It's the End of 2018, and It's Been Quite a Year!

It's 27 minutes before the 2018 ends here in the Central Time Zone. I'm drinking sparkling white grape juice before I break open a shot of Bailey's with Coffee (or is that supposed to be the other way around). I look forward to what 2019 will bring, but am reflecting on what happened this past year.

Lots of highs.

I saw my daughter graduate high school, accomplish her goal of dancing the "senior dance" with the friends she grew up dancing with throughout her childhood, and begin life as a college student.

I saw my son become a two-time gold medalist in Special Olympics, come out of his sister's shadow to become a leader of sorts in the frontline section of the marching band and with his peers in special education.

My wife and I celebrated 20 years of martial bliss, and as we grown, the more my love for has as well.

I found the courage to challenge myself in new situations professionally. Working for a food brokerage after years for food distributors and learning the pharmaceutical trade. Both fields have their own unique set of circumstances, and I do still have a lot to learn. But I am grateful the experiences and people I have met this year.

Lots of lows.

My dad passed away. Life for our family will never be the same. I still think of him daily.

This blog has not seen much activity because of everything that has been going on.

But regardless, 2018 was quite a year.

Even with the inactivity on the blog, it was a good year Hobby wise.

I mean, Topps' deal with MLB Properties as the exclusive baseball card company was extended (certainly people will disagree with that as a good thing, but it's a good thing for me).

I achieved the annual goals of completing the eponymous set plus inserts, along with Allen & Ginter's and Gypsy Queen, the 32 team sets, and MiLB Pro Debut. That's another, oh 3,000 plus cards and then some.

Last year, I bought a six-inch binder to hold 1,976 cards from 2017. I thought I'd do the same now.

This six-inch binder holds the following sets from 2018 Topps:

• 702 cards from Topps Series 1 and 2
• 300 cards from Topps Update Series
• 5 Topps Rookie Variation cards (from the factory set)
• 3 miscellaneous advertisement cards
• 4 Topps SP cards
• 10 Topps Now Top 10 cards
• 50 Superstar Sensation cards
• 50 MLB 2017 Award Winner cards
• 50 Instant Impact cards
• 50 Longball Legends cards
• 32 National Baseball Card Day cards
• 100 1983 Topps 35th Anniversary cards
• 24 1983 Topps 35th Anniversary Rookie cards
• 75 1983 Topps 35th Anniversary All-Star cards
• 50 1983 Topps Update 35th Anniversary cards
• 249 Topps Salute cards
• 30 Opening Day cards
• 50 Future Stars cards
• 90 Legends in the Making cards
• 30 Derek Jeter Highlights cards
• 30 Kris Bryant Highlights cards
• 30 Cody Bellinger Highlights cards
• 30 Aaron Judge Highlights cards
• 2 Topps Update Series SP cards
• 25 Don't Blink cards
• 50 An International Affair cards
• 10 Storybook Ending cards
• 30 Postseason Prominence cards
• 20 Hall of Fame Highlight cards
• 20 Bryce Harper Highlight cards

Okay, so carry the 1, and....

That's 2,201 cards, and wait...

Two thousand, two hundred, one cards.

That's 225 more cards than 2017. Topps managed to add more cards in 2018 than they did the year before. No wonder these binders are getting heavier.

Remember those packs that I bought during National Baseball Card Day? Well, first I wanted to do a pack break week (or two, depending), then life happened and I just decided to wait until later. Then, I had planned on doing a baseball card pack Advent Calendar back in December, then Peoria happened, and I just decided to scrap it. So maybe, just maybe as we ring in 2019, I'll try and open those packs to begin the new year as we wait until the 2019 Baseball Card season draws near. I'll open a pack at the New Year's party I'll be going to later today with the family. What I'll be opening is anybody's guess, including my own.

Speaking of 2019, it's been a tradition here on this blog, so...

Goodbye 2018!!!

Hello 2019!!!

Goodbye 2018 Topps Design!!!

Hello 2019 Topps Design!!!

It is now 2:27 am, over two hours since I first started writing (in between celebrating and about two more shots of Bailey's). May all your collections grow to new heights. Let's hope Topps makes it a bit easier on us insane set collectors. Thank you for letting me into your computers this past year (when I was able to at least). I hope to be able to share more of my collection with you in 2019!!!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama