Wax Ecstatic artwork

Wax Ecstatic

190 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★ - 95 ratings

Have you rediscovered your childhood baseball cards, or do you have that "90s nostalgia" itch you've been looking to scratch? Come take a trip down memory lane as we take a second look at some famous (and not so famous) baseball cards from the 1990s all the way back through the 1950s. Wax Ecstatic is hosted by long-time collector Matt Sammon, who always has a fun look back at some of that classic cardboard in your collection!

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Episodes

189: Singled Out: The Life and Legend of Glenn Burke, with author Andrew Maraniss

August 13, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 79.9 MB

Host Matt Sammon discuses the new book "Singled Out" with author Andrew Maraniss. What started as a random card pull from a 1978 Topps pack will take you down the life path of Glenn Burke, Major League Baseball's first openly gay player. Maraniss shares how Burke was shoved aside to an early career end, while we take a look at 3 players who were part of Burke's life directly or indirectly. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains Watch the video on this subject at https://youtu.be/uZZ6WDAjuvE

188: YOU KIDS GET OFF MY YARD! The (Old) Boys of Summer and the 1990 Pacific SPBA set!

July 30, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 85.6 MB

Host Matt Sammon dives into a seldom known set about a seldom known league. In the winter of 1989-90, former Major League players brought their achy backs and creaky knees to the newly formed Senior Professional Baseball Association. The SPBA quickly developed from a zany idea, and just as quickly went away. While the 1990 SPBA Pacific baseball card set isn't much to write home about, how this league even got off the ground is. Watch our pack break at https://youtu.be/FZTAR8_Lx_E Follow us...

187: The "Eh" Team: How O-Pee-Chee Went From a Mirror of Topps to a Top-Notch Set in 1992

July 16, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 74.3 MB

Host Matt Sammon dives into the bargain bin to find a gem in 1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier, a set that was overlooked then and now. At only 198 cards, this sharp set is loaded with Hall of Famers and young stars, and is worthy of your attention nowadays. Watch the video break at https://youtu.be/gkTCE7WwA4E Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

186: But What About the Children?!? We Take a Second Look at the Well-Intentioned 1992 Triple Play Set!

June 18, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 69.8 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the 1992 Donruss Triple Play set, which had the right idea but quickly changed courses for numerous reasons. Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/-s2CWDhEmV4 Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

185: The Best "Junk Wax" Set? We Revisit the Colorful Masterpiece 1989 Donruss!

June 04, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 72.3 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at what is arguably Donruss' greatest  set. The 1989 set featured big rookies, stars, and an incredible colorful design. Best of all, it's still ridiculously affordable because it was right in the middle of the "junk wax" era. Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/nXgqAY6Xypk Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

184: Frankie Says "Relax" as we Take Another Look at 1985 Topps

May 21, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 65.8 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks at another set that the program took a first look at many years ago, and then just moved on from. Finishing a close second in our listener poll, '85 Topps is a legendary set loaded with rookies and stars, yet it often gets overshadowed by some of the more notable sets of the 1980's. Watch the video review at https://youtu.be/FOMJkMdHHOM Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

183: Back in Black: By Popular Demand, We Re-visit 1987 Donruss!

May 07, 2021 16:00 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MB

Host Matt Sammon responds to listener suggestions for sets to revisit, and our first in the sharp but overlooked '87 Donruss set. With a 40-year spectrum of young stars and proven Hall of Famers, this is a set worthy of your time with deals still to be found. Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/iRXlJIXKVww Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

182: Fattening Up with Flair in 1993!

April 23, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 68.9 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the sharp and fancy 1993 Fleer Flair set, which despite its impressive design and limited press run added an unnecessary layer of product to the already bloated hobby.  Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/59HL63ugUsI Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains Help us build WaxAndGumStains.com! Take a brief, 1-minute survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7RST8Z6

181: The Ultimate Combo Meal-- Food Co-Op Baseball Cards!

April 09, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 73.1 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks at the cornucopia of foodstuff combo cards from the 1980s and 1990s. From the classic soda and fast food sets of the late 70s and early 80s, to some gut-busting meals during the bloated days of the hobby in the 90s. Don't overlook some of these unique sets in your collection. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains Watch the breaks at https://youtu.be/gYY1bn1qmOc Help us build WaxAndGumStains.com! Take our 5-question, 1-minute survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/...

180: And..... ACTION! With Heritage Coming Out, We Look Back at '72 Topps!

March 26, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 73.2 MB

Host Matt Sammon reflects on the colorful and progressive '72 Topps set which looks better with age, and gets a new look courtesy of this year's Topps Heritage design. We also check in with BaseballHappening.net's Nick Diunte to discuss the booming baseball card business. Watch the video recap at youtu.be/BqMEG6-pXfA Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains Help build WaxAndGumStains.com! Take our survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7RST8Z6

179: Trading Spaces: The History of the Traded/Update/Rookie Subsets

March 12, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 85.2 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the history of the "traded" sets and set extensions. What started out as a public service to notify fans that a player changed teams, became a marketing hook in the 70s before becoming a marketing advantage in the 80s.  We also have some updates on our new YouTube channel (at https://bit.ly/3b2r4uf) and some changes coming to the podcast. Watch the video review of the traded sets at https://youtu.be/YhdT2trfWos Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

178: Reheat the Wax! We Dive Into Some Repacked Wax Packs

February 26, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 97.9 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks at the new Repacked Wax, where cards from the past 65 years are assembled into newly packaged wax units. It's a great idea that's gone big, and Matt talks to Repacked Wax creator Ryan Cornell to learn more about the product. Watch our first video break at https://youtu.be/hc799bmeYBs Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

177: Gold Foiled Folly: How '94 Donruss Slouched into Laziness

February 12, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 88.7 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks at the sharp '94 Donruss set, which continued a streak of impressive sets released by Donruss in the early 90s. But there were signs that Donruss was taking its eye off the ball, setting up a slippery slope to bankruptcy just years later. Still this is a great set for those looking to scratch a 90s nostalgia itch, as it is affordable and loaded with stars. Watch the video break at https://youtu.be/-6m0TfoACs0 Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

176: Heads Up! No Really... 1990 Topps Heads Up, the Ultimate Pop Foul Collectible

January 29, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 84.9 MB

Host Matt Sammon takes a look at a unique and short-lived product, 1990 Topps Heads Up. How did this predecessor to items like Fathead not have much of a shelf life? Plus we answer your questions in our listener mail bag! Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/8g0PsDFDflU Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

175: Even Better Than Before: How 1993 Donruss Raised the Bar Again

January 15, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 79.2 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the 1993 Donruss set which managed to raise the bar from the noteworthy 1992 set. Even though the improvements didn't save Donruss from getting swallowed up by the changing hobby, the set provides collectors today with a sharp and affordable piece of 90s nostalgia. Watch the video break at https://youtu.be/4RtVE_1MYbY Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

174: Ring in the New... With Something Old?

January 01, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 93.1 MB

Host Matt Sammon rings in 2021 with a look back at the 1991 Topps Archives, a set that paid homage to the 1953 Topps set while staying true to the original product. It wasn't the first throwback set for Topps, but it laid a foundation for future Archives, Heritage, and the Living sets. Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/8wLVNE2HUNk Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

173: '92 Donruss Gets All Growed Up

December 18, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 82.9 MB

Host Matt Sammon indulges in your 90's nostalgia as we take a look at '92 Donruss, the first set of three from the early 90's that showed a marked improvement of the Donruss base set. But the turning of the corner came too late for Donruss, as the hobby was speeding past with insert cards and premium sets. Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/7wXWB0raG5c Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

172: 66 in '63: How Fleer's Set Might Have Been a Big Deal... Or Was it Supposed to Be?

December 04, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 105 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the 1963 Fleer baseball set, or as he calls it, the "Seattle Pilots" of baseball sets as there won't ever be a set quite like this one. Was the star-studded set a major attempt at curtailing Topps' dominance? Or was it a poorly rolled out, pathetic attempt at nothing in particular? We discuss, with a look at 5 players from that set! Watch the video at https://t.co/4ZUe0fjq3a Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

171: As God As My Witness, I Thought These Turkeys Would Fly

November 20, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 79.3 MB

With Thanksgiving around the corner, host Matt Sammon looks at some hobby "turkeys" including some funny non-sports cards from deep in the storage unit. But like many Thanksgiving side dishes, while many people may not like one side dish in particular, there's nothing wrong with a little guilty pleasure in a side dish.

170: Don't Make Like a Tree and Leaf: We've Got Some Cool 90's Nostalgia Bargains Here

November 06, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 81.5 MB

Host Matt Sammon tracks down some 90s nostalgia that isn't your usual "junk wax", as we open up 1991 Leaf Studio and 1992 Leaf Series 1 packs. We also have what is now becoming a regular warning of "buyer beware" when it comes to the sudden interest in baseball cards by the general public. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains Watch the pack break at: https://youtu.be/L_jZDlwBmBw

169: Popping Bubble Gum to Pop-Up Cards

October 23, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 90.5 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at some fun and unique products this episdoe: 1979 Topps MLB All-Star Bubble Gum Wrappers, and 1987 Donruss Jumbo All-Stars with Pop-Up Cards. WaxPackHero.com's Mike Sommer joins us as well to discuss some other unique collectible oddities! Watch the video break at https://youtu.be/n6hBJhQh3vI Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

168: Farm Fun: Some Very Familiar Names Pop Up in 1991 Classic Minor League

October 09, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 79.2 MB

Host Matt Sammon revisits Minor League Baseball cards with a break of some 1991 Classic packs. Despite a relatively low return on investment, the minor league packs are a fun blast from the past as well as affordable. Watch the break at https://youtu.be/5tBTsu8w6Nc Follow us on Twitter @WaxandGumStains

167: The Eye of the Beholder-- We Look Back at '61 Topps

September 25, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 84.5 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at 1961 Topps, which some people see as plain and boring, while others see a simple and clean work of art. We look at the quirks of this legendary set, Topps' challenge with expansion, and the M&M boys. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains Watch the video review at https://youtu.be/DVuO8XlXDtk

166: A (Blue Light) Special Set: The Least Valuable 1982 Topps K-Mart MVP Set!

September 11, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 87.8 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the little-liked 1982 Topps K-Mart MVP set, which despite a lack of fanfare was a very influential set for young collectors in a pre-internet world. Plus, how K-Mart, Wal Mart, and the hobby have eerily similar histories with (thankfully) different outcomes. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/pfzSOSz46tY Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

165: Yipes! Stripes! The Incredibly Underrated '86 Donruss Gets a Second Look

August 28, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 74.4 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at one of his favorite underrated sets, one that is starting to get some more love thanks to a great design and treasure trove of stars and rookies. We're going back to the "Max Headroom" set of baseball cards, 1986 Donruss! Watch the break at https://youtu.be/8L9k6KG4ZOk Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

164: Last Chance at Perfection: Looking Back at 1993 Upper Deck

August 14, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 80.8 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the 1993 Upper Deck set, a set that was nearly perfect while showing off the indulgences of future hobby problems. Watch the pack break at youtu.be/L6y13Aw6aQc Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

163: DIM YOUR EYES! Too Late... Let's Get All Technicolor Again with 1975 Topps!

July 31, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 84.6 MB

Host Matt Sammon revisits the colorful calamity that is 1975 Topps, as we see how market forces and a lack of quality control makes this must-have set so hard to collect. Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/Ew0zJqcPyTg Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

162: Book It Danno: The Wax Pack Book and the Still Popular '86 Topps Set

July 17, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 100 MB

Host Matt Sammon is joined by Brad Balukjian, author of The Wax Pack book. Matt and Brad first discussed the topic back in September 2016, and nearly 4 years later Brad has a hit that does more than just track down players from an '86 Topps wax pack. Watch the video break at youtu.be/bfq-mwoaDYc. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

161: Mini Super: The Tiny Treat That is '88 Topps American Baseball (Not "UK Minis")

July 03, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 78.8 MB

Host Matt Sammon opens a nice little gift box full of 1988 Topps American Baseball. Popularly known as "UK minis", we dispel the UK connection while discussing why this really smart product only lasted two years. Watch the break at https://youtu.be/dhDbIKH9m-o Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

160: Emptiness: 1994 Topps is Decent, But the Memories of Baseball in '94 Bring Down the Room

June 19, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 77.2 MB

Host Matt Sammon opens up some 1994 Topps series 2 packs for the first time in 26 years. But the reminder of the strike-shortened season and the sagging card industry then brings him down... and brings in the salt as he riffs on 2020 baseball problems, the coronavirus, and more. Watch the video break at youtu.be/1dwMUIFTjGg Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

159: Off the Beaten Path: We Find Some BIG Stars of Baseball Past

June 05, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 95.1 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at some "off the beaten path" sets of the late 80's and early 90's: Topps BIG, The Conlon Collection, and Swell Baseball Greats. Plus the stories of some interesting baseball characters from the early 20th century. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/6qdssWwIizY Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

158: I'm Not Quite Dead! How Bowman Avoided Disappearing, After Nearly Disappearing

May 22, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 78.6 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks at the crucial pivot in Bowman starting in 1991, after a less-than-spectacular re-introduction in 1989. The Bowman brand is still remarkably strong as the "rookie card" creator thanks to decisions made nearly 30 years ago. Watch the video break at https://youtu.be/7XdiwyYncSI And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

157: Three's Company: The Start of the Rookie Craze with '83 Topps

May 08, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 83.7 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the tipping point in the start of the rookie card craze-- 1983, and in particular Topps as the set featured rookie cards for Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, and Ryne Sandberg. Watch the video break at youtu.be/S4JZuSddE58 And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

156: Who Does #2 Work For? Derek Jeter Makes '93 Topps Series 1 Less Junky

April 24, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 74.8 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at series 1 of 1993 Topps, a set that is suddenly in demand thanks to Hall of Famer Derek Jeter's gold rookie card. If you're willing to pay a little extra for cards from 1993, something you're not used to doing, you could put together a really solid set from Topps. Watch the pack break at youtu.be/nUPTu8-8SSI  And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

155: Ho Ho... NO! A 1979 Topps "Fauxback" Pack Shows Us the Perils of Repackaged Relics

April 10, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 77.3 MB

Host Matt Sammon takes one for the team as he opens a holiday "fauxback" 1979 Topps rack pack. While 1979 Topps is a fun and relatively easy vintage set to collect, buyer beware for any rack packs that aren't the real deal. Watch the pack break at youtu.be/SsMGjhUVBFs Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

154: Back to the Future, with 2020 Topps Heritage and 1971 Topps!

March 27, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 94.9 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the set he calls a true work of art-- 1971 Topps and its newly-inspired twin set 2020 Topps Heritage. Featuring special guests Nick Diunte and Patrick Sammon! Also with a special public service announcement on staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

153: All That And A Bag Of Chips: A 1990 Topps Vending Box Delivers Clean Cards and Spare Change

March 13, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 103 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the under-appreciated 1990 Topps set, and the somewhat overlooked vending box. Once used to feed drug store vending machines in the 1960s, the vending box is an efficient way to add to your collection. Watch the video break at https://youtu.be/ZiJxpCVrP54 And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

152: A Perfectly Imperfect Set-- The Beautifully Flawed '74 Topps

February 28, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 88.2 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at '74 Topps as he opens up a vintage pack of a set that was launched with all the right intentions, but fell victim to one team's relocation whimsy.  Watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/WrlIN66oABs And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

151: Wacky Garbage... A Look at Some Culturally Relevant Non-Sports Cards

February 14, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 71.5 MB

Host Matt Sammon steps out of the batter's box to take a look at some classic non-sports wax, with a focus on Wacky Packages, Garbage Pail Kids, and the ill-fated Trash Can Trolls. Watch the video of the pack breaks at https://youtu.be/PO7-hjxDc80 And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

150: And You Are...?!? Featuring "the Other Guys" of Multi-Player Rookie Cards

January 31, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 74.1 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at some memorable multi-player cards, featuring memorable Hall of Fame players... and others. We focus on the others, the "Andrew Ridgeleys" of the hobby!

149: You Always Remember Your First... Wax Pack You Sicko. A Bargain Bin Beauty with '89 Topps!

January 17, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 72.3 MB

Host Matt Sammon discusses "first" baseball cards, which requires a little discussion about the classic '89 Topps set. It won't make you rich, but you'll have fun opening up a box you paid $5 for. Plus we discuss ideas for future shows while reading your comments. Watch the video break at https://youtu.be/mKepNbUtL0E And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

148: Leftovers (Or I Can't Believe I Opened All Those Junk Wax Packs)

January 03, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 68.7 MB

Host Matt Sammon dares to purchase a "pack lot" variety pack on EBay, and while the haul is underwhelming there are some pretty interesting stories in these packs. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

147: A Relief Pitcher Walks Into a Hobby Shop...

December 20, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 93.3 MB

Host Matt Sammon helps you stuff your stocking with a lengthy recalling of the '89 Upper Deck set, why the set is still valuable 30 years later, plus we look at "birth year" sets. Watch the video break at https://youtu.be/8yfmwOWnZRI And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

146: Breakfast Cereal Cards? They're Grrrrreat!

December 06, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 83.9 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks at several grocery item cards from the 1970's and 1980's, with a bonus look at some cards from the 1930's and 1940's. Plus, a look back at one of the craziest card theft stories in the hobby. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/hEyesJLRgi4 And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

145: Fleer Gets it Right on Take Two: Looking Back at '92 Fleer Ultra

November 22, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 66.9 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at the '92 Fleer Ultra set, by request.  After botching the Ultra premiere in 1991, Fleer wasn't messing around with this great "second chance" opportunity that is still very popular today. Watch the video break at --> https://youtu.be/lP8s5YqefCU Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

144: At The Corner of Happy and Healthy, We Find Some Discount Surprises

November 08, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 63.7 MB

Host Matt Sammon had that itch to open up some cards, so naturally he went to the drug store to fix it. The surprising finds in a drug store "variety pack", plus answers to your latest questions in our latest podcast! Watch the "Walgreens Pack Break" here --> https://youtu.be/l46wSSmji4U And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

143: Taste the Rainbow! We Look Back at a Real Bargain Bin Beauty-- the Colorful '88 Score Baseball Set

October 25, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 65.7 MB

Host Matt Sammon finds a box of one of the most overlooked and underrated sets of all time-- 1988 Score. The premiere edition of Score introduced features to the hobby before Upper Deck did, but the set got caught up in some of the "junk wax" tendencies of 1988. Check out our pack break at https://youtu.be/NnIZuJAQqyE And follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains

142: That 70's Show! Dan Epstein Joins The Crazy Hair and Uniforms of 1970s Baseball Cards

October 11, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 83.9 MB

Author Dan Epstein joins host Matt Sammon to discuss baseball in the 1970s, why 1976 was and still is a pivotal year in baseball, and of course some classic cards from 1976-80. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains And watch the video of random pulls from 1976-80 at https://youtu.be/cNP4EmW-ysE

141: The Rack is Back! Looking Through an '86 Topps Rack Pack and Many Other Sordid Tales

September 27, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 102 MB

Host Matt Sammon looks back at another overlooked set from the 80's-- '86 Topps, while also diving in to stories of expansion teams, old magazines, and Velveeta "cheese"?!? Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains And see the rack pack break at https://youtu.be/SrfA9CfMK24

140: Pumpkin Spice Baseball Cards? 1993 Topps Stadium Club Series 1 is in the Air!

September 13, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 68.6 MB

How could something that was so good, become so average and maybe even disdained? Call it "the pumpkin spice" effect, and 1993 Topps Stadium Club represents that. What was once a trend setter in 1991 had become middle-of-the-road by 1993 in a gluttonous and fattening hobby. Follow us on Twitter @WaxAndGumStains And watch the pack break at https://youtu.be/Div7amQciEI

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The Coming of Age
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