QUARTER BOX CRAP - BUCK 7

 WHEN DIGGING THROUGH BOXES OF CARDS I DON'T NEED I TRY TO LIMIT MYSELF TO ONLY GETTING FIVE BUCKS WORTH BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS. I COULDN'T EVEN STOP AT SIX THIS TIME. AND - SPOILER ALERT - THIS AIN'T THE LAST QUARTER BOX POST FOR THIS BATCH. BEFORE THESE ALL GO UP ON THE BLOG I MIGHT EVEN GO BACK TO THE SHOP FOR SECONDS. I LEFT QUITE A FEW CARDS BEHIND AND PROBABLY SKIPPED OVER A FEW MORE GOOD ONES IN MY HASTE

2022 DONRUSS WILLIE STARGELL STARS BORDER PARALLEL

THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE PICKUP FROM THE BOX BINGE. POPS ON THE 88 DONRUSS DESIGN WITH STARS ON THE BORDER. FANTASTIC. SOMETHING'S UP WITH THIS PARALLEL BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER 1988 RETRO CARDS HAVE GLOSSY BACKS AND THIS ONE IS MATTE. I REFUSE TO LOOK UP ALL THE PARALLELS FOR THIS SET SO I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT'S A SUPER SCARCE SHORT PRINT VARIATION. ALSO: THE PANINIZATION OF WILLIE'S UNIFORM TO TURN ALL THE YELLOW STRIPES SOLID BLACK IS RIDICULOUS AND I LOVE IT. THIS ISN'T THE ONLY STARGELL CARD THEY'VE DONE IT TO EITHER. PANINI TURNING POPS INTO A REFEREE

2022 DONRUSS BROOKS ROBINSON RED BORDER PARALLEL

IT'S KINDA RIDICULOUS I GOT THE JOHNNY BENCH CARD WITH ORANGE BORDERS AND THE BROOKS ROBINSON CARD WITH RED BORDERS. THEY LOOK REALLY GOOD SIDE BY SIDE THOUGH, MAYBE DONRUSS KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SPEAKING OF DONRUSS HAVE I POSTED MY 2023 RACK PACK YET? IF NOT, YELL AT ME. I GOT THAT THING JUST AFTER FATHER'S DAY AND AM BEING SLOW ABOUT POSTING. THERE'S SOME GOOD STUFF IN THERE

2022 TOPPS INCEPTION JESSE WINKER

IT MAKES ME SOOOO HAPPY TO FIND A BASE CARD FROM A HIGH-END PRODUCT THAT COSTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR A SINGLE LOUSY PACK IN A CHEAPSKATE POVERTY BOX. IT'S NOT EVEN A GOOD LOOKING CARD! IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE EXACTO KNIFED JESSE OUT OF HIS QYPSY GUEEN CARD AND PLOPPED HIM ONTO SOME GEOMETRIC SHAPES AN AI GENERATED. IT'S ON SUPER THICK CARD STOCK TOO, THEY WASTED THAT GOOD CARDBOARD ON THIS MESS LOL. I GOT A FEW OF THESE IN A BOX ALREADY, MAYBE SOON I'LL HAVE ENOUGH TO COMPLETE A PAGE IN A FUTURE CHAOS BINDER

2021 OPTIC MIKE YASTRZEMSKI MYTHICAL

I LOVE THIS DUMB SET AND HAVE SINCE I FOUND THE RONALD ACUÑA VERSION AND INSTA-BOUGHT IT. THE GENERIC MYSTICAL 'WE WANTED A TAROT CARD MOTIF BUT TOPPS BEAT US TO IT' DESIGN APPEALS TO ME GREATLY. MOONS, ARROWS AND SPIROGRAPH DESIGNS, JUST WONDERFUL. MIKE YASTRZEMSKI CARDS ARE FUN TOO

ONLINE DIMEBOX BLASTER - PART 9

 SOME MONSTER HITS IN THIS BATCH, ALONG WITH A NEAT CARD OF A GUY WHOSE ROOKIE CARD IS ONE OF THE BEST OF THE SEVENTIES

1992 PINNACLE BERNIE WILLIAMS TEAM 2000

CATEGORY - INSERT

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I CAN'T FIND MY PINNACLE INSERTS* TO SEE WHICH TEAM 2000 INSERTS I NEED AND IT'S FRUSTRATING ME GREATLY. BERNIE WILLIAMS IS WORTH TAKING A FLYER ON. WORST CASE SCENARIO I ALREADY HAVE IT AND IT GOES INTO A CHAOS BINDER

