2025 Card-vent Calendar: December 1

How could it be Card-vent already?  We just went trick-or-treating.  (BTW, Milwaukee instituted its first municipal nighttime trick-or-treating in my lifetime this past October 31.  All I've ever known has been a lame-ass Sunday afternoon joint.  We took the kids to my parents' neighborhood, turnout was low, so people were giving the youngsters literal handfuls of candy.  Filled their bags to bursting in about two blocks.)

This year's calendar looks pretty festive, in a deliciously secular way.

I usually like to catch people up on the state of the Thorzul household at the beginning of Card-vent.  Here's what we've got.

First of all, our house is an absolute disaster zone.  We're in what I believe to be the late-middle stages of a bathroom remodel.  We hired a guy that did a neighbor's bath, and were forewarned that he is a very slow worker, preferring to work only a day or two per week.  He started the demo when we were away at a cabin for the second week of August.  As of right now, the shower is operational, there is something that resembles a pocket door (that gives slightly less than 100% privacy), the walls are fairly finished-looking, and we've had electricity in it for about a week.  There's still a ways to go, and I'm thankful I'm not showering in the backyard with a hose any longer (which I once did when the temperature was 59 degrees).  The job required our entire front closet to be emptied, so there's boots and coats and shoes strewn throughout the dining room. Ack!

 

Aside from that, the kids are doing great in school, Mrs. Thorzul and I are miserable in our jobs, but doing better than 90% of America, and we're all looking forward to a family Caribbean cruise in a few weeks.

 

Enough of that, let's see what the first card is.

 

2008 Upper Deck #739 Ichiro Season Highlights 

The primary highlight that this card refers to is Ichiro's 3-for-3 MVP performance in the 2007 All-Star Game.  Most people, however, neglect to read the fine print on the backs of cards, so the majority of collectors missed the secondary award he received, that for Skinniest Tie.

Man, look at that thing!  It's thinner than the one I got at JCPenney for my 8th grade graduation photos in the fall of 1992 (a choice that earned a compliment from the somewhat flamboyant clerk who expressed a dislike for wide ties, calling them "big ol' soup napkins").  You cannot say a single bad thing about the way the guy played, but his taste in neckwear peaked about the same time as Snow's "Informer."

 

A licky boom-boom down, indeed.

 

CC: CMYK

We're still doing this, huh?

 

Any by this, I mean this blog, which hasn't been updated since January.  And by this I also mean that I'm finding CC Sabathia cards that I don't have.  Kiss this beauty with your eyeballs.

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH300 Yellow Printing Plate (1/1)

Yes, this card has been eluding me for nearly 17 years.  It's so old that Topps was still using the U&H name at the time of its birth.

As it stands, I'm halfway to reaching the capability of printing my own 2008 Sabathia cards, as I have already acquired the magenta plate.  Yeah, it's going to be a real moneymaker once I get the presses up and running.  Base cards are the key to financial independence.

The final step in the process is deciding which card to bump from the first page of my Sabathia binder.  I think there's actually a group of three cards that could be swapped out for the four I need to move.  It's a good problem to have, and I will welcome a similar one, hopefully sooner than 17 years from now.

Trade Me Anything XVIII: #6

Trades like the one I'm about to share are actually my favorite.  A few cards sent, a few cards gained, and I get to delete a little bit from my want list.  (Don't get me wrong, I love getting books and Brewers and stickers and gadgets and everything else, but a want list trade is a fastball over the plate for me.)  This one is from Daniel. 

 

Giving:

#US49 Jared Jones, #US12 Jon Berti, #US134 Cade Smith, #US163 Clayton Andrews / Josh Maciejewski 

Getting:

1983 Topps #770 Dave Winfield

When typing out want list numbers, it's always a little disconcerting to see a Topps cards that you need that ends in a zero.  I'm glad to have Dave become a part of my still-incomplete set.

