Something a little cheerier...

My old bud, The Collective Troll stepped up and sent me a whack o' '76 Topps. Too many to list... among the highlights
A Willie
a Reggie

and an Expo. One of two Expos in the Hall of Fame.

If you can help in my eternal quest to finish this set, please go here to see my needs. They used to be wants. They are now needs. LINK

The ones in RED are hopefully on their way from helpful people, including some more from Troll.

Thanks to Marck and everyone else who has helped me with this.

54...53...52...51...

getting closer to 1976 Topps completion. A big thanks to Collective Troll, A Giants Blog, GCRL, and Larrythesewingmachineguy for offering to help me with this.

After my good friend Marck fights his way through the post office, I'll be down to needing these...

#'s 1, 2, 10, 19, 50, 98, 100, 118, 119, 125, 130, 169, 175, 185, 192, 193, 194, 197, 202, 230, 240,

250, 262, 290, 295, 300, 302, 325, 331, 340, 346, 405, 440, 444, 453, 462, 470, 471, 490, 530,

550, 561, 574, 575, 583, 592, 599, 625, 629, 659

TRADED

27T, 28T, 85T, 127T, 146T, 158T, 211T, 250T, 259T, 292T, 296T, 309T, 380T, 401T,

411T,428T, 434T, 464T, 528T, 532T, 554T, 583T, 592T, 618T, 632T, 649T,


I hope I didn't make any mistakes copying the list over.... when in doubt, please always check my wantlist page here.

144.... 143.... 142.....

141 !!! That's all I need to finish this blessed 1976 Topps baseball set. I know a lot of you will scoff when you hear that... I started this little project almost two years ago. What's taking so long?
Well, when you live in the land of snowshoe softball.... completing a "vintage" baseball set ain't easy. Unless you want to blow $1500 on ebay shipping fees.

Here's what I'm down to...

1976 Topps Baseball#'s 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 19, 24, 48, 49, 50, 67, 70, 73, 75, 80, 81, 90, 95, 98, 100, 112, 114, 118, 119, 120, 125, 130, 137, 139, 147, 155, 156, 160, 167, 169, 174, 175, 179, 185, 189, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 216, 230, 235, 240, 250, 262, 270, 285, 290, 295, 300, 302, 316, 317, 320, 321, 325, 331, 340, 342, 343, 345, 346, 347, 348, 350, 355, 359, 365, 375, 380, 385, 390, 400, 405, 412, 415, 416, 435, 440, 441, 444, 447, 450, 453, 459, 461, 462, 465, 469, 470, 471, 477, 480, 490, 500, 501, 514, 520, 525, 530, 538, 542, 545, 548, 550, 561, 564, 570, 574, 575, 580, 583, 590, 592, 599, 607, 625, 629, 635, 640, 645, 650, 653, 656, 657, 659


And of the ones I have, only 11 need upgrading.

519/660 = 78.6% complete

a Vintage thanks, times two...

a lot of you know Matt from Project Baseball 1976 fame. He also has another blog with a simple theme, A Giant Blog. No, it's not a blog about tall people. But his favourite team, the NY/SF Giants. He's trying to do what I'm trying to do with the Braves, put together team sets going waaaay back.
I was able to help him with some 1970, '71 and '72 Topps that I acquired via trade and card show, and I sent them on to him to enjoy.

Last week, I received an envelope from Matt. Not of vintage Braves. Oh no. Inside were 31 glorious 1977 Topps football cards.
Beautiful. Never heard of any of 'em. Even more awesome. Thanks for the football Matt!

Now here's where it gets hinky. I think, but am not sure, that Matt also included a few 1976 Topps baseball cards as well for my set that will never end. The problem is this. I get so excited at the prospect of maybe one day finishing this set off, I literally rush to my '76 binder and stuff them in the empty slots if I can.
So we'll give Matt credit for some of those too!

Which leads me to the "times two" portion of the post. Our good friend, the main Troll himself, sent me a plain, white envelope, with what could only be a top loader inside of it. One card? Usually trades between us are sent by the pound.... what could this be? Well after I tore it open, inside I found a 1976 Topps Tom Seaver.
Again, no scan as it went into my binder in about 4 seconds.
Thanks Marck!!

I may one day finish this set. Doubtful... but maybe.

