Ah, well, I've picked off the last of the easy ones, I think. I'm not stopping but progress is going to be tough from here on out!

ten
 

I dove in for the last Kraken swim of 2020.

While it has been a complete disaster of a year in so many horrible ways, my card collection has done well. Seems silly and I am certainly not bragging.
The hobby can sometimes allow us to stay occupied rather than dwell on depressing things that we are powerless to change.

So I'll ask for a big 10 point bump to my Kraken Counter, as a watery Wagner joins the team

Congrats Brian, only the Shoeless one can provide a bigger boost. May 2021 be good for both the world and our collections.

Brian

Nice pickup, Brian L. The more I study the set, the more I've found just how tough that card is. Looks at the pops on it and the other big name players -- it's scary how tough it is.

Brianp-beme - request to be bumped to 182 after picking up Mordecai Brown and this Cy Young (Cleveland), which is en route! Minus Shoeless Joe, I'm down to needing ten cards.

E90-1
 

With the help from Lee (usmcinohio) my #is 196

Way to make a big Kraken splash upon entry into the E-Monster sea.

And Anson is correct, the Wagner throwing is one tough thummergummer, definitely worthy of its 10 Kraken point status. Your Cy Young Cleveland is no slouch either...good luck on the pursuit of the final ten cards you need.

Brian

The Butler did it!
 

One of the few cards I still needed has arrived.
Ok I’m corny, but I was saving this player for the penultimate card to the Kraken Quest. (I’m not buying a Joe Jax so I will be pleased with the rest)

I was saving Butler, a single kraken pointer to use the corny title of this post but I grew restless. Finding cards in this set ain’t easy... I bought it early.

Kraken Keeper could you plus one for me?

Congrats to the other recent incoming cards too.
My man Anson is right on my dorsal fin!

The Butler did it with the lead pipe in the Conservatory. Congrats on your deduction powers, but I always had the suspicion that sneaky John had a hand in advancing your collection. I will plus one you right now!

Brian (I wish my home had a conservatory)

Your home needs to be replastered with all those krakens in every room.

Sounds interesting, but I am afraid to do it...what if Krakens go out of style? I imagine they would be hard to remove, much like popcorn ceiling.

Brian

Well, I won the Speaker on eBay, which is en route. Then I picked up this McLean, so a 13-point bump to 195 is requested! Down to eight cards other than Shoeless Joe, who is not likely a pursuit in this market.

Good luck on the push to the finish Anson.

Speaker is my dream card and not an easy one to pin down, and McLean is sneaky tough. Up to rarified 195 land for you Anson.

Brian

Anson,

Nice pick ups. Can't wait to see the Speaker when it comes in! Love that card.

Andy

Thanks, guys -- appreciate the kind words.

I wish I could have pursued this set a little earlier when prices weren't getting out of hand. But we're all in this boat together!

Out of the boat!
 

Anson
The Kraken deliberately wants to knock us out of the boat!
So while we try to stay in it together we are going to be in the water eventually.

Great job on acquiring the Speaker!
I have a pending Bender that will boost my number up one tick.
I’m getting near the feasible finish too.
Maybe this year we both can claim the 230 point status together!

The Pending Bender Landed
 

Brian, please add another Kraken number to my accumulation.

The Chief has arrived. No more Pending Bender.

My Kraken Abacus has settled in on 213 for now.

There is still room for the ones I need in the E90-1 Box.
Next up?
Who has a Rebel Oakes for sale/trade that can knock another notch?

Brian, buy some more E90-1's you need and you will officially be on a Kraken bender.

Brian

Brian L. - I am hoping to get there this year, my friend. But I'm down to all toughies at this point so it will not be easy.

brianp-beme - Well, we've got a bit of a Kraken controversy. I am down to needing nine cards (Shoeless, Wagner Batting, Young Boston, Stahl, Sweeney, Lobert, Stone One Hand, Shean, and Gibson Back). That's a total of 53 points. Thus, my total should be 197.

Not sure where I went wrong along the way but I'll gladly take two free Kraken points, assuming my math above is correct.

Red Keeler
 

BP, please mark up another nickel for my Kraken Quest.

This Red Holiday version of Willie comes complete with a handy place to hang card from a Christmas Tree.

It fits perfectly here and brings my elevated tally to 218.
Just 5 more cards to go (ok, really 4 because one of them is a bit costly, eh?)

Another extra tough one subdued. If you find the punched out portion, please send my way so I can lay Kraken claim to having the Keeler red background card.

Brian

Up to the nice round number of 200 points after my latest pickup, this Gibson back beater. Down to needing only eight cards left.

Double Hundreds
 

Anson,
That's a great milestone to hit!
Congrats on the exclusive double hundreds club!!

Note to other Krazy Card Collectors :We are always inclusive too, so anyone with a whole bunch of Kraken cards will be warmly, wetly welcomed!

It is true...I will employ the same spray bottle I use to spritz water on the backside of our 8lb. Yorkie when he is acting up.

Brian

Jumpin'
 

I nearly jumped off the page when I was able to get another hit to the Kraken list this week.
Rebel Oakes is now part of the Familytoad Collection and the end is nigh'

Need= Wally Clement (1 Kraken point)
Need= Joe Jackson (ya, sure!)(20 Kraken points)
Need= Dots Miller (Sunset)(3 Kraken points)
Need= Honus Wagner (Batting)(7 Kraken points)

Any leads on finding the non-Jax cards are greatly appreciated!
219 Kraken Points for this guy.:p

Hopefully those last 3 will come a tricklin' your way!

Brian

Brian,
For reasons that are murky even to me I've always shied away from "E" cards. But last year I jumped in with both feet and went on an E95 and E90-1 binge.
So now I need two E95s and 25 or so E90-1s. I'll check my cards against your list soon and get myself a Kraken number.

Welcome to the club! I suggest everyone get a Kraken number while the Kraken number gettin' is good.

Brian

Brian,
I pulled off my socks and did the math and I'm at 98/121 for 136 KPs.
The easy part is over; the 23 I need average five points per card.

Socks have hindered a many double digit+ counting tasks. 136 is a nice starting number...hopefully some of the toughies will trickle your way.

Brian

Please bump me
 

I’m dangerously close to the end of my rope.
Please add another peg up to 220 as Wally Clement (actually a pretty tough find) has been netted in the Kraken quest.

These three are the only ones swimming wild still:

Miller (sunset)
Wagner (batting)
Jackson (not likely)

Nice Brian! Did you pick up the one that was on eBay? I was thinking of jumping on that one myself.

Hi Andy

Yes… it was from a seller that has a lot of cards and a lot of questions about his business. I will admit to some moral dilemma, but was going to only bid my price and not worry about it further. I fully expected the card to get bid up and out of sight. But it was okay.

The Kraken is on life support for my collection. I have had a fantastic time collecting them. Quite a few came from this board!
(Yourself included:-))
I thank you all for watching/helping and keeping the thread fun!

Well I'm glad he went to you and your set and that I didn't bid and run you up any. Congrats on 220!

Sweeney says it's no time to be throwing in the towel when collecting E90-1 cards...I know so well as this is a cool card that I am still lacking.

Brian (based upon what I just mentioned, card obviously not mine, but would certainly fit nicely in my collection)

About time I reposted this group of very colorful E90-1 sunset cards.

Brian

First post
 

Since I last checked in at Kraken Central I've added a few cards including Clarke (Pitt.) and this one that came today.

I'm now at 103/121 and 149 KP.

Otis my man!
 

Congrats on the great Wagner batting card!
That is one of my remaining 3, I sit at 118/121

The others are Miller (Sunset variation) and Joe Jackson.
I'm not going to try for the Jackson, but really want the Wagner someday.

So you've captured a very good card and have a fine Kraken number! Nice work!

Any Wagner card is special, but we all know a Kraken Wagner is special with a side of special sauce. Congrats, and keep up the good fight. You KN has been updated.

Brian

The Kraken resurfaced because he was feeling neglected and lonely.

Brian

An failed early attempt at Tommy John surgery.

When you hit it big
 

You know that you have “arrived” when you are mentioned in the LOTG catalog.

The lot #227 listing points out that the offered E90-1 Matty comes from “the most popular and widely-collected of all the caramel issues”
You know…the Kraken!

So the phrase has become part of the hobby lexicon.
Who knew?

Oh , I still need three cards. If any collectors have released their Kraken and wanted to move the Wagner (batting) or Miller (sunset) … we should discuss :p

Cool! The beastly set is getting the recognition it so craves. The pursuit of the E90-1 series should have a new, copyrighted acronym moniker - LOTKG (Love of the Kraken Game).

Brian (In the background Biff Schlitzer is letting us know he is on board as a +1)

I thought I'd start the year with a Kraken Point update.
Thanks to a B/S/T from a member this Plank brings me to 160.

Congrats on the Plank pickup. I have always liked the Plank card for its different, unique pose/look.

Brian

Walsh for me
 

Picked up Ed Walsh at Christmas, so 113 down and 8 to go. Should put me at 182.

I always thought the E90-1 Walsh looked like it should be in the E90-3 set. Congrats, and both you and riggs have been updated.

Brian

I had to do a double take after seeing I'd not added a card since last April. But that is indeed correct -- these final few I need have been tough and I'm not yet ready to succumb to the high prices on eBay. Still fighting, though!

Keep up the good fight Anson...don't let the Kraken pull you underwater!

Brian