One Card Post - Action Packed Dirt Dog

One of my goals for this year (though I don't typically state them formally) is to post here more frequently.  I don't think I will ever be a "post-per-day" blogger, just way too much going on with work and other personal things to likely ever post at that frequency.  I have been somewhat consistent in the past though, with at least 100 posts in each of the 7 years that I've run the blog so far, and an increasing number of posts over the past couple of years specifically.  In fact, my 190 posts last year was an all-time high for me, and I'd like to cross the 200 post threshold this year if I can.

As I mentioned, I just don't have the time to write an extensive post with 20-30 scans and a lot of commentary most weekdays.  On at least some of those days this year I'm going to throw up a really quick single card post, just like this one.  While I do generally believe in quality over quantity, I also believe in quantity over nothing I guess.  Either way, should make a nice quick read for anyone that decides to stop by.

Alright, now that I've gotten all that out of the way, here's our first card:

What:  1994 Action Packed #2 - Trot Nixon
Where:  COMC
How Much?:  $.43
Why?:  Always liked Trot "Dirt Dog" Nixon during his time with the Sox.  Just the type of player who, while maybe not the most talented guy on the diamond, seemed to epitomize hustle and grit.  Aside from that I find minor league cards interesting, and I've always loved Action Packed's embossed cards.
Other:  The back of the card contains some pretty interesting facts:

I think calling Trot the next George Brett or Yaz might have been a bit much, no?  I also had no idea that Trot used to be a star pitcher in high school...

Collecting Whalers - Tipped Off By My Dad

Recently I was tipped off regarding an awesome deal on a "pick any 10" lot of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee cards that was listed on eBay. The person who tipped me off to the auction? My Dad! The coolest part is that the reason he sent me the link is that he noticed that quite a few of the cards in the lot were on my Whalers want list here on the blog.  You see, while I completed the '79-80 Topps set a while back, my '79-80 O-Pee-Chee cards are extremely lacking.  Here are the 10 cards I selected for my $5.99:

I decided to lead off with this sweet Gordie Roberts card for a couple of reasons.  First, he was a member of the inaugural Whalers NHL team, having transferred over with the New England Whalers when the WHA folded.  Secondly, and more importantly, I met and even skated with Gordie and his brother Doug quite a few times at summer hockey camp as a kid over the years (another thing I can thank my Dad for).  Gordie would go on to play well over 1,000 NHL games, and is a member of the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

This card also has the best cartoon of the 10 that I picked up in this lot.  I highly doubt that when Gordie's parents named him after the great Mr. Hockey that they had any inclination that the elder Gordie would play for so many years that he would end up as an NHL teammate to their newborn son!

Al was defensive partner to the great Bobby Orr for a couple of seasons with Boston, and after his playing days were over he stayed involved in the game as a coach.  He even ended up at the helm of the San Jose Sharks for one season in the mid to late '90s.

I can say with confidence that this is my first ever Al Hangsleben card.  He has only one other official card released during his playing days, which came in the '81-82 OPC set.

I've said it many times before but I'll say it again, '79-80 OPC/Topps have the best card back design of all-time.  Any sport.  Just one man's opinion, but I know a lot of collectors who share it...

Probably the most well-known Whaler within the fan base among the cards in this lot, Rick Ley played for the New England Whalers for their entire WHA run.  He stayed on with the team for another couple of years after the move to the NHL, and served as team captain for quite a few seasons.  Later he'd actually coach the Whalers for two years, as well as serve as an assistant coach behind the bench in Toronto.

Best thing about this card?  It is true that Ron Plumb was "now with Whalers" for the '79-80 season, however he was also with the New England Whalers in '78-79, so it seems as though the folks at O-Pee-Chee simply didn't have a photograph of him from that season despite the fact that he appeared in 78 games.  How about the season before that?  He started with the Whalers and was traded to the Cincinnati Stingers.  The two years before that he was with the Stingers as well.  The last (and only) time that Ron played with the San Diego Mariners, the jersey he's depicted in on this card, was 1974-75.

So, we get a 5-year-old photo and a somewhat inappropriate "now with Whalers" designation...

Maybe if I enjoyed a couple of beers first I could actually read the back of this card perfectly.

Don't have much to say about Jordy Douglas, so I'll take this opportunity to say that these cards were in much better shape than I expected.  Since there were a ton to select my 10 from, I was going sight unseen with this purchase.  Didn't really care for just over $5, but I was impressed and I'm glad I took the chance on the lot.

Probably the worst-centered card in the lot, but worth it for the awful airbrush job.  Career games played by Don Kozak for the Whalers franchise?  Zero.

Horses owned by Don Kozak?  Two.

The cartoon on the back is great as Mike, who hails from Minnesota, became a town mayor in the state decades after this card was printed.

I can now call my Dave Debol collection complete as I have the only two cards released during his playing days.

This was a great lot and puts me on the cusp of 1,300 unique Whalers cards.  I enjoyed these so much that I picked up another lot of 10 last week from the same seller, which should be showing up any day now.  Thanks for the heads up Dad!

Cardboard Classics - Mark Fitzpatrick

This one sort of fits nicely with the Patrick Marleau Canvas card from the other day.

Another great photograph here, I guess I'm a sucker for hockey cards featuring unique rink entrances.  Maybe I should make a collection out of it, as Brad suggested in the comments the other day.  It seems like Mark's mind is somewhere else in this photo.  I like that the Panthers bothered to put actual whiskers on this thing, too.

The back of the card ties it all nicely together, as we see in this warm-up shot that Mark's mask has the same open panther mouth design as the stage element that he skated in through in the photograph on the front.

This PWE Sponsored By Mark Kaz

I have a couple of great trade packages that I need to clear off my card desk here.  One of them, from Mark Hoyle, is taking me weeks to scan due to the sheer number of cards.  In the meantime here's the smaller (but no less appreciated) PWE format.  This one showed up during my vacation from work (which sadly ends today) courtesy of my friend Mark Kaz at This Way to the Clubhouse.

This Rookie Debut card of Sox prospect Mookie Betts has one of my favorite photos used on a baseball card in 2014.  Mark was kind enough to send along the Gold parallel (#'d to 2014) of this fantastic RC.  Is this even a true rookie card?  It has the symbol.  I don't know, nor do I care...great card either way.  Betts has a lot of promise, and is one of the players I'm most looking forward to watching in 2015.

Also included in the package were my first three base cards from the 2014 Topps Update set.  This must be Betts' true rookie.

Fully expecting Allen Craig to be dealt prior to Opening Day, and for this to go down as one of few cards depicting him in a Red Sox uniform.

My Mookie Betts collection really got a boost from this package, as Mark threw in two of these 'Future is Now' inserts.  I believe each player in this insert set has three different cards, so just one more of these to track down.

Although the buyback idea is generally not that appealing, perhaps my favorite card in the PWE was this 1973 Topps Bob Veale, which Topps purchased back, stamped with a 75th Anniversary foil logo, and included as a hit in this year's Update set.  That "windbreaker under the jersey" look is so '70s, and so are the glasses and 'stache.  Just an awesome card.

Not to mention '73 Topps has perhaps my personal favorite card back design of all-time.

Topping things off were a pair of needs from the 2011 Topps Opening Day set.

I think Mark has sent me a couple of Sox from this set before, and now I'm within striking distance of knocking out the team set.

Mark, thanks for another great PWE.  I hope 2015 is a great year for you, and look forward to reading your cardboard musings.  Already got your next PWE building...

SIDE QUESTION:  Anyone know whether you can send a PWE from the US to Canada with a single stamp?  I mailed a bubble mailer to Douglas over at Sportscards from the Dollar Store today and it set me back almost $10.  Thinking it's time for a change in approach in terms of shipping to my friends up in Canada, and wondering if this has worked for others?  Would appreciate any insight you may have in the comments!

