You Can't Hide From Wes!

It was a dark and stormy night.....after acquiring two of the final three pieces for my Psych Seasons 1-4 autograph set, I sat and searched to no end for the final piece on the internet. It was no where to be found and became a Missing Card case.

Could I really get this close to the set and not finish it? Really? Really?

So as a sat there at my desk chair with the storm raging on, I was trying to figure out how to proceed forward and how I would feel if I wasn't able to finish this five year project being so close. Both the hobby OCD and collector in me would be driven mad if I couldn't complete it.

That's when out of nowhere the hobby Gods whispered a name into my head, Wes. Go to Wes. They said. So I followed their lead.

From what I had heard, he was a Card Whisperer, a Card Locator, a Card Bounty Hunter. Wes, the Card Bounty Hunter. Doesn't that sound like a TV series in the making? I think so.

So I met Wes that dark and stormy night in an alley-well it was a DM through Twitter but to keep this story more interesting lets keep it in the alley-and passed him the note with the name written down. Wes stood there in the pouring rain dressed in a black overcoat, black brimmed hat that showed very little of his face like WWE’s Undertaker and he just gave me a nod of confidence. I didn't need words from him to know I had the right man for the job. I went with my gut and with the guidance of the hobby Gods.

 He then disappeared into the darkness and I walked back home to await word from him. Would I be able to sleep knowing the last card of my chase was out there?  Probably not. Not until it was in its rightful home.

Less than 24 hours later, I received a message from Wes that we needed to meet up again, so we did in the alley that night.

Wes once again stood there in the darkness, however this time he held out a bubble envelope and nodded his head again, this time with a smile I could spy just under the hat. I had a good feeling when I peeled open the envelope revealing the goods on the inside....

 

Holy smokes. He found it. He also found it less than 24 hours later after I had searched for a year. How he did it, I will never know. Well, I sorta do but it's more fun to keep the mystery alive. In response to the find, I gave him a hug-or a Twitter DM equivalent of one- and that was enough for him. Wes is always one to feel joy when he gives joy to others. It's just who he is.

So there you have it. My big five year project is complete. I wouldn't have been able to complete it without the help of my hobby family especially in closing Wes. A big thanks goes out to all of you who put forth the great fight with me to help me complete this set. I put both sets together for a huge group picture tomorrow.

I now know if there is a card to find, turn to Wes The Card Bounty Hunter. He will deliver, even in the pouring rain. I am even more confident since this isn’t just a one time deal. Yes, this was only the first episode. There is a sequel in the works......

Area 40 Has Some Superstars!

During Wes' retirement tour-formerly blogger of Jay Barker Fan blog and now runs a last big hurrah blog in Area 40-he has been unloading packages onto bloggers for goodbye gifts.

I can't tell you what this card is, but I love it. I don't care if a corner is missing. It's vintage it's apart of it's heritage. There are a couple more of these to showcase soon. Anyone help me identify these? I really don't know my vintage very well.

Brock Huard die cut from Press Pass. This is just one of the few Huards you will see in this post.

Kirk Cousins rookie card. Is this the guy to lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl? I hope not. Giants play in the NFC.

90's insert love. That Young is quite trippy.

Rick Mirer. I always forget he was on the Packers. I am sure most forget he was.

Gold parallels of the great Randy Moss-who never looks right in the 49ers uniform-and Caaaaaam!

More Jimmy G rookie cards. His stuff has been hot, hot, hot! I am just glad to have some of his rookies now.

Here are the Huards I mentioned above. I remember finding him in packs of '99 product but surprisingly didn't have these. Nice additions. All are numbered.

My man Kurt Warner!

The one 90's Spx set I am not chasing. I liked Finite but this would be a tough challenge when all of the cards are numbered. Not to mention the point of my chase is the holograms and these don't have em.

There was lots of Buzz surrounding Warrick and he didn't quite live up to all of it.

One that did and got booed by Philly media if I remember right was Donovan. This guy was talented and could play with the best.

A group of big name players. Carr is coming into his own, Luck will hopefully play some games, Peterson, well is probably on the way out and Tebow has had success in another sport.

Eddie George will to me always be an Oiler and Titan. Guy was really good and is on my autograph need list. The one blemish with him, he decided to stay in the league a tad too long like other 90's stars and disappeared in Dallas.

