Mark Fidrych and the unknown hero of my blog

I LOVE me some Mark Fidrych, no idea why. Maybe because he reminds me of myself, eccentric, weird, misunderstood and awesome?

All that, is besides the point. An unknown someone sent this card to my work and I couldn't be happier. I already found a parallel and I am super amped!

Lastly, this is my FIRST this number/that number card.

Feel free to send me any MF cards you have, don't like or have repeats of!

A bit jaded around the edges, but I'll take it for one of my all time favs!

Babe Ruth Baseball Heroes Complete set (Upper Deck '95)

Wow, almost 20 years in the making. In 1995 I was 12 years old and all I wanted for my birthday was LOTS of cardboard. My parents bought me 1 or 2 boxes of Upper Deck '95. I went to town, got a lot of my Dodger favs, had tons of trade bait and then I stumbled upon the "Babe Ruth Baseball Heroes" numbered 73 - 81. I had 75 and 81.

I don't exactly know why I liked these so much. I heard the stories about him, read up on him and I was definitely a Babe Ruth fan (if for no other reason than 'Sandlot'). In any case, Babe to me wasn't Karros, Mondesi, Piazza, Green, Nomo, Orel, Fernando, Pedro, Gagne (at the time, don't like him much now), Ripken, Van Slyke, Clark or any of my then baseball heroes. I was however drawn to them. I even put them in hard plastic cases and refused collections of cards for the 2, yes, that is right the 2 that I had. Something was different about them

Life got crazy and I moved around a lot, some good and bad things happened and I was no longer into baseball or any other form of cardboard. I packed up my cards and didn't open them for quite sometime.

I grew up and each time I moved I'd find them and reminisce. Smile here and a laugh there, but still didn't care.

Now, forward to Dec. 2013. I made a new twitter account, followed some eccentric and professional baseball writers, Found some dudes who were into what I had been into, what was almost 20 years ago and I felt like a kid again. I started buying cards, collecting, trading with some local friends and then, I stumbled on the darn Babe Ruth cards I had again.

I had lost hope though, I mean 20 year old cards, who is going to hold onto those? Alex ( http://chavezravining.blogspot.com/ ) and Greg ( http://plaschkethysweaterisargyle.blogspot.com/ ) are always tweeting their "gots" on buying cards on ebay.

I hadn't used ebay since the early 2000's (I used to buy and sell with the best of them) so, I started on the journey of finding these numbers 73-74 and 76-80.

Fast forward March 10th 2014. I received the final 2 pieces to my collection ( #79 is lacking my ideal condition, so if you have this card and want to trade, I'd be much obliged.)

I present to you, my first EVER completed collection of cards. The 1995 Upper Deck Babe Ruth Baseball Heroes #73-81.

Not really sure why I am posting the back, but here it is!

The entire collection in one pic and than each individual card

The cards are plastic within plastic (each card in a plastic sleeve inside of a card guard 9 card page), so if they look scratched or off, this is why.

I'll tell ya, I haven't been this excited in a while. What a great day!

Two posts in one day? I am on a roll!

Something about this being my first post, cardboard and other obsessions Part Deux (ish)

Ok. I seriously intended to be more up on this but just haven't found the time. 70+ hours a week makes little free time for anything and being a husband and father of 3, doesn't make it any easier! None the less, here is part 2.

I got Alex's ( http://chavezravining.blogspot.com ) generous package in the mail for my what seems measly 4 or 5 cards. I was super pumped on this! I never saw to many cards like these ( in '96 ) cardboard has really stepped it's game up.

Here is just some of what he sent:

I know everyone seems to hate Becks, but I love this card and have always been a big fan of his, so this one is really special to me, because now he is a Dodger, for good or worse.

Ah, Carl Crawford, loved this guy since he broke into the majors. This Bowman is epic. Much thanks for this gem.

These futures cards are sexy. I have a LOT, but HAD zero Dodger ones.

This was my second favorite. No idea why I love Paco so much, but this one is a beaut!

The only card I actually asked Alex for. I have tons of Yasiel Cards, but none had an RC or Rookie tag, this one I want to get signed and cased. If Yasiel flames out, he will still be the Modesi of the 2000's for me, huge fan.

This guy reminds me of Mark "The Bird" Fidrych (at little less eccentric), which is one of my all time favs.

Lastly, he sent me what seems to be the entire CC 2014 Topps Dodgers collection. So, all in all, this made my weekend. Thanks Alex!

Something about this being my first post, cardboard and other obsessions

So, this is my first post. Welcome to the world that is my mind and the things it creates, likes, loves and everything in between.

I started this blog because; I have really been into fancy cardboard again, as of late.

All thanks to none other than Alex over at: http://chavezravining.blogspot.com, Matthew over at: http://dodgerpenguin.blogspot.com and last but certainly not least, Greg at: http://plaschkethysweaterisargyle.blogspot.com .

These 3 have been my cardboard obsession resurrection-ists.

With little time and me not knowing what "should" be my first post. I wanted to post a few of my favorite cards from my collection of some 18 years ago.

Leave any comments and or suggestions. I feel as though I am just treading water in this inaugural post.


Andy Van Slyke, what can I say? One of my favorites. You can imagine how I reacted when I found out his son was playing and for the Dodgers none-the-less.

The Baseball heroes are a set of 9, I need 7 more to complete this. These have been my very favorite since I first opened these, YEARS ago. Funny thing, I am not even a big Babe fan. Something has always just caught my eye with these cards.

Want to get this one signed. Bulldog was my grandpa's favorite.

Cal is one of the Goats and always loved him and this card.

This blog won't be all cardboard. My other obsessions including Beer, Wine, Spirits, Video games, Memes, of course the Dodgers, Red Wings, Chargers, Bama, USC and general nerd/geek stuff. Stay tuned, stay warm and have some damn fun!

I will put up more of my favorites from decades past later tonight and or tomorrow. I have more to say but need to close, so, bye for now.