Since last week, I can say that the desire to organize and collect cards has come back with a vengenance. Fueled by a recent discovery about an alternative to Card Dealer Pro software, a free-ish program called Kronocard. This works best with a scanner and can scan, sort, inventory, and organize your collection. I have a vision of how this could all come together.
I’ll primarily use the software for scanning and inventory, as I don’t have any desire to sell at the moment. That being said, If I do focus the collection around the Phillies only, there are a bunch of cards I theoretically could get rid of. This would set me up nice for both goals. The scanner I’m looking at is the Epson ES-400 II. It is certified to work with Kronocard, and the only issues are certain lines on chrome cards, which I don’t really have many of. Penny sleeves solve this from damaging the card, and again, no intention of selling.
Making Deals
Out of nowhere, a friend reached out with a small collection from the early 80s. I made a deal which included 1 monster box (4 rows), a binder, a small photo book, and 2 800 count boxes. I didn’t get a chance to go through it at all, but at first glance there are some fun cards from the early 80s in there and I’ll provide more updates when I get to that collection later this year.
Blowout Winter Sale
I’ve had my cart full of all sorts of stuff on the Blowout winter sale, but I just can’t seem to justify the prices, even when they are on a deep discount. Most of the stuff is modern, and I did just pick up a bunch two weeks ago. In addition, there are just too many brands from Topps that I want. I have fallen in love with Stadium Club from a 2023 blaster box I went through last year. They don’t have any sales on that.
Topps Archives caught my eye, I did pick up a blaster of that with the order I put in, but then I keep seeing Heritage hobby boxes for around $50. I know that is a steal, and I do like those cards, but I remember not pulling any Phillies in the retail box was a tough one. The hobby box should be more fun, but I’ve yet to pull the trigger on a second order.
Organizing
Inspired by the potential of really organizing the collection, I took time to clear off space in my card area for all my hobby boxes that aren’t in bins. This gave me an idea of taking pictures of all of them for the purpose of putting them into Kronocard. So now I have them documented, they are not in Kronocard just yet, but the pictures are taken, and the area is much nicer than it ever has been. I’m looking to get completely organized this year, and I think funneling that energy into that aspect of the hobby will be really, really good so I don’t just hoard stuff in the name of “the collection”.
Weekly Opening
In our weekly opening, I opened a grab bag that Shaun gave me last year, in addition to going through one I had already opened. These are amazing grab bags. To my utter shock I found a Gavin Lux Topps Chrome Rookie Card in the 2nd bag. There was so many different brands and years it’s going to be a challenge to keep these in any sort of organized fashion, but the variety of cards you cannot beat. You truly do not know what you are going to pull. From 1978 Topps to ultra modern Topps Chrome, Gypsy Queen, Score, Fleer, Donruss, Panini, and Pacific.
Worst Cards Ever
It is very hard for me to look at cards and criticize the design, as it’s a moment in time captured in a card. From societal impacts, pop culture, and artistic influence, it’s all there. I even don’t mind 1991 Fleer. Until I saw Pacific’s 1998 “Online” cards. These are physical cards. Who’s decision was it to put a URL at the top of the card with a white background at the top of every card?! The names are in red foil, virtually invisible, certainly unreadable until you have the absolute right angle. The left border frame is taken up by the word “ONLINE” cutting off the picture. The back of the cards are not bad at all, and the somewhat computer font feels right, so this is actually really good. Even the backdrop of the back has an early information superhighway cybernetic feel to it. I think the biggest fail for me is the URL at the top of every card. If you are going to do that, at least have it on the back.
https://www.tcdb.com/ViewSet.cfm/sid/1189/1998-Pacific-Online
I did take pictures of the interesting cards from this week’s opening, I’ll have to post those later. Notable cards:
- Gavin Lux – 2020 Topps Chrome Rookie Card
- Babe Ruth – Baseball’s All-Time Greats
- Donruss Elite – Hunter Pence
- Artist’s Palette – Josh Donaldson
- Donruss Diamond Kings – George Bell, Jay Bell
- Opening Day Bomb Squad – Harmon Killebrew
Not one Phillies card in the grab bags, but that is ok. There are a lot of varieties of cards I would never get, such as the Donruss & Panini cards. I wish Panini had a license after seeing some of the cards they made 5-10 years ago. Topps could use a competitor, but Panini is not that company at this stage of the game.
Until next time!