Big time scorers

This OJ Simpson card is Swell. No really it is.

Ike Hilliard relic. Nice looking card and one that I missed the first time rummaging through the box.

And we finish up this part with a couple of doozies. Love me some refractor parallels from 1997 Bowman's Best.

 

This is still not the end of the box or close to it. We still have a few parts to go. More awesomeness awaits us on our journey!

Area 40 Has Even More!

During Wes' retirement tour-formerly blogger of Jay Barker Fan blog and now runs a last big hurrah blog in Area 40-he has been unloading packages onto bloggers for goodbye gifts.

We are back to Area 40 and the big box of goods.

Up first a Craig Breslow autograph. Honestly had to Google who he was. Come to find out he has played for half of the teams in baseball or at least seems that way as a relief pitcher. He is currently with the Blue Jays.

Larry King. How classic is this card? Awesome.

Again, another card I took from the box just because of it's picture.

Nolan!

Amani "it's not a Toomah". Anyone get that reference?

Jimmy G. Let's see if he can start the way he finished last season.

Awesome looking subset from 1995 Stadium Club. Once again captures the photography as well.

Marvin Harrison rookie parallel.

Tim Tebow refractor. Nice looking card.

My first Kamara card. I really need to get a real rookie card of him before the season starts.

Old School Garbage Pail Kids. Love it! My first of these.

Not sure who Brett Smith is, he needs work on his signature but love the shiny card.

Back when jersey cards had value and meaning. They also had a better design. I think this was either 2000 or 2001.

OJ! Too bad he wasn't as good off the field.

My very first 1989 Score rookie. I really want the Sanders someday.

LeBron! I wished he could have stayed in Cleveland. He is going to look weird playing for the Lakers til he decides he doesn't want to coach them anymore. See what I did there?

Joey Kent refractor. This will go well with my Topps Chrome rookie one.

And my first Dalvin Cook rookie. Except this one is a parallel so I will still need a real rookie card. It was a tough 2017 for my rookie card collection.

 

We close the book on another chapter from this box but still plenty more to come and a big one to end!

Area 40 Goes 90's!

During Wes' retirement tour-formerly blogger of Jay Barker Fan blog and now runs a last big hurrah blog in Area 40-he has been unloading packages onto bloggers for goodbye gifts.

Here we go again. After a one day hiatus, we are back into the box that the great Wes sent me. I will be taking breaks in-between new posts from this box as I am so, so, so backed up on mail day thank yous.

This has gotta be in my Top 5 favorite Upper Deck football cards of the late 90's. How awesome is this photo??!

A Favre rookie year card I didn't have. Nice! Wished I had the signed version.

Shaq. The only big time star I can remember that moved around to more teams than Lebron

Another Set From My Childhood I am chasing. I don't have many so far, but I am trying.

I surprisingly didn't have this Landeta card. I just love the photograph, it cracks me up.

This guy just has a fun last name and he will go into my shiny binder.

MJ. I never get mad to add some more MJ. The greatest player ever to play the game. I hated him in the 90's, but love him now and appreciated the fact I got to watch him play compared to today's terrible NBA.

A couple of Tebow rookies. I only had one rookie of the guy til this mail day. A Champ Bailey for my 90's PC and a Barry Sanders rookie. I wanted another but also hoping for the iconic '89 Score one.

Vlad refractor...so pretty.

90's insert at it's best. Acetate and all. I haven't seen one of these yet and it's of one of my favorite players, so overall a nice add.

We don't get great looking products like this anymore. Thick cardstock and rainbow foil. Looks better in person.

Star QB right here. A three star one. Yes, big time Akili Smith sarcasm. I chased this guy in the 90's and believe I have his Sage Auto as well.

My favorite player for baseball in the 90's. No roids, just plain hittah!

Everyone loved Heath, then he hit the field. I know I praise every brand from the 90's, but Collectors Edge had some really cool stuff out.

I just all around love this card. This is what makes Archives great.

My first Craig Griffey on one side...

And here comes Ken. New card for my PC.

And to finish out another mail day, Christian Okoye doesn't look impressed with a floating football going through the goal posts while he is standing in a cornfield. But, I am. Gotta give some props 90's cheesiness.

 

Another section of my Wes' mail day down. Still much more to come including a grand finale. Stay tuned!