Woot!

Today's mail brought two small yellow envelopes. In the first one, Matt from Project Baseball 1976 sent over four 1976 Topps beauties to complete our trade.

I love finding other collectors who are trying to collect the same tough set as you are. It makes trading that much more fun. I send you four, you send me four. Perfect. Although Matt is a lot closer to completion than I am.

The next little goodie I received finished off a set for me. Todd (also known as darkship) sent over the last two SP's I needed to polish off '08 A&G.

I've heard that this old bird was a tough one to find. But now my binder is full. (except for some no # Fukudome card I've heard all the cool kids talking about, but that's not worrying me)

Thanks guys!

A Lopes Sighting...

I received my half of our trade from Greg@ Night Owl today. He sent some good stuff.

My very first look at '09 Heritage. (Canada still has yet to see these at less than $140 a box, and still no packs. None)
Brandon styling and profiling in the dugout. (Hey! that's Hubbard in the background...)

Another card closer to the '09 Topps team set with Mike onboard...

Another copy of Jair, now I have one to trade!

Greg sent not one, but two '09 UD Jair Jurrjens... (another one to trade...)

a James Parr RC... (how is this an RC???)

Chipper ! representing the franchise as the face on the checklist...

Chipper again! Chipper does not look impressed at having to be on a purple shiny card.

And Greg also sent some previously loved '76 Topps towards my efforts to complete this darn set.

Davey Lopes looks kinda rough, but he's the last card in the set, and came to me from a huge Dodgers fan. And that's good enough for me.

Thanks Greg!

EDIT: a huge faux pas on my part.. this was sent from Greg, not Jim... I've got a few mail day packages in the queue and got the two Dodger bloggers mixed up. Sorry guys.... That's kinda how my week has gone...

C'mon... a little effort people...

You're a photographer working for Topps in the mid '70's... and get a primo assignment. Get your ass to San Diego and get some shots of the Padres! Alright! San Diego! Party Town!

Crap. Now it's early on the "morning after", and you need to get the job done. Okay. Let's get this over with.
All of you Padre relievers.... stand on the white line and pretend to do a windup, that way I don't have to move. Or think.

Oh c'mon!!!! At least give the last guy a ball! Sweet Jesus. Have some pride man.

My Precious....

A bubble mailer arrived today from reader Kevin. In exchange for a stack of 2007 Topps off of his wantlist, I received 4 beautiful 1976 Topps cards I needed.

First, a checklist... a pink checklist...
next, #413 Pete Varney. Rockin' the red WhiteSox jerseys.... that makes sense, right?

#588 Kevin Kobel. Hey Kevin! Over here!

#642 Dennis Blair. That looks like old Jarry Park in the background. Sweet!

I love this set. I've been trying to complete it FOREVER! And I only have around 150 cards. Finding these in my area of the world is impossible. And ebayers always want $3.50 shipping and handling, etc....

But I'm four cards closer today!

It came!!!!! It finally came!!!!

I've been waiting so long.... ever since the first one arrived unannounced. And today, it finally arrived.
I didn't want to beg... I didn't want to appear impatient. After all, Dave does this over at Goose Joak out of the goodness of his heart, the love of the game, and an apparent lack of a life. (I'm kidding!!!! I kid.... I'm a kidder..)
Check it out!
1976 Topps Adam LaRoche! The world is a better place with more Adam LaRoche cards!

1976 Topps is a set I'm going to collect... I've already started on the Braves team set... now I just have to make the plunge and do the rest of it.
One day.....

Rare 1976 Topps Rookie Find!!!

An unbelievable find! A 1976 Topps Chipper Jones Rookie!
Yes! 17 years before his debut, Topps had the forethought to release a rookie card of a lock Hall of Famer.
Who am I kidding? There is no way Topps and forethought should ever be in the same sentence.
This beauty is from Dave at Goose Joak. If you've never read his blog, go and check it out.
Pure Awesome.

Look at the card! Off centre, left to right! Nice! And the corner! Top right... bent! Beautiful!!
1976 is the year I would collect if I could. I've started with the Braves team set, and only need a couple more to complete it... But being where I am, there is no way I could ever find singles... I'll have to keep an eye out for a lot or box on the 'bay...

Thanks Dave! If only I had a hard copy............