I have no idea how to create pages but I'll figure it out eventually godammit

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

BIRTHDAY BOOLSHEET BLASTAR - PART 19: 50 CENT REJECTS - J

 TIME FOR MORE ABANDONED CHEAP-BUT-NOT-QUITE-DIME-BOX-CHEAP CARDS. THIS TIME WE'VE GOT PLAYERS FROM THE J SECTION OF THE BOX. THERE WEREN'T AS MANY OF THESE AS I EXPECTED, NAMES STARTING WITH J ARE PRETTY COMMON


ONE OF THE REASONS I HAVE SO MUCH 1992 DONRUSS TRIPLE PLAY CARDS (BUT STILL NO COMPLETE SET, GRUMBLE GRUMBLE) IS BECAUSE THE JUMBO PACKS HAD ONE OF THESE DIAMOND KING SPINOFF CARDS PER PACK. THESE LOOKED REALLY GOOD IN 1992 AND WERE SUPER EASY TO GET AT ONE IN SIX PACKS FOR A SMALLISH TWELVE CARD SET. WALLY JOYNER WAS A FAVE OF MINE SINCE HE WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL NEAR WHERE I GREW UP AND EVENTUALLY PLAYED A SEASON AT FIRST BASE FOR THE BRAVES. I NEVER COMPLETED THE GALLERY OF STARS SET EITHER DESPITE ALL THOSE PACKS I RIPPED AND ALREADY HAVE TWO OR THREE WALLYS. THAT'S HOW JUNK BOXES WILL DO YOU SOMETIMES


DAVID JUSTICE CARDS GETTING PURGED BY A CARD SHOP IN ATLANTA IS A LITTLE ODD, BUT NOT WHEN HE'S IN A CLEVELAND UNIFORM. I REMEMBER LOOKING UP TRADE DETAILS ON A COMPUTER IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AT MY UNIVERSITY WHEN A BUDDY OF MINE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WHILE WE WERE DEALING WITH SOME SORT OF COLLEGE PAPERWORK. I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED TO USE THE COMPUTER BUT WE DIDN'T GET BUSTED AND I WAS SAD WHEN I FOUND OUT MARQUIS GRISSOM GOT TRADED TOO. I THINK I ACTUALLY NEEDED THIS CARD FOR MY LEAF SET WHICH MAKES UP FOR THE SAD MEMORIES


I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS CARD WAS MIXED UP WITH THE REST OF THE PLAYERS WHOSE NAMES START WITH J? I GUESS IT WAS MIXED IN WITH THE RANDY JOHNSON CARDS BUT RANDY IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN ON THIS CARD. HE WAS WEARING A JACKET DURING THE CELEBRATION. MAYBE SOMEONE FIGURED THAT OUT AND GAVE IT THE BOOT. I DOUBT THERE'S A HUGE MARKET FOR A SUBSET CARD FROM THE UPDATE SERIES OF A COMPLETELY DEFUNCT RETRO-STYLE SET


AHH, HERE'S AN ACTUAL RANDY JOHNSON CARD. YOU ALL ARE CHASING HIS 1989 CARD WITH THE MARLBORO AD BUT HERE'S A CARD FROM 1983! DIDN'T KNOW RANDY WAS ORIGINALLY AN OUTFIELDER ADN ABOUT A FOOT SHORTER DIDJA. OK, SO IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT RANDY JOHNSON BUT YOU ONLY NEED TO FOOL ONE COLLECTOR TO GET THAT SWEET, SWEET FIFTY CENTS


ADAM JONES OFFICIALLY RETIRED LAST YEAR WHICH MADE ME A FEEL A LITTLE SAD AND A LOT OLD. I LIKED SEEING HIM PLAY AND WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE PHOTO OF HIS INSANE CATCH IN THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC THAT LOOKED LIKE A RENAISSANCE PAINTING WITH ALL THE FANS IN THE BACKGROUND. THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING CARD BUT THE DESIGN REALLY HITS HOME JUST HOW MUCH HEAVY LIFTING THE RED STRIPES WERE DOING IN THE ORIGINAL 1985 DONRUSS DESIGN


GREGG JEFFERIES ROOKIE CUP!!! TOPPS WITH THE DEFINITIVE JEFFERIES ROOKIE CARD. TWO YEARS AFTER EVERY OTHER BRAND PUT HIM IN THEIR BASE SET. AND A YEAR AFTER TOPPS' OWN GREGG JEFFERIES FUTURE STARS CARD. NOT TO MENTION BOWMAN. STILL, ROOKIE CUPS ARE RAD. NOT FIFTY CENTS FOR A 1990 TOPPS CARD RAD BUT THAT'S HOW IT GOT INTO THE JUNK BOX


WHILE THERE WEREN'T MANY PLAYERS WHOSE NAMES START WITH J IN THIS PILE THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WAS A SMALL PILE OF CARDS. EVERYONE'S FAVORITE BLAZING SADDLES REFERENCE HOWARD JOHNSON WAS REPRESENTED QUITE WELL IN THE BOX. FROM TRASH (1987 TOPPS, 1991 FLEER) TO HIGH END CLASSY STUFF (STADIUM CLUB, LEAF, 1989 UPPER DECK) TO ODDBALL (1987 DONRUSS UHHH THE ROOKIES? OPENING DAY ROSTERS? WHICH IS THE BLUE BORDER ONE). DECENT STUFF. BUT THAT'S NOT THE BEST STUFF


