Bleedin' Brown and Gold

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

Congratulations to Ken Griffey, Jr. and Mike Piazza for their election into the MLB Hall of Fame. Griffey, who set a record with 99.3 percent of the vote, was followed by Mike Piazza, who spent his fourth year on the ballot and received 83.0 percent. Jeff Bagwell finished third with 71.6 percent of the vote, Tim Raines was fourth with 69.9 percent and Trevor Hoffman rounded out the top five with 67.3 percent.

The vote, by the Baseball Writers of America, consists of 440 total ballots. A total of 330 votes, or 75 percent, is needed for election to the Hall. Qualified BBWAA members name 10 eligible players they consider worthy for the Hall of Fame. Players are removed from the ballot if they're named on fewer than five percent of the ballots, or if they've been on the ballot 15 times without election.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that Hoffman, featured here on the Padres' 2006 Media Guide, fell just short of induction by 34 votes. By the same token, however, I'm rather stoked about his chances for 2017. After all, like Griffey, this was Hoffman's first year on the Hall of Fame ballot. Also, historical trends show those who finish with more than 50 percent of the vote are eventually inducted into the Hall.

1996 Leaf Signature Autographs

For Hoffman, a senior advisor with the Padres, what's there not to like. If you consider his credentials - a two-time runner-up in National League Cy Young voting who also earned seven All-Star selections, 601 saves (second to Mariano Rivera's 652), including nine 40-save seasons - I believe he's indeed Hall worthy.

Not bad for a shortstop drafted in the 11th round of the 1989 MLB draft by the Florida Marlins. In light of the relievers currently in the Hall of Fame - Hoyt Wilhelm (216 saves), Rollie Fingers (341), Goose Gossage (310), Dennis Eckersley (390) and Bruce Sutter - Hoffman would be in great company. And like Sutter, Hoffman played his entire MLB career (18-years) as a reliever

2008 Upper Deck X

One question I have, however, is WHEN he's inducted into the Hall of Fame, are they going to play his iconic "Hells Bells" song? One thing I always loved about Padres games, was whenever it was "Trevor Time" and Hoffman would make his entry onto the field, AC/DC's classic song blasted over the sound system. After all, the song was used in his highlights video during his induction into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame.

Using "Hells Bells" as his entrance tune began July 25, 1998, the night Hoffman tied Rod Beck's record of 41-consecutive saves. According to Bob Chandler, in his book "Tales from the San Diego Padres,""Who came up with the idea of Trevor's musical accompaniment? It was a Padres salesman named Chip Bowers." Bowers now serves as an executive with the Seattle Supersonics.

1998 Ultra Gold Medallion

This would have to be one of my favorite Hoffman cards. It's actually neat to see the then-all time Saves Leader decked out in catchers gear.

Here's to "Hells Bells" in 2017, when Hoffman will actually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Since I had the week off (you have to love "Use it or Lose it" leave), I decided to swing by "The Rookie" a local brick-and-mortar card store. Anders Olson, the owner, had to move recently, since the strip mall where he and 15 other business resided, was sold. The site is to be demolished, with a phased retail development taking its place.

In any case, I decided Thursday was a fine opportunity to pop in and see his new digs.

It was fun to see Anders again and his new shop is very nice. It's clean, well-lit, and spacious, with a ton more room for plenty of product.

Another reason I was glad I stopped by, Anders was running his, "When it rains, it pours" special. Every day it rains, all cards in the $1.00 boxes (three for $2) are just 50 cents. Anders actually sweetened the pot, making those same cards a quarter each. Even though there's still snow on the ground, we're in the midst of a good, cold 38-degree rain storm here in the heart of the Midwest.

I took the opportunity to amass a nice pile of hockey cards (see my other blog "The Hockey Card Geek," if you're interested in seeing those cards), but I was able to pick up four new (to me) Tony Gwynn cards, as well as a Justin Upton card.

It's amazing the amount of Tony Gwynn cards that come out year after year since his retirement in 2001. For example, there were a total of 246 Tony Gwynn cards released in 2015 alone. with 376 more produced in 2014.

Two of those most recent Gwynn releases include this 2014 Classics Legendary Lumberjacks (#4) and a 2015 Leaf Heroes of Baseball (#55). Typical of the Panini line of cards, all of Gwynn's Padres logos have been airbrushed out. Speaking of airbrushing, it may have been pretty cool if Gwynn were actually wielding an ax on that Lumberjack card.

And then I found this pair - a 1998 Pinnacle Plus Lasting Memories (#29) and 2013 Topps Triple Threads Amethyst (#34) S/N 148/650. Unfortunately, the scanner doesn't really do justice to the regal purple of this amethyst card.

As for the Upton card, it was his 2015 Donruss the Elite Series (#14) S/N 639/999. Upton arrived in San Diego with minor-leaguer Aaron Northcraft from Atlanta in December 2014. Preller raided the Padres' minor league system, sending Max Fried, Dustin Peterson, Mallex Smith and Jace Peterson to the Braves. Upton, basically a rental player, became a free agent on Nov. 2, 2015. He hit .251, with 26 homers, 81 RBIs and 19 SBs. He also struck out 159 times, while drawing 68 walks. Was he worth a one year contract? The Padres still finished 74-88.

I now own a total of 830 of the 9,770 Tony Gwynn cards that have been released since his initial 1982 Hawaii Islanders TMCA minor league card.

My wife truly loves me.

While I was up in Ames yesterday, officiating at the Iowa State University Big 4 indoor track meet, Jan decided to do a little shopping at the Walmart in West Des Moines. Since I hadn't picked up any cards in a while, she thought she'd pick up a pack or two as a surprise.

She settled upon this 24-card 2015 Gypsy Queen blaster. Her reasoning: The Gypsy Queen packs run $2.99 each for six cards. She'd be getting four packs worth of cards, and paying about half the price.

I have to admit, this was a rather nice surprise.

All 24-cards were packed in a single cellophane bag inside the box, which by the way, included "3 Exclusive Pearl Parallel Cards Inside!"

I don't know about any "pearl" parallel cards, but there were three framed white cards, which included Bo Jackson (#9), Ryan Braun (#169) and Mookie Wilson (#82).

There were also three rather nice insert cards, as well, including The Queen's Throwbacks Miguel Cabrera (#QT1), Mini Red Max Scherzer (#93) S/N 45/50, and a Walk Off Winners Travis Ishikawa (#GWO19). Sometimes black and white photographs work on cards, especially with retro jerseys. I don't feel it particularly worked on this particular Cabrera card.

Two particular cards especially caught my attention. The first was a Jenrry Mejia (#285B). Mejia is one of those hard-to-find variation cards that I've never been able to pull. This particular variation finds him sporting the orange New York Mets jersey. The second card I was happy to pull was this San Diego Padres Matt Kemp card (#38). A Padre yes, but, maybe it's just me, but I still find it weird to see Kemp wearing the Padres blue and grey, instead of the Dodger's grey and blue.

And when it came to old school players, the box included a Jose Canseco (#8), Frank Thomas (#20), Rickey Henderson (#190) and Ryne Sandberg (#151).

The rest of the cards included Paul Goldschmidt (#16), Albert Pujols (#49), Evan Longoria (#94), Corey Kluber (#95), Alex Cobb (#106), Hyun-Jin Ryu (#160), Jayson Werth (#173A), James Shields (#179A), Juan Lagares (#202) and Dellin Betances (208A).

I may have to make another Walmart run this weekend just to pick up another box or two of these Gypsy Queen cards.

My wife - What a great woman!

