Mike Schmidt 2012 Topps 1980 World Series Pin Card

I don't understand this type of card, but I like it.  It has metal.  It's an embedded metallic representation of the happiest sports moment of my pre-life.

In all seriousness, though, did you notice that when these first started appearing in Topps sets that these were numbered /736 in series 1?  The numbering faded away, so we were left to guess how many were out there for 2012 series 2 and beyond.

In a related note, I love to calculate production runs.......inaccurately. Let's try 2012 Topps series 1 just for fun.

 There were 50 of these cards on the checklist inserted into 2012 Topps series 1 packs, which means there were 36800 pin cards inserted.  These were inserted either one per hobby case or six per HTA case.  Let's assume that there were an equal number of both HTA and hobby cases, this means there were 5257.14 cases of each, which is 10514.28 cases in total, which makes perfect sense.   Extrapolating this further, there were approximately 100,000 of each base card inserted into the total HTA and  hobby cases.   Multiplying that out, that means there are 33 million base cards in 2012 Topps series 1.  How many rooms would that take to hold them all?

The bottom line is that this pin card gives the owner the power of multiplication.  Pay no attention to the card behind the curtain!  It will divide you among your brand and team loyalties! And then you can't multiply your collection as it should be!

In a related note, I just finished taking a partial inventory of my collection.  It now takes up three cabinets and a bookshelf.  It's overwhelming.  I need a pin that says that "Overwhelmed collector.  World Series Champion of Accumulation: 2013"

The State of the Collection or How to Subcategorize a Cards Purchase in Detail

Gather 'round the ring of fire, boys and girls. It's time to have a heart-to-heart, a soul-to-soul if you will. This tale will astound and confound you. And then it will turn around and make complete sense.

I am part of a contingent of folk that are called collectors.  In this internet age, it's a very simple process of see card, click on card, buy card.  This is especially true when a some promotion is occurring like free shipping or dehydrated cookies with every purchase or event tickets to go wild turkey riding (may or may not be a real thing).

The smattering of cards I;m about to present represent some of the many different directions that I have been pursuing in my collection over the past 12-18 months.  The only thing that they have in common is that they are all cards of the collectible variety.

Mike Schmidt 2012 Gypsy Queen Club: What compels us to pick up multiple cards of the same player if it's a different color, adds a border, changes size, or has a photo variation. As you can see, I went all in on the Mike Schmidt contingent.  This satisfies multiple levels of the Phillie collector in me: Schmidts, 2012 Phillies, Phillies minis.....triple check.

2012 Topps Gold Rush Redemptions: Typically, from each Topps flagship set, I choose one insert set to collect. When I received my gold rush redemption pack in the mail, I was really struck by the design of this one.  It is overwhelmingly gold and best represented that year's Topps edition for me.  So, I went about collecting the 50 card set.....and then, curses!  There's a second series set, and I am now missing 6 cards from there....and they're all big names: Trout, Harper, Darvish,etc....I think I need some help.

Junk Wax Era Phillies Inserts: I've begun filling in those insert cards of the Phillies that I could never pull from a pack as a kid. Witness the 1992 Fleer Team Leaders Dykstra...holla back.  Snagging the 1993 Team Pinnacle with Daulton and Pudge (I-Rod) was also a nice find.  I always wanted a Team Pinnacle card, and now I have one; 1:90 packs was a steep pull in '93.

2011 Phillies Crazy Collection:  Yes, that is the official name of this particular collection segment.  I went hardcore after Phillies from 2011 sets, even more than I normally do.  I have obtained an entire binder worth of cards including parallel sets and every base card from every issue released by Topps.  Let's see how many cards with the same photo I could get.....base Topps, base Topps diamond factory set, Topps Opening Day, Topps Chrome, Topps Chrome refractor, Diamond anniversary parallel, Cognac parallel (liquorfractor)....that's 7 cards of many Phillies from the flagship set with the same image.  I think I need counseling. Only 19 more cards to go (or 24 if you count those impossible to find mini variation cards from 2011 Gypsy Queen) for this monstrosity of a collection. It will be a great story one day.....as I end up wearing goggles staring blankly at a painting of a red hat.

1994 Flair Inserts: As a side project, I am trying to put together the 1994 Flair master set.  There are no parallels, and I have both A-Rod rookies in my possession (both pulled from packs, score).  I was really thrilled to get these hot glove cards.  Remember when die-cuts were all the rage with many shapes and interesting patterns?  You should, since it was just last year when this craze got started again.  Have you noticed that fads and fashions are cyclical? But, if there's one thing that will never go out of style, it's the word "hot".  I call everything hot, don't you? (/sarcasm).....In all seriousness, I was thrilled to be able to acquire the Maddux. Unfortunately, I still need the Ripken and Griffey for this set.

As a card blog, I find I don't talk about my collection that much.  Here's a glimpse of one slice of The Other World pie, mixed with boysenberry, it just might be a crowd pleaser.

Cornerstone Collection: Mike Schmidt Rookie Checked Off

I´m sure we all have different ideas about what the best collection would be.  For some, it´s being a set collector...for others, a team collector, for still others, an auto collector.   Somehow or other, we all end up with wantlists, unmarked piles, new ideas, ideas put aside, chaos, and order in the world that is called card collecting.

There are always some cards, however, that we acquire that tickle the fancy and rise to the top of the list that I always like to keep handy: if there were a fire in the house, which cards would I leave with?  I keep these in a separate box for easier finding....true story. 

A more appropriate name for this would be ¨The Cornerstone Collection¨  as I like to call it.  Everyone has their own personal meaning of what that could be.  It could be sets, individual cards, valuable cards, non-valuable cards, essentially anything that you would begin your collection with if you had to start over again.

As a lifelong Phillies fan, this Mike Schmidt rookie would be one of the top (if not the top) of my list.  Luckily, I was gifted this one for my past birthday. 

I surprisingly don´t have much to say about the card this time around except that it rocks.  

I sense the beginning of a series on the blog and then this will be properly updated.

2007 SP Legendary Cuts Mike Schmidt Jersey Card

It was a game for a Mike Schmidt in legendary times when powder blue uniforms ruled the landscape. It was an idyllic period when there was no labor strife between the players and owners, no fear of being booed by your hometeam, and no maple bats.

It was only a game where waiting for a ball while in the infield meant prattling to the pitcher about his stuff. "Throw it by him baby!  Way to show them the nasty slider! Make 'im dive for it! 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, you got this!"  That was some lively chatter.

Nostalgia rules in the baseball scene.  This is not to say that this is a negative aspect of the game.  Links to the historical past help drive interest in the modern game.  How do players connect to similar counterparts from different eras?  Did you know that this season so far has seen the lowest run-scoring environment since 1993?  Willie Mays's birthday: great moment or greatest moment?

There's always been a sense of comparison in baseball history through the eras.   The game is not the same as it once was.  There are no more (legal) spitballs and emoryballs.  The ballparks are both bigger and smaller. Baseballs are replaced during the game with increasing frequency.   Gloves don't look like big brown leather hands.  Catcher masks are more goalie hockey helmets with every passing year.

But for those who play, no matter the year...it is a game, it is a livelihood, it is a passthrough to the alternate universe.  For without baseball, players are not immortalized with cardboard, foil, and cut up pieces of cloth.

When it was a game is a phrase that will never go out of style because it was only a game before you remember being grown-up.  For all of us, we're still in the process of figuring out what that's going to be like.

Phillies Project Update: Early '70s Schmidt and Carlton Edition

I have been out of commission and incognito (like the Carlton with the mustache card below) all during the past 4 days. I've moved apartments and I have no TV or internet probably until tomorrow at the earliest. Luckily, I can update this during work hours; no one's been bothering me today. Would you believe that the less phone calls I get during a day, the better I feel? I also finally saw the Phillies results from the weekend. Only 0.5 game out! It's time to push to the finish.

These cards almost complete my "Schmidt and Carlton regular issue during their playing days collection" phase of the Phillies project. This is dangerously close to nearing the end. It looks like 2011 will be the target end year.

1975 Topps Strikeout Leaders Steve Carlton/Nolan Ryan: Carlton had 240 strikeouts, followed by Andy Messersmith with 220, and Tom Seaver with 201. Ryan had 367 Ks, followed by Bert Blyleven with 249. Ryan did strike out a lot of batters in his career.
1972 Topps Steve Carlton: His last card as a Cardinal before the fateful trade.
1974 Topps Mike Schmidt: His first standalone card, which did not celebrate possibly the worst sophomore season by a HOF: .196/.323/.374 with 18 HR and 52 RBI in 1973.
1970 Topps ERA Leaders: Marichal, Carlton, and Gibson: In 1969, there were 9 pitchers with ERAs less than 2.50 with this triumvirate leading the way.
1970 Topps Steve Carlton: Carlton's whistling after his 2nd straight all-star season at the age of 24. Big dreams and results lay ahead.

Check out the wantlist on the sidebar for what remains. Only the rookie for the Schmidt collection remains. For the Carlton collection, all that remains is the rookie, 1968 Topps, and 1972 Topps (Traded). And then, and then....what happens when you complete something like this?

Swapping Cards: A Trade with the Collective Troll

I recently completed a trade with Marck, the prolific poster and eponymous writer of The Collective Troll (rookie blog of the year, it was). It centered around this piece, a 1980 Topps Mike Schmidt. Since I am in the business of collecting all Mike Schmidts, and I was able to offer something he desired. Terms were soon met and cards were sent hurtling through the mailosphere.





He also sent some modern Phillies cards, which will all make fine additions to my ever-growing and never-finishing Phillies Project. He also sent some cards to help me on the way to completing yet another set that will not go to rest, 2009 Topps A&G.



2009 Topps Heritage Then and Now Bobby Richardson/Cole Hamels, highlighting the World Series MVPs of 1960 and 2008, respectively. Did you know Bobby Richardson is the only player to win MVP of the World Series in a losing cause? He also set the record for most hits in one World Series.

A brownish parallel of 2008 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes #d to 149, essentially highlighting the homegrown backbone of the Phillies squad.
This was one of those retail exclusive inserts inserted in blaster boxes depicting Ryan Howard.





Some 2009 Topps Heritage Phillies: JC Romero, a waiver wire pickup in 2007, who became the lead lefty of the bullpen for 2008....then was suspended for the first 50 games of 2009. Also, game recaps from the 2008 World Series.



Lastly, a 2009 Topps U&H All Star Gold Parallel (#d to 2009) of Chase Utley.

There were other cards, but they have been mixed in with my general collection.

Thanks for the trade Marck! Let's do it again sometime.

Phillies Project Update: Carlton and Schmidt Cards

I'm approaching the pinnacle of my pursuit for Steve Carlton cards (check the sidebar to see what I am looking for, it's not much). With Mike Schmidt, on the other hand, I have just begun the search. I'm still compiling the list. The two stars of the '70s and '80s create an interesting contrast in card images and personality. Carlton, the taciturn, standing tall and Schmidt, the communicative (post-playing days) sprawling on the diamond to stop another liner.

I'm always looking for non-mainstream releases and post-playing career cards of these players.

Here are my latest acquisitions.


1971 Pitching leaders (or really victory leaders). Fergie Jenkins led the way with 24 wins. Seaver, Downing, and Carlton tied with 20 wins. The next season, Carlton was traded from the Cardinals to the Phillies for Rick Wise (nothing like a no-hitter to boost your value)

1979 Kelloggs 3-D Carlton. He's staring right at you. Even if you look away, he will not.

A standard 1977 Topps card. Check out the maroon warm-up jacket. I'm not sure if I miss that uniform or not based on my childhood conditioning.

1983 or 1984 Topps Ralston Purina Mike Schmidt. I realize licensing is a major issue these days, but why not lend your name to other avenues for small sets to distribute cards. I miss the cards in cereal boxes and at gas stations (or in this case, dog food).

Until next time...

Mike Schmidt Wantlist

Here are the cards I'm missing from his playing career. Any non-standard issue or post-playing career cards are also welcome in trades.

73 Topps 615
74 Topps 283