DENNY'S HOLOGRAM FOR THE WIN! THIS ONE IS FROM THE INAUGURAL 1991 SET AND IS SO SHINY I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITHOUT AN UNINTENTIONAL HAND SELFIE. THESE EARLY HOLOGRAM CARDS ARE UNDERRATED IN MY OPINION AND I ENJOY PICKING THEM UP WHEN I CAN. I DIDN'T DISCOVER DENNY'S EVEN HAD A BASEBALL CARD PROMOTION UNTIL ABOUT 1995 SO THERE AREN'T MANY CARDS FROM THESE THESE EARLY SETS IN MY COLLECTION. LITTLE GEMS LIKE THESE ARE WHY I KEEP BUYING BOXES OF JUNK

Monday, March 25, 2024

2024 ONLINE BLASTER - PART 6: MOAR CHAOS

OOPS! TWO WEEK HIATUS DUE TO RUNNING OUT OF BUFFER DRAFT POSTS AND AN UNEXPECTED CASE THE OF BRAINSNAKES. I NEED A NICE, EASY CHAOS POST TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING GETS POSTED THIS WEEK. HOORAY! HERE'S THAT POST!

2019 TOPPS CHROME JOSH ROGERS AUTOGRAPH


CATEGORY - IT'S A FRIGGIN ON CARD AUTOGRAPH

CHROME ON CARD AUTOGRAPH ON THE FREE CARD SITE? YEP! THERE'S QUITE A FEW AUTOS ON THERE, MOST ARE UNCERTIFIED ON JUNKWAX CARDS OR FROM 90S DRAFT PICK SETS BUT THERE'S SOME NEWER ONES ON THERE ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THERE'S A DOLLAR BOX OPTION. THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING SIGNATURE ON A GOOD LOOKING DESIGN SO I NABBED IT AS SOON AS I SAW IT. ROGERS IS CURRENTLY IN THE ROCKIES ORGANIZATION AND I HAVE NO IDEA IF HE'LL END UP ON THE OPENING DAY ROSTER. THE CARD IS PRETTY AS HELL THOUGH

1996 TOPPS JUAN GONZALEZ HOBBY MASTERS INSERT


CATEGORY - INSERT, SHINY

POOR TOPPS WAS LEFT AT THE STARTING GATE IN THE INSERTS BOOM OF THE EARLY 90S BUT THEY CAUGHT UP WITH SOME EXTRA SHINY NONSENSE AFTER '96. HOLOFOIL WITH CRAZY PATTERNS WAS TOPPS' M.O. IN THE LATE 90S AND YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE MORE EXAMPLES IN THIS POST. THESE HOBBY MASTERS CARDS LEFT A REAL IMPRESSION WHEN YOU PULLED ONE IN 1997. I WOULDN'T KNOW, I SOMEHOW DIDN'T RIP ANY TOPPS BASEBALL IN 1997 (PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS BUYING A TON OF THE STAR WARS CCG INSTEAD) AND THESE WERE ONLY FOUND IN HOBBY PACKS

SPORTKINGS VOL. 3 RICHARD PETTY, BLACK CAVIAR



CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, HORSIE

I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY I'M DOING BUYING ALL THESE RICHARD PETTY CARDS SINCE I DON'T REALLY COLLECT RACING CARDS BUT C'MON, LOOK AT THISONE. IT'S FANTASTIC. I THINK I MIGHT FILL UP A PAGE FULL OF PETTYS FOR A CHAOS BINDER AND THEN CUT MYSELF OFF. UNTIL I FIND ANOTHER COOL LOOKING ONE

HORSIES I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING. GIMME HORSIE CARDS. I ALMOST BOUGHT THIS ONE TWICE BUT LUCKILY I HAD THIS DRAFT POST UP AND REMEMBERED I HAD IT. I DON'T KNOW WHO BLACK CAVIAR IS BUT I'M GUESSING THEY WON A RACE OR PERHAPS MULTIPLE RACES. DOESN'T MATTER, THEY'RE A GOOD HORSIE

2022 ALLEN & GINTER FRANKIE MONTAS, VICTOR ROBLES SPs



CATEGORY - ALLEN & GINTER

I LOVE ALLEN & GINTER AND HAVE THE COMPLETE SET RUN FROM 2006-2013 BUT SINCE I'VE STOPPED BEING ABLE TO BUY UP A BUNCH OF BLASTERS OF THE STUFF I'VE HAD A BIT OF A COLLECTING CRISIS. I CAN'T COMPLETE SETS ANYMORE (ESPECIALLY NOW THAT CHEAP BASE HAS DISAPPEARED FROM MY LOCAL DIME BOXES) BUT I STILL LOVE THE SET. RECENTLY I HAVE DECIDED THAT I DON'T NEED TO COMPLETE ALL THESE SETS FILLED WITH BORING ROOKIES AND DUBIOUS NON-SPORTS SUBJECTS AND CAN JUST BUILD UP A LITTLE PILE OF CARDS I ACTUALLY LIKE. I LIKE SHORT PRINTS. I ESPECIALLY LIKE ALLEN & GINTER SHORT PRINTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T COST A FEW BUCKS EACH LIKE HERITAGE SHORT PRINTS. OR A LOT OF BUCKS EACH LIKE TOPPS BASE SHORT PRINTS. REMEMBER ALL THOSE CHRONICLES POSTS? GET READY FOR A FEW ALLEN & GINTER POSTS LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE

2022 QYPSY GUEEN MOOKIE BETTS


CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

I GOT REAL MAD AT MOOKIE FOR TRYING TO STEAL RONALD'S MVP LAST YEAR BUT ALL IS FORGIVEN NOW. GYPSY QUEEN SEEMS TO BE A DEAD SET NOW BUT I LIKE THE DEBUT SET THAT WAS BASED ON THE 19TH CENTURY TOBACCO CARDS AND THE RECENT SETS THAT WENT ART DECO. THIS VAGUELY STEAMPUNK TICKET DISPENSER DESIGN IS ALSO A PRETTY NEAT ONE. IT'S UNIQUE AT LEAST! IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING THIS BRAND RAN ITS COURSE BEFORE WE STARTED GETTING CARDS BASED ON 40S AND 50S DESIGNS. I'M NOT READY FOR ANOTHER TIKI BAR THEMED SET

2000 TOPPS MIKE PIAZZA POWER PLAYERS INSERT


CATEGORY - INSERT

2000 WAS THE PINNACLE OF TOPPS' WILD HOLOFOIL INSERTS. THERE WERE FIVE DIFFERENT SHINY SETS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN SPEACIAL THEMED PATTERNS THAT ALL STARTED TO BLUR TOGETHER. AND THE OWN THE GAME INSERT HAD TWO DIFFERENT DESIGNS FOR SOME REASON! THEY'RE ALL VERY PRETTY BUT AS SOMEONE WHO RECENTLY SORTED ALL THEIR TOPPS INSERTS I GOTTA ADMIT THEY ALL MAKE YOUR EYES GO CROSSED AFTER A WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE GOES TO WHAT SET. WHEN YOU SEE ONE CARD BY ITSELF LIKE THIS ONE WHERE MIKE PIAZZA MUSHED A BASEBALL SO HARD IT CREATED RAINBOW SHOCKWAVES IT'S A VERY ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE

2000 TOPPS JEFF BAGWELL PERENNIAL ALL-STARS INSERT


CATEGORY - INSERT

SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THESE 2000 INSERTS? PERENNIAL ALL-STAR BAGWELL IS OBVIOUSLY SMACKING A BASEBALL SO HARD HE'S CAUSED THE SUN TO SUPERNOVA. IT LOOKS NOTHING LIKE PIAZZA'S SHOCKWAVE SPLAT. BUT GET A BIG MIXED UP PILE OF THESE THINGS IN YOUR HANDS AND IT'S TOO MUCH FOR THE HUMAN MIND TO COMPREHEND. TOPPS PIVOTED FULLY TOWARD THE RETRO REPRINTS AND RELIC CARDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND CUT WAY BACK ON THE HOLOFOIL. OWN THE GAME KEPT THE WILD PATTERNS GOING UNTIL THEY BECAUSE BORING FLAT HOLOFOIL IN 2007 BUT THESE 2000 INSERTS DESERVED TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE HIGH WATER MARK. ONE DAY I'D LIKE TO COMPLETE ALL OF THESE AND PUT THEM IN A BINDER AND GAZE UPON THEM AND BE DAZZLED TO INSANITY

1992 ECLIPSE TRUE CRIME JACK THE RIPPER


CATEGORY - LEGEND, MONSTER

I HAVE A WEIRD RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUE CRIME, I'VE BEEN A BIT OBSESSED WITH IT SINCE I WAS A KID AND WATCHED TOO MANY SCARY DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT CRIME AT TOO YOUNG AN AGE. BUT UNLIKE HORROR MOVIES WHICH ARE ALL FAKE WHEN I CHECK OUT TRUE CRIME STUFF I EVENTUALLY REALIZE THEY ARE ABOUT REAL PEOPLE WHO HAD TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM AND IT MAKES ME SAD. I BOUGHT A FEW PACKS OF THIS STUFF AT THE FLEA MARKET AND WANTED TO BUILD IT UNTIL I READ THE BACKS AND REALIZED THAT HALF THE CARDS WERE PEOPLE WHO DID HORRIBLE THINGS TO PEOPLE AND THE OTHER HALF WERE THE PEOPLE WHO GOT HORRIBLED AND IT ONCE AGAIN BUMMED ME OUT. HOWEVER. JACK THE RIPPER IS A TRUE LEGEND. TONS OF MOVIES, BOOKS AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE GRAPHIC NOVELS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THIS GUY.  PLUS THE FIRST DOCUMENTARY ON SERIAL KILLERS THAT I WATCHED WHEN I WAS A KID THAT SCARED THE LIVING PISS OUT OF ME AND GOT ME ON THIS CRIME KICK IN THE FIRST PLACE PROMINENTLY FEATURED JACK'S DEEDS. YES, MR. THE RIPPER WAS AN ACTUAL PERSON WHO DID AWFUL THINGS TO REAL PEOPLE BUT THANKS TO INCOMPETENT COPS AND GREEDY JOURNALISTS HE BECAME ELEVATED TO A MYTICAL MONSTER. AND THAT'S WHY THIS CARD NOW LIVES IN MY MONSTER CARD BINDER. I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED ANY MORE CARS FROM THIS SET BUT THE ZODIAC KILLER WAS THE OTHER GUY FROM THAT DOCUMENTARY THAT SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME AND A LANA TURNER CARD WOULD BE REALLY COOL EVEN IF THE STORY BEHIND IT IS EXTREMELY NOT 

1998 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED BARRY LARKIN


CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

I JUST TYPED OUT LARRY BARKIN AND GIGGLED FOR A MINUTE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MY CURRENT STATE OF MIND. I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES ALREADY BUT WHAT THE HELL, LET'S SAY IT AGAIN. I REALLY LIKE THE FLEER SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CARDS AND I WILL NEVER EVER BUILD ANY OF THE SETS. I WILL ABSOLUTELY PICK OFF RANDOM STARS THAT LOOK GOOD THOUGH AND THIS LARKIN LOOKS GOOD. COLLECTING BY PURE VIBES IS NOT GREAT FOR ORGANIZATION BUT IT'S A HELLUVA LOT OF FUN

