I'm considered a rational, level-headed sort both here and in everyday life. That's good to know, because there are many times when I don't feel rational or level-headed.
In fact, I've been known to "go off" periodically. If I see something I don't like or something gets me frustrated, I won't hold back.
While that's probably healthy, it can cause trouble, and it did a couple of days ago. I was reading a post late at night from Cardboard Junkie in which he spelled out his mission statement on collecting Heritage. I enjoyed the posts and could relate to them because I have a love-hate thing going on with Heritage. But when I read the first post, I began to feel aggravation with Heritage and Topps and what they had done to this poor set-collector who loved the brand so much but couldn't collect it in the traditional way because of the stupid tinkering that Topps does with the set. Although his post wasn't bashing Heritage for this, it uprooted the old issues I have with the set, how I still haven't finished 2008 Heritage, how I refuse to attempt to complete another Heritage set (until 2024), and how I still buy Heritage cards because I really, really, really love it but I can't HAVE it because it costs an ungodly amount of money to complete it.
And then I said it.
I said that Topps vomits on set collectors.
I said that. On Twitter. Vomits. I used the word "vomits."
I told you I can go off.
Well, of course, you can't say a corporation regurgitates on its customers in a public forum without there being some kind of reaction. Crazy, but it's true.
Topps' PR twitter person, feeling hurt, weighed in. And then the "Topps-isn't-the-way-it-was-when-I-was-a-kid-therefore-it's-bad" crowd weighed in, chanting "Vo-MIT, Vo-MIT, Vo-MIT." And Cardboard Junkie had suddenly started something he hadn't even started.
I kind of did.
Yeah, I'm feeling a little guilty. Especially because he drew me that quick-and-dirty 2013 Topps Clayton Kershaw 1/1 parallel up top. So I am sorry.
To clarify, I don't really think Topps vomits on collectors. I do think it makes things difficult for collectors, especially dedicated set collectors like me who have been around for years. And that manifests itself mostly in Heritage, a set that supposedly is geared toward set collectors like me.
But I also know that Topps is a modern corporation and needs to do what it can to stay profitable. So I don't want to throw them under the bus for every move that they make.
So how do I make it up to those folks who took a little flak thanks to my choice of the word "vomit"?
Well, I'm not worried about Topps. I'll still be buying cards from them. They're fine. I'm sure I'll say something nasty about them again before this post is done and I'll still go out and buy their cards the next day. I'm such a noisy little sheep.
As for Cardboard Junkie, I can make it up to him by showing the cards that he sent me.
What, you don't think that's enough of an apology?
Considering that I believe in one of his Heritage posts he hired a pony to tell me to do impossible things with a desert plant, I think that's suitable enough. And, of course, I'm still stockpiling Braves.
Now, get ready, there's some good stuff here.
Here is a former Nebulous 9 need from 2002 American Pie.
Ralph Branca gave up one of the most famous home runs of all-time. Yet he remained good-natured long after that event. He's a good example for a lot of sports figures. Hell, he's a good example for everyone. Especially me when I get a little excitable.
Look. I'm collecting ubiquitous parallels from Topps. See? I really do like them. Now if we could only discuss cards no. 426-500 in Heritage, I'd like 'em more.
Four more Nomos for the collection. This gets me to 386 total Nomos and I recently added another for 387. You can help me get to 400! Doesn't that sound like a worthy goal? You need more goals in your life. Think of the children.
Oooh. A hit from Archives.
I didn't buy much Archives because I decided I hated it, so hits around here have been impossible to find.
This appears to be a bat relic. Let's turn over the card to make sure.
No. No mention of the word "bat" on the card except as the root word for "batting." I guess that means it's a piece of particle board, or maybe a popsicle st ...
Wait .. what's this?
Oh, for crying out loud, Topps.
I before E except after ... um ... what's that letter?
You just CAN'T let these things fall into the hands of a guy who is employed as an editor.
I knew I wouldn't be able to get out of the post without bagging on Topps.
(*sigh*)
Let's get everyone back to their happy place with the final card from the package.
But it's not a Topps card.
...
....
...
It's Donruss.
Ain't that shinypurty?
This is quite a specimen. Not only is it a flashy autographed card of Steve Garvey, one of the heroes of my childhood, but the Back 2 Back title is a bit of foreshadowing.
...
...
...
That is the back.
My most favorite player ever (although not a terribly flattering photo). The Penguin signed it with his trademark No. 10 and recognized his '81 World Series co-MVP award (which is kind of an odd thing to mention on a card with Garvey on the front).
That's a FTW card if I ever saw one. It is beyond phenomenal.
It also makes me feel a little guilty again.
But then I think about the two Clayton Kershaw Heritage cards that dayf pulled, including a Venezuelan back. And how I'm probably not going to be able to get them as I'm very slow when people make specific card requests.
That makes me a little sad.
And a little ill.
But not enough to do ... you know ... that.
I won't be using that word for awhile.
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