Ever Meet Anyone Who Was in a Game Show?

Back when I was in elementary school, I remember reading one of those fluff pieces in our local newspaper where the columnist asks a bunch of Andy Rooney type questions. One of those questions was, 'Have you ever met anyone who was in a game show?'

I'm not sure why this question stood out in my mind but back in the day when cable t.v. wasn't so common I guess it was odd to meet someone who participated in a game show. I finally met a substitute teacher in high school who said she was on the $20,000 Pyramid and got robbed of the grand prize because the celebrity guest gave an invalid clue. Pretty cool story I guess and at the time I thought it was cool to be able to finally answer 'Yes' to that nagging question.

How does all this relate to baseball cards?

Well, I always felt like you could write a fluff piece related to the recent Topps Give Away and Heritage Buyback programs. The obvious question would be, 'Did you ever meet anyone who got something really cool in one of these promotions?'

I've read through many forum posts and watched a few YouTube box breaks yet I never heard about anything really cool from these particular contests.

That was until I broke a case of 2012 Topps Heritage this week. Take a look at this little beauty.....

I'm sure there are a lot of cool hits out there but when I think about the top tier I'm thinking about Mantle, Mays, and Aaron so I was pretty excited about this one. I guess every dog has his day. Now if Topps would only refrain from putting that gold stamp on the buyback cards!

What a Long Strange Trip It's Been...

I mentioned in an earlier post that I’ve decided to start collecting tobacco cards for my personal collection. If you’ve ever thought about buying a tobacco card (or two) but didn’t know where to begin don’t worry about it, just find a cheap one and dive in.

What? Those cards can’t be cheap! Well, relatively speaking they can be. I happened to pick this one up yesterday for only $15.

This card is a bargain for a card that is over 100 years old and not mass produced like the modern cards of today.

Sure it’s got rounded corners and creases but that gives it character! It’s fun to look up this player I never heard of, George Mullin, and find out what he did during his career. I didn't realize he pitched the Tigers first no-hitter and has the second most wins for the Tigers. I also think it’s fun to ponder what this card has been through during it’s life.

Think about it…..

After the card was produced between 1907–1911, here’s what happened and what the card might have went through…..

In the 1910’s

The Titanic sailed (and sank) in 1912, there were only 46 states in the United States, and World War I also broke out. Perhaps some young boy looked at this card each evening as a way to escape from the realities of his country being at war.

In the 1920’s

Television was invented! Maybe the same kid is a bit older now and has put the card away in a box to be forgotten while he is mesmerized by the new invention of television.

In the 1930’s

Prohibition is in full swing. Maybe this card gets passed down to a nephew to keep him occupied while the adults hang out in the basement having a drink or two.

In the 1940’s

World War II is at its peak. This card could be helping another boy escape from the realities of his country or family members being involved in a war.

In the 1950’s

Elvis hits the scene! Does the card getting tucked away again while some teenage boy decides cards aren’t cool and he needs to work on his dance moves to impress the girls at the soda shop?

In the 1960’s & 1970’s

Hmmmmm…bad fashion, lots of drugs, disco music…..many of the young adults in our country were lost during this time so who knows where this card was…..

In the 1980’s & 1990’s

The boom years of baseball cards!!! I bet this card was in a dealer case at a show selling for 4 times its current price.....right next to the Mark McGwire rookie cards selling for $125!

2000’s

During this decade, I guess this card floated around from dealer to dealer for 10 years as the card market tries to find it’s footing.....long forgotten while a new generation of collectors focus on game used and autographed cards.

Now the card has found a good home in my collection and I'll enjoy it for more reasons than the fact it's a Tigers card.