Night Owl Cards

Topps' Christmas gift came with a cost. To receive my final installment of Diamond Giveway cards, I paid $3.98, plus whatever money I spent on packs to yield the redemption cards that led to the cards that I ordered. All told, I paid about $17 for the 15 cards I ordered through the giveaway this year. Again, plus whatever money I spent on packs. Yes, the cards aren't free. But they were some really cool cards, and you can't put a price on the fun of the whole giveaway game. Plus, it's Christmas Eve, and if anyone wants to crank anymore about it on this day, be prepared to be visited by Marley and three other ghosts. So, let's see the final cards I grabbed: I ordered this card because Hale started his career with the Dodgers, and it's a 1979 need off the list in case I ever truly decide to complete the '79 set. This card is in immaculate shape. It puts 99 percent of my other '79s to shame. And my cards in that set are really in pretty de...

When you've been married for a few years, you can make little deals with your significant other at Christmas time. The responsibilities pile up at this time of year and one of the best gifts you can receive is to not have to roam around some women's clothing store trying to pretend you know what you're doing. So this year we agreed to get something big for the home (don't get excited -- if I told you what it was you'd be instantly disappointed), and then just a couple of little things for each other. Easy-to-shop-for things (i.e.: CARDS ). That's the plan anyway. Seems like my brain confuses my wife and myself, because all I've managed to get so far is a couple of little things for me . Namely, cards. Yesterday, I snagged some Update and Lineage with minor success for each. Those blue border Walmart cards aren't too exciting, but I did pull one of Andre Ethier. Then this fell out: "Aw, it's a Diamond Giveaway redemption card," I...