bamlinden
Upstanding Member,
I've really enjoyed seeing the numerous Top 10 pickups so far this season and so I knew I'd have to jump in and share mine.
It was a much slower year for me when it came to picking up new items for my various PC's......but I still had a lot of fun with this great hobby over the past 12 months.
I've also enjoyed looking back at some of the items I've picked up over the past year and I'm excited to share my Top 10 here.
So let's go!!!!
#10 - 1975 Topps minis (about 300 of 'em)
Yeah....so let's jump outside the box right away. My mom and I enjoy going to a certain antique show every six months and I always make a point of visiting a certain person who has some fun sports items. This past March, he had a box full of 1975 Topps minis.
Now when it comes to 1970's baseball......the 1975 design might just be the best of the bunch. I love the bold colours.
Was hoping to find an Oscar Gamble in there (just for fun....as I already have a copy in my PC) but instead I'd have to settle for guys like this....
How about that Gary Carter rc??!!!! Gotta love it.
#9 - Five Medicine Hat Tigers Pucks (including a pair from their Memorial Cup victories)
From the same antique show - and the same vendor - came these fantastic looking pucks. I don't normally do non-card items but as soon as I saw these I knew I'd have to have them. I especially like the older Tigers logo in the top left (don't know what year that would be....but I've not seen one before or since).
Anything Linden related from his time in "The Hat" gets my interest piqued.
#8 - 2014/15 UD Premier Signature Champions - Brett Hull
I've had a fun side project on the go for about six years now. I like collecting cards showing players hoisting the Stanley Cup over their head. Simply put, it's the pinnacle moment in their career and it happened to be captured and immortalized on cardboard. The best part for me.....a lot of the cards in this PC are super cheap (base cards these days are).
A few years ago I saw this gorgeous insert set put out by Upper Deck in their Premier product. Hard signed, great photos, killer checklist. So I decided to add it to the list of "what I collect".
It's been a slow burn....but a ton of fun. This Brett Hull card represents the first grab with a print run of just 25. Picked it up at the big Calgary show a few months back. Really pleased to add it to my collection.
#7 - Doug Gilmour hard signed auto
Another project I've been building for a few years is my hard signed Hall Of Fame set. My goal is to get to 100 different HOF cards. Simple auto cards. No dual or triples, no jerseys or patches, no slabbed cards. Oh.....and the big rule I've set for myself - I can only trade for the cards.
That's been the most fun. It's so easy nowadays to just plunk out cash and get what you want. Working out a trade is just so much more enjoyable (and sometimes challenging).
This Gilmour was the only addition to the project in 2017 but I really like everything about it. It gets me to the 70-card mark. One step closer.
OK......RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WERE EXPECTING SOME LINDEN CARDS BY NOW? WELL HERE THEY COME!!
#6 - 2012/13 ITG Superlative III Auto Plus Number Gold 1/1
This card went through a pretty cool path to get into my pc. When Superlative III came out, I jumped on the wagon pretty hard and snagged a lot of low numbered offerings. Out of the 23 Linden cards in total (including 1/1s), I had secured 17 of them. A couple sit in other collections and a handful have yet to surface. This beauty of a 1/1 is in my collection due to Eddy (87sluggo) and Kevin (kmitchel). Huge thank you both. :cheer:
#5 - 2016/17 UD Artifacts AutoFacts
This card was an interesting one when it first hit the open market. It went for pretty decent coin and so I thought I'd pass on a few copies. Then it seemed as though the well dried up. I've been on that ride before. So when this copy popped up, I took a stab at it. Paid a little more than I could have if I waited a little longer....but am more than pleased with it.
One of the few Linden sticker autos that I really like.
#4 - 2016/17 Fleer Showcase 25th Anniversary Buyback
Second verse....same as the first. I don't know what it is about a junk wax era base card with an auto scribbled on it and a serial number stamped on but I love the looks of this card. Really happy to have landed this one when I did. Don't know how many more will pop up int he near future.
#3 - 2014/15 UD Premier Team Canada Mega Patch 16/27
One of my absolute favourite items to chase over the last couple years, these Mega Patch cards are head turners. I secured my sixth one (out of 27 to complete the crest) and know of twelve in total. I'd love to one day discover the remaining pieces of this outstanding puzzle.
Before I get to one final Linden card, I want to share a piece of cardboard that comes from one of my favourite projects over the past few years.
Back at the start of 2015, I read a blog post talking about "Wallet Card". Basically you chuck a card in your wallet and then take pictures of it when you are out and about (sort of like a travelling gnome). Since it was a baseball blog, I thought I'd go with the 1976 Topps Traded Oscar Gamble - it's likely the most iconic baseball card there is (in my eyes at least).
I went with the '76 Gamble because it was given to me as a gift a number of years ago. It sat on my little shrine shelf at work and every tie I'd look at it I'd be reminded of the generosity others....and how important it is in this hobby.