1996 SCOREBOARD ALL SPORT PPF VLADIMIR GUERRERO


CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

SCOREBOARD ALL-SPORT PPF WAS A PRETTY WILD MULTI-SPORT SET WITH A FANTASTIC CHECKLIST FULL OF STARS AND ROOKIES FROM ALL FOUR MAJOR SPORTS INCLUDING ONE OF KOBE BRYANT'S FIRST CARDS. THESE WERE DONE PANINI STYLE WITH MAJOR LEAGUE LOGOS AIRBRUSHED OUT OF THE STARS AND THE ROOKIES IN MINOR LEAGUE OR COLLEGE UNIS. I BOUGHT A FEW PACKS CHASING THE ONE 'VINTAGE' CARD PER BOX BUT ONLY GOT BASE AND A FEW (ADMITTEDLY NICE LOOKING) INSERT CARDS. THIS VLADDY IN AN ALBANY POLECATS UNIFORM REALLY GRABBED ME. MAYBE IT'S THOSE SILVER UNIFORM NUMBERS, MAYBE IT'S HOW HAPPY VLAD SEEMS TO ME, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE PANINI'S AIRBRUSH ARTISTS PUT VLAD INTO A WHITE SOX UNIFORM. AT ANY RATE, IT HAD THOSE GOOD GOOD VIBES AND I PICKED IT UP. HOPEFULLY I DDON'T FIND IT AGAIN IF I EVER LOOK THROUGH MY MINOR LEAGUE BOX AGAIN LOL

2014 TOPPS HANK AARON UPPER CLASS INSERT


CATEGORY - BRAVES, INSERT

I STILL HAVEN'T GOT MY TOPPS INSERTS AFTER 2010 CATALOGUED YET SO THERE'S AN EXTREMELY HIGH CHANCE I HAVE THIS CARD ALREADY. WHO CARES, AARON INSERT. YOU WOULDA BOUGHT IT HAD YOU GOT THERE FIRST, DON'T LIE

1998 SKYBOX DUGOUT AXCESS FRED MCGRIFF NAME PLATES SUBSET


CATEGORY - BRAVESISH, CRIME DOG

SKYBOX DUGOUT AXCESS IS AS WEIRD A SET AS IT IS TO SEE FRED IN A DEVIL RAYS UNIFORM. NICKNAME CARDS ARE COOL AND LICENSE PLATE CARDS ARE NEAT SO WHY THE HELL NOT? THIS IS ANOTHER CARD THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IS ALREADY IN A FLEER ODDBALL BOX AND ONCE AGAIN I WAS PREVENTED FROM BUYING IT TWICE BY THIS POST. STILL, IT'S GOT THEM GOOD GOOD VIBES EVEN IF THE GREEN AND PURPLE IS A BIT OF AN EYESORE

2022 BOWMAN U KELEE RINGO REFRACTOR


CATEGORY - GEORGIA BULLDOGS, LEGEND

AS A LONG SUFFERING GEORGIA SPORTS FAN THERE ARE FIVE MOMENTS OF JOY PERMANANTLY ETECHED IN MY BRAIN:

SID SLID
GRISSOM CATCHING THE FINAL OUT IN 1995
TRAE SHUSHING MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
JORGE SOLER MASHING A HOME RUN OVER THE TRAIN
KELEE RINGO'S INTERCEPTION

A SHINY BOWMAN U CARD OF THE GUY WHO MADE KIRBY SMART JUMP FOUR FEET IN THE AIR WAS A NO-BRAINER EVEN THOUGH IT'S PRINGLED LIKE A 2010 CHROME CARD AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTO. THE TOP LOADER IT'S IN NOW SOLVES THAT AND THE CARD LOOKS GREAT

UP NEXT: WHO KNOWS? PROBABLY MORE VIBES

Friday, March 22, 2024

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 7: GLORIOUS GLOSSIES

RACK PACK GLOSSY  ALL-STARS WERE THE FIRST REAL INSERT CARDS I PULLED FROM PACKS AND I'VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH THEM FOR A WHILE. I GUESS DONRUSS PUZZLE PIECES AND STICKER CARDS WERE TECHNICALLY THE VERY FIRST INSERTS I CAME ACROSS BUT THOSE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE INSERTS. THESE WERE THE FIRST CARDS I CAME ACROSS THAT HAD THAT SPECIAL SHINY FEEL.  I FOUND THE TOUGH 1991 MAIL-IN GLOSSY  ALL STAR SET AT AN ANTIQUE MALL LAST YEAR SO I AM NOW IN THE STRETCH RUN ON COMPLETING THE ENTIRE SERIES. HERE'S TWO MORE SETS CHECKED OFF THE LIST

1985 TOPPS CAL RIPKEN JR. GLOSSY ALL STAR


OLD FRIEND CAL RIPKEN JR. I ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT PETE ROSE AND NOLAN RYAN BEING THE LAST GUYS I NEED FOR EVERY SET BUT CAL HAS BEEN THE STRAGGLER IS A WHOLE BUNCHA SETS I'VE TRIED TO COMPLETE. I GUESS I DON'T MIND PICKING UP CALS BECAUSE 80S SUPERSTAR CARDS ARE WAY CHEAPER THAN 70S SUPERSTAR CARDS. PLUS I WOULDN'T GO AS FAR AS TO SAY HE SAVED BASEBALL IN 1995 BUT THAT STREAK CHASE SURE DID HELP A LOT


TWO SIMPLE COLORS. THESE BACKS ARE SO SIMPLE AND SO COMFORTING. I MISS HAVING A SIMPLE INSERT YOU COULD COUNT ON YEAR AFTER YEAR


