Reckless Life (Guns N' Randoms)

I'm back at it for another group of random cards. The "Guns N' Randoms" series continues, starting now on the Lies album (or if you want to nerd-out over it, it's actually called G N' R Lies, and the first half of it is actually a live EP called Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide.. which isn't actually live, but rather studio recordings with crowd noise added to them to make it seem live, because that was something bands sometimes did in the late 80s for some reason.)

Anyways, the first track is "Reckless Life" and so here are some recent pickups, roughly grouped together under the theme of recklessness.

Bake McBride might have been a little reckless on the field, leading to ankle and knee injuries that put a damper on his career. Happy to snag some oddballs for my little Shake n' Bake PC.

Here are the backs.

I also grabbed this trio from his Senior League days. Who knew they did an update/high-number series, getting him another card in the set with his new team.

Here are the backs. I love the Senior League stats! Makes me curious who the league-leaders were, though unfortunately I haven't been able to find any stats from the short-lived league online anywhere.

And here are a couple minor league cards from Khalil Greene. Weird to see the Padres fan-favorite in a Cardinals uniform near the end of his career. Poor kid displayed reckless behavior at times due to mental issues he struggled with.

Wally Backman isn't really reckless. Perhaps reckless on the basepaths? I've been wanting to get some Wally Backman representation in my collection, and this minor league card seemed like a cool option. You probably know I collect guys who went to my high school? Well, Wally Backman is the most notable player who went to my wife's high school. So I thought I might kinda collect him a little too as a nod to her. Eric Gunderson (pitcher in the 90s) seems to be the only other guy from her school to make the majors.

Threw this early Bartolo Colon into my cart in a recent online order. Big Sexy reckless? Hmm.. maybe his eating habits? And there's his shady choices regarding PED usage and personal life improprieties. But he largely gets a pass from fans for that because he's got that "everyman" thing like hey, maybe an old, fat guy like myself could theoretically play baseball if he can! Plus he's the Last of the Expos.. which makes you want to root for him to play forever.

Let's wrap up this post with the Rebel Without a Cause himself, James Dean. Grabbed this for my "We Didn't Start The Fire" Binder.

Thanks for stopping by.

A trade roundup to let the sunshine in

Three recent incoming trades to feature.

First up is Mark Hoyle, who surprised me with a package of oversized cards.

Great looking Winfield. This is my first 1980 Topps Super card.

These Topps Baseball Foldouts panels from 1983 are postcard sized. They're separated, but apparently they come connected, hence the name, and are double sized. For example, Steve Garvey is on the other side of Bill Madlock... both guys I collect, but lucky for me I keep my oversized cards in a separate box, so I don't have to decide which PC to store it with.

Big thanks, Mark!

-   - - -- o

Next is a PWE from Sport Card Collectors.

Nice Conforto mini, though the star of the show is the Vogelmoster autograph. It's my first of his in a Seattle uniform. Seems he's been getting a lot of love from Topps this year, though he still hasn't done much in his limited MLB action. While my enthusiasm for collecting him has waned lately (unlike P-town Tom), still nice to add another auto of his.

And a few Padres cards, including a #'d diecut Kemp, and a couple Templeton buybacks.

Thanks, SCC!

- - - ---o

Finally, here's a surprise PWE from Dimebox Nick.

Here's a Gavin and a few big names of today. The Cecchini is a fancy parallel #'d 18/25. I think the Trout is my first card from the 2017 National Baseball Card Day promotion. Dig the early Donaldson card.

Some late, great Padres of the past. Always love getting new cards from these guys. Especially exciting to see the minor league Caminiti.

Some more quality Padres.

And very cool to land needed cards from Bake McBride and Vida Blue. The glow-in-the-dark Ginter mini is also appreciated, though I already have it. In fact, I think this is the 3rd copy I've gotten of Aquarius, which is kinda crazy seeing as I only have 3 of the 10 Constellations cards so far. This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius, indeed.

Thanks, Nick!

And thanks again to Mark and SCC. I was proactive putting returns to you 3 guys in the mail quickly, and they should be arriving any day now.

trades of distinction

Three nice trade packages arrived this week. I'm stressing out today because I've got a lot to do.. trying to finalize the Big Fun Game prizes before this evening.. housework, shopping, plus it's Father's Day and my wife and I's anniversary on top of that. So I'll try to keep this post short, but no slight against these great cards kindly sent my way.

