Japanese Card Package from Ryan G!

Thanks to recent emigree-to-Japan Ryan G (whose This Card Is Cool blog just hit #700) for a package of local baseball collectibles, including cards, menko (traditional circular cards), and this 2012 Yokohama Baystars pocket schedule.

Baystars roster, including #5 Hichori Morimoto

Sports tradition being what it is, Japanese pro baseball imported Western team names like the Buffaloes, Lions, and Eagles. Their Dragons feel more Eastern, but my favorites are these guys, the Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Sure, they're supposed to be just the Fighters. My geeky brain will always throw Ham in there. FIGHTING THE HAM!

Ryan sent about 20 cards from Japan in a spread as new as 2012 and vintage as this 1976 highlight.

I kind of miss Pepsi's circle-within-a-flag design.

Thanks for the package, Ryan, and good luck overseas!

David Segui Wantlist Hits from Mad Guru

Big thanks to Rain of Error's Mad Guru for a pair of hits to my David Segui wantlist. I've been at this player collection a while, so getting two new ones at once is much appreciated.

First up, 1997 Fleer Circa Rave. Headline-sized text, on-card pull quotes, and bar charts instead of stat grids? They're the New York Post of baseball cards.

Keeping that card company was 1995 Donruss Top of the Order, one of several 90s attempts at a baseball-themed collectible card game (CCG).

This game set requires at least one starter box, which contains rules, and as many booster packs of extra players as you care to purchase. In most CCGs, people who spend more tend to amass better and more powerful cards. It's a real design challenge to keep all player levels interested. (See a ripped booster at A Pack To Be Named Later.)

Anyone tried playing Top of the Order? If so, was it fun?

Thanks for the hits, Guru! I've updated my David Segui wantlist to reflect the arrivals.

FREE STUFF: Don't forget you have until the end of Friday, Nov 11, to enter my St. Louis Cardinals giveaway.

1972 Electric Mayhem #5, Floyd Pepper

Last week, custom card maestro (and blogger) PunkRockPaint posted a primo collection of Electric Mayhem singles, honoring Jim Henson's best-ever Muppet musicians. (Emmet Otter and his Jug Band just don't rock as hard.)

I think any Muppet Show fan would've traded all their Reggie Jacksons and Nolan Ryans for these five cards. My favorite band member (then and now) is Animal, but check out the custom back PRP sent me for Floyd!

Click through for its full detail: that comic's superb and I'm surprised they stopped Dr. Teeth at only 9 anthems.

Find the full run of these custom Muppet cards at Baseball Card Blog!

Value: Priceless.

Fakes / reprints: If only I could reprint these on my brain stem.

Thanks for a six-pack of 1962 Post Canadians

Fellow collector (and member of OBC) Bob Neill sent me several cards yesterday, all hits to my 1962 Post Canadian baseball set. Like most of the cereal set, these six show close-cropped players and lots of text, matched with French for their francophone audience.

Note that 5 of the players come hand-trimmed from boxes, but #191 Jerry Kindall features edge perforations. Collectors could obtain some cards directly from Post, which came on punch-out sheets and left those tell-tale chads.

Further note that #104 Maury Wills appeared on Post, Fleer, and regional sets well before his "feature card" debut with Topps in 1967, who failed to sign him at the minor-league level and apparently left it unresolved for several years. If you're interested in his earliest cards, more than 20 issues predate his "rookie" card from 1963 Fleer. See Beckett.com's player search for a list and--surprise!--that 1960 Topps #389 actually featured an unnamed Wills in a fielding pose from the World Series. The exact definition of a "rookie card" remains tough to pin down!

See my 1962 Post Canadian #5 profile of Mickey Mantle for more about the set itself.

Thanks for the hits, Bob! If any readers are interested in vintage trading and not already an OBC member (headquartered at OldBaseball.com), check out our site and consider applying for membership. It's a great group for both cards and socializing.