Saturday, June 30, 2012

Class Day

One of the traditions from the east coast universities that I'm sad never made it to my southeastern Colorado alma mater is the class day speech. 

Yale University -- 69/150, 46%

And Yale's had some good ones recently.  I can't imagine how cool it would have been to have one of these famous figures speak to my graduating class.

Tom Hanks



Bill Clinton



Christopher Buckley



Tony Blair

Friday, June 29, 2012

Purple Pride

I was able to slay another one of my white whales this week when I added a 2008 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes autographed purple parallel, which is serial numbered 1/5.


It's a great looking card and I love the purple background.  It's a regal color and is fitting for such a low numbered card.

I had no clue that there was a purple #/5 parallel in this set until the moment it popped up on the bay.  Until that point, I assumed that the #/10 red parallel was the lowest numbered card.  Sometimes it pays to constantly troll the bay.



The rainbow is coming together nicely.

Cal

My neighbor's name is Cal.  The college below's nickname is Cal. 

California -- 68/150, 45.3%

Coincidence?  I think not.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

River Rat

When my wife saw this card, she was reminded of our rafting trip down the Arkansas River a few weeks ago.  The odd thing is I wore this exact outfit on our trip.

University of Texas -- 67/150, 44.6%

Well, maybe not, but it was fun none-the-less.

 Me, Rachael, Ryan, and Scott

Sadly, the best picture from the trip is the pre-adventure picture.

Yard Sale "Junk"

My in-laws love yard saleing (as do I, but I've yet to find anything blog-worthy at a yard sale in my small town) and since they know I love cards, they always keep their eyes peeled for something to add to my collection.

About a week ago, they stumbled into four big boxes of cards and snapped them up for me.  I finally got around to sorting them out (of course I did a cursory flip through the boxes the moment my wife brought them into the house) and I was quite pleased with their purchase.


Of course the boxes were filled to the brim with "junk wax" era cards, but I am pumped to add them to my library card file cabinet.  The tall piles are made up of your usual late-80s and early-90s Upper Deck, Topps, Leaf, Pinnacle, and Donruss.  And everyone knows what that means:  MUSTACHES!!!


The above beauties will be immediately filed in my 2012 Mustache Portraits Set drawer.  And I am certain that the four boxes of yard sale "junk" will give me the last three mustache cards I need to complete the 2011 Mustach Franken-Set.

I can't wait to dig deeper into each pile of cards and I definitely can't wait for my in-laws to stumble into more cards for me.  Thanks for the cards Sandy and Richard!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

What Can Brown Do For Me?

For starters, it can push me to the 44% complete point in my Murad T51 set.


Also, this is the first card that I have received that features a black-and-white athlete.  It is quite striking how different the card looks with the statuesque athlete rather than a colorful figure.

French for "Our Lady"

At least, that's what wikipedia claims Notre Dame means.  I'm guessing Ron Burgundy has heard a different translation.

With alumni including Condoleezza Rice, Regis Philbin, Phil Donohue, Joe Theisman, Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis, Knute Rockne, Hannah Storm, Tim Brown, Megan Duffy, and Rudy Ruettiger, Notre Dame is one of the most prestigious colleges for which I have a Murad card.

Notre Dame -- 65/150, 43.3%

Also, I am continually flabbergasted by the athletic footwear of the 1910s.  I would love to see today's athletes wearing a pair of boots while competing.  We've come a long way, baby.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Rochester

the

Rochester -- 64/150, 42.6%

I think my favorite part about this card is that the tip of the "Rochester" pennant floats over the "Murad" boarder.  A simple detail that adds a little bit of whimsy.

Swarthmore

I have so many questions about this card.
Swarthmore College -- 63/150

What is that stick?  Why long sleeves with shorts?  Is he wearing sandals?  If Swarthmore College is still around, why did I not apply to go there?

Monday, June 25, 2012

Shutout

Tonight, in an 8-0 victory against the Rays, Luke Hochevar pitched his fourth career complete game and second career shutoutIn the game, Luke threw 113 pitches, 73 for strikes. He allowed seven hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.  In his previous start, last Tuesday night at Houston, Hochevar shut out the Astros for 7 2/3 innings in a 2-0 victory. That ended a six-start winless stretch for him.

It's one of those times where I wish I was still living in the mid-west so I could have been at the game to witness his mastery first hand.

It's also fitting that today, my 13th black parallel from the 2012 Topps Series 1arrived in the mail.



While Hoch continues to seek wins for the up-start Royals, I will continue to root him on in our hometown and seek out the rest of the 61 cards needed to complete this "set".