Like many team collectors, one of the pure joys of my collecting disease is discovering yet another one of those out-of-the-way, esoteric San Diego padres card team sets. I truly delight in those weird and unique little sets, like the 1984 Smokey the Bear safety set (28 cards), 1977 San Diego Padres schedule card set (89 cards) and 1981 Topps Scratch-offs (4-cards)

Recently, I found six cards from another partial set on E-Bay that whets my collecting appetite and gives me yet another excuse to spend a bit of money in the pursuit of another hard-to-find oddball Padres set...This time, the 1978 Family Fun Centers San Diego Padres 39-card set.

In 1978, the San Diego Padres hosted their very first All-Star Game, so the San Diego Family Fun Centers issued this set of 39 cards complete with Padres players and coaches, as well as announcers Jerry Coleman and Dave Campbell, and owner Ray Kroc.

Here's the front and back of the Dave Winfield card (love that 'stache).

These 3-1/2 x 5-1/2 cards are made to look like wooden plaques, with a posed color photo set against a wood-grained background. The player’s name is in a gold plate at the bottom, with the Fat Friar and Family Fun Center logos above it. The backs are black and white, complete with the player's uniform number, brief biography and stats at the top of the card. The players' description of "My Greatest Thrill in Baseball” is wrapped around his mug shot, with a facsimile autograph taking up the bottom of the card.

Derrell Thomas, Chuck Baker and Don Williams

The Family Fun Centers produced four different Padres sets, including one in 1977 (33 cards), 1979 (30 cards) and 1980 (7 cards), as well as a 38-card California Angels set in 1978.

Mickey Lolich, Gaylord Perryi

The gem of this Family Fun set is supposed to be the Ozzie Smith Rookie Card. It's my understanding it's hard to find a copy without a crease down the middle of it.

Unfortunately, I don't ever remember going to a San Diego Family Fun Center when we lived there. But then again, our first-born would have been quite young at the time.

The set is listed in alphabetical order, as follows:

1. Bill Almon

2. Tucker Ashford
3. Chuck Baker
4. Dave Campbell ANN
5. Mike Champion
6. Jerry Coleman ANN
7. Roger Craig MG
8. John D'Acquisto
9. Bob Davis
10. Chuck Estrada
11. Rollie Fingers
12. Dave Freisleben
13. Oscar Gamble
14. Fernando Gonzalez
15. Billy Herman
16. Randy Jones
17. Ray Kroc
18. Mark Lee
19. Mickey Lolich
20. Bob Owchinko
21. Broderick Perkins
22. Gaylord Perry
23. Eric Rasmussen
24. Don Reynolds
25. Gene Richards
26. Dave Roberts
27. Phil Roof
29. Ozzie Smith
30. Dan Spillner
31. Rick Sweet
32. Gene Tenace
33. Derrel Thomas
34. Jerry Turner
35. Dave Wehrmeister
36. Whitey Wietelmann
37. Don Williams
38. Dave Winfield
39. 1978 All-Star Game

Even though there's three weeks to go until the start of the 2016 regular baseball season, the San Diego Padres released their 2016 promotional schedule quite some time ago. Once again, they're featuring "Baseball Night in San Diego" as part of their Saturday home games, which include a plethora of Padres giveaways, some great, some good, some ok and some, just "meh."

Actually, this year we hope to return to San Diego again as part of our wedding anniversary. The last time we were there, was during Christmas 2011. We took the oppportunity to visit some old friends, old haunts and celebrated the Yutetime season sans Iowa cold and snow.

We usually enjoy going during the September – October timeframe, after the tourists are generally gone. We also try to get in at least one Padres game during our visit, so there may be a freebie or two we may get to enjoy during our trip.

This year's giveaways begin with the Opening Series Rally Towels, sponsored by Sycuan Casino. These towels, given out during each night of the initial series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, resemble game jerseys, with the first night featuring a white “jersey” towel, a familiar brown and yellow jersey towel for the second night and the new Navy Camouflage towel on the third.

The giveaways end Sat., Sept. 24 (San Francisco Giants) as the Padres close out their home baseball season with a Padres Team Photo and 2017 Schedule, courtesy of the Mighty 1090 radio station. As a matter of fact, there will be a total of four different fireworks nights this season, as well as a lazer light show.

In between, there’s a whole mess of other Padres goodies to look forward to. As for clothing, on Sat., April 23 (St. Louis Cardinals), Mission Federal Credit Union is giving away a Tyson Ross Jersey T-shirt. On Sat., May 7 (New York Mets), Toyota is giving out a black Padres Hoodie. The final clothing freebie is a Throwback Jersey being offered on Sat., Aug. 6 (Philadelphia Phillies), sponsored by Fanatics.

On Sat., Aug. 20 (Arizona Diamondbacks) fans will actually have a better option than the current presidential election process – namely, a fan’s choice of a Back-to-School San Diego Lunch Bag, or a Back-to-Tailgating Sand Diego Bottle Holder. As far as reusable bags go, that’s yet another giveaway, this one coming on Sat., May 22 (Los Angeles Dodgers), with the issuing of an MLB Network Reusable Bag. However you look at it, it still appears to be a tote bag to me.

Among the most interesting giveaways include San Diego Padres electronics, including a Padres USB Charger on Sat., Sept. 10 (Colorado Rockies) and the Padres Ear Buds being given out on Sat., July 30 (Cincinnati Reds) by United Airlines. There’s also a $10 Coupon to the Padres Majestic Team Store on Sat., July 16 (San Francisco Giants).

Other giveaways include a trifecta from Cox Cable on Sat., April 16 (Arizona Diamondbacks) featuring a Padres Ball Cap, San Diego Decal and a 2016 Schedule Cling; a Padres Pet Calendar, “Padres and Puppies” on Sun., April 24 (St, Louis Cardinals); Knockaround glasses from Knockaround on Fri. June 17 (Washington Nationals); another Padres Fedora, this time a blue one, from National University on Sat., June 18 (Washington Nationals); and a Padres Hall of Fame Coffee Table Book and Pet Bandana, courtesy of Petco on Fri., July 1 (New York Yankees).

By the way, Fox Sports San Diego is providing an unspecified giveaway on my birthday this year, the mysterious "To Be Announced" during the Sat., June 4 game against the Colorado Rockies.

Another interesting facet about this year's promotions are the "Theme Games," which include African American Heritage Night; Sunday Funday; San Diego State University Day; French Heritage Night; Nurses Night; Teacher Appreciation Night; University of San Diego Night; Faith and Family Night; Class of 2016 Night; Pride Night; Dog Days of Summer; University of California San Diego Night; FIlipino Heritage Night; Portugeuse Heritage Night; Zombie Day; USC & UCLA Rivalry Night; Ghostbusters Day; Team USA Day; Game of Thrones Day; Bark at the Park; Japanese Heritage Night; Movie on the Field; Naval Academy Day; Superhero Day; Pac-12 Night (Why not a Mountain West Night?); Polish Heritage Night; PCL 80th Anniversary; Native American Heritage Night; and (finally) Oktoberfest.

Any way you look at it, it should be a great time at PETCO Park this season. Now, I just can't wait to stop "California Dreamin'" and actually get down there again.

It's been quite some time since I last hit the keyboard to submit a "Bleedin' Brown and Gold" post. Back in September, I had a legitimate excuse, as we were in the middle of a move from our recently-sold house to our new 2-bedroom apartment.

While work has been fairly busy lately, including an annual training trip to Alaska, I don't think that's the actual issue in this particular case. Since the end of March, I feel I just hit a point where sports cards have lost their luster somewhat.

I halted going to the Urbandale Card Show. I stopped perusing the wax repack boxes and loose packs at Target and Wal-Mart stores. I haven't darkened the doorways of any of our local brick and mortar card shops. I haven't spent a single cent on a sports card purchase on E-Bay for quite some time.

I have piles of Padres cards I've accumulated up to that point in March (including a package from P-Town Tom), just tossed into boxes. They haven't been separated, sorted, inventoried, or placed into their specific player slots within my five-5,000 count Padres boxes.

And I haven't written a single post since March 15.

Why? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe its because the majority of my Padres cards are stuck away in storage, about three miles away. Maybe it's because I miss the old thrill of shuffling through them, while appreciating the photography and the stats and comments on the back of them.

To quote a line from Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail, ",,,I've gotten much better."

At least, I think so...

So, in order to get back onto my horse, I'll begin with a post about a few cards I picked up through COMC, way back in March before my cardboard malaise. While I did pick up some flashy, colorful chrome, I also tried to make a conscious effort to pick up a few old-school, "vintage" Padres cards, if you can consider cards from a team that began in 1969 as "vintage."

In any case, here's a few of those cards that I picked up a few months back. One thing that was rather interesting, however is, except for the Austin Hedges card, I believe this was my biggest group of ex-Padres cards I have received in one package.

This purchase begins with the truly colorful - a 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospects Series 2 Pink Wave Refractors Jose Urena (#BCP45) S/N 33/65, 2014 Bowman Draft Top Prospects Green Max Fried (#TP8) S/N 68/75, 2014 Panini Prizm Prizms Red White and Blue Pulsar Jedd Gyorko (#119), and a 2015 Panini Prizm Autograph Prizms Red Power R.J. Alvarez (#68) S/N 20/125

Eventually, I'd like to have at least one card from every player who've ever worn the Padres uniform, pictured in a padres uniform. To further this goal, I grabbed a 1980 Topps Jay Johnstone (#31), 1974 Topps Dave Hilton (#148A) San Diego, 1974 Topps Bill Grief (#102B) Washington, 1971 OPC Jim Williams/Dave Robinson (#262), 1970 Topps Rookie Stars Jerry Morales RC/Jim Williams RC (#262), and a 1971 Topps Al Santorini (#467).

Continuing with the older, one-of-every-player theme, is this 1969 Topps Dick Kelley (#359) and Tony Gonzalez (#501), 1972 OPC Al Severinsen (#274), and 1970 Topps Tommie Sisk (#374), Jack Baldschun (#284) and Walter Hriniak (#392).

And finally, players from the ghosts of Padres past, are a 1981 Topps George Stablein RC/Craig StimacRC/Tom Tellmann RC (#356), 1969 Topps Rookie Stars Bill Davis/Cito Gaston RC (#304), 1973 Topps Rookie Pitchers Melvin Behney/Ralph Garcia RC/Doug Rau RC (#602), and a 1975 Topps Jim Beswick RC/Steve Mura RC/Broderick Perkins RC(#725)

And finally, a Gwynn, a rookie and a hockey goalie, including a 2000 Vanguard High Voltage Red Tony Gwynn (#32) S/N 133/199, 2015 Topps Heritage SP RC Austin Hedges (#720) and a 2015-16 Upper Deck Young Guns RC Malcolm Subban (#211).

To those who used to enjoy reading my humble posts, I apologize. I believe I'm on the right track again.

After all, "...I've gotten much better." I think.

Now that I'm back on my horse again, I'll show you the group of cards I picked up the last time I attended the monthly card show at the Urbandale American Legion Hall. I'm almost ashamed to say it was last March, but I know at least two of their past shows were on drill weekend.

I'll begin with last year's Bowman cards that haven't found their way into my collection yet, namely these 2015 Bowman Draft Hunter Renfroe (#159), Austin Allen (#123), Austin Smith (#180), Jacob Nix (#153), Trevor Megill (#62), Zech LeMond (#127).

While the 2016 season is now heading into the final stretch, I also took the opportunity to begin my collection of this years' edition of Topps cards. Here's my newest 2016 Topps Jedd Gyorko (#40), Colin Rea RC (#141), Alex Dickerson RC (#281), 2016 Topps First Pitch Tony Hawks (#FP19), 2012 Topps Pro Debut Minor League All-Stars Rymer Liriano (#RL), and a 2014 Allen and Ginter The Pastime's Pastime Jedd Gyorko (#PPJG). Who would have thought by the end of the 2016 season Gyorko and Liriano would be ghosts of Padres past.

And while we're on the subject of First Pitches, I picked up these additional Topps First Pitch cards - A 2016 Topps First Pitch Bill "Lean on Me" Withers (#FP15), 2015 Topps First Pitch Jeff Bridges (#FP01) and Suzy (#FP13), a 2015 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Stan Lee (81), and a couple more 2016 Topps First Pitch Irone Singleton (#FP20) and Evelyn Jones (#FP5). While I'm not a particularly huge First Pitch fan, I know a few collector's who'd be happy to find these in a trade package. Not bad for a dme box, eh?

Being a life-long comic book fan, how could I pass up this Stan Lee card, a man who I've admired for most of my teen, then adult life. The man, the myth, the legend is now 93 years old, after all. 'Nuff said.

I picked up a few 2015 Bowman Chrome cardsf, with Austin Hedges RC (#188), 2015 Bowman Chrome Prospects Kyle Lloyd (#BCP151), 2013 Bowman Chrome James Shields (#13), 2015 Topps Chrome Cory Spanagenberg RC (#132), 2015 Topps Heritage Combo Cards Wil Myers/Justin Upton/Matt Kemp (#CC10), 2011 Topps Samuel Deduno RC (#412), and a 1996 Bowman Minor League POY Gabe Alvarez (#12).

I also included these 2015 Topps Heritage Brendon Morrow (#637), Melvin Upton Jr. (#619), 2014 Topps Heritage Daniel Webb RC/Chris Robinson RC (#398), 2009 Upper Deck Goudy Matt Antonelli (#164) and an Upper Deck Goudy Mini Green Back Matt Antonelli (#164), and a 2005 Donruss Chris Oxspring (#311).

You know, you just can't turn down a couple of Padres legends, so I grabbed this 2002 Sweet Spot Classics Game Bat Dave Winfield (#BDW) and a pair of new to me, Tony Gwynns - one a 2014 Allen and Ginter (#223), the other a 2015 Diamond Kings (#133).

My last item is a 2002 Donruss Super Estrellas Posters de Jugadores Tony Gwynn (#11), basically a four-fold Gwynn poster.

You know, this Sunday marks the September version of the Urbandale American Legion Hall card show. This might be the perfect opportunity to darken their doorstep again. I know a few vendors who would more than likely be happy to see me again.

With Christmas just around the corner, I managed to receive yet another great package from COMC, just in time for Christmas. Since it was part of their "Black Friday" sales frenzy, I was also able to get free shipping, to boot!

Besides my usual array of San Diego Padres goodies, I was also able to include a few selections for my annual Christmas gifts, which I pass along to a few of my blogging brethren. Of course, I'm not going to display those cards here. I'll let them be surprise when they show up in mailboxes across the country, with their fellow Christmas greetings.

Let's begin with a pair of Randy Jones autographs, including a 2016 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs (#FFARJ) and 2016 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Blue Autographs (#FFARJ) (S/N 100/199), 2012 Panini Cooperstown Famous Moments Signatures Nate Colbert (#9), 2014 Panini Black Friday Rookie Manufactured Patch Autographs Tommy Medica (#TM), 2016 Bowman Inception Prospect Autographs Manuel Margot (#PAMM), 2016 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Refractors (#RATJ) (S/N 281/499), 2015 Donruss Signature Series R.J. Alvarez (#10), and a 2016 Stadium Club Autographs Colin Rea (#SCACRA).

Randy Jones was one of my favorite Padres, especially as I was able to watch him pitch at Jack Murphy Stadium, back when we lived in San Diego. I've always been on the lookout for a Colbert autograph, as the St. Louis native was one of the Padres' first studs, despite being an 18th round pick from Houston in San Diego's initial expansion draft. He was the first Padre to bat in an All-Star game (July 25th, 1972) and a week later (Aug. 1), he hit five homers, drove in 13 runs against the Braves in Atlanta.

An Austin Allen 2015 Bowman Chrome Draft Sky Blue Refractors (#123) and a 2015 Bowman Chrome Draft Black Asia Refractors (#123), 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Black Refractors Dane Phillips (#BCP18) (S/N 67/99), 2015 Topps Pro Debut Promo Night Uniforms Cody Decker (#PNCD), 2016 Topps Heritage Derek Norris (#122), 2015 Topps Update Brandon Morrow (#US328), 2016 Bowman Prospects Purple Ruddy Giron (#BP20) (S/N 115/250), and a 2014 Topps Toys R Us Purple Border Robbie Erlin RC (#281).

In my continuing pursuit of obtaining a card of every player who's worn a San Diego Padres uniform, I found this 1978 Wiffle Ball Discs Dave Kingman (34), 1970 Topps Pat Dobson (#421), 1971 Topps Ron Slocum (#274), 2010 Topps Update Jerry Hairston, Jr. (#US207), 2016 Topps Heritage Christian Bethancourt (#221), and a 1991 Bowman Wes Gardner (#653).

In case you didn't know it, I've been a long-time Green Bay Packers fan, as well as a Packers shareholder. So, I decided to add an old-time Green Bay player, as well as a plethora of autographs. The old? How about a 1959 Topps Bill Forester (#39). By the way, that's not an "X" in the upper left hand corner of the card - it's line art of a quarterback ready to throw a football.

The autograph collection includes a 2011 Topps Inception Autograph Alex Green (#124) (S/N 38/900), 2005 Topps Pristine Personal Endorsements Autographs Terrence Murphy (#TM) (S/N 1466/1500), 2011 Playoff Contenders Autograph RC Ryan Taylor (#174), 2007 SP Authentic DeShawn Wynn Autograph RC (#214), and a 2015 Panini Contenders Autograph RC Alonzo Harris (#263).

Of course, being the hockey geek that I am, I also had to pick up a few cards from my favorite winter sport. They incude a 1996-97 Zenith Champion Salute Promo Mike Richter (#14), 2015-16 O-Pee-Chee Update Signatures Matt Fraser (#USMF), and a trio of 2015-16 Upper Deck rookie cards, one of Malcolm Suppan (#211), one of Garret Sparks (#480) and one of Gustav Olofsson (#486).

We're season ticket holders for the Iowa Wild hockey team and have enjoyed watching the 22-year old Swede mature as a defenseman. He's received two call-ups to Minnesota - two games in 2015-16 and once this season, and only has a +1 to show for his efforts. He currently has three goals, nine assists and 12 penalty minutes in 23 games at Iowa.

I am in no way a basketball fan, but I am helping a friend work complete a rookie project he's working on, which included the 2015 Topps Valor Melvin Gordon RC (#4), 2015 Topps Heritage Melvin Gordon RC (#86), 2015 Topps Todd Gurley RC (#422A), 2015 Topps Amari Cooper RC (#451A), 2016 Topps Chrome Dae-Ho Lee RC (#179), and a 2015-16 Hoops Frank Kaminsky RC (#281).

Gordon and Kaminsky both played for the University of Wisconsin, and Gordon is currently out with a hip injury. Just don't get me started about the Chargers' threatening to move to Los Angeles since they didn't get the vote to build a new stadium in San Diego. The NFL is not a fan-friendly league, in my book, and I'm getting rather tired of NFL teams moving out their teams away just because their "fans" aren't willing to be taxed for those fancy new stadiums they want. At least we don't have to worry about that with the Packers.

But enough with rants. I'll conclude with two more Tony Gwynn cards which found their way into my Gwynn collection, namely a 2007 Topps Triple Threads (#55) (S/N 668/1350) and 2016 Topps Hallowed Highlights (#HH12).

I have now amassed 602,530 points (good for more than $600 in free sports cards) with Check Out My Cards. I'll continue to help with their inventory challenges as long as they continue to post them and I have the free time to complete them. As far as I'm concerned, it's definitely a win-win situation.

Since it's been awhile since I've been posting again, I figured now would be a good time to showcase my purchases from the September Urbandale American Legion card show. I wasn't able to attend the October show due to drill weekend, but I did attend the November show, which I'll detail some of those goodies later.

The December show, held on Sunday, Dec. 18, was a whole different story. With blowing snow and temperatures in the sub-zero range (including a -31 degree windchill at 8 a.m. that morning), I figured a) the vendors may be a little thin that day, (especially those coming from longer distances) and b) it was too damn cold to go anywhere. We threw a few logs on the fireplace and stayed home all day.

You just have to love Iowa sometimes. Especially when you have friends who still live in San Diego call you up, reminding you about how gorgeous the weather is out there.

I'll start out with a 2015 Topps Pro Debut Pennant Patches Matt Wisler (#PP-MW), 2012 Bowman Sterling Prospects Autographs Travis Jankowski (#BSAP-TJ), 2016 Donruss Ted Giannoulas (#151), 2016 Donruss Optic The Famous San Diego Chicken/Ted Giannoulas (#165), and a couple of 2016 Wacky Packages MLB Padres Deep Friar (#35) and Padres Head Shavers (#36).

I'm not a huge fan of manufactured patches, but how can you not like El Paso's Chihuahua with an attitude. When it comes to the San Diego Chicken, we talk to him every time he's in Des Moines at an Iowa Cubs game and I have almost every Chicken card made (now that sounds like a good idea for a blog column). However, Donruss has released a large amount of serial numbered, memorabilia and certified autograph cards of the Chicken this baseball season. These two cards should at least help get me started on getting back in the Chicken groove again.

Of course, I had to get me some Gwynns. 2015 Panini Contenders Old School Colors (#14), 2003 Diamond Kings (169), 2015 Panini National Convention VIP Party (#59), 2014 Topps Allan and Ginter (#223), 2011 Topps Kimball Champions (#KC59), 2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions (#101), 2000 MLB Showdown Unlimited Foil (#359), and a 2013 Topps Allen and Ginter Across the Years (#ATY-TG).

Since we do live in Des Moines, which is home to the Triple A Chicago Cubs affiliate, I have do collect a few Iowa Cubs cards. The only stipulation is, however, they have to be wearing an Iowa Cub uniform. The following cards fit that criteria to a "T" - a 2010 Topps Pro Debut David Cales (#302), 1999 SP Top Prospects Kyle Farnsworth (#46), 1996 Best Autographs Brooks Kieschnick (#36), 1998 SP Top Prospects T10 Kerry Wood (#4), and a 1994 Action Packed Ozzie Timmons (#40).

Here's a couple more Padres cards, as well as a pair of MLB showdown strategy cards I picked up. The Padres cards include a 2016 Topps Archives '69 Topps Super Tyson Ross (#69TSTR) and a 2016 Diamond Kings Framed Colin Rea (#156). The MLB Showdown Strategy card is courtesy of the 2001 MLB Showdown Pennant Run Strategy Mike Piazza/Go Up Hacking (#S6).

I used to actually play in an MLB Showdown league at a local card shop. One season, we each bought a booster box and three packs. They were all opened and then we drafted the players like a normal team. My first pick was a foil Randy Johnson, who was the ace of my staff that year. I think I actually finished fourth out of nine teams that season. This was one of, if not the best, strategy cards in the game. I still have most of my cards in the hope that I can someday find someone to play again.

For that matter, I still have a bunch of MLB Sportsclix figures from Wizards of the Coasts. We used to play in a league at another neighboring card store here in Des Moines and I was actually a referee for Wizards of the Coast for this game. That's another game I'd still love to play again.

And of course, I had to pick up a few hockey cards. I found these 2015-16 Upper Deck UD Portraits of Dylan Larkin (P95), Artemi Panarin (P110), Jack Eichel (P61), and Connor McDavid (P100) for a buck apiece. While these may not be their rookie cards, they are affordable cardboard for the quality of players.

