2012 Topps Archives 1980 Topps design.

  

A set that featured in the early days of this blog was the 1980's Topps set. As I explained back then, the 1980's Topps cards were the first baseball cards I owned -EVER.  Cards #101-150 from the 2012 Topps Archives are in the 1980 design. So there is no better way to celebrate collecting all 726 cards from the original 1980's set but to try and collect the 50 cards available in the same style.

1980 George Brett

2012 Archives George Brett

2012 Topps Archives
1980 Base design
101 Adrian Gonzalez
102 Dee Gordon
103 Ricky Romero
104 Yovani Gallardo
105 Torii Hunter
106 Alex Gordon
107 Josh Johnson
108 Cliff Lee
109 Catfish Hunter
110 Jose Bautista
111 John Axford
112 Todd Helton
113 Ryan Howard
114 Jason Motte
115 Gio Gonzalez
116 Alex Avila
117 George Brett
118 Desmond Jennings
119 Yu Darvish
120 Tim Lincecum
121 Heath Bell
122 Dustin Pedroia

123 Ryan Vogelsong

124 Brandon Phillips

125 David Freese

126 Rickie Weeks

127 Evan Longoria

128 Shin-Soo Choo

129 Darryl Strawberry

130 Mike Stanton

131 Elvis Andrus

132 Ben Zobrist

133 Mark Trumbo

134 Chris Carpenter

135 Mike Napoli

136 David Ortiz

137 Jason Heyward

138 Joe DiMaggio

139 Ivan Nova

140 Buster Posey

141 J.P. Arencibia

142 Ozzie Smith

143 Marco Scutaro

144 Ike Davis

145 Howie Kendrick

146 Jarrod Parker

147 Justin Masterson

148 R.A. Dickey

149 Dustin Ackley

150 Clayton Kershaw

28/06/2012 48 to go 130, 149 from packs
10/08/2012 42 to go 121,122,125, 137,147 from The Angels, in Order.
16/10/2012 33 to go 102, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 124, 135, 144 from Home of the Toddfather
19/11/2012 24 to go 105, 108, 117, 118, 120, 136, 139, 141, 145 from packs
24/01/2013 19 to go 101, 103, 104, 106,107 COMC
12/02/2013 14 to go 110, 109, 116, 119, 126 COMC
25/03/2013 8 to go 128, 132, 133, 134, 142, 149 COMC
11/04/2013 0 to go 123, 127, 131, 138, 140, 143, 146, 150 COMC

Completed  11th April 2013

Easter Holiday baseball card haul

You just have to love a boss who makes yearly excursions to the USA and takes the time out of their busy schedule to find cards.
My head-teacher once owned a house in Florida, but to my disappointment sold it. I'm sure they thought carefully about the huge impact that selling the house would have on my card collecting. Unfortunately they just went ahead and sold it anyway.
Luckily for me, they love America. Although the house is sold their regular trips will continue.
This time around they went to Las Vegas, travelled down the west coast to San Francisco and Los Angeles but didn't find cards until they went to a Target in Florida.
On their return I was presented with this superb swag of goodies:

1 blaster of 2012 Topps Series 2

1 blaster of 2012 Bowman

1 blaster of 2012 Gypsy Queen

1 jumbo pack of 2012 Topps Series 1

1 jumbo pack of 2102 Topps Archives

5 packs of 2011 Topps Update 

They remain unopened, except for the Archives. The Topps 1980 design card in this set are fashioned after one of my favourite sets. I will open them all in search of Red Sox at 'Pursuit of Red Sox'.

Thank you Jane and Ashley. Long may your travels continue.

Bitter disappointment of a failed TTM

I was mildly excited when this letter dropped through my letter-box this morning. A letter from the Boston Red Sox. I wasn't sure what to expect, however what did arrive I had completely forgotten about.
Think back to about 3 years ago, May 2009 and this post Postage USA and TTM autographs.
Can you believe it? Just over 36months ago I send an envelope laden with US stamps and carefully followed the suggestions regular autograph collectors offered. And then promptly forgot.
In the May 2009 post I wondered 'whether I was wasting my time!'
It appears so.
Enclosed within the envelope, which came nowhere near the $3.00 (give or take 50c) that I had worked out was:
My two cards (unsigned ) but politely apologising about high volume...unable to personalize (sic)...to every fan...yadda...yadda.

So no luck there.
Secondly was a letter. A little more personal and friendly. Pretty cool too.

Finally the official team photo.

You have to admit even after all this time the Red Sox still replied and returned my cards, that in itself is an impressive bit of PR. I am also the very proud owner of a personalised letter(and envelope) from the Boston Red Sox. I may even dream a little that Jacoby Ellsbury sat down in front of a computer and typed this message all by himself. That may be stretching it a little.
I never did receive cards from Mario. Should I expect them soon as well.