1986 Donruss Giant

Well, this card encapsulates my childhood in an incredibly way and really points to how my child obsession became my adulthood hobby. In 1986 I wouldn't have collected this card. In 1986 I would have been busy with learning my ABC's and reading Dr. Suess and learning how to hit off a tee. But, there is a good chance I witnessed Cal in the flesh without realizing it, as my pops had access to 10-15 games at old Memorial Stadium. But, being a young aspiring baseball aficionado in the early 90's but subject to the wanton waste of money culture that is my generation's modus operandi, I love arcade games. As it would have it Chatham Mall in Ellicott City, MD had the most wonderful of layouts. At one end there was Caldor. At the other end, it had a K-Mart. Somewhere in the middle it had a Jo-Ann Fabrics. But, what made it extraordinary was that outside of the Caldor was 'The Dugout' and 'Flickers'.

'The Dugout' was a baseball card shop that had everything a seven-year old boy dreamed about. It had packs of cards that were to obtuse to be sold at 7-11, individual cards from the exotic decades of the sixties and seventies, and non-baseball cards as exotic as basketball and hockey. It was here that I met Al Iafrate in the flesh, and realized that without skates he was just impressive. Across from 'The Dugout' was 'Flickers'. 'Flickers' was the greatest arcade of all time. I learned to play video games there. I destroyed all comers on Street Fighter and then realized that my video game career would not be extended when Virtual Fighter came out. I can kill on 2-D games, but 3-D is too much. 'Flickers' had this great policy that you could trade tickets in for gift certificates for 'The Dugout'. I was unbeatable at Street Fighter, loved some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade, but neither of those had tickets. Nor did Mortal Kombat (which my Mom didn't know I played during her Caldor and JoAnn Fabric endeavors). My allowance at this time was $2.00. Every game was $.25. With $1.00 I would play Street Fighter and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the forbidden Mortal Kombat. With the other $1.00 I'd play games that produced tickets. With the tickets I'd win I'd trade in for a 'Dugout' gift certificate. It was through this paradigm that I purchased my first ever vintage "card", a 1975 Topps Jim Palmer.

This all comes down to how I acquired my 1986 Donruss Giant Cal Ripken Jr. #14. On a double date with my now wife and her best friend from high school we went to Dave & Buster's in Charlotte, NC. We played all sorts of games. I crushed my girlfriend's best friend's husband at Street Fighter and played mostly game that had nothing to do with tickets. But with my remaining cash I accumulated some tickets. With those tickets I purchased a pack of 1986 Donruss Giant cards and lo and behold I got Cal's card!! What a delight!

It is sad to say, but Chatham mall didn't last. You can read all about the sad demise here. That means no more Fickers, no more Dugout...