I had a cardboard epiphany!

Have you ever had a cardboard epiphany? I had one the other night after opening up a care package from Night Owl. You see, Greg sent me a package that was heavy on the Barry Bonds cards and specifically on the Topps Barry Bonds Home Run History set. I think there were around 70 of them. 

When I decided to pursue a card for each of Bonds 762 home runs, I thought about just going after the Home Run History set, after all the 762 card set chronicles each of his home runs. I had about 40 cards from the set already, but after looking on eBay I determined that it would be pricey and difficult to complete that set. Plus I already had 230+ other Bonds cards that I would need to find something to do with, so I decided to just go after 762 unique cards. I think my initial stack of 272 Bonds cards included around 200 unique cards. I've found a few additional Bonds cards going through my collection and I've had several people send me Bonds cards. With the addition of the Bonds cards from Night Owl, I now have 393 different Bonds cards, so I passed the half way point.

Okay, so let's get back to my cardboard epiphany. I have my Bonds collection in a binder sorted by year, so since the Home Run History set started in 2005, that is where I have them. It was driving me crazy that the Home Run History cards were out of order, but in order to do that I would need to rearrange multiple binder pages any time I got additional Home Run history cards. Then the idea hit me, put the Home Run History cards in order and then once I get to 762 cards, fill in the blanks of the Home Run History set with other Bonds cards. 

So here is what it would look like. Home Run History card #3 in the 3rd spot with other cards filled in around it. If I had Home Run History card #7 and #8, they would be in those spots.

I'm pretty excited about this idea. In fact it makes me want to get more of the Home Run History cards so they can be spattered throughout the binder, but always in order.

Night Owl sent me a few other cards including this Ben Petrick card. Impressive that Night Owl remembered that I am a Petrick fan and collector because I don't think I've mentioned him on my blog in a while.

As eager as Greg was to get rid of his Bonds cards, I know he was just as eager to get rid of these D-Backs cards.

So thank you Night Owl for the Bonds and other cards as well. The Home Run History cards led to my cardboard epiphany and will direct my Bonds collection going forward. 

What was your last cardboard epiphany?