Not that Rare are they? The art of Futility-Lost Post

So now the election season is over, at least for the next two years, and the vomit has receded from my throat since seeing the Cubs win the World Series. I thought a few weeks ago that I would catalogue Cardinals' autos and relics. I mean how could this take long? Well this wouldn't be the first time I miscalculated the time it takes to accomplish a task-though this I don't think is the issue. I think the issue is that I was being naive. Either way it is a sisyphean task.

Man what do you speak about? Well I am only through 2003, though not necessarily an exhaustive list since I may have missed a few, or uncertain whether a player such as Ted Simmons was depicted as a Redbird or a Brewer-with out trying to find an image-however I am certain the numbers aren't that far off. So drum roll please.....through 2003 I have put in a spread sheet 857 Cardinals' unique autographs! This includes parallels.

 and 1192 Relic/Game Used Cards all of which are unique, though this includes parallels. Both lists include dual Auto/Relic-Game used cards.

Not that Rare are they? The art of Futility

So now the election season is over, at least for the next two years, and the vomit has receded from my throat since seeing the Cubs win the World Series. I thought a few weeks ago that I would catalogue Cardinals' autos and relics. I mean how could this take long? Well this wouldn't be the first time I miscalculated the time it takes to accomplish a task-though this I don't think is the issue. I think the issue is that I was being naive. Either way it is a sisyphean task.

Man what do you speak about? Well I am only through 2003, though not necessarily an exhaustive list since I may have missed a few, or uncertain whether a player such as Ted Simmons was depicted as a Redbird or a Brewer-with out trying to find an image-however I am certain the numbers aren't that far off. So drum roll please.....through 2003 I have put in a spread sheet 857 Cardinals' unique autographs! This includes parallels.

 and 1192 Relic/Game Used Cards all of which are unique, though this includes parallels. Both lists include dual Auto/Relic-Game used cards.

I Love Soccer-the End

This marks then end of this journey. Which I have to say I very much enjoyed.

Pack 21

Donrusss Debuts Holographic Felipe Anderson Brazilian midfield attacker SS Lazio

Picture Perfect Arjen Robben Bayern

Pack 22

Holographic Rui Patricio Sporting CP

Dominator Jesus Corona Mexican national team member and Copa Alum

Pack 23

Wesley Sneijder Dutch Galatassoray AS.
Really a pretty card, colors are fantastic.

Pack 24

Mario Balotelli Ghaniaan-Sicilian striker AC Milan
Mario is very much a hot head

Holographic Zlatan Ibramovic Swedish striker PSG (now with Man United)

Production Line Mario Mandzukis Juventus
His production was "22 goals in 2012-13"

I busted the second box-completed the base set and added some excellent inserts to the set. I didn't pull any autos and that was a bummer, but I did pull these three cool cards.

Real Madrid's Toni Kroos Picture Perfect Canvas #41/49 ,

Marek Such Die-Cut Press Proof #62/149,

Robin Van  Persie Picture Perfect Die-Cut Press Proof #137/149 (borrowed image), great Dutch national player.

So, I ordered a box of the 2015 Donruss Soccer for less that $25 with shipping! I was looking to pull an auto or someone I actually heard of-and the verdict is? I got this guy-Phil Jagielka English national team member and center back with Everton. It is numbered #99 out of 99 (borrowed image). At least he is still playing with the national team!

I think the 2016 product is superior to the 2015. First the base set increased from 100 to 200, second the inserts are nicer and more interesting, the parallels are more plentiful and more colorful, and the photos used on the cards look more like the players. I look forward to picking up a box of the 2016 for $25 next year.

Living like it is 1982

Finally this past Thursday I got behind the wheel after my hiatus of not being able to drive for 10 weeks (a selfie of me on the last bus ride to work). The longest stretch since I was 15 in 1982.  Since this was the last time my very patient wife would have to be my personal Uber driver we went to dinner at the culinary student run restaurant on her campus for a celebratory meal. Of course, when I see duck it is almost always my first choice and alas the braised duck leg and sautéed breast was a winner.

I have been wanting to write a post on a book I picked up a couple of years ago for a couple of dollars, The American Premium Guide to Baseball Cards (Identification and values 1880-1981) by Ron Erbe.  I thought this is a good excuse. Flipping through this guide makes me think back to when I was collecting in 1982 and what I should have picked up, and now how much it will set me back to do so now. I love the prices and who wouldn’t want to pick up 1952 Topps from $1 for first series to $17.50 (2016 dollars $2.52 to $44.03) for fourth series commons.  How about a Mantle rookie for $900 ($2,200)!

One of my favorite Topps issues is the 1965. Commons for this set would have set you back six to twelve cents (15-30 cents) and high series twenty (50 cents) for commons and forty cents ($1.01) for stars.

Pre World War One cards are more your cup of tea, how about T-206 commons for $3 to $6 ($7.55-$15.10) or the funky and pretty cool T-202 Hassan Cigarettes foldouts for $10 ($15.10)

Want to complete your 1933 Goudey set? No problem commons will set you back $4 to $8 ($10.06-$20.13), Gehrig $200 ($503.24), and the Babe $300 ($754.87).

