Why settle for an imitation when I can have the real thing

I'm sure I'll probably step on some toes with my blog title, but I want to be frank and to the point. I've never been a fan of heritage. In my opinion, it's nothing more than a way for Topps to take the easy way out and sell cards of modern players on a design that's been used once before. Where's the ingenuity in that? No, not for me I say. I almost bought into this scheme when Gypsy Queen came out in 2011 and I put together a complete set (including the short prints and all the sub sets), but last year I began to think to myself why would I want to collect a set that borders on the ideal of reprint but steers clear of that term by using current ballplayers? I decided to sell that set and pickup a 1940 World Series ticket as well as a couple of other items and I haven't regretted the decision. When this year's Heritage came out I was tempted to put together the set. I loved the design with the pennants front and center. Then it occurred to me, why not collect the 1965 Topps set? There's a lot of history in that set with teams that are no longer around (sort of) like the Kansas City Athletics, the Houston Colt .45s, and the Washington Senators. There's great photography of players that are no longer with us, stadiums that have succumb to the sands of time, and advertisements of companies that shut their doors permanently years ago. What's not to like about this set? I decided to make the 1965 Topps set one of my collecting goals of 2014 (not collecting the entire set this year, but rather starting on it). I'm proud to say that this past week I was able to pick up my first 15 cards of this great set. It'll take me some time to complete, but I'm glad that I've taken my first steps in completing this beautiful set.

Coming Full Circle

Welcome back,
Your dreams were your ticket out.

Welcome back,
To that same old place that you laughed about.

Well the names have all changed since you hung around,
But those dreams have remained and they're turned around.

Who'd have thought they'd lead ya (Who'd have thought they'd lead ya)
Here where we need ya (Here where we need ya)

Yeah we tease him a lot cause we've hot him on the spot, welcome back,
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

That's what's been playing in my mind since I've been looking through my recent completion of the year...the 1986 Topps set. These cards were the first that I collected when I got into the hobby, and I won't bore you with the details, but it's always held a sentimental place in my heart. I, like many of you, liquidated my collection in the mid 90s and so it's been quite some time since I've gazed on all of these cards. Sure, I've got the 1986 Topps Reds team set, but it just wasn't the same. Hopefully I can get these in a binder sometime soon so that I can flip through them at my leisure. For your listening pleasure, the complete Welcome Back Kotter theme song is below.

Another Tobacco Card for My Collection!

It's been almost two months since I've made any progress on my 2014 collecting goals. There were a lot of reasons why I hadn't made a dent in that list for so long, mainly due to getting sidetracked. When one starts a player collection, purchases an old catcher's mitt, grabs a mess of kahn's cards, and buys an autographed photo then it's easy to see why. Well it's time to get back on track. I've had my eye on this card for a very long time. I know the back isn't in the greatest shape, but considering how well it's stood it for the past 105 years I won't complain. This is by far my favorite T206 that I have in my collection. I love the depiction of Bob Ewing on this card. The setting of a summer sun in the distance and lush green grass makes my heart long for July.
Ever since I started collecting baseball cards when I was ten years old, I never thought I would be able to have cards from the 50s, 60s and 70s in my collection, let alone tobacco cards. But now hat these cards now reside in my binders, I can say that it I would still take these cards any day over the latest and greatest cards that are produced. I don't know what it is about vintage cards that I like so much. Maybe it's because they harken back to a time when things were simpler. Or it could be that when I stare down at them I wonder about the journey they took from the time they first came out of their package to the moment they were placed into my binder. I'm sure if these old cards could talk, they would have some great stories to tell.

One more for this year!

This will be my last post for 2013 as I hurry to wrap up my Christmas shopping, wrapping, etc. and spend the next week with family and friends. I did want to share with everyone my latest pickup that completes another 2013 card collecting goal. This 1957 Topps Kluszewski was the last card I needed for my 1957 Topps Reds team set. I'm happy that not only do I now have the 57 Reds team set, but I now have a complete run of Topps Reds team sets from 1954 to 2013. That includes the base set as well as the traded/update sets. While I wanted to wrap up my 1953 Topps Reds team set, that will just have to wait until next year. I'm very happy with what I added to my collection this past year. Not only did I knock out some vintage Topps wants, I was also able to complete a few sets I've always wanted (1992 Bowman, 2005 Studio and 1989-90 Hoops). I nabbed a few more tobacco cards this year and I've whittled down my wantlist for 1986-87 Fleer basketball to just 7 cards! (unfortunately 2 of those are the Michael Jordan base and sticker cards) So I guess you're all wondering what's in store for next year. I will be concentrating on more vintage Reds cards, but I think 2014 will be the year that I devote more towards my set collecting. I decided to start a project where I'll be collecting my favorite Topps set within a given decade. As a result, I've updated my wantlist with some vintage Topps sets that I've always wanted to complete and this coming year I'll start down the road to adding them to my card collection. I still haven't decided what set I would like to collect for the 2000s and I'm still torn between 1990 and 1991 Topps. I know that it'll take a few years (or perhaps a decade) to complete these sets, but I'm excited to get started and I can't wait to share this journey with the rest of you. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

And then there were two!

Yesterday I received the final 1952 Topps Cincinnati Reds low numbered card I needed for my collection. While I'm excited to get the Edwards card knocked off my list, I know that I still have a daunting task ahead if and when I decide to grab the nine high number cards I need for my team set. With my 1952 Topps Cincinnati Reds Low # team set now in hand, that only leaves me with the wrapping up my 1953 and 1957 Topps Reds team sets to accomplish all the goals I made back in January of this year. Onward and upward!