O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree Thy leaves are so unchanging O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree Thy leaves are so unchanging Not only green when summer's here But also when it's cold and drear O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree Thy leaves are so unchanging O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree Such pleasure do you bring me O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree Such pleasure do you bring me For every year this Christmas tree Brings to us such joy and glee O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree Such pleasure do you bring me O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree You'll ..read more

    Looking at today's date, I knew it would be pretty easy to do a post today.  And sure, anyone could throw up a Brandon Puffer or Jung Bong (or Tobi Stoner or Josh Smoker) and call it a day, but I decided to go in a direction few would expect from me, I am going to praise a Yankees player as today is the 59th birthday of Donald Arthur Mattingly. Mattingly takes up five pages in my retired player books, which is pretty much the most of anyone I can think of who doesn't have a dedicated player collection.  I think I might also ha ..read more

     I think we all could use a genuine laugh these days, so I think you should all see this 50th Anniversary box topper from this year's Heritage. It is my new favorite card: I'm pretty sure everyone except Denny Riddleberger will think this is funny. You might be wondering what my old favorite card was?  Well, that's easy... It's right there in the middle of that page.  Happy birthday Phil Niekro ..read more

       Last Monday morning, I went to Costco and Target and it was a very quiet, uneventful trip.  Little did I know that in the next few days, going to the store would become something like a cross between old Woody Woodpecker cartoons where the women kill each other, bridal day at Filene's Basement, and the Road Warrior.  Lucky for me, I am a slight hoarder at all times and don't need soap, sanitizer, or toilet paper any time soon.  Also, I did stop in the card aisle in Target and grabbed some Heritage packs (they had no blasters) and impulsively ..read more

      So Friday was my 47th birthday, a most nondescript age to turn to say the least.  I took the day off to have myself a nice four-day weekend. Of course, as much as having 96 hours to do nothing would be ideal, one has to use at least some downtime for the errands one must attend to.  Being a grown up is lame. But I decided while I was going to be out and about to at least also attend to some of my childish amusement which means baseball cards, of course.  Having recently finished my 1975 Topps set, I've taken on the challenge of the 1972 set next.  I kno ..read more

  Happy holiday (happy holiday) Happy holiday (happy holiday) While the merry bells keep ringing Happy holiday to you (happy holiday) (Happy holiday)   It's the holiday season And Santa Claus is coming 'round The Christmas snow is white on the ground When old Santa gets into town He'll be coming down the chimney, down (He'll be coming down the chimney, down)                                                                 &n ..read more

     After the pandemic struck and we all went through several rounds of the Kübler-Ross stages, there was a calm when most of us decided "OK, I have all this time on my hands, I am gonna do something important!" and we made plans to learn a craft or go back to school or remodel the house or invent a better mouse trap or focus on our hobbies or whatever.  It's always best to think big so that the actual plans can find the right size but also, reality eventually says that our plans will be big but our follow through small.  At least that seems to be the way things ..read more

       I often wonder what I would do if I were rich.  I live a comfortable middle class lifestyle with very few complaints: I get to go on vacation, work on my terms (mostly), want for very little, and, hey, I even get to indulge in my hobbies.  I also collect baseball cards on my own terms with my own little group of rules - but much like my lifestyle, I can't help but imagine what would change in my piles if instead of $100 of disposable income a month, you suddenly injected millions of dollars.  I adore old tobacco cards.  I love the look ..read more

 Kind of. This package was waiting for me on my doorstep yesterday: yes, that is a 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko along with 1989 LJN Baseball Talk. Fun Times! If you cannot read that tiny little print on the label, it came from the glorious Seattle suburb of Redmond WA from a company you might know, COMC.  Remember them?  Well, I requested this package in February and it was scheduled for a May delivery - I doubt you need a calendar to see what today is but I can assure you, it is not May.  I am not saying I completely gave up on ever seeing it but ..read more

        Oddly enough, I was all prepared this evening to write yet another post about me not posting; a silly little tongue and cheek thing with a couple fun pages and some harsh words on the terrible play of the Mets during this pandemic-shortened season. But now tragedy has struck as one of the greats, THE great for the Mets, The Franchise has passed on.  I hope he is now at peace.   RIP George Thomas Seaver 1944-2020 I am at a loss for words so I will let these 41 scans from my collection speak for me.  Look at the amazing stats, look a ..read more