Night Owl Cards

It all started with an innocent question from a Twitter follower. He wondered if this was a night card. I've wondered, too, so I thought now would be a good time to figure it out. I believe it is a night card. The photo was taken in Candlestick Park and if it was taken in 1977, then it was probably Jim Lonborg's victory over the Giants on July 21, 1977. That means it would make an excellent addition to the night card binder. But I was distracted by something else. It's the 375-foot marker, which I believe was the right-center field distance at Candlestick. It occurred to me that it is easily the most prominent number in the 1978 Topps set as far as the front of the card. I don't know if another number had appeared more often in photographs in a baseball card set. Let me show you some more. There it is again with Wayne Twitchell, clear as day. If I were Twitchell, I might be insulted. Because his career ERA at that time was 3.69. That 375 shows...

One thing that boggles my mind repeatedly in my various blog readings across our hobby is how readily available cards are in other parts of the country. I often lament my lack of a decent card shop and the relative lateness at which new product arrives in my area. There are many sets that I never see in person because of where I live. But I thought I was doing pretty good as far as card shows. No, there isn't one a week or one a month like there is in several places, but the few that I do get to go to are good-sized shows with a large variety of cards. You'd have to be awfully picky not to find something you like at shows like that. Still, even with all that bounty before me, there is one thing I've never seen at those shows in more than five years of going. '75 minis. Once in awhile I'll discover one in a discount box. But I can count those times on the paw of a three-toed sloth. And I have never, ever, ever seen a box or a binder full or even half ful...

My last card show experience was a mess . I wasn't prepared. I never made it to the show. I beat myself up over not going. It was not pleasant. There is another show in Syracuse this weekend. And since it has been six months since my last show, I am more than ready. You want lists? Oh, I have lists. I know the places to be and the people to see. The only thing that might throw things off is they've biggie-sized the show. This used to be a Sunday-only show. It is now a Saturday/Sunday show, and they've bumped up the admission a dollar. I'm still going Sunday because I have to work Saturday. My irrational fear is all the good stuff will be gone by Sunday. But this is a card show, not a garage sale. And I'm not picky either, so I'll ignore that voice in my head. What's bizarre is the number of people they have signing autographs. Usually there is one or two. By my count there are eight this weekend. On Saturday, Jim Lonborg is going to be there. I love th...