A reminder from the Raisins

If you've ever seen Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration, then you already know of the longstanding association that The California Raisins have with Christmas, and if you haven't seen it, wait... you haven't seen it! I refuse to believe that there's anyone out there who hasn't seen Will's CCC, so I'm just gonna pretend like that didn't just happen.

Anyways, California Raisins! Christmas! You know who else is associated with Christmas? Hopefully you said Santa, because that was the correct answer! Now that you've mentioned Santa, I'm reminded that we're still accepting entrants for this year's Secret Santa. So if you'd like to join, and have yet to sign up, you can do so here.

Also, many thanks to Greg (GCA), of The Collective Mind fame, for recently sending this group of Raisins -- they're now the second batch that he's sent this year, and I couldn't be more happy with them!

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The Ram has landed!

About a month ago I posted the contents of a trade with uber collector extraordinaire, Greg, also known as GCA, from The Collective Mind.

That package was highlighted by a '71 Topps Johnny Unitas, as well as a '71 Jack Snow. The Johnny U was wanted because, well, because it's Johnny Unitas! The Snow on the other hand was desired by me simply because of the card's staged photo, which just so happens to be a very fun one. It was in the comments section of that post that I replied to something that Fuji had said, by mentioning that I had seen another really fun photo from that set, that being HOFer Merlin Olsen, at the last show that I had attended. That particular card was priced a little high (IMO) considering the condition that it wasn't in, so I let it go, which really wasn't a big deal as there are plenty of copies out there, I just had to keep an eye out for a more reasonably priced example.

Fast forward to last week when a very unexpected PWE showed up in my mailbox, a PWE, that to my surprise contained the very card in question:

Turns out, I don't in fact need to keep an eye out for a more reasonably priced example, as Greg obviously saw my reply, and while at one of the many shows that he's been going to, found one for me!

I really can't put into words how much I enjoy this card, the photo is just so darn great -- leave it to an actor to ham it up like that for his football card :)

Thanks again for the card, Greg! This truly was one of the more unexpected acts of generosity that I've received during my time as a blogger.


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U don't see that everyday

                                          
I don't know about anyone else, but it's not everyday that I come across someone who has an original (i.e. playing days) Johnny Unitas up for trade -- so when Greg, from The Collective Mind, mentioned semi-recently that he had acquired an extra '71 Topps Johnny U, and it was available for trade, well, I just had to act!

Since you're seeing, and hearing about, the card, obviously we were able to reach an agreement. Although I wouldn't describe the trade as a "trade", more like an exchange, as there was no formalness to it -- which I'm grateful to Greg for, because formal trades are not something that I particularly enjoy, too much stress!

I absolutely love this Unitas, especially that awkward smile of his... clearly not something that he did very often.

The 1971 Topps football set isn't one that I've paid a great a deal of attention to since my return to card collecting, I'm starting to think that this was an oversight on my part, as there seems to be quite a few photos worthy of my attention... like this Jack Snow! Awesome card (bad scan), I can see myself acquiring a few more copies of it at some point.

The package wasn't all vintage football, in fact most of it was...

... made up of...

... lots...

... and...

... lots...

... of 2005 Upper Deck Classics! I haven't seen this many of these at one time in quite a while. If you're familiar with Greg even in the slightest, you probably wouldn't be surprised to learn that they were all in order too, which certainly wasn't necessary, but it was a nice touch. Sorry for this crooked scan here, Jack Clark was flirting with some static electricity, I tried to keep those two kids apart, but after the third attempt failed I just let them be... hopefully they'll go on to live happily ever after!

Thank you again for the cards, Greg! And thanks for the easy "trade", your lack of formality was, and is, very much appreciated.


Thanks for taking a moment to look at my page.