Preparing for the National Sports Collectors Convention

It's been a hot moment, hasn't it?

Catching up to all the work that was on my desk when I returned from Texas took a bit (and I'm still digging through). But it also means I haven't posted in more than a week, and while there was so much material I had for writing (more trading adventures), there just wasn't enough time in the day.

But tomorrow is an important day. 

First, my wife and I will have been married for 28 years tomorrow. I love my wife. Through good and bad (and there has been a lot of both), our marriage has remained strong. And while we've gotten older (and are feeling this, trust me), it has evolved to something that is...not going through the motions per se...but because the kids are now adults (mind-blown), the adventures we had when they were younger are now memories and we look forward to time at home instead of running around following either or both of their schedules.

Now that doesn't mean that we've stopped that...heck no. But we can now be a bit more selective as to when, where, and how quickly we can get ready than before.

Back to the point.

So while tomorrow morning, my wife and I will have breakfast somewhere, after that is done, she is dropping me off...

AT THE NATIONAL!!!

The National Sports Collectors Convention that is. For the second year in a row, the convention is down the street from the house. And I took the day off, not just to spend time with my wife, but to go to see the sites, sounds, and atmosphere of what is the biggest event of the Hobby.

I do plan on buying cards at the show as I still have 65 insert cards left on my wantlist for 2026 Topps Series 2:

• 17 1991 Topps
• 13 1991 Topps All-Stars
• 10 Crooked Numbers
• 3 First Pitch
• 22 Glove Work

And then there are any other cards that catch my eye, but are not high on the priority list. The chances of finding any of those are not the best as many vendors at the National don't focus on current stuff unless it's still sealed and the few that do have their cards thrown in random places. Maybe a handful of booths will separate their cards by year, but good luck finding them in the chaos.

I do plan on stopping by the Topps booth (I have to...) along with the "Museum" that I happened to see on a YouTube (or was it Facebook) video. I love that kind of stuff and will take pics of those displays. But beyond eBay, I might steer clear of the corporate area. 

I will be there wearing the black Topps 75 shirt so I fit in with the crowd. If I can find my old Topps baseball cap, I'll throw that on too (although the last I saw it, the thing needed a wash). 

Before, I'd carry a bag with boxes of recent year base cards. But the bag was always heavy, and any plans of trading at the show would come up empty. So this year, I'll probably pack lightly, bringing a small binder with just the insert sets so I can add new cards to it right away. Maybe bring this year's extras in the event I am able to find people willing to trade (or buy...I'm not picky). Maybe I'll bring in the box that has all my relic and auto cards to see if I can unload some of them. Maybe I'll bring along my box full of unopened 2018 packs...maybe not...

I can't wait for the show. I do plan on live-blogging the experience. 

And maybe...just maybe...I'll find everything I need to complete Series 2. 

Wish me luck.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Live Blogging: Chicagoland Sports Spectacular

Update: Time 7:48 pm:

I did wind up getting that 1991 Micro set for $10.00. The gentleman even threw in the 1984 Topps Ralston-Purina set for free. 

One final seller had the 1990 Topps Ames set that I will add to my department store set binder and to supplement the Ralston set, I also bought the 1986 Topps Quaker Chewy Granola Bar set. Both purchased for a combined 10 bucks as well.

Last purchase was for another box of Ultra-Pro Platinum sheets. Just need to buy that 6-inch binder so I can start building the binder.

My budget for the show was $300.00. I am left with $170.00. Total spent in cards and supplies: $95.00. 

Overall, a good show. But I think I will skip tomorrow and enjoy a rare Saturday off and relax.

Now I just have to update the wantlist to see which 14 cards are left to find. 

Thanks for joining me on this live blogging event. Maybe I'll do this again at the National.

Update: Time 6:45 pm:

And sure enough, the hunt stalled. I did find a couple of dealers who had plenty of this year's base, and I am sure I could probably complete a set or 10 if I tried. However, one dealer did not have ANY inserts, while the other one had some, but none I needed. Definitely getting my steps in, but nothing to show. 

Observations:

Nice to see the youth out in full force. Many of them trying to hustle dealers with whatever graded rarities they believe will net them a big score. So many of them with the attaché cases and wheelers like their hauling gold bars. Have to give them props for the effort. 

Jose Canseco is in the building. It looks like the autograph guests are behind a couple of walls of partitions, so it's not like anyone can take a far off picture of them. 

There truly is something about these shows. There really is something here for everyone. Just because I can't find what I am looking for doesn't mean that the next guy or gal isn't going to find the next card to whittle down their want list. 

I did find a seller who has a few boxes of 1991 Topps Micro for 10 bucks. Maybe I'll go back there and grab one before I go.

Update: Time 5:10 pm:

Found my favorite dealer at the show. This has been the guy I've been coming to first at these shows for the last 4-plus years I've shown up here. With the exception of last fall, when the delays of 2025 Topps Update left him without any inventory of insert cards, he's never disappointed. 

