Zack Wheat and The Brown Brothers!

Some people love the Blues Brothers but as a Type 1 Photo collector my jam is the Brown Brothers and their excellent group of photographers who covered many an incredible baseball moment and player. I am always happy to add one of their pieces to my collection and this time it overlapped perfectly with one of my longtime collecting interests: Zack Wheat.

This beautiful specimen came from an auction house win (Lelands, I think) and features an early career shot of Zack. The bat on shoulder pose is simple but striking and I like that the handful of players behind him are somewhat obscured by blurriness. The old-timey stands being clearly visible is also a nice touch.

The editorial markings and Brown Bros stamp on the reverse are super cool and interesting to look at. I strongly prefer my photos to have them as opposed to a blank back. This was already slabbed upon purchase, an added monetary benefit.

Does anyone have any photos within their player PCs?

(Zack) Wheat Wednesday: 1925 Universal Toys & Novelty Brooklyn Robins Team Card Hand-Cut, PSA 1!

When I landed the Zack Wheat card from the '25 Universal Novelty Toys set I also scooped up a couple more cards along the way. I didn't expect to win the below but I'd never seen it and as so often happens my bid held up in the end.

Wheat is somewhere within that group of old-timey Robins/Dodgers. The back is blank and the card is the epitome of poor as it's missing a corner, has numerous creases, and even has a tear or two. But damn is it ever cool in its oversized glory. It is a most welcome addition to the Wheat Collection indeed.

My favorite discoveries as I've looked over this team card are the young child in the front row and the team (?) dog which I suppose must have been a mascot. It also appears as if this photo was taken on the yard at a penitentiary.

T206 Pickup: Boss Schmidt, Piedmont!

It's hard for me to turn down cheap T206s when they present themselves to me. I don't have many of them and I mean, come on, tobacco cards are an essential part of anyone's collection who fancies themselves a fan of vintage cardboard. While we have affordable ones at work I've never seen one under a blaster, until one random day when I was searching our website. The moment I saw how cheap the below was, I scooped it up. I do not regret said decision to scoop.

Here we have Boss Schmidt of the Detroit Tigers, pretty pinhole and all. My boss -- when he saw the order and headed to pull the card -- warned me that it would more than likely be thrashed to have been listed so cheaply. Thankfully he was mistaken and for a Poor to Fair copy it has really nice eye appeal. Pinholes really don't bother me all that much. Also, Boss is a dope nickname.

Here's the Piedmont back which also has a bit of paper loss halfway down on the right-hand side. Again, nothing that would have come close to dissuading me from adding a sweeeeet T206 to my growing vintage collection.

1950 Vending Machine Charm: Campy!

I'm always on the lookout for oddball items for my main PCs, especially the vintage ones. Occasionally things will pop up and be out of my price range only to appear months if not years later and be within reach. Today's oddball acquisition is one such item which I've maybe seen a half-dozen times at most. I had no real thought that it would remain within range but thankfully it did and I came out victorious when the eBay auction came to a conclusion. My newest Roy Campanella is this beaut:

According to the Standard Catalog these charms were released around 1950 and are listed as "1950 Charms" in said catalog. They came packaged in little plastic bubbles and were found in vending machines, which is totally awesome. The border around Campanella is more orange in-person and it's quite a small charm.

Per Bob Lemke in the 2011 Edition of the SC:

The date of issue for this novelty item is conjectural, based on known player selection. Packaged in plastic bubbles for sale in vending machines, these charms are found in several different shapes - rectangle, octagon, etc. - and colors of plastic. A black-and-white photo appears at center with a loop at top for hanging. Size also varies but is about 3/4" x 1-1/4". Players are not identified on the charm and there is no number.

Matt Kemp: 2006 Topps '52 RC Auto!

My Matt Kemp Collection is slowly nearing 400 unique cards, and with his departure from L.A., current slump, and unfortunate injuries which derailed his career, prices on his harder to find and earlier hits are dropping right into my wheelhouse. Case in point, today's feature:

Out of 2006 Topps '52, this beautiful rookie card auto was a long time in the making, and was one of the elusive early Bison signatures I needed. I finally landed one for under $15 delivered, as patience usually pays off. A gorgeous Spring Training shot, Kemp wearing a number other than 27, and a bold on-card John Hancock all combine to make this one of my absolute favorite Mattycakes' cards.

Trade With Dodger Penguin: Kemp Auto, Kemp Quad Relic, Seager Mini Blue, and a Rising Joc.

I completed my first trade with Matthew from Dodger Penguin. We began this deal a year ago and traded in-person this May 3rd at the card show I recapped. The wait was worth it as we each picked up great stuff for our collections.