While I was shopping at the September Urbandale American Legion card show, I came across a dealer who had 10 huge, 5,000-count boxes full of baseball and football cards for 10 cents each. After digging around, I also found a single row box of 2010 Topps 206 cards. What was especially interesting was the fact this box didn't look as if anyone had dug through it yet, and yes, all the cards in this box were 10 cents apiece as well.

Unfortunately, I struck out on finding any Padres in this box, what did make this a fantastic find, however, was the fact there was a boatload of Topps 206 short-printed SP cards in the box, including a whole mess of minis.

For those not aware of the 206 SP cards, the backs are unnumbered, and were only distributed one in every four packs. This Tim Lincecum Bronze (#255) and Lincecum SP (#333) card demonstrate the difference in the SP cards, which only have the player's name, team name and "American League," or "National League."

As for the card fronts, as shown by the Lincecum Bronze and Lincecum SP, the SP cards are also unique in that they feature artwork of the players with their hats on.

Of the 50 SP cards in this set, I managed to find 16 different cards, including a Jason Bay (#319), Shin-Soo Choo (#309), Rajai Davis (#327), Stephen Drew (#342), Neftali Feliz (#339), Roy Halladay (#304), Austin Jackson (#338), and Ubaldo Jiminez (#322)

I then found these Stephen Strassburg (#331), Stan Musial (#343), Brian McCann (#303), Joe Mauer (#316), Mickey Mantle (#340), Cliff Lee (#308), Evan Longoria (#310), and Matt Kemp (#318) SPs in the box. Needless to say, I was more than a little surprised to find the Mantle card in the box.

I was able to pick up a few more interesting cards, including this Bronze Allen Craig (#203), Ian Desmond RC, (#171), Jason Heyward RC (#60), Derek Jeter (#162), Bronze Derek Jeter (#162), and an Austin Jackson RC (166)

And then there were these rookie cards for Mike Leake (#17), Tommy Manzella (#295), Daniel McCutchen (#261), Buster Posey (#193), Stephen Strasburg (#55), and Drew Stubbs (#179). If I remember right, Strasburg had just been called up to the Nationals, so I believe this may have been one of his first rookie cards.

If mini cards are your things, check out my next post, when I'll show the awesome mini cards I found from the same dime box from the Urbandale American Legion card show.

In my last post, I was talking about the single row box of cards of 2010 Topps 206 cards I found during the September Urbandale American Legion card show. These cards, going for a dime apiece, didn't look as if anyone had dug through it yet.

Besides a bunch of Topps 206 SP cards, I was also able to find a whole mess of minis, including a pair of serial-numbered ones, all for one shiny dime each.

Of the 2010 Topps 206 Minis I dug out of the dime box, there were a total of 36 cards, consisting of mini cards of Cycle (2), Polar Bear (3), American Caramel (9), Old Mill (2), and Piedmont (10).

The two mini Cycle cards were both serial numbered, which included a Martin Prado (S/N 23/99) (#43) and a Roy Oswalt (S/N 50/99) (#118). The two Old Mill minis included Gil Meche (#180) and Scott Kazmir (#149). The three Polar Bear minis include Freddy Sanchez (#117); Prince Fielder (#125); and Ryan Ludwick (#150).

Of the nine Piedmont mini cards, I found Daniel McCutchenn (#261); Christy Mathewson (#99); Felix Hernandez (#53); Jeff Francoeur (#235); Cristian Guzman (#67); Rick Ankiel (249); Cliff Lee (#152); Jason Kubel (#21); and Joe Mauer (#218).

Among the 10 American Caramels card, I found Justin Verlander (#58); Clay Buchholz (#76); Justin Upton (#33); Yadier Molina (#115); Chris Carpenter (#86); Alex Gordon (#202); Brett Anderson (#146); Luke Hochevar (#70); and Robinson Cano (#273).

I'm not entirely sure why I picked up these 2010 Topps 206 Historical Events minis, but I figured, for a dime each, I could probably find someone who would actually be interested in them. This is actually a 20-card set, so I managed to pick up half the set, which included: Joan of Arc Beatified (#HE5); Francis' Louis Bleriot makes 1st Airplane Flight Across English Channel (#HE7); First Short Flight in a Plane With a Jet Engine (#HE20); 1st Junior High School in U.S. Opens (Columbus, Ohio) (#HE10); Chicago's Comiskey Park open, St. Louis Browns Beat White Sox, 2-0 (#HE16); 1st Radio Contest Held (Philadelphia) (#HE13); Earth Passes Through Tail of Comet Halley (#HE15); The Boy Scouts of America is Incorporated by William D. Boyce (#HE12); British Miners Strike For 8-Hour Working Day (#HE11); and 1st Movie Stunt: Man Jumps Into Hudson River From a Burning Balloon (#HE18).

Actually, this turned out to be a rather bittersweet find. It turns out someone was selling these, and a few other cards for, Chuck's Sports Cards Plus. According to the guy who was selling the cards for Chuck, said that Chuck was shutting down his Des Moines shop.

Back in April, someone broke into Chuck's Store at 5 a.m., prying open the front door and making off with about 200 cards worth more than $100,000. Apparently, the crook knew where the vintage cards were and that's what he concentrated on. Someone saw him breaking in and called the cops, but he was long gone by the time law enforcement arrived.

If that's the case, it's truly sad indeed, as that will leave Des Moines with just one or card shops and the monthly Urbandale card show.

While I haven't been checking out the blogging biosphere tooo much lately, I've at least continued to help COMC with their inventory efforts. February produced my latest batch of cards resulting from that assistance.

According to COMC's statistics, I've thus far accumulated 685,965 points, good for about $685 ($1 COMC cash for every 1,000 points) which I've since converted into 624 cards purchased to date. I'm actually in 47th place on the all-time leaderboard for their inventory challenge.

As for my February order, my selection of more than 50 cards was all over the board. They ranged from San Diego Padres and Tony Gwynn cards, to Packers, Wild, autographs, and political pieces of printed cardboard.

I'll begin my February COMC package with scans of my most favorite Padre of all, Mr. Padre himself, Tony Gwynn.

It's possible to say I found a few Tony Gwynns aplenty, beginning with retro cards relating to his college days as a San Diego State Aztec (I'll be getting back to this Aztec theme later). The three SDSU cards include his 2009 Press Pass Fusion (#3), 2014 Upper Deck 25th Anniversary Silver (#37) and 2015 Panini Contenders (#91). I also picked up his 2015 Donruss Tony Gwynn Tribute (#5), the only card of this mini-set I didn't have yet, as well as a 1998 Leaf (#166), and a 2003 Topps Retired Signature (#30).

I also updated my Padres player collection with the addition of a 2016 Donruss Optic Travis Jankowski RC (#57), 2004 Absolute Memorabilia Akinori Otsuka RC (#211) S/N 346/1000, 2016 Topps Heritage Chrome Alexei Ramirez (#THC606) S/N 978/999, 2016 Bowman Prospects Yellow Ruddy Giron (#BP20), 2007 Artifacts Divisional Artifacts Trevor Hoffman jersey (#HO) S/N 23/199, 2009 Sweet Spot Everth Cabrera Autograph RC (#109) S/N 251/699, 2014 Elite Turn of the Century Autographs Reymond Fuentes (#85), and a 2007 Sweet Spot Kevin Cameron Autograph RC (#129).

Otsuka, a pitcher who I enjoyed watching pitch and who toiled from the San Diego bullpen from 2004-05, now serves as their Triple-A bullpen coach at El Paso. As for the Cameron Sweet Spot helmet card, I just felt it was especially sweet.