The man had 31 cards that I needed, including the last Stars of MLB (Trout) and last 6 Greatest Hits cards I needed to complete those sets. 

The wantlist is now down to 14. Now the hard part begins. There aren't many others dealing in current insert singles and I do not have the patience to go through boxes of mixed cards (seriously, is it that big a pain to sort??!)

Wish me luck 

Update: Time 4:47 pm:

I have arrived. General admission tickets are $15.00 tonight. It's busy for a Friday night. Time to get this show on the road.

Friday, March 13, 2026, Time 4:20 pm:

Leaving work now. I have my want lists printed and ready to go. Next stop: the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, where the Chicago Sports Spectacular is being held this weekend. The goal: to find and buy the 45 cards I need to complete the 2026 Topps Series 1 master set. Will I find all of the cards I need tonight? I'm not counting on it, but it would be an achievement if I am able to. 

Wish me luck. I'm going to make updates on my progress. Next post will be when I arrive. Wish me luck.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

A Review of the Chicago Spring Spectacular. Éirinn go brách! Celebrating on the Road This Time!

After three years of spending St. Patrick's Day at home, enjoying corned beef with all of the fixings, and a nice glass of Irish Cream (or two...or more...), we're hitting the road, celebrating with family. But first, it's off to work I go, slinging prescriptions at the pharmacy.

Speaking of...

Yesterday, I went to the Chicago Sports Spectacular (that's what they're calling what used to be the Chicago Sun-Times Spring Sports Card Show). It's the first time ever that I would go on a Friday. If you followed me on Twitter (and if you aren't, feel free to do so, I am @bdj610), you may have read some of my experiences at the show.

If you haven't, here is the summary:

Fridays are a bit quieter, it seems. The place was not extremely crowded, but there were a lot of people (and kids...KIDS...for those who don't believe KIDS don't collect anymore). Most of the vendors were there, greeting customers and each other. For some, this is the first time they've seen each other since the National (or at least the Fall Chicago Sports Spectacular...or whatever it was called).

Lots of vintage, as always, at this show. The big names were there selling modern stuff. And, of course, the same guy that sold me a Gypsy Queen set a couple of years back had what I was mainly looking for, a 2018 Topps Series 1 Master Set. After asking to see if he could knock the price down on the set (which he did), I bought the main set plus 5 Hobby inserts. I offered one of the four 2017 Hank Aaron Award Winner cards I had in my possession to thank him for the discount, and he picked one (Mike Trout...I still have the Harper, Bryant, and Cabrera cards).

I also bought myself a box of plastic sheets (need to put the cards in a binder somehow).

But the highlight of the night, and what got most people's attention on Twitter was this:

A 1989 Topps Hobby Box. 36 packs of cards and gum.

They were offering $5.00 for this box...or were they offering to give me $5.00 for the box...I don't know exactly what the guy said. And after mulling it over (I had to sit down to think about it), I decided to pass. As much as I would have loved to do it (and many people on Twitter said I should buy it), I couldn't think of a single thing to do with the cards once I opened them. I might regret this decision later, but you know what? I'm okay with it, and maybe at another show I'll bite.

After paying for my ticket, the seller handed me an envelope, containing a ticket for a free autograph from one of the signers at this evening's show. Based on the schedule, choices included Tom Browning (he of the perfect game in 1988), Ron Jaworski (QB from the Eagles/ESPN analyst), or someone else who had nothing to do on a Friday night. Now, I'm not an autograph guy, but I thought, why not? My ticket was for:

My first thought was, "Who's this guy??!

So Stan Bahnsen was a pitcher, played in the majors from 1966 through 1982, played for six teams, including the White Sox for four seasons, and was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team in 1968. Now, I had nothing for him to sign, so I thought, "Should I buy a baseball or look for a card? Maybe I should just have him sign the ticket."

But I never heard his name called the entire night I was at the show. I wondered why?

Oh, that's why. He rescheduled. But the policy was no returns, no exchanges. So now I have a dead ticket. So I have one request

Mr. Bahnsen (or someone who can pass this along to him), I'm sorry you couldn't make it out last night to the show. Have a great time today. I'll be at the Walgreens up the road from where you're going to be this today. After you're done signing, would you be able to make the trip north to my store? I'd like to meet you, and possibly redeem that autograph ticket.

On to other topics:

Today is St. Patrick's Day. It is the day that honors St. Patrick, who is the patron saint of Ireland. It also commemorates the arrival of Christianity to the Emerald Isle. In fact, it is said (thanks Wikipedia) that he used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity.


If anybody says, "Top of the morning to you," to you today, make sure to respond in kind, "And the rest of the day to yourself."

Public Service Announcement (as my wife just said that she found the Bailey's): As you celebrate St. Patrick's Day, please remember to celebrate responsibly.



Finally, a quick toast to everyone, Irish or just-for-the-day:

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be at your back.
May the Maury Show always be on your television (sorry, saw that this morning).
May your cards collections grow to unmeasurable heights in both volume and value.
May the quest for new cards be swift.
May the journey of life treat you well today and always.
And may a certain North Side baseball team win it all this year.
If you catch my drift.

