A Thoughtful Journey To My Mailbox

 It's always a wonderful feeling when an unexpected package arrives in the mail. Especially when that package contains baseball cards! Specifically cards of one of your favorite players.

J.T. from The Writer's Journey saw a couple of Harold Baines cards and thought I'd like them. Was he ever right! Harold is the one untainted baseball hero from my youth. Well after his playing days, another baseball hero from my youth passed out in a cornfield and has since lost a little of my respect, but far from all of it.

Cards of Harold in his prime are a real treat. Although, I would be joyful if a White Sox card from the eighties showed anything but Baines batting, standing or posing. Harold was a five tool player and I refuse to believe there are no pictures of him making a diving catch in the outfield, in an eighties White Sox uniform.

The first image I saw when I removed the contents of the package was the 1987 Fleer Baseball's Hottest Stars card staring back at me. It was a simpler time, before beefed up super players sullied the game. Harold was young and one of the brightest spots on a White Sox team headed in the wrong direction.

I flipped the top loader over and the 1985 Drake's card was revealed.

Not far removed from an American League West championship, things were still promising for the White Sox when this gem came out. Baines had just crossed the threshold into crafty veteran presence while still having all the skills to accomplish anything.

Thanks, J.T. This was a great trip down memory lane. It always great to receive surprise cards from you in the mail. This was greatly appreciated!

The Bulls Stunk Up Overtime, But I Still Have Juan Pierre

Juan Pierre and a few of his older friends; Chet Lemon, Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk, Tony LaRussa, Steve Lyons, Ozzie Guillen, Bo Jackson, George Bell, Tim Raines and Frank Thomas.

This is all thanks to Brian of 30-Year Old Cardboard fame.

I received a surprise package in the mail, addressed to "my favorite Sox fan". Inside there were goodies dating back to 1981. I can already spot a few upgrades for my collection in the early eighties stuff. The 2011 Gypsy Queen Pierre was just the icing on a great package.

Thanks, Brian! This was a great surprise and is something to brighten up the day, as I wait for the White Sox to come back from a hail and rain delay and lament my local NBA team for wasting a ton of shots during overtime against the collusion dream team.

Cards On Cards Surprise

I love getting mail, especially when I'm not aware of it. Maybe I was told awhile ago, but if so, I have forgotten. Nonetheless, I received a package from Cards On Cards the other day.

The envelope was chock full of goodies with a simple note that said, "Enjoy!"

Indeed I will!

Even a Brian Anderson rookie card couldn't bring this package down. He's Boston's, er eh, Kansas City's problem now!

Wait. Crap. That means he'll get really good and be the White Sox's problem. More on that scenario, if it develops. Let's check out some cards!

1995 Bazooka
8 – Ozzie “Mouth of the South” Guillen

1995 Stadium Club
318 – Frank Thomas
548 – Ray Durham
569 – Jim Abbott

1996 Score All-Stars
1 – Frank Thomas

1997 Score
374 – Darren Lewis

2002 Upper Deck
618 – Magglio Ordonez
621 – Paul Konerko

2003 Donruss
21 – Joe Borchard

2003 Donruss Champions
62 – Mark Buehrle
63 – Paul Konerko

2003 Fleer Tradition
340 – Willie Harris

2004 SkyBox Autographics
62 – Frank Thomas

2004 Topps 1st Edition
49 – Frank Thomas
127 – Mark Buehrle
215 – Bartolo Colon
273 – Jerry Manuel

2005 Leaf
50 – Mark Buehrle

2005 Throwback Threads
54 – Jon Garland

2005 Upper Deck
329 – Jose Contreras
330 – Orlando Hernandez

2005 Upper Deck Pro Sigs
132 – Brandon McCarthy

2005 Upper Deck Pros & Prospects
64 – Scott Podsednik
171 – Aaron Rowand (305/499)

2006 Fleer
371 – A.J. Pierzynski
375 – Frank Thomas
378 – Joe Crede
380 – Jose Contreras
381 – Juan Uribe
386 – Tadahito Iguchi

