2026 NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS UPDATED!!!!!

 

Its July 1st lets see how I am doing so far from what I wanted to accomplished in 2026.

1. Finish my 1967 Topps set by the end of the 2026 National Sports Card Convention in July.
Well if you don't count the Damn card #128 Ed Spiezo rubbed out name I have it done as of June 12th. 

2. Post more on the Blog or keep having readers enjoy my content.
49 posts counting this one hopefully I am not boring anyone with the content I have provided on the 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970's single bat pieces so far.

3. Other than finishing the 1967 set finish off 5 or more sets before the National.
Hockey
`81/`82 TCMA Greats -June 12th
`08/`09 Ultra- June 5th
`10/`11 Donruss- June 5th

Baseball
1967 Topps(DESPITE SPIEZO!!!!!!!)- June 12th

Basketball
`25/`26 Topps 
`03/`04 Topps- January 3rd 

So far 6 sets complete lots of them on the verge of being completed soon hopefully more trades will come so I can cross more off my lists so please readers look at my lists I look through yours!!!!!

4. Do once a month post an update on my 1968 set make.
I think I have so far done an update usually once a month on the progress of what I have picked up.

5. Go to the Chantily Show in June & the National in Chicago in July.
They moved the Chantily Show to a different location waiting to hear back from The Collective Mind Blogger when he can tell me in during the winter where they moved too plus losing 2 jobs so far as this being written I couldn't attend the National this year. 

6. Post on my Man Cave Decor before the MLB All-Star Game. 
I think I showed off my Bar Mirrors in January still haven't hung them up yet. 

7. Hold at least 3 Card contests on the Blog.
Held one so far & yes I know Mike From Not Another Card Blog I still have yet to mailed it out you 

8. Give an update on a post that I made last year to hear the latest comments on the subject.
I just might GUM!!!!!! it up again for the All-Star Game *EVIL CHUCKLES!!!!!!*

9. Try to make a purchase of a `79/`80 Topps Hockey #18 or `03/`04 Upper Deck or Topps RC of LeBron James. Haven't yet purchased the Hockey card or the `03/`04 Upper Deck RC of LeBron James but I did get the Topps RC back in January see my January 4th post on completion.

10. Don't start anything other than the flagship 2026 Topps Baseball set until I can finish off 2 or more sets that I am currently working on.  Haven't started the Flagship set more than likely Ill get the factory set when its released been too busy finishing off sets as well adding new stuff & only 2026 set I am currently involved with is the 2026 Topps Heritage. 

IT SHOULDN"T BEEN TO HARD HOWEVER.......

 

                        This is going to be a short post I wanted to get something up before the July 4th weekend. Yesterday I went to the monthly mall show which I usually sometimes attend & other times I have to miss it due to my work schedule pending where I am employed at the time (In which I was scheduled at 3pm on Saturday) plus its decent show if ya don't mind the Slabs & Suitcases & of course the families walking in the mall approaching each table looking for the Pokenmon Shiitake Mushrooms cards (I wish the promoter would put those dealers in a separate area from the sports cards people to avoid hassle its that huge that takes up most of the mall & as well a whole store front that used to be an J.C. Pennys so its not like they don't have the space to do it.). 

                  Anyways this is a post about trying to locate something that shouldn't be too hard however........ They were as you can see the card on the top of the post is a Barry Sanders 1992 Topps Gold #300 ya have to think since I live in Michigan that this card can be found 3 different ways that I can think of at the moment. I can find him in the Barry Sanders piles believe me I have been trying to locate this card every show & shop since I started building this set back since 1995 to no availability & this is also means shopping at the local stores,going out of the area where I live so elsewhere in the state of Michigan still nothing well....finally I found it yesterday at this one table I thought I give the dealer a chance since he wasn't busy & plus I figured it be another swing & miss but no there was Barry I snapped it up cause I didn't want to have to continue to looking for that card. The other ways I would look for it besides his name piles check the Lions stacks if sometimes people have snuck Barry in those just to cheat the dealer or the dealer didn't want the hassle to make a separate pile of Barry after all its a DETROIT LIONS CARD!!!!!! only people who live in Michigan that are die-hard Lions fans are looking for Lions cards not many collectors collect the Lions players.
               The top 5 Lions cards people look for are Barry,Jared Goff,Jahymr Gibbs,Calvin Johnson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, & maybe Matthew Stafford if ya want his RCs again otherwise no one wants the Lions. The other way I would have located it is if any dealer had any singles of the 1992 Topps Gold (I still need 9 cards to complete my set so if ya can help me I would be greatful for the assistance) I even tried out of state again thinking no one collects Lions or maybe out of state I can find the Barry piles & hope I cant count how many times I would check from out of state to not find it my guess is Barry was an SP but they wont mention that it is but its gone from my list so I don't need to keep looking for it Thank F God!!!!! 
                  Now the other thing I have to report I picked up not counting the 33 Game card Insert which there's 2 of them (Al Kaline & Bill Freehan) I got the last of the 1968 Topps Detroit Tigers cards it was my good friend Mickey Stanley I mentioned to him in April (again the previous time I met Mickey was in 2015) what I was doing & he said he keep an eye out for his 1968 card for me well Mickey ya don't anymore. I still need 51 to complete the regular set again the 1968 Topps Tigers cards are higher priced here in Michigan then most so when I can get them for under $20 its a good thing 

Even Mickey back in 2015 knew greatness when he met me.

                The last Tigers card for the base set thank goodness I don't have to find anymore Tigers cards former Tigers players a few but as for them labeled as a Tiger in 1968 none. 

             Well as I mentioned before I wanted to do a quick post before the 4th of July weekend tell me what ya think of the 2 pick ups I know its not much to even post about but I wanted to talk about how sometimes its hard to find local cards in a place where it shouldn't be hard to find. Plus I had to do this post prior to me leaving for my work at 3pm on Saturday.  Until then I remind you again what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs for kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't An American, He's a Communist."

2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970s GAME USED PART XXIV

 

                  "Now Batting #9 Graig Nettles....." The crafty 3rd baseman was called "Puff" by his teammates played from 1967 to 1988 for the following teams Minnesota Twins (1967-1969), Cleveland Indians (1970-1972), New York Yankees (1973-1983), San Diego Padres (1984-1986), Atlanta Braves (1987), Montreal Expos (1988).  The reason he was called Puff was cause he was a practical joker & 1 minute he was there & then like in a Puff of smoke he disappeared.  He was a 6x All-Star, 2x World Series winner (1977,1978) MVP of the 1981 ALCS, 2x Gold Glover & lead the American League in Home Runs in 1976. & was the older brother of Jim Nettles (More about him later). When I first heard of Graig is reading his autobiographical season book called BALLS his co-author is legendary sports writer of many books mainly about Yankee players Peter Golenbock that was in 1984 when I read this book it worth reading it includes a chapter on the 1983 season talking about the Pine-Tar game & how he was pounding his fist into his glove as celebration of calling George Brett out after his home run since he & Brett were rivals for 4 ALCS in between 1976,1977,1978,&1980. 

                   Don't fret there's another book that Golenbock co-wrote with Davey Johnson called "Bats" it's about the 1985 New York Mets Season. 

                            Its going on 46 yearsat the end of this month that Fleer won its Anti-Trust case over Topps that broke their monopoly in producing baseball cards. That following year Fleer came out 660 card set & one of the cards it produced in the first of three printing of the cards was the card #87 where they errorously typed the name of "Craig"  instead of Graig on his card. 

         Error cards run in the Nettles family cause earlier on Graig's RC there was this error.

As you can see this has a loop it was later corrected at least the name is spelled right.

                     Then in 1990 we see baby brother Jim making a Billy Ripken mark on his bat knob of the 1990 Pacific Senior League set. Incase you are curious about what it says well the price guides call it the "Apple" card also if someone is interested in a set of the 1990 Pacific Senior League w/some surprises in the set & I'll let you know they were legit surprises lmk just check my wantlists for what I like for it.

                   Now a little bit of this card information is one of the 6 players that have a limited run with Graig he has only 219 pieces of them. Now if you ask me does Graig make the grade in being the set yeah he does not only cause he was a quiet leader on the field also he did have a role in leading the Yankees to 3 World Series appearances in the 1970s (1976,1977,1978) so what your take let me know in the comments below. Until the next time where we will honor a true legend of the game but please note that you will be reading 44 facts of this player that you may or may not know about this player & that is Mr Henry (Hank) Aaron until then I am reminded of what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs for little kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."

 

HAPPY BELATED TO ME

 

                                Since 1985 in a town called Royal Oak, Michigan which is a suburb of Detroit when a young man age 10 along with his older brother 13 & mother set forth on a Sunday skipping church to attend a comic/Sport card show. This young man was seeking some new cards to add to his collection mainly Pete Rose & any other Cincinnati Reds cards from 1985. While his older brother was seeking Marvel Comic G.I. Joe #2. Well...during the show the young man's mother called him over to look at something she had found. What she found was baseball cards the young man tried not to look like he knew the crazy lady & did his best to avoid her during this conversation. He said it was up to her what she should do about it. So the mother pulled them out of the trash container placed them in a box then later in the car she handed them over for the young man to see what all in it. 

                    In the box he saw cards ranging from 1966 Topps & 1967 Topps  also including a 1957 Al Kaline & a 1958 Topps Billy Martin they went well with his 2 other pick ups from the show a 1966 Topps Pete Rose & a 1985 Fleer Update an upcoming pitcher Tom Browning rookie card of the Reds.

My Rose still sits in my old bedroom at my parents house on a bookshelf.

My Browning now has Tom's signature on it & is in my 1985 Fleer Binder.

David my late older brother was happy with this choice.

The Infamous 1957 Kaline that's in my PC that mom rescued.

In 1985 I only thought he was an ex-manager of the Tigers I didn't know he played for them as well until I read "Damn Yankee The Billy Martin Story" By Maury Allen. I read it so much in junior high that the librarian gave me the book for my graduation present in 1993.

             5 years had passed since that show bringing us to 1990 it was then the young man decided to make sets for his collection when it was suggested by his mother that he take a chance to make the 1967 Topps Set. So it was one of the earliest sets he was making. As many of my readers have read about the task at hand & numerous times I have told the story about this caper well this last Wednesday most of you wished me a Happy Area 51 Birthday & again I can't thank you enough my readers & those of you whom left comments about it then on Friday prior to going to my new job (I still love it as of this writing lol) I stopped at Rocket Sports Cards in Howell,Michigan to finish paying off the last card that is featured on top of this posting. My 1967 Topps if you don't count that blasted card #128 Ed Spiezio rubbed out name variant is completed. 

It's free again from its shackles. Heres the front view of it.

The back view from its shackles still.

As you can see its a perfect fit in its spot with the others.

          I am now awaiting to hear back from SCG about the card from being eliminated from its database so they can remove it from its population reports. So I asked some of my friends whom I have contacts with on Friday what should I do with the label strip do I put it in the set so when ya go through the binder you can see what it would grade as if I never took out of its shackles let me know my reader what I should do put it in the binder or not. Also let me know what ya think of this journey my next big vintage set as most of you know is to complete the 1968 Topps set which of the date this published I am down to finding 55 cards after starting it 6 months ago & I am hoping that it doesn't take as long as the 1967 set did. Also as you read this I am heading to my favorite show in Livonia Michigan to continue to look for that card that I mentioned about otherwise like I said its complete. Until then I am reminded that what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs for little kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."

I AM AREA 51 TODAY!!!!!!

 

                         Today if I hadn't gotten fired in March I would have asked for a couple of days to travel to Nevada for a certain place & give my readers something to say yeah yeah we can't believe that he did it just as he mentioned in his blog. Instead I can let you leave your comments to tell me best wishes instead. Now you ask me what would ya have mentioned on your blog on had you not been fired......well.......I would have gone to that special place & then had the Government wonder why I was there & my answer would been to them "MOM......DAD.......I AM BACK!!!!! Can we go home now I am tired of this vacation......" If you haven't gotten the clues I am referring about going to Area 51 on my 51st Birthday which is today since most people think I am an alien already. Anyways I wanted to do something special after all its my birthday besides my buddy Brutus did one thing I would like to do but my version is totally different at that venue. I wont say but mine would have to deal with a huge piece 💩💩💩💩  on a certain spot in that venue.  

Besides I have a summer Birthday its not the same in the winter time. Glad that Brutus did this mess last November. 

                   Anyways I am hoping to do a 9-9-9 challenge tonight but will have to wait & see until then some of you have yet to send me things I always try to send you things. I have provided the belated ideas to send me to celebrate my Area 51 day here's the top 10 items I like to receive any single listed I preferred a RAW version no GRADED SHITAKI MUSHROOM CARD!!!! Now here's the top 10 list from the home offices of Nevada where I know they made experiments on my family after capturing Grandma & Grandpas ship in Roswell in 1947 LOL.

10. `85/`86 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #9
9. 1968 Topps Baseball #247
8. 1968 Topps Baseball #177
7. 1952 Topps Baseball #406
6. All 3 Series of the Fritsch One Year Winners Set.
5. 1989 & 1990 T&M Umpire sets w/the 1989 Binder.
4. `03/`04 Upper Deck Basketball #301
3. `79/`80 Topps Hockey #18
2. $$$$$$$$
1. 1967 Topps Baseball #128 That for saken RUBBED OUT NAME CARD!!!!!!! I DON'T WANT NO REPRINT OR FAKE I WANT AN ORIGINAL!!!!!!!!!! 

Now if ya excuse me I have a party to attend I wont leave ya a quote only say this whoever would send me the #1 request just say this I would make a special post on my special day every year to mentioned who sent me this great thing. 

2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970s GAME USED PART XXIII

 

                          "Now Batting #31 Garry Maddox....." Garry Maddox was a center fielder with the San Francisco Giants & the Philadelphia Phillies for the decade of the 1970's. He was an 8 time Gold Glover while patrolling the center field area during that time. Pretty much stealing bases was what Garry was known for other than his glove work/ 

                Maddox first broke in the majors as I mentioned with the Giants,prior to getting the call to the show Maddox fought Giants Management over salary cause he felt he deserved the same amount of pay as some of the other prospects when they said he didn't deserve it Garry called it a career & decided to join the U.S. Army so he volunteered his services to go & fight over in Vietnam. He suffered some chemical after effects when in the service so hence he grew his famous beard to cover up his skin sensitive face. After his stint in the Army he got an honorary discharge to rejoin the Giants so he could be the major caretaker for his family.  Garry then was traded in 1975 to the Phillies for Willie Montanez (Another player featured in this set later on in the series). It was in 1976 that Daily News beat writer Bill Conlin made a quote after watching him play " 2/3s of the Earth is covered by water the other 1/3 is covered by Garry Maddox." 

              Garry in 1980 caught the last out of the 1980 World Series then 3 years later he made the final out by hitting a line shot to a 2nd year shortstop of the Baltimore Orioles by the name of Cal Ripken Jr.  Now does Garry deserve a spot in the line up had it been a piece of a glove fielding or batting then I would say yes he does but since its a piece of his bat I am sorry Garry wouldn't be in my line-up what you say next in our line-up is Graig Nettles until then I am reminded of Rogers Hornsby once saying "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."

2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970's GAME USED PART XXII

 

"Now Batting #19 Greg Luzinski......" Greg Luzinski aka "The Bull" played for the Phillies from 1970 to 1980 then the Chicago White Sox from 1981 to 1984. Greg was an outfielder more of a Boog Powell(Also a feature in this series) type built he was in the mid 1970s Phillies RBI leaders. 

           As I mentioned his nickname was "The Bull" he got it when he was in the minors playing for at the time the Eugene Emeralds because of his size plus he hit Bullish home runs. Now when I first ever came across in collecting I recall the the 1983 Donruss Action All-Star Cards of his cause of wearing those glasses at the time I was beginning to wearing them myself & here was proof that I could still play baseball & wear glasses at the same time. Another time I recall then after rewatching & relistening to both Vin Scully call the game for NBC on the Game of the Week as well Ernie Harwell call the game on WJR 7.60 AM between the Detroit Tigers & the Chicago White Sox on April 7,1984 when Jack Morris threw his No-Hitter against them & hearing how Luzinski could possibly be the 1 person who could break up the No-Hitter with a titanic of a blast & reach the deepest part of The Original Comiskey Park in Chicago. 

            It was in 1981 when the Chicago,Illinois native came home to play with the White Sox he mainly played DH. He did help them in 1983 get to win the American League West title only to lose in the ALCS to the eventual World Series Champions Baltimore Orioles. 

         After the 1984 season "The Bull" called it a career after slugging 307 career home runs & 1128 RBIs he became the baseball coach at Holy Cross Academy in New Jersey. In 2004 when the Philadelphia Phillies opened up Citizens Bank Park much like as I mentioned before he looked like Boog Powell & Greg opened his own BBQ joint called "Bull's Barbecue" I'm told as well it good too even though I have never been to Philly there's things that I looking forward to trying if I ever get a chance to go.

Here's how I remember Greg.

How I saw Greg when watching Jack Morris throw his No-Hitter.

So does "The Bull" qualify to be in the set in my opinion its the same thing as Boog Powell he was a fan-favorite in Philly during those runs in the late 1970s but no he doesn't get enough votes for me what's your take let me know in the comments below next up in the lineup is Greg's teammate of those Phillies teams Garry Maddox until then I remind you of what Hall of Fame Rogers Hornsby once said about signing Autographs for kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign Autographs for little kids ain't An American, He's a Communist."