . And Spankee is Spankee . For the record, Spankee sent me the Hope card. Spiegel sent me the Johnny Mac card. But I thought I'd stick with the ballplayers, and show you how much things change in a short period of time in baseball. Out of the cards that I received from both Spiegel and Spankee, here are the ones who are no longer with the teams portrayed on their A&G cards. I even spruced up the cards, early 1970s style (except I didn't change the logos -- no time, remember?) First Spiegel: And now Spankee ... I guess that's what happens when you release a set close to the trade deadline. Of course, those aren't the only cards I received. Both sent a ...

You may have heard me mumbling over the last few months about not being sure whether I would attempt to complete the 2011 Allen & Ginter set. This is a big deal for me because I have completed A&G sets for the last three years. I still love the concept, love the look, and think it's easily the most interesting thing that Topps or anyone puts on cardboard each and every year. But last year's set may have been my least favorite so far. I just didn't feel it. The look wasn't as appealing, the selection of subjects just wasn't as riveting (the revolving door card excluded, of course). I began to have my doubts. Then I got a glimpse of the design of this year's set. I have to say I'm not thrilled with it. I don't like the gold border, don't like the mish-mash of stuff at the bottom of the card that basically separates the card into two separate sections. Don't like that it reminds me of 2009 Upper Deck. I just don't like it. So ...