Sláinte!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Live Blogging from the Chicago Sun-Times Show in Rosemont, Illinois

The Chicago Sun-Times and other sponsors organize at least two to three card shows (rather large card shows) at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center here in the heart of Rosemont. The place is literally down the street from my house. So when there is a show happening down here, I try to attend at least one day of it to see if I can find cards for my collection. Today just happens to be that day.

So why am I now just sitting here at a table with fellow collectors eating a somewhat dry burger (really, should have gone for the hot dogs) and typing to get this post online? Well, just like in November, I am finally taking a break. I've been walking up and down the aisles looking for dealers who cater to guys like me. And to be honest, there aren't that many. These shows normally attract vendors who specialize in cards pre-1970. There is a whole section of booths with binders and boxes full of cards from the 40's through 60's and guys and gals just plugging away at them, looking to fill want lists with bargain priced cards. What is a guy who normally scours the Bay for cards from 1976 and beyond to do? Well, he hopes and prays that the dealers he has bought from before are at the show today.

And they are. Yay!!!

With a menial budget, after about two-and-a-half hours of walking, I have purchased the following cards to add to my collection:

• When I bought my 2013 Topps Series 1 Master Set, the seller didn't really sort out the different cards from the Chasing History insert set. So there was a mix of regular, retail exclusive, and jumbo pack exclusive insert cards. Well, that doesn't work for me. After sorting through the cards I had, I was able to whittle down the "variants" to nine cards. My first stop was a dealer that had full boxes of inserts. Found all 9 that I need. Total price? $7.00.

• Do you remember that the 2003 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites product featured autograph cards of players that were not part of the base set? I have 20 of the 21 cards of those players (Tug McGraw...didn't happen). So I wondered if Topps decided to do the same thing when they re-introduced 2012 Topps Archives with All-Time Fan Favorite autographs. There were 40 of these SP cards in the base set. Sure enough, all 40 have autograph cards. But there were 33 players who have autos in this set that were not a part of the "base set" and that doesn't include the 8 other Jose Oquendo auto cards that honor his 1988 season of playing at least one game at every position, including pitcher and catcher. Now, the bad news is that one of these cards is a short print (Hank Aaron...go figure). So unless I want to shell out more than $200.00 for it, I am never owning that card. That leaves 32 other players to find. I found five of them. Total price? $45.00.

• My favorite sellers at the show are here all the way from New York City. Now, she (yes, that's right...SHE) didn't bring any of the Original Back cards from 2010 and 2011 (I'm now down to FOUR...will explain later), but she did have Lego Minifigures on sale. My son sent me a text to find some Lego minifigs from series 7 and 9. The bad news? Nothing from S9. The good news? Three packs from S7. Now she didn't allow me to try and figure out which ones she had by the usual method (of feeling for the prop). No problem there. In my haste, I found one that I "thought" we needed (the Aztec) from 7. Bought it for $4.00. The bad news. Not the Aztec. The good news? It was the space guy and we needed that one. Dodged a bullet.

• Now she also sells tons...and I mean TONS of insert cards from current releases. I have always managed to rely on her to find the cards I need on those rare occasions that I try to build an insert set from scratch (which I still do for sets that are either massively expensive or are of cards that are really hard to find). As you all know, I am still looking for the legend SP's found in 2010 and 2011 Topps. I finished the 2009 set, have all five cards from 2012 Topps Series 2, and all 25 cards from 2011 Topps Update Series (will show those off at another time).  After going through the cards, I found 11 from various series from 2010 and 10 cards from 2011 Series 2. I'm not going to say how much I spent, but after what she was going to initially charge for some, she cut me a deal since I am a "regular" customer of hers when she comes to Chicago.

Add one Beckett 2012 book (finally bought one) for $10.00, one admission ticket for $10.00, and another $8.75 for food, I am now down to just about $100, with another 2 hours before I leave for the day (I asked to be picked up at 2:30 pm, we'll see if that really happens).

I'm going to go run around a bit since I have a bit more time to kill. I don't plan on spending much now, but unless something catches my eye...

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Live From the Sun-Times Show in Chicago (okay, Rosemont...but Still...)

My son and I are sitting at one of the tables near the snack line at the Sun-Times show today. It's the last big show of the year held in Chicago (actually, we're in Rosemont, the same place they do the National). We're on a limited budget, and short of not finding any Wacky Packages for my son (we did get Series 8 Lego Mini Figures instead), I did find a total of nine cards to add to my collection. To wit (pictures coming live from the show thanks to my phone, typing on a laptop computer.  Man, do I feel all high-tech and stuff):

The final four cards from Golden Giveaway. Now I know some people were going to send their extras, and if you did, you will still get a thank you from me via cards. And if I owe you cards, let me apologize for not sending them yet. It's been very busy on the job hunting front lately, and it looks like the light might be at the end of the tunnel. Okay, I digress. Moving on.

