Mint Condition - final review

So I finished "Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession" -

This is a good read, but not quite perfect.

I simply loved the beginning, where the author focused on his own experiences and how his epic search for the life cycle of the hobby had materialized.

I do think, though, that at times he got bogged down in the minutia of his search. Perhaps too much time describing unsavory characters who I found myself not liking, and therefore not enjoying the time I was spending on them.

His incredile attention to details at times wound up hindering his narrative when I became less interested in that particular phase of his journey.

In the end, his proposed solutions for the hobby seem rushed and less significant than I think they should be, especially considering the breadth of his research.

I wanted MORE time spent on the collecting of the 80's and 90's, but these sections were short - perhaps due the fact that this era of card production probably set the seeds for the destruction of the hobby.

In the end, the book does make me consider EXACTLY why I felt compelled to shell out $66 on a hobby box of Topps Series I Baseball cards in ebay last week.

Perhaps the goal of this blog will be to formulate an answer to that question.

Mint Condition

Nearly finished reading "Mint Condition" by Dave Jamieson. At the end of his introduction, he notes that "cards aren't really a hallmark of childhood anymore; they're a way for collectors to return to it."

What a great way to describe why I've raced to The Hobby Shop in Aberdeen and the local Target a few times in the last week.

Topps 2011 Rack Pack

I see many of these posts out there, so i thought i'd share yesterday's bounty:

Ike Davis SHINY (my 4th shiny overall, and first Met!)

inserts:

T60-23 - Neftali Feliz
Toppstown 27 - Ethier
60 years of topps #351 1998 Topps Bob Abreu (with a gold border)
the lost cards: Stan Musial, 1957 #408
diamond duos Kinsler and Andrus
Diamond Giveaway (only the 2nd one i've got!)
Kimball: Mike Stanton

some good base cards:

Votto #5
Hanley Ramirez #20
Strasburg #183
Halladay #300

and some rookies:

Sale #65
Gee #203
Morel #322

Topps 2011 Series 1

Every year, when the weather makes it look as if Spring will never come, I make sure to keep my eyes open for the first baseball cards of the new year.

And just last week, spotting the first sign that the 18-inch snow-pack still alongside my driveway may someday melt, I found a pack of Topps 2011 Series 1 waiting for me.

It was good to see some the amazing photography on this year's cards - and I even had the joy of pulling my first Met, Jason Bay (he has to be better this year, right? RIGHT?!?)

I don't yet know what my collecting plan is - but I've bought a few more packs, and surveyed the amazing array of collector's blogs out there. I can't believe exactly what the simple hobby of enjoying opening a pack of cards has evolved into...

Dooming the New York Mets

I've done it.

I have doomed the New York Mets.

Ricky Hess, 2009 Fantasy Champion gave me two pieces of advice: No Mets, no Reds.

2nd pick: David Wright.

3rd pick: Brandon Phillips.

4th pick: Johan Santana.

I did, however, draft Roy Halladay and Brad Lidge in an attempt to spread my damnation to the Phillies.

hope.

4 scoreless innings by Ollie P yesterday, 4 scoreless by Johan today...

this is how they get you...

(tickets already purchased for Sunday, April 11th)

i am convinced

i am convinced that i will not witness the Jets play in the Super Bowl in my lifetime. for the second time in 12 years, the Jets blow a doubl-digit lead in the AFC Championship.

and although this year featured a wild ride where they truly exceeded expectations to get to the game, they again failed to close out with the win when it counted.

38 years of life, and no super bowl.