The Joy Of The Completed Page - Ginter Style

As part of the lot I received recently from 'Check Out My Cards' there was one card whose purpose served that which all collectors strive towards and also allowed me to move on to other pursuits. Nothing feeds the completest in me more than having a binder page without a blank space between the cards. Also, there is no better feeling than putting a set to bed and marking it complete on your checklist.

This card......


completed both tasks.

The 2010 Topps Allen & Ginter 'World's Wordsmiths' insert set is a 15-card set highlighting the most influential and famous writers throughout history. From Homer to Victor Hugo collectors are exposed to some definite literary heavyweights. My favorite card from this set features one of my favorite authors whose museum will be a definite agenda item during my visit to the 2012 National in Baltimore this summer.

Any time you can combine culture and cards I am in favor of it. Hopefully, in some subsequent release of A&G Topps will see fit to honor some of the greatest Science Fiction writers in a similar set.

Until then, enjoy the 'World's Wordsmiths' set in all its completed page glory.


Cheers,

Another Helping of Pie

When I first posted my wantlist for Topps American Pie there were two rather quick respondents to my request. The second of which showed up in the mail this week from my fellow host of Wednesday Night Cardboard Connection Radio, Rob Bertrand, better known to all as The Voice of The Collector. Rob absolutely killed my wantlist as I am now down to needing/wanting only 5 base cards. However, one card that is proving to be far too elusive is the one that features Francesco Vincent Zappa.

I NEEDZ ME SUM ZAPPA!!!

Most of the images from American Pie have been seen several times over so I will not bore you with scan after scan of the cards I received. But, I will show you two of the cards I am happiest to have in my possession.

Card #8 - Jackie Robinson

Card #109 - George Carlin

My main focus of collection for 'American Pie' is the Hollywood Walk of Fame 50-card insert set. Rob sent along 8 cards to help shrink my wantlist for those cards as well. The coolest part of this set is that the street location of the star in Hollywood is printed on the back along with a short but concise biography of the subject on the front. A nice touch.

#HWF-47 Leslie Nielsen, #HWF-42 Fred Astaire
#HWF-44 Harry Houdini, #HWF-40 Douglas Fairbanks

The black and white photos really work on these cards and give them the old time look that fits the historic nature of the set. Harry Houdini is one of 9 Walk of Fame stars to have their one-word stage name grace their star. I love trivial facts like that.

#HWF-34 Spencer Tracy, #HWF-26 Marlon Brando
#HWF-33 Orson Welles, #HWF-16 Humphrey Bogart

If you have not picked up a blaster of 'American Pie' yet I would suggest you do so. Not just to enjoy the product and the cards you get but also you may be able to help me finish up my set as well. That would not be such a bad thing, would it?

Thanks Rob for the trade and getting me closer to the finish line.

Follow Rob on Twitter @VOTC and give little old me a follow too @LongFlyBall

If anyone else is trying to complete 'American Pie' hit me up with your wantlist and I might be able to help you out. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers,

Mail Day (aka Check Out MY Cards - Framed Autograph Edition)

I recently took advantage of a great deal on shipping from the fine folks over at CheckOutMyCards.com and emptied out most of the cards I had sitting in my account. Over the next little while I thought I would take the opportunity to share what exactly came my way.

When Topps released the Anniversary T-206 collection in 2009 it was right around the time I was first immersing my self back into the hobby and the though of collecting a tobacco card sized set really grabbed my attention. I also liked the look of the framed autograph cards, so, I dedicated myself to completing the 30-card set.

At first I tried to gather the cards from anywhere and everywhere which made it feel much more like a task than a pastime. I decided to try and take a step back and make it more about the pursuit and less about the completion. Hence why it is 2012 and I am still working on the set.

Well, thanks to COMC I am 5 cards closer to completion and I have yet to pay a price for any of these cards that I feel is unacceptable. THAT is the true goal here. I think this set is going to look really nice in pages once complete. The latest additions to be removed from the wantlist are;

#FMA-6 Glen Perkins & #FMA-21 Jason Motte

#FMA-13 Shairon Martis & #FMA-26 Rich Hill

#FMA-15 Mat Gamel

Unfortunately these additions still leave me short of that wonderful milestone that a collector can celebrate, the joy of a completed page. The closest I am on that is a centre-square vacancy awaiting one Mr. Justin Masterson.


If you happen to have any of these laying around gathering dust I would happily give them a home in a protective page alongside their brethren. I am over 60% complete now and I can see the finish line off in the distance. Here is a list of missing persons belonging to my T-206 Framed Autograph binder.....


FMA - 1 Gordon Beckham
FMA - 2 Koji Uehara
FMA - 7 Jordan Zimmermann
FMA - 8 Daniel Schlereth
FMA - 9 Chris Volstad
FMA - 11 Nick Evans
FMA - 12 Fernando Martinez
FMA - 16 Michael Bowden
FMA - 18 Chris Young
FMA - 23 Justin Masterson
FMA - 28 Curtis Granderson


Thanks for taking the time to stop by the blog and checking out my cards.

Cheers,

First Helping of Pie

The first envelope has arrived from a very kind Nick, has made its way to my greedy little hands and it goes to knock a few cards off my Topps American Pie wantlist. As I stated in the last post, I am not building the base set but I am gathering certain cards that have significance for me. The set I am building is the 'Hollywood Walk of Fame' insert set and thanks to Nick I can look for 1 less of them now too.

Let's get right to the contents of the envelope and a pair of cards featuring one of the coolest actors that has ever lived. I think every Canadian who grew up in southern Ontario in the 70's holds a special place in their heart for Vincent Price and owes a HUGE debt to Ted Barris for putting him there.


I read a great deal, far less than I used to but I am struggling to get back to the levels I was at a year or two ago. Call it a "New Year's Resolution" if you will. I am impressed at the literary subjects that are peppered throughout 'American Pie'. Hopefully it spurs some people to find out just what these books and authors are about. I know I will be revisiting Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird' this year, as well as perhaps taking on 'The Godfather' as well.


Someday I would also like to own a Harper Lee autograph. Scarcity is definitely an issue but if a card company were to include her in a release you can bet I'd be a part of the chase.

If you were a child of the 70's then I defy you not to have a special place for this guy and his creatures.


While I do consider myself a Beatles fan, I mean really who does not like The Beatles, I am disappointed that there is very little if any cardboard representations of my favorite Beatle, George Harrison. Yes, he was the quiet one and sometimes the forgotten one, but as far as I am concerned he was the most talented one. This guy, however, runs a close #2.


Last, but definitely not least, is the greatest author you could do every child a favor and introduce them to. Every Christmas I look forward to 3 specials and his is one of them. It has aired practically every year since its release in 1966 and hopefully it continues to air long after I am gone.


Thank you very much to Nick for these cards and please take the time to go check out his blog 'Dime Boxes' dedicated to one of the most addictive and rewarding experiences I had introduced to me at the 2011 National.

As well, please take a look at my initial 'American Pie' wantlist post and if you can help me out I would greatly appreciate it. The base cards are almost gone but the parallels and inserts are going to be a challenge worthy endeavor.

Cheers,

'American Pie' Needs - Can You Help?

Topps 'American Pie' has been on shelves for awhile now and the decision whether or not to complete the set has been rattling around in my head over the holidays. At first it seemed like a fun thing to occupy my time until Series 1 flagship baseball is released but I have recently changed my mind.

I decided to go through the checklist and pick out the cards I would really want and go after them. Of course, I will be trying to gather their parallels as well but base seems to be first in order. As well, the 'Hollywood Walk of Fame' insert set has grown on me so I decided to focus on that.

If you have any of the cards listed below please send me an email or leave a comment below and I would be happy to work out a trade with you. The ones listed in red are pending trades but some of them I would be happy to own doubles of anyway.

Thanks for taking the time to check this list out, I appreciate it......



Base Cards

#114 - Secretariate's Triple Crown
#123 - Ramones Release Debut Album
#141 - MTV
#145 - M*A*S*H Final Episode
#154 - Mister Rodgers


Foil Parallel

3, 6, 8, 9, 20, 24, 25, 31, 39, 48, 51, 59, 62, 65, 66, 68, 70, 72, 73, 77, 79, 88, 89, 91, 94, 99
100, 103, 104, 108, 109, 111, 114, 121, 123, 125, 128, 134, 137, 141, 145, 154, 162, 170, 185


Spotlight Parallel #/76

3, 6, 8, 9, 20, 24, 25, 31, 39, 48, 51, 59, 62, 65, 66, 68, 70, 72, 73, 77, 79, 88, 89, 91, 94, 99
100, 103, 104, 108, 109, 111, 114, 121, 123, 125, 128, 134, 137, 141, 145, 154, 162, 170, 185



Hollywood Walk of Fame

HWF-1, HWF-2, HWF-4, HWF-5, HWF-6, HWF-7, HWF-8, HWF-9, HWF-11, HWF-12, HWF-13, HWF-14, HWF-15, HWF-17, HWF-18, HWF-19, HWF-20, HWF-21, HWF-22, HWF-23, HWF-25, HWF-28, HWF-29, HWF-30, HWF-31, HWF-36, HWF-37, HWF-38, HWF-39, HWF-41, HWF-43, HWF-46, HWF-49, HWF-50


If you have a needs list please let me know and I will go through what I have to help you finish your sets.

Cheers,

Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey - Canvas Exclusive Checklist

There are 20 players who appear in the 'UD Canvas' insert set that do not appear on the Series 1 base set checklist. While it is highly unlikely they will be omitted from Series 2, I figured why not post a list to help those who need it.

Here you are.....

C2 - Bobby Ryan
C6 - Tuukka Rask
C7 - Patrice Bergeron
C11 - Thomas Vanek
C22 - Jussi Jokinen
C24 - Patrick Kane
C27 - Matt Duchene
C30 - Steve Mason
C36 - Pavel Datsyuk
C41 - Anze Kopitar
C43 - Niklas Backstrom
C45 - Tomas Plekanec
C47 - Michael Cammalleri
C53 - Ilya Kovalchuk
C57 - Marian Gaborik
C58 - Sean Avery
C62 - Scott Hartnell
C77 - Vincent Lecavalier
C83 - Alexandre Burrows
C86 - Nicklas Backstrom


Cheers,

It Is Cyber Monday and The World Has Gone Nuts!!

Waking up to news that coaches in the NHL are losing their jobs and MLB Executives are being handed their walking papers, what exactly is there to be thankful for a mere 72 hours removed from turkey dinner?

Well, Topps snuck this little nugget into my e-mail this morning.......

BAM!!

I am not one to get excited over mock ups but, I can tell you this, I will be waiting for Spring 2012 when collectors will be able to get their hands on the very first Topps certified autograph cards of Ken Griffey Jr.

Nice move Topps!!


Cheers,