Dang, looks like I let a month go by without a post here. This'll be a rambling post to catch up.- --oI got a great holiday/b-day mailing from Dennis at Too Many Verlanders a few days ago.Leading off with...
Dang, looks like I let a month go by without a post here. This'll be a rambling post to catch up.
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I got a great holiday/b-day mailing from Dennis at Too Many Verlanders a few days ago.
Leading off with a pair of kicked-up reprints, both needs from sets I'm hoping to complete before my collecting career wraps (aka death). The Pudge is only my 3rd out of the 1993 Upper Deck 5th Anniversary insert set that's 15 cards deep, so I've got a ways to go. I proudly had that original Ivan RC as a kid, so this black-bordered remix hits a little extra hard.
As one of the more plentiful hits in 2001 Topps Archives Reserve, the Paul Blair auto is one I had been eyeing for years waiting for just the right deal, so how perfect was for it to just show up from a hobby bud. My ARMS (Archives Reserve Master Set) now sits at an even 74% complete.
Dennis ensured the mailing had a strong dose of yuletide cheer, tossing it this pair of shiny ornament cards.
Also plenty of Gavins included, including some deluxe Lux and a big fuzzy swatch once worn by the late Gavin Escobar.
(BTW, it doesn't look like I'll get to my annual "Gavins in Baseball" post this year.. There are too many of them now!)
Thank you, Dennis! Much appreciated.
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Bob at Best Bubble again hit me with another terrific batch of cards.
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Here's something else that just arrived.
Jon from Penny Sleeves surprised me with a motherload of glowing beanies (1999 Ty Beanie Babies IV - Glow in the Dark Stickers). The stack contained at least one of 24 of the set's 25 stickers, plus several dupes (glowing dupes being keepers for me because I love them that damn much). And the one not included (Clubby) was one of the few I already had (..from a trade with Jon earlier in the year). Very happy to have completed the set now. Thanks so much, Jon!
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I think that catches me up with incoming cards to tip my cap about.
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A few years back, I did a post listing 10 whales of mine, and I'm excited to finally land another one off that hallowed list. (Though it's not anything that would excite most collectors.) Behold:
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I don't think I'll be writing a separate Guys From Granite annual update post this year. But I can give you a quick recap since there are only 2 active guys.
Trenton Brooks was having a nice year at AAA Las Vegas before heading to the Giant's AAA team in Sacramento. Fingers crossed 2024 is the year he makes his MLB debut. (Oh man, if he starts getting Topps cards, that means I would have to start collecting [rainbowing?!] modern cards again! Ah jeez!!)
Dillan Shrum had a decent season at AA in the Royals chain. Hope he makes it up to Triple A in '24.
Good luck, Trenton and Dillan! You do Granite Hills proud.
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Now here's what I've been up to lately on the #cardart front.
Now here's what I've been up to lately on the #cardart front.
Thanks for reading, Happy Holidays, and big thanks again to Dennis, Bob, and Jon for the cards.