Night Owl's Money Pit Exercise

Just read Night Owl's post about how much money we spend on cards each year.  He invited his readers to relive their experiences/horrors and recount how much money we've spent on cards.  I won't go into details for every year except for 2001.  

2001, a Card Odyssey.  This was my first year away from school.  I had graduated from my Masters Program and was now gainfully employed.  My salary was not much, but was light years ahead of the pittance I had received in graduate school.  With the increase in expendable income and a free subscription to AOL, I went on a tear.

I budgeted myself $1,000 for the year, and I was going to tackle as many sets as possible.  With at least three card shows that year at the local fairgrounds, plus my new found ability to snipe auctions on eBay (I'd literally set my alarm to win 2:00 a.m. auctions - remember, this was before you could preset bids), I finished more sets than I thought possible.  In 2001, I finished 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, and put a good hurting on 1972 and 1971.  That's right, I finished 13 Topps sets in one year.  Granted, I had a head start from my childhood and previous attempts, but DAMN!

I kept detailed records of every card I bought that year.  I went $32.35 over budget, but managed to haul in 9,479 cards.  In 2002, my interests waned, but I got 19,395 cards for $223.35.  I just realized I bought 743 1971 Topps in 2002.  Can someone say double trade bait?

Anyways, here's the detailed damage from 2001.  Considering I spend about $30 a year on cards now, I could not imagine doing what I did in 2001 again.  And yes, feel free to chuckle at the purchases of 88 Score, 91 Donruss, etc.

Item Description	Year	Cards	Per Card	Price	Budget
					$1,000.00
2001 Topps Series 1 Pack	2001	15	$0.14	$2.05	$997.95
2000 Topps Series 1 Set	2000	239	$0.07	$16.95	$981.00
2000 Topps Series 2 Set	2000	239	$0.07	$16.95	$964.05
1975 Topps George Brett	1975	1	$26.00	$26.00	$938.05
1975 Topps Nolan Ryan	1975	1	$12.95	$12.95	$925.10
1979 Topps George Brett	1979	1	$5.50	$5.50	$919.60
2001 Topps Series 1 Pack	2001	15	$0.14	$2.05	$917.55
1990 Fleer Set	1990	660	$0.00	$3.00	$914.55
1991 Donruss Set	1991	792	$0.00	$3.00	$911.55
1992 Donruss Set	1992	792	$0.00	$3.00	$908.55
1978 Topps	1978	11	$0.10	$1.10	$907.45
1955 Newhouser	1955	1	$2.00	$2.00	$905.45
1975 Fisk	1975	1	$5.00	$5.00	$900.45
1975 RBI Leaders	1975	1	$2.00	$2.00	$898.45
1975 SO Leaders	1975	1	$3.00	$3.00	$895.45
1978 Winfield	1978	1	$2.00	$2.00	$893.45
1979 Carlton	1979	1	$1.00	$1.00	$892.45
1979 Whitaker RC	1979	1	$1.00	$1.00	$891.45
1979 Palmer	1979	1	$2.00	$2.00	$889.45
1979 Rose	1979	1	$3.00	$3.00	$886.45
1980 Murray	1980	1	$2.00	$2.00	$884.45
1981 Yaz	1981	1	$1.00	$1.00	$883.45
1982 Schmidt	1982	1	$1.00	$1.00	$882.45
1982 Seaver AS	1982	1	$0.50	$0.50	$881.95
1982 Murrary	1982	1	$1.00	$1.00	$880.95
1983 Ripken	1983	1	$5.00	$5.00	$875.95
1985 Ripken	1985	1	$1.00	$1.00	$874.95
1960 Runnels	1960	1	$1.00	$1.00	$873.95
1960 Averill	1960	1	$1.00	$1.00	$872.95
1964 Runnels	1964	1	$1.00	$1.00	$871.95
1965 Kuenn	1965	1	$1.00	$1.00	$870.95
1966 Uecker	1966	1	$1.00	$1.00	$869.95
1969 Oliver RC	1969	1	$1.00	$1.00	$868.95
1972 Perry	1972	1	$0.50	$0.50	$868.45
1972 Grich	1972	1	$0.50	$0.50	$867.95
1973 Stars Lot	1973	10	$0.50	$5.00	$862.95
1975 Checklist lot	1975	5	$0.80	$4.00	$858.95
1982 Lot	1982	4	$0.56	$2.25	$856.70
1983 Rose	1983	1	$0.75	$0.75	$855.95
1978 Topps (60 Cards)	1978	60	$0.05	$3.00	$852.95
1977 Topps (501 Cards)	1977	501	$0.04	$22.00	$830.95
1974 Topps (511 Cards)	1974	511	$0.12	$60.00	$770.95
1974 Star Cards	1974	7	$1.07	$7.50	$763.45
1974 Cards + Stars	1974	31	$0.16	$5.00	$758.45
1980 Topps + Stars	1980	9	$0.17	$1.50	$756.95
1979 Topps + Stars	1979	5	$0.20	$1.00	$755.95
1978 Topps + Stars	1978	39	$0.13	$5.00	$750.95
1976 Topps Lot	1976	520	$0.06	$30.00	$720.95
1973 Topps Lot	1973	275	$0.07	$20.00	$700.95
1974 Topps	1974	1	$0.12	$0.12	$700.83
1976 Topps	1976	17	$0.12	$2.00	$698.83
1977 Topps	1977	16	$0.12	$1.88	$696.95
1976 Topps	1976	9	$0.38	$3.44	$693.51
1974 Topps	1974	46	$0.38	$17.56	$675.95
1974 Fisk	1974	1	$3.50	$3.50	$672.45
1981 Ryan	1981	1	$3.50	$3.50	$668.95
1974 Kaline	1974	1	$3.00	$3.00	$665.95
1983 Schmidt	1983	1	$1.00	$1.00	$664.95
83 Yount	1983	1	$1.00	$1.00	$663.95
82 Brett	1982	1	$1.00	$1.00	$662.95
82 Brett IN Action	1982	1	$1.00	$1.00	$661.95
82 Schmidt IA	1982	1	$1.00	$1.00	$660.95
1977 Carew	1977	1	$2.00	$2.00	$658.95
1978 Rose RB	1978	1	$1.00	$1.00	$657.95
1961 Santo	1961	1	$1.00	$1.00	$656.95
1988 Score Set	1988	660	$0.00	$2.00	$654.95
1974 Mike Schmidt	1974	1	$8.01	$8.01	$646.94
1974 Dave Winfield	1974	1	$7.00	$7.00	$639.94
1977 Carlton Fisk	1977	1	$1.50	$1.50	$638.44
1976 Fisk	1976	1	$1.50	$1.50	$636.94
1982 Rose	1982	1	$2.00	$2.00	$634.94
1978 - Robinson RB / Yaz / Munson / Fidrych / Gossage	1978	5	$1.20	$6.00	$628.94
1974 Hank Aaron Specials	1974	4	$2.13	$8.50	$620.44
1976 Nolan Ryan	1976	1	$7.51	$7.51	$612.93
1977 Dawson Rookie	1977	1	$4.50	$4.50	$608.43
1978 Eddie Murray RC	1978	1	$10.50	$10.50	$597.93
1974 Ryan	1974	1	$11.10	$11.10	$586.83
1976 Jackson	1976	1	$5.25	$5.25	$581.58
1976 Aaron	1976	1	$4.25	$4.25	$577.33
1976 Aaron RB	1976	1	$3.00	$3.00	$574.33
1974 Topps Lot (Rose/Cepeda/Stargell)	1974	10	$0.80	$8.00	$566.33
1974 Harmon Killebrew	1974	1	$2.49	$2.49	$563.84
1976 Topps Lot (60)	1976	60	$0.19	$11.43	$552.41
1974 Topps Lot (3)	1974	3	$0.19	$0.57	$551.84
1980 Topps Lot	1980	3	$0.04	$0.12	$551.72
1982 Topps Lot	1982	2	$0.04	$0.08	$551.64
1974 Star Lot (Seaver/WS/Marichal)	1974	3	$1.67	$5.00	$546.64
1977 Carter	1977	1	$1.43	$1.43	$545.21
1976 Yount	1976	1	$4.00	$4.00	$541.21
1974 Lot (Aaron#2 & Munson)	1976	2	$1.43	$2.86	$538.35
1976 Lot (Leaders/Carter, etc.)	1976	11	$1.43	$15.71	$522.64
1975 (Clemente MVP & Checklist)	1975	2	$1.00	$2.00	$520.64
1974 Aparicio	1974	1	$1.20	$1.20	$519.44
1974 HR Leaders	1974	1	$2.00	$2.00	$517.44
1977 Winfield	1977	1	$1.95	$1.95	$515.49
1977 Yount	1977	1	$3.45	$3.45	$512.04
1974 Lot	1974	17	$0.30	$5.05	$506.99
1976 Lot	1976	6	$0.30	$1.78	$505.21
1977 Lot	1977	97	$0.30	$28.80	$476.42
1979 Lot	1979	1	$0.29	$0.29	$476.12
1980 Lot	1980	3	$0.30	$0.89	$475.23
1981 Lot	1981	16	$0.30	$4.75	$470.48
1982 Lot	1982	5	$0.30	$1.48	$469.00
1983 Lot	1983	11	$0.30	$3.27	$465.73
1985 Lot	1985	4	$0.30	$1.19	$464.54
1974 Parker RC	1974	1	$2.50	$2.50	$462.04
1974 Batting Leaders	1974	1	$3.25	$3.25	$458.79
1974 RBI Leaders	1974	1	$1.70	$1.70	$457.09
1974 2B AS	1974	1	$3.25	$3.25	$453.84
1977 Rose	1977	1	$6.76	$6.76	$447.08
1974 Griffey RC	1974	1	$4.03	$4.03	$443.05
1976 Ecekersley RC	1976	1	$5.45	$5.45	$437.60
1974 Brock	1974	1	$3.00	$3.00	$434.60
1974 Aaron	1974	1	$10.51	$10.51	$424.09
1983 Ryan SV	1983	1	$2.91	$2.91	$421.18
1974 Carlton	1974	1	$3.00	$3.00	$418.18
1973 Lot	1973	100	$0.09	$8.74	$409.44
1973 Lot	1973	327	$0.17	$54.95	$354.49
August 18th Card Show	1973-1977	34	$1.96	$66.50	$287.99
1980 Henderson RC	1980	1	$8.00	$8.00	$279.99
1981 Cards	1981	34	$0.13	$4.25	$275.74
1973 Topps Lot	1973	46	$0.30	$14.00	$261.74
1987 Traded Set	1987	132	$0.03	$4.50	$257.24
1973 Rose	1973	1	$6.00	$6.00	$251.24
1973 SO Leaders	1973	1	$2.50	$2.50	$248.74
Lot from Fair Grounds	1976-1993	1693	$0.01	$10.00	$238.74
1973 Aaron	1973	1	$6.26	$6.26	$232.48
1973 Carew	1973	1	$2.99	$2.99	$229.49
1973 Ryan	1973	1	$6.49	$6.49	$223.00
1973 Clemente	1973	1	$8.85	$8.85	$214.15
1973 Johnson's	1973	2	$1.60	$3.20	$210.95
1973 Leaders	1973	3	$2.38	$7.15	$203.80
1973 Mays	1973	1	$9.76	$9.76	$194.04
1973 Stargell & Seaver	1973	2	$1.83	$3.65	$190.39
1978 Molitor RC	1978	1	$13.01	$13.01	$177.38
1973 Lot	1973	71	$0.52	$37.25	$140.13
1973 Schmidt	1973	1	$38.01	$38.01	$102.12
1973 AT HR Leaders	1973	1	$6.26	$6.26	$95.86
1973 Topps Lot	1973	46	$0.60	$27.50	$68.36
1972 Topps Lot	1972	353	$0.18	$62.00	$6.36
Jim Boutons	1965-1967	3	$2.00	$6.00	$0.36
1973 Cy Young	1973	1	$2.00	$2.00	-$1.64
1972 Aaron	1972	1	$7.75	$7.75	-$9.39
1972 Killebrew & Robinson (Frank)	1972	2	$1.50	$3.00	-$12.39
1972 Willie Mays	1972	1	$8.21	$8.21	-$20.60
1972 Yaz's	1972	2	$1.88	$3.75	-$24.35
2001 Topps Set (Gift)	2001	791	$0.00	$0.00	-$24.35
1973 Checklist	1973	1	$8.00	$8.00	-$32.35
Total		9479	$0.11	$1,032.35

May 10th - 2011 MLB Tuesday Tournament Update

Another week has passed, and the first round is now complete.  The Sweet 16 is set, and everything was true to form in the Senior Circuit.  All top seeds in the NL advanced, although the Padres did it by the skin of their tonsure.  The Padres and Astros tied at 13-19, and then had a head to head record of 2-2.  The run differential (-14 vs. -29) gave the Padres the ticket to the next round because of their lame offense and awesome pitching staff.

The AL on the other hand was like the Poseidon Adventure, everything was upside down.  The lower seed won in 4 of the 6 contests.  Plus, all four of the AL West teams made it to the next round.

Click to enlarge

Who knows what will happen in the next round.  It should be exciting!

Diamond Mining - Part II - Monkey Wrenched

Somebody just had to go and throw a monkey wrench into my Diamond Mining Adventure.  I have a gut feeling somebody read my blog and then search the 2000 Fred McGriff on the Giveaway and then offered me a trade.

Why else would somebody offer me a 1976 Topps for a 2000 Topps?

Man, dilemmas abound!  It's awfully tempting to pull that trigger, but it goes against what I was setting out to do, which is to "mine" back one year at a time.  I figured I'd have better luck turning McGriff into another star, then another, then another, and then possibly have a HOFer around 1987 or 1988.

If someone read this blog and offered this trade, I am flattered, but unless you can add a 1999 star or semi-star, I may have to decline.  Oh, the angst!  Man, I love me some 76 Topps, but I have them all.  Can Hale get me deep into the 50s or 60s, or should I continue plodding along year by year with the hopes the Crime Dog can eventually land me a HOFer around '87 or so, which I could parlay into an early 80s star, etc.

What should I do?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

UPDATE:

Well, time took care of this one for me.  The Hale offer was gone the next time I logged in, however, I was offered a '99 Johnny Damon, so I took that one.  Now I'm on the hunt for a '98 star...

Diamond Mining - Part I

I must say that I have been completely sucked into the Diamond Giveaway.  I can’t remember if I bought a pack of 2010 Topps last year, but if I did, I never got a Million Card Giveaway code, so I did not participate in the “Transmogrifier,” whatever that is.  Like I said, I’m hooked worse than riding the white horse.  The only problem is I have painted myself into a corner.  As I will eventually share, Crinkly Wrappers provided a HUGE chunk of my Want List.  I went from needing 227 cards down to a mere 60.

This is where the problem lies, I am now less likely to buy packs of cards.  Needing only 60 cards to complete Series One means it is easily attainable to do strictly through trades.  When one trades, one doesn’t buy packs.  If one doesn’t buy packs, one doesn’t get Diamond Giveaway Codes.  Oh, the irony.

 
Please don’t take this as a statement that I’m not grateful beyond measure as to Crinkly Wrappers assistance.  But now I’m like a junkie who can’t score his blow.  I did some quick math, and since I need only 60 cards, the odds of me pulling a card I need are low.  As we all know, Series One has 12 cards per standard pack at $1.99.  We can all reasonably assume that two of those cards are not base, so that leaves 10 cards per pack.  Since I already have 270 base cards, that means the next pack I buy, on average, will yield 1.8 cards that I need.  As that progresses, the odds get worse and worse and worse.

You see, I’m on a strict budget (self induced) and I can’t go throwing $2 bucks around to get two cards.  This is where Topps makes their money.  I’m sure they fiscally, secretly despise traders, but they know there will be some collector who spends exorbitant amounts of money chasing those last 60 cards.

Anyways, I’ve gone six days without buying a pack, and I feel that monkey slipping, but EVERY time I log onto the Giveaway, I have the tingle in my blood.  That little voice saying, “Come on.  It’s two bucks.  You could get a Code Card.  DO IT!”  Just like when I quit smoking, I get up and walk outside.

So, to make the Giveaway entertaining with my three virtual cards, I’ve gone on a quest.  Much similar to Play at the Plate’s MCG idea, I am on a Diamond Mining Adventure.  I’ve decided to take my 1977 Rod Gilbreath and 2002 A.J. Pierzynski, and turn them into the oldest card possible.  I’m not combining the cards to get one card.  I’m going one for one as far back as I can go.  How has it gone so far?  Painfully slow.

After four days of extremely reasonable offers, I finally took a step forwards, I mean backwards.  Rod Gilbreath became a 1976 Nate Colbert, one of my all time favorite players.  This trade shocked me, but I am elated.

Next, old A.J. had been giving me fits.  I was completely underselling him for any 2001 nobody.  No bites.  Then I thought I’d go for a star.  Not a superstar, but a star nonetheless.  And voila, it worked in less than 15 minutes!  A.J. morphed into a 2001 Fred McGriff and then immediately into a 2000 Fred McGriff.  Not bad, in my opinion.

 

So, after six days, I’ve mined backwards one year for one card and two years for the other.  Who knows what I'll do with that Jair Jurrjens Diamond Die Cut.  I’ve got until December 31st, so who knows what will happen.   

Finally, the moral of the story is: If someone offers you a 2000 common for a 1999 common, you may be making my day!

May 3rd - 2011 MLB Tuesday Tournament Update

Well, we're down to the wire in 10 match-ups, and everything will be resolved by next week's update.  The Phillies, Marlins, Rockies and Indians have all punched their cards to the Sweet 16 thanks to the Pirates, Dodgers, Mets and White Sox putting up little fight.  I guess that statement isn't quite true for the Dodgers, as they were faced with the buzz saw also known as Florida, but I'm a Padre fan so I'll let that comment stand.

Several of the final match-ups are still extremely close to call, so after the jump, I provided a breakdown of each teams remaining opponents for the first 32 games.  Unfortunately, no head to head match-ups will occur to decide the winner, save for one game between the Brewers and the Cardinals.

Enough of my prattling, here is the bracket as it stands with the Magic Number and Game Lead to peruse... 

 Click to enlarge

And here are the games remaining:

Brewers	@ATL	@ATL	@ATL	@STL
Cardinals	FLA	FLA	FLA
Nationals	@PHI	@PHI	@PHI	@FLA
Reds	HOU	HOU	HOU	@CHC
Diamondbacks	COL	COL	COL	@SDP	@SDP
Giants	@NYM	@NYM	@NYM	COL
Astros	@CIN	@CIN	@CIN	@PIT
Padres	PIT	PIT	ARI
Cubs	@LAD	@LAD	CIN	CIN
Braves	MIL	MIL
Mariners	TEX	TEX	TEX
Twins	@CHW	@CHW	@BOS	@BOS	@BOS
Angels	@BOS	@BOS	@BOS
Blue Jays	@TBR	@TBR	@TBR	DET
Royals	BAL	BAL	BAL	OAK
Red Sox	LAA	LAA	LAA	MIN
Orioles	@KCR	@KCR	@KCR	TBR	TBR
Rangers	@SEA	@SEA	@SEA
Tigers	NYY	NYY	NYY
A's	CLE	CLE	CLE

Finally, I'll have a trade post up shortly about a nice package I received from Crinkly Wrappers that has put a sizable dent in my quest for 2011 Topps Series One.  I surmise that based on his apparent generosity and humbleness, one of you readers will get a nice gift from me.