Three 60 Years of Topps Original Backs Series 1 cards (Dennis Eckersley 1987, Mark Teixeira 2004, Johnny Cueto 2008)

Finally, two shortprints from 2011 Topps Update Series. A Joe DiMaggio for $7, and a Frank Thomas for $8. Weird enough that the Big Hurt is wearing the green and gold of Oakland instead of the silver and black, but then again, this is an SP from the Traded set.

The show is at it's usual Sunday pace. People are trying to sell as much as they can so they don't have to take much back with them. Many vintage sellers as always, and a few sellers of stuff I'm looking for. It was funny though when I was looking over the SP's at one dealer only to find that I had all but the Thomas card. I think I may have bought the rest from him too...maybe.

I like spending time at these shows even though I don't have much in funds. To see that the Hobby is alive and well here in Chicago makes me confident that the future of this Hobby, contrary to popular belief, will remain strong.

Shows like this prove that the Hobby is not dead, and I can't wait for when the National comes back to town next year.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Two Shows and Twelve Cards Later...

With Blogger acting up saying that my Internet Browser is no longer able to see certain features, I now have Google Chrome as a third Internet browser (along with IE which I don't know what version I have, and Opera).

Anyway, I tweeted earlier (follow me @bdj610):

I don't know what the fuss is about. Went to 2 card shows within 2 miles of each other. Both full & there were kids. Hobby dying? Not here.

On the rare Sundays that there is not one but TWO card shows within distance of each other, I try to find ways to get to either, if not both.  Today, I was able to do just that.  Will I complete my ToppsTown set?  Will there be more surprise Original Backs found in the quarter bins?  Will I find my missing Gold Futures card?  Stay tuned.

I arrived at the first show at 10:00 am CST, and the place was already hopping.  It was packed as usual, and believe it or not, there were kids.  KIDS!!!  I found the one card I needed to complete my Gold Futures set (Mark Trumbo), and found an original back card from 2010 Topps Update Series (1975 Berra/Campanella MVP).  Total spent on both cards:  $0.50.

Seeing nothing else that I needed, I proceeded to the second card show.  This was another Fred Copp production.  Less of a crowd here (the spillover from the first show had not yet arrived).  Saw a stack of 2011 and 2012 Topps Stickers.  I do not yet have the 2012 Topps Sticker album, and I still need five more stickers to finish off the 2011 book.  Unfortunately, I did not find any of the five I needed.  I did find five of the nine Prime 9 Home Run Legends cards.  The dealer said he had six, and was going to sell them to me for $5.00, but it turned out that he only had five of them (missing #5, Alex Rodriguez).  Still paid him $5.00 for the cards.  

The same dealer also had three SP cards from 2010 Update series.  Now, I have really been bad about trying to hunt these down lately.  But thanks to other commitments (like mortgage, utility bills, groceries), these SP cards have been less of a priority.  And they're getting harder to find!!!  But this guy had three of them (Steve Carlton, Washington Senators, New York Giants).  And I could have them all for $15.00.  Unfortunately, I was out of cash, so I asked him to hold on to them and that I would return shortly.

I ran to the bank, but decided to stop back at the first show, just in case anyone had the missing Home Run Legend cards that I needed.  Sure enough, one dealer not only had the ARod card, but also card #7, Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks.  For $3.00, the pair was mine.  After double checking all the tables to see if there was anything I had missed (a stack of ToppsTown cards turned out to be from Series 1), I headed back to the Copp show.

The person who had the Prime 9 cards did find the ARod card in his possession, but because I already bought it at the other show, I had to decline.  But after giving the gentleman the $15.00 for the three SP's, my trip was done; and it was time to head home.

I wound up spending a grand total of $23.50 for twelve cards.  All make great additions to my want list.  I spent a bit more than I had anticipated, but I had to have those Prime 9 cards, and now only need the Frank Robinson #8 and I think it's Albert Pujols for #9 to complete the set.  Maybe I'll check the Bay later on for the last two.

Who said the Hobby is dead??!  It certainly isn't here in Chicago.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Éirinn go brách! We're Celebrating Where??!

Public Service Announcement: As we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, please remember to celebrate responsibly.



(Please note that a lot of what is written below has been written before, with a bit of changes to make it relevant for the events transpiring today).

Today is St. Patrick's Day. It is the day that honors St. Patrick, who is the patron saint of Ireland. It also commemorates the arrival of Christianity to the Emerald Isle. In fact, it is said (thanks Wikipedia) that he used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity.

The Chicago River will be dyed a nice green this year. And it is said that they do a fantastic job of it as it pretty much stays that color for the rest of the year. And for the first time in a few years, the South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade will be happening today. This, along with many parades happening today, will make the Chicago area THE PLACE TO BE to get into the Irish spirit. For my part, because I (and I'm not kidding when I type this) love Irish and Celtic music, my CD player will be playing a few Irish music CD's. I like the Celtic Twilight series and need #'s 5 and 6 to catch up. I also have a number of NatureQuest CD's with music set to nature (from the days I needed to relax unless I wanted to suffer nervous breakdowns). My family enjoyed the corned beef dinner on Thursday night and unless we find a restaurant serving it, won't be having it tonight.