Matt surprised me with this 2008 SP Authentic Manufactured Letter Autograph of The Bison in exchange for a Julio Urias signed photo I was able to get at a Rancho Cucamonga Quakes' minor league game. I have legitimately been after one of these signed manu-letter patches for years but have never been able to secure one. This letter "M" is numbered 61/99 and is a most welcome addition, after all of these years, to my Mattycakes' Collection.

If this just isn't the perfect card. You have a great action shot of Corey Seager, my favorite prospect; he's got his pants rolled up to the knees, and I'm a sucker for old-timey throwbacks; it's a Blue Wave parallel; it's numbered 238/250; and it's a miiiiiiinnnnniiiiiii!

I had completely forgotten about this 2009 UD SPx Quad Relic teaming Kemp up with a troika of former Blue Crew members: Rafael Furcal, Takashi Saito, and Hong-Chih Kuo. When Matt and I re-booted our trade talks it was a nice surprise, and it's of course a welcome addition to my collection of Kemp hits.

Now that's a great shot of top prospect Joc Pederson. Joc is featured on a Rising Through The Ranks mini from 2013 Bowman Chrome and it's a swell addition as I have very little of Pederson in my Dodgers' PC.

I really dig these Cream of The Crop minis from '13 Bowman Chrome and I'm happy to add the base version along with the aforementioned Blue Wave parallel.

Finally, a nice refractor of Corey out of 2013 Bowman Chrome.

Thanks for the great trade Matthew! It was a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to many more deals in the future!

1954 The Sporting News DOPE BOOK: Al Rosen, Cover Boy Extraordinaire.

I recently came across a rare non-cardboard Al Rosen I couldn't help but want as a piece of my Hebrew Hammer Collection. I had never heard of The Sporting News' Dope Book, but this issue from 1954 came complete with Al Rosen on the cover.

It was a cool 50 cents back in the day. I paid more than that but was still able to land it for a price I was comfortable with. There's some cool stuff on the Brooklyn Dodgers in this Dope Book. Perhaps I'll one day get around to scanning some pages that discuss the mid-50s Blue Crew.

We're constantly reminded just how different athletes and advertising were in the 1950s. Here's the back and Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews pimping Chesterfield Smokes, the "Best For You!"

1954 The Lone Ranger Comic Book: Feat. The Hebrew Hammer, Al Rosen.

I'm not a huge comic book guy. I had some growing up but I quickly moved away from that realm of collecting and entertainment as I got older. However, if the back cover of a comic book from 1954 is going to feature one of my main collecting interests -- and the price is a paltry $7.77 delivered -- I can't say no to picking it up and adding a unique piece to my collection.

Say hello to Issue 73 from Volume 1 of The Lone Ranger, released in July of 1954. The cover art is just fantastic and the color has held up exceptionally well. Just the simple fact that it's a beautiful comic from the mid-1950s and is in very good shape would have made it a great pickup, especially for the price I landed it at.

Here's the real prize, however, and it's not comic book-related in the least. My main man, Al "The Hebrew Hammer" Rosen, graces the back cover in an advertisement for Wheaties. Al is teaching some young lad the in-and-outs of one's swing in hitting a baseball and the importance of Wheaties in becoming a stronger athlete.

Matt Kemp's Head is Floating!

My latest Matt Kemp hit combines elements I adore in a piece of cardboard, particularly one of Mattycakes: a well-designed set; a large swatch of jersey; an action shot; a bearded Bison; and FLOATING HEADS!

This phenomenal offering is numbered 04/25, and there's an even more jaw-dropping patch variation out of a scant 5 that I've tried to nab once or twice already. It's a card I sincerely hope to one day call my own. I love sets that have that old-timey feel to them, and Panini really hit it out of the park with these Silhouettes from 2013 Pastime. I really dig Pastime as a whole from what I've seen thus far, and it includes Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, so I would have been hard-pressed to find fault in it to begin with.

2013 Allen & Ginter Blaster Break.

I'm not a retail guy, but if someone is going to buy me a blaster of 2013 A&G, I can be your retail guy every day of the week. Such was the case last month (yes, I'm just now posting it). My favorite card from the blaster was an easy one to pick:

Kid K! It's going towards my set and I can't wait to pick up another for my Kersh PC. I did land a (roughly) case hit as well, which is headed to Sam:

The People on Bicycles insert set is one of the few '13 A&G sets I'm not chasing.

The rest of the best: an Ethier A&G Back Mini, a Spartans Martial Mastery, a Shelby Miller Mini RC, and the Pele base with the text missing on the back.

