What would a proper card collector be without 15 to 30 projects with no end in sight? Makes each card seem like a minor triumph, though.
Go Redlegs.
TCDB success. The vintage binders bulge. An avalanche of cardboard, held in place by three-ring binders made on assembly lines for as little money as possible, waits for a victim. Woe unto those who dare stand beside, aside, or astride the colossus.
Hall of Famer. And such action!
The 1960 Topps set is so close to perfect. It's the alternating colors on the letters that kills me.
Chippin' away at the 60's sets. Rookies and SPs will continue to elude.
Darell Evans RC, though, very attainable.
Mike Schmidt '75 Mini. If I were competent, I would've scanned this next to a full size. Alas.
A couple O-Pee-Cheesers. Always happy to snag these from the North.
And how 'bout a Hockey Hall of Famer here. Nice. An an unchecked vintage checklist, which looks kinda sad and naked. Speaking of sad and naked...
Go Redlegs.
Sticker autos? Phooey and pshaw. Dig that pen right into the meat of the cardboard. Let it scratch, stain, mar, and destroy. Let the ink ooze down onto our fingertips. Allow the deep baritones of the 'here ya go, kid' resonate in your soul.
So, uh, anyway. Here's last name D of the IP Reds auto collection. Adam Dunn is my dude. Still need to post more cards of his. Why do I have 27 Gookie Dawkins autos? The world may never know. Eric Davis, Kal Daniels, Rob Dibble, and The Big Donkey are the standouts. That '59 Walt Dropo is a poorly made custom, which is why no one else wanted to buy it.
Go Redlegs
Been about a year since I've gone after everything 1995 and earlier. Complete sets are starting to emerge. I shall travel back in time and sell these for several dollars. Several!
1994 Collector's Choice Home Run All-Stars Exchange. These were sent to ya for an inserted redemption card of some sort. OR you could just wait 30 years, put them all on your TCDB want list, wait another year, and slowly acquire them all. Some serious 90's names here. Needs a 9th card though, to fill the page. Shame.
1995 Ultra All-Rookie Team. Absolutely hideous design, indicative of a stretch in the 90's when Microsoft Paint was fresh and new. Picture stretching! Sepia! Overlays! Do it all on a 2x3 inch design! Manny Ramirez is the standout, if you can even tell what's going on here. But don't sleep on Cliff Floyd, Bob Hamelin, Ryan Klesko, and Raul Mondesi.
1988 Fleer All-Star Team. Chosen by some dude at Fleer Corp., I presume. Four Hall of Famers and Clemens in yet another hideous set. Love it. Shout-out to Eric the Red.
1989 Donruss Grand Slammers. Both inserted and added to factory sets. There are several gradients offered. I'm content with whichever gradients these are to consider it complete. There were 61 grand slams the previous year, so I guess Mr. Donald Russ just liked these particular dudes. Can't blame him. Gotta get those extra Franklin Stubbs cards in the checklist.
Go Redlegs.
My favorite auto collecting moments, which happen a couple times a year, are graduating players from my Reds Minor League album to the Major League albums.
The latest honoree is Ivan Johnson.
Welcome to the club, kiddo.
Go Redlegs.
Why do I have this? Because it was under a dollar. Some kid surely brought it to a game because it's what he had and got a sig from whomever would give him one. Which is nice. Mariano Duncan was part of the 1990 Reds World Series roster, so it fits in the ol' collection. Plus it's so bizarre I couldn't not buy it for that price.