Why???

Because it's a busy day for the Anama family. This weekend is the big Sun-Times Card Show at the convention center down the street from the house. My daughter and I went to it last night. It was the first time I ever attended a show on a Friday. I was told beforehand that the show on Friday night is relatively quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of Saturdays. And tonight was no exception. Many of the usual vintage card dealers were there, a few of the big box dealers too. The auction houses were there showing off items that they plan on putting up for sale in the near future. And even a certain Mr. Mint was there to greet customers as they began their walk through the show aisles. I found only one or two dealers in the entire show dealing catering to set collectors working on current sets. As 2012 Topps Heritage is the set of the moment, I was able to see many of the variations and...ahem...gimmick cards up close. I don't buy the Heritage line of products, but the cards did look nice in person.

I did manage to buy a grand total of 32 cards to knock a tiny dent to my want list. I would have bought more, but my favorite dealer from New York AGAIN did not set up for this show. As disappointed as I was about that, I still managed to spend some refund money. I am focusing right now on four sets (in order of importance to finish the set):

• 2012 Topps Update ToppsTown cards
• Legend SP's from 2009, 2010, and 2011
• Original Back SP's from 2010 and 2011
• Everything Else on the Wantlist on the Sidebar of this blog

How did I do?

• 8 ToppsTown cards
• 13 Legend SP's from 2011 Topps
• 11 Original Back cards from both years
• One Complete Set of 2010 Topps Allen & Ginter w/SP's and the 75 card This Day in History set

Not a bad haul for a Friday night.  My daughter is after the 2011 Topps A & G mini set of haunted houses and we were able to get a dealer to hold onto some cards for us for when we come back today.  That said, the highlight of her night was (don't laugh, she will kill me) buying a card from the 2010 A & G set of...The Revolving Door!

That's right...The Revolving Door!!!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! And she's proud of it too. Hey, whatever works, right?

Today, I go back to the show.  This time, with my son.  My wife and my daughter are going to make a trip to Chicago to help out an uncle clearing things out from his storage facility for sale.  Then after that, we all get together and drive down to Governor's State University, where my daughter will meet up with her dance troupe and perform in a competition.  Governor's State is located way south of my comfort (meaning "I won't get lost because I know the area") zone (which is EVERYWHERE south of the 290).

Now for the baseball portion of the program. If you're wondering, while there are many players of Irish descent in both the Major Leagues and the Minor Leagues, the last native born Irish player was Joe Cleary. Born in County Cork, Cleary only appeared in one game (08/04/1945) in 0.1 inning of work for the Washington Senators. But in that eventful inning, he struck out one batter (the good news), but allowed five hits, three walks, and seven earned runs to score. Saving time for the math, but seven runs in 1/3 innings equals an ERA of 189.



If anybody says, "Top of the morning to you," to you today, make sure to respond in kind, "And the rest of the day to yourself."

So now, a quick toast...

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be at your back.
May your cards collections grow to unmeasurable heights in both volume and value.
May the quest for new cards be swift.
May the journey of life treat you well today and always.
And may a certain North Side baseball team win it all this year.
If you catch my drift.

Sláinte!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

The Pains of Being a Set Collctor

I actually went to a card show on Sunday.  Not just any card show.  A Fred Copp show.

Let me explain.

For years, Fred Copp has been running card shows throughout the Chicagoland suburbs.  His shows are most often set up within the confines of a hotel, either in the lobby or in one of the conference rooms. The first Copp show I ever went to was just a few minutes away from where I work.  And it seemed that every Friday, he and a bunch of other sellers would be there, selling, trading, or just talking about the Hobby. 

Anyway, on Sunday, his show was set up at a hotel in Schaumburg.  Normally, I am all the way in Chicago on Sunday mornings, nowhere near the shows in the 'burbs.  But because of the annual Women's luncheon that my wife attends, my son and I (my daughter stayed with my wife), found ourselves with way too much time on our hands.  So why not, I thought, go to a card show.

My son and I drove to the hotel, not even sure that the show was even happening.  But once we walked in and saw the sign indicating that the Sports Card Show was just down the hall, we knew we were in luck.  The show took up two conference rooms.  They rooms weren't that big.  And there wasn't that much space to walk around.  But my son and I found a few things that piqued our interest. 

My son wanted a couple of packs of Wacky Packages.  For two bucks, no problem.  I found a flyer for Topps 206...from 2002.  Perfect for my Topps 206 binder. I also found a couple of original back cards from 2011.  Just two.  One of them was mixed in with the regular inserts. 

But the key find was a lot of cards from the 2011 Topps/MLB Network Prime Nine giveaways.  And for five bucks, the guy behind the table said I could have them.  So I paid my five bucks, and found out why he was willing to sell so cheaply (and you'll see too in a minute).



2011 Topps Prime 9 Set...Minus 1

 I am missing one card.  The shortstop.  The #4 card of the giveaway.  Yes, folks, I'm missing Derek Jeter. 

When asked why his card was missing, it was because somebody had come in and BOUGHT IT!!!  And left the other eight cards on the table. 

Why???

WHY??!

You had in your hands a complete set, and you ruined it by taking that one card away.  A set collector's nightmare!!!

Now I know there are player collectors (there must be a million Derek Jeter card collectors), and team collectors (Yankees?  Come on, it's Topps!!!)  But you (and I'm talking to the guy or gal who bought the Jeter) had in your hands all nine of these beautiful chrome cards, all with extremely sharp corners, full gloss, and no scratches.  Why not just take them all with you???

So on Twitter, I posted the following Tweet:

"I can't believe I am typing these next nine words: I need Derek Jeter's 2011 @toppscards Prime 9 card. #collect Anyone??? DM me please."

I'll probably try to find it on the Bay, but if anybody has a spare Jeter card from this set and would like to trade or sell it to me, please send me an e-mail at bdj610@hotmail.com and let me know what it would take to take it off your hands.  Thanks.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

A Whirlwind Couple of Hours at the Chicago Sun-Times Show

Because we had other plans today, (all right, my wife had planned to do something else today), I only spent a couple of hours at the Chicago Sun-Times show being held in Rosemont. But let me tell you, they were probably the most productive couple of hours I've spent at a show in quite a while. Granted, if I had more money, or more cards worth trading, I'd have gotten more cards, but I was able to come away with 23 cards I needed to reduce my want lists.

First, I have to thank the fine people at Evolution Sports Marketing/Never Enough Cards. They were the first people I sought out once the show hit. And, quite frankly, where I spent the most time and money. They had many of the SP's I needed from the 2009 Topps and U&H sets. Including:

• Nolan Ryan
• Mike Schmidt
• Juan Marichal
• Bo Jackson
• Paul Molitor
• Rogers Hornsby
• Tris Speaker
• Christy Mathewson
• Cy Young
• Nolan Ryan CAL
• Reggie Jackson CAL
• Willie McCovey
• Rickey Henderson
• Frank Robinson

They also managed to have two of the Topps Red Backs that I needed: #13 Chipper Jones & #14 Cal Ripken.

But the big kicker was that I was able to save some money (lots of it) by trading a few cards that I didn't need that they thought they'd be able to use, including the Topps Silk Jimmy Rollins, the Washington & Lee University Stamp, and my 2006 Topps Mickey Mantle Gold /257, amongst others to net me 16 cards from the "Cards Your Mother Threw Out" Original backs.

I did get one 2010 SP card. And it was the one I would have given up all the others for just to get: The 2010 Ryne Sandberg SP card.

Along with stops at a couple of other dealers that also had these cards, I was able to acquire 22 cards total, bringing down the number of cards I need down to 24 (of 58), enough so that I can actually write a proper list (by decade, on the want list section of the blog).

The show itself was typical of other Sun-Times shows from the past. With many dealers selling vintage cards (StormSurge, I have to apologize, but with less than two hours before I had to leave the show, I wasn't able to spend time looking for your needs. Don't worry, I have other places where I can find what you need), and the usual junk wax sellers, new card sellers, lots of relics sellers. It wasn't as packed as in years past (who knew that there would be snow on the first day of spring???), but it's been like that with the economy and all. If I had more time, I'd have spent more time browsing some of the other booths for things that would have caught my eye. But alas, time was of the essence, and I had to hurry.

I didn't even buy the big Beckett book at the show. That's how much of a rush I was in. Oh well, I'll check the bookstore near the bakery next time around.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

P.S. I know I've been scanning the SP's to show them off, but we're in the midst of switching internet providers, so it's going to take a while before getting them on the blog. jba

Hey Stale Gum...Yes, I Still Like Gimmicks!!!

Question directed towards me from Chris Harris at Stale Gum (new website by the way) via twitter:

bdj610: What Do You Mean There Are More Lincolns in Cubs Cards??! http://goo.gl/fb/Mbty

stalegum: @bdj610 So, still like all these gimmick cards?

bdj610: @stalegum Absolutely! If I had the money, I'd go after them. If I come across one at a show, MINE! If not, I won't lose sleep without them.

Believe it or not, this is not the first time that Mr. Harris has asked me this question. Contrary to what you like to believe, the gimmick cards Topps has thrown into packs over the last few years:

• 2005 Topps Boston Red Sox #368
• 2006 Topps Alex Gordon #297 and the variations (cut outs, blanks, etc)
• 2007 Topps Derek Jeter #40
• 2007 Topps U&H Poley Walnuts
• 2007 Topps U&H Jacoby Ellsbury #100
• 2007 Topps Joba Chamberlain and his numerous "errors"
• 2008 Topps Kazuo Uzuki #FS1
• 2008 Topps Series II-Six (Fukudome, Yabuta, Ramirez, Gore, Schwarzanegger, Santana #661)
• 2008 Topps U&H Fukudome, Bruce, and Longoria "upside down errors"
• 2008 Topps U&H Sarah Palin "Beauty Queen Card"
• 2009 Topps Barack Obama #44
• 2010 Topps Yankees PITF and Cubs ABE SP's.

served a purpose and did exactly what they were intended to do: garner interest from people outside the hobby and, if anything, get attention from people who don't normally even THINK about cards. Guess what? It worked!!! Because even non collectors went after these cards like no tomorrow as soon as word spread. Of course many already have, or will, regret buying the cards, especially if they did so at astronomical prices (that demand vs. supply thing kinda sorta jacked up the prices on those cards); but the damage was done. And the Topps Company made money!!! Not on the cards themselves, but because people bought packs of their product searching for even one of them.

