For a moment, I think about the idea of the Oakland Athletics not existing anymore - where a team destined for Las Vegas for 2028, will be playing their games in Sacramento for the next three seasons.
With Henderson just passing [R.I.P.] at the age of 65, maybe it makes it hurt so much more where a fan base in Oakland has not only lost a team at the end of 2024 - but also an all-around guy lionized as a larger than life figure both on the field and as a character of the game.
I tried to dig around and see what may catch my attention, maybe I wonder whether the material is passable or not - the seller said something about making offers to consider, so there was an opportunity to pick something up where this table might be it as far where I was going to spend most of what I had in-hand.
Among the odds and ends included a second-year Gary Carter - I want to follow the mature collectors who have tried to make something about collecting old-school and/or vintage cards, even in bits and pieces.
A rookie year certified autograph of Michael Young - he was a second baseman who last played 10-15 years ago and was underrated as a longtime hitting star.
A certified autograph of Andrew Velasquez - even though the autograph on the sticker hologram looks sloppy, I picked it up for my all-time Angels collection.
While completion isn't realistic - it's cool knowing I have the most random players' autographs that played for my home team.
A Roberto Clemente insert that was too shiny to ignored - I'm not sure if this was numbered, but I like how it pops.
A Mike Trout / Shohei Ohtani insert I thought might have been worth something - but looked too neat to leave behind regardless.
A 1993 Donruss Dominator Greg Maddux - I guess it's not a pack pulled insert set, more like a 'box topper' bonus, but still a cool card.
Though it's a piece of plastic that I would have tossed a long time ago, I really like the branded top loader - which I assume was how the cards were originally shipped in.
On the other hand, I've never really had these cards in my collection and at the very least, end up as binder material centerpieces to the collection of cards I have for each player - with these rookies in my possession, I'd have some bragging rights if I took a time machine to the junk wax era of the early 1990s.
Once I start rummaging through loose cards at a card shop - I don’t know if I’ll be able to restrain myself.
There maybe a certain thrill, going through a box at some random card shop that has piqued my interest enough - that I'd bother seeing if I can pick up enough cards, so I sort of get a deal, even if most are picked over.
At times I get a sense that I’m influenced by others and want to entertain taking in all sorts of cards - though after the fact, I don't like idea of doing some mental gymnastics, in order to justify assorted loose card purchases that ends up being fool's gold.
These were finds I'd 'saved' from an out of town card shop trip and wanted to see if I could make a post.
I pulled a copy of his 1987 OPC and maybe a copy of the Topps version years ago and I don't know where either card ended up - but I’ve liked the photo chosen compared to Bonds' other 1986 XRC and 1987 RC issues.
Maybe a card I hope to get inked up in-person - even though Lamb hasn’t been at the annual alumni game in recent years.
I grabbed the card because it reminds me of the retired player short prints / variations Topps has made over the past 10 years - this particular rejiggering of the 2005 Topps design uses the old-school Topps logo on the front and had full career stats on the back.
This card might not be one of the real fancy ones, but it's a pretty nice card - this card has a dual bat / jersey with a blue ink sticker autograph, which can turn off other collectors, but it's fine to me for this particular card.
Obviously there are no logos on this card [Henderson is identified with Oakland] - which is fitting because he ended up playing for nine MLB teams.
The best leadoff hitter in the history of the game - there is still a fascination with the player and the personality.
I picked up 'old' Photofiles 8x10's of Torii Hunter, Michael Young, Ichiro x2 for a dollar each - I picked them up to get autographed, though Ichiro seems like he's on his last legs as an MLB player and never was an easy 'get' in the first place.
I picked up a lone 11x14 top loader $2 - maybe I'm trying to branch out to larger photos and need something to protect such photos.
My activity on the 2012 Topps Golden Giveaway contest site was sparse since it was harder to redeem actual cards from the code cards inserted in last year's Topps product - I turned a Rickey Henderson pull into a die-cut of Rod Carew and finally had the lone card sent to me for the $2.92 Topps requires for s/h.
I've wanted to beef up my personal collection and while it isn't flashy, autographed or serial #'d like some modern card from the last 10 years - an old-school rookie card of a Hall of Famer starts the year right and maybe a nostalgic reminder of a 'hot card' when I first collected baseball cards over 20 years ago.
I impulsively picked one up from Target after being inspired by this post on another card blog - the one per box Golden Giveaway code yielded a Rickey Henderson die-cut card, which was a nice surprise.
Mike Trout 1/2 - I was able to get his autograph in-person recently and even though he was on the phone talking with someone, he saw my 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen and said, "that's a nice card, I haven't seen that one before."
