Night Owl Cards

I was in the card aisle late last night -- yeah, I know, big surprise -- and found myself face-to-face with a blaster of 2016 Topps Chrome. Kenta Maeda was staring me down from the front of the box. I barely blinked and turned my attention to some Heritage High Numbers, selected my purchases and headed for the register. Poor Chrome, ditched again. I have chronicled my slow separation from Chrome over the years. What was once a shiny obsession back in 2008 and 2009 transformed into a occasional dalliance, then a guilty pleasure, then ... well, I don't know where we are now. But I think we're breaking up. All you have to do is look at how many times I've addressed Chrome over the years on this blog: 2008 Chrome: 9 times 2009: 14 2010: 17 2011: 8 2012: 5 2013: 7 2014: 5 2015: 3 2016: 3 That's a steady slope headed for divorce. So what are the reasons for that? Let's pretend Chrome and I are in counseling and the Chrome Counselor is trying to figu...

I think this is going to serve as my "cardboard appreciation" post of the week. "Cardboard appreciations" might be my favorite posts to write, but considering this is a list of the "best" of the packs that I bought over the last two months, it's basically several "cardboard appreciations" all rolled into one. And it cuts down on some work for me! Sweet! Remember that I'll be giving away the cards featured here in this post and all of the ones listed along the sidebar under "Win these packs!" For the rules on how to enter, just go here , and enter your guesses. This, by the way, is just one of the card contests going on right now. "Spot the Sig ," over at Phungo is still going strong. Dan from Saints of the Cheap Seats is giving away autos and relics for merely answering a trivia question. And Wax Heaven is keeping us all in suspense with an upcoming contest . So, anyway, here is what I liked about the packs I bought f...

I was just looking up the current weather conditions in Osaka, Japan. It's 66 degrees there with scattered clouds. They might get some rain tomorrow. But that sure beats the pants off the foot of snow we have here with more bleepin' white crap on the way. So, why the Far East forecast? Well, if you're still asking that after staring at the card up top you're having a rough day aren't you? On Thursday, I received a package in the mail from Ben of Cardboard Icons , and it was chock full off Dodgers. Plus, out of the 75 cards that he sent, 33 of them were of Osaka, Japan's pride and joy, Hideo Nomo. I don't know why a Red Sox fan would have that many Dodger Nomo cards, but I'm not arguing it. If you ask me, it's a beautiful thing. Ben finished a strong second to Mark of Stats on the Back in terms of the most cards of one player sent to me in one package. Here's the list (I don't know why I keep track of this stuff): 47 Orel Hershisers, Stats on...