I HAVE THESE SETS IN A BINDER AND PUT IN THE NEXT SET RIGHT AFTER THE PREVIOUS ONE SO I DON'T WASTE FIVE POCKETS PER SET SO YOU SEE CARD NUMBER ONE OF THE 1986 SET IN THE COMPLETED PAGE PIC. REGGIE IN THE CENTER SQUARE IS MY FAVORITE ON THIS PAGE BUT I APPRECIATE THE ALL-STAR CARD OF CHET LEMON WHO IS SUPER UNDERRATED. HIS STATS AREN'T FLASHY BUT HE WAS A GREAT HITTER IN AN ERA WHEN THOSE WERE SCARCE

1988 TOPPS DARRYL STRAWBERRY GLOSSY ALL-STAR


I'M ALSO NOT SURPRISED THAT A DARRYL STRAWBERRY AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER IS THE SET CAPPER FOR THE 1988 GLOSSIES. I BOUGHT A BUNCH OF RACK PACKS IN 1988 BUT BACK THEN I BOUGHT PACKS ON VIBES, NOT SET BUILDING SO I NEVER PICKED UP THE STRAWMAN. IF I HOPPED IN THE TIME TRAVEL DEVICE AND WENT BACK TO MCCRORY'S TO BUY SOME PACKS YOU BET I WOULD BE LEAVING WITH 22 RACKS AND A COMPLETE SET, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT HOW I DID THINGS BACK THEN. THIS IS ASSUMING STRAWBERRY WAS EVEN AVAILABLE, PEOPLE SCOOPING UP ALL THE GOOD PACKS OUT OF RETAIL IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON


YEAH, THIS BACK IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RIPKEN BACK EXCEPT FOR SOME OF THE EXT BUT IT'S JUST SO PRETTY. I'D GET THIS AS A TATTOO IF I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT PLAYER TO GET

(IT'S REGGIE, I'D GET REGGIE)


ONCE AGAIN WE GET A MANAGER AND THIS COMPLETE PAGE'S UNDERRATED ALL-STAR IS JACK CLARK. ANOTHER GUY WHO PLAYED IN THE 70S WHO DIDN'T HAVE EYE-POPPING STATS OTHER THAN HIS 35 HOMER SEASON IN 87 BUT WAS WAY BETTER THAN WE REMEMBER. HERE'S A FUN GAME: RANK CHET LEMON, JACK CLARK AND DARRYL STRAWBERRY BY WAR AND THEN GO CHECK THEIR STATS AND SEE HOW YOU DID. 

I NOW AM DOWN TO NEEDING FIVE CARDS TO COMPLETE THE RUN AND THE ONLY HALL OF FAMER IS KIRBY PUCKETT. NO WAIT, TED SIMMONS IS IN THE HALL NOW TOO. TEDDY HIGUERA IS NOT IN THE HALL OF FAME, I'M SURE OF THAT. I COULD KNOCK THEM ALL OUT CHEAP ONLINE RIGHT NOW BUT I STILL HAVE A DREAM OF FINDING A RACK PACK WITH A CARD I NEED ON THE FRONT. YOU CAN'T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!

Friday, March 8, 2024

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 6: FULL DECK

WE'RE ON THE SECOND BATCH OF COMC PICKUPS NOW WHERE WE HAVE STUFF I WANTED TO TARGET BUT WASN'T QUITE SOMETHING THAT I WAS GOING TO INSTA-BUY THE MOMENT THE SALE STARTED. THE FIRST HALF OF THIS BATCH WERE SET-COMPLETING CARDS FOR INSERTS AND SOME SMALLER ODDBALL SETS. TODAY'S CARD HAD ELUDED ME FOR THIRTY YEARS

1993 UPPER DECK CECIL FIELDER ON DECK


I'VE BEEN SLOWLY WORKING ON MY 1993 UPPER DECK INSERTS COLLECTION FOR A WHILE NOW AND HAD MANAGED TO COMPLETE FOUR OF THE SETS BY THE TIME OF THE SALE. I KNOCKED OUT THE THEN AND NOW SET LAST YEAR AND WAS FOCUSED ON ANOTHER WITH ONE CARD LEFT. THE ON DECK INSERT SET WAS FOUND ONE PER PACK IN SERIES TWO JUMBO PACKS. I RIPPED ENOUGH OF THAT STUFF TO GET A TON OF THESE CARDS AND THEY ARE STILL PRETTY EASY TO FIND SO I WAS ABLE TO PICK OUT ONES I NEEDED OUT OF QUARTER AND FIFTY CENT BOXES. THE CECIL FIELDER CARD DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYWHERE THOUGH. IT WASN'T IN CHEAPO BOXES AND THERE AREN'T MANY CECIL FIELDER SECTIONS IN STAR BOXES. I'M SURE THERE'S A BUNCH ON EBAY BUT I HAVEN'T USED THAT SITE IN FIFTEEN YEARS. COMC HAD ONE FOR FIFTY CENTS AND I NABBED IT