Since we're now in our fourth year as Iowa Wild hockey ticketholders, we're seeing more and more of our players moving up to (and sticking with) the Minnesota Wild. So, I decided to go off onto another collective bent and start collecting autographs and rookie cards of those players we've seen skating here at Wells Fargo Arena. I already have autographed sticks and programs these players have autographed over the years during team autograph sessions, but I felt having certified autos and nice RCs of these players would be a nice touch, too.

So, the only stipulation to this new Iowa Wild collection is the fact each player must have played at Iowa, since it stands to reason we would of seen him continue his Wild career through Minnesota's AHL affiliated.

So, what better place to begin, than with a 2011-12 Panini Contenders NHL Ink Brett Bulmer (#24), 2012-13 Fleer Retro Autographics 1996-97 (96JF), 2002-03 BAP Signature Series RC (#187), 2011-12 Dominion Carson McMillan RC (#121) S/N 062/199, 2013-14 Panini National Treasures Retro Phenoms Autographs Tyler Cuma (Wolf Logo) (#RPTC1), and a 2012-13 Certified Signatures Cody Almond (#37).

My autographed goalie trifecta displaya 2013-14 Dominion Private Signings Darcy Kuemper (#PSUE) S/N 144/199, 2013-14 Score Hot Rookie Signatures Johan Gustafsson (#748), 2007-08 Be a Player Signatures Josh Harding (#SHA), 2015-16 Upper Deck Premier Christopher Bertschy RC(#60) S/N 183/399), 2016-17 Upper Deck MVP Green Script Mike Reilly RC (#276), 2016 Upper Deck MVP Mike Reilly RC (#276), and a 2016-17 O-Pee-Chee Retro Mike Reilly (#551)

When it comes to the rookie cards for these lads, you can't beat these 2015-16 Upper Deck Michael Keranen RC (#466), 2012-13 Upper Deck Warren Peters RC (#230), 2012-13 Upper Deck Tyler Cuma RC (#228), 2012-13 Certified Jason Zucker RC (#144) S/N 396/999, 2013-14 SPx Mathew Dumba RC (#139), 2011-12 Panini Contenders Carson McMillan RC (#172) S/N 747/999, and a 2014-15 Spx Christian Folin RC (#129).

During my last shipment, I picked up a few Green Bay Packers autographed cards. Now I'm not too sure if I want to really attempt to collect all the Packers autos.

In any case, I did pick up a few nice ones with a 2009 SP Authentic Quinn Johnson RC (#324) S/N 766/999, 2006 Sweet Spot Signatures Ingle Martin (#IM), 2005 Ultimate Collection Terrence Murphy RC (#209) S/N 26/225, and a 2013 Momentum Rookie Signatures Johnathan Franklin RC (#212) S/N 329/399. Like Cameron's Sweet Spot San Diego Padres helmet auto, I really like that Inge Martin Packer helmet auto. It's just too bad he couldn't of done a lot more during his brief stint as a Packer.

I also added a few RC to the collection, both for tradebait, and for a few team-collecting friends. They include these 2015-16 Upper Deck Young Guns of Nick Shore RC (#216), Nickolay Goldobin RC (#453), and Frank Vatrano RC (#455), 2015-16 O-Pee-Chee Update Artemi Panarin RC (#U45) and Max Domi RC (#U35). And then there's a trio of football cards, with a 2015 Topps T.J. Yeldon (#430A), 2015 Prestige Ameer Abdullah RC (#203B), and a 2015 Topps Nelson Agholor RC (#146A).

And finally, remember how I began this blog with the Tony Gwynn San Diego State baseball cards? I'll now conclude it with this 2011 Sweet Spot Rookie Signatures Vincent Brown (#RVSB), S/N141/599. And again, like the Padres helmet and Packers' helmet auto, I really do like this San Diego state helmet auto. Considering I almost went to San Diego State during the time we lived here, the Aztecs are one of the teams I actually follow on college football Saturdays. Rocky Long has done one heck of a job with this team.

Being a photographer, I appreciate a well-framed, crisp, concise photo as much as anyone. Posed shots are fine, but it's the in-your-face action shots that I find are the most fun to shoot. That's why I enjoy bringing my camera (and telephoto lenses) to sporting events such as baseball games and auto races.

For example, here's a few photos I shot over the past few years, while attending games at Sec Taylor Stadium here in Des Moines during Iowa Cubs games.

Recently, I managed to combine my love of photography with E-Bay to obtain yet another unique San Diego Padres collectible.

In 1973, Dean's Photo Service put their talents to good use, producing a 31-photo set of the San Diego Padres.

The actual set consists of 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 black-and-white photos, with posed player portraits hemmed within a white border. They also included a team and sponsor logo at the bottom of the front of the photos. These blank-backed photos were given away by the Padres in five, six-card groups at various home games throughout the 1973 season.

One cool thing about this set, but sad to say it wasn't incuded in the batch I received, is a rookie-year photo of Dave Winfield. Unfortunately, I didn't get the Randy Jones photo either.

The actual photos included within the 31-photo set of 1973, are (listed alphabetically):
1 Steve Arlin
2 Mike Caldwell
3 Dave Campbell
4 Nate Colbert
5 Mike Corkins
6 Pat Corrales
7 Jim Davenport
8 Dave Garcia
9 Clarence Gaston
10 Bill Greif
11 John Grubb
12 Enzo Hernandez
13 Randy Jones
14 Fred Kendall
15 Clay Kirby
16 Leron Lee
17 Dave Marshall
18 Don Mason
19 Jerry Morales
20 Ivan Murrell
21 Fred Norman
22 Johnny Podres
23 Dave Roberts
24 Vicente Romo
25 Gary Ross
26 Bob Skinner
27 Derrel Thomas
28 Rich Troedson
29 Whiley Westlemann
30 Dave Winfield
31 Don Zimmer

The photos I was able to obtain include Ivan Murrell and Nate Colbert.

Fred Norman and John Grubb.

Clay Kirby and Bill Grief.

Gary Ross and Rich Troedson.

Fred Kendall and Don Mason.

Mike Corkins and Vincente Romo.

Coaches Bob Skinner and Dave Garcia.

Jerry Morales and Leron Lee.

Derrel Thomas and Manager Don Zimmer.

Dean's Photo Services ended up producing four different photo sets. Besides their 1973 release, they offered a photo set in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

As many of you know, I've been getting a plethora of free cards from the COMC website by helping with their daily Inventory Challenge. You get 100 points for every 50 cards you identify correctly and every 1,000 points earned is worth $1 of store credit.

Its taken me quite a while, but I've now accumulated 906,480 points, good for 37th place on the Overall Leaderboard. My goal is to hit the million mark and get the red "C" Badge. According to my Dashboard stats, I've now purchased a total of 764 cards from this fun site.

For my July shipment, I opted for a mixture of on-card and sticker signatures of my beloved San Diego Padres, as well as a few colorful and different cards for my Friar collection.

I'll begin with these autographs - a 2004 Bowman's Best Tim Stauffer Autograph RC (#TJS); 2009 Sweet Spot Autograph RC, S/N 477/699 (#109); 2000 Crown Royale Sweet Spot Signatures Ben Davis (#23); 2015 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Cory Spangenberg (#ARCS); 2010 Bowman Chrome Prospects Refractors Autograph James Darnell, S/N 475/500 (#PCP115B); and a 2017 Bowman Prospect Autographs Dinelson Lamet (#PADL).

Lamet's an interesting 25-year old Dominican international free agent RHP, After starting the season at El Paso, he's now 4-4, with a 5.02 ERA, 68 strikeouts, 20 walks and unfortunately, given up 11 home runs. He did, however, beat the NY Mets in his MLB debut on May 25, with 8 Ks, 2 BB, and an earned run in 5 innings pitch. He was 12-10 with a 3.00 ERA at El Paso last season.

2005 Skybox Autographics Future Signs Autograph Blue Akinori Otsuka (Print Run of 639) (#AO); 2007 Bowman Heritage Signs of Greatness Mike Thompson (#MT); 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Autograph RC (#181); 2001 Bowman's Best Autographs Sean Burroughs (#BBASB); 2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autograph Jared Wells (#BC230); and a 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Edwin Moreno (#BCAPEM).

Otsuka, who's one of my favorite Padres players, was hired this year as the bullpen coach for AAA El Paso. His son, Tora, a 5-9, 175 pound OF/2B, recently committed to the University of San Diego Toreros. He's a 2017 graduate of Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego.

I'll continue with these 2012 SP Signature Kyle Blanks (#SD6); 2011 ITG Heroes and Prospects heroes Jerseys Silver Dave Winfield (Print run to 150) (#17); 2016 Panini National Treasures Alex Dickerson Jersey Autograph RC, S/N 39/99 (#157); 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Donavan Tate Autograph, S/N 172/999 (#52); and a pair of 2011 Playoff Contenders Draft Ticket Autographs, one of Burch Smith (#DT4), the other Kevin Quackenbush (#DT85).

I just had to pick up some old School Padres, as well, including these 1999 Topps Traded Autographs Junior Herndon (#T42); 1997 Donruss Signature Autographs Rafael Medina (Print Run to 3,900), S/N (#71); 1998 Donruss Signature Autographs Millennium, S/N 209/900 (#26); 1996 Leaf Signature Autographs Andy Ashby (Print Run of 3,500) (#10); 1996 Leaf Signature Autographs Scott Sanders Silver (Print Run of 1,000) (#202); and a 1996 Leaf Signature Autographs Mark Newfield (Print Run of 3,500) (#168).

You know I couldn't have a COMC shipment without at least one Tony Gwynn card. This 1990 All-American Baseball Team (#14) perfectly fills that need. Here's a 2011 Topps Attax Foil Swinging Friar (#228); 2017 Topps Heritage Ryan Schimpf RC (#24); 2015 Panini Prizm Prizms Tie Dyed Cory Spangenberg, S/N 49/50 (#187); 2015 Topps Heritage Wil Myers Foil, S/N112/999 (#621); and a 2013 Topps Mini Pink Cameron Maybin, S/N 23/25 (#324).

You have to love that Swinging Friar. Schimpf is another one of those interesting players. At 29 years of age, he's getting to be a bit long in the tooth. Originally drafted out of LSU (where he was a 2009 College World Series Champion) in the fifth round of the 2009 draft by Toronto, he was picked up by the Padres in 2015 as a free agent. he made the Padres' 2017 opening day roster as a third baseman, However, with Schimpf, it's either feast or famine - he hit three homers in consecutive games last April, but was also in top 10 in strikeout rate, walk rate and fly-ball rate. He was sent back down to El Paso in early June..

If you like bright colors, you can't go wrong with these 2014 Bowman Yellow Cards of Ian Kennedy, S/N 59/99 (#7); Andrew Cashner, S/N 06/99 (#182); Chase Headley, S/N 72/99 (#54); 2014 Topps Yellow Will Venable (#64); 2015 Topps Chrome Pink Refractors (#132); and a 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospects Series 2 Pink Wave Refractors Jose Urena, S/N 59/65 (#BCP45).

How about a few Dave Winfield cards? Winfield, drafted by the Padres in 1973, was one of five players to be drafted by three different professional sports (In Winfield's case, it was four - the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA), and Minnesota Vikings (NFL), after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1973.

Here's his 2002 American Pie Sluggers Gold (#11) and Blue (#11); 2015 Topps Triple Threads Amethyst, S/N 198/354 (#42); a pair of 2005 Upper Deck Fame, one green, S/N 164/200 (#15), the other a base card, S/N 352/560 (#15). I also grabbed a 2016 Bowman Chrome Draft MLB Draft History Ozzie Smith (#MLBDOS).

Two years ago, during the Iowa Wild hockey season, I signed up for a drawing from Freedom Tire at one of the games. Actually, I thought I was signing up for the opportunity to win a set of four new tires, which I actually could have used for my RAV-4.

As the 2nd period intermission ended, they announced my name as the winner of the Freedom Tire drawing. With a big smile on my face, I ran back up to the concourse for what I thought would be a gift certificate for a new set of rubber.

In reality, what I actually won was a NASCAR tire from an actual NASCAR race.

According to the Freedom Tires rep, the tire belonged to Regan Smith, who drove the #78 Furniture Row Racing/Farm American Chevrolet at the 12th Annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Geico 400, held Sept. 16, 2012 at Chicagoland Speedway. While Smith started 7th, he finished 34th, completing 176 laps before blowing his engine.

The tire markings show this tire belonged to team R78 (right-side tire, Car #78) and was supposed to go onto the right rear as part of his sixth tire change (RR-6), but it wasn't used due to the blown engine. Although it's a "slick," or smooth tire, it even has divots molded into it, which are used to measure tread depth

So, it's a brand-new tire, which was to have been used during the 2012 Geico race. The guy from Freedom Tire was pretty excited that an actual servicemember won the tire, especially since it had the "Support our Troops" logo on it. Apparently, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, honored and supported the U.S. Armed Forces that year with the launch of its “Goodyear Gives Back” campaign, designed to generate support for the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

Race fans could visit the Goodyear Gives Back website and bid on authentic, race-used Goodyear NASCAR and NHRA tires autographed by drivers who used them in races, as well as other unique items including authentic motorsports experiences and memorabilia, with all proceeds going directly to Support Our Troops.

Needless to say, I had some interesting looks from fellow Wild fans as I left the game with this tire tucked under my arm.

Now comes the tricky part - What does one do with a full-sized NASCAR tire?

I could probably make a table out of it, maybe two, if I cut it in half. It's too big to use as a tire swing, and it's too nice (not to mention, big) to waste for a planter. I suppose I could put it on my Rav-4, but I'd need at least three more to go all the way around.

Since wining it, it's been sitting in my garage collecting dust. If anyone can come up with a good idea on what to do with it, please let me know.

I love watching Padres home games on Sunday afternoons. Proudly calling themselves the "Team of the Military," San Diego was one of the first teams to actively celebrate the military, actually inviting service members of the Marine Corps (a given, with the Recruit Depot just up the Pacific Coast Highway), as well as the Navy and Coast Guard to these games.

In 2000, the Padres began wearing Vietnam-era "Jungle" camouflage uniforms as part of Military Appreciation Day, and eventually, as part of thise Sunday home games celebrating the military. In 2006, they switched over to the "Desert Camouflage Uniform," and from 2011-2017, they began wearing "Marine Digital" uniforms sporting the camouflage pattern of the Marine Corps combat uniforms.

This year, it was the Navy's turn for recognition, as they switched over to that service's blue camo pattern. However, it seems its only worn on the Sundays they host Navy personnel at the game.

A few years back, my wife (God Bless her) got me a San Diego Padres Marine Corps camo jersey with my nickname ("McDuff") and number "36" on it. She also had the Tony Gwynn memorial black patch sewn onto it, following his death, in 2014. This year, she got me the Navy blue jersey, which is now part of the half dozen Padres jerseys in my closet.

While I haven't seen any memorabilia cards with the Navy blue jerseys yet, I have managed to find a few pieces of cardboard with nice-sized Marine Corps camo swatches on them.

For its 2016 release, Topps Triple Threads made a well-appreciated run with Padres military camo swatches. Recent COMC purchases have included this Wil Myers Topps Triple Threads Unity Jumbo Relics (#UJRMWR) (S/N 21/36) and Tyson Ross Topps Triple Threads Unity Jumbo Relics Emerald (#UJRTYR) (S/N 05/18).

