Are You Calling Me Yella?

I should take a moment to express my appreciation for all of the nice things that you guys said when I made my announcement that I was wrapping this blog up on March 4th.  I truly wasn't expecting that and feel very humbled and appreciative by the comments.

I certainly didn't mean to give the impression that writing this blog was making me miserable.  I still have fun with it, it's just that it's getting hard to find time for it, plus I just don't think I have much else to offer in terms of content.  I do still have some cards I want to show, including some of these parallels from 2014 Topps:

2014 Topps is really growing on me.  It seems like the consensus on the set is "meh" but I really like it.   I also love the yellow parallels, or "yella" as my West Texas born Mother would say.   It's kind of a goofy face on Wil Myers (of whom with which I've shared a baseball field with which of whom).

I do like the photography on most of the cards I've seen so far though, and I'm beyond thrilled that Topps has captured a card of Adrian Beltre getting his head touched (he doesn't like that you know!)  I'm for sure building a rainbow of the Beltre card:

I know the red and blue are Target and Walmart, and the red crystally thing is in all retail, but I don't know the story on the green.  I haven't seen it in any boxes I've opened yet.  Anyone know?

Checklist Chipaway: 2011 Gypsy Queen Green Border

I’m happy to say I won’t be ending my blog without at least one really good set realizing completion. 

With this Stan Musial card, I’ve wrapped up the 100 card parallel Green Paper Frame set from 2011 Gypsy Queen.   There’s a lot I love about this set:  The checklist is chock full of great names, the pictures are beautiful, and I like the design of the card and the feel of the green paper border. 

I also like that these were only available in retail rack packs, and there were 3 cards per pack.  So a fella would have to open at least 34 rack packs (at $10 a pack mind you) and hope for no doubles to build one of these sets.  Of course, that’s not how I built this set, but I like to think about things like that.

I didn’t collect the minis or relics/autos from 2011 GQ, but got everything else.  It makes a really nice binder to look through in its completed form.

The Elation Of A Filled Up Sampler Album: 1964 Topps

I noted yesterday that I'll miss showing the progress on the 1952 Bowman set when I turn out the lights on Napkin Doon March 4th.  The other bit I'll miss is showing off my Sampler Album progress.  I'd say my Sampler Album has been the most fun and interesting project I've taken up with my card collection.

I filled up my 1964 page a few weeks ago, and it's very lovely in it's completed form:

 

I expect to tinker and change cards with most of my pages over time, but I can see this one pretty much standing pat.  I've got some big names, and some minor names and no repeat of teams.  Except for the Staub, all the cards are in first rate condition.  The Staub is ok, just a little dinged in places. 

'52 (Bowman) Pickup: Bums Named Carl



The one slight regret I have about ending my blog is that I won't be able to share the progress on my 1952 Bowman set.  I've been working on it for only a couple of months now, but it's been a total blast, and every card is something I'm proud to own.

One of the many pluses of the set is that there are several Brooklyn Dodgers to collect.  I've picked up a few good ones already (Duke Snider, Don Newcombe), and this week I'm adding a couple of Carls: Furillo and Erskine:

They both are in really good shape.  The scan on the Erskine is poor- it's not nearly as spotty as it looks. 

I gave myself 10 years to complete this set, which is about 25 cards a year.  So far, I'm way ahead of pace as I've already picked up 25 cards two months into the first year.  I may slow down a little, but these have been an absolute joy to collect!

Friends, I Think We're Good Here.

I believe I've come to the end of this Napkin Doon project and it's time to turn out the lights on the blog.    I don't have any sort of big dramatic reason why, other to say I'm comfortable with this decision simply because creating this blog has accomplished what I never knew I wanted it to accomplish.  Plus, I'm getting ready to hit a crazy busy time at work (which come to think of it is most of the year) and we are in the process of building a new house and moving this summer. 

When I started this almost 3 years ago, I did it with no discernable goal in mind.  I had jumped back into the baseball card hobby full steam ahead about a year prior to making up Napkin Doon, and my collecting perspective was about as all over the place as you could get.    I knew I wanted to have cards, to sort cards, to think about cards and to talk about cards.  Cards, cards cards. 

I also remember what I thought my blog would be about: graphs and analysis.  I imagined showing  historical pricing of cards and players and discussing whatever those trends might mean.  I went out and started buying as many old Beckett's as I could find to help provide the data.  This was going to be some serious stuff.  I also imagined my blog focusing largely on eTopps.  During my years of not actively buying cardboard, I still was sort of involved in the hobby with eTopps.  Clearly, neither of those topics wound up carrying the blog, but I'm happy with the topics that did (Cleve's auctions, Sampler Album, silly food tournaments, etc.) 

I've decided to wrap it up on March 4 (this is my two week's notice), which is the 3 year anniversary of when I started The Adventures of Napkin Doon.  For the most part I've said what I wanted to say, but I still have a few favorite cards that I haven't shown, and a few other posts in the queue that I want to put out. 

Plus, I'm not getting out of the hobby at all.  I'll still show some cards on twitter from time to time, and be following and commenting on all of the other wonderful blogs out there, even the ones managed by hooligans like The Lost Collector.

I'll save the sappy thanks and goodbyes for the 4th.

Checklist Chipaway: 2003 Diamond Kings HOF Heroes

Except for some relics and autographs, my 2003 Diamond Kings Master set is done!

This Stan Musial HOF Heroes card was the last standard insert I needed:

This is one of those insert sets that I don't think are all that great until you look at the set in total:

 

 It's a short 10 card set, but the artwork is fantastic!

COMC Black Friday Parade: NW Arkansas Naturals

Last weekend, the Naturals release their upcoming promotional calendar.  There was some great stuff (Wil Myers Bobblehead!) and it started getting my juices going for the upcoming season.  I also picked up a few cool cards of former Naturals on COMC.com's Black Friday sale that I will now show you:

I really, really hope Christian Colon gets a shot with the Royals this year.  He, at least in my limited dealings with him, was a super nice guy and was awesome to my 8 year old.

I think this may be the year Hosmer turns into the beast many thought he could be.