HBO: This Double Fits Me to a "T"

It took me ages track down my first 2007 Donruss EEE Collegiate Patches manupatch card, so I was super pumped when I picked up a double of the card in the HBO.

As the old saying goes, two manupatches are better than one.

Trade Report: Restarting a Collection Thanks to PTSIA

After I bought out the Hochevar collector, I decided to try to recoup some money by selling some cards from my lower-tier collections (of which, the second round of auctions are ending in about a day) which included all of my manupatch cards except for my family name-plates.

Well, Greg Z. of Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle was going to have none of that.  So, he restarted my ABC manupatch collection with a great "V".

Greg also sent along an avalanche of golden nuggets.

And, because he's awesome that way, he also tracked down some Mustache Portrait cards that I'll be using during this year's Movember.

Thanks again, Greg!  And I hope everyone takes a moment to wish Greg a happy 23rd birthday and to vote for him in the Sandy Koufax autograph give-away. 

The Best of Both Worlds

I've been on the hunt for this card since well before this blog was created, and, as the song suggests, it hits the best of both of my main collecting worlds.

The only thing that could have improved the card would have been a 007 serial number.  Missed it by that much.

Trade Report: Fishing for Manupatches with SpastikMooss

Did a little vintage-for-manupatch trade with SpastikMooss of The Great Sports Name Hall of Fame blog last month, and along with a nice little cache of staches, I received this Marlins Manupatch.  

I have no idea who CARL is or why he deserves to be on a manupatch, but regardless, this card's a beauty.  Thanks a ton for the trade Mooss!

Benched by JBF

Today I got Benched by Jaybarkerfan. 

And I never even saw it coming.

Hopefully I can redeem myself and regain some respect in JBF's eyes.  Maybe a couple of pieces of vintage will do the trick.

Trade Report: Condition (Not) Poor

When slangon of the blog Condition: Poor contacted me about working out a trade, I hoped I'd have something that he'd find valuable enough to persuade him to send what he was proposing.  Turns out I did. 

Yet something tells me that "Condition: Poor" is a gimmick, a hook, a rouse, a smoke-screen, etc., because as it turns out, none of the cards he sent were in poor condition at all.  In fact, they were in fantastic condition.  Here, see for yourself.

The meat-and-potatoes of the trade for me were these two manupatches.  While they don't fit into any of my current collections, there is no way I'm turning away manupatches of  Roger Maris and Frank Thomas. 

And I don't think I could consider myself a manupatch collector without at least one commemorative patch of the All-Star Game and the World Series in my collection.

The icing on the cake came in the form of some additions to three of my major player collections and a couple of cool Royals cards that I don't believe I had yet.

Thanks again for the trade slangon!  I look forward to our next meeting.

Post-SuperBowl Manupatches

I took a mental health (and, what has turned into a body health) day-off from work today, which means that I had the bubble mailers out of the mailbox before the mail lady was finished with our block (which is really quick because there are only two houses and two churches on our side of the block).

And wouldn't you know it, but my first additions to my NFL Team Logo Manupatches set arrived.  It seems very fitting that they would arrive a day after the Super Bowl.

I know that not as many people actively collect football cards, but if anyone has any NFL Team Logo Manupatches that they'd like to trade (especially the Broncos), let me know.

Yes, I'm Still Collection Baseball Cards. Slowly.

I thought I'd take a moment during the Great Tobacco Card Revolution of 2012 to assure my fans that, yes, I am in fact still collecting baseball cards.  Problem is, I rarely find ones I want/need these days.  So, I feed my collecting addiction by going back to my collecting roots.

But, once in a blue moon, I find a card that I like, that I need, and that I feel is worth the shipping costs.  Today's card that fit the bill is a 2010 Topps Silk Dexter Fowler card which is numbered 46/50. 

The seller also had a manupatch for a buck and combined shipping, so I grabbed it as well.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of the 4th of July hat logos, so to be able to own a second one for Dexter for a buck was too good of a deal to pass up.

I now return you to your regularly schedule program, "A Trip Down Tobacco Card Lane".

Trade Report: M is for Manupatch by D. Dimwit

Did a card-for-card trade with The Daily Dimwit last week and I couldn't be happier with the results.  Both cards were #/99, both fit well into our respective collections, and both cards contained fabric.  My card is blue, his was red.  His card is a jersey relic and mine is a manupatch.

I love the overall look of this card.  It is very regal and old-timey feeling. 

Even though this is a "hat logo" manupatch, since I already have a Braves logo (J-Hey to be precise), it'll be the M in my Alphabet Collection, both of which I've resolved to complete by year's end.

Thanks for a great trade Double-D!

Fave Five: Christmas Cards

The wife and I managed to make it to Christmas Eve Eve before we opened our presents (which actually may be the latest we've waited in the eight Christmases we've been together).  This year we reasoned that we'd best open them tonight because tomorrow we'll be preparing to host my family for a Christmas Eve BoozeFest & Mexican Feast (TM) and Christmas Day will be spent at my parent's house, so we really won't have time to open presents after tonight.  As a reward for reading this entire paragraph, the first person to request it in the comments will get the Diamond Giveaway code I pulled from the below box.

One of the presents my wife gave me was a box of 2011 Topps Series 2.  We opened it together and, as usual, she pulled all the great cards from the box. 

Here are my Fave Five Christmas Eve Eve Cards of 2011.

FIVE:  Eight Sets of Dupes (aka Classic Topps Collation)

FOUR:  Inserts

The Robinson has an original back.

THREE:  Shiny Gold Minis

TWO:  Sparkley

ONE:  Manupatch

Which happens to be my third Orioles logo manupatch, along with the Murray and Bell below, so I'd love to trade away the Bell and Lee for a logo manupatch of a team I don't already have (list of cards needed can be found HERE).

All of the above cards are available for trade, as are all the base cards I got, except for the Royals and Rockies I pulled out for my personal collection.  If you need any of these, I'd love to work out a trade.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! 

Pride of a Nation

I just noticed that yesterday's post was my 300th post on my blog, which seems about right.  I'm a month away from the blog's 1st birthday, which means I've done about 1 post a day all year.  Not too shabby.

And since this blog is the Pride of a Nation*, I figure this is a perfect time to show off my latest Dexter Fowler / Manupatch / Autographed card purchase.

Also, I've spent my first few days of Christmas Vacation getting my library card catalog cabinet organized with my cards and I'm really happy with how it's turning out.  I even figured out a great way to label the drawers.  I'll be sure to post some pictures when I'm finished.

*Obviously the nation I'm referring to is the Republic of Kazakhstan.  It's the weirdest thing, but those guys love manupatches and mustaches.

Fave Five: 2012 Collecting Goals

Sure, it's a touch early to be making plans for next year, but I thought I'd get a head start on setting my 2012 collecting goals.

Obviously I'm going to keep picking up Hochevars, Fowlers, and Stocktons whenever possible and I'm going to try to get organized by getting my cards filed away in their library card file home.  But I need specific collecting goals to keep me motivated over the next year.

The nice thing is, unlike most of my new year resolutions (i.e. lose weight, read more than 2 books in a year, stop killing hobos, etc.), I really want these goals to come true and I will have fun accomplishing them.


So, here are my Fave Five 2012 Collecting Goals

FIVE:   Vintage Cards

 I want to get my 1910 Murad T51 and 1948-49 Leaf (baseball) sets to at least 50% completion by the end of next year.

FOUR:  Mustache Portrait Collection 

Yikes, that's some bad scanning

I want to build a mustache portrait collection that is at least 100-cards strong by the start of next MOvember.

THREE:  Manupatch Collections 

 I want to complete both my letter and logo manupatch collections.  The MLB logo collection is 66% complete and the letters collection is just under 50% complete.

TWO:  Denver Broncos Super Bowl Rookies

Obviously this isn't a rookie card, but it's the only Broncos card I had scanned at the moment.

A rookie card of every player on the Denver Bronco's 1997 Super Bowl winning team.  When a rookie can't be found, I will make due with any card that can be found.  HERE is the 1998 roster.  Key players include Elway, Davis, McCaffrey, Sharp, Romanowski, Atwater, and Elam.

ONE:  Eck Trifecta

A rookie, a relic, and an autograph of the greatest mustache/mullet combo in history, Dennis Eckersley.  I also wouldn't mind getting my Eck collection above 100 cards.

There you have it.  Even if I don't reach these goals, even attempting them is going to make 2012 a great year of collecting in the Manupatches and Mustaches house.

Why, Yes Virginia, There is a (Secret) Santa

Once I saw Bad Wax's Secret Santa idea, I knew it was something of which I wanted to be a part.  I've had fun searching ebay for cards to send away in trade (Dennis and Greg know what I'm talking about) and the thought of receiving a "surprise" gift in the mail sealed the deal for me.

Earlier this week, I received my package, and, just like in real life, the package didn't make it to Christmas before I opened it (but to be fair to me, I had no idea it was a "Christmas gift"). 

And, suffice to say, my Secret Santa is this year's winner.  I am almost ashamed to send off my Secret Santa gift, because it pales in comparison to this one.

My Secret Santa hit upon four of my personal collection categories and sent along a staggering nine cards. 

First, my Colorado Collection increased to 14-cards with this LenDale White autograph.

Next, my Eddy Mac collection got a card closer to hitting the Trifecta with this jersey relic.  Even better was that a piece of Rod Smith's jersey is also attached.

And I love that they tell when and where Eddy wore the jersey.  If the card back is to be trusted, this jersey could have remnants of Mile High Stadium's final season's turf on it.  Anyone have a home cloning kit handy?

