Show off those May purchases

Been slow on the purchase for me lately as I only have a few key cards I am looking for right now - an 86 Fleer Jordan centered in PSA 8/8.5, Brett rookie in 8/8.5 centered, 33 Ruth standing pose, and another 56 Mantle.

The 75 Ryan I own 5-6 of them but liked the half grade and got smoked last time it came up for sale, so pretty excited to get this example. I also picked this one up this evening for around $300 - better than paying $5-6k for a less centered PSA 8 so I can buy other cards 😉

I was out of collecting by the time inserts became a big deal (I was in high school and cards were not a priority, as was the case for most of us), but I've been a big fan of this set since I learned about it. I actually prefer the Frank Thomas, but Griffey inserts are becoming more and more expensive, and the Seattle skyline is pretty great. I'd been saving up eBay sales and had money socked away, so I decided to pull the trigger. My buddy told me now that I have the big one out of the way, I should build the entire set. Ha. We'll see.

Got these back for the auto set:

Finally picked up a really nice 76 Schmidt...

My first 10/10 submission for a card/auto grade. I'm a lifelong Bears fan, and Mike Brown is one of my all-time favorite players. A guy that very well could have ended up in the Hall of Fame had he not had injury issues. He was the spirit of a nasty defense that included guys like Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles "Peanut" Tillman, and Tommie Harris. His nickname was "Lil' Evil" and he sure laid some nasty hits on receivers that gave Bears fans flashbacks to the days of Doug Plank and Gary Fencik. I had been holding onto this card for years and after several times getting my hopes dashed from cancellations at previous shows, I was finally able to get him to sign his rookie card for me in March, which I immediately submitted to PSA for authentication and grading at the show. It just arrived back today.

I was glad to pick up a manager days Sparky Anderson autographed card in high grade.

I "re-completed" my 1953 Topps set. I had sold off most of the big cards during the Covid run up except for the Mantle and picked them back up over the last 9 months or so. The Mays was the last one I needed to complete it once again.

Was the man in Vanncouver’s unlikely run to the Stanley Cup finals eventually losing to the dynasty Islanders in 1982, and who now is an accomplished artist with his oil paintings featured in art galleries around the province of British Columbia.

A Banty Red card for my Sievers collection.

Another one for my set. This is a tough one to find clean and centered. This one is clean and almost centered.

Sharing a May Purchase of one of my favorite players - Carl Yastrzemski.... And a little PC anecdote.

I've shared, thru various postings that I am in the process of consolidating my collection - so I can hand it to my son in a shoebox! New purchases ARE in-line with that directive, as long as it improves the collection and the "Slab Count" decreases (...or stays the same)

Here is the New Purchase:

Here is the "Doesn't Make the Shoebox Cut" - Slab:

I've always been looking for PC Improvements, but $$$ have been rate limiting
But thanks for two recent consignments - I've got a few bucks to spend!
This improvement is pretty obvious - Grade, color and clarity, boarder brightness and centering on the new 1965 Yastrzemski is inspiring...

I've recently moved 130'ish slabs that DEFINATELY do not align with directive 1 - Improve the collection and Directive 2 - decrease the slab count of the PC. and 70'ish slabs from my recently completed 1964 Stand Up Set (consigned)
The "offending" 65 Yaz is headed to an upcoming consignment - but I still have 200 or so slabs destine to decrease the slab count and increase the "disposable" income prior to moving some on my better cards (such as the replaced 65 Yastrzemski) that won't make the "shoebox" cut.

Letting go of the 64SU Set that I assembled was an easy decision once I decided to consolidate - It fills a shoebox buy itself.... I kept the Aaron 8.5 from my (at the time - #4 Ranked Registry Set) and consigned the set as a near set 76 of 77. I didn't have another Aaron to fill into the set. I replaced the Clemente 8.5 and Yastrzemski 8 with a Clemente "8" and a Yastrzemski "7" respectively from inventory in my personal collection
The Set was finally posted and sold as the #12th Ranked Set.



and .... I purchased this gem from the new owner when it was posted on EBAY - Sharp Green Corners....

I basically let go of 60 or so real nice high grade Stand Up commons and a Mantle and Mays that I wasn't really happy with and a couple HOF'ers that didn't align with my current collecting interests ...
The 64SU Mantle and Mays are on my White Whale WANTLIST should any examples catch my eye as I shop and spend my consolidation proceeds...

Sitting on about a few bucks so I can be real selective about the items I put in the PC - and I'm following collecting tactics of the awe-inspiring collection of my collecting hero - MONTE (mintonlypls). If you didn't know, I've always been fascinated by your collection and your postings describing the changes you've made to your PC.

I'll keep posting, both the additions AND improvement to my PC, here on the Community Forum.

Sorry for the wordy posting.