This first package is from Dimebox Nick.

I love Reggie Orioles cards. I wasn't lucky enough to pull this one in my 2 hobby boxes of 2017 Archives, but luckily Nick pulled a dupe he could share.
I wasn't sure I'd be a fan of those retail-only coin things, but in hand, this Bryce is pretty cool. Nice when Topps thinks outside the box and does something a little different.

2017 Bunt and 2017 Donruss guys I collect.. very appreciated!

Oddballs!

Some current and/or recent Padres.

And all-time great Padres, Garvey and Gwynn.

Awesome cards.. thanks, Nick!

 - - - - ---o

Next up is a surprise from Fuji.

Fuji scored this Joey Votto Christmas Card from a pack of Bunt and was kind enough to think of me. Love it!

Along for the ride was a great assortment of HOFers* from 1980 Topps. (*yeah, and Pete Rose.) I think these are the first 80T cards I've received since announcing my intention to probably build this set sometime one of these days.

Very cool.. Thanks, Fuji!

- - - ---o

Last up is from Tony L.

Starting off with some Myers and a Margot.

A desperate need for my Bake McBride PC, plus a sharp Trea Turner, too.

And the star of the show, a 1953 Topps Hoyt Wilhelm! Awesome! Hoyt's rookie is a 1952 Topps high-number so it's super expensive, meaning this '53 is likely the earliest card I'll ever add to the ol' Hoyt PC. Tony lucked out with this card in JBF's BFG, and I reached out to him on his interest to trade it since I know his collection is focused squarely on Milwaukee cardboard. I was very happy when he said that he had planned to check with me if I wanted it. So I rounded up some decent Brewers cards and we had a deal.

Big thanks again, Tony!

Well, speaking of Big Fun Games.. I gotta go. Should be starting soon!

this trade roundup keeps it poppin'

Let's run through the incoming cardboard I've received over the past couple weeks through the kind folks on the cardsphere.

Spiegel83 of the dormant blog Nomo's Sushi Platter spoke up for an available Nomo #'d insert I posted about after my last card show. I sent him the card and a few others I thought he might dig in a Dodgers-centric PWE, and he returned fire with a big package full of a bunch of guys I collect.

Great lot of Pops. I think that last card there my first ever Day-glo parallel, a retail-only gimmick from 2013 Archives that didn't really catch on. Pardon the pun, but it definitely pops in-hand.

Some spiffy Frank Robinson cards here.

Adam Jones looking good.

The Orioles keep coming with a terrific Manny Machado lot.

Nice additions to my Tom Seaver PC.

Solid bunch of Stan Musial.

Ten welcomed Molitor cards.

And here's the "miscellaneous" grouping to close the package. You know, just these 5 cards alone would have been a fine return for what I sent him. Very generous.. Thanks a lot for the trade, man!

- - - - --o

So I got that above package over a week ago, then it was quiet for several days until a flurry of unexpected PWEs graced my mailbox late this past week.

This one here is from GCA at The Collective Mind.

Shiny trio of Michael Sam cards. Pretty!

This one is a trip. I received this card on 4/20, just hours after posting my Bake McBride PC. GCA posted a comment on that post saying he might have a 1981 Topps Coke card for me. And I'm not sure what time-traveling magic he's got, but yep, here it is.

Thanks, man! I'll try to hit you back with something soon.

- - - - --o

Next is a PWE from John Miller at Johnny's Trading Spot. He's relentless!

Three cards of Josh Donaldson, including a card that says Memorial Day on it. Topps, if you want to do an insert set for Memorial Day, howbout photos of guys with their hat over their heart during the anthem? That'd be cool. But this is just another generic insert.

And a Hoyt and a couple Gavin Floyd cards. I'm at the point where I seem to have most of the readily available modern Hoyt cards and flagship Floyds, though I think I needed 2 of the 3.. so, not bad.

Thanks, John. I have not made any progress on your customs since the last PWE you sent me, it saddens me to admit, but they are on my to-do list and I'll do ya right when I get around to sending you cards.

- - - ---o

Finally, a one-card surprise from Judson at My Cardboard Habit. He recently busted a couple boxes of Gypsy Queen and landed a card he rightfully thought would go well in my collection.