1980 Topps #110 Fred Lynn, #663 Ralph Botting / Bob Clark / Dickie Thon

Ditto on the Lynn.  I don't remember having any other Botting cards (only pitched in 18 games in his career), but Clark pops up from time to time in stacks of Brewers, and Thickie Don is a legend in his own right (and a short-time Brewer).

1987 Fleer #328 Tim Raines, 1987 Fleer All Star Team #8 Todd Worrell

I swear you could insulate a 3,000-square-foot home with 1987 cards and stickers featuring Worrell.  Decent career, but three cards in 1987 Topps was some overkill.  This insert is cool, though.

1997 Pinnacle Denny's #8 John Jaha

Jaha is kind of the face of the dark years between Yount's retirement and the emergence of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun in the late 2000s.  He's what passed for a good player in Milwaukee.  If he was several years older or younger, he would have been a great companion piece to a pennant winner, but wasn't the guy to carry a team.

Thanks, Daniel!  I always appreciate help crossing a few cards off the list.

Trade Me Anything XVIII: #5

A little bit of background here.  This package actually arrived in mid-to-late December.  I always post these in the order in which they are received, and when this trade was up next on the docket, we were in the week between Christmas and New Year's.  During that time, first my wife, and then I, got really sick.  She was diagnosed with type A influenza.  For four days it was mostly body aches and feeling like doing absolutely nothing, even sleeping, since that was usually when I felt the worst.  She felt better by New Year's Eve and was out with the kids doing some round robin drinks and merriment with some of the neighbors.  They got home a little after midnight, and I had already been in bed for a while, feeling like garbage.  Then I woke up around 1:15 in the morning and felt great all of a sudden.  Within that hour it finally went away.  School started up again on January 2nd, and there's been a lot going on otherwise, so that's why I'm just getting to share this trade today.  In a strange way, the delay makes this one so much better.  You'll see.

This one is from Patrick (aka Zpop).

Giving:

#T89CU-60 Pedro Martinez 1989 Topps 35th Anniversary Refractor, #AT-35 Stephen Strasburg Autumn Tales

Getting:

1997 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Sealed Factory Set

Wow!  I think that's the first time something like this has ever been traded to me for TMA.  That's overly generous and greatly appreciated.

1995 Brewers Police Bob Uecker

I wish I had the words for this one.  When this card was sent and received, Bob was still with us.  I'm still going back and forth on whether I should write a tribute post.  There's not much I could say that would properly honor his legacy.  In short, the team didn't deserve his talent.  He was the best ever at what he did.  You can argue with that, but you'd be wrong.  He made a horrible,  miserly franchise fun to listen to.  He deserved better.

Thanks for the trade, Patrick!  The single card you sent was oddly prescient.  You should go do some gambling with that skill of yours.

Packs That Just Showed Up #7

Forty-three posts in 2024?

Unacceptable.

That was the lowest annual total since this blog began.  Things are going to change in 2025, and that change starts today.

This is the final pack that just showed up, and it's from the set with the earliest release date of all the packs.  Fleer released its 2007 Ultra set that July.  That's over 17 years ago, a few months after I started my card blog.  It's a small pack, only five cards, so let's try this.  I'll do a little digging and try my best to find out what each player is currently up to.  Should be interesting.

#226 Travis Buck

Assistant coach of the Loyola Marymount baseball team.  Look him up, he still has the mile-wide smile, but I'm a bit disappointed by the Key West barfly-looking haircut.

#152 Adam Wainwright

Came back for a 19th season in 2024, finishing the year with a 6-32 record, but won all five decisions against the Milwaukee Brewers.  In those games he held the Crew to a .072 batting average without giving up a single run.

Just kidding, he's a Fox Sports commentator now. 

#184 Ian Kinsler

Special Assistant to Rangers GM Chris Young.

#91 Francisco Rodriguez

Not a lot of information available, but it appears that he was named manager of Venezuela's U-15 National Baseball Team early in 2024.

