webottew
Verified Trader,
2023 saw fewer Break Spots and pack ripping for me, which helped my wallet. Instead, I acquired a few items that have been on my Want Lists for years.
1989 Fleer Billy Ripken FF "error"
Just a cool card of hobby lore that fits nicely into my PC.
1935 O-Pee-Chee Series C Art Jackson (Orange as Rainbow Killer)
It all started in 2016 when I randomly picked up the green copy in an estate auction. After learning that there were 4 different colours it became a side project to complete the rainbow.
There are less than 40 copies of this card graded by PSA, across ALL 4 colours. My rainbow represents 10% of the total PSA population count for this card!
The Purple/Pink and Green seem to be the most plentiful and the Orange was the last one that I acquired (2023 Fall Expo).
2016-17 O-Pee-Chee GLO-PEE-CHEE - Connor McDavid
I LOVE these glow in the dark easter egg cards! And this is also my first TAG slab. The DIG report is a fun rabbit hole of data overload. And why only a 6.5 grade? The centering is the greatest offender.
1998-99 SP Authentic Sign of the Times (SOTT) - Wayne Gretzky
This card has been on my Want List for a few years for various reasons:
1) I am fond of this year's SOTT design.
2) Gretzky is shown wearing the stunning Statue of Liberty alternate/third jersey that was worn for a few games in the 1998-99 season.
3) Gretzky's auto is always a piece of art -- and this copy does not disappoint.
4) Gretzky retired at the end of the 1998-99 season.
5) This was Gretzky's last "playing days" SOTT. Of course, he has signed SOTT almost every year since 1999. But still, the last playing days SOTT autograph is a fixed point in the Hobby time & space continuum.
And finally my absolute FAVOURITE pickup of the year. This has been on my Hobby BOLO (Be On Look Out) list for quite a while, and I just recently found one in the wild at a local show a few weeks ago....
1950s Oak Premiere Gum Ball and Card Vending Machine
I am a card collector but I also appreciate the hobby adjacent items that help build the Hobby. It is sorta meta -- collecting the Hobby.
This machine works like a charm and came with the keys and the weights (dramatically over-engineered) for the card shafts! One glass panel was broken so I replaced all 3 for consistency. I also had to buy 1 KG of gum balls!
This machine only works with nickels, not pennies. It is a little beat up with chipped paint and tarnished chrome but I like to imagine it served its career in the lobby of a small town arena.
If anyone has more knowledge in this area to pinpoint the model, age, history, etc I would love to learn more.
Here's hoping 2024 Hobby continues to be as enjoyable for all of us :beer:
1989 Fleer Billy Ripken FF "error"
Just a cool card of hobby lore that fits nicely into my PC.
1935 O-Pee-Chee Series C Art Jackson (Orange as Rainbow Killer)
It all started in 2016 when I randomly picked up the green copy in an estate auction. After learning that there were 4 different colours it became a side project to complete the rainbow.
There are less than 40 copies of this card graded by PSA, across ALL 4 colours. My rainbow represents 10% of the total PSA population count for this card!
The Purple/Pink and Green seem to be the most plentiful and the Orange was the last one that I acquired (2023 Fall Expo).
2016-17 O-Pee-Chee GLO-PEE-CHEE - Connor McDavid
I LOVE these glow in the dark easter egg cards! And this is also my first TAG slab. The DIG report is a fun rabbit hole of data overload. And why only a 6.5 grade? The centering is the greatest offender.
1998-99 SP Authentic Sign of the Times (SOTT) - Wayne Gretzky
This card has been on my Want List for a few years for various reasons:
1) I am fond of this year's SOTT design.
2) Gretzky is shown wearing the stunning Statue of Liberty alternate/third jersey that was worn for a few games in the 1998-99 season.
3) Gretzky's auto is always a piece of art -- and this copy does not disappoint.
4) Gretzky retired at the end of the 1998-99 season.
5) This was Gretzky's last "playing days" SOTT. Of course, he has signed SOTT almost every year since 1999. But still, the last playing days SOTT autograph is a fixed point in the Hobby time & space continuum.
And finally my absolute FAVOURITE pickup of the year. This has been on my Hobby BOLO (Be On Look Out) list for quite a while, and I just recently found one in the wild at a local show a few weeks ago....
1950s Oak Premiere Gum Ball and Card Vending Machine
I am a card collector but I also appreciate the hobby adjacent items that help build the Hobby. It is sorta meta -- collecting the Hobby.
This machine works like a charm and came with the keys and the weights (dramatically over-engineered) for the card shafts! One glass panel was broken so I replaced all 3 for consistency. I also had to buy 1 KG of gum balls!
This machine only works with nickels, not pennies. It is a little beat up with chipped paint and tarnished chrome but I like to imagine it served its career in the lobby of a small town arena.
If anyone has more knowledge in this area to pinpoint the model, age, history, etc I would love to learn more.
Here's hoping 2024 Hobby continues to be as enjoyable for all of us :beer:
