CLAYTON KERSHAW CLASS ACT

 

          A couple of weeks ago I did a segment on my blog what's in my PC 5000ct box. One of the comments I got was I sure got a lot of good things & I mentioned that I got a 2008 Upper Deck Timeline Autograph of 1 Clayton Kershaw well, after seeing my phone blow up of messages on Thursday after hearing that Clayton was announcing his retirement from the Dodgers to take place as soon as the Dodgers season which might last a long time in the post season. I thought I would share with you photos of the card I got of this class act of a pitcher. Its numbered 07/95 I remember the day I pulled it from a blaster box. I was first shocked then amazed that a blaster box released 6 years prior when I pulled it in 2014 & it came a few days after Clayton threw his only No-Hitter on June 21(Clayton's No Hitter was on the 18th) plus the blaster was a priced at $4.99 it was buried with lot of other discontinued blasters that I purchased at a Meijer. 

          I guess the reason I put it within the screwdown like I did is Clayton was an 11 time All-Star Pitcher,an MVP winner,a 3 time Cy Young Award winner, plus I saw Clayton pitched when he was in the minors when he was with at the time the Great Lakes Loons when they took on my Lansing Lugnuts sadly Clayton lost to them in his only appearance against them. Plus I remembered hearing when playing Little League ball his catcher growing up as a kid a few doors down from his house was none other then Matthew Stafford current Los Angeles Rams Quarterback that once played for my team the Detroit Lions. 

I remember seeing the banners they hung around the stadium where the Loons play at the Kershaw banner was at antique store the asking price $700K cause it was signed by him.

                 I wanted to show this card with the likes of Mr Owl whom I know who has an very elaborate collection of Kershaws through the years mainly he focuses on the Topps Gold versions he has from 2008 to the present. Then I also wanted to show GCRL as well this card since those 2 are competitive Dodger collectors makes me wonder if other than the 3 cards featured in the Mega Card set devoted to Babe Ruth how competitive they would both be if they made a Babe Ruth card of him as a Dodger would be I hope they both chime in with comments on who would want that card more lol.

 

                  Clayton has come a long way when he was a youngster in the 2008 Topps Traded set to the present day card of him in 2025 he certainly will be 1 Dodger will have his number retired & 5 years from now will see up in Cooperstown I only wish he was able to get that mark of 300 Career wins but injuries caught up with him so I can now only hope that Justin Verlander still can make it but time is against him as well hopefully someone will get to that milestone again before he gets impossible to get. I know Max Scherzer is also a candidate for 300 career wins but his slow start this year with the Blue Jays is hurting his chances as well.

Until then I hope to hear from many others on what they think of my Kershaw Autographed that I was nice to share with just remember what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs "Any Ballplayer who refuses to sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."

I FOUND IT.....I FOUND IT!!!!!!

 

              This last weekend I was staying at my parents house cause I had to watch over my mom's cat formally my cat before I moved out BlackJack. Lately when my dad or I come over BlackJack likes to hide from us cause he is afraid of us.  So in efforts to see him from his hiding place in my parents room I was attacked on my right hand after telling him to calm down he still didn't want to be near me he eventually calmed down and later apologized for his attack against me. Anyways prior to his attack I found this Baseball Digest issue from December 2003 while rereading in the private office room (Sorry I do most of my reading of others blogs while in here as well & any other books I might be reading its either read or play games on my phone.) So as I was reading it they usually at the beginning of they feature letters to the editor. I remember reading the October issue of 2003 & I had to make a comment or I would say my Cha-Ching action of knowing more than most people know about baseball so I had found it my issue that featured my letter I knew I had a letter published by the magazine but I couldn't remember what issue but here it is the issue I had found it YAHOO!!!!!!! I have enclosed my letter for all to read. 

I can't help but know a lot about baseball.


                  After rereading my letter I immediately said I need to do a post on this. Now I pose this question to my avid readers did you know about this factoid or not be honest with me. I have a bet going on with my coworker that he says about 2 of you knew & I disagree I told him I bet they knew about the Clemens event but didn't know about the Ryan event if someone did know about the 2 events I know they are lying. 

Blackjack when I owned him liked my bed back in January 2010.

Hello I am prisoner # 9livesFeline I didn't do it 

This was after the attack & I had cleaned up my hand only to have it continue to bleed. It still hurts when I flex my fingers on the keyboard while typing this post up. Don't worry Ill live to tell more interesting things for my blog. Until then I am reminded of the words of Rogers Hornsby when talking about autographs for kids "Any ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."

24 YEARS HARD TO BELIEVE

 

                              Most of us remember that 24 years ago we woke up to hearing the news of the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York as well the Pentagon & of course the field in Pennsylvania. As I reflected last year I was supposed to be on one of those flights (read my past post on the 23rd Anniversary of the date).  Next year will mark the 25th Anniversary MLB already planned to have an interleague game between the Yankees & the Mets to be played on that date. I hope around 8:46 AM EST that you took the time to reflect on your lives as well your love ones on this day.

The route of the planes that crashed on 9/11/01 

Even though I am the last child in my family my mother is thankful that I wasn't on the flight especially this year. I am not sure how my parents would have been on this day this year had I been on flight 175. I again would normally leave you with my quote from Rogers Hornsby instead Ill leave you with words of Todd Beemer "Are you guys ready? Let's Roll."

30 YEARS THIS LAST WEEKEND

      It's hard to believe that this last weekend it was 30 years since Cal Ripken Jr passed Lou Gehrig in most Consecutive games played. You see Cal then he had hair but now 30 years later its gone. Lot has changed since then most of us were getting used to dealing with the AOL dial-up to get online now we don't have to deal with that we can post online on our phones,laptops,Chromebooks,etc..... 

I still wish I could find the owner of the license plate on this card.

Man ya think he could be the live action Mr Clean guy with that hair loss lol.

        My reflection on the accomplishment that Cal did yeah.... he brought back the fans after the year before strike but I am in some ways with my work ethics I try not to miss any days off but when I need a break I need a break take an example this last week I had my school job Tuesday through Friday no school on Monday cause of Labor Day then I get done with that & then quick come home change my clothes if needed get a quick bite of lunch before working from Tuesday through Saturday at Dollar General. Now I hear some of ya saying I shouldn't complain about it & yes you might have a heavier schedule load but its what I was scheduled for so. When I can rest some people want me to do other stuff or I just want to escape in my collection then I hear people complaining that I spend more time with that then I should do other things when I not busy. I can't win either way I try ever since I started my blog to get at least something out to you my readers when I can & not be featured on Night Owl's missing Blogger list lol. 

        Johnny Trading Spot this post is for you to know that I am willing to help you find Braves cards at my lcs & areas around me just look at my lists see what you might be able to locate for me. Also note I've helped out others as well with their team needs & gotten a couple good things back so again I plead to you my readers look at my lists I like to see stuff disappear from it since its released date on some of the stuff I'm thankful for my adopted Little brother Jeremy who sent me both his 1997 Ultra & Fleer cards of David Ortiz(Aries) to me in trying to complete those sets. But lately I find myself struggling to find someone that might have something I need cause I shown ya pictures of what I can help in basketball & football singles as well baseball too I also like to point out to Buckstore I can send ya a lots of Buffalo Bills cards if you like believe me I like getting packages for stuff. Anyways this is my first post on my phone since I don't trust the connection when I am on the road to use my chromebook to post usually I make my blog comments on my phone only with those words I leave you with Rogers Hornsby saying about signing Autographs for kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign Autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."

WHATS'S IN MY PC 5000ct BOXES PART V

 

                We have reached the last row of the first box yahoo!!!!!!! there's about 38 more to mentioned just in this box alone. I'm surprised that no one mentioned on some of picks so far anyways with further ado then lets finish this first box last row.
1st box last row
1991 Topps #333 Chipper Jones RC own 2 copies 1 for set & yes for the PC reason cause my friend John said this kid has potential HoF stuff he should know he Chipper Joined John later in Cooperstown.

1993 Pinnacle #457 Derek Jeter RC own 3 copies 2 in sets 1 in the PC unlike Houston who selected Phil Nevin I listened to Hall of Fame ex scout for the Astros took the kid who grew up in Kalamazoo & I actually saw him play my H.S. in a game in 1991 good field but needs to know how to hit better was my remarks needs 2 to 2 years of minor league play before bringing up to play.
1993 Topps #98 Derek Jeter RC own 2 copies see above mentioned.

1993 Upper Deck silver Hologram back #449 Derek Jeter RC own 2 copies again what can I say more what Mr November accomplished in his career. 

1994 SP #15 Alex Rodriguez RC I have I would had 4 but gave away 1 for my 1 year anniversary contest so have 2 in sets 2 in the PC so if someone wants a copy let me know what you can offer for trade & Ill be glad to send it to you 

1994 Flair #340 Alex Rodriguez RC I have 2 got this card in back to back packs back in 1996 when I bought a series II box for $15 even though most dealers were selling them at $75 a piece then. 1 for the set 1 for the PC 

1994 Flair Wave of the Future 2 Insert #8 out 10 Alex Rodriguez I have 2 of these they were also in the back to back packs I mentioned up above funny thing is the other cards in the packs were completly different which was a surprise for me when I made the set I thought I would have duplication right away but no only the 2 Alex Rodriguez cards were. 

1994 Upper Deck #19 Michael Jordan I have 2 of them I have 1 for the set the other came in a buying the collection that the Barry Bonds cards came in again they didn't want them.

1994 Upper Deck #24 Alex Rodriguez RC I have 2 1 for the set the other came from Lee Noel again whom I mentioned gave me his & brothers collection in having me do what I felt best for their collection again some of you got your respective teams from when I sent ya a nice package of goodies.

2000 Topps Traded #T40 Miguel Cabrera RC I have 2 1 I got for the set the PC came in a chance of a lifetime finding it in a quarter box at a flea market back in 2015 I couldn't pass it up somehow someone must thought it was a reprint. 

2001 Topps #726 Ichiro Suzuki RC back in 2001 I made the set & during the process of making it I was lucky to pull 2 of them from packs 

2001 Topps Traded #T247 Albert Pujols RC back in 2001 I was on my way to an auction at a card shop I convinced my mother to stop at Walmart to see if they had any of the blasters or packs of the Update for sale just my luck I found 2 Blasters available pulled the Pujols in each of the boxes 1 for the set the other PC.

2001 Topps Traded Chrome #T99 Albert Pujols/Ichiro Suzuki 2001 Topps Rookies of the Year in those packs I mentioned I bought up above I was lucky to pull this cause they were 2 chrome cards per pack cause in the same pack I pulled not only that chrome in 1 pack keep reading I hit the ultimate pack hit.
2001 Topps Traded Chrome #T266 Ichiro Suzuki RC yes this card came from the same pack  think the pack gave all it could in 1 pack not yet so fast my young friend keep reading.

2001 Topps Traded Gold #T99 Albert Pujols/Ichiro Suzuki 2001 Topps Rookies of the Year Gold card #'d 1601/2001 that concludes that blaster pack more about more PCs I picked up at that card shop Auction when I reveal those boxes so stay tuned to those future posts. 

2002 Donruss Originals Embossed Cal Ripken Jr. 1984 Donruss #106 Print Run of 7. I pulled this card out of a hobby pack if you asked me it was Donruss's answer to a buyback type card & even has word Originals stamped on it I was surprised that Donruss would do something like that.

2007 Topps #40A. Derek Jeter w/President George W. Bush & Mickey Mantle I have 2 copies I was lucky to pull 2 versions of this iconic card from a couple of blaster boxes back in 2007 & I figured it would be a cool card to have more in my 2007 Topps set. 

2007 Topps #630A Daisuke Matsuzaka RC English I have 2 copies of this card 1 for my PC the other for my PC the reason I have it is to remind myself don't believe in hype on some RCs  pulled the 2 copies from a couple Target Boxes back in 2007 

2007 Topps #630B Daisuke Matsuzaka RC Japanese front Facsimile autograph on front. It came in the same pack as the previous 1 mentioned.

2007 Topps #630C Daisuke Matsuzaka RC Japanese front No Facsimile Autograph on front. It came in a Series II Rack Pack which surprised me somewhat cause I thought I had a dupe from the card previously mentioned then I looked closer there wasn't a signature which had me rush to check the TCDB on if I got all 3 & sure enough I have all 3 Varations.

2008 Topps #234A Boston Red Sox Post Season Highlights w/Rudy Giuliani celebrating w/team I have 2 copies much like the 2007 Jeter I figured it be another cool card for the set.

2008 Topps Traded #UH240 Clayton Kershaw RC I have 2 copies of this card I ran across my 2nd copy on accident I was looking for some singles for a friend making the update set lucky for me I had an extra copy & they already had the Kershaw for their set. 

2010 Bowman Platinum #PP5 Mike Trout I went crazy when it came to finding these blasters when they were reduced sure I bought a couple when they weren't but I was surprised when I went through my doubles I had an extra Trout after seeing what his 2011 card went I said without a doubt its headed to PC as well.

2011 Topps Traded #US175 Mike Trout RC I have 3 copies of this card 2 in set form 1 in the PC I used to have 5 of them but traded 2 to 2 different set builders that needed the Trout back in 2011 so they were wondering if was a SP or not to me the SP version is the Sparkles one I need for my set.

2012 Topps #660A Yu Darvish RC I have 5 copies of the card 4 are in set form 1 for the PC I made 4 sets from that year cause others were making orders for me to make the set unfornunately the deals went dead & I was left stranded with 3 sets I didn't mind making extra of. 

2012 Topps Chrome #151A Yu Darvish I have 2 copies 1 for the set 1 the PC when I got this card along with the next card mentioned on black Friday in 2012 along with the final 3 cards I needed for my 1975 Topps Mini set which were Pete Rose,Robin Yount RC, & George Brett total cost for the 5 was $200 later on that same day I had my first accident in my car after sneezing at a light accidently bumping the car in front of me causing damage to my vehicle more then the person whom I hit who got a scratch on their bumper needless to say I got the ticket & had to pay the damages for the next year to my parents insurance company.

2012 Topps Chrome #196A Bryce Harper RC he just won the Rookie of the Year so I figured I would pay 3 figures for it when I didn't as you read in the description above I have 2 copies as also mentioned. 
2017 Topps #287A Aaron Judge RC I have 2 copies usually when I open products that I might be intrested in Ill keep my doubles for others who might make the same set just in case for trade & as fate had it I got the 2 Judges that way.

2018 Topps #700A Shohei Ohtani RC 2 copies for the set & of course for the PC

2018 Topps Opening Day #200 Shohei Ohtani RC 2 copies I bought 1 hobby box pulled 2 right away in my 2nd pull of his I pulled the next card to be featured.
2018 Topps Opening Day #200 Blue Foil Shohei Ohtani RC It was my insert from the pack that held my PC version of the regular card since the first 1 of course went to the set. Being a long time reader & collector of the Beckett Monthly Magazines I remember that RCs couldn't be labeled as an insert I remember reading that back in 1987 man how times changed eh!!!

2018 Topps Archives #50A Shohei Ohtani RC Now as most of you know I am a set builder so basically when I pulled the second copy I usually have a rule keep the double in case someone might need it but if after a couple of years there's no one requesting for that particular card in a trade then if I decide its PC worthy then Ill put it in my PC. 

2018 Topps Archives Insert 1981 Topps Future Star Trios Shohei Ohtani/Parker Bridwell/Troy Scribner RC as I mentioned before how things have changed where an Insert is now considered in the ways of being a RC I guess Ill have to do a little investigating next summer when I go back to the National to ask Beckett why are inserts now RCs what gives I like to hear your thoughts on it as well so I can share your comments to them. I have 2 copies.

          With 6 things left to reveal in this box I just want to still thank you my readers for allowing me to share what I got I have had people say I should open my own shop cause of all the stuff I have & recently I had the honor of having Mr. Night Owl saying that we both started around the same time well not bad for a kid who started to collect cards at the age of 3 years old yeah for those curious it was in 1978.  Now the next 8 Items are Printing Plates that I have gotten & each time I pulled one I been wondering if I ever would get all 4 of them to recreate that iconic card believe me if I ever got 4 plates of the same card I would definitely have 5 piece card of that particular card & most likely it would be featured in a post on my blog but I also would feel bad for the team collectors that would want it for their collections as well anyone who might be collecting that individual player. Now with that brief break is mention lets continue with these last 6 printing plates I have. Oh before I forget any of these plates are NFT unless you have a Plate from the same set & would like to offer me your plate of your player for mine cause you like to add my plate to your PC. 

2004 Fleer Classic Clippings Magenta #28 Vernon Wells Jr. Not many people remember that his father is a famous sports artist that was featured in Upper Deck Products when they first came out. I like to hear how many of you knew about that fact before I mentioned it. 

2005 Donruss Champions Black #334 Brian Giles

2011 Topps Series II Black #379 Ben Francisco 

2012 Topps Traded Yellow #US13 Matt Lindstrom 

2020 Topps Series II #667 Adam Haseley what can I say about this one it came the same day that I pulled the Judge Autograph which I talked about in a previous post as well the 2 mascots that my girlfriend pulled I was pretty bored that night when we opened all those packs while we took in an X-Files DVD binge marathon. 

       Well that concludes Box 1 of the PC I look forward to hearing how this last row might have some comments. Stay tuned as I get box #2 ready for its run thanks for reading & remember that it was Rogers Hornsby saying about signing autographs for little kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist." 

1 MILLION+ PERHAPS I LOST COUNT CAN YA BLAME ME!!!!!

 

             To be perfectly honest I lost count after 1999 in how many cards I have in my collection but I am sure that I have over 1 Million cards in it. I tried to do the math once back in 2009 to prove my point cause someone said there is no way you have over 1 Million cards in your collection then I tried to explain all the sets I have currently completed to the sets I am currently working on as well so if someone is interested in doing the math let me know & Ill do a second part listing every single set that I have made or currently working on as well I don't want to give someone a headache in trying to crunch the numbers. The way I figured out how I know that I am over a million is simple.

I was a kid that grew up in the time of junk wax & if I were to just to focus on baseball sets from lets look at the numbers shall we just on regular issued sets with an occasional traded/update set included if the company made 1 or not I'll start by doing the most obvious decade that being the 1980s. First I'll say this by the end of the Decade there was 10 companies 9 if count Score & Sportflics separately as well Donruss & Leaf & of Course Topps & O Pee Chee cause they made practically the same sets just a different amount for that set & were marketed in for Canadian collectors. By 1989 Topps made Bowman so add them as well & as for Score & Sportflics they were made by the same company just different names. So with that said let's see how many sets & how close I am to the Million this also not counting the variants.

1980 Topps 726 cards

1981 Donruss 605 cards

1981 Fleer 660 cards 

1981 O Pee Chee 374 cards

1981 Topps w/traded 858 cards

Let's stop for now look at the total within the first 2 years of decade. We have a total at 3,223 cards leaving me 996,777 left to get.

Shall I continue here's 1982s entry.

1982 Donruss 660 cards 

1982 Fleer 660 cards

1982 O Pee Chee 396 cards

1982 Topps w/Traded 924 cards 

1983 Donruss 660 cards

1983 Fleer 660 cards 

1983 O Pee Chee 396 cards

1983 Topps w/traded 924 

Again as Jerry Lewis would said on his telethon let's see where we stand now 991,954 to get the million. 

1984 Donruss 658 cards

1984 Fleer w/Update 792 cards

1984 O Pee Chee 396 cards

1984 Topps w/Traded 924 cards

1985 Donruss 660 cards 

1985 Fleer w/Update 792 cards 

1985 Leaf 260 cards

1985 O Pee Chee 396 cards 

1985 Topps w/Traded 924 cards 

We're halfway through the 1980s decade let's see where we stand now. Oh about 985,695 left with 5 years of cards left to put in next up is 1986.

1986 Donruss 660 Cards

1986 Fleer w/Update 792 Cards

1986 Leaf 260 Cards

1986 O Pee Chee 396 Cards

1986 Sportflics 200 Cards

1986 Topps w/Traded 924 Cards

1987 Classic Game 150 Cards

1987 Donruss 660 Cards

1987 Fleer w/Update 792 Cards

1987 Leaf 264 Cards

1987 O Pee Chee 396 Cards

1987 Sportflics 200 Cards

1987 Topps w/Traded 924 Cards

979,077 remaining mind you we're still not done with the 1980s.

1988 Classic Game 100 Cards

1988 Donruss 660 Cards

1988 Fleer w/Update 792 Cards

1988 Leaf 264 Cards

1988 O Pee Chee 396 Cards 

1988 Score w/Traded 770 cards

1988 Sportflics 225 Cards

1988 Topps w/Traded 924 Cards

Still in baseball mind you I am at 974,946 with the last year in the decade coming up.

1989 Bowman 484 Cards

1989 Classic Game 200 Cards

1989 Donruss w/traded 716 Cards

1989 Fleer w/traded 792 Cards

1989 O Pee Chee 396 Cards

1989 Score w/Traded 770 Cards

1989 Sportflics 225 Cards

1989 Topps w/Traded 924 Cards

1989 Upper Deck 800 Cards

The tally is now at 969,639 cards remaining keep in mind I didn't factor my Football sets,Basketball sets,Hockey sets nor did I count stuff like the Topps Big Sets that currently Blogger Bo is discussing on his blog Baseball Cards Come to Life while discussing the cartoons on the back of them I didn't even start with my older sets I have from the 1960s & 1970s or anything after 1989. Nor did I add the Pacific Legends of the Game or even Topps Supers or the Donruss Rookies or Donruss 1987 Opening Day set or any of the Rookies sets from Donruss or Highlights sets but I believe I've proven my point that I have over 1 million cards if your still want me to crunch in my other sports as well odd-ball sets just let me know stay tuned I will have a post later this week about the final row of the PC 5000ct box #1. Until then I am reminded what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs for little kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist." 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ARCHIE

 

     Today this man turns 71 & remains the only man to win the Heisman Trophy not once........but twice in back to back years - 1974 & 1975. No other school can take credit for doing that. Archie remains one player I would still like to meet in person.