2004 Retired auto update / State of the Hobby rambling

Down to single-digits with my 2004 Topps Retired auto needs!

I mentioned last week that I finished off the base set, but I still have some big autos left to throw large sums of money away on hunt down.

Since my last post on the subject, I've "upgraded" 5 autos to lovely refractors:

There are only 25 copies of each of these refractors in existence. As pointed out recently at the Underdog Card Collector, today's high-end sets will have parallels numbered to 25, and then have nearly identical "different" parallels numbered to 10 or something, then another nearly identical parallel numbered to a bigger number such as 999, rendering the serial numbering on all the cards essentially meaningless. But back in 2004, at least with this set, when Topps said there were 25 copies of a card made, they meant it.

I'm especially happy with the Earl Weaver because it's the Christmas Card (#12/25!) and was won relatively cheaply.

And though I probably should stay away from non-refractors since deciding I'd ultimately like to collect a set of all 76 auto refractors (and once I upgrade to the refractor, I no longer need the base auto in my collection), it's still hard for me to stay away from a card I need when the price isn't too ridiculous.

Here are 2 I've checked off the list since last time:

Love that Brooks. The Hall of Famer just celebrated his 77th birthday recently.

My latest addition, the Canseco card had been elusive. In recent weeks, I think there was a graded refractor in a lot that went for well over a hundred. There were a couple buy-it-now's for around $30-35 that I missed out on, only to discover browsing completed auctions after the fact. There's one currently up for $199 or best offer that's been there a while now.. I made him an offer of $50 and he turned it down. I'm glad he did, because a couple weeks or so later I lucked out on this one with a low opening bid and won it for under $30, perhaps aided by eBay screwing up the thumbnail photo in the listing.

After reading this post, I kinda assume all Canseco autos out there are counterfeit, but here's hoping this one's legit.

As an aside, I'd like to say I'm very envious of 6,000,000 Cards and Counting's ability to crank out gorgeous hard-copy customs-- even refractors and acetates!-- and if I had the skills/equipment, I would undoubtedly be making myself a ton as well. But it kinda worries me when a regular guy can print out a professional grade card that could pass for the real thing. In the wrong hands, that could really F-up the hobby. Who's to say that hot superfractor you see on eBay isn't just a reproduction some guy spent a few days getting to look just right? Even holograms that once "guaranteed" Upper Deck cards were authentic, and these days get slapped on the back of some select higher-end Topps cards, are no longer foolproof as printing technology continues to improve for home users.

It sounds silly, but it's a legitimate prediction that were not too far off from embedded microchips in hit cards to be able to track them and ensure authenticity.

Not to hijack this post into a "state of the hobby" rant, but for a 30-something guy like myself with no kids to pass my cards onto or any appreciative beneficiary like that in place, the thought of my collection being some sort of rainy day retirement fund really isn't realistic at this point.

It seems that the majority of serious card collectors are a few years older than me. The few younger collectors out there are usually more interested in the big hits, often football or basketball, with baseball continuing to lose market share as America's Pastime. Not to be too morbid about it, but thirty/forty years from now, a lot of collectors will be dropping off, with a smaller next generation of collectors remaining to take their place. The supply and demand shift should make a lot of classic cards more affordable, on the bright side. Add to that dwindling interest in baseball and the ease of counterfeiting cards on the average home computer, the future investment potential for cards is pretty weak.

So, as anyone reading knows, be sure you're collecting because you love it, not for financial gain.

But yeah, I'm no expert and I haven't done any research.. just my disjointed, rambling opinion. Spending a bunch of money on this particular collecting goal of mine makes me think about stuff like that, I guess.

It would be a cool turnabout, though, if I were able to sell off my Retired autos when I retired, and pay a month or two of rent/mortgage/bonerpills/whatever with the money. We'll see how life shakes out. Maybe I'll request that the cards line my coffin. That'd be sweet, actually. ..though the refraction would be useless with no light in there. Maybe I could be cremated with the cards, giving my ashes a sweet rainbowy sparkle when scattered.

So the goal is to get all 76 refractors before it's my time to check out. Though the "short term" goal is to get all the autos, refractor or not. Just 9 left to go! Here's where I'm at with the set currently:

Red = Need it
Green = Got it
Blue = Refractor acquired (/25)

Group A: Cal Ripken; Nolan Ryan; Carl Yastrzemski; Robin Yount

Group B: Hank Aaron; Ernie Banks; Stan Musial; Duke Snider

Group C: Johnny Bench; Yogi Berra; Whitey Ford; Bob Gibson; Dwight Gooden;Tony Gwynn; Don Mattingly; Brooks Robinson; Mike Schmidt; Tom Seaver; Ozzie Smith

Group D: Wade Boggs; John Candelaria; Jose Canseco; Gary Carter; Carlton Fisk;Ralph Kiner; Paul Molitor; Paul O'Neill; Frank Robinson; Ryne Sandberg; Darryl Strawberry; Don Zimmer

