Update on my 1981 Topps Chase

Awhile back I started to try and pick up certain cards from the 1981 Topps set.  Mostly cards of Dodgers and dudes in the Hall of Fame.  That list is slowly getting smaller and smaller.  I can sense victory.  The joy of completing a collecting goal is almost complete.

I just need a little more help and luck to get there.

I picked this up at my local card shop today.  It was just chilling in the dime box waiting for me to swoop in on it.

This also may be the only time an Angel gets featured at the Platter.  I am pretty sure I have never shown a card of a player down in the OC.

But, here at the Platter, I show respect to the legends of baseball no matter what uniform they wear.  I owe it to the baseball Gods to bow down to members of the Hall of Fame.

This is a great dime box find.  This card gets crossed off my 1981 Topps want list and also fits into my Hall of Fame collection.

If any of you guys have any of the remaining cards on my want list, please let me know.  Check out the list here.

Trading Cards With The Emerald City

The Emerald City is a great nickname for Seattle.  The nickname makes it seem like a pleasant place to hangout.  Some city nicknames don't fit the city for which it is named.

An example is Los Angeles being known as the City of Angels.  I know that Los Angeles means "the angels."  But, when I hear "City of Angels," I first think of a heavenly place, where nothing bad ever happens.  Los Angeles is a city with a lot of sinners.  Some of these sinners have been famous such as O.J. Simpson or Phil Spector.  The name doesn't match the city.

Another city nickname that doesn't quite work is the "City of Brotherly Love."  Philadelphia is know for thuggish sports fans and is a hard drinking town.  Combine sports passion and pints of lager and the "Love" gets thrown out the window.  The nickname should be changed to the "City of Brotherly Love Unless Your From A Different City And Then We Hate You."

The nickname is long but, fits the city a lot better.

I made a trade with a Mariners fan over at the blog called Emerald City Diamond Gems.  Mariner1 is a great trader and has the best Seattle Mariners blog in the community.  He may have the only Mariners blog that I have seen.  So, it is a joyous occasion to send some Mariners that have been piling up in my trade box.

Jerry Reuss was a solid pitcher for the Dodgers in the 80s.  Reuss has the appearance of a nice grandpa.  He even looks like a nice grandpa during his playing days.

Fleer has made some really nice sets over the years.  I have a fond memory of Fleer because I collected a lot of there product during my childhood.  In the 90s especially, Fleer was using great photos and had sweet looking inserts.  By the time that I got back into collecting about a year ago, Fleer was gone.  But, I still am searching for some Fleer from the past.

Mariner1 was nice enough to send me some Mike Scioscia cards from the 80s.  I am a big fan of the 1988 Fleer set.  It has a good ol' American look to it.  Baseball and America are a power combo.  The photo shows Scioscia determined to block the plate in order to tag out a Giant.

My 1981 Topps chase rolls on.  I needed these two Dodger cards.  The Yeager is my favorite of the two.  Even though, the Rick Monday action shot is nice.  Monday just doesn't look as cool lining a double in the gap as Yeager does standing in his gear.

Mariner1 also sent me some 1981 Topps cards featuring hall of fame dudes.  I really hope the Astros bring back the orange uniforms.  The brightness of Nolan Ryan's hat really stands out.  It stands out a lot because these cards almost seem pack pulled.  They are both in really nice shape.  These two along with a few others that were sent my way, puts me even closer to finishing my 1981 Topps Chase.

Thank You Emerald City!

Alaskan Trade Package

I recently pulled off my first trade with the Cynical Buddha from the blog called Miles From Miller.  Buddha is a transplanted Brewers fan living in Alaska.  Not only was this the first time that I have traded with him, this is also my first trade to come the state of Alaska.

This blog has helped me out so much in getting in contact with collectors all over the country.  When I collected as a kid in the 90s, my trade partners all lived within minutes of my house.  Now, with the blog world, trade partners can live miles away and are still able to send me some cardboard.

This was the main prize of our trade.  I sent him a nice Brewers GU and he sent along this Nomo GU.  I love the expressionless floating head picture.  Nomo is also rocking some nice sideburns.  Buddha also sent this card in a nice screw down case.  That is much appreciated,buddy!

He also sent me some cards for my 1981 Topps chase.  I haven't been pushing this as much as I should be.  I am still a fan of this set and am looking to get some more cards.  Getting two hall of famers with cool mustaches is super cool.  Both these cards are in good condition too.  Please check out my 1981 Topps wantlist which is located up top under the title "Set Needs."

I also got a sweet Kurt Suzuki mini.  Suzuki is having a middling career so far for Oakland.  He was a stud while playing at Cal State Fullerton.  Maybe he just needs a change of scenery to pick his game up a little bit.  It has to be tough playing in a crap stadium with very few fans in the stands.  I will still collect his cards though no matter how he plays.  The only way I will stop collecting someone from my PC is if they become Giants.

Thanks for the trade, Cynical Buddha!