THE GIMMICK WITH THIS SET WAS THE PERSONAL QUESTIONS TO THE PLAYER ON THE BACK LIKE YOU'D SEE ON SETS LIKE STUDIO AND TRIPLE PLAY. CECIL'S ANSWERS ARE PRETTY GENERIC BUT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CONTROVERSY ON THE BACK OF THESE CARDS. THE GREATEST PERSONAL INFLUENCE ANSWER ON EVERY CARD IS FAMILY MEMBERS WITH PARENTS AND WIFE AS THE TOP TWO ANSWERS AND A MENTION OF A BROTHER AND GRANDMOTHER ON A COUPLE CARDS. CECIL IS ONE OF THE MOST RESERVED PLAYERS AS HIS ANSWERS ARE VERY SHORT AND TO THE POINT. ROGER CLEMENS, GRIFFEY JUNIOR AND CHIPPER JONES' ANSWERS FILLED UP THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE CARD. THERE'S NOT MUCH CONTRVERSIAL ON THE BACKS EITHER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALBERT BELLE SEEMINGLY WANTING TO PLAY ANY SPORT OTHER THAN BASEBALL, A PROTO-TEA PARTY RANT FROM ANDY VAN SLYKE AND JOSE CANSECO STATING THAT IF HE WASN'T PLAYING BASEBALL HE'D PROBABLY BE AN ALIEN. THAT'S HONESTLY SOME EXTREME SELF-AWARENESS FROM JOSE. I ONLY TOOK PICTURES OF THE FRONT BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO READ THE TEXT FROM MY SHAKYPHONE PICTURES SO CHECK OUT ALL THE ANSWERS ON TCDB. HERE'S MY COMPLETE SET WITH A COUPLE CAMEOS FROM HOMERUN HEROES



Thursday, March 7, 2024

2024 ONLINE BLASTER - PART 5: THE FIRST PILE OF CHRONICLES

I STILL LOVES THE CHRONICLES AND STILL KEEP PICKING OFF NEW CARDS FROM THE SET AS THEY POP UP. I HAVE NOT EXACTLY FIGURED OUT HOW I AM COLLECTING THE SET YET, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD ALL THE SETS, THERE'S 25 DIFFERENT DESIGNS WITH AS MANY AS 100 CARDS IN A SET AND I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN A CARD FROM EVERY DESIGN YET! I THINK I DO WANT TO GET AT LEAST A PAGE WORTH OF MOST OF THE SETS WHILE TRYING TO GET AS MANY DIFFERENT PLAYERS AS POSSIBLE. ONCE THE NEXT BATCH OF CARDS COMES IN I'LL HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON HOW EXACTLY TO DO THAT. *NOTE - THIS HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I WROTE THIS POST. HERE'S THE FIRST OF THREE POSTS OF INCREASINGLY SHINY CHRONICLES CARDS

CATEGORY - CHRONICLES

2022 BASE DESIGN - MANNY MACHADO, LUIS ROBERT


IT'S KINDA RIDICULOUS HOW MUCH MANNY'S STAR HAS FADED SINCE HE JOINED THE PADRES. HE'S STILL A GREAT PLAYER ON A HALL OF FAME TRAJECTORY WHO IS STILL VERY PRODUCTIVE. OK, SURE, HE'S IN HIS THIRTIES NOW AND COULD FALL OFF A CLIFF AT ANY MOMENT BUT STILL. THIS DUDE IS A GOOD PLAYER! 


ON THE OTHER HAND, LUIS ROBERT IS A GREAT PLAYER ON A GARBAGE TEAM. HE HAD THIRTY-EIGHT DINGERS LAST YEAR! I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT LUIS CAN DO THIS YEAR AS HE STARTS TO ENTER HIS PRIME. WHO KNOWS, THE AL CENTRAL IS PRETTY STINKY, HE MIGHT MESS AROUND AND LEAD THE SOX TO THE PLAYOFFS. 74 WINS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO WIN THE CENTRAL

ODDLY ENOUGH THE BASE SET ONLY HAS 50 CARDS WHEN SOME OF THE SHINER ONES THAT ARE TOUGHER TO PULL OUT OF A PACK ARE 60 AND EVEN 100 CARDS IN SIZE. PART OF ME WANTS TO COMPLETE THE BASE SET JUST BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COMPLETE BASE SETS FOR FOREVER BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY COMMITTED TO IT YET. WE'LL SEE

2022 LUMINANCE DESIGN - MARCUS STROMAN


I DON'T REALLY LIKE THE LUMINENCE DESIGNS SO THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE SETS I ONLY COLLECT THREE CARDS FROM, WHICH MEANS I NEVER HAVE TO TINK ABOUT IT AGAIN STINCE STROMAN'S MY THIRD CARD. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S ONLY A 20 CARD SET SO ALL IT WOULD TAKE FOR ME TO COLLECT THE WHOLE THING IS TO SEE A PILE OF THEM IN A DIME BOX

2022 THREADS DESIGN - CODY BELLINGER


I DON'T LIKE THREADS EITHER BUT I ALREADY HAVE MORE THAN THRE OF THEM SO A COMPLETE PAGE WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE WORKS. A FORMER MVP IS A NICE ADDITION, AND I DID NOT HAVE A BELLINGER FOR THE SET YET WHICH IS A BONUS. LET'S HOPE HE CAN KEEP UP HIS CUBS PRODUCTION IN 24

2022 LIMITED DESIGN - JOSE ABREU


ANOTHER MVP! IM NOT SUPER CRAZY ABOUT THE LIMITED DESIGN BUT IT'S KINDA GROWING ON ME. I STILL WISH THERE WAS A BUNCH OF HOLOFOIL STAMPING ON FOILBOARD LIKE OLD LEAF LIMITED SETS BUT THERE'S ENOUGH OF THAT ON THE OTHER DESIGNS

2022 PINNACLE DESIGN - JOE RYAN


I REALLY LIKE THESE CARDS THANKS TO THE (MOSTLY) AUTHENTIC LOOKING PINNACLE DESIGN BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF THEM AROUND. JOR RYAN'S A PRETTY GOOD RC TO GET, YOU GOTTA LOVE AN INNINGS EATER IN TODAY'S GAME. THERE'S ONLY TWENTY CARDS IN THIS SET, I'M TEMPTED TO COMPLETE THE WHOLE THING AND PUT IT IN THE PINNACLE BOX

