The Cost of Child Labor

My last two posts have focused on the sorting I have been working on over my summer break.  I mentioned in my first post that I have had some quality help out of my oldest, who is 9 years old.  Before this summer, he had a little interest in baseball, but it mainly revolved around going to Durham Bulls games. This summer the little man has become really good at sorting, and it has given him something to do while he is stuck home for summer break.  

Saying he just sorts the cards is probably not going far enough.  He also puts together all the boxes for the sets we are building, takes pictures of cards that we are listing for sale, and puts the completed sets away in the correct place after the cards are boxed up.  

There are days where we get a little less done, usually because he gets interested in a player or card set.  It's fun to have someone to talk cards with in the house. There are definitely sets and players that have caught his eye.  

So, last week I ended up paying for some for some of the extra help that I have had with the cards over the last few weeks.  He has liked some of the Topps Project 2020 cards that I have been picking up over the past few weeks.  With the prices continuing to drop, I picked up a Mike Trout as payment for all the help.   

I was not entirely sure of why he decided to pick this card, but after it arrived I got the full run down on why this is a great card. 

Beyond sorting cards, my son is also spent time this summer reading books.  Not any of the ones on the school district's summer reading program, more into the different baseball books that I have in my card room.  One of the books is Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century, which goes all the way up to the Marlins and Rockies expansion.  It's out of print, but it's still easy enough to find online with book resellers.  I sort of wish they would do an update edition, but I also know there is a Hall of Fame related website with all the uniform information.  

He also likes several of the different ballpark and stadium books that I own, along with the SportsLogos website.  It's all sort of a normal pattern for him where he goes all in on a topic, and he does not forget things.  His rote memory is really good.  We have been through the same thing with dinosaurs, various animals, Presidents, Star Wars characters, Harry Pottter, and I am probably missing a few in there.  

That brings me back to the Trout.  

He likes Mike Trout as a player, so I thought maybe that was the lone reason.  

Nope.  

He actually liked the card because it has a lot of different uniform pieces and logos on it.  I was confused at first, but here is the run down.  

+There is a modern Angels logo in the top left corner, which is the Anaheim Angels version.  

+Trout is wearing a 1970s California Angels uniform.  

+The batting helmet in the picture has a capital A with the halo, so it is actually from the 1980s version of the California Angels.  

+The side script is something the artist made up.  

One Mike Trout card is a small price to pay for all the help and company with the cards.  I am also glad it fits with his reading interests right now.