I'll freely admit to this before I get started on today's blog post; I've had a case of writer's block over the last few weeks, and even though I've kept a steady pace with the number of posts I write, it's been a struggle to come up with new ideas.
Writer's block isn't foreign to me, though this instance of it has certainly been the longest-lasting since I began blogging. That being said, like all periods of writer's block, there's light at the end of the tunnel, and a quick trip to the card show today may be exactly what it takes to break free.
With full knowledge of there being a Mansfield show next Monday and the release of Topps Heritage the Wednesday after that, my Dad and I decided that going to today's Baseball card show on a limited budget would be exactly what I needed.
However, with intentions of going to the Mansfield show the following week, it was understood that we'd have to limit ourselves this time around, so I made certain to stretch every possible dollar.
I have a fair number of Red Sox cards when it comes to vintage, but I'm always on the hunt for those I don't have yet as long as their a reasonable price. And when they're $1 a piece, it's hard to say no to a higher number like Dalton Jones and a Cy Young award winner, Jim Lonborg.
Topps did an excellent job with 1969 Topps in their 2018 Heritage product, though the set is a bit too simple to royally screw up. Still, they kept it consistent and featured pink circles for the Red Sox once again, something I was very pleased to see.
It really doesn't matter what year they're from, because these hobby-exclusive silver pack cards have looked fabulous since their debut back in 2017. The best part about the cards, in my opinion, is finding them for a low price after the set is released.
I've spotted silver pack cards before in the dime bins, but this time, I found a Devers rookie and was more than willing to pay the 75 cents that it cost me.
A high-end card of a Red Sox legend for just a buck? That was an easy choice, especially when the set is Topps Tribute, a product that featured beautiful and shiny cards in the early 2000s. They don't scan as well as they look in-person, for the actual cards are far less yellow and way more like a modern-day chrome refractor.
I've never been the biggest fan of the rainbow foil parallels from Topps Flagship, especially because of how barely noticeable they've been in recent years. Topps definitely stepped up their game with the parallels in 2019, but in the case of this Craig Kimbrel parallel, one would barely be able to tell that it's a rainbow foil parallel at first glance.
Regardless, a new Kimbrel card is always welcome in my collection, and I have now reached 119 total cards, including absolutely zero duplicates.
I'll admit, card companies have succeeded in getting me hooked on serial numbered cards, causing me to pick a few up at nearly every show for the right price (no pun intended). Case and point; this 2017 Topps Finest purple refractor of Price which I've spotted at a vendor's table at my past few trips to the show.
I don't know what caused me not to pick up the card the last few times. But today, I decided I'd finally pay the $2 necessary for this serial numbered card, but it wasn't the only one I'd pick up.
For the same price as a retail pack of 2019 Topps Series 1, I picked up a black and white parallel of Dustin Pedroia from 2018 Topps Big League which, almost every time, will beat whatever comes out of the 14-card pack.
I've always loved the look of black and white parallels, and I think it's awesome that Topps has started to include them in sets like Gypsy Queen and Big League. Pedroia's stock may be down, but for the low price it was going for, I simply couldn't resist.
I capped off a stellar selection of Red Sox cards with yet another relic card of Pedro Martinez, because why not? The dealer I bought this card from provided a reasonable price on the Clubhouse Collection relic card, and so I added what is likely my 10th Pedro relic to my collection, possibly more.
As far as standard relic cards go, Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection is basically as good as it gets. The design is always pretty great, and it's hard to get a bad name, though that doesn't make the disappointment any easier when I pulled a Brandon Phillips relic out of my hobby box 2 years ago
Still, seeing this card reminds me of the Topps Heritage set and how we're only a couple weeks from seeing its release once again, this time in the 1970 Topps design.
Until then, I'll be recapping card shows and attempting to rid myself of writer's block.
I’ll be at Mansfield show next Monday
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