My 2013 box of Ginter used in Gint-A-Cuffs V can be found recapped here.

Strike While The Iron Is Hot, Er, While The Bison Is Down.

That's my mission while Matt Kemp is on the DL....again. For less than a blaster, I landed my newest Bison hit. It's my 15th certified Matty auto.

Numbered 02/25, it's on-card and even though it's unlicensed I like the old-school and simple design. My only gripe isn't related to the card itself. Panini still has outstanding redemptions from Kemp from this very product. How can some of the subsets he had autos in finally be live after two years but others remain unfulfilled? As you can probably guess, I've been waiting on a redemption from the product that has yet to be signed by Kemp.

Trade With Cardboard Collections: A Beautiful Black-Bordered Gordon Gypsy

I completed my third trade with Colbey from Cardboard Collections. You can check out the first here and second here. Colbey showcased a card I was instantly drawn to, and though I don't have anything right now that interests him, he agreed to send it my way while I look for cardboard to send back.

This beaut is numbered 20/25, and it's hard to beat a black-bordered jumbo relic from an awesome product like 2013 Gypsy Queen. The envelope it arrived in had been torn a bit along the way, but thankfully the card was securely packaged and in fine condition when it hit my mailbox.

Thanks Colbey! My eyes are open for something or somethings to send your way!

A Matt Kemp "Jackie Robinson" 1/1 Gypsy Queen Printing Plate.

I'm snatching up Matt Kemp cardboard as best I can while he heals from his hamstring injury and continues to work his way back from the serious shoulder injury he suffered last season. I have not and never will forgive the Dodgers for allowing him to play through it, thus exacerbating it. Anyhoo, the latest deal I was able to secure is of the truly unique and one-of-a-kind variety.

OH. SNAP. So much to cover here. First, it's a 1/1 Magenta Plate. Second, it's from 2013 Gypsy Queen, and I'm a sucker for vintage-themed sets. Third and most important: Kemp is wearing number 42, which means the photo Topps chose was taken on Jackie Robinson Day. With it being a 2013 card, the photo comes from April 15th, 2012. Kemp reached base in four of his five plate appearances that day, clubbing a solo homer to go along with two singles and a walk. Just a fantastic card all-around and one I couldn't let pass by my Bison Collection without ensuring it made the most permanent of stops.

Bill Bergen: Superba, Inept Hitter, and Brother To An Axe Murderer.

I have no idea who Bill Bergen is. The name has zero meaning to me and I had not heard of him before coming across the below. After seeing his face on this beautiful piece of cardboard, however, I knew he needed to be part of my collection.

And now he is. Cheap vintage is the best, and when it features the Brooklyn Superbas, it's hard to top. This bad boy hails from the T202 Hassan Triple Folders set released in 1912. It marks my first card of a Superbas' player, and it was had for a great price. I dig the slightly-loved condition, the prominent Brooklyn B, and the fact that this gorgeous piece of cardboard has retained its color.

William "Bill" Bergen played 11 seasons, 8 of which saw him behind the dish for the Superbas. He's been lauded for his defense, ranking as high as third all-time on some lists. His two claims to fame, however, are not what any player would want. Bergen holds the record for worst career WAR and .wOBA by a position player, and FanGraphs fittingly dubbed him the "worst hitter in baseball history" back in 2011. That other claim to fame? His brother, also a major league catcher in the late 19th century, killed his family with an axe and committed suicide.

The K King of Gypsy Queen.

Free money makes a man do crazy things. Leaning towards high-end goodies is one of those things that found money does to me on the regular. The two cards on display today illustrate that point marvelously. I sold a phone for my father and had some of the proceeds left when the below beaut popped up.

I wasn't going to let it get away. On-card, a vintage-themed set, and a nice action shot of Kid K make this baby a classic and a winner. It's my 21st cardboard Kershaw John Hancock. The seller offered combined shipping and one card stood out as worthy of such a deal.

Numbered 07/25, it's a gold parallel bat relic of The Bison from 2011 Panini Playoff Prime Cuts. This is just the fourth bat relic of Matty that I own, and it dawned on my that my collection is lacking in that department. Once again, I'm a sucker for vintage-themed and old-timey sets.

Trade With "O" No!!! Another Orioles Blog: Matt Kemp's Golden Gypsy Shades.

I completed my third trade with Ryan from "O" No!!! Another Orioles Blog. You can check out the first here and second here. Ryan pulled a SP from a box of 2012 Topps Update and put it up for grabs to whichever of the billion Dodgers' bloggers was first to comment.

