Night Owl Cards

  The National has come and gone for another year but my National is still in the works. Longtime readers know that I don't go to the National, I wrote a post about why last year . Though I'll never rule out going in the future, a card-carrying introvert like me won't regret it if he never attends.   But usually at this time, inspired by the pictures I see from the National, I acquire some cards of my own. I call it "My National".   I'm fortunate enough that I happen to have enough money to spend on cards right when the National is going on, usually birthday-related, but not always. This year I had some money from a Beckett Vintage article plus an unexpected reimbursement check  So I got to acquire cards without blowing cash on plane tickets, gas, tolls, parking, food, lodging and admission, too!    Now, "My National" didn't come without some annoyances, as well. There are still a few cards that haven't arrived due to constant ebay delays tha...

Although attending The National is not an annual tradition in this collector's journey, receiving cards from The National often is. I've been fortunate in that way, that's what blogging does, it connects you to collectors everywhere and some of them are lucky enough that The National sets up a short drive from where they live. I was the recipient of what I believe are two different sets of packages that came from the recent National in Chicago. I've separated them into two different blog posts, just because each are so wonderful. The first one that I know for a fact is from The National (because he mentioned it in a note in the package) is from Nick of Dime Boxes . He's sent me National cards in the past, a few times, because they keep staging that thing in his backyard. Nick and I have been around long enough to know what each other likes. We are somewhat the same kind of collector, although I'm a lot more preoccupied with sets than ...

  I often take a vacation around the same time that the National is taking place, yet my vacation never involves going to the National. Why is that? Well, I've explained it several times already but my thoughts are always worth updating on this thing.   Since the vacation and the National often coincide, I usually have some extra time to follow along with what's going on at the National. I do enjoy seeing pictures of all the card displays and the cards that people pick up. And, this time, I really appreciated people like TheWalkingDeadSaga (aka, Eric) and Batboy Glidden (aka, Matthew) displaying their magnificent card acquisitions (like 1952 Mantle kind of magnificent) on Twitter.   I especially appreciated it because as a collector that's what I want to see, spectacular cards I'd never see anywhere else and to share in the joy of fellow collectors' acquisitions. And that's what it seems like I'm seeing less and less of every year. As far as Twitter folks ...

  The National Sports Collectors Convention has just ended and I wasn't there again. I am in approximately the 4,705th day of this blog and I still have never been to The National.   If I lived in the greater Chicago or Cleveland area or in New Jersey, I probably would have attended one by now. But since I do not, here is a rather bold statement: It's not worth it. I don't really need it.   Yeah, I know, "it's the experience." It would be cool to see all those cards I can't afford on display, and it'd be cool to see some sports celebrities on the premises, and it would be nice to talk cards in person. But those things aren't necessary to my collecting experience. I'm not much of a people person, or a traveler, nor do I like crowds. From where I sit, I would have to spend a lot of money to spend a lot of money if I were to go. I don't need that.   Besides, The National came to my door on July 19th.   If you know me, then you know that's ...