Make Mine A Mini - Local Cards Show Haul - Part 2

Baseball has the greatest knack for evoking nostalgia. Beginning with the early cigarette cards, the chewing gum era was high lighted by past stars and Hall of Fame members. It is only recently that the non-gum era has begun to feature the tobacco makers from the early days.

 

Kimball Tobacco cards of the 1890's featured actors, athletes and famous personalities. So in the line of Allen and Ginter, Mayo Plug comes the Kimball style of cigarette size player cards.

 

Having already seen dozens of standard size reproductions of Ruth, Cobb, Mantle and DiMaggio, it was refreshing to find some of my favorites on the cigarette style repos.

 

I I found the legitimate All-Time Home Run King, Hank Aaron, on the 2011 Topps Kimball series along with baseball card icon, Honus Wagner.

 

2011 Kimball - HANK AARON

2011 Kimball - HONUS WAGNER

 

To me, the water color art work on these is spectacular and worth more than the so often re-used photos for standard Topps cards. These fit nicely into my tobacco collection.

 

I think everyone has a favorite set from their earliest collecting days that brings back great memories. For me, it was finding a rack pack of 1972 Topps baseball in the grocery store.

 

Topps retro / Heritage style cards prove that all that flash and glitter is not required to make good looking cards. A twist on the 1975 Topps test set minis, these fraction size cards have the feel of the 1970's with the inclusion of modern stars. If I have one qualm about them, its that all the 1972 Topps were wonderfully posed pictures - with action shots appearing on separate "In Action" cards.

 

I picked two cards from this mini set: As the 1972 Pirates of Clemente and Stargell were World Series Winners, I selected the best current Pittsburgh player of today - Andrew McCutchen.

 

Although not my favorite personality or player, the 1972 Topps Willie Mays was so iconic when I first saw it, it evokes spring time, Finding your heroes in the packs, chewing bubble gum and knowing you could complete your team before the autumn leaves fell.

 

I admit, I don't actively collect modern players, but if I did, it would have to include Derek Jeter. He has so many cards that it would be near impossible to collect anything else. But when I find a card for the right price and style, its an easy choice.

 

2007 Goudey Derek Jeter Red Back mini

 

I've avoided football cards for the most part as I sold off my collection to concentrate on soccer cards. But the retro style and the headline making antics of this player, prompted me to put it in the pile.

2013 Topps mini - Richard Sherman

 

As is the case when I go to these shows, most dealers do not bother to stock soccer cards. But as this is now a monthly show, they are getting used to seeing me and my asking for cardboard of the beautiful game.

 

Sometimes, it pays just to spend the 10 - 15 minutes digging through there 10 cent boxes. Here is where I found two minis of U.S. National Team players Jozy Altidore and Tim Howard.

 

Both, barring injury, should feature in this summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil for the USA.

 

Jozy Altidore - American Goal Scorer

Tim Howard - USA # 1

 

All in all, I was pleased with my finds for the 90 minutes or so I spent at the show. Selecting the cigarette style smaller cards, to me, is a case of more quality for less money.

 

If anyone has similar soccer cards in cigarette style that you would trade for my baseball, NFL football or other cards, let me know.

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MINI CARDS ?

Card Show - Return to Collecting

It had been at least a decade maybe more that I had attended a real card show. But in this economic climate and unemployed indifference a bonified offer of free is still free. So when I heard that there would be a sports card show less than an hour drive from my home I put it on the calender.

Free parking, free admission and a chance to obtain cards was enticing - all without the wait or cost of the postage nor an auction to end. I also knew that in this age of game-useded, refractornated, autofied, shortprint-a-numbered cards (makes ya think of the ole Prezident, huh?) - I thought there may be a chance to get some raw, genuine cardboard products.

In addition, I needed to shop for Red Sox as my new trading pal in England collects them. This can be vexing. Should I buy and give up the cards or send them in trade ? I finally decided I'd split the "goods" as evenly as possible.

First, I found some 3 Allen & Ginter - 1 base and a pair of minis to go into my Red Sox collection. Then I found three Topps Herritage to send over the pond.

Love those minis ... makes you want to take up tobacco (just kidding kids).

Found a Brandy Chastain (with her jersey ON) ... to go into my Ladies collection.

Then I picked up a few of these Topps Masterpiece hockey - just because hockey is art ...

and art should depict hockey. Anyone who has these in hand knows that photos do not do these cards any justice. The canvas look and feel make them special. Picked up two Gretzkys, two Roys, a Mario and Mr. Hockey - Gordie Howe. (if anyone wants my extras - mail me)

I realize the 1990's had a lot of gimmick cards, especially the hockey sets. But Pacific hockey had some of the nicest and most regal products the NHL collectors have ever seen. I've seen most of them - that is until this show. In Florida, where very few dealers have hockey, I was surprised to see so many tables that actually HAD hockey - boxes, singles, sets and high end merchandise. (if things werent going so well for the dealers I might have had a big trade)

I found this little gem in a giveaway box ! This 1997-98 Pacific Card Supial is a minaiture no bigger than you see here - and a sure Hall of Famer - Martin Brodeur.

I was very pleased at to the turnout at this diminutive card show - 30 tables worth. So were the dealers who saw brisk action with 40 to 50 buyers and traders inside at any time. A refreshing change of message boards, online auctions and even mail exchanges. It reminded me of the days of card shows past.

Being a bit nostalgic, I found a modern card that can only be described as vintage looking - a 2008 Goudey. This was a gold numbered mini card of Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews in a Milwaukee Braves uniform.

It was a nice return visit to a card show. The dialog and banter that only happens when collectors are side by side was enjoyable. I saw and learned more about what was new and ongoing in card collection in an hour of browsing than I could have in 5 hours on a computer.