Myers also rocks a smaller version of the camo in my collection, with this 2017 Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection Relics (CCRWM) card. One of the earliest Marine Corps camo cards I've been able to find is this 2014 Jesse Hahn Panini National Treasures (163) (S/N 96/99).

The biggest swatch of all, comes from the 2016 Travis Jankowski Immaculate Collection Immaculate Jumbo Materials (#42) (S/N 20/99). Jankowski has recently come off the Disabled List and is ready to begin a rehab stint in the minors. I hope we'll see him soon in a Padres unfiorm again, but I'm not sure where the center fielder would fit in the outfield right now.

I have another 2016 James Shield Topps Triple Threads Unity Auto Jumbo Relics - Silver card I've purchased (but not yet shipped), along with a couple of others on my COMC watch list, as well. I've also been occasionally checking E-Bay, but so far, this is as good as it gets.

Between recent COMC pick-ups, the monthly Urbandale Card Show, and the generosity of other card collectors, I've managed to steadily increase my Tony Gwynn collection, little by little. However, with more than 10,000 Gwynn cards out on the market (some of those being way out of my price range) I've only made a miniscule dent in collecting Mr. Padre.

Of course, it's a never-ending battle. Even though he retired in 2001, every year there's more and more Tony Gwynn cards inserted into every set. For example, in 2017 alone (at least to date), another 51 Gwynn cards have been released into the market.

However, I'm happy enough to start out with these 2003 Diamond Kings DK Evolution (#DK21); 2001 Upper Deck Vintage Glory Days (#G5), 2012 Panini Cooperstown Crystal Collection (#110), S/N 119/299; 1994 Pinnacle Run Creators (#RC35); 2000 Revolution On Deck (#17); and a 2000 Upper Deck HoloGrFx Future Fame (#FF4).

2015 Topps Museum Collection Copper (#70); 2013 Panini Cooperstown Colgan's Chips (#58); 2005 Leather and Lumber Lumber/Leather (#31); 2000 Stadium Club Capture the Action (#CA19); 1999 Upper Deck Ovation Curtain Calls #(R16); and a 2001 Donruss Class of 2001 Dominators (#DM24).

There's certain Tony Gwynn cards you figure you already have in your collection, such as most of the food issues, or Topps. However, believer it or not, these cards were missing from my collection until now - a 1989 Topps Cap'n Crunch (#5); 1993 Upper Deck Diamond Gallery (#17); 2005 Diamond Kings Heritage Collection (#HC25); 1994 Donruss Special Edition (#10); 1988 Topps Tiffany (#360); and a 1993 Topps Tiffany AS (#403). Of course, Tiffany cards fit into a whole different category, but I was more than happy to fit this pair into my Gwynn collection.

1996 Team Out (#36); 1996 Classic 7/11 Phone Cards (#12): 2013 Hometown Heroes City Hall Black (#12); 2013 Hometown Heroes City Hall Gold (#12); 2014 Topps Triple Threads Emerald (#97); and a 2014 Topps Triple Threads Amethyst (#97). I've always felt phone cards were interesting collectibles and this 7/11-Classic one was a card I couldn't pass up, as were the two Triple Thread cards.

And let's not forget this 1994 Sucker Saver (#10). While it was produced by MSA, nowhere on the card does it say, "Sucker Saver." It actually has an Innovative Confections logo on the front and back It's one of those many Gwynn cards you're not even aware are out there.

So, there you have the latest additions to my ever-growing Gwynn collection, which has now grown to 882 cards.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, consider this the resurrection of "Bleedin' Brown and Gold."

I don't know what to say, other than a lot of life has happened in the past year.

1) I've retired following 37 years of military service as an Army 1st Sergeant..

2) We've reached the realization that we really like living in Johnston, Iowa (a suburb of Des Moines). When I retired, I had applications all over the country (and a few foreign ones to boot), so we moved into an apartment to us mobile and ready to move, just in case...

3) However, after living in that 850-square foot, cramped apartment for nearly three years, we decided to pull the trigger and have since moved into a 16,000 square foot townhome. I now have plenty of room for my cards, and I don't have to do the weekly fandango with my wife, as to how many boxes of cards I actually have stashed in our office.

4) I also got horrendously bored and took on a part-time job as a Substitute Special Education Associate for the Johnston School District. Perhaps Marcus (All the Way to the Backstop) and Fuji (The Chronicles of Fuji), both teachers, helped influence me into this decision. Needless to say, it's a very rewarding job, plus I can work as many (or as few) hours as I like.

Also, I can't end this post without something with Padres cards in it, so I'm posting my favorite Tony Gwynn card, as well as his first baseball card - his 1982 TMCA Hawaii Islanders (#10)

Well, that, in a nutshell, is what's been happening over the course of the past year or so. Here's to getting back on the shtick and continuing "Bleedin' Brown and Gold."

Plank-owner, shell-back, radioman, public affairs specialist, Citizen-Soldier, mentor, first sergeant.

Now, I can finally add retiree to the list.

After 36 years of military duty, five deployments, and trips to more than 26 foreign countries, 1st Sgt. Duff McFadden has finally retired from the Iowa Army National Guard following ceremonies at the Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center in Johnston, Iowa.

After stints in the U.S. Navy, Naval Reserve, Active Army, and the Iowa National Guard, I've now laced up my combat boots for the final time.I began my military career with the Navy in 1976 and was stationed in San Diego, before entering the Naval Reserve. I joined the U.S. Army as a journalist in 1987, where I was stationed at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver, and then Fort Lewis, Wash., after serving in the Desert Shield/Desert Storm. I left the Active Duty Army in 1992.

I actually joined the Navy because I wanted a steady income for the first four years of marriage to my blushing bride, Janet (we recently celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary) and we wanted to get away from our families and start our life out together on our own two feet. Both of our sons were born while we were in the Navy.

However, if you'd have told me I would go on to retire from the military as a senior enlisted member, I would have laughed in your face.

My retirement ceremony proved to be a bitter-sweet one, especially since I've been serving in the Iowa National Guard since 1992, and working full-time in Public Affairs here since 2004. It always amazes me the number of lives you touch, whether you realize it or not, which was heartily evident by the number of family, friends and peers, who turned out for the ceremony.

Besides the usual retirement goodies - coins, cards, gag gifts - there were two very nice presents from my boss that particularly stood out and meant a lot to me.

I'm always talking up San Diego in my office, almost to the point where they were getting sick of it, although they were also more than willing to scratch that "San Diego itch." When my wife and I returned to America's Finest City for a visit during our anniversary in 2008, my coworkers provided a gift certificate for one our favorite restaurants there - The Red Sails Inn (which unfortunately, is now gone). After I complained about El Paso naming the Padres' newest AAA affiliate the Chihuahuas - you guessed it - they made sure to buy me a t-shirt with the new team logo on it.

By the same token, if anyone in the Guard wanted to take a trip to San Diego, they came to me for the lowdown on the best places to eat, places to see, things to do, what military discounts they can find, etc.

The first gift from Col. Greg Hapgood, my friend and boss, was a letter from the San Diego Padres extending their "sincere congratulations" upon my retirement from the military, wishing me "the best of luck as you embark on the next phase of your life." It was signed by Rear Admiral (Ret.) J.J. Quinn as part of the Padres' military program.

The second gift, was even more special and needless to say, even more impressive. Not content with just a letter from the Padres, Hapgood then called the City of San Diego to see if he could get another such letter from the mayor's office. The mayor's aide laughed and said they could do one better, and this City of San Diego "Duff McFadden Day" proclamation was the result. And yes, it was actually signed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer and affixed with the seal of The City of San Diego.

Like I said earlier, retirement was a bitter-sweet experience. But with the well wishes of friends and co-workers like this, it was all worthwhile.

Here's to our next stage in life.

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2010 Topps 206 minis from the dime box

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