Not a Story About My Story Or Trevor Story...
But first... Part One of a completely unrelated Story...
Watching Colorado Rockies games over the last two seasons, I've been exposed to just about every bad pun, or play on words involving the word "Story", and our shortstop, Trevor Story. None of them are particularly witty or even good. Anyone resorting to that tired cliche comes off as very hack-ish...
While this Story is not about Story, or even the Rockies, I'm using Story to hint at another Story that I'm not going to tell here either...
I've just returned from almost two weeks in Minnesota. As a vacation, it was just fine. We had a good time and met up with a buncha people and family that we haven't seen in a while...
Due to two separate and unrelated events involving a blown tire, and a surprise severed deer carcass, the drive from Coon Rapids, MN to Englewood, CO, took 77 hours...
Our car is still stranded in the middle of Nebraska. As of writing this, we still do not know if we will ever drive it again.
Detailing the endlessly frustrating and overdosing in anxiety inducing panicky freak-outs, the events that unfolded over that 77 hour drive are now going to make up the next printed edition of Wasted Quarter.
Back when I started writing Wasted Quarter #73, the issue was going to cover pictures and Story's of abandoned gas stations, mixed in with some other small subjects I wanted to blend in amongst them.
Now nearly all of that subject matter was moved here, or will eventually appear here...
The gas station featured on the cover is still open for business in the city of North Platte, Nebraska. And that sign still hangs above the entrance.
From the first time I saw it a few years back, I knew that I wanted to use that image as a title for some project in the future.
The drive home was by far the worst part of our 10 day vacation, and I took ample notes of the whole thing... That 77 hour drive, combined with those other brief writings planned for the previous issue, seem like a perfect blend of content for the next Wasted Quarter.
However, the time I spent in Minnesota went pretty well. I spent a bunch of time with family and friends, took some great new abandoned building pictures that will be featured here in the coming months, and even made it to a local Brick and Mortar Card Shop, for the first time in nearly a year!
Pal's is close to my folks house, and has a nice selection of sorted and easily accessible singles. I've visited each year that I've gone back for older Twins, Expos and Rockies commons. Then I usually buy a few unopened hobby packs, since I'm fed a steady diet of retail in my current market...
Bowman Platinum was a retail-only product this year, meaning I had zero chance at fining any. This was the first and only 2017 Bowman Platinum card I own... Which I do like, and would have bought more had I ever seen any of them...
I liked this one a lot. It's all bright and refractory, and the photo hides the lack of logos well. With only a hint of 1990 Donruss remaining...
Kyle Freeland was one of my favorite Rockies starters this season. I also liked the concept behind the Arizona Fall League Insert Set. Bowman Chrome is a logical place for a set of prospects, to get recognition for playing in a MLB sponsored post-season rookie league. The more unknown aspects of the game getting recognition by the hobby is a very good thing in my book.
I'm not sure why I didn't put these in chronological order before scanning them. I could have fixed them in Photoshop, but I didn't. I don't even know if I needed them for my team binders. But I like team cards, and think they should be in EVERY year's Topps base set.
Though I really wish they would stop building a ridiculous fake stadium wall to cover up the bat boys...
One of these years, I'm going to finish writing up my want lists for filling each year's base set. Though, there's no shame in an extra 1978 Topps Twins Team Card, with ominous Metropolitan Stadium seats looming behind them...
Ben Rortvedt was a 2016 top draft pick as a catcher, by the Twins. So far, he hasn't hit as well as hoped, but is still young, and catchers typically take longer to develop. So he was a common for the future... Because I will so be able to retire off Bowman base...
Wimmers was a 2010 First Round Draft Pick that didn't pan out. Beyond brief cameos in the last two seasons, Wimmers battled injuries and ineffectiveness. A free agent after the 2017 season, It is unknown if Wimmers will be back with Minnesota for 2018.
Despite the heavy Photoshoppery on the jersey, I do like the photo on this card a lot...
With the exception of a heavily damaged 1970 Willie Mays Kellogg's card, that once belonged to my Grandfather, this 1972 Leo Cardenas is the only Kellogg's card in my collection.
I also don't have nearly enough Brad Radke in my collection. The bulk of his career came during my lean collecting years of 1996-2004... A very underrated pitcher, with a career cut short by injuries.
In the early 2000's, Donruss put out some nice sets that I didn't collect. For a card where the border is more prominent than the photo, I like how this one comes together. Stewart's Twins career started bright, where he had a prominent role in driving the Twins to the 2003 AL Central title.
I've seen these cards floating around the local Minneapolis hobby scene for years, but this is the first one I've owned a card from the set. Now that I have it, I really want the full set... Not sure if it was a promotional giveaway or if it was sold at the Metrodome in connection with hosting the 1985 MLB All Star Game.
Jeff Reed is card number 7 out of 36, meaning the set was pretty comprehensive in it's coverage.
Jeff Reed is also one of only five players in Major League Baseball history to play for the Twins, Expos and Rockies. And to me, that is noteable... Were I more prepared, I'd have included scans for both Expos and Rockies Jeff Reed cards. Some other time...
