Little Boxes, Little Boxes, Little Boxes All the Same

In another one of those problems of mine that aren't problems, I have a problem.

BOXES! I've picked up a few factory sets over the past few months in my Topps set-building efforts. Of course, it's more fun to make a set by hand, but I only have so many years on this earth and, going backwards, it just makes more sense to fill in some gaps the easy way. 

I keep my sets in pages and binders, as I think that's the best way to display and enjoy them. This leaves me with some empty boxes. As seen below.

This shouldn't be a big deal, but my meticulous nature demands that I make some kind of order of these or hide them away. The most obvious solution would be just to simply use them for other cards. That's why they exist after all, yah? 

But there's something that keeps me from doing that (aside from the fact that I don't really NEED any more box space right now). These boxes are kinda interesting as collectables on their own. 

Here are the '87 and '92 boxes. I believe these were the variety that were sold in retail stores. If I would store anything in these, I'd need to label the box, which would essentially deface the box. I have no illusions that these will be worth any money some day, but they are sorta-kinda a part of the set itself. And scribbling all over them would, to me, mostly end that connection.

Here is the box that not-quite-complete 1991 set came in. I'm thinking this was the box used for mail-order or hobby-sold sets? Anyway, its a nice part of the entire package. I don't save wrappers or empty wax boxes, but I understand the impulse. There something worth saving and preserving in this packaging. 

"Little boxes made of ticky-tacky"

Of the boxes I have, this one - from 2001 Topps - is my least favorite. It has a headache-inducing gold foil finish. I tried to read the checklist printed on its backside and had to squint and tilt my head like an old man. I did not like feeling like an old man. This one, I'll probably throw away.

I also have an empty vending box among these. These are practically worthless for storage, as they are made of very thin cardboard, but, aesthetically, its the coolest of the group. Topps used the same design on these for years (this one is from 1989), featuring the old-style Topps logo and a great image of Pippi Longstocking and some white-haired boy putting cards into a Bob Cratchett-style 19th century business ledger. "An educational hobby for boys and girls..." Well put. 

What do you do with your empties? I imagine I'll probably move mine into our basement storage area.

Being Haunted by Wayne Gretzky and the Aaron Judge Auto I Don't Want

A few years ago, I bid on (for some reason) and won a 12-inch tall Wayne Gretzky MacFarlane figure on listia. I got a bunch of MacFarlanes, for no reason more than I just through they looked kinda cool. Whatever.

Anyway, when I got the thing, it immediately became a burden on me. Yeah, Wayne himself is only 12 inches tall, but he's got his arms up in the air like some kind of demon, holding up his hockey bat (stick? who cares) with a look on his face like he's just back from the dead. The thing is about three feet tall in actuality. Just look at this...

When I got the figure, I lived in a basement apartment that was about 400 feet square. The entire space occupied by this thing (it stood on a sizable base) was literally as big as a microwave stood on its end. I couldn't put it ANYWHERE. I had no closet space and no cabinets to hide it in. It just sat out on the floor, MOCKING ME.

I also couldn't bring myself to throw it out. It looked expensive, after all. But it weighed on me every waking moment I spent in my apartment. It got to the point that I'd forget about while I was at work and them immediately feel the crush of it when I got home. It was like a bad relationship where you physically begin to ache just being around the person. It was painfully invasive! It literally began to depress me.   

After a few weeks, I managed to trick a friend into taking it home with her after a night of drinking at my place. A week later, she began to text me about how much SHE hated it now and how much her roommates hated HER for bringing it home. The curse was not broken until she left it at the backdoor of a Goodwill after hours and ran away. 

There is something currently in my collection that is similarly weighing on me these days.

Yeah, its an autograph of the hottest baseball player on the planet. (Don't you feel just awful for me?)

I snagged Judge in a TTM request to the Yankees' spring training facility in March. I was pleased when I got it back (although partially because I kept confusing him with Clint Frazier). When Judge went bonkers in April, I actually had to go back and make sure that I had his sig and not Fraizer's. By the end of April, I was considering selling it. I figured the market would never be better and, seeing Richie Sexson written all over him, figured I wouldn't be losing out on much. 

But I held on to it, a bit wary of selling something I had gotten TTM. Of course, since then, Judge-mania has only gotten crazier (let's call it Judge-mania-mania) and slabbed Judge autos are selling for $150 plus on ebay. I've never submitted anything to PSA. Mostly because I don't care and don't really trust their judg.. uh, assessments. But it seems that if I do want to sell the card (I'm still not sure I should) I'd need to get it slabbed. Of course, if I don't sell it, it doesn't mean anything to me to have it slabbed (or to spend $40 and wait six weeks to get it back). 

I still do not have faith that Aaron Judge is going to be the next Trout or anything like him. Big guys just don't age well and Judge is already into what should be his peak years age-wise. So I still want to get rid of this card, I just don't know how. I posted on blowoutforums, hoping to swing a trade (I feel better doing that with a TTM than getting cash for it), but have so far had no real interest. I supposed people are wary about putting much up for a TTM auto and, to be honest, I don't really blame them. 

So, it just weighs on me now. I'd gladly trade it for some stuff that could fill in the gaps in Topps base sets. I'm open to offers. Or advice on what to do. Maybe I'll call up that old friend, get drunk with her, and slip it into her bag before she goes home.