And what have these gimmicks done for established collectors? They've made us start looking at the base cards again. I mean REALLY LOOK at them, instead of just flipping through them until they find the relic/auto/insert card of the moment and pushing them aside. Topps has finally found a way to make us pay attention to the base cards again. How awesome is that???

I never said that I didn't like them (or at least these new ones), nor did I say I was totally frustrated and am giving up (isn't part of the fun in collecting cards the chase???). As I said on twitter, if I had the money, I'd be on eBay buying up the cards when the prices went down as I'm about as impatient as the next collector and would like to get my hands on every copy I can find. But I'm trying my best to show restraint and this year, and am choosing not to actively pursue them (okay...maybe the Yankee cards...and only when the prices go down!!!). Otherwise, you know what, I'm happy with the set I have so far, and am more than happy to continue hunting for the legends SP cards (and the Granderson) in 2010 and the remaining 19 cards I need for series 2.

Finally, back to twitter:

toppscards: Interesting, so it appears that a lot of people like the mystery behind the variations. Thanks for the feedback guys.

bdj610: @toppscards The variation cards are great IMO, and when done correctly, are worth chasing. That's all part of the fun in this Hobby!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

P.S. The big Chicago Sun-Times show is this weekend (hooray!!!) and I get paid this week (double hooray!!!). So, I plan on making a couple of trips (Friday possibly, Saturday...DEFINITELY!!!) The mission: cut down the wantlist of SP cards, and maybe buy a cheap (if there is such a thing) 2009 Topps T206 set with SP's. You'll know it's me because I'll be the guy with a Topps baseball hat, carrying around a black Topps bag full of cards I'd like to get rid off (possibly trade...you never know). jba

What I Bought at the First Ever FansEdge Convention

Call it lousy timing because the National is next week. Call it "because I showed up two hours before closing." But overall, I wasn't totally impressed with the FansEdge show at Rosemont on Saturday. And based on what I saw, I should have been.

Why? Because they had enough distractions to keep kids busy, but because I arrived at the show at 3:00 p.m. (the place closed at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday), I missed most of the fun stuff. In no other card show, not even the National, was there room for those inflatable moonwalk things, a nine hole mini golf course, and a wrestling ring (now I'm mad that I missed the wrestling...) in the same place.

And the vendors. Now, if you've ever been to a Sun-Times show, or any other show at the Donald Stephens Convention Center, they traditionally are held on the second floor. All the vendors crammed together and as long as the regular sellers continue to get their favorite booths on the floor, are easy to find. The FansEdge show was held on the first floor, where they normally hold the National. The booths were very spread out, and as usual with these card shows, there were a lot of vintage (from 70's and earlier) booths, the usual unsealed box sellers, a couple of corporate sponsors (Chicago Sky and Chicago Slaughter), a couple of "why-are-they-here" booths (the ones selling Pez and Webkinz come to mind), and a few newer-product sellers.

As the biggest product to come out of the market lately has been Topps Allen & Ginter, there were lots of this product at many of the booths. Whether you're looking for unsealed boxes, just a few packs, or singles from the base set, any of the inserts, or even a beard relic from the longest beard champion guy (at least that's what it looked like...creepy), you're pretty sure to find it here. As I have not gotten my A & G set yet from the Bay, I wasn't really into looking for anything...until I found the one booth that had mini inserts for sale.

Now, last year at the National, I bought a card of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the President of the Philippines. Somehow, though, I lost the card at the show. This year A & G foreign theme was National Heroes, and on the checklist representing the Philippines was José Rizal. I had to have this card. And the seller that I talked to had both of these cards. And for $5.00, they were mine.

2008 Topps A&G World Leaders Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
2009 Topps A&G National Heroes José Rizal.
But those aren't the only cards I bought at the show (and if you've been following along, I think you know where I'm going with this...)

My real reason to go to the FansEdge show was to see if I could knock out a couple of the 2009 Topps MLB Shortprints that I'm still looking for. I was at seven at last count, and the same person that sold me the above A & G cards had a TON of SP's, from both series. However, he only had two that I needed. He originally had them both priced at $25.00 each, but said he'd sell for $20.00 per card. I knew I could go for lower, but they were right there, and I knew that other than the eBay experience (where I'd have to wait, and wait, and hope to see if I don't get outbid) I wouldn't have a better opportunity than right NOW to take them. So, for $40.00, I am now the proud owner of:

Frank Robinson #400.

