Card show finds - Miscellaneous vintage #1

I was browsing around a booth with binned singles at various price points - there were some early 1960s Fleer and also 1959 Fleer Ted Williams that might be of interest.

I decided to another table in the meantime, but overheard another collector looking for 1959 Fleer Ted Williams cards - so I wondered if he saw the binned cards from the one booth I was looking through.

I went back to the booth just to see if the cards were still there and it looks like they were - maybe the plan was to pick up four cards for around $5 each, so I tried to thumb through cards and see if there were probable keepers out of 'vintage, but long after their playing careers were done' cards of many HOfers.

I know the stacks I'm thumbing through are not high brow vintage and I don't really know what to make of such old-timey cards, but rather than some 'here and now' miscellany - it might be cool to end up with some real cardboard relics rather than something shiny and newish.

I picked out a couple of the Ted Williams cards - I can use as binder material I can add with my loose modern era Williams cards or for a loose card project.

I picked up an odd-uniform Ralph Kiner card picturing him with the Cleveland Indians - I can use for a loose card project or as binder material.

I picked up a Kid Nichols card I can squirrel away as part of my loose card Hall of Fame collections - where maybe I've tried to revive that project a little bit.

I made a Ty Cobb card a keeper, since he was the GOAT among early 20th century century players - even if he wasn't the most savory personality and reputation.

I also grabbed a card Branch Rickey since he was instrumental in breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball - maybe to use for a loose card project or as an 'extra' I can add along with my loose modern era Jackie Robinson cards.

I realized I'd actually bought from the seller last year at another card show - I did not expect him to remember me, but when presented my cards, maybe hoping for a little off the total.

I was expecting to pay $25 or maybe $20 if I was lucky, but was charged exactly $30 for six cards and the seller was even confused, where he thought he asked me for $35 - I rolled my eyes for a moment before paying up.

What I did not realize until taking pictures of the cards after the fact - was the Cobb was actually marked as a $15 card when I assumed it was just another $5 card, so the seller did end up giving me a little discount off as I'd expected in the first place.

2003 Topps Tribute Rod Carew relic

I didn't realize I had a random Topps insert card autographed, featuring Carew as a Minnesota Twins uniform - so I pick up this card for $4 since Carew was named the 1967 American League Rookie of the Year.

For my award winners project, I'd really like to use cards issued during a player's career [as close to his award winning year (s) if possible] - instead of a reprint or a retro card [cards issued after a player's career].

I don't really end up caring for retro cards because I feel like they just 'aren't the real thing' as far as original old-school/vintage cards - Topps has just pumped them out over the last 10 years and I feel they tend to be redundant, especially when Topps recycles images to use on cards.

As is, retro cards are much easier to find and use for random card projects that need old-time legends / icons - at the very least, retro cards give a refreshing, if anachronistic look to showcase players from from the past.

Some retro cards stand out more because they can be shiny, can feature an autograph and/or a 'game used' relic - I like how some cards specifically highlight players' award winning seasons and/or recap the players' career highlights.