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Leland Stanford Junior University

Is apparently the college for the citizens of Lilliput.  HI-OHHH!!!
Stanford University -- 63/150

This is a card that I've been wanting to get my hands on ever since Fuji showed off his.  After looking back at his post just now, I see that Fuji replied to my "wink wink hint hint" about trading me his extra copy.  And now I feel like a jerk for not knowing and not getting a trade going and not getting the card into my collection sooner. Sorry Fuji!  Luckily for me, he's busy running a kick-ass summer contest, so he's got bigger fish to fry.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Doctor. Doctor. Doctor. Doctor.

The below card is easily the most well-loved card from my recently purchased Murad lot.  Believe me when I say that this card is of Johns Hopkins University.  I know this, because it's from the card numbered 51-75 section of the set and Johns Hopkins is the only card in this section that features a lacrosse player.

Johns Hopkins -- 62/150

Whenever I think of Johns Hopkins, I think about the Hospital.  And inside hospitals are doctors.  And whenever I think of doctors, this scene from "Spies Like Us", which inspired the above post title.

Friday, June 22, 2012

A Murad Opportunity

Before I show off my newly acquired Murads, I thought I'd share some Murad love with my readers (also, I don't feel like doing the work needed to list these on feeBay).  So, if anyone is interested in owning some Murad T51s, this is your chance.

The cards shown below are the thirteen doubles I have. 


UPDATE:  The two shooting cards in the top right have been claimed.  As has the blue flag Hampton in the upper left and the Iowa College canoeing in the middle of the fourth row.

 I would like to get $20 (free shipping) for the remaining 9 cards of the lot, but I will entertain all offers.  At just over $2 a card, this lot is a perfect opportunity to own some 100-year-old vintage tobacco cards featuring various colleges.

If I don't get any takers within the next week, I'll go ahead and put them on eBay.  And worry not, I don't plan on turning the blog into the home shopping network, I just thought I'd give readers a chance at them first since they seem to be fairly popular.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

LeRoy Neiman, 1921-2012

Yesterday, at the age of 91, LeRoy Neiman passed away.  It's a shame I'd never heard about him until I learned of his death today while watching P.T.I., because not only did he have a great mustache, but he was a great sports artist.  I've seen his paintings before, but never knew who painted them.


The Mohammad Ali painting in the background of the above photo is an example of the bold, brilliantly colored paintings that made Neiman famous.  Other examples of Neiman's work can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.

It would seem that Neiman lived a long, fulfilling life, which is all anyone can really hope.

I Just Scanned Twenty-Seven Murads

And boy is my scanner tired!

But, seriously folks, I picked up a huge lot of twenty-seven T51 Murads this past weekend.  The best part was that the seller allowed me to pick and choose which cards I wanted from the lot, so I didn't end up with a pile of unnecessary doubles.

Therefore, I am proud to announce that I've passed the 50% mark for the set, 58.6% (88/150 cards) to be exact, which means I accomplished my second collecting goal of 2012.

To commemorate meeting this goal, I thought I'd show off my favorite card from the lot, and possibly my favorite card of the set so far, and then I plan to post the rest of the lot one card at a time over the next couple of weeks.

Heidelberg University -- 61/150

I love this card.  The art on the card is completely different than any other Murad card I own because it is the only one so far that features an animal.  All the other cards either feature a person engaged in an activity or, if there is no person in the scene, a large pennant flying in front of a single color background.

The fish and reel with the wood background and vibrant pennant make this card an all-time-great.

Stay tuned for more Murads, with the occasional Hochevar sprinkled about, over the next couple of weeks.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Colorado Collection: Brian Matusz

I recently added another Colorado native's autograph to my Colorado Collection.  This time it's Orioles' pitcher Brian Matusz.  Brian was born and, I assume, raised in Grand Junction, Colorado.  He went on to pitch at the University of San Diego and was then drafted 4th overall in the 2008 draft by the Baltimore Orioles.


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Delivery from the PONY Express

I was greeted by the following message from the PONY Express in my mailbox today:


Well, you know I do!  And the Royals were great!


O-Pee-Chee Brett?  Need it!  Johnny Damon in a Wilmington Blue Rocks jersey?  Need it!  Bud Black's O-Pee-Chee mustache?  WANT IT!!!!!

But, as great as these Royals were, there was one particular card that will immediately be added to my "If the house is on fire, be sure to grab this drawer of cards" drawer.

First, the back.


That's right, this card was inspired by a twitter conversation.  I can be found at the @Lundog handle, so feel free to follow me while I retweet people who are funnier than I am and occasionally post one of my inane thoughts.  Anyway, back to the card.

As most of you have figured out by now, the card is a sketch of Luke Hochevar by the Cardboard Junkie.  This is the second sketch card package I've received from the Junkie, the first being a "Build Your Own Moustachas" card set.

