Top 12 cards of 2017

Last year, I debuted a new feature that counted down my top 12 favorite cards from the year- one from each month. I plan to keep doing that feature, and here's 2017's addition.

This year was "the year of the hockey card" as I officially began collecting them on January 15th. I experienced some incredible kindness from my fellow hockey collectors this year, as they started rolling in literally 5 days after I announced I was now collecting the NHL, and have not stopped! I started the year with exactly 3000 NHL cards, and at the close of the year, I'm pushing 9000...and most of them came to me as gifts! I've gone months throughout the year without buying any, but they kept rolling in anyway. I'm not sure exactly what I've done to be on the receiving end of such kindness, but I am eternally grateful. But while this was the year of the hockey card, I didn't stop collecting the NBA, NASCAR or Non-sports...let's see which cards show up as my favorite addition from each month. I'm going though my Excel chart listing the exact date and order I get each card as I type this up, so you'll sort of be finding out as I do- except for the fact that I'm writing the majority of the post on December 17th, and don't plan to post it until the 31st.

January

1957-58 Topps #66

 My very first day out buying hockey cards for  myself, and I luck into a card from 1957-58? And in this condition? Can't beat that! As I did with the NBA, I'm learning as much as I can about the history of my new sport via cards, and the NHL has a much better representation on cards than the NBA does. While this is my oldest NHL card currently, they got them starting all the way back in the 1920s, after a 1917 founding. There are even card sets issued for the professional leagues that existed before the NHL, which I would also welcome into my collection if I ever had the opportunity to.

February

1888 Kinney Brothers Novelties Camera

I'm still amazed I have this card...and at the kindness of fellow collectors. This is the oldest card in my collection, from 1888! I got it as a gift from fellow blogger CommishBob of The Five Tool Collector and now, 10 months later, I'm still kind of in shock! I didn't remember off the top of my head what month it arrived in, (that's why I write everything down) but I knew it would "win" it's month, whatever it was. As I am a photography buff, and set a new personal record for most photos taken in a year, week and month all during 2017, the very old school camera theme resonates with me as well. Also, I had no idea die cut cards were such an old concept. I thought they were more of a 1990s thing. I learned something new!

March

2006-07 Be A Player BAP Signatures #SN

March was sort of a hard one, as again I got a lot of great cards, and there are a couple that stand out. In the end, I went with my first NHL autograph, which was a gift of fellow blogger CaptKirk42. I very nearly went with a dual relic that came from Shoebox Shane or my favorite card from the box of 2017 Donruss NASCAR that I did, but a 1st of a major category of cards must take precedence.

April

1995 Maxx Bat Chase #8

April was my third largest month of the year in terms of new cards, and it was the toughest one to choose yet. I seriously considered the first NHL autograph I pulled from a pack, from my first hobby box of the sport, but I am actually going to go with a NASCAR card. I received a gigantic box of NASCAR cards from a friend who does not blog, and several of the 1995 Maxx insert "Bat Chase" were in there. In 1995, Bill Elliott's normally bright red Thunderbird was changed to the black Thunderbat, it is to this day one of if not my all-time favorite special paint scheme in NASCAR history. I've known about this insert set for many years and always wanted to add some of them to my collection. Now, finally, I have!

May

2013-14 Panini Titanium Rookie Gear Autographed Patch #RG-DMI

Another card that came to me as a gift, this time from JediJeff of 2x3 Heroes. This is an incredible card, and is my first relic from the Rangers, who have become my favorite team! And what a relic it is, clearly part of a letter! There was no competition for this month- like the 1888 Kinney Brothers Novelties card above, I knew that whatever month it was in, it would win, and it turned out to be May. If you'll notice, through the first five months of the year, I only purchased one of the cards myself!

June

2012 FanFare Magnificent Materials Dual #MM-AD

June breaks that streak with a card I bought for myself- one of only two I purchased on Ebay this whole year, I think. I rarely go on ebay, but occasionally I will to do some research on if something actually exists or what the actual numbering is, and I think that's what I was doing when I found this card. The glove part of the relic is awesome. The circles are rubber, and all open, although most mushed on the scanner tray. In hand they remind me of the undersea worms from the cartoon that launched the GI Joe series...maybe a couple of you will remember that. The firesuit is a piece of the Bass Pro Shops logo. I won this card for under $10, no longer remembering or caring the exact number, but I know I don't like to pay very much...so that includes shipping.