#43 Bronson Arroyo

Wikipedia says that Arroyo was on season 12 of "The Masked Singer" in 2024, and that fellow pitcher Barry Zito was his "Mask Ambassador."  I don't know exactly what this means, but I assume it's what you do after baseball if you don't want to sell cars or insurance and you're not as smart as Chris Young.

So, who ya got for the best post-baseball gig from this group of five?

Trade Me Anything XVIII: #4

This is one of those trades that I look forward to each year.  Every time David shows up for TMA, you know you're in for a treat.  His trade package is usually simultaneously eclectic and practical.  I always end up getting a book in the trade, and it's always something I enjoy reading.  Let's not prolong the suspense.

 

Giving:

#US156 Jack Leiter Gold (0513/2024), #MYS-19 Jung Hoo Lee Mystical

Getting:

Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

My wife and I have recently booked a vacation to Mexico in June.  I look forward to reading this by the pool.  I have the feeling that the cover will make other guests think, "I'm leaving this guy alone, he looks pretty serious about his reading."

A small drawstring bag

What's inside of it?

It's... something.

Perhaps a tealight holder?  It's made of earthenware, maybe something to put plants into?  Or maybe it's something for smoking that I'm just not cool enough to know about.

An empty Topps Inception box

Well, not totally empty, because it's holding...

Some cards!

Some interesting didn't-quite-make-it Brewers in that bunch.

Two Robin Younts and a Prince Fielder

I believe these are all new to me, and will be going in their respective binders.  Woo-hoo!

A San Diego Padres camo can koozie

Much of my brother's wife's family now resides in the San Diego area.  One of these days we will get out there and take in a game.  I'll definitely impress my dude Keshav when I bring this with me.

High Rollers Dice Game

It's a five-die poker game.  Looks easy and fun.  Another thing that might be fun poolside.

Carlos Correa Topps Heritage Puzzle

I was all set to throw this in an envelope and give it to my brother-in-law as a gift.  He's a big Twins fan and would probably appreciate it.  We were all set to head up there Saturday morning, but my wife and I got miserably sick.  I've blown my nose at least five times while typing this post.  The flu sucks.

UC-Irvine Law School Luggage Tag

People seeing this on my suitcase will think I have a law degree and I'm smart.  Joke's on them, I have two master's degrees in education because I'm dumb.

California State Parks 2025 Calendar.

Majestic beauty.

What can I say, this trade brought it once again.  Thanks, David, wishing you a Happy New Year!

Packs That Just Showed Up #6

My archive of posts tells me that the last time I wrote about one of these packs it was July.  If you want to refamiliarize yourself with the origin of this series, here's the link.

This time around we have another pack of 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball.  Will cards from the correct set be inside?  Will there actually be 16 cards, as the wrapper promises?  It's always an iffy proposition with these.

#231 Joc Pederson, #51 Michael Brantley, #304 Michael Lorenzen

Let's see, Pederson just signed a deal with the Rangers, Brantley retired last January, and Lorenzen reportedly might hit and pitch for the White Sox, though nothing is official yet.

#59 Zack Godley, #179 Jackie Bradley, Jr., #335 Ervin Santana

All landscape format cards.  Odd.

#99 Aroldis Chapman 150 Years of Baseball Parallel

Is it snowing in this picture?

#SSB-100 Kyle Tucker Stars of the Game

#RA-9 Ronald Anuca, Jr. Ronald Acuna, Jr. Highlights

I don't know what else to call this insert set.  Redundancy required.

#202 Sweet Life Checklist, #347 Kirby Yates, #189 Khris Davis, #130 Blake Snell

#39 Richard Urena, #10 Clayton Kershaw, #38 Kolby Allard

Of these last six player cards, only Snell and Kershaw are officially attached to a 2025 MLB roster.  They'll both be on the Dodgers because the Dodgers get to have whoever they want on their team until the end of time.

 

That was a pretty decent pack, especially because it was free.