2022 ELITE DESIGN - RILEY ADAMS


THE ELITE SET HAS FIFTY CARDS AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S SHINY, IT'S PRETTY BORING WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT. THERE'S JUST NOTHING TO IT! I KNOW I MADE FUN OF ALL THE RANDOM ANGLES EVERYWHERE PANINI DESIGNS ON A LOT OF THESE CARDS, BUT THERE'S JUST NOTHING HERE! FULL BLEED CARDS WITH A MINIMAL DESIGN ONLY WORK WITH A BACKGROUND AND I DON'T MEAN A FUNHOUSE REFLECTION OF MY FACE STARING BACK AT ME THROUGH THE RAINBOW FOIL

2022 CERTIFIED DESIGN - JOSE ABREU


THE MORE I LOOK AT IT THE MORE I LIKE THE CERTIFIED CARDS. YES, THE DESIGN IS OVERWORKED ALMOST TO THE POINT OF ABSURD, BUT IT DOES FIT WITH THE WEIRD HISTORICAL DONRUSS VERSIONS. HERE'S ANOTHER JOSE ABREU. I KNOW I SAID I WANTED TO GET AS MANY DIFFERENT PLAYERS AS POSSIBLE BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST GO FOR THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE

2021 REVOLUTION DESIGN - KRIS BRYANT


I FRIGGIN LOVE THE REVOLUTION SET NO MATTER IF IT'S PACIFIC OR PANINI. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THE 2021 VERSIONS SO THIS IS A REALLY NICE PICKUP. HOW IN THE WORLD DID KRIS BRYANT GO FROM THE SAVIOR OF CHICAGO TO A PRISON SENTENCE IN DENVER. MAYBE HE CAN HAVE A BELLINGER BOUNCE BACK THIS SEASON

2022 CLEARLY DONRUSS DESIGN - JAVIER BAEZ


I STILL FEEL THIS DESIGN WORKS BETTER ON PLAIN OL PAPER CARDS BUT CLEAR CARDS ARE TOO APPEALING TO ME TO CARE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE LARGER SETS AT 65 CARDS SPLIT UP BETWEEN BASE AND RATED ROOKIES. BAEZ SEEMS TO BE SUFFERING FROM A COMBINATION OF MACHADO'S NO ONE CARES ANYMORE NOW THAT HE SIGNED A BIG CONTRACT WITH THE TIGERS AND BRYANT'S THE MOJO IS GONE NOW THAT HE'S NOT IN CHICAGO CURSES

2021 CLEAR VISION DESIGN - IAN ANDERSON


CLEAR CARDS WITH HOLOFOIL ARE MY CATNIP AND THIS ONE IS A BRAVES ROOKIE TO BOOT! IAN MISSED LAST SEASON WITH TOMMY JOHN AND WILL PROBABLY BE PRETTY LOW ON THE DEPTH CHART WHEN HE FINALLY GETS BACK. EVERY TEAM NEEDS LIKE EIGHT DECENT STARTERS MINIMUM NOWDAYS TO GET THROUGH A SEASON THOUGH SO HE'LL PROBABLY GET HIS CHANCE SOONER OR LATER

THE NEXT THREE ARE NOT CHRONICLES CARDS BUT IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I AM ALLOWED TO PICK UP CARDS WITH DESIGNS SIMILAR TO THE CHRONICLES CARDS I LOVE EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT FROM THE CHRONICLES SETS. OR EVEN BASEBALL. YOU CAN PUT THE FOLLOWING IN CATEGORY - INSERTS IF YOU PREFER

2021 ILLUSIONS JOSH JACOBS ILLUSIONISTS INSERTS


I DUNNO WHO JOSH JACOBS IS BUT DAMN THIS CARD IS VERY CLEAR AND HAS SOME GREAT LOOKING GOLD FOIL HIGHLIGHTS. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH TELLS ME JOSH IS A VERY GOOD RUNNING BACK WHO IS A FREE AGENT AT A TIME WHERE TEAMS DON'T WANT TO PAY RUNNING BACKS SQUAT. POOR JOSH. I HOPE YOU FLEECE SOME TEAM AND GET YOUR MONEY

2021 ILLUSIONS DARIUS LEONARD AND JAMES HARRISON CLEAR SHOTS INSERTS


DAMN, ILLUSIONS DOES SOME GREAT INSERT SETS. WE HAVE A COUPLE LINEBACKERS HERE WITH DARIUS LEONARD AND JAMES HARRISON. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHINY AS THE LEONARD CARD HAS A TON OF HOLOFOIL WHILE HARRISON GETS THE GOILD FOIL TREATMENT LIKE THAT ILLUSIONIST CARD UP THERE. I'M PUTTING THEM BOTH IN THE CHRONICLES BOX ANYWAY BECAUSE ILLUSIONS ISN'T A REAL SET ANYWAY


UP NEXT: IT'S CHAOS TIME AGAIN

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

2024 ONLINE BLASTER - PART 22: COMPLETED SETS FROM A NEW BOX

 I GOT MY SECOND BOX FROM BASEBALLCARDSTORE DOT CA AND I'M ONLY ON POST FOUR FROM THE FIRST BOX LOL. I'VE RUN OUT OF CUTE NAMES FOR THESE BOXES SO WE'RE JUST SWITCHING TO 2024 ONLINE BLASTER NOW UNTIL WE RUN OUT OF CARDS OR RUN OUT OF YEAR. I ALSO HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO SORT THIS BOX INTO POSTS BUT I AM STICKING TO MY 2024 GOAL OF POSTING THINGS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE SO HERE'S A POST OF THE STUFF THAT COMPLETED SOME INSERT SETS FOR ME


THERE'S LOTS OF NEAT STUFF I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHOWING OFF IN THERE AND THAT TEAM TIMBER ON TOP APPEARS TO BE SOME LAGNIAPPE AS I DO NOT REMEMBER BUYING IT ON THE SITE

