The News of the Day

I assume you've heard the news.

A super short-printed Albert Pujols in an Angels uniform ...

A super short-printed Jose Reyes in an ugly-ass fish uniform ...

MORE super short prints ...

BORING.

I've already purchased my 330 card series 1 set for $16.00 shipped. 

Game changer? Ha.

What dayf Says ...

http://cardjunk.blogspot.com/2012/01/stop-sopapipa.html

Autograph Collection: Andruw Jones Part 2

I actually purchased this card before the one I posted yesterday. I had a set a goal of acquiring an Andruw autograph this year, and I was able to score this dirt cheap off of eBay. It wasn't my favorite Andruw auto I saw, but it was the cheapest Buy it Now option. Of course, the very next day, the card I posted yesterday appeared and it was my favorite Andruw auto available, and even better, it was even cheaper than this one.

So, now I have two Andruw autos. I'm not complaining.

Autograph Collection: Andruw Jones

Fleer autograph cards from the early 2000s are always easy favorites of mine, and this is no exception. Andruw has a beautiful signature and it looks great on the wood.

Despite his decline, Andruw has always been a favorite of mine. I don't think any fan will ever forget his rapid rise through the Braves minor league system, and that memorable World Series against the Yankees in 1996. (In fact, he's just about the only thing worth remembering from that World Series team.)

Autograph Collection: Martin Prado

Yesterday, I established that I thought Triple Threads sucks. I really don't even consider it a matter of opinion. That said, unlike the big three triple relic from yesterday, I think this card is rather attractive. If the autograph were on card, it might even be perfect.

I really, really, really hope Martin Prado is wearing a Braves uniform again this season. I don't know that the Braves would be better off with or without him in left field. I suppose it depends upon who they get in a trade. I know that, as a fan, I'd rather have him out there and let the chips fall where they may.

Braves Collection: Triple Threads, Triple Relic, The Big 3

Well, here's my latest pickup and I can't really say that it's one of my favorite cards of my favorite three players. In fact, I'd say it just looks off. There's just something weird looking in the faces of all the players. I'd go as far to say it's off-putting. That's not really a surprise because Triple Threads sort of Triple Sucks.

On the other hand, it's a card of my three favorite players. I like the Maddux patch and the Glavine bat. It has a nice home in my collection, even if I won't be pulling it out to show off.

How cool is this?

Nothing will ever make me like Bowman Chrome (or Bowman or Bowman Sterling or Bowman Platinum or Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects), but after reading this kid's reaction to his first card, I know I want a Ryan Tatusko card.

Set Collection: 1977 Topps (Making Progress ...)

I just got another batch of 1977 cards in from eBay. These were DIRT CHEAP. I like it a lot.

Goals for 2012

Set Collecting


I finished a number of sets in a flurry at the end of 2011 by choosing to spend my card money wisely rather than opening endless boxes of the same old crap. I'm going to carry this over into 2012.

My primary goal with set collecting is to complete all of the Topps sets released in my lifetime. I was born in November of 1970, so I'm going for everything from 1971 on. Here's what I finished up last year, and what I'll get done this year.

1970s: When 2011 began, only the 1974 base set, the 1974 traded set and the 1976 set were complete. I've now completed 1979, 1978, 1975 and the 1976 traded set. This year, I'll finish off 1977. I'm still way off on the 1971, 1972 and 1973 sets. This year, I'll complete at least one series in both the 1971 and 1972 sets. As for the 1973 set, I'm looking to get 40 cards closer and I include the Mike Schmidt rookie in the list of cards I intend to find in 2012.

1980s: I believe that I have finished off my Topps sets from the 1980s. I completed 1982 and 1985 late in the year. I was so close on so many of the sets that I was trying to complete an extra of each, but I'm abandoning this project. My goal in 2012 is to finish off the 1982 and 1983 Donruss sets and the 1982 Fleer set. Of course, I'll need to get organized and put together my want lists first!

1990s: I have no idea what I have complete from the 1990s other than the 1990 - 1992 sets. So, by the end of 2012, I'll complete two of the sets from the rest of the decade.

2000s: I'm just a few cards short of completing the 2006 - 2009 run. I'll get those this year and I'll finish off one other set from the early part of the decade. I'm also just two short prints away from completing the 2002 Heritage set. I need to get my want lists together from each of the Heritage sets. I might as well finish off the 2005 Topps Total set while I'm at it since I'm just a card short.

Autograph Cards


I'm not a big auto collector, so I'll set a modest goal and just look to add 12 new Braves autographs to my collection by the end of the year. I'd really like to add an Andruw Jones auto.

Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz


My MGS collection fell by the wayside this year, and I expect the same this year. I had wanted to expand the collection by quite a bit last year, but I didn't come anywhere close. This year, I'll settle for just 25 new maddux and Glavine cards and 50 new Smoltz cards. There are so many affordable base and inserts I haven't picked up yet I can do this cheaply and easily.

Other Goals


I picked up quite a few vintage Aaron's this year and I'd like to add at least five more over the coming year.

I'll also look to expand my Jason Heyward collection where possible, but I won't specify a specific goal. I''ll also pick up any cards I can of Tim Hudson, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Hanson, Craig Kimbrel, Jonny Venters, Eric O'Flaherty and Martin Prado. Same for all the young arms as well.

Last year, I received several other great vintage cards including a Stan Musial and an Eddie Mathews. I'm going to go ambitious in 2012 and look to get a vintage card of each of the following players from the "vintage" left coast teams:

• Willie Mays
• Willie McCovey
• Juan Marichal
• Duke Snider
• Don Drysdale
• Sandy Koufax
• Jackie Robinson

It won't be easy, but I can get it done.

New Cards

Other than base Topps and Heritage, I'm not sure I'm going to go after any of the other sets released this year. A&G looks nice as does Gypsy Queen, but I've tired of hunting down SPs.

Trading

I'm not sure I'll be very active with trading this year. Due to the nature of my job and a family crisis, I got way behind with everything this year. If I can't turn things around quick enough for people, I'd rather not trade. If I get organized and get caught up with everything, I'll jump back in with both feet. Otherwise, I'll just stick to the rare occasional trade.

There we go. Good luck to everyone with their collecting goals for the year!

Set Collection: 1975 Topps

Here's the final set I managed to complete in 2011. I love this set and it was not cheap to finish off. The one thing I had going for me is that I already had the Robin Yount and George Brett rookies. Most of these cards were picked up from the card show in Norcross and Check Out My Cards. I think I picked a few of these up off of eBay as well.

And here are the final three that I've picked up over the past two weeks on eBay. (Apologies for the poor scans.)