FF Auto Pickups!

Thanks to Joey R. for these (and other pickups earlier this month).  Nice additions to the collection.  Plenty of new card/auto combinations I didn't have and a few oddballs as well.  

Long Live the FF!  👍

FF Related - 1988 Lineup card

 Courtesy of Bill H.  (Instagram - Cal_lected).  An official lineup card from the June 25th, 1988 Orioles game vs Boston.  The weekend series vs the Red Sox where the FF picture was taken by photographer Steve Babineau.  Signed by manager Frank Robinson!  It was Cal Ripken Jr's milestone 1000th consecutive game!  He also hit a 1st inning HR.  Billy was 0-3.

Included my recent pickup of a ticket from that game.

Weird FF x 3 Now!

 Piggybacking to a post I made in November 2021 - I found a 3rd matching example of this oddball FF.  Same weird saw-cut pattern - and the yellow swirl on the jersey.  3 for 3!  New addition to the collection!

Linking the FF to Star Wars?

 Never thought I'd see this.  A couple months ago, I saw a few images online of a Star Wars parody action figure with a trading card attached featuring someone with a #7 baseball jersey and something written on the end of the bat......

That intrigued me.  Who did this?  Why was it done?  The Force is strong with this one!

Created by Katerpillar Toys (Instagram) and debuted at the Designer Con 2021 in Anaheim last November.  It's a little known Star Wars figure with a link to Billy Ripken?  I dug into it a little...

"Yak Face" was seen for a second or two on Jabba the Hut's ship in Return of the Jedi.  In 1985, Kenner concluded their production of action figures and "Yak" was only sent out to Canada and Europe for retail.  He became a rarity to collectors and developed a cult following.  Yak has his own website for collectors:  yakface.com & on Instagram.

According to Wookieepedia, Yak Face's real name is Saelt-Marae and is described as a con-man.  He supposedly survived the explosion on Jabba'a barge.  Sean Crawford is credited as the mime artist/puppeteer in the movie.  His birthdate is 11/13/58 - and they listed that on the back of the cards.

I reached out to Katerpillar and was sent a dozen cards - all the different versions.  Very impressive.  Black Box, Whiteout, refractors, B/W "Test Run" version and even a FACE auto.  All with fully detailed backs.  So cool!  Thanks guys!  Check out their work.  Yakmoe "Face" Facinski.  Yet another F@#K "FACE"!

Surprise Christmas Present

 Thanks Donovan for this Christmas present!  I returned home late in the evening to a mysterious package on my desk.  What a surprise - what a gift!  1990 Pacific Senior League wax pack - graded by PSA.  On the back is card #126.  Jim Nettles' A-Hole card.  Love it!  It's a nice companion to this PSA 10 (also from Donovan)....

8-Bit Christmas Movie and the FF

 I received a couple tips last week.  The new movie 8-Bit Christmas mentions the FF!  About an hour into it, they show the main characters sifting through baseball cards from the late '80s.  The "Greatest error card of all time".  Available on HBO Max.

Weird FF x 2

I picked up a oddball FF Saw-Cut card about a year ago.  It has multiple overlapping cuts slanted to the left.  This week, I found another one!  Nearly identical.  Both even have the oddball yellow swirl on the jersey.  Weirdness x 2.