Night Owl Cards

   What would you say collectors who aren't bloggers think of us collecting bloggers, if they think about us at all?   Would they think we're wildly dedicated to the hobby? Probably not. But we are.   Would they think we're wasting our time, writing a bunch of words nobody has time to read anymore? Maybe.   Would they think we're stodgy, focused only on old cardboard (defined as anything before the '90s) and traditional ways of collecting -- buying packs, holding on to base cards. Some would, I think.   But I happen to think that card bloggers have the most varied and interesting collections. Sure, there's a bit of pack rat in all of us collecting bloggers, but those hoarded stacks of cards are so damn fascinating. In this world of specialization -- just take a look at what the grading aspect of the hobby focuses on -- I'm glad my collection is eclectic. It's not as eclectic as some but it's more eclectic than most.   All I need to do is look through...

    My blog reaches around the world and I'm pretty proud of that, but really the most important area for it to reach, as far as my collection, is Southern California.   Thanks to people from across the nation knowing me as a Dodger fan, I've been able to obtain items that usually would be off-limits to me, a lifelong Northeast resident living in a small, remote city. I've received lots of Dodgers items sold exclusively at Dodger Stadium, a place I've only seen in pictures and video screens.   A couple of weeks ago, my all-time favorite player, Ron Cey, was honored as a "Legend of Dodger Baseball," a fairly recent award the organization has presented to former players who have made an impact on the team but are not in the Baseball Hall of Fame.   Due to time constraints -- and nearly 3,000 miles between me and the event -- I couldn't be there in person to bestow my thanks. I knew that the team would be handing out a Cey bobblehead to fans. No matter, I...

  Wow, if there's an early theme for 2024 for me, it might be that I don't have the time to be blogging here any longer. That's a pretty jarring realization because my blog rep is built partly on my unspoken guarantee: "I'll blog when no one else can." But it's been one thing out of my control after another this year. For example, did you know that USA Today yesterday named the city in which I live the most ideal spot to view the eclipse next week?" Good gosh, what now? You wouldn't think something like that would take time away from blogging, but with the expected influx of people, I've got to run around and get errands done in advance. So other responsibilities have been piling up, including cards -- good cards from good people.  Let's get to it. I'll start first with some great retro stuff from Bru of Remember the Astrodome . He wailed on my Swell wants, specifically the 1991 set, which I like the most. That's a whole bunch of o...

  It only took three trips to the World Series in four years but I now have my own family rooting posse for the Dodgers' attempt to win this year's Series. Both my daughter and wife -- never interested much in baseball -- are fully on-board. As I worked through Game 1, I received texts from both, updating me on Dodgers excitement, and it feels good having my own crew, in this vast Yankee wasteland, celebrating what I am celebrating. It's so rare where I live. With the added attention, the World Series, as you know, turns the players participating in it into almost immortal beings. They will be remembered forever because they were in the Series. It's the only reason I recall people like Brian Doyle, Tom Lawless and Mickey Morandini today. Those players' cards will grow in stature. Every year, as I start to put away cards from that year -- we're coming up on that ritual right now -- I marvel at how much more I know some of the players than I did when I pulled thos...

Well, except poor Enzo here. Yes, sadly, he has definitely passed. Anyway, people love to declare things dead. I don't know why, but it's definitely a thing. Yesterday, all over Twitter folks were declaring (screaming, basically) that the 2020 MLB season was dead. Baseball players themselves were saying it was dead. It's not dead. OK, it's not doing well. People are coming into its room to take its temperature at all hours of the day and night. The coroner is on speed dial. But it's not dead. Stop saying that it's dead. This isn't a contest. When and if it's actually dead everyone will know. (And really, in a year like this, would the lack of a baseball season be all that horrible?) What is more likely dead is labor peace in baseball. Yup, that's dead. Enjoy whatever 40 games you get to see this year, because who knows when there will be more. Blogging is another thing that people love to declare dead. I've been hearing that pa...