Paul Koutz

@OleTimeHardball @AugieNash Good ole 1959 Topps card right there!

The back of a Stan Musial baseball card Simple. Perfect

@AugieNash This is my most favorite picture of my dad and I. Him, quizzing me on the stats of cards. Me, listening intently to stories he would tell me of players he knew. Circa about 1990.

There’s something special about a kid collecting baseball cards. It’s not just about the cards themselves, it’s the thrill of the chase and the joy of discovery. Picture a young fan, maybe 8 or 9, laying on their bed, flipping through a stack of cards they’ve traded, bought, or begged off a friend. Each card is a tiny treasure, a connection to their heroes. The smell of fresh ink, the crinkle of a pack opening, the way their eyes light up when they snag a favorite player, it’s pure, unfiltered love. They’re not thinking about resale value or pristine condition. It’s simpler than that. It’s about building something of their own, a personal hall of fame. They’ll ramble on about batting averages, argue over who’s the best shortstop, and stash their doubles in an old shoebox under the bed. That passion, that innocent obsession, it’s a kind of magic, raw and real, untouchable by the cynicism of grown-ups. That little kid... that little kid was probably you.

@Slick_Paper @dhdrewry I am a collector and I collect, collections. One of my baseball PCs is well-loved HOFers. It’s been a great way to get the iconic cards of players at a fraction of the price. I wish I could listen to the stories of how the bends, dings and markings on the cards came to be.

🔥 1984 Drake's Giveaway #22 🔥 To Enter: Follow me and Repost Winner picked at random on March 28th. If you post a story telling us about your PC, I'll give you an extra entry into the drawing, increasing your chances to win.

📭Mail day! I have bought from @johnkat_cards many times, but this is my first purchase from his son, Jacob. I recommend them BOTH now! Thanks for the addition to my 100HOFers and more from my childhood and beyond PC. Got 85 Upgrades needed 20 Still to get 15 #TheHobby

📪Mail Day! As the picture states… Thanks, @johnkat_cards

@johnkat_cards @CardsStory If the 79 Trammell is clean, and free of bends I will be a customer for Jacob!

It's @CardsStory preview time! Jacob is excited to share a bunch of new pickups this week.

@Cardinals I like Libby. I do. I like him a lot more as a 4-5 starter. If he is our Ace…I know how the season is going to go 👎

Libby gets the ball in St. Louis! Matthew Liberatore is our 2026 Opening Day starter!

@ScribSports @dhdrewry @1Cash28 @CardPurchaser @eddiemcpigskin @TradesBaseball I’ve seen photos used for more than one card in consecutive years, but not 3 years in a row! (54-56)

@dhdrewry @1Cash28 @CardPurchaser @eddiemcpigskin @TradesBaseball I’ll share my Al Smith PC. #CornerOfYourCollection

Saturday #CornerOfYourCollection Let’s see a small corner of YOUR collection: vintage, modern, sports, non-sports, your choice! Me: revisiting the 🤩 ‘84 Donruss set. Thoughts, feelings? @1Cash28 @CardPurchaser @eddiemcpigskin @TradesBaseball What’s your fave Donruss set? Card?

@ScribSports Wow! Congrats, Pete!

My Ted Williams card is in a slab, so I’ve got the Archives card as a placeholder, but here is my 1956 Topps binder. I still can’t believe this actually happened. Adolescent Pete would be awed. Next project: 1975 Topps.

@nut_history The theme song for TWIB is “Gathering Crowds” by John Scott. I still hear it in my ears when watching hi-lights today. My childhood!!!!!

Anyone watch TWIB while growing up? I miss it so watch - that said, if it came back I don't think it would do it justice.

@AugieNash An accomplishment from @HeckOfAYear that won’t be duplicated any more.

Did you know? The last major league pitcher to reach double digits in shutouts was John Tudor with 10, while pitching for the Cardinals in 1985. #STLCards

@baseballinpix This is also the picture used for his 1969 Topps card.

Rookie Johnny Bench, 1968. He won a gold glove and rookie of the year after hitting .275 with 15 home runs.

Six cards, two sets, decades apart. But, all were needed for my set builds. Thanks, @WesPothington

@CornerstoneXCTF @NAIA It’s a great day to be a Golden Eagle!

