Backtracking with 1982 Topps (because I'm a dummy)

I completed the 1982 Topps set back in 2018. But then I stored the set away in a longbox with the Cal placed on top in a rigid plastic case to keep it extra safe (been in there basically since pulling it from a pack as a kid). And then I also put my slabbed Traded '82 Cal in there too. This turned out to be a mistake; when the box was closed, Cal's cases dug into some of the cards beneath them. I assumed it was one of those boxes that had some breathing room above the cards, but no, it was one of those boxes without much space between the cards and the top of the box.

So now I've got a few cards from my '82 Topps set that find themselves in the condition of "upgrade would be nice" thanks to ground up edges on that one side facing the top of the box. I feel like a fool, but at least it was just '82 Topps, a set of cards that-- Ripken rookie notwithstanding-- are generally ubiquitous and inexpensive, and it could have been worse, as most of the damaged cards were commons.

I say "most" because HOFer Carlton Fisk looks like he had himself a bit of a home plate collision.

Not like the card is completely ruined, but for a flagship 80s set, that's gonna bug me.

If anyone has some sharp '82 Topps singles available and would like to help me out with a friendly trade, here are the cards I would like to upgrade:

61 Tommy Boggs
63 Mario Soto
110 Carlton Fisk
285 Sparky Lyle
336 Mariners CL
645 Frank White

There were a few more with very minor damage, but these 6 are the only ones bad enough for me to worry about. Lesson learned: don't store encased cards in a box of cards like that.

While we're on the topic of 1982 Topps, check out this shiny pair...

Topps did a little run of Cards That Never Were back in 2007, and a few of them got the refractor treatment through eTopps. I just fell in love with them a few months back and have been working on the set. Expect another post on that once I collect 'em all. But anyways, yeah, these are a couple cool cards that could have been. I'm a little sour at Topps for leaving out the other of the Big Three rookies from '83 Topps: my guy Tony Gwynn. But oh well.

They did a decent job making "real" backs too, which I greatly appreciate. To nitpick, the numbering implies the cards are from 1982 Topps Traded... but the Traded backs were red in '82, not green like the base set. And Sandberg wouldn't have been in the Traded set as a Phillie since he started the year in Chicago.. so this card would make more sense in the '82 base set since he got a cup of coffee in Philadelphia at the end of the '81 season. Also, why does the cartoon say his nickname was Ryno? When did it stop being Ryno?!

As for the Boggs, the mention of his 3000th hit is *looks up a big word* anachronistic. As a custom cardmaker, I try to avoid that kind of stuff when making a "card that never was" type of dealy. 

But otherwise, yeah, neat cards!

From the same seller I got the Boggs from, I also got this baby Bill Buckner rookie for my 1970 Topps setbuild. Pretty good snag at just 99¢ and no additional S&H. I've still got a long way to go with that set, but feels good to keep chipping away at it.

That's all for today. Thanks for reading.

A Retired Refractor Post

I was saddened to hear of Bill Buckner's passing this morning at age 69. Reminded me that I don't think I've previously gotten around to showing off this 2004 Topps Retired refractor I picked up a little while back. Beautiful card! Was happy to have this one checked off my #1 collecting goal. As my previous post makes clear, 2004 Topps black refractors just enchant me and I gotta collect 'em all.

Tiny Stats Alert!! Bill played in 4 different decades, always an impressive feat (--even if he just barely accomplished this, bookending his career with 1 game in 1969 and 22 games in 1990).

Three months ago, I posted my 2003 Topps retired auto (base) Bill Buckner and scolded Topps for not properly red italicising his league leading numbers. Here, Topps has his batting title indicated, though they neglect to call attention to his seasons leading the NL in doubles (35 in '81 and 38 in '83), plus his 657 at-bats in 1982.

Of course he's most remembered for his floppy glove missing Mookie Wilson's ground ball in the '86 World Series. But he always carried himself very well and was a great guy by all accounts. Seems like the bad vibes directed towards him dissipated once Boston "broke the curse" and started winning a bunch of championships after their long drought. Buckner also got some redemption by poking fun of himself in a classic episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Rest in Peace, Bill Buckner.


And since I've got some time, here's another nice Retired refractor auto I haven't gotten a chance to post yet...

Pretty sweet Jim Palmer! A nice 2003 Topps Retired refractor pickup for me.

Palmer was one of the best pitchers of the day. Won 3 Cy Young awards, 3 World Series rings, and became a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

At the risk of hijacking what began as a Bill Buckner tribute post, I've got another cool Jim Palmer item I've been meaning to show on the blog for a long time now, so might as well work this in here too...

It's an original photo negative from the Topps Vault.
And now here's the processed image (with a watermark) from the eBay listing:

Jim made a comeback attempt in 1991, which is where this photo dates from, though he didn't get too far into spring training before hanging them up for good. But I always root for the old dudes to hang around (now hoping for Bartolo Colon and Fernando Rodney to extend their careers with new teams), and plus I like autograph-signing shots, so I thought this would be a cool photo negative to snag when Topps Vault had it discounted to $5.97. Cool shot of a sweaty post-practice Jim signing for a group of fans under threatening Florida skies.

That's all for today. Thanks for reading.