13,000

I've recently passed the 13,000 unique Reds card barrier. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. You can browse the checklist via Zistle in the sidebar over there, if you're interested in that kind of thing.

When I picked this hobby back up a couple years ago, it was pretty easy snagging cards. My 1996-2012 hiatus saw what was, apparently, a baseball card avalanche likely to never be seen again. By 2012, nobody wanted base cards anymore, apparently, and the dealers at Columbus shows had dime boxes stacked to the rafters. Ever since the 12,000 mark, though, it's been slow. Every dime box is packed with cards I already have. All you gracious bloggers send me cool packages, but they usually only run about 10-15% non-doubles (this is NOT an invitation to stop sending me things, eff wye eye). But I'm down to only needing parallels, vintage rarities, and mojo, mostly, and I'm too much of a cheapass to spring for that stuff. So the packages that actually make a dent on the tally are JustCommons orders when new sets come out.

I was sitting at 12,986 with a $10, 40 card, JC package on the way. I decided the official 13,000th would be the 14th card from the top of the stack. No cheating. Whoever packed my cards sealed my fate. The package consisted of 2014 Gypsy Queen, some Topps Total, and some bits from 2013 Bowman Chrome Mini and 2013 Panini Elite. 

The 13,000th Red turned out to be...

Boom. A Griffey. 2004 Topps Total #145, to be exact. Not only is it a solid milestone card, but it completed the 2004 Topps Total Reds set, which is even more betterer than a large, round, arbitrary number.

Maybe at some point I'll just snap and start neglecting my livelihood and start buying everything. It's a distinct possibility. I do miss leaving card shows with 400 card stacks. Maybe I'll become a millionaire and clean out the COMC Reds inventory. Or maybe I'll just keep everything just as it is and inch my way toward 14,000. Yeah. Probably that one.

Go Reds.