NOW, THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT For the first time in @CornerstoneXCTF program history, we go 1-2 in an event at @NAIA Nationals! Men’s 35lb WT 🥇 Stuart Stovall 21.09m 🥈 Ryan Shinabery 19.40m #CUNats26

@AKABrewersBeat Though I don’t agree with geometric or purposefully bending cards, I 1000% disagree on “worthless” well-loved cards. These are beautiful and have stories to tell. Here are a few of mine. There are plenty who have PCs of early-in-career, well-loved cards. @bmw3679 @rpbailey78

This is what the hobby has become. Deliberately destroying cards so people can get “rare” PSA 1s. This is the crap annoys me about the hobby. Someday the hobby will wake up and this poor conditioned card will be worthless like any other and someone will be out all they spent.

Mail Day! 7 simple cards, but each was needed for my set build. Thanks @MilleBrando! He’s got thousands of singles. If you are building sets, hit him up!

@AugieNash @baseball_80s I hear McGee had a great @HeckOfAYear in 85! Show ‘em…..

Former Cardinals Player Spotlight - Willie McGee Willie McGee is one of the most beloved players in St. Louis Cardinals history, a switch-hitting outfielder known for his speed, contact hitting, elite defense, and humble personality. Born Willie Dean McGee on November 2, 1958, in San Francisco, California (raised in nearby Richmond), he was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 1977, but traded to the Cardinals in October 1981 for pitcher Bob Sykes. He made his MLB debut with St. Louis on May 10, 1982, and quickly became a key part of the team's success during the "Whiteyball" era under manager Whitey Herzog. Key Highlights with the Cardinals: In 1982 as a rookie, McGee hit .296 during the season and helped the Cardinals win the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. He starred in Game 3 with two spectacular catches and two home runs, contributing significantly to the championship (the team's first since 1967). McGee had a career year in 1985, when he lead the league with a .353 batting average (still a Cardinals single-season record for a switch-hitter), 216 hits (another team record for switch-hitters), and 18 triples. He also drove in 82 runs and stole 56 bases, earning NL MVP honors - the first Cardinal to win it since Keith Hernandez in 1979. The Cardinals reached the World Series that year but lost to the Kansas City Royals. McGee was the 1990 batting title (.335) after being traded mid-season to the Oakland Athletics, McGee became the first player in MLB history to win a batting title in one league after being traded to the other league. Return to St. Louis: He came back to the Cardinals as a free agent in 1996, serving as a veteran reserve outfielder, mentor and pinch hitter through 1999, helping them to an NL Central title in 1996. He was a four-time All-Star (1983, 1985, 1987, 1988), won 2 batting titles, a Silver Slugger Award and three Gold Glove Awards (1983, 1985, 1986) for his outstanding play in center field (and occasionally right field). Over his career (primarily with the Cardinals from 1982–1990 and 1996–1999), McGee batted .295 with 2,254 hits, 79 home runs, 856 RBI, 352 stolen bases, and 94 triples. He ranks high on the Cardinals' all-time lists, including 4th in stolen bases (301 modern era) and 7th in triples (83). Legacy: McGee was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. Fans adored him for his effortless speed, great glove work, and low-key demeanor. After retiring, he returned to the organization and served as a major league assistant coach for the Cardinals from 2018 through 2024, focusing on outfield play, base running, and hitting. He's often remembered as the "ultimate Cardinal", a quiet, hardworking player who embodied the team's style of speed, defense, and smart baseball in the 1980s. If you're a Cardinals fan, Willie McGee is one of those names that instantly brings smiles and memories! #STLCards

@dhdrewry And he kicks a mean ball as well!

Paul O’Neill! What a productive ball player with a long and outstanding career!

@johnkat_cards You bought a good batch!

Went outside my comfort zone (and dipped into my running budget) to buy part of a friend's collection. Additions to the Yaz and Schmidt PCs and 72 set build I still haven't officially started yet, plus fun ones that will go up for sale here once they're sorted and priced.

Mail Day! Another great well-loved HOFer for my PC. This time from @NHbskraus. A great time to mention #CornerofyourCollection as to what and we we collect what we do.