July

2014 Panini Black Friday Tools of the Trade NBA #8

July was the hardest month yet, as there were three cards I was having a hard time choosing from. This one, which I got from Wes of Jaybarkerfan's junk/Willinghammer Rising's World Cup of Trading, the Wade Boggs autograph -which I count as part of my Simpsons collection that came from Gavin, or my first NHL stick relic, which came with a patch on the card as well. But this one is the one that takes it, mainly because it's such an unusual piece. It's my first and to date only towel relic, and even though it's an NBA player, it's actually a multi-sport release. We have now crossed halfway through the year and not an NBA card has appeared...surprising. August isn't one either.

August

1994 Press Pass Authentics Autograph Jeff Gordon (NNO)

August was another one that I knew, back in August, what card would be the winner. Instead of writing about what this card means to me again, I'm just going to link to the post I wrote about it when it arrived, from COMC. : "The Biggest of the Big Guns" I don't really do many single card posts, but this one got one. Honestly, this is probably the winner for favorite new addition of the year. November's card is a spectacular one, and the other months are no slouches either, but getting my hands on Jeff's autograph...not sure that can be topped.

September

2012-13 Prizm Autograph #36

Finally, an NBA card proper makes the list! I've written about Jimmer Fredette a few times, and I've written about this card before. Jimmer is sort of a semi-local guy. He's from Glens Falls, NY, which is basically, in my mind, Lake George, which is my favorite place in the world. I've spent much time in Lake George area over the years, including in Glens Falls. In fact, one of my earliest memories of collecting the NBA is opening a pack of 1995-96 Stadium Club in the Long John Silver's that used to be there, and was the best fast food ever...but closed right after that...in fact, it was probably the last time I was there. Anyway, Jimmer didn't really make it in the NBA, and is now playing in China. But he's still someone I would consider a "Hometown Hero" despite the 3 hours away his home town actually is. I've wanted his autograph for a while, but one has eluded me...until this September, when I got one...while on vacation in Lake George, naturally! The month was actually my second lightest of the year- only 270 new cards-but this one, due to the Lake George connection, didn't have much chance of "losing" the month. By the way, it only cost me $5, which is a total shock to me. The auto is a little faded, which may have played a role.

October

1994 Action Packed #31

October was a tough one to choose. It was my largest month of the year, seeing me take in a whopping 3009 cards, thanks to my friend Joel Freedman, who sent me a 21 pound box of cards, and another friend who sent me a 10 pound box of cards! Joel doesn't blog but does read, Thanks Joel! There are some cards that I really like a lot from this month that aren't going to get the nod, which is a shame. But I had to with the card from 1994 Action Packed shown above. My all-time favorite NASCAR set, this set has so many memories for me, every time I see a card from the set, it brings me a smile. I got most of the ones I needed to complete the set from Tim. If anyone has any newer Anaheim Angels or Dodgers cards they want to move to a new home, Tim collects the teams and I owe him for the cards he sent me. I have been meaning to look for some cards locally, but health has been preventing me from doing so on my own.

November

2015-16 Upper Deck Portfolio Profiles Quad Materials Premium Series Gold #PM4-WG

November was my lightest month of the year- only 235 new cards. Even if there were a lot more, this one would have been the #1 card for the month....I mean, how could it not be? It's one of the greatest cards I've pulled in my 29 years in the hobby. If I hadn't been chasing a Jeff Gordon autograph since 1994, I'd declare this the card of the year, hands down.

December

 Another tough one, I got a lot of great cards, mostly at Christmas. But I think I had to go with myself...I didn't the last time, and I probably should have. So this time I will! As a bonus, this one got me a PID on the Trading Card Database, my favorite website ever. (even moreso than my own)

I mentioned in last year's post that I would retroactively do a Top 12 for 2014 and 2015, but I never got to it. Hopefully I will in 2018.

Cards and more from my Lake George trip

From September 7th-18th, I was in Lake George, NY...the first true family vacation my family has had since 2012! It was pretty great, for the most part...except for the fact that my mom got pretty sick during the trip. My brother and I still found a lot of fun and adventure...and I am really, really sore right now. With my health problems, I'm truly surprised that I was able to do as much as I was able to. I reached my exhaustion point, and kept going...more than once.Now that I'm home, I'm having a little trouble getting up the stairs, or getting to the kitchen to make food, but it was worth it. While I am going to get to the cards, you'll be seeing some trip pictures first.

