Night Owl Cards

I recently completed a Topps 2010 insert cards trade with Mike of JD's Wild Cardz . He got my Legendary Lineage and Peak Performance cards, and I got his Tales of the Game and History of the Game cards. One man's trash for another man's rubbish. Or something like that. As I've said, I really like the Tales of the Game insert set. I'm down to needing three more cards: 14, 17, 22. And it just got more difficult to complete as my Target removed any Series I packaging that wasn't a blaster. No more loose packs or rack packs. Nice work, Target. You've just forced me to shop at Wal-Mart. Anyway, the bloody sock Schilling was one more off the want list. I am not collecting the History of the Game cards as feverishly as the Tales cards. I can see why collectors view HOG cards with a glazed look, like they were just plopped into the middle of their sophomore year and an hour-long history class. They are rather dull. So, forgive me for getting dull on you. But...

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...

I haven't gotten around to tracking down candidates for the "best card of 2009" yet, probably because there are so many cards that I like, and also because singling out the worst cards of '09 is so much gosh durn fun. But the card above is a definite "best card" candidate. I have seen this card on the blogs and everyone has something good to say about it. I kept hoping to pull it, and although I haven't pulled the regular version yet, I did get the gold-bordered one today, so I'm quite pleased about that. (Gold has been overdone on cards for years and should be done away with, but the fact that they made this card more difficult to pull, coupled with it being such a nice photo, makes me happy). This card demonstrates, as close as it can, an "at-the-ballpark" moment. You can visualize having really good seats and watching the exchange between Josh Hamilton and David Murphy while taking in the expanse of The Ballpark at Arlington (I think i...