Top Blog Moments- IT'S A LIST, LOST COLLECTOR

Remember that time the Lost Collector wrote a post about how lists were lame, and it rubbed Night Owl the wrong way?  That was funny.

I'm happy to say that for as much grief as I give AJ (The Lost Collector), I consider him a friend and one of the best people I've met as a result of this blog business.  

So before my last post tomorrow, in honor of AJ, I wanted to stroll down memory lane and list out my Top 9 favorite blog moments from the last three years.  Why 9?  Because 7 ate 9.  Wait, no that's a punch line to one of my 4 year old's jokes.  Why 9?  Because.... I couldn't come up with 10.

Here they are, sort of ranked and sort of not:


#9 : Auctions/Gifts From Cleve:

Obviously auctions at Cleve's were a major part of my blog.  My involvement with Cleve's won't end with the ending of the blog thankfully.  And I'm still stunned by some of the incredible cards that Cleve has given me over the years:

Yes that's a Triple Threads dual autograph book card of Evan Longoria and Josh Hamilton.  It is indeed.

I guess these aren't directly tied to the blog, but they are so nice and Cleve is so awesome that they need to be on the countdown.



#8 :  Dayf sends me the best card I ever received from another blogger:

 

As you may recall, I made a lazy, half ass attempt to get George Will, my hero, on a card in Allen & Ginter.  It went nowhere, but did result in me receiving a custom made Will A&G card, courtesy of everyone's favorite Cardboard Junkie.

#7:  AJ Gets Ranced:

Speaking of exchanging cards between bloggers, I was very proud of what I sent AJ after he made a smart ass remark about some tainted cards I had opened.  His post is perhaps my favorite post related to my blog from another blogger.

I also want to send a kudos to Cardboard Catastrophes for the best title of a post about a trade with me:  Paper Products From a Paper Product.  That was brilliant, and Jeff is a fantastic writer and generous dude.

#6:  Etopps Scandal:

This is as close to fame in the baseball card world as I ever got.  I was mentioned on eTopps message boards and it led to a mild scandal.  It's a weak 15 minutes of fame grant you, but it's mine.

#5:  Hot Dog Tournament:

I know this was a stupid bit on my part, but it was a blast.  My stomach didn't appreciate it, and I won't do it again, but it was fun to write.  It's also been fun to re-live all the matchups and the controversies that occured.  What a thrilling tournament!

#4:  The Becky Bridwell Interview:

I was pretty of proud of this one.  It's as close to journalistic "work" as my blog ever got.  Adventures of Napkin Doon is not interview-centric at all, but the interview with Oriole's prospect Parker Bridwell's mom was fun, and she was an awesome person to correspond with.

#3:  Doon Discs:

This was a totally stupid spoof of phiten discs, but it was a wonderful creative release.  I was also able to use artwork from stuff I received from AJ and Dayf to make the "discs".

#2:  My Collecting "Food" Pyramid:

 

Other than my first Big Fun Game, this post was one I got the best response to early in my blogging days.  I think the analogy still holds up for me as a collector.  In fact, the comparison of junk wax to candy was spot on for me personally, because I'm getting to the age where splurging on either really makes me feel like crap.  I think it was my best "contribution" to the "blogosphere."

#1:  George Will Sends Me An Autographed Card:

Sure, this is number one for purely selfish reasons.  But getting an autographed card from George Will, and having his assistant tell me he was amused with my letter still gives me chills.  Best autograph I have by far.  This alone was worth starting the blog.


I'm sure there are a few things I'm forgetting that should make this list, but for now, that's it, that's the list. 

Gypsy, Gypsy Green.... If You Know What I Mean

I made small but important progress on my quest to complete a 2011 Gypsy Queen Green Framed Paper set this week, one card courtesy of eBay, the other courtesy of everyone's favorite Night Owl:

I'm always a little surprised when someone gives up a card of who I assume is one of their favorite players.  I'm sure this is a double, and Night Owl has another one of these safely tucked away somewhere, but still, it was very cool to get a nice Dodger card from a Dodger fan and collector.

I also grabbed a Mickey Mantle on eBay:

I wouldn't say I got a steal on it, but it was cheaper than any others I'd seen yet so I made the purchase.

My Master Checklist now has this set ranked as my number one priority.  I only need 7 more cards, and I'm going to target this September 1 as my completion date.

A Blue Yu From Hoo Hoo!

That hoo hoo is the hoot of an owl, The Night Owl that is.  I'm officially a real baseball card blogger now that I've completed a trade with the gazillion time winner of card blog of the year.  It only took me two years to complete a trade with the Night Owl, so I guess my tactic of playing hard to get paid off.

It wasn't the biggest trade of the year, but I think he liked what I sent, and I was definitely happy with my end, especially this Blue Yu:

If Darvish takes the next step this year and becomes the Ace we Rangers fans are hoping for, I'm going to go Darvish crazy.  I've got a nice little assortment of Darvish cards now, but I figure there will be a ton made in 2013 for me to hunt. 

There will be more Michael Young cards in 2013 too, but I won't want most of them.  I have no interest in seeing him in a Phillies uni.  This pic of him in an throwback uniform is fitting and a nice last Rangers base card of him, but I wish the picture was of him hitting.  I can't say I'm going to miss his fielding too much.

Speaking of throwback unis- here are those same unis, except they weren't throwback unis when these cards were made.  These have already filled some gaps in my sampler album.

He also sent a handful of Piazza and Beltre cards.  I wonder how Dodger fans are feeling about Piazza these days after he called out Vin Scully?

Thanks for the trade Night Owl!  I look forward to doing it again in two years!