Who forget this "great" song atop the Billboard list in 1982, 

1965 Football Cardinals-or What Could Have Been?

Nineteen sixty-five was the tale of two seasons. After loosing their first game against the Eagles they would tick off four consecutive wins to tie for first however, they would then loose their LAST six games and finish with a 5-9 record and second to last place in the NFL East Conference. Ah, to be a Football Cardinal’s fan. As with the Baseball Cardinals this would be their last game in old Sportsman’s Park. Nineteen sixty-six would see them in their new Busch Stadium.

Something I didn’t know, and once you know something you can’t unknow it.  In the 1964 Draft the Cardinals chose JOE NAMATH, but alas he would sign for record bank with the Jets. What could have been? Like I said I wish I didn’t know that.

This year’s Big Red would contain the core of the previous year with no rookies. Charley Johnson, Bill Triplett, Jim Bakken, Bobby Joe Conrad, Sonny Randle, Jackie Smith, Larry Wilson, and Larry Stallings.

As the previous year several players would have “rookie” cards in this year’s release. The players were Jim Bakken; Jim would play all 17 seasons with the Cardinals and would play in 234 consecutive games, Pat Fischer, Irv Goode, and Jerry Stovall.

Regarding NFL cards Philadelphia Gum entered its sophomore year as the sole producer of this league’s cards. American Football League cards were in the first half of the issue and NFL in the last. There would be 14 Cardinals in the issue including as last year a team photo/checklist and play of the year card. What I like is that Philly Gum issued their cards alphabetically by team.

Again the simplicity and straightforwardness of Philly Gum is much appreciated. The player is depicted in a posed shot framed in white with a box along the bottom that contains the player and team name as well as position. They really wanted people to know they were the official NFL card producer and proudly displayed the familiar NFL logo along the bottom.

The reverse was also to the point. Vertical red-framed grey cardboard stock consisted of two boxes separated by a red band.  The usual information is in the top box, while the band has an interesting factoid about given player. The bottom box has a “Presto” rub coin to reveal a player gimmick, this make rubbed cards less valuable than unrubbed ones.

As far as oddball issues there will not be any until 1969. Nineteen sixty-five, the year that could have set the franchise on  a different path.

I Love Soccer Part 6

I have committed myself to following through on this box recap, sometimes I lose a little focus. The other box arrived and I busted it, but alas no auto, though some nice numbered cards. I will show those off at the end of the box break review. With the second box I was able to complete the base set.

Also, I picked up a box of 2015-16 Donruss for $24.95 including free shipping! I already have a base set of this as the last year's edition gave us one with one box. I hope to add several inserts, parallels, and an auto to our collection.

Pack 16

Andres Iniesta midfielder Barcelona
As I write this he was carted off the pitch on a stretcher during Barca's game against Valencia. I hope it is isn't too bad.

Former Real keeper Iker Casillas FC Porto

Manuel Neuer national team keeper Bayern

Dominator Neymar Barcelona

Brazil was the only national team we didn’t see at the Copa that really wanted to but they didn’t come to win as they were more interested in winning Olympic gold in Brazil. So they didn’t bring their best to the Copa including Neymar

Picture Perfect Axel Witsel Belgian right winger FC Zenit (Russia)

Isco attacking midfielder Real Madrid

I love the one name payers and celebrities, Prince, Madonna, Isco, Pepe, Ronoldo, Neymar, etc. Perhaps I should go with a one name name?

Pack 17

Production Line Ivan Rakitic Barcelona
His line was “10 assists in 2014-15” Donruss is really stretching this insert set to the max.

Pack 18

Neymar Jr. Barcelona

Accomplishments Press Proof #003/149 Gareth Bale Real Madrid
Pretty cool card, Donruss knows how to make some solid parallels. Every time I type Bale I always have to change from Christian. His accomplishment is the same as his regular card “Scores in all-Madrid 2014 Champions League final”

Miroslav Klose German striker SS Lazio

Dominator Gold Paul Pogba Juventus

Picture Perfect Marco Reus winger/striker/midfielder Borussia Dortmund

Insert and parallel hot pack to be sure.

Pack 19

Ivelin Popov holographic Bulgarian attacking midfielder FC Spartak Moscow

Production Line Koke Atletico Madrid

Koke’s production was “7 goals in 2013-14”

Angel de Maria PSG

My man crush Ronaldo Real Madrid

Pack 20

Arturo Vidal Chilean midfielder Bayern

We were able to see Chile play twice in the Copa and man they were fantastic- hence they won it all, again. We had the most obnoxious Chilean sitting behind us, she would hurl profane and homophobic insults at the Argentinians I had to finally turn around tell her how offensive she was being.  She was hammered and like hammered people do (not that I would KNOW) she kind of passed out during the second half. This was OK by us. Literally as I hit the post button he scored against Munchengladbach, which is his first of this year's season.

Accomplishments Carlos Tevez Argentinian

Copa 2016 Alum, his accomplishment was to “Claims league title in Bocca Juniors Return” After I posted this I took another look at the parallels I pulled and noticed this revel is actually a canvas #28/49.

Accomplishments Gold  Klaas-Jan Huntelaar  Dutch striker Schalke 04

Klaas’ accomplishment was “Closes the Bundesliga as 2011-12 Goals leader”
My Bundesliga team is TSG 1899 Hoffenheim which had a really poor season last year (15th!) and this year they are 3rd!

Picture Perfect Jeroen Zoet PSV Eindhoven
Dutch hot pack!

Good to finish the pack with a Real player, Pepe Portuguese center back