My first 2017 Gavin! And my first in-person look at 2017 Gypsy Queen. I've been tempted to pick up a blaster of the stuff, but have resisted, as I'm trying to cut down on retail card purchases this year, relying on my Black Friday haul from last year to get the occasional ripping fix.

Back to this card, it's a /250 parallel of Gavin Cecchini. He's currently in AAA, but with Jose Reyes' struggling, he might get called up to fill an infield spot for the Mets soon.

Sweet card! Big thanks, Judson! I'll send you back something soon.

Thanks again to these guys who sent me cards, and thanks you the rest of you for reading.

Baseball Card Breakdown Gets Baked

Bake McBride is a guy I wasn't really familiar with until getting back into the hobby a few years ago. He was ROY with the Cardinals in 1974, a big part of the Phillies' championship team of 1980, and finished up his major league action in 1983 with a stint in Cleveland after a string of injuries derailed his career at 34.

In addition to the fun name, he seems like a cool somewhat-forgotten player from the era, and I wanted to try putting together a little PC for the guy. He's a semi-star with a decent amount of cards out there and some oddballs, but not enough to really scare you away from trying to catch them all. Despite being a "guy I collect" on my wantlist for a year or two now, it's very rare that anybody ever sends me anything from him. So I turned to Just Commons in my recent order to score myself an assortment of his cards.

I actually got most of these cards a month ago, but saved this post for 4/20 because of the whole "bake"/"marijuana" thing. LOL. Just thought I'd get cute posting it today. For the record, I stick to booze. Weed doesn't agree with me. The handful of times I've tried the stuff, either I feel nothing or I end up puking for a couple hours. Once I found myself imprisoned in a Vietnamese POW camp. Another time I came face to face with the kernel of all evil in the world. It sucked! Another time I shriveled up on my back like a dead cockroach.. and that was after I came down! But if you're lighting up today, cheers. Or "420 blaze it" as the kids say. Be smart and stay safe.

Anyways, here are the Bake McBride cards I own as of 4/20/17:

Last card show I attended, I was really hoping to find a McBride RC, and while I came across plenty other '74 multi-player rookies, no dice on Bake. Had to turn to the cheapest specimen available on eBay for this card which suffers from a skinned corner and rightward inclination. Maybe the fact he shares the card with fellow "Hall of Very Good" player Brian Downing adds to the desirability/scarcity of it. The '79 was one of the few cards already in my collection, perhaps by way of a trade, though I can't remember.
Rich Bladt? More like Rich BLUNT, am I right?!

Here's a double dose of 1982 Topps, with the flagship and Traded. I think the facsimile auto is the same.

And I've got the '83 and '84 Topps and their Canadian counterparts.

Looks like I've got the complete run of flagship Fleer. Not quite Oscar Gamble levels, but Bake rocked a very respectable afro at the time.

There's as close as you'll find for complete career stats for Bake McBride on the back of a baseball card. Good ol' Fleer giving kids complete MLB stats and usually minor league numbers as well. Bake spent 1984 with the Rangers' AAA team before hanging them up.. Put up decent numbers in Oklahoma City for his swan song (.296 in 32 games), not sure why they kept him on the farm. He probably deserved better than that.
Look at that career average.. So tantalizing close to being a lifetime .300 hitter, finishing at .299. Not quite as bad as Al Kaline's 399 home runs, but still frustrating from an OCD perspective.

His 1976 ("1975") SSPC card might be the most baked Bake card out there. Like... whoa, dude. A cool oddball, nonetheless. And I've only got one Donruss card of his, though I'm only missing one other: 1981. He strangely wasn't included in the 1983 or 1984 Donruss sets.
Donruss D.A.R.E.D. to say NO to Bake.

And we finish with the pride of my little Bake PC, a Topps Archives certified auto. He's got one of the best signatures around. Imaging trying to fit that on a little sticker! Long live on-card autographs.


That's the end of the post. What a long, strange trip it's been. If you got the hook-up for any Bake McBride cards I'm missing, don't bogart them.. get in touch and we can hash out a trade. Be a kind bud, leaf through your cards, including high numbers. Make sure you weed out any dupes before you add them to the pot.

Ha. Thanks for reading, everybody. Catch you later!