Group E: Buddy Bell; Rod Carew; Bucky Dent; Rob Dibble; Dennis Eckersley; Tony Fernandez; Rollie Fingers; George Foster; Ceasar Geronimo; Kirk Gibson; Goose Gossage; Orel Hershiser; Al Hrabosky; Greg Luzinski; Tony Oliva; Dave Parker; Jimmy Piersall; Alan Trammell;

Group F: Davey Lopes

Group G: Tony Armas; Vida Blue; Tom Brunansky; Bill Buckner; Orlando Cepeda; Darren Daulton; Darrell Evans; Bobby Grich; Ferguson Jenkins; Wally Joyner; Jimmy Key; Ron Kittle; Bill Madlock; Jack McDowell; Dale Murphy; Graig Nettles; Al Oliver; Bobby Richardson; Ron Santo; Dave Stieb; Bruce Sutter; Ron Swoboda; Luis Tiant; Earl Weaver; Maury Wills

Group H: Elroy Face

I'll leave you with some more pics of these photogenic cards.

Thanks for stoppin' by.

My new LCS? A quick review

My last couple posts have mentioned how, since I moved, my new grocery store has a card section not too unlike what you'd find at a Target or Walmart. But there's also a real card/comic shop close-by that I pass on the way to the grocery store. I took advantage of the last lazy day in my "spring break" mini-staycation to walk the pup over there and finally check it out.

You can see it's just a little hole-in-the-wall (thanks to Google street view for the image.. No, I wasn't standing on something in the middle of the street to snap this photo, lol). I didn't have high hopes for it. And yep, it was pretty much what I was expecting. Just one-aisle big. Mostly comics. Sportscards you could get for a quarter of the price online.

I was hoping for at least some packs of new/recent product, but the unopened packs were along the lines of 1991 Score. I also had an eye out for some supplies.. penny sleeves and whatnot.. but no dice there, either. Any help for my '73 Topps set? Nope, not really. I didn't bring my needs-list, but he said he only had a couple dozen cards from it.

The guy was nice enough. Pretty much the first thing out of his mouth was that I should bring in my collection for a free appraisal, and he then went on to several times tell me how the card selling market is terrible right now. I guess he must get a lot of guys my age trying to recoup their allowance money spent on junk wax a couple decades ago.

But yeah, he was ok. Several times he referred me to another local shop which, according to him is the best baseball card shop in the state, and would be sure to have everything I'm looking for. It's just about a 10 minute drive from my house, so still not bad, but there's something nice about the idea of taking the dog for a walk on a lovely day and picking up some cards in the process. And that other place isn't walking-distance. But I'll have to drive over and check it out one of these days.

I've always been content just being an "online guy" with my reintroduction to the hobby up until this year, but when I read fellow bloggers talk about how they never get card shows in their area, or have to drive an hour to their closest card shop, and stuff like that.. it makes me feel like I should take advantage of in-person carding options outside my doorstep. I'll probably hit the card show at the mall this weekend, along those lines.

So yeah, in closing, while I was holding a shred of hope that the card shop a few blocks from me was great and I could buy a bunch of stuff and support local commerce and all that, I left empty-handed and don't see myself going back there anytime soon.

Check out my cutting-edge new card-sorting table

My work was tossing this weird table-thing Friday and it was out on the curb after work right next to where I parked. After a solid minute debating the benefits of taking it home verses the shit my girl would give me for bringing more crap into the house, I gave in and threw it in the back on my vehicle. (I'm pretty notorious for bringing home stuff I've found on the sidewalk. Lots of shelves. Clothes. Kitchen stuff. You name it.)

I wasn't exactly sure what I'd do with it, but thought I might find a place for in in the "recording studio" area of the house. But then I had the idea to put it in the "study" (my carding room-- well, my fiancée isn't completely surrendering the entire room to me since I've already got a lot of space for myself in the basement, so I've gotta be willing to share at least some of the room) and use it as a sorely-needed card-sorting table. The fact that it has a grated top actually comes in really handy for picking up stacks of cards anywhere on the table. Especially for a guy like me with little-to-no fingernails (If nail-biting were an olympic event, I'd bring home the gold, time and time again) it can sometimes be tricky picking up stacks of cards in the middle of the surface. The grates make picking up cards a breeze. Now I gotta get serious about sorting my collection. Recently buying a $12 card that I already had (forgotten about) really underscored the need for me to get better about organization.

I've also got my trade stacks nice and organized by team (for the most part) with handy labels. I'm gonna try to thin out some of the more-plentiful teams, so be on the lookout for some Trade Bait posts from me coming soon.

If you want to "beat the rush" to your team's cards, hurry up and check out my wantlist and get in touch about a trade.

DRAMATIC UPDATE: My fiancée objected to the table, saying it looked too junky. It was looking bleak there for a moment. But, ever ingenious as I am, I gave it a classy makeover with a tablecloth and candles. It won her over ("Ok, I can tolerate that.") Crisis averted! Here's how my carding station is looking at the moment:

Have a great week everybody. Play ball!