Based on this post, you can guess who dominated the commenting section. I dig these All-Star Game SPs, and Matty in the BOSS shades with his fantastic beard is an awesome touch. Oh, and thanks for the scan Ryan, saved me a few seconds. An excellent addition to my Bison Collection, and it's my third Matty SP overall, to go along with a SSP Sparkle and the phenomenal Beast Mode SP.

Speaking of photos, here's a photo variation SP from 2012 Gypsy Queen of Matt. As we so often find, it has been acquired before the regular old base card.

Sticking with GQ, Ryan sent along a fantastic blue-bordered parallel #'d 147/599.

Last, but certainly not least, is an awesome gold-bordered parallel of Kid K, numbered 0017/2012.

Thanks for the great trade Ryan, enjoy the Hope Diamond and other randomness that has hopefully already arrived!

Trade With Collector's Crack: Old-School Kershaw, Chrome-y Wright, and Lots o' Ginter.

I completed my sixth trade with Mark from Collector's Crack. You can check out the first here, second here, third here, fourth here, and fifth here. Mark inquired about two cards from my box of 2012 Allen & Ginter, and he sent along a pair of nice cards for a couple of player collections as well as some Ginter help in return.

First up, a new Clayton Kershaw, which is always a welcome sight. It just so happens to be the 2012 Topps Series 2 SP - with Clayton in that wonderfully-fantastic old-school powder blue throwback Brooklyn uniform - that my collection was in dire need of. It will go very well with my Matt Kemp Beast Mode SP from the same set.

Next up, a chrome-y David Wright, numbered 0427/1961.

And finally, Mark knocked off a nice chunk of my 2012 Ginter needs, sending over 35 Base cards.

Thanks for another great swap Mark!

Trade With Classic Card Collector: My First T206, and It's A Brooklyn Dodger!

Well, a Superba, technically. I completed my first trade with Brian of Classic Card Collector, and boy is it ever a doozy. I stumbled upon Brian's blog, and did so at the right time, because he had posted one of his many T206s. After looking through some of his posts, I saw that he had a few doubles, and inquired as to the availability of any of them. After a few e-mails back and forth, we had ourselves a deal, with Brian receiving everything you see here and yours truly finding the below beautiful piece of vintage goodness in his mailbox:

Finally! Every collector should own a T206. I've wanted one forever, but it was never a major priority, and I never had the heart to lay down the dough for one. Thankfully, Brian was kind enough to work with me on a deal and part with one, which is now one of the centerpieces of my vintage collection.

I don't know much about Kaiser Wilhelm, but what I do know comes from this post on the man from Ernest over at Blue Heaven. I also don't really know anything about the T206 set, so beyond seeing it's got a Piedmont back, I can't delve into what that means. Anyhoo, you should all go and check out Brian's blog and his fascinating progress on the T206 set he's working on, and give his blog a follow. Who knows, you might find yourself embroiled in trade talks of your own.

Thanks for the phenomenal trade Brian, and welcome to the card blogging community!

Some Prime Pieces of Bison.

I snagged this lot of Matt Kemp relics for $5.84 delivered. Both cards are numbered out of 49 and each features a big white swatch from a Dodgers' home uniform. They serve as my latest Kemp pickups, and though they hail from the Colossal subset of the unlicensed 2011 Panini Prime Cuts, they are welcome additions nevertheless.

My two copies are 14/49 and 33/49, and for the aforementioned price, I'm very pleased with the purchase. I picked up the Kid K card to match some time ago.

Symmetry. Except for the gray.

Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw Relics on The Same Card? Cardgasm, Initiated.

That's right. A cardgasm. See for yourselves what precipitated this excited reaction of mine towards a piece of cardboard.

OH. SNAP. Numbered 23/99 - and had it been 22 or 27, I may have broken the internet - this bad boy ran me just $10.08 delivered. It's headed straight for my Bison PC, and is a most welcome addition, as you might imagine. This card raises an interesting question, a question I once upon a time discussed. As it features two guys I collect, and in this case my two favorite players, I'll need a second copy for my Kid K Collection.

Problem solved. Numbered 38/99, I scooped this up about a month after acquiring the first, as the price was just too much of a bargain. For $8.50 shipped, it heads straight for my Kershaw Kollection. The copy headed for my Clayton PC actually arrived in a one-touch, a nice touch indeed. It'll remain in said magnetic. The backs of both look a little something like this:

I love the old-timey look of these 2011 Panini Prime Cuts dual relics, and of the product in general. These pair fantastically with the dual Kershaw-Verlander I posted on a few weeks back. Panini made the right choice in a bat relic for Matty, so props to them for that as well.

Cardgasm.