A box of cheap Twins team sets also sat on the Pal's shelf. Nearly all of them were junk wax sets that I either have complete, or need just a card or two in order to complete them. The sole exception was this 2005 Donruss team set, that I did not have a single card from.
Eric Milton was a player that worked out fine for Minnesota, until he started to become expensive. By that point, his reputation led to the inevitable large contract that paid him more than he produced. But that fell on the Cincinnati Reds, not the Twins... I also have very little Upper Deck from 1998-2006...
Justin Morneau was one of my favorite Twins. He served as one of the pursued (not) Junk Wax Prospector style players I'd collect. Only in the early 2000's, when the Junk Wax Era had long passed. Up until the devastation concussion he suffered, sliding into second base in Toronto, during a game in 2010, he was getting better every year.
However, the 1955 Topps design could never NOT work. Which is why it has been ripped off so many times over the years... I bought very little 2005 Heritage. I'd probably change that if it were still 2005...
Back to what I was saying about the Arizona Fall League Insert set in Bowman Chrome, I like seeing the more obscure baseball elements getting some cardboard recognition. In 2017, Topps gave us a 30 card insert set (spread over the three series of Topps base set) to highlight the awesome MLB Network.
I know I'm in the strict minority in saying this, but the MLB Network insert set excited me more than ANYTHING ELSE Topps has put out in 2017... Let me explain...
After the disaster that was our drive home from Minnesota, one of the things I craved almost as much as a cigarette, (Still not smoking through some small miracle...) was getting back to the comforting voices of my soothing MLB Network, broadcast all over the luxury apartment at Honkassland...
Since it's debut in 2009, MLB Network has been the unofficial muzak of Honkassland. Unless we are specifically watching something else on the TV, the MLB Network is always on in the background. Neither of us are usually watching it, as we're both usually doing our own respective desk related things while home. But the MLB Network is almost always providing atmosphere at a lower volume.
Due to it always being on, we both know all of the featured players on the MLB Network, from their near family member status. Topps making cards saluting this? I'm so on board with this!
Amsinger and Kenny are only the second and third cards of the set I currently own. And since I want the full set, and I'm sure no one out there really wants them, I will gladly take any unwanted MLB Network inserts off your hands!
I'm glad to be home... It's time to pick up the broken pieces of car, and try to get back to normal after a whirlwind two weeks, that serve only as a precursor to whatever is coming up on the horizon for Laura and I in 2018...
Watching Colorado Rockies games over the last two seasons, I've been exposed to just about every bad pun, or play on words involving the word "Story", and our shortstop, Trevor Story. None of them are particularly witty or even good. Anyone resorting to that tired cliche comes off as very hack-ish...
But that's another Story!
I've just returned from almost two weeks in Minnesota. As a vacation, it was just fine. We had a good time and met up with a buncha people and family that we haven't seen in a while...
The problem with came in the return home...
Due to two separate and unrelated events involving a blown tire, and a surprise severed deer carcass, the drive from Coon Rapids, MN to Englewood, CO, took 77 hours...
That drive is usually 15 hours at most...
Our car is still stranded in the middle of Nebraska. As of writing this, we still do not know if we will ever drive it again.
But I'm not telling any more of that Story...
Detailing the endlessly frustrating and overdosing in anxiety inducing panicky freak-outs, the events that unfolded over that 77 hour drive are now going to make up the next printed edition of Wasted Quarter.
(That date is not relevant, this mock-up was made well over a year ago.)
Back when I started writing Wasted Quarter #73, the issue was going to cover pictures and Story's of abandoned gas stations, mixed in with some other small subjects I wanted to blend in amongst them.
Now nearly all of that subject matter was moved here, or will eventually appear here...
The gas station featured on the cover is still open for business in the city of North Platte, Nebraska. And that sign still hangs above the entrance.
I love that sign.
The events of November 7-9, 2017 are now that Story...
(Said notes have been conveniently blurred, so I don't fall victim to plagiarism!)
Story!
However, the time I spent in Minnesota went pretty well. I spent a bunch of time with family and friends, took some great new abandoned building pictures that will be featured here in the coming months, and even made it to a local Brick and Mortar Card Shop, for the first time in nearly a year!
Pal's Sports Cards in Andover, MN
I will share my small Hobby Pack break later this week.
Here is part one of the Story, my random cheap singles haul from Pal's:
(Which includes both of the Story's featured Story's...)
2017 Bowman Platinum
Bowman Platinum was a retail-only product this year, meaning I had zero chance at fining any. This was the first and only 2017 Bowman Platinum card I own... Which I do like, and would have bought more had I ever seen any of them...
Sad Story Goes...
2017 Topps Finest
Three of the biggest stars of the 2017 Colorado Rockies: DJ LeMahieu, Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado. I have not consulted any checklist, is this a full team set? Either way, they look fairly cool and are the first 2017 Finest cards in my collection... What else can you add? They're Finest...
Perfectly Fine, but not the Finest.
Story...
2017 Donruss Charlie Blackmon Refractory-Type Thingy
I liked this one a lot. It's all bright and refractory, and the photo hides the lack of logos well. With only a hint of 1990 Donruss remaining...
