Saturday, December 26, 2015

"Can" you guess my latest Gwynn collectible?

While perusing our monthly card show, I came across yet another unique Tony Gwynn collectible that I just had to have for my collection.
 
"Can" you guess what it was?
 
If you wagered a guess of the 1998 Pinnacle Inside, you're spot on!
 
In 1997 and 1998 Pinnacle produced cards which were sold in a collectible, steel, soup-sized can. You actually had to use a can opener to get the cards out. Of course, I don't care about the cards that might be inside, as I'm not about to open this particular Gwynn can.
 
This Pinnacle set was released in July 1988 and featured 150-cards, with 23 different players on the cans. There were 48 cans per case and 10 cards per can, packaged in clear cellophane. The cans themselves went for about $2.99 each. There were also two gold cans within each case.
  


Nutrition facts, or basic per-serving nutritional information, were required on foods under the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. According to this act, food labels must list the most important nutrients in an easy-to-follow format.

This can also follows the rules of the act. Among the Product Facts the can lists, "Collectability" comes in as 100% of the daily value. "Top Players," "Inside Info," and "Cool Inserts" are also listed as 100% of the Daily Value.

My wife has often spoken of how much room my card collection takes up. Can you imagine, however, how much room a full collection of these cans would take up? I can only imagine the poor retailer stocking all these cans on their shelves.

For those of you who may be interested, the Pinnacle Inside can checklist includes:
1 Roger Clemens
2 Jose Cruz, Jr.
3 Nomar Garciaparra
4 Juan Gonzalez
5 Ben Grieve
6 Ken Griffey, Jr.
7 Vladimir Guerrero
8 Tony Gwynn
9 Derek Jeter
10 Andruw Jones
11 Chipper Jones
12 Greg Maddux
13 Mark McGwire
14 Hideo Nomo
15 Mike Piazza
16 Cal Ripken, Jr.
17 Alex Rodriguez
18 Scott Rolen
19 Frank Thomas
20 Larry Walker
21 Arizona Diamondbacks
22 Florida Marlins
23 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Saturday, December 19, 2015

December COMC Cards

It's yet another month, so it's another opportunity to garner another batch of free COMC "purchases." Things have been slowing down a bit on the inventory assistance side, as I only earned about 6,000 points. Fortunately, I had a few bucks set aside, so I was able to get another great batch of cards. 
 
Since this blog is "Bleedin' Brown and Gold," it only stands to reason that I would start out my acquisitions with a bunch of Padres goodies. It begins with a 2005 Upper Deck MVP Batter Up! Gaylord Perry (#14), a 2012 Topps Retired Numbers Patches Dave Winfield (#DW), a 2014 Panini National Treasures Jesse Hahn (#163) S/N 15/99, a 1974 Padres McDonald Discs Dave Roberts (#11), 1970 Topps Ron Herbel (#526), and a 1972 Topps Garry Jestadt (#143).
 
While I'm not a huge memorabilia/game used collector, I just couldn't pass up that Hahn Marine Camouflage jersey piece. Beginning in 2000, the Padres wore a Navy Seals-inspired camo jerseys on Military Opening Day. Now in their 13th year, San Diego sports these jerseys for both Military Opening Day and every Sunday home game. While I already have a copy of the Marine Corps-inspired jerseys, which they've worn for the past five years, they recently unveiled their 2016 unis based on the Navy's blue camo uniforms and I'm now dying to get my hands on one.

Do you really believe I can actually pick up a few COMC cards and not grab a few Tony Gwynn cards? If so, then you don't know me very well. 1995 Studio (#25), 2005 Diamond Kings Heritage Collection (#25), 1997 Padres Mother's (#2), and a 1999 Finest Complements Dual Refractors (#C2).
 
I've been a Green Bay Packer fan ever since I was a wee lad during the Lombardi era. When I had the opportunity to pick up cards of my early idols, I just couldn't pass these up. They include these 1961 Topps Boyd Dowler RC (#43), 1958 Topps Jim Ringo (#103), 1955 Topps Dave Hanner (#131), 1959 Topps Lew Carpenter RC (#95), 1959 Topps Dan Currie RC (#162). I love the simplicity of these early cards.
 
What self-respecting Packer fan doesn't like Dave "Hawg" Hanner, a member of the Packer Hall of Fame? Hanner spent his entire 42-year football career with the Green Bay Packers. He only missed four games while playing as defensive tackle (1952-64), and left defensive end (1961-62). He then served 16 seasons as a defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, and finally assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Bart Starr. He closed out his career as Green Bay's quality control assistant (1982) and scout, until his retirement in 1996. Sadly, Hanner passed away in Sept. 11, 2008, at the age of 78.
 
And finally, I had to scratch my hockey collecting itch, adding these two Chicago Blackhawk cards - 2015-16 Upper Deck MVP Ryan Hartman SP RC (182) and a 2014-15 Upper Deck Ice Trevor van Riemsdyk (#92) S/N 364/999.
 
I also picked up a few extra cards for all those good little sports card bloggers as part of my annual "Bleedn' Brown and Gold" Christmas Card list. And yes, I checked my list twice, trying to figure out who was naughty and nice, and got most of my cards into the mail the past week. There's just a couple I still have to get into the mail, though.