I enjoyed the "wallet card" project for a bit, but really the long-term effect has been the creation of my Oscar Gamble collection.
Holy fun!!!!
In comparison to my 2000+ Linden card chase, this small pc is less than 200 cards in total. Most of them are dollar cards and the photos are darn near impossible to match. I splurged a bit during COMC's recent Black Friday sale and picked up a few new adds to the collection (they're difficult to pick up locally). This offering really represents everything I love about their PC.
#2 - 1973 Topps Oscar Gamble
What a great card. I love the photo, the action, the dust.....and the 'fro!!
Crazy to say....but I added more Oscar Gamble cards to my collection vs. Trevor Linden. I'm at about the halfway mark to completing the ultimate Oscar Gamble PC and I'm looking forward to adding more in 2018.
Last but not least, one final card - a Linden card - that came via trade right here on Hobby Insider. And thinking back to that trade, it really represents a lot of things to me.
#1 - 2016/17 UD SP Authentic Immortal Ink 5/10
First off.....this is a fantastic set. I've always admired the Immortal Ink cards put out and was absolutely jacked when I heard that Linden would finally be getting one. But a popular set that's numbered to just 10 can mean tough sledding to pick one up.
I saw a few copies come and go....and come again, but the price was just more than I was willing to go with at the time. Then I happened to come across an auction listing from fellow Linden collector - and Hobby Insider - Elliot (echoi69). I poked the cage to see if he would be interested in trading....and if he was, I knew I'd have to bring the big guns.
Here's where I'm really happy with where I'm at in my collecting world.
I pulled an Auston Matthews Young Gun earlier in the year - out of a single tin of all things. I knew it would likely catch Elliot's attention.....and it did. It was a quick and easy trade.
Now, to some of you that might seem crazy. A Linden auto for a rookie card of one of the hottest players in the league. But in the moment, I knew I was in on the YG for just the price of the tin. The Linden was far more valuable in my eyes. It was an easy trade to make - and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Value can mean so many different things.....more than just what a price tag says. I really value the collections I've built up over the past year - and over my collecting lifetime. I value the opportunities that this great hobby allows me (card shows, trade nights, hobby boards, blogging, good ol' trading). I value the respect and cameraderie that I've built with so many great people over the years......too many to name. And I value the fun I've had collecting cards. It's taken me a lot of years to become comfortable with what I want the hobby to be for me - and I couldn't be happier with where I'm at.
Thanks for taking the time to read. Thanks to everyone who has made this hobby the best for me and I hope everyone has a great 2018!!!!
Thanks for sharing.
It was a much slower year for me when it came to picking up new items for my various PC's......but I still had a lot of fun with this great hobby over the past 12 months.
I've also enjoyed looking back at some of the items I've picked up over the past year and I'm excited to share my Top 10 here.
So let's go!!!!
#10 - 1975 Topps minis (about 300 of 'em)
Yeah....so let's jump outside the box right away. My mom and I enjoy going to a certain antique show every six months and I always make a point of visiting a certain person who has some fun sports items. This past March, he had a box full of 1975 Topps minis.
Now when it comes to 1970's baseball......the 1975 design might just be the best of the bunch. I love the bold colours.
Was hoping to find an Oscar Gamble in there (just for fun....as I already have a copy in my PC) but instead I'd have to settle for guys like this....
How about that Gary Carter rc??!!!! Gotta love it.
#9 - Five Medicine Hat Tigers Pucks (including a pair from their Memorial Cup victories)
From the same antique show - and the same vendor - came these fantastic looking pucks. I don't normally do non-card items but as soon as I saw these I knew I'd have to have them. I especially like the older Tigers logo in the top left (don't know what year that would be....but I've not seen one before or since).
Anything Linden related from his time in "The Hat" gets my interest piqued.
#8 - 2014/15 UD Premier Signature Champions - Brett Hull
I've had a fun side project on the go for about six years now. I like collecting cards showing players hoisting the Stanley Cup over their head. Simply put, it's the pinnacle moment in their career and it happened to be captured and immortalized on cardboard. The best part for me.....a lot of the cards in this PC are super cheap (base cards these days are).
A few years ago I saw this gorgeous insert set put out by Upper Deck in their Premier product. Hard signed, great photos, killer checklist. So I decided to add it to the list of "what I collect".
It's been a slow burn....but a ton of fun. This Brett Hull card represents the first grab with a print run of just 25. Picked it up at the big Calgary show a few months back. Really pleased to add it to my collection.
#7 - Doug Gilmour hard signed auto
Another project I've been building for a few years is my hard signed Hall Of Fame set. My goal is to get to 100 different HOF cards. Simple auto cards. No dual or triples, no jerseys or patches, no slabbed cards. Oh.....and the big rule I've set for myself - I can only trade for the cards.
That's been the most fun. It's so easy nowadays to just plunk out cash and get what you want. Working out a trade is just so much more enjoyable (and sometimes challenging).
