Hit Singles and Big Hitters

The second card show of the year fell over this weekend.  I had a plan, I had a list, I was going to make progress and get as many single (hits) to complete team sets and not get caught up in high priced (big hitters) autos, patches, mems, etc.

I left the list at home.

Bewildered, lost without my map.  I did my very best to complete some team sets while also being sucked in to purchase far more autos than I had thought.

Trammell of the Week: The weekend began by a quick trip to the Up North card shop and this beauty of the oversized variety.  I was without any type of top loaders or pages for this guy, I have no idea how I kept it mint the whole rest of the trip.

I happened to pick up six more autos for the collection.  The sliding new goal was to get 1% of the collection to be autos.  The chase for 56?

Nabbed a box of 1991 Pro Set Desert Storm that I had collected as a kid and looking forward to putting that set together.

Heading over to the card show I was pretty psyched!  Rick Leach was there signing autos, so that fueled the days purchases.  I was still planning on the singles to complete team sets.

After the initial walk around the room to see what everyone had to offer.  I got in a daze.  Mostly everything was of all the big hitters.  One dealer had team sets, but they were as common as a Brandon Inge strikeout.

This may be reserved for another post about the state of the hobby, but people can lose a chunk of change quick on these things.  I mean, one guy drove all the way to this show, he said six hours, with a handful of boxes and a display case of high end autos (Harper $300, Gehrig/Ruth patches) Who walks into a show seeking that kind of stuff or willing to drop that much right then and there?  Maybe I am just too naive.

Regardless, I did make a good day of it picking out some of my favorite Tigers and some good finds   Some I found for .50 cents and then in another dealer's bin for much higher.

This Rick Porcello is numbered 48/99 and the nice deal is Ricky is actually number 48

This Chet Lemon Fan Favorite Auto states that "Chet was a key cog in many outstanding Tigers teams from 1982-1990. A brilliant center fielder, he made the All-Star team for them in 1984."  I am a sucker for 1984 style Topps and as you all know, Tigers.

God I hope we keep this guy, I am sucker for rookies, Tigers prospects, maybe a shift to the outfield will get him to motown instead of the way of Miller, Maybin, and Turner.  Gold refractor #/199

Another six more autos, and I did find a dealer with pages of Tigers singles that I needed (more later on those)

I quite satisfied with my auto splurge, but I am definatly not going to make this a trend in my collecting as I am sure it will lead to burnout, boredom, or both.

Keep it Hot on the Corner, pat.

5,527 Tigers on the Wall

What started as this....

Has now become....

All that remains are stamps for PWEs, a slide rule given to me by "My Dealer" because I am a teacher and "may know someone who would like it".  And to the right, a few more piles to be sorted, and a 3,000 count box of dupes.

This was a large undertaking following spring break, plenty of blame all around, but thanks to all who have helped me get closer to 6,000.  Plenty in store this week as there is a card show UP NORTH featuring the one and only Rick Leach for a signing too.

What else is there to do but share some of the highlights of the recently acquired thousand.

Love this card and a low number out /499

WOW!  I had to get this one, SUPER SLICK!

The best pitcher on my fantasy team (I am in last)

I don't know how many times I wished this guy could save the Tigers in the 1990s

Hey it's my uncle Tony! No, the other Tony Clark 

(really, I have an uncle, his name is Tony Clark, not this guy)

I am going to have to get a new way of sharing some cards, like Wrigley Wax maybe with the number generator and wicked spreadsheet.

Tigers on their way back from the left coast and hopefully they can figure out the way to score runners with the bases loaded.

Keep it Hot on the Corner, pat.