2019 National Pickups - Unsigned Set Needs

I have neglected my sets that I have been working on for quite some time.  While I was at the National, and when I wasn't waiting in line to get stuff signed, I did try to knock a few things off of my lists.

I picked up 18 1955 Bowmans for that set.  The biggest card was the above Gil Hodges for $10.00.  I also upgraded my Ralph Kiner.

I really have left the 1967 set hanging, so I made sure to cross some numbers off of the list.  I picked up 13 1967s, so I made a small ding in the armor there.

Finally, I only picked up two high number 1972s.  I was going to look for more, but by the time I got around to it on Sunday, I had one $100 bill left, and I didn't want to break it.  Oh well.

I probably won't add much to the sets until next year's National, but you never know.  I might get an itch this offseason and pick up some more and cross some more numbers off.

My needs lists are all updated, in case anyone was wondering.

Vintage Sportlots Pickups

As I come down from the euphoria experienced from last night's epic slugfest against the Yankees, and as I prepare to take in a couple MLB games over the next few weeks, I decided to show a few Sportlots pickups I got in the mail yesterday.

I hadn't picked up any set needs lately, so I figured it would be a good time to hit a few of my lists and whittle a few down.  The first package that arrived had some 1969 Topps, 1971 Topps, a couple 2010 Allen and Ginters and one odd ball vintage card.

I didn't yet have this 1969 Topps Deckle Edge Brooks Robinson in my collection and when I saw it listed from one of the sellers that I was pulling from, I decided to add it to my cart.  They wanted $5.00 for it, so i figured that was a pretty good deal.  I think these cards look awesome.  I wish it would have scanned better, but since the borders are white, they aren't picked up well by my scanner.  So, I had to use a birthday card envelope behind it to make the edges stand out.  Looks ok, I guess.

Of the actual cards I knocked off of my sets, this package didn't really include big names, just commons that needed to be taken care of.  The biggest name player in this package was Johnny Podres.  This card comes at the tail end of Podres' career.  Podres with the Padres.  Kinda cool.

I added this high number Astros team card from 1971.  The high numbers really slow you down when you are building a vintage set.  Some people want $20 a piece for some of these high numbered cards.  $20 for an early 70's Astros team card?  No thanks.  I paid $5.00 for this one.  Still high for, you know, an early 70s Astros team card, but oh well, better than $20.

Finally, I added this 1971 Topps #161 - Coins Checklist for $0.69.  I can't remember the last time I scanned a checklist and put it on the blog.  Gotta get all the cards in the set and this was one of them.  I'm hoping my next package will have a little more 'meat' to it, I guess, but the Topps Deckle Edge Robinson was surely a highlight.  I wouldn't mind Topps using that design again, because, well, you know they will.

1959 Topps Pickups From The Antique Shop

I thought it would be a good idea to show some of the 14 1959 Topps I chipped away from my want list during last weekend's visit to the Columbia antique shop.

I thought the blue on this Gene Freese was really nice.  Again, the main reason I enjoy this set is because the colors of it are so awesome.

 I got this Cleveland Indians team card, which has an unmarked checklist on the reverse.  It looks really sharp. I imagine some of the more popular teams from that era (Yankees, Dodgers, etc) are pretty expensive, especially if you want them unmarked.

 I thought this Joe Nuxhall was really cool.  Nuxhall first pitched in the majors at the age of 15 back in 1944 when he threw for 2/3 of an inning.

Finally, probably the biggest name I picked up this time around was this Johnny Podres.  Podres was a pretty good pitcher for the Dodgers in the 1950s and 1960s before moving on to Detroit and San Diego at the end of his career.

So, there you have it, a few of the 1959s that I got.  I might get some more this weekend at the Raleigh card show, so we'll have to see.

Card Shop Pickup - 2008 Topps Stadium Club Johnny Podres

I got this awesome Stadium Club Johnny Podres auto from P.A. when he busted a box at the shop on Saturday. This was given to me as a Christmas present from P.A., so it will not be made available for trade. I'm excited that I hvae this card, now, because I have been learning more and more about the history of the Dodgers. It sure is too bad that Podres died in 2008. I definitely would have liked to have tried TTM with him. Oh well, I have his auto now. Thanks P.A.!!! Merry Christmas!

1955 Topps #25 - Johnny Podres

The first ever World Series MVP (1955), Johnny Podres (b. 1932 - d. 2008) played from 1953 to 1969 for the Dodgers, Tigers and Padres. He won the World Series 3 times with the Dodgers in 1955, 1959 and 1963. I think its kind of cool that this is his 1955 Topps and he was the World Series MVP in 1955. He finished his career with a record 148-116 and an ERA of 3.68.

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