2021 BOWMAN BRADEN SHEWMAKE

CATEGORY - BRAVES

BRADEN SHEWMAKE WAS THE BRAVES' TOP SHORTSTOP PROSPECT FOR A WHILE. THEN HE GOT HURT AT THE ABSOLUTE WORST TIME LAST YEAR WHICH GAVE VAUGHN GRISSOM AN OPENING TO GET CALLED UP TO PLAY SECOND BASE WHEN OZZIE ALBIES GOT INJURED. THEN DANSBY WALKED AND THE ORGANIZATION WAS ALL 'VAUGHN AND BRADEN WILL BE COMPETING FOR THE STARTING SHORTSTOP SPOT' BEFORE HANDING THE JOB TO 2023 STARTING NL ALL STAR SHORTSTOP ORLANDO ARCIA. SHEWMAKE DID GET TO MAKE HIS MLB DEBUT AND HAS PLAYED WELL IN GWINNETT PLAYING SECOND AND SHORT. I LIKE TO PICK UP AT LEAST ONE BOWMAN CARD OF BRAVES PROSPECTS IN CASE THEY HIT IT BIG. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT IT HAS HAPPENED. SO I PICKED UP A SHEWMAKE. AND THEN I WENT AND PICKED UP ANOTHER ONE IN A FUTURE BATCH BECAUSE OF COURSE I DID

1979 TCMA JAPANESE PRO BASEBALL DAVE HILTON

CATEGORY - ODDBALL

THIS SET WAS THE FIRST JAPANESE LEAGUE CARDS I EVER SAW, HAVING PICKED UP ONE OR TWO FROM AN OLD CMC COLLECTOR'S KIT WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID. I'VE LIKED THE CARDS EVER SINCE AND WAS HAPPY TO SEE ONE POP UP ON THE SITE. DAVE HERE PLAYED FOR THE YAKULT SWALLOWS, THE SAME TEAM BOB HORNER WAS ON WHEN HE GOT COLLUDED OUT OF THE LEAGUE. I DIDN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PLAYER AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH ANYONE FROM THE SET BUT WHEN I GOT IT I THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED HIM. THEN IT CLICKED, HE'S THE GUY SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN RON CEY AND MIKE SCHMIDT ON THIS CARD. NO MORE GLASSES AND A NAME CHANGE LATER HE ENDED UP IN JAPAN. THIS ONE IS FROM ONE OF THOSE CMC KITS AS CAN BE SEEN BY THE LITTLE MLB LOGO ON THE BACK

2020 FIRE ANDRELTON SIMMONS ARMS ABLAZE

CATEGORY - INSERT

THIS IS THE SECOND MONOCHROMATIC TOPPS FIRE INSERT I'VE PICKED UP THIS MONTH ALONG WITH THAT EXTREMELY YELLOW BRYCE HARPER CARD I POSTED A WHILE BACK. I DON'T KNOW WHY FIRE, A CARD SET FOR A WILD CACOPHONY OF COLOR, DOES THIS BUT THE SET GOT DUMPED BY FANATICS SO I GUESS IT DOESN'T MATTER ANY MORE. I MISS ANDRELTON SIMMONS AND HIS SPECTACTULAR DEFENSE BUT I BEGRUDGINGLY ADMIT IT ALL EVENTUALLY WORKED OUT IN THE END

1991 FLEER ULTRA RYNE SANDBERG ULTRA TEAM

CATEGORY - INSERT

THE ULTRA BASE SET IS DONE, TIME TO WORK ON THE ALL-STARS, UHH I MEAN ULTRA TEAM SET. TEN CARDS, SUPER COMMON, I CAN DO THIS. RYNO IS A VERY NICE PICKUP AND ONE OF THE BETTER PLAYERS IN THE SET

1991 FLEER ULTRA RICKEY HENDERSