State Of The Collective Part 2: Assimilations

My last post pointed out so many things that I'm not doing in the hobby.  This one is about all that I actually am doing.  And regardless of what it felt like in the previous read, it's a lot.

Vintage Sets

1957 Topps

My main man Marv in Michigan steadily supplied me with most of the remainder of my 1957 list.  I still lack a few, including Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Brooks Robinson's RC, and several of the scarcer mid-series.  (273 JDavis  276 Pyburn  313 Parnell 339 Speake).  I'm looking for the right prices on the big ones, and just to find decent copies of the others.  They are elusive.

1962 Topps

When I finished my 1964 set, I officially started '62.  Marv provided so many nice cards, and did so basically on a monthly schedule, that '62 passed the '57 set and now stands with only the Mays/Mantle combo card left to finish it!  I think that's the fastest I've completed a vintage set, like ever.

1965 Topps

So then I found a binder at Chantilly that started me on 1965 Topps.  I got a big head start on the set, including many stars and almost all the team cards.  I only needed 12 of the 40+ high number short prints (they're not all SP's), and promptly got them from you know who.  I picked up a handful of the HOF'ers at the same show, and then got two more installments from Marv.  So now I'm down to Clemente, Spahn, Mays, Gibson, Oliva, Carlton RC, Banks, and Bob Uecker, plus a bunch of commons.

1961 Golden Press

I got a handful of these from a trade on the Database.  They were nice and that guy had amassed a pile of them.  Then I started finding them at the Chantilly show.  This is one set I'm only tracking on the TCDB, so you won't see it on this site.  I have 18 of the 33 cards.  Haven't tried to pay more than $5 each for them and still get nice looking specimens.  At some point I'll have to track down the book they go into, but for now, they're a stack of Card Savers.

Vintage football

I haven't added much of anything significant to my football setbuilds lately.  But I've got a few sets still plodding along.  A couple of them fall into the "wait until prices come back down to 2019 levels" category ~ namely 1958 Topps (Jim Brown), and maybe 1971 Topps (Bradshaw).  But I'm down to just a few on all four sets: 1958 - 4, 1968 - 5, 1970 - 1 variation, and 1971 - 2.

Vintage Hockey

Picked up a few big stars here and there this year, including the Mario above.  Still need a Parent for the '74-'75 set.  Also down to one on '73-'74 (Orr AS upgrade), '75-'76 (Orr again), '86-'87 (Roy RC), and '79-'80 (that Gretzky guy).  I actually haven't finished all the '80s hockey yet.  And I'm still working on tons of newer sets too, and Capitals.

More Modern Sets

The bulk of my wants are, of course, newer products.  Every trade, COMC order, shop visit, and show add to the tallys.  

These are some of the sets I have going that I don't even have boxes or shelf space for any more.  Most of these have stacked up via trades.  A couple of them are Database only....

...As are most of these.  I have built the bulk of the 1985 inserts from 2020 Series 2 and Update, as well as a damaged block of 1988 Score, plus the 2008 Update baseball and full set of football.  Recently I threw on the 2015 A&G set since I have almost none of it.  Did the same for 2005 Upper Deck too.  They have all been wildly successful and haven't cost me a dime.  All I give is my extras that I want to move out anyway.

One of the little set-ish collections I started this year was all the parallels from 2019 Topps that show the World Series champion Nationals.  I'll start a binder with all these down the line.  I've traded for a few, and got a bunch on a COMC order. 

Player Collections

My favorite hunt at shows and shops is for my player collections.  Almost every time, I get a few more odd things for them. 

This is why I wish there were more sets with retired players in them.  But then I might complain about having too much new stuff to chase.

There are a few guys that I try for EVERYTHING.  But usually they have short checklists, or I got lucky and got a head start.

Two of my most thorough PCs are football players.  I added several new ones to my Priest Holmes collection on the last COMC order - which I'll post after the conclusion to this series.  I started another one for local guy Jordan Addison this year.  I've been getting his stuff in chunks too.  Buys, trades and show purchases have built up my total to nearly 75 initially, but then in that same recent COMC order, I just about doubled it to 141.  He's only tracked on the Database too.  There are WAY too many to keep straight any other way.

The latest addition was also originated on that order.  Rashad Ross has played for three teams that I follow in his career - Washington Redskins, the AAF's Arizona Hotshots, and the 2020 XFL's DC Defenders.  He was drafted by the Bears, so that's what most of his cards depict.  He's only got 144 total cards, and a lot of those are rookie autos and 1/1's etc. with Chicago - most of which I'll ignore unless cheap.

I also dabbled into the comic realm.  I have a co-worker who loves Captain America, so I search out his cards for her when I can.  And in the course of that search, I have found a few of my favorite cyborg soldier along the way.  He's only got about 16 cards that I want, so it's a very finite PC.

That's not the complete list of collections I'm working on, but it's all the major highlights.  Most collectors would probably specialize in certain parts, but I'm just crazy this way....

Auspicious Beginnings And A Melancholy End

It usually doesn't take a whole lot for me to collect a certain player.  But in the case of Brian Matusz, it was a lot more than usual.  I never met him in person, but the connection was closer than most other players I follow.  He wasn't a superstar, but I rooted for the guy more than anyone else I ever watched.

Brian was found deceased in his home this past Monday, January 8.  Phoenix authorities are still investigating and have not released the cause of death.  

As described in the linked article above and many others, Matusz was an Orioles starter for a few years and did OK, but then extended his career in 2012 by moving to relief.  He continued in this role for a few more years.  He was well known for being able to strike out David "Big Papi" Ortiz 13 times out of their 29 matchups with only four hits and no homers.  He was traded to the Braves after his numbers declined in 2016, but didn't last long.  He caught on with the Cubs just enough to earn a World Series ring.  He spent a couple more years in the minors and Mexican League before retiring in 2019.

I first saw him when he was with my hometown minor league Frederick Keys.  I was at his debut game there, and then also happened to be at his major league debut in Detroit while visiting Stuart.  Ironically, that was also the same date (Aug 4) as the debut of another of my Oriole PC's Mike Mussina.  During his time here, Matusz lived in the neighborhood in Frederick that was managed by another good friend of mine.

So all that inspired one of my first "supercollections".  Here is my attempt to show it all to you.  Please forgive the reflections.  I can't ever take photos without reflections fogging up the images no matter what angle or lighting I use.  I'll highlight some of the more interesting cards.

I've got most everything in top loaders in chronological order.  These are minor league and Team USA issues from Razor, Upper Deck, and Obak among others. 

I've got the whole name in these signed Lettermans.  Though it is a hybrid of both sets.

These were some of the first autographs I found of his.  This particular one came a bit later than the rest, since it's only numbered out of 25.

I've been lucky to find almost all these UD USA baseball jerseys, patches and autos.  Even the low numbered ones.

I found these Obak printing plates at their table at the National one year.  They had almost every card in this series along with all the plates for each.  Not sure if they do that regularly, or they were shutting things down.  I'm glad to have them either way.

A lot of these parallels take me a minute to figure out the differences.  This one (and the green one like it) are die cut versions.  (Again, the reflections on the penny sleeves).

His 2010s start with a bunch of Bowmans.  

...and continue with Topps issues including Chrome and eTopps.

I got one without and one with the sealed case. 

Sorry for the blurry shot of the Bowie Baysox team set.  He's on top, so there's no reason to open it.

Transitioning from 2010 to 2011 starting with Upper Deck, then back to Bowman and Topps again.  

That Triple Threads jersey auto really caught the light.  The Futures Game swatch is how all GU's should be.

Haven't seen many other gold Upper Decks after this one.

He got on the checklist for these online 2011 Diamond Die Cuts.  

Lots of colorful shiny-ness in the 2011's too.

Some really fancy stuff in the 2011-2012 range.  A little bit of everything.

Don't remember where I bought this A&G printing plate for that year's mini.  These are really nice looking, though.

These are all logo- and photo-less issues by Upper Deck.  Not sure what ostriches have to do with Baltimore baseball, but this is what you get with exclusive contracts.

My 2013's include more printing plates, colorful parallels, and minis.

Here are the standard size plates...

...and the mini one.  (Could have put a reference card in the photo I guess.)

Angled this shot to keep the reflections at bay.  Rainbows are pretty cool.

Probably should have tried that with these too.  Ah well, you get the gist.

Ooh, shiny...

And a closer look at the stamps on the lower ones. 

To cap it all off - his bobblehead in the box.

I'm number one on the Database among Matusz collectors, of which I don't imagine there are many who seek him out specifically.  His passing just fuels my ambition to find everything they made of him.

Rest In Peace Brian.  You've been immortalized in cardboard at the very least.

A Little Sunshine Among The Darkness

Man, there is suddenly a lot going on!  I go for weeks at a time with almost no inspiration to write, and now I've got like six post topics all happening at once!

I just posted a yearly recap that expanded into three parts, and today is my birthday, so I'm almost obligated to put this annual tribute to the lovely ladies that share my birthdate.  

Then I see that Monday, the subject of one of my most thorough player collections passes away at a young age.  I'll show you that collection in a little while.  

And there was also the passing of President Jimmy Carter, whose funeral was today.

But to start, let me acknowledge the praise of my best collecting buddy and blossoming blogger Stuart, who expressed his grattitude for my friendship over at SR75 Cards.  What he may lack in wordsmithing skill, he makes up in sincerity and enthusiasm (or maybe it's just addiction to cardboard).  We have indeed known each other since 2007, after we competed for a box of Upper Deck 40-Man on eBay.  He did introduce me to the National when it came to Baltimore the first time.  But don't let him mislead you about his superior cardboard knowledge.  I can't recite the World Series winners or MVPs or records and stats, but I've got almost 30 years collecting experience, and know more about a lot of card things (especially football.)  We've done a lot together in the pursuit of these little slices of fun.

Now let's continue to try to brighten the day with my traditional tribute.

The ever-graceful Kate Middleton was struck by cancer this year.  She fought well and underwent chemotherapy and seems to be back up to speed.  That's never a pleasant experience.  Hopefully she's moving past it in the new year.

That's right, keep smiling lady...you're amazing at 43.

What sets her apart is her extraordinary grace, elegance and humility. She adapted to being Royal in a way that was quite amazing. She is diligent in her duty as all Royals must be and relates to people with friendliness and genuine warmth.

Nina Dobrev is still active in movies and television production.  

She also has appeared at many awards and charity events.

And of course, stylish photo shoots...looking nothing close to 36.

And this year's bonus is the 70's and 80's country artist Crystal Gayle, whose bright smile and long locks attracted fans for years.

Believe it or not, she's still touring at 74 and looks just about the same!  An American classic.