1991 FLEER ULTRA BARRY BONDS ULTRA TEAM

I THINK I SHOWED THIS OFF ON A WEEKLY RECAP POST BUT NOW IT'S HERE SO I CAN SHOW OFF THE WHOLE SHEBANG


THIS IS A REAL SNAPSHOT OF 1990. FOUR HALL OF FAMERS, ONE SHOULD BE A HALL OF FAMER, ONE COULD HAVE BEEN HALL OF FAMER, ONE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE WITH FRIENDS ON THE VETERAN'S COMMITTEE HALL OF FAMER AND THREE HAD A CAREER YEAR IN 1990. WITH THIS I NOW HAVE THE MASTER SET OF 1991 ULTRA. EXCEPT FOR A FEW LOGO STICKERS. AND ABOUT HALF OF THE UPDATE SET. I DO NOT HAVE A MASTER SET OF FLEER ULTRA, BUT THIS INSERT SET IS DONE AT LEAST. 

1991-92 UPPER DECK BRETT HULL HOCKEY HEROES


IN A PREVIOUS POST I MENTIONED THAT I'M RUNNING OUT OF BASEBALL UPPER DECK HEROES INSERT CARDS TO COLLECT AND I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO START WORKING ON OTHER SPORTS. WELL, I STARTED. THIS SET IS A LITTLE ODD BECAUSE ALL THE BASEBALL HEROES SETS PAID TRIBUTE TO AN ALL-TIME GREAT WITH A CAREER'S WORTH OF HIGHLIGHTS, BUT HOCKEY CHOSE A 5TH YEAR PLAYER. IT WAS A VERY GOOD CHOICE AS HULL WON PRETTY MUCH ALL THE AWARDS BY 1991 AND ENDED UP IN THE HALL OF FAME WITH A COUPLE STANLEY CUPS. THANKS TO THE SHORT CAREER AT THIS POINT WE GET COLLEGE AND MINOR LEAGUE CARDS OF HULL IN THE HEROES SET WHICH IS PRETTY NEAT. HERE'S THE WHOLE THING WITH HEADER CARD


THIS IS A NICE LOOKING SET! UP NEXT FOR HOCKEY HEROES IS WAYNE GRETZKY (WHY DIDN'T THEY DO HIM FIRST??) AND GORDIE HOWE AND AFTER THAT I HAVE NO CLUE. I AM EQUALLY CLUELESS ABOUT THE BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL HEROES SETS. I'VE GOT SOME RESEARCH TO DO IF I'M REALLY DOING THIS HEROES COMPLETIONIST THING

2008 UPPER DECK PRESIDENTIAL PREDICTORS


THIS IS A CRUMMY THING TO POST NOW THAT WE'RE ENTERING MAYBE THE MOST MISERABLE ELECTION SEASON OF OUR LIVES BUT BACK IN 2008 THINGS WERE MORE WHIMSICAL*. UPPER DECK GAVE US A SET OF PREDICTOR CARICATURE CARDS FOR MOST OF THE TOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN SERIES ONE AND FOLLOWED IT UP WITH OBAMA VS. MCCAIN CARDS WITH HILLARY VARIATIONS SINCE THINGS WERE STILL A BIT UP IN THE AIR WHEN THE CARDS WERE BEING PRINTED. THE VERSUS CARDS ALL WERE PARODYING FAMOUS BASEBALL FIGHTS WITH THE CANDIDATES. THE ARTWORK WAS THE PERFECT MIX OF HILARIOUS AND HORRIFYING AS YOU CAN SEE BY THAT CARD OF HILLARY'S BADONKADONK WITH MCCAIN COPPING A FEEL IN THE SCRUM. AS AN OG CARD BLOGGER I WAS CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO BUY WAY TOO MUCH 2008 UPPER DECK AND HAD MOST OF THE SET ROTTING AWAY IN A BINDER. THESE TWO CARDS FILLED UP THE LAST TWO OPEN POCKETS AND NOW I HAVE TWO COMPLETED PAGES 


EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE SINCE BEEN DISGRACED TO SOME LEVEL SINCE THIS - JESUS, IT IS SIXTEEN YEARS NOW?? - SET WAS RELEASED AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CARDS WITH PALIN AND BIDEN. I WILL NEVER COMPLETE THE ENTIRE SET AS THERE'S THE VP INSERTS THAT WERE IN SP AUTHENTIC AND AN OBAMA VICTORY CARD WHERE HE'S GETTING GATORADE DUMPED ON HIM THAT WAS A MAIL-IN EXCHANGE CARD I THINK AND THE ORIGINAL HILLARY CARD WHERE SHE WAS PORTRAYED AS MORGANNA THE KISSING BANDIT GOT YANKED AND I'M NOT EVEN CERTAIN IT ACTUALLY EXISTS OR IF IT WAS JUST A GIMMICK TO GET SUCKERS TO RIP MOAR PACKS. I'M ALSO MISSING ONE OF THE HILLARY VARIATIONS AS YOU CAN SEE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?  WITH TWO FULL PAGES THIS SHIT IS COMPLETE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. THESE PAGES ARE BACK IN THE BINDER AND I NEVER HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THEM AGAIN. HOORAY! 

A GET WELL SOON TO STEVEN, THE PROPRIETOR OF THE SITE WHO IS UNDER THE WEATHER AT THE MOMENT. HANG IN THERE BUDDY

UP NEXT: I HAVE NO IDEA! I STILL NEED TO SORT ALL THIS STUFF

*THEY WERE NOT, EVERYTHING WAS TERRIBLE AND WE WERE ALL A NERVOUS WRECK. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME