The first, and last Allen & Ginter post on Waxaholic.

This week marks the start of my least favourite time. Ginter time. Don't get me wrong, I love the product. And if I had more $$$ I'd chase the set. But we here in blogger land know what Ginter time means. It means All Ginter All the time. 24/7 on approximately 365 blogs for the next 6-8 weeks.

Now I try and read all of your blogs, because I truly enjoy reading everyone's differing opinions on stuff. The world is flat, Johnny Depp is a good actor, Yadier Molina is a good catcher... you know.... But sometimes it gets to be too much.

So, like last year, I will make one post about A&G and then no more (unless a card or two gets shown off in a trade post of course) After this, you may come to Waxaholic for a brief respite and a Ginter free zone.

We'll have cake and punch. It'll be fun.

So on we go to my two pack break. Here's what $9 got me.

Pack One:

First card I see, Brandon Beachy. Awesome.

 And to bring me crashing back down to Earth, Ty Wigginton.

 a former Brave, Rafael "I go where the big money is" Soriano

 A hit! It's.... It's ...... Robinson Crusoe. Er... Cano. Craptastic. A guy you hardly hear about, until he lucked out in the Home Run competition. But seriously, why was he even there? If anybody actually collects this guy, offer me a Brave relic somethingorother and we'll swap.

 another former Brave, Mini Derrick Lee.

 Strasburgjo!!!! A year too late I guess...

 and some worthless insert of Lance Berkman.

 Pack Two: Can I improve on pack one???
No. The answer is no.

Miguel Cabrera.

 Nick Swisher. And my scanner is not playing tricks, nor am I hurt like Night Owl, it really is that bad off center.

 former Brave Tim Collins. We had Tim for five minutes before trading him away for some Maple Bats.

 The man no one wants.... Carlos Zambrano

 Grady Sizemore

 Mini Marmol! I always think of Robert Munsch when I say his name...

 One of the Astros many pitchers named Rodriguez.... this one is Wandy. Seriously. Wandy.

 and how would any pack break for a 2011 baseball product be complete, without a David DeJesus card.

All except Mr Beachy are for trade.... especially for any Braves or Adam LaRoche cards you may have.

Have fun Gintering!!!!!! Come back here for a well deserved break.

Epic Fail

As a lot of you are aware, I missed out on the whole Topps Million Card Giveaway thingie. I didn't buy any hobby boxes and our WalMarts do not carry baseball, so the code cards just weren't available.
But I didn't feel bad. I knew. Football was coming. Topps doesn't think anymore, and I knew that whatever they did for baseball, they would do for football. See? No thought required. Take the rest of the year off.
So finally, football came. And I ran out of money the week before. Damn medical bills. But anyway, I managed to get a code. My new friend bought my friendship by offering a free code to anyone who linked to his new blog.
Hello new friend.
And a code for the new GridIron Giveaway found it's way into my email inbox.

And the peasants rejoiced. For it was Glorious.

And I waited, nay, revelled and basked in the moment. I watched the website with breathless anticipation for two days, waiting for the opportune time to strike, and with that fatal blow, bring home a priceless vintage Cowboy.

I watched for the signs.... and finally, the moment came. The infernal machine was virtually spewing out vintage cards at an alarming rate. I proudly hit the enter key to receive, nay! Be gifted my prize!
a 1998 Mark McMillian of the Chiefs.

I hate Topps.

The continuing story of the Cards That Never Were.

Jacques Plante, one of the greatest goalies to ever strap on the pads, played 18 years and 837 games in the NHL. The last 8 of those games with the Boston Bruins at the end of the '72/73 season.

Neither OPC nor Topps decided to make a card of Jacques in their '73/74 sets. So I did.
Three hours later, and my eyes are bleeding, but there it is. Jacques went 7-1 for Boston with a 2.00 GAA. After the season he jumped ship to the WHA to play one last season before retiring.

Bargain Hunting Parts 4 and 5 - Great White North Edition

It was time to add some hockey to my bargain hunting excursion. Remember the rules? Under $5 basically. Free shipping if possible. I found two lots that I snapped up pretty quickly.

The first included this 1970-71 OPC Serge Savard - Hall Of Fame 1986
a 1971-72 OPC Brad Park Hall Of Fame 1988 - (Brad has a wrinkle on the front that stabs him right into his hip)

a 1971-72 OPC Yvan Cournoyer All Star with a crease just under "Right Wing"

a 1971-72 OPC Serge Savard - crease free, but with a soft lower corner.

a 1971-72 Topps Frank Mahovlich - Hall Of Fame 1981 - Frank was traded from Detroit to Montreal. Detroit wears red and white, Montreal wears red and white. Airbrush the logo and no one will ever know, right?

a 1971-72 Topps Gordie The Best Hockey Player That Ever Lived Howe. - Hall Of Fame 1972 - Gordie has a small wrinkle on the back of his card.

Have you been able to tell the difference between the 71-72 OPC and the 71-72 Topps?

No? That's because the only difference is on the backs. Silly.

Here we see the Topps Gordie As Close To God As You Can Get Howe...

and here's the back of the OPC Savard

Easy now, right? BTW, any tape you see is on the top loader, not the card itself. I hate, HATE peaople who put tape on top loaders. There is a special place in hell for people who put tape on top loaders.

If you've traded with me, you probably know that I recycle when I can. Bubble envelopes, top loaders, cases, etc... this is where all my top loaders that people send me with tape on them go. Yes. To you. Sorry. It's either that or throw them out.

That concludes Bargain Hunt 1 and a rant. All for $3.25

This next batch I got was all 1972-73 Topps Hockey. In beautiful condition. I should get these graded. Right after my lobotomy.


Yvan Cournoyer - Hall OF Fame 1982 -"The Road Runner" why don't current players have cool nicknames?

Yvan Cournoyer in action All Star card

Jacques Lemaire - Hall Of Fame 1984 -complete with printers dots and top loader tape.

Terry Harper - Terry was part of two huge trades, where the team trading Terry absolutely raped the other team.

Paul Henderson

What the HELL?!?! A Maple Leaf? How did a Maple Leaf get on this blog?!?! Well, it's Paul Henderson. A National Hero. That's how. If you don't know why Paul Henderson is a National Hero, then a Google you will go.

This lot was $3. I love this. I'm changing the way I collect because of this. We'll see how long it lasts.

Press Pass vs. Topps

Press Pass 1
Topps 0

One to go....

I need one more..... (I think)

Here Chipper, Chipper, Chipper..........

Thanks for the trade Amanda!