Tony Gwynn #520.
So now, I'm down to a final five (Ripken, Ryan, Marichal, BRobinson, and Schmidt) in my quest for completing the 2009 Topps MLB short print sets. The quest continues.

I think that if:

• I had brought my children with me,
• I had more time, and
• I had more money,

the show would have been a lot more enjoyable. I would have loved to see the wrestling matches they were holding while the show was going on. I wouldn't have minded taking a bit more time at each booth instead of breezing through quickly. I'm sure the show was a hit, even though it was close to the National, and many of these same sellers (probably except for Mr. Mint) will be going to Cleveland next week. But I can't give a true opinion of the show because I was only there for two hours. Still, I did get something accomplished, and can't wait for the Sun-Times show later in the fall.
Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

P.S.: Dose of reality time for the bloggers...I asked at least 20 vendors selling Allen & Ginter if they knew that the Ginter Code was cracked. All were surprised. None knew about it. None wanted the word spread out either. jba

What We Found at the Chicago Sun-Times Show...

Being literally up the street from the Donald Stephens Convention Center allows me the ability (and no excuses) to go to any sports cards shows being held there. Whether it's the National, or the Chicago Sun-Times shows, I try and get down there at least one day out of the weekend (traditionally Saturdays). Today, my daughter and I made the trip down to Rosemont for the spring Sun-Times show, hoping to find cards to whittle down the want list.

Normally, this show is packed wall to wall with dealers and buyers. This year, they cordoned off a small section of dead space that would normally be filled with one of the smaller sealed box sellers and other random dealers. But with $180.00 in hand, it was time to go shopping.

Now, the advantage of bringing one of the kids with me is that some of the dealers were willing to give her free cards. She bought two Micah Hoffpauir Upper Deck Timelines (yeah, I know, she doesn't know the difference yet) and got one Kosuke Fukudome Timelines card absolutely free. She also was allowed to pick a card from a dealer who said that she must be very patient to have her dad drag her along everywhere. Her reward? A 2007 Topps Chrome Basketball Ben Wallace card. She also got a 2008 UD Masterpieces Derrek Lee card for free (she was going to give the man a quarter, but the guy said she could keep it). Other than a jumbo pack of 2009 Topps (to make her daddy feel better), she didn't spend too much. Her dad on the other hand???

The main goal was to look for the SP variation cards from 2009 Topps Series I. Not too many dealers were carrying them, but I was able to locate three. The first one came from my favorite dealers from New York, who always happens to be at every Sun-Times show. These people have been doing these shows for a long time, and seem to set up in the same place EVERY TIME. I've been to about seven of these shows, and by now know exactly where to go if I wanted to look for them. I did bring a few of my relic cards, hoping to trade or sell them to get some of the cards I wanted. And for the price of the 2009 Topps Nolan Ryan "N" patch card, and $20.00, I now have this card:

Jackie Robinson #30.
Good start, I thought. She had a Johnny Mize SP card too, but I already have that one. So, moving on...

One dealer happened to have a few complete sets of the 25 cards that are SUPPOSED to be used as this year's Topps Hobby promotion. For five bucks, I now have the "even-numbered" 2009 Topps Ring of Honor cards that were only supposed to be given away at the local hobby shop. Now, I know what you're probably thinking...I should have gone to my local shop and gotten them there. Well, I would have, but I've not had a chance to go there lately, and at least now, I don't have to spend just to get the one free card.

I have to give thanks to my daughter for bringing me to the next dealer that we stopped by, because this guy had two SP cards on him. And what a pair he had. It cost me $35.00 for both cards, but it was worth it:

Babe Ruth #1. CC Sabathia #170.
If it was easier to trade for either card, I would have. But nobody had these out in the open, and I'm sure if they did, it would cost me an arm and a leg to get them. Now, I did expect that it would be easier just to buy the Ruth card, along with Gehrig, Obama, and Sabathia than it would be to trade for them. I was just happy to get the Ruth.

The next shop gave us a tip on another dealer selling SP's. By the time we got there, however, he had just sold the card "15 minutes ago." Just so I could agonize over it, I asked what card was that he sold? "Mel Ott." Ugh.

So I found three more SP cards ($55.00 total), along with the 25 Ring of Honor cards ($5.00), a new 2009 Beckett Baseball Annual price guide (must have at $25.00), and one Target Legends card (Jimmie Foxx LLP10, $2.00). All in all, a pretty decent day.

I am debating about going back tomorrow, but I don't think I'll be able too. The only thing I'd even want to get now are these three complete sets of Marvel Masterpieces by "Fleer," along with the Women of Marvel set. For $5.00 each, I should have just gotten them when I had the chance. Oh well...

So the number of SP cards I need is down to seven. I'm looking for cards for one of them (Foxx), and am hoping to get another one from another blogger (Campanella) soon. When all is said and done, I might be down to five by the end of next week (Gehrig, Ott, Obama, Munson, and Reese).

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama