2015 Year in Review

It's always amazing to look back at the end of the year and see the strides I've made in my collection. While it doesn't seem like I've acquired a lot, in all actuality I never expected to make as much progress as I did. So, what did I accomplish in 2015?

1. I added over 150 new unique Pete Rose cards
2. I obtained an autographed Joey Votto jersey
3. I completed the 2015 Topps Reds Team Set
4. I completed my Album of Amazing project
5. I acquired the last of the Reds stadium giveaway team sets (completed the 1986-2015 run)
6. I started my Rookie Book project (added 12 of the 40 cards for this project)
7. I added two T206 tobacco cards (Lobert, Hoblitzell)
8. I started my Reds Desert Shield project (added 24 of the 30 cards for this project)
9. I started my Bowman Billy Binder project (added 175 of 800 cards for this project)
10. I picked up a felt banner for the man cave
11. I added 8 cards to my 2013 Topps Votto Rainbow project (Gold Refractor, Pink, NL All-Star, Black, Pink mini, Factory Team Set, Cyan Printing Plate, Atomic Refractor)
12. I added a Joe Morgan McFarlane to the collection
13.  I purchased a 1993 Pinnacle Home Run Club set
14. I purchased a Cincinnati Reds street sign for the man cave
15. I completed the 2011 Topps Opening Day Mascot set
16. I added 3 bobbleheads to the collection (Mat Latos, Billy Hamilton, Nasty Boys)
17. I completed a Joey Votto trifecta
18. I picked up some pins to make a nice display for the man cave
19. I added 3 commemorative coins to the collection
20. I added 8 pocket schedules (1978, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 2009, 2012)
21. I started my 2002 Topps set (still need the Barry Bonds Home Run chase cards)

While I didn't pick up a single card from my 10 most wanted list this past year, I think I didn' pretty well in other areas. I do plan on purchasing at least 6 of those cards on my most wanted list next year as I hope to complete my 1948-51 Bowman Reds Team sets in 2016. I hope everyone had a great 2015. Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a great collecting year to come!

Shield Your Eyes!

For the past few months I've been quietly working on another project I've always wanted to complete. Only now have I been able to scan the cards I have for this project to share with you. Back in 1991 I was enamored with the Desert Shield cards Topps sent to our troops stationed in the Persian Gulf and I had always wanted to pick up a set for myself. There were an estimated 6,500 to 7,000 of each card produced by Topps. Unfortunately, many star player cards such as Griffey, Clemens, McGwire, Ryan, and Chipper made this an Everest task that I just couldn't undertake because I wanted to use my funds for vintage Reds cards. I didn't completely abandon the project because if I couldn't afford the entire 792 card set I could chase the 30 Cincinnati Reds cards in the set. So far I've been able to purchase 24 of the 30 cards and I hope that I can complete this project in early 2016.

Another MVP Jersy for the Man Cave!

With Christmas quickly approaching I decided to treat myself to an early Christmas gift, an autographed Joey Votto jersey! This stitched and signed jersey is the second Reds MVP jersey to grace my collection. I've spent the past year trying to balance my baseball card purchases with buying frames for pictures so that I can wrap up my Cincinnati Reds Man/Fan Cave. Unfortunately, I won't have the room completed by the end of the year but with the progress I've made I should have it wrapped up sometime next year. Stay tuned for pictures! Also, I've been mulling around the idea for awhile and I've decided that 2016 will be the final year of the blog. I started blogging in June of 2011 and I've just about covered everything regarding my collection. Hopefully I can wrap up my 1948-51 Bowman sets so that I can showcase those before the curtain closes. So, officially, 2016 will be the farewell tour of Reds Card Collector. I hope everyone sticks around while I wrap things up here and share the final pieces of my collection with you!

Some Light Reading

Yesterday I made the journey to a local project read store to browse their selection of used books. They were having a buy one get one free sale so I couldn't pass up the opportunity. As luck would have it I stumbled upon a copy of Mr. Redlegs and his Great Adventure: A Journey Through Cincinnati Baseball History. I found it odd that I found this book deep in the heart of Cleveland Indian territory. Since I was purchasing another baseball book to read how could I pass up the opportunity to have this.....for FREE?!  Anyway, it's a nice oddball item to add to my collection.