Signature Sundays - Jim Piersall

Quick one today, featuring an autograph I finally got around to adding to my Red Sox collection late last year, Jim Piersall:

It's really inexcusable that it took me this long to pick up a Piersall autograph, given how reasonably priced they seem to be nowadays ($6 and change for this card).  Jim was a star high school athlete in Connecticut in the mid to late 1940s, and by 1950 was appearing in Major League games with the Boston Red Sox at age 20!

Piersall is most known for basically losing it (mentally) during his true rookie season with the Sox (1952).  There are all kinds of stories out there, most of them true apparently, of Jim going off the deep end; everything from spanking teammates' kids to fistfights with other players.  Eventually he committed himself, got help, and went on to enjoy another 15 solid years at the MLB level.  He would become an All-Star, Gold Glover, and even received MVP votes in more than one season.

Jim released an autobiography about the ordeal in 1955, titled 'Fear Strkes Out', which I've yet to read.  I'm considering adding it to my reading list though for this year.  Anyone familiar with it?  There's a movie version from 1957 that I've never seen either...

Cardboard Classics - From the Mouth of the Shark

I've always sort of liked the San Jose Sharks, since they joined the league at a time when I was a huge fan of the game as a kid.  Plus, it's been fun watching the Bruins' trading of Joe Thornton re-affirmed year after year when they flame out of the playoffs in the early rounds.  Okay, that was a bit harsh, I really do like the Sharks.  Today's card is right up there with my Arturs Irbe autograph as far as my favorite Sharks cards go...

When done right (aka an interesting, non-standard photograph), the Canvas inserts that Upper Deck has been rolling out the past few years have produced some of my favorite modern hockey cards.  This one's from the 2011-12 set, and the image is just perfect.

I came close to buying this one on COMC more than once, but never wanted to pay the buck or so that it generally demands on that site.  Patience paid off as it set me back much less than that as part of a recent insert/parallel lot.

I've got a few more Upper Deck Canvas cards to show in the coming weeks...

Pack Rip - 2013-14 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey

Why not start the new year off on the blog with a pack rip?  Picked up one of these 2013-14 Upper Deck Series 1 tins on the cheap a while ago.  As per usual, the majority of the packs will sit unopened on my shelf for weeks if not months, but I did decide to crack open the first pack.

Before we get to that though, apparently each tin contains an over-sized Upper Deck MVP card.  I ended up with Jonathan Quick of the LA Kings.

Here it is up against a standard sized modern card to give you an idea of the scale...

8 cards per pack.  I had not a single card from 2013-14 UD Series 1 before this purchase, so at least I know every one of these cards will be new to my collection...

Right out of the gate we've got my favorite card in the entire pack.  This is the second time Kings' mascot Bailey the Lion has made an appearance here in recent weeks.

Still can't believe this guy won the Vezina trophy a few months before this card hit shelves.

If you count the over-sized Quick, that's 3 Kings out of my first 4 cards from this box.

My insert was this Shining Stars Jimmy Howard.  The timing on this was perfect as I've already thrown this into the pile of cards I have building for Mitch to thank him for that killer Gordie Howe autograph he shipped my way a few weeks ago.

Probably the biggest star in the pack, and a nice celebration shot.  I never get tired of these despite there seeming to be one or two in almost every Upper Deck flagship set nowadays.

Tomas had a decent season his first year in Florida (27 goals, 34 assists, played in all 82 games).  It's been a struggle since then though, as he's scored less goals than that in the three seasons since combined.

Not exactly a thrilling pack to rip through, but I did get 7 base cards towards hockey's classic yearly set and the Howard insert was a perfect fit to mail out, so it wasn't a total loss.  Besides, like I always say, buyer's remorse is not nearly so painful when you only pay around a buck for a pack...