Grand Cards: On The Destruction of Wantlists

Monday, October 12, 2009

On The Destruction of Wantlists

I've never been a big fan of creating wantlists. I much prefer creating enormous checklists and seeing the spots slowly checking off until I have a whole page of entries with a big "x" next to all of them. But I may be coming around. I am not about to preach about destroying your wantlists. Oh, no. I'm here to sing the praises of DESTROYING your wantlist.

That's right. I've got a "Big Ten" wantlist on the sidebar with the 11 cards that I want the most for my collection. In two quick packages, my list was chopped into little bits.

First, reader Barry, who goes by Los Gatos on the Detroit Sports Collectors Forum decided to play the role of generous benefactor and sent me this:

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH318 Kyle Farnsworth

It's a sad day when you look at your wantlist and see "Kyle Farnsworth" staring back at you. How did I not have this card? Well I do now, thanks to Barry, thereby completing my 2008 team set (Finally!). I now longer have to face the humiliation of a wantlist that includes Kyle Farnsworth as a member

One package in and one card off the Big Ten down. But wait! A trade with Dean-- another friendly reader--for some extra Granderson Moments & Milestone cards yielded the motherload. Not 1, Not 2 but 3 cards off the wantlist! And these were no shlubs either, but cards in the top half! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Card #8:

2007 Topps #GN285 Justin Verlander "Generation Now"

That's right, this is the last of Verlander's Generation Now cards that I needed for my set. I now have all 17 of his rookie year wins, and a near-2 pages full of these shockingly forgettable cards. Burden: lifted.

But it only gets better with Card #5:
2009 Topps #CBR-MO Magglio Ordonez

Not only was Ordonez blazing hot to end the season, but this is the last of the regular "Career Best" relics that I needed from the 2009 set. I now have the regular and "silver" versions of all three players. Outstanding!

Of course, as is the way with these things, I'll save the best for last. Number 2 (!)
2007 Topps Updates & Highlights #TRC40 Cameron Maybin Refractor (#279/415)


"Ooh, great Dan. You have a Topps Chrome card. This was #2 on your wantlist? Your wantlist is lame."

Did that cross your mind at all? Maybe a little? Well, you stink. This is not just a regular Topps Chrome card (no, not because it is a refractor, wise guy), this is a Chrome Box Topper found in boxes of 2007 Topps Updates & Highlights. This fella, Cameron Maybin, happened to be the hottest rookie from that release and this card has been SO HARD to find, even though Maybin is still stuck in the minors. This card has been on my wantlist for a long, long time and I am thrilled to be able to check off that box. Thanks Dean!

So there we have it, 2 packages, 4 cards and 4 new open spots on the wantlist. I couldn't be any happier.