My Secret Santa didn't stop there because he added another Dexter Fowler autograph to my collection.  These Goudy Graphs are one of my all-time favorite autograph cards.  This one is pitch-perfect from top to bottom.

And, last, but certainly not least, my Secret Santa sent along SIX!!!! team logo cards for my MLB Manupatch collection.

When these beauties started spilling out of the bubble mailer, I was dumbstruck by the kindness and generosity that my Secret Santa displayed.

I don't know if you blog and I don't have your email, but if you see this Mike D, thanks a ton!

Trade Report: Thine Manupatches Be Argyle

Last month, Greg Z. sent word that he was in possession of a couple of manupatches for my Alphabet Set.  More specifically, he had my initials, E & L. 

I set off to find something worthy to send his way and he seems to have been pleased with what I rounded up, and I"m more than happy with what ended up in my grubby paws.

And I can always count on getting some great 90s basketball cards and Royals add-ons in my trade packages from Greg.

Thanks for the trade Greg!  Looking forward to our next swap.

Trade Report: Some Royal Goodness from TMG

Dennis, of Too Many Grandersons, sent me a huge box of cards last week.  I've finally dug my way out from under the avalanche of work I found myself under this past couple of weeks and made my way to the scanner with some of the cards he sent.

As usual, he sent a very generous package my way and here are some of my favorites.

Alex and Billy

Hoch and some team cards

Some killer 'staches

And the card that kick started the trade, a manupatch to add to my Alphabet Manupatch Set.

Thanks for another fantastic trade, Dennis.  (And sorry for the picture posting delay!)

Trade Report: $30 a Week ManuStaches

I recently completed a trade with one of my favorite new bloggers, Robert of the $30 a Week Habit blog.  While he's only 35-posts deep into his blogging career, he seems to have already found his voice and his niche in the blogosphere, which is no small feat.

I shipped off as many Blue Jays and auto/relic cards as I could find in an effort to get a couple of manupatches and mustaches sent my way.  It seems to have worked because these arrived on my doorstep earlier this week.

First, a great looking Orioles team logo manupatch, as well as my first All-Star Game commemorative patch.  I doubt that I'll attempt to collect them all, but I definitely won't turn them away if they are offered to me, especially if they are as visually striking as this one is.

Robert also sent along some Royals cards, most of which will be new additions to my Royals binder, most notably the KC team card at the bottom of the scan.  These cards really drive home how much the Royal's roster has changed in the past year.

And it's always nice to be able to add some recently-printed mustaches to my collection, even if they are reprints.

Thanks for the great trade Robert.  I'm looking forward to our next one.

Trade Report: Flip this Manupatch w/ Rhubarb_Runner

After I realized that I had two Minnesota Twins team logo manupatches, I felt confident that I would be able to flip one of them for a different team manupatch.  And I was right.

Rhubarb_Runner of the multi-volume dissertation of nothing blog "e rayhahn, rayhahn" was the first to propose a trading of manupatches.  I sent him a Mauer patch and some 2010 Topps T206 cards that he needed and shipped to me a Pirates patch and some high-numbered mustaches.

This is as good a time as any to remind everyone that I'm still collecting mustache cards for my Mustache Set, but I would ask that you be on the lookout for mustache cards of the high-numbered variety (400s-800s).  I'm still collecting all mustache cards, but I really need more of the higher-numbered cards for my set.

 Another great manupatch (as well as some fantastic staches) has made its way into my collection thanks to another great trader in the blogosphere.  I love this hobby!

A Package of Sweet Beginning

I was able to take out a huge chunk of my MLB Team Logo Manupatch set when I won this lot of nine 2003 Sweet Spot Sweet Beginnings rookie patches for a really nice price.

The Blue Jays, Mets, Dodgers, White Sox, Cubs, and A's cards are all going straight to the collection.  The extra Cubs card and the Rockies and DBacks cards are doubles and are available for trade.

Also, please note, I'm not married to any of these cards so if you see one you want and you have a manupatch that I need, I'll gladly swap.

A Downsizing of the Crinkly Wrappers Collection

helps strengthen my collection.

I decided to claim the early-1990s Upper Deck lot that Crinkly Wrappers founder moremonkeys138 was giving away in an attempt to downsize his collection.  For the low price of shipping/handling costs, I received a huge pile of cards.

My main goal with this lot was to fill in some gaps in my Mustache Set, and it did that in spades.  I filled in a dozen or two holes in my pages, which makes me very happy.

I also found some great cards of some of my favorite players from my youth.

I also enjoy the artwork that Upper Deck used back in the day.

I've worked with Crinkly Wrappers before, and, once again, he threw in a bonus with the package, and he really out did himself this time.

I'm a huge fan of cards, gambling, and poker, and I even watch poker when it's on television.  (Insert drying-paint joke here).  So I am very happy to add a Poker Brat manupatch to my collection.  It'll be a great addition to my Alphabet Manupatch Set. 

Thanks for the cards moremonkeys138!