2017 Bowman Chrome AFL
Kyle Freeland was one of my favorite Rockies starters this season. I also liked the concept behind the Arizona Fall League Insert Set. Bowman Chrome is a logical place for a set of prospects, to get recognition for playing in a MLB sponsored post-season rookie league. The more unknown aspects of the game getting recognition by the hobby is a very good thing in my book.
2004, 2005, 2003 Topps Team Cards
I'm not sure why I didn't put these in chronological order before scanning them. I could have fixed them in Photoshop, but I didn't. I don't even know if I needed them for my team binders. But I like team cards, and think they should be in EVERY year's Topps base set.
Though I really wish they would stop building a ridiculous fake stadium wall to cover up the bat boys...
That kinda thing didn't happen in 1978...
1978 Topps Team Card
One of these years, I'm going to finish writing up my want lists for filling each year's base set. Though, there's no shame in an extra 1978 Topps Twins Team Card, with ominous Metropolitan Stadium seats looming behind them...
I like this card (and any featuring Met Stadium) a lot!
2017 Bowman
Ben Rortvedt was a 2016 top draft pick as a catcher, by the Twins. So far, he hasn't hit as well as hoped, but is still young, and catchers typically take longer to develop. So he was a common for the future... Because I will so be able to retire off Bowman base...
2010 Bowman
Wimmers was a 2010 First Round Draft Pick that didn't pan out. Beyond brief cameos in the last two seasons, Wimmers battled injuries and ineffectiveness. A free agent after the 2017 season, It is unknown if Wimmers will be back with Minnesota for 2018.
Despite the heavy Photoshoppery on the jersey, I do like the photo on this card a lot...
1972 Kellogg's
With the exception of a heavily damaged 1970 Willie Mays Kellogg's card, that once belonged to my Grandfather, this 1972 Leo Cardenas is the only Kellogg's card in my collection.
And that is criminal...
This card is awesome, and I need more Kellogg's now!
Story...
Story...
2000 Skybox Dominion
2006 Upper Deck
I also don't have nearly enough Brad Radke in my collection. The bulk of his career came during my lean collecting years of 1996-2004... A very underrated pitcher, with a career cut short by injuries.
2004 Donruss World Series
Then he kinda tailspun out of baseball a few years later...
1985 Team Issue
Jeff Reed is card number 7 out of 36, meaning the set was pretty comprehensive in it's coverage.
Jeff Reed is also one of only five players in Major League Baseball history to play for the Twins, Expos and Rockies. And to me, that is noteable... Were I more prepared, I'd have included scans for both Expos and Rockies Jeff Reed cards. Some other time...
2005 Donruss Team Set
A box of cheap Twins team sets also sat on the Pal's shelf. Nearly all of them were junk wax sets that I either have complete, or need just a card or two in order to complete them. The sole exception was this 2005 Donruss team set, that I did not have a single card from.
$3?
Sold!
Story!
1982 Donruss
Another on the list of Twins cards that I'm not sure if I needed or didn't need it. But for a quarter, I'll take the risk...
Even if it ends up as a Wasted Quarter...
Ha! Story!
2003 Upper Deck
Eric Milton was a player that worked out fine for Minnesota, until he started to become expensive. By that point, his reputation led to the inevitable large contract that paid him more than he produced. But that fell on the Cincinnati Reds, not the Twins... I also have very little Upper Deck from 1998-2006...
2005 Ultra
2006 Topps Co-Signers
I never bought any Co-Signers in 2006. I don't think the design works very well...
2005 Topps Heritage
However, the 1955 Topps design could never NOT work. Which is why it has been ripped off so many times over the years... I bought very little 2005 Heritage. I'd probably change that if it were still 2005...
2017 Topps MLB Network
Back to what I was saying about the Arizona Fall League Insert set in Bowman Chrome, I like seeing the more obscure baseball elements getting some cardboard recognition. In 2017, Topps gave us a 30 card insert set (spread over the three series of Topps base set) to highlight the awesome MLB Network.
I love this set!
I know I'm in the strict minority in saying this, but the MLB Network insert set excited me more than ANYTHING ELSE Topps has put out in 2017... Let me explain...
(Story!)
Since it's debut in 2009, MLB Network has been the unofficial muzak of Honkassland. Unless we are specifically watching something else on the TV, the MLB Network is always on in the background. Neither of us are usually watching it, as we're both usually doing our own respective desk related things while home. But the MLB Network is almost always providing atmosphere at a lower volume.
Due to it always being on, we both know all of the featured players on the MLB Network, from their near family member status. Topps making cards saluting this? I'm so on board with this!
Amsinger and Kenny are only the second and third cards of the set I currently own. And since I want the full set, and I'm sure no one out there really wants them, I will gladly take any unwanted MLB Network inserts off your hands!
Laura really can't stand this guy...
*****
And that's it for now...
I'm glad to be home... It's time to pick up the broken pieces of car, and try to get back to normal after a whirlwind two weeks, that serve only as a precursor to whatever is coming up on the horizon for Laura and I in 2018...
But in the time being, I will be back soon with my 2017 Hobby Pack Break...
And then it will be time for post #50!
Gotta come up with something special for that...
Story!
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