This Gilmour was the only addition to the project in 2017 but I really like everything about it. It gets me to the 70-card mark. One step closer.
OK......RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WERE EXPECTING SOME LINDEN CARDS BY NOW? WELL HERE THEY COME!!
#6 - 2012/13 ITG Superlative III Auto Plus Number Gold 1/1
This card went through a pretty cool path to get into my pc. When Superlative III came out, I jumped on the wagon pretty hard and snagged a lot of low numbered offerings. Out of the 23 Linden cards in total (including 1/1s), I had secured 17 of them. A couple sit in other collections and a handful have yet to surface. This beauty of a 1/1 is in my collection due to Eddy (87sluggo) and Kevin (kmitchel). Huge thank you both. :cheer:
#5 - 2016/17 UD Artifacts AutoFacts
This card was an interesting one when it first hit the open market. It went for pretty decent coin and so I thought I'd pass on a few copies. Then it seemed as though the well dried up. I've been on that ride before. So when this copy popped up, I took a stab at it. Paid a little more than I could have if I waited a little longer....but am more than pleased with it.
One of the few Linden sticker autos that I really like.
#4 - 2016/17 Fleer Showcase 25th Anniversary Buyback
Second verse....same as the first. I don't know what it is about a junk wax era base card with an auto scribbled on it and a serial number stamped on but I love the looks of this card. Really happy to have landed this one when I did. Don't know how many more will pop up int he near future.
#3 - 2014/15 UD Premier Team Canada Mega Patch 16/27
One of my absolute favourite items to chase over the last couple years, these Mega Patch cards are head turners. I secured my sixth one (out of 27 to complete the crest) and know of twelve in total. I'd love to one day discover the remaining pieces of this outstanding puzzle.
Before I get to one final Linden card, I want to share a piece of cardboard that comes from one of my favourite projects over the past few years.
Back at the start of 2015, I read a blog post talking about "Wallet Card". Basically you chuck a card in your wallet and then take pictures of it when you are out and about (sort of like a travelling gnome). Since it was a baseball blog, I thought I'd go with the 1976 Topps Traded Oscar Gamble - it's likely the most iconic baseball card there is (in my eyes at least).
I went with the '76 Gamble because it was given to me as a gift a number of years ago. It sat on my little shrine shelf at work and every tie I'd look at it I'd be reminded of the generosity others....and how important it is in this hobby.
I enjoyed the "wallet card" project for a bit, but really the long-term effect has been the creation of my Oscar Gamble collection.
Holy fun!!!!
In comparison to my 2000+ Linden card chase, this small pc is less than 200 cards in total. Most of them are dollar cards and the photos are darn near impossible to match. I splurged a bit during COMC's recent Black Friday sale and picked up a few new adds to the collection (they're difficult to pick up locally). This offering really represents everything I love about their PC.
#2 - 1973 Topps Oscar Gamble
What a great card. I love the photo, the action, the dust.....and the 'fro!!
Crazy to say....but I added more Oscar Gamble cards to my collection vs. Trevor Linden. I'm at about the halfway mark to completing the ultimate Oscar Gamble PC and I'm looking forward to adding more in 2018.
Last but not least, one final card - a Linden card - that came via trade right here on Hobby Insider. And thinking back to that trade, it really represents a lot of things to me.
#1 - 2016/17 UD SP Authentic Immortal Ink 5/10
First off.....this is a fantastic set. I've always admired the Immortal Ink cards put out and was absolutely jacked when I heard that Linden would finally be getting one. But a popular set that's numbered to just 10 can mean tough sledding to pick one up.
I saw a few copies come and go....and come again, but the price was just more than I was willing to go with at the time. Then I happened to come across an auction listing from fellow Linden collector - and Hobby Insider - Elliot (echoi69). I poked the cage to see if he would be interested in trading....and if he was, I knew I'd have to bring the big guns.
Here's where I'm really happy with where I'm at in my collecting world.
I pulled an Auston Matthews Young Gun earlier in the year - out of a single tin of all things. I knew it would likely catch Elliot's attention.....and it did. It was a quick and easy trade.
Now, to some of you that might seem crazy. A Linden auto for a rookie card of one of the hottest players in the league. But in the moment, I knew I was in on the YG for just the price of the tin. The Linden was far more valuable in my eyes. It was an easy trade to make - and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Value can mean so many different things.....more than just what a price tag says. I really value the collections I've built up over the past year - and over my collecting lifetime. I value the opportunities that this great hobby allows me (card shows, trade nights, hobby boards, blogging, good ol' trading). I value the respect and cameraderie that I've built with so many great people over the years......too many to name. And I value the fun I've had collecting cards. It's taken me a lot of years to become comfortable with what I want the hobby to be for me - and I couldn't be happier with where I'm at.
Thanks for taking the time to read. Thanks to everyone who has made this hobby the best for me and I hope everyone has a great 2018!!!!
Thanks for sharing.