While this sketch isn't as interactive as the Moustachas cards were, it is equally kick-ass and once again proves that the card-blogosphere (and card-twittersphere) is the greatest collection of human beings on the earth.


The ears are my favorite part of the sketch and, coincidentally, my favorite feature of Hoch.  As I look at this card, I begin wishing that dayf had a public-access-style internet show where he walks us through his process of sketching cards.


Thanks for the great card dayf!  I owe you big time.

Monday, June 18, 2012

What's a cheap (under $5), cool card you feel every collector should add to their collection?

The latest question from Fuji's summer-long contest was a no-brainer for me.  "What's a cheap (under $5), cool card you feel every collector should add to their collection?"


In my book, you can't go wrong with any card from the 1910 Murad Collegiate T51 set.  There are countless reasons that every collector should own at least one.  Let me count the ways:


 
  • These tobacco-era vintage cards are over 100-years-old, and who doesn't want 100-year-old cardboard in their collection? 
  • At 150-cards, this set probably has a card for your favorite college. 
  • These cards are tiny pieces of art with vivid colors, intricate details, and interesting scenes of college activities. 
  • And, most importantly for this post, most of these cards can be found for under $5.


So, if you're looking for some reasonably priced tobacco-era vintage cardboard, in my book, you can't go wrong with a Murad T51.  And be sure to send me your doubles.


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Father's Day Cookout

Ours was actually on Friday night when my fam got together for some pulled-pork sandwiches, some beers, and some presents for dear old Dad.  So today I'll post one of my newest Murad cards that features a scene that reminds me of all the times Dad took us camping when I was growing up.


My Murad set is now 61/150 cards strong which brings me to  40.5% complete.

So, Happy Father's Day Dad and to all my readers who happen to be fathers as well.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Rowing My Way to 40%

Thanks to this well-trimmed, well-loved, and well-drawn Franklin College Murad card, I've now accumulated 40% of the 150-card T51 set.


One of my 2012 collecting goals is to own 50% of the set, which I'm now only 15 cards away from accomplishing. The finish line for this goal is so close I can taste it.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

You're a Grand Old Flag


Another bit of cardboard coincidence occurred today as I received the above piece of felt in the mail today.  Imagine that, receiving a flag on Flag Day.

I picked up some Murads from a seller I frequent often, and because they have great combined shipping rates, I decided to look through the rest of their inventory, where I found the above beauty.  Since this "card" is actually felt, there is no identifying information on it about the year.  However, with a little bit of sleuthing, I discovered that the 48-star flag was used from 1912-1959, so this felt was probably made during that time.

I don't know about you, but I'll be celebrating Old Glory Day glued to the television watching the greatest test in all of golf, the US Open.

P.S.  I watched my first perfect game live last night.  Congrats to Matt Cain.  As nervous as I was for him, I can't imagine what was going through his mind, or, worse yet, his wife's mind, as he worked through the last innings.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

I've Got The Posting Bug

As I sit here watching the Golf Channel talk up the US Open which starts tomorrow, I thought I'd post something golf related.

Since my wife and I moved back to my home town of Fowler, my home away from home has become Cottonwood Links Golf Course.  In January I was elected to the course's board of directors where I am currently the treasurer.  I've had a great time on the board and so far the highlight of my tenure came this past Monday when I convinced the other members to bring something new to the pro shop: poker chip ball markers with our logo.


As I sit here typing, the chips are being produced and should be on the pro shop shelf in a couple of weeks.  So, if you ever find yourself driving through Colorado on US Hwy 50, be sure to stop by the course for a round of golf.  And don't forget to mark your ball on the green with one of these chips.

I hope to return to our regularly scheduled programing later this week when a few of the Murad and Hochevar cards I've recently purchased arrive.  Until then, I'll be enjoying the US Open in between my daily rounds at Cottonwood Links and a 3-man scramble at the course on Saturday.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

A Fitting Card

I find it fitting that this is the first card I've received in over a week.


My 1910 Murad T51 collection now sits 59-cards strong, which is 39% of the way complete.


Monday, June 4, 2012

Working Blackwards

It is surprising to me how often I get multiple cards deep into a Hochevar rainbow before I get around to finding the base card of the rainbow.  Well, it's happened again.

The (I'm assuming) base card of the 2007 Bowman Chrome has finally joined its brethren in my library card file -- a refractor, an x-fractor, and a blue boarder.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Turn of the Century

Not only is that how long it's been since I posted twice in one week, but it's also the name of the Donruss Elite Extra Edition parallel I recently bought.


My 2007 EEE collection is getting pretty colorful these days.


Hopefully I'll have my next post up before the Mayan apocalypse hits, but I'm not making any promises.