Theme Week: Better Know a Blogger (Adam K. from Infield Fly Rule Cards)

We are now into our third week of January and I still have a few more Better Know a Blogger posts to put up on my blog!  Today's post is courtesy of Adam - and it's the first of two posts I owe him since Adam also recently sent me a trade package that is still residing on my desk (along with 7 others) waiting to be scanned and written about!

I guess it's better to be busy than bored - and I'm always thankful for all my great trading partners!  Enough about my own slacking for now, let's take a look at Adam's answers!

1. Your name (or alias):  Adam Kaningher
2. Your blog website:  Infield Fly Rule
3. What kind of collector do you consider yourself (team collector, player collector, set collector, etc.). Why do you collect that way?

I am more of a set collector. As an MLB fan, the Rockies are my team, and that does extend somewhat to my collection, but I have a preference for building my favorite sets in complete form, rather than seeking out one team or player for any/all sets. I think I collect this way because, even when I was growing up, I had few, if any, trading partners and would end up with most of a set anyway after buying a box. I like the sense of completion in finding those last few cards, and I like the flexibility of being able to focus on the best products in any given year. However, I have developed a little bit more of a preference for team collecting since I started blogging and trading.

4. In your opinion, what could the major card companies (Topps, Panini, etc.) do to make your style of collecting better for you?

Cut the number of parallels by about 85%. I miss the days when you could come reasonably close to completing a single parallel set in several boxes, like Collector’s Choice Silver Signatures or ToppsGold.

5. What is your favorite part of your collection?  This could be one specific item, or a binder of cards, etc.

The first page of my first binder is a page of Rockies’ pocket schedules. I have one for each season of the Rockies’ existence. However, I am also growing to enjoy the frankenset I have been building of Coors Field cards. It’s a great way to repurpose my Rockies extras.

6. Most of us have a favorite song that we like for no good reason – heck, it might even be embarrassing.  Do you have a favorite baseball card that might fit that bill?  

The one that comes to mind is 1993 Studio #121 Sammy Sosa. That haircut is too funny.

7. If you were forced to part with your entire collection except for one card, which card would you keep?

1994 Topps Archives 1954 Gold #128 Hank Aaron (AU). By far this is the best thing I've ever pulled from a pack, which I purchased with my weekly allowance at Wal-Mart when I was about 10.

8. Many of the blogs (including my own at times) seem to decry Topps’ lack of vision and creativity.  Can you think of something creative that could be done for an upcoming card set?  

 Perhaps not a design or packaging feature, but I think it would be interesting for Topps to acknowledge the existence of the overproduction era and offer some sort of buyback or discount program for trading in unwanted junk wax. I think it would be a great way to drum up some interest in new product, especially from former collectors that once had an interest in the hobby.

9. What is your profession?  How did you end up there?  If you are in school, what do you plan to major in and/or what job do you hope to get after graduating?  

 I am a buyer for an IT distributor that’s focused on network security. I used to work at an eCommerce retailer of software, which was my first job out of college. I followed a coworker after he left for this new company about a year and half ago.

10. What is your favorite place that you’ve ever visited?  Why?  

I really enjoyed visiting Boston. I had some of the best sushi I’ve ever eaten there, and it was very interesting to be among such historic sites like old cemeteries and churches.

11. Many of us have favorite foods or customs that are somewhat local to where we live.  Do you have any such things that you particularly love?  A website link to specific products would be spectacular.  

The trout here in Colorado is particularly good; but what my state is really known for is craft beer. There is a microbrewery at Coors Field where Blue Moon originated. Some other excellent breweries in the state are Left Hand, Avery and Ska

12. Do you have any other hobbies besides card collecting?  

I have an interest in photography. Over the years, I’ve posted several hundred photos on Flickr at http://flickr.com/photos/adamk0310  

13. Tell me something interesting about yourself (that we haven’t covered in the first twelve questions).

I once climbed Mt. Evans, one of Colorado’s many 14,000-ft. mountains.

Once again, a gigantic "thank you" to our latest volunteer in my ongoing Better Know a Blogger theme week (which has become a theme month)!!  I greatly enjoyed reading Adam's answers - but I think his most interesting answer was his suggestion of a "junk wax buyback" that Topps could run.  I have no idea how Topps could make it work...or why they would want people to mail them all their junk wax, but it's an interesting thought.  Maybe if you sent in a complete 1980s or 1990s Topps set you could get a free box of new cards?  Shipping costs would probably be the biggest hurdle to overcome to any such program.

I also appreciated Adam's knowledge of the local beers.  I've never been to the state of Colorado (one of the few states I'm still missing out on in the US) so when/if I make it there I'll have to be sure to seek out at least one such local brew!

Finally, I need to comment on Adam's Trading Post.  I love how he keeps track of all incoming and outgoing packages!  I keep track of a single number (representing the number of trade packages I've mailed out in the year) but that's it in terms of visible stuff on my blog.  I do keep a full Excel spreadsheet detailing every trade I've completed since 2009 or so - complete with blog names, user names, and street addresses but I don't keep public records at all.  The beauty of the public record is that people can see that their package of cards safely made its way to Adam - when people trade with me either I have to email them when I get it (which I only remember to do about 25% of the time) or they have to wait for me to post on my blog (which could take months when I get way behind)!  I give Adam lots of props for his organization!

And to Adam:  I hope to have a trade package in the mail for you by the time you read this post...and hopefully by tomorrow I'll have a trade post written as well.  

I'm slowly catching up - one person at a time!