2006 Fleer Tradition
187 – Jim Thome
188 – Paul Konerko
193 – Brian Anderson

2006 Topps Opening Day
29 – Freddy Garcia
38 – Paul Konerko
78 – Scott Podsednik

2006 Upper Deck Player Highlights
PH-18 – Jermaine Dye

2007 Artifacts
86 – Josh Fields

2007 Bowman Chrome
211 – Jerry Owens

2007 Topps Chrome
221 – Jermaine Dye

2008 Topps Chrome Refractor
79 – Paul Konerko

2009 Bowman Gold
173 – A.J. Pierzynski

2009 Topps Gold
466 – Wilson Betemit (0716/2009)

2009 Topps Legends Of The Game
LG-FT – Frank Thomas

2009 Topps Ticket To Stardom Perforated
128 – Carlos Quentin

2009 Upper Deck
579 – Matt Thornton

2009 Upper Deck Generation Now
GN11 – Carlos Quentin

Thanks, Kerry! These were awesome. Hmmm. Another reason for Topps to take down Upper Deck. They stole the crappy "Generation Now" name that affixed an endless hellish stream of mirrored cards. Shouldn't Topps be thanking them?

I'll send something your way, when I find something interesting Cardinals-wise.

A Texas Sized Surprise From A Phillies Fan

On Monday, I received two packages. One, I will get to later today. This one, well... it's time.

The mail came late on Monday. I was hoping that it would save me from a boring afternoon with no internet access. Instead, the mail arrived around 7PM. On a normal day, it ranges between 11AM and 1PM.

This was a package that came out of the blue from Cliff at Capewood's Collections. Was this a holiday present? Was this in response the the cards I sent out spontaneously after his beloved Phillies won the 2008 World Series? I'm not too sure. I love cards in the mail and this cheered me right up.

1988 Topps UK
1 – Harold Baines

1993 Pinnacle
488 – Harold Baines HH

2000 Fleer Focus
70 – Ray Durham
71 – Mike Sirotka
98 – Carlos Lee
119 – Paul Konerko
120 – Chris Singleton
127 – Magglio Ordonez

2000 Fleer Tradition
143 – Paul Konerko

2000 Fleer Tradition Update
U17- Mark Buehrle
U131 – Kevin Beirne, Jon Garland
U138 – Rocky Biddle
U148 – Lorenzo Barcelo, Joe Crede

2000 Impact
42 – Kip Wells
48 – Magglio Ordonez
53 – Brian Simmons
95 – Paul Konerko

2000 Metal
11 – Chris Singleton
20 – Carlos Lee
64 – Magglio Ordonez
132 – Mike Sirotka
213 – Kip Wells

2000 Metal Green
132 – Mike Sirotka

2000 Skybox Dominion
199 – Magglio Ordonez
258 – Kip Wells

2000 SP Authentic
35 – Paul Konerko

2000 Stadium Club Chrome
116 – Ray Durham
143 – Chris Singleton
237 – Jason Stumm

2000 Topps
13 – Magglio Ordonez
119 – Greg Norton
139 – Brook Fordyce
154 – John Snyder
214 – Rob Purvis, Jason Stumm
286 – Paul Konerko
329 – Ray Durham
369 – Bill Simas
421 – Bobby Howry

2000 Topps Chrome
214 – Rob Purvis, Jason Stumm

2000 Topps Opening Day
8 – Magglio Ordonez
71 – John Snyder
131 – Ray Durham
158 – Paul Konerko

2000 Topps Traded
T8 – Rob Purvis
T23 – Jason Stumm
T61 – Aaron Rowand
T66 – Gary Majewski
T122 – Jose Valentin
T128 – Charles Johnson

2000 Upper Deck
7 – Kip Wells

2000 Upper Deck Legends
85 – Magglio Ordonez

2000 UD Ultimate Victory
36 – Paul Konerko

2000 UD Victory
312 – Magglio Ordonez

2008 SP Authentic
73 – Jim Thome

2008 Upper Deck Timeline
124 – Nick Swisher

Thank you, Cliff! This takes a big chunk out of my 2000 want list and nibbles in a few other areas. This is a nice selection! I am impressed with all the 2000 cards. It was smack dab in the middle of my not collecting, so I'm usually amazed when I get cards from that era.