Coming back from Hiatus

On the heels of getting the two packages from Julie, I also got a package from Tony at Off Hiatus Baseball Cards.  He let me know it was coming, but I was still surprised when it came.  I feel bad I haven't sent anything to anyone who have sent something, but I really am working on getting them together.

I love when someone sends a personal note.  I think I will include notes to my packages, just hope they aren't as long as my posts.  Another reason to love this note?  Tony uses the word harken.  That is a word I want to use more often, I do use it, but I could always use it more.

Again, if you read my blogs you know I actually like these advertisements.  I never had the Slam Derby cards, or if I did, I tossed them.  2000 was the year I graduated, so I am curious what other dates they have for cards, I wouldn't mind some other dates.  The MLB 14 cards still have the code intact.  I'm not sure if they are used, but if not, feel free to use them.  I don't have a PS3 (or PS4) so they are of no use to me.  I might have some extras around too if anyone needs some.  Speaking of which, I have some of those Kid Reporter codes too if anyone wants them. I was going to sell them on Listia, but they aren't worth the trouble.

Let's look at the loot.  I think I've seen Gene Garber's name more in the last 3 weeks than I ever have before.  I have received some cards, and found some that I had of him, but I was so young I don't remember him as a Royals player.  I do remember Bill Pecota but really by name only.  Next to them is a couple Bowman cards.  I'm glad Bowman resized their cards, as I'm not a fan of the larger cards. I needed both of these so they were nice additions.  If your last name is Davis, you have a good shot at being on KC's squad.  Mark and Storm in the early 90's, and Wade today, they even have a Kyle DAVIES in the minors, its close enough.

1992 Donruss is always a nice addition, as I liked the set and still do.  Tim and Mike look good on these cards with the blue design matching the powder blues.  Next to them is a couple O-Pee-Chee's. Kirk Gibson is a 1991 Premier which is one I needed, especially since he's a Royal on the card.  I think I like the 1991 card as opposed to the 1992 design.  I have a few of the '92's but not the Magnante so this helps me inch closer to completion.  Which reminds me I made some progress on my lists this weekend, and should be updating them soon.

Let's move on a few years.  The Royals wasn't free spending but did manage to mix some good veterans with some young guns which made the team at least watchable.  Dean Palmer was someone I liked in his time in Kansas City.  I don't think I have any cards from this set, so this will allow me to start a new want list.

Next is Jermaine Dye.  What is odd about my Dye collection is that most of his cards I have are from other teams and not the Royals.  While I'm not a fan of this design, I thought Pacific Paramount was an underrated set.  It worked I thought because of the cheaper price and smaller sets.  Though it was at a time when all the card companies made 25 different sets under the same banner, I wish there was 4-5 different companies still making cards for each sport, just limit them to two or three brands.

Another Johnny Damon that looks like a great addition to my collection.  I seriously need to update my PC of his because I have gotten a lot of his earlier stuff this year.  I hope to work on getting more of his stuff next year.  I should put that on my list of things to do next year if I do one.

Finally is Jeff King.  This is a nice card.  Aurora was another set/brand I thought was good at the time, but looking back Pacific sets all looked similar.  This is a nice addition to my cards as well.

Carlos Beltran is another person I might work on building up next year.  I have gotten a few of his lately, and wouldn't mind making an actual PC of his since he has spent most of his career outside of the Royals system.  This card was one I didn't have so I like it.  As a matter of fact I don't have a lot of Beltran cards in KC, so I definitely need to work on that next year.

Zack Greinke is someone I still like. I was never a huge fan of the ToppsTown cards, but I had a lot of them.  Somehow though, I never had this one.  Depending on what else I hope to accomplish next year, I may add Greinke to my list of PC's I want to start collecting.  He's been gone long enough to have enough cards.  I'll make that decision later though.

These A&G cards fascinate me. I've seen them all over and have a few, but not this one of Brian Bannister. I think the appeal to me is the flags on the cards.  It mixes a little bit of geography with baseball.  At one point I was a huge geography person, and still today I love looking at maps, those these days its more Google Maps than Road Atlas'. I would like to see a set of baseball cards mixed with geography a bit more.  While we're at it, I know it would be boring, but I think it would be cool to see a trading card set of the periodic table of elements.  Maybe I'm the only one besides science teachers though.

Moving on, is a card featuring Dan Reichert and Mark Quinn.  Two names many Royals fans know, but the rest of baseball doesn't.  I'm okay with that,  I could even go without hearing their names a while. Nothing bad about them, its just that they didn't bring too much value to some of the worst teams in Royals history.  This card is a nice addition though as I have very few Skybox baseball cards.

Let's get to current product.  The Bo Jackson card was one I was going to get at some point, if I didn't already have it on my COMC list.  I thought the Bowman is Back inserts were pretty nice when they came out. Bo looks really good on this card.

Two different Jeremy Guthrie cards from 2014 Topps.  Both were ones I needed and adding them to the base card and the Walmart Blue ones I already have, I might chase getting all of the variations.  Anymore I don't go for all the variations, sticking mainly to the base set and the Walmart Blue which the border matches well with the Royals colors.

I wasn't aware Alex Gordon had a card in the Play Hard series, but I don't get too many Opening Day cards anymore unless I need a fix.  I like this insert, much better than some of the others Opening Day put out.

Turkey Red?  They still make these? Let me say these don't look too bad, but I don't get why they need to make them still, just another set to make a buck I guess.  Posed shots aren't my thing, but I like the blue sky background of the Gordon card.  These will look nice once I put them in my binder.

I hated the diecut '89 cards when I first got one in a pack I opened.  It wasn't so much that they are smaller, but the diecut part itself.  I have a few now, but the Billy Butler one had eluded me.  I think I need just one more for the team set (I think only 3 Royals were in the set), so one step closer is a good thing.

The next cards I saw made my jaw drop.  Seriously, I was speechless for like 10 minutes, which might be a new record for me.  Though since its getting a bit late and I have some stuff to do, I will show them off tomorrow.  That's called a tease in show biz terms, lol.

Thanks for reading and you don't want to miss my next post.  Have a GREAT NIGHT!