Today is my blog's 11th anniversary. It's also my last post. I've been thinking about this for some time, but it has become increasingly clear to me over the past year that I need to close this chapter of my collecting life. I'm a much different person at a very different stage of my life than when I started this little venture, and I've felt myself growing more and more distant from running this blog over the last few years. New cards have come in, and it has started to feel like more of a hassle to scan and show them. This blog has always been a bit more of a show-and-tell, and I've alway ..read more

As this blog and my collecting habits have evolved over time, one thing that has really changed is my desire to send out TTM (through the mail) autograph requests. I have not sent out a request since 6/28/21. Before that, the last one was 2/15/21. I collect and view the hobby a lot differently than I did 11 years ago when I started this blog. For the first five or six years, TTMs were a mainstay here. I have 415 posts tagged with TTM. I had some great returns, and great stories from those returns. I had projects and goals. When the pandemic started, I felt uneasy about sending unsolicited m ..read more

Over the 11-year history of this blog, a guy like Napkin Doon has been here basically for all of it. I remember our first trade was in May, 2011. Previously, I had won a few cards of him from the Big Fun Game that he used to run, a Yankee swap type of blog contest. That first trade included a handful of Tino cards, and two autographs: Ramiro Pena and Mark Melancon.  Names from the past! He also threw in a bunch of Flair cards of Paul O'Neill and Bernie Williams. I remember being surprised by the package because we had only agreed on a portion of the cards, but he sent them all to me. Tha ..read more

Today, the Cincinnati Bengals are playing to go to the Super Bowl. Let me write that one more time. Today, the Cincinnati Bengals are playing to go to the Super Bowl. While it's been a fun, exciting ride already, it's time to get a little greedy. I don't want this to be the end. I don't want this to be "well, it was cool to just be here." I mean, sure it is. But it's ok to be greedy and want the next win. Today, the Bengals defense will have their hands full. The Kansas City Chiefs are in their fourth straight AFC title game, and have won the last two. Indeed, all roads go through KC. It ..read more

A few weeks back, I got a nice mailing from San Jose Fuji. I'm sure many feel the same, but to me Fuji is the ultimate blogger. Thoughtful posts, kind gestures, and always something nice to say. For me, he's been a constant in my nearly eleven years with this blog. Fuji sent me a nice rigid envelope of cards a few weeks back, highlighted by two Yankees relics from 2019 Topps Holiday: I have to think that's my first Aaron Hicks relic, but I'm not totally sure. Topps Holiday is always a fun set with fun relics, and I always seem to miss out on it. I don't have a Walmart nearby, and even ..read more

I feel guilty wanting another Bengals Playoff win today. It was awesome to see the team finally get over the hump and win last week's Wild Card game. As a Bengals fan, I should be happy enough with that. But that was six days ago and well, let's go win another one today. The Bengals head to Nashville to play the AFC's top-seeded Titans. It'll be a tough game, especially with Derrick Henry set to return. I'd feel a lot more positive if he wasn't playing. But still, I'd rather the Bengals play them than the Chiefs or Bills...at least this week. One main reason the Bengals won last week was be ..read more

Last night, Sooz ran a #chadchat about '90s inserts. It was great to see the engagement and excitement, as many, including myself, find the '90s to be the greatest era of baseball cards. They aren't for everyone, and that's fine. Enjoy your own opinion. You won't change mine. But for me, give me a beautiful shiny card with a fun theme and some asymmetrical features any day over a vintage card of a guy at spring training in a fake pitching pose rocking a porn 'stache. The most common answer to "what made '90s inserts the best ever?" had a fairly common theme: creativity and innovation. While ..read more

Over the past year, I've cooled a bit on seeking out prospect cards. I've always enjoyed following the Yankees minor leagues, but with so few prospects panning out, I'm often left with cards of guys who never made it or were dealt to other teams. While I don't collect these guys with the hopes of striking it rich, it does seem to take up unnecessary space in my collection.  Still, there are a few exciting young prospects in the Yankees system who do seem poised to actually do something other than serve as trade bait. Outside of Aaron Judge, the last decade run of Yankees first rounders ..read more

January 6, 1991. The date the Cincinnati Bengals last won a Playoff game. At the time I was seven years old and in first grade. Sadly, I have absolutely no memory of the game. I don't think I watched it or knew what was happening. I can confidently say that I have no conscious memories of the Bengals winning a NFL Playoff game. Today at 4:30, they take on the Raiders with a chance to snap that 31 year drought. I won't be surprised with either outcome, sadly. The teams are evenly matched, although the Bengals are favored by 5.5 as of right now. I guess it's not that even, but still. I could s ..read more

Right around Christmas, Marc aka Bru from the old school Remember The Astrodome and I made a nice swap on TCDB. It's really nice having someone to send crummy Astros to, and in turn, get Yankees I want. It was around a 20 for 20 card swap, give or take. I helped him with a few Astros and set needs, he sent me some assorted Yankees from a bunch of brands. It was actually a really fun mixture of cards, especially because there were a bunch of Panini products I don't see a lot. I kind of hope Fanatics buys Panini as well, since they've been kicking Topps' butt with better designs and products th ..read more