Recognizing Extreme Generosity: CardBoredom

I'm sure I've started many posts the same way as this one, but it's always worth mentioning how much this hobby attracts some very generous people who enjoy doing nice things for their fellow collectors. That's one of the biggest reasons I've collected as long as I have, especially thanks to following the example of some fellow bloggers whose examples I've followed over the years. How great it is to receive a surprise envelope containing not a trade, but a gift from someone who isn't expecting anything in return? Or to be the one doing the surprising, knowing you're about to make someone's day?

The reason for the sappy (but heartfelt!) intro tonight is such an unexpected gift that I received back in April thanks to David of CardBoredom. It was "unexpected" in the sense that the card he sent floored me, though I should explain that he first emailed me for my address hoping I'd accept what he sent without arguing about getting something for free. You'll notice I didn't use "trade package" in the title because this wasn't a trade, it was one blogger treating another to a very cool item (which I promise I'll get to soon). As a matter of fact, he and I have never traded before, which makes this experience even more generous on his part.

Not that I should be surprised, given what he says in a FAQ section found in his About page:

Yep, that sounds like a stand-up guy to me! Ok, I'm pretty much out of synonyms for "generosity" here, and I'll show off what he sent in just a second, but first, I want to highlight this:

I'm really not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the nicest things anyone in the hobby has ever done for me, and that's really saying something. Recognizing my blog, sending me something unprompted, and then not worrying whether or not I even keep it (oh, but I'll be keeping it).

By now you must have guessed that David sent me something pretty significant, and you'd be right:

"That sure looks like Al Kaline's 1955 Topps base," some of you are saying, because you're way more educated about vintage sets than I am. That is indeed Mr. Tiger's second ever Topps issue, and now the oldest in my collection of him by a mile (next best is 1958 Topps #304, the card he shared with Harvey Kuenn).

I don't think I can stress enough that this is a 1955 Topps base of a HOFer (and Tigers favorite) which also happens to be in very nice condition given it's 70 years old! Guys, this isn't some kid's card that took a few spins on his bike spokes, was pinned to his wall, or was written on. It's a well-loved gem I'd happily own with creases and tearing galore, but I don't have to slum it with something like that because my copy is a bit rounded with minor stains and creases.

Did the person who originally owned this card have any idea that its bonus baby subject, whose stats in his first full MLB campaign of 1954 were somewhat pedestrian, would go on to become a HOFer and franchise icon? Maybe they expected big things the following year when he won the AL batting title as a 20-year-old and lost a close race with Yogi Berra for the league's MVP.

I don't know, but I have the benefit of knowing the outcome to Al's career and his value to my favorite baseball team, playing all 22 years in Detroit, helping them to the '68 World Series, and being a key voice of experience for the franchise until his death five years ago. That alone would make this card a special addition to my collection, but it's even more gratifying to receive it as a gift from someone as generous (see?) as David.

Before I end this post I want to highlight the fact that David treated a few others I follow to some very nice freebies as well. If you missed them at all, please check out the related posts on:

• Baseball Cards Come to Life
• Cards Over Coffee
• Diamond Jesters

(And possibly others that I missed.)

As for me, please consider your mission accomplished, David. I'm humbled to have received a card I'll certainly treasure for a long, long time, from someone who doesn't want anything in return. That's not to say that I won't ever try to hit you back, but for now I'll at least try to pay it forward to someone else who'll hopefully experience the same joy I did thanks to you!