And pictures...whoo, did I take a bunch. During the 11 day trip, I took a grand total of 4,030 pictures and videos...that is my personal record for most pictures taken in a week's time...in fact, I took more pictures during the trip than I did in all of the previous days in 2017 combined...and more than I took in all of 2015 (a year where health prevented even going to Lake George). I had set a soft goal for myself of hitting the 5000 photo marker in 2017. When we left, I was at #3669 so I knew I would probably get there...and then I blew it out of the water. As of right now, I've taken exactly 7700 pictures during 2017. (I label them in numerical order of taking...or I try to)

We went up in time for the Adirondack Nationals. The day of the show is my absolute favorite day of the year. It held true for 2017 as well. I had always wanted to shoot more than 1000 photos at a single car show...there's nothing else I really love enough to come anywhere close..but my previous record was around 850. I blew that number away, shooting 1533 photos during this year's Nationals!
My favorite car in the show- actually, on the street outside the show- was this 1959 El Camino. (They don't call me El Camino Billy for no reason!) I rarely pose next to a car, but I had to in this case, with the intent to make it my profile picture on Facebook, which I did that night.

2017 Adirondack Nationals on my Website

While we were there, I went to the Saratoga Automobile Museum for the first time since 2012! I used to be a member of the Museum- when we had a working car, and my health was somewhat better, we would go up to Lake George often. Now, it's down to about once a year, if that much, and I have not been there in so long. It's still great.

Here's a car from 1909. How often do you see something like this anymore?
2017 Saratoga Automobile Museum on my Website

This past Friday was a great day. My brother and I went to the Historical Society Museum, and then the real highlight of the trip.

Historical Society Museum

Then, for the first time in my life, we went up Prospect Mountain. That was INCREDIBLE! I will be doing this every year in the future, probably more than once a year. It was my favorite non-Car show part of the trip.
I had a hard time picking a picture to show, but I settled on this one, which shows Beach Road, Fort William Henry, and the Minnie Ha-Ha and Adirondac.

Prospect Mountain album

My brother and I played three rounds of Miniature Golf in one day. Mini golf used to be something I loved to do, but over the years as my health has deteriorated I have not been able to bend down to place or pick up the ball. When I mentioned that, my brother volunteered to do that for me, so we did it for the first time in years this year! And not only that, we did three courses in the same day!
First was Gooney Golf, which I had played but not since about 1997. I didn't remember it too much, but I did remember that the last time we did it my dad was there.

Next was Around the World Golf, which is pretty well known. It was rated as one of the top 5 courses in the world by Yahoo, and Top 10 by Travel Channel, and has been in existence since 1963...but we had never been there before. We had tried...but it was always too crowded. This time of the year...the town pretty much empties from Monday to Thursday, and we hit it on Thursday. For a time we were the only ones at the place. It was quite a challenge, and has two 18-hole sides. One Around the World, one Around the US. The US side may be the most challenging miniature golf course I've ever done!

Since I had never been there before, I photographed every hole. I didn't take to many overview shots though.

The reason we chose to go the time we did, was because Hemmings (the leader in car magazines) was holding their Concours d'Elegance in Lake George for the first time, exactly one week after the Adirondack Nationals. It was actually two separate shows- Friday was the Open show, where anything that paid the fee was allowed in. On Saturday was the Councours itself and that was spectacular!
Open show on my website   Concours d'Elegance on my website
The Open show was somewhat frustrating- there were a lot of people who knew I was aiming a camera, looked right at me...and then walked in front of me anyway. It was such a frustrating day that I was seriously thinking I would not be returning to the Concours after 2017.

On the other hand, how often do you see an El Camino parked next to a Hupmobile?

But the Concours...well...that was much, much better. It was pretty spectacular. I saw three brands of car I've never seen in person before- Heinkel, Walker, and Sayers & Scoville. I saw several cars that were the only one known to exist, one of which was the only one made, and I got to see a Tucker driving under it's own power...Tuckers are incredibly rare, but it wasn't the rarest car at the show...which is sort of mindblowing to this 30 years worth of car shows veteran.
Here's the Tucker:

And here is the Best of Show Winning 1914 Locomobile, the only one of 300 built of this style known to survive. (And owned by the 1960 Olympic Javelin champion to boot!) I actually stayed for the awards ceremony for this show- something I've never done before. Normally when I can't walk anymore, I leave. This time I sat in the grass and waited for the awards.

While at the Concours, I also met a Trading Card Database member for the first time, which was pretty cool! 

Of course, I also have an album of random pictures of the Lake, and other adventures from my trip. I never even mentioned that I saw fish swimming in the lake for the first time in my life, or that we explored a building from 1930 that is the grandest structure I've ever been in, or any of the boats, which I love.
Lake George 2017

But this a card blog! And I do collect cards...although LG has not been a hotbed for cards for many years.
The first night we were there, I went into the Target in Wilton (Saratoga) and got two packs of 2017-18 MVP, the first cards from my first full season of watching/collecting the NHL. For my two other sports, my second season was my favorite year for the sports...however, both of those were in the early to mid 1990s so they have a decided edge. I will be curious to see if the 2017-18 releases are my favorite season of hockey cards. The thing is, I won't know for years. Stay tuned to Cardboard History because since I realized it a while ago, I've been keeping my eye on it for my new sport.

My first card from the new season!

There has not been a card shop in town for many years, but a new one opened last year, called Live, Love, Laugh. It's not solely a card shop...it's more a Lake George culture shop with a section for cards. The last card shop in town closed in around 2003 or 2004...and incredibly enough, the new shop is in the exact same storefront as the last shop was! The previous shop was sports only, while like I mention, this one is not. Last year, I got two clear plastic cases of assorted NBA cards, and pulled some great stuff...each had an autograph, too. This year, I set my sights on getting more of them. Money was extremely tight this year, so I couldn't get all of them that he had- that was what I wanted to do originally- I could only get six of them, 4 NHL and 2 NBA. Even though most of the NBA example I opened were duplicates, that was to be expected really. I still do better in these cases with new card totals than I do in a 100 card Fairfield repack, for example, where I consider it a win if I get more than 5 new cards. Here, I got 19 new cards...including two Serially numbered and one jersey card! The NHL case I opened only yielded two duplicates, so that's pretty good...my collection is starting to grow so duplicates are now to be expected. I don't mind though, because I don't have much of a hockey tradelist and I do need that as well. The case yielded 84 new NHL cards.

I opened the case showing Patrick Roy and Kobe Bryant, the two on the top left. Got some vintage packs, too! They were only 50 cents each. In retrospect I should have bought some more. I have not opened any of the OPC or UD set yet but I did one of the Bowman the night I got them.
Here are some highlights of the two cases I opened.

 Kenyon is one of my favorites so pulling this-from the only set of 2000-01 I did not do a box of- was a great experience.

 SN250.

 Don't think I have gotten a new card from this set since it was released. Forgot to check the listings to find out.

 Only my third card from the set.

 My first and second cards from this set.

 My first base card from this set- I had an autograph I got on COMC, which has not been posted yet.

 My first card from the set. Lenticular.

 Some pretty big star power in the case!

 Someone give Jagr a contract!

 Promo! I love promos.

 Newest card in the case. 2015-16 Select.

I didn't open these yet...

There are other players, teams and sports available, but again, I didn't have much money to spend.

I still have three NHL and one NBA case to open...I'm not sure when I will do them. Since it's a total mixture it takes a lot of effort to list them in my paper listings, excel charts and the Trading Card Database, just the two cases I opened have taken me about a day to document. Of course, considering how sore I am from the trip, it's not like I have much better to do, LOL. Live, Love, Laugh also has single cards, which is not something I get to shop through too often. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't afford the one I wanted most, a Henrik Lundqvist three color patch SN to 25. The price was $50, and I have a pretty strict $20 limit on most cards, so I had to let it go. Hope I don't regret that in the future. I only ended up buying one single, and that was this Jimmer Fredette autograph. Jimmer is from Glens Falls, which is a 5 minute car ride from Lake George, if that much. He didn't quite succeed in the NBA, but is a superstar in China. I've wanted to add his autograph to my collection, and now I did...practically in his hometown. Cool.

Non-sports cards in the Lake George region are pretty rare. There is one shop that has some, not in Lake George, but I'm going to be a little selfish here, and not say where I got them...because they have more that I want, and I'm hoping to add them to my own collection...just didn't have the money now. Like I said, it was very tight this year, every cent was accounted for...I only got four cards from this place, and one of them is from a set I don't recognize.

 1965 Donruss Spec Sheet

 Unknown- Hood ice cream promo

 1942 Wings Series C

1941 Wings Series B

Overall, it was a pretty great trip. I'm seriously sore and totally exhausted...I didn't even think I could physically do the things I did...but it was worth it. And these cases will keep me going for a while as well...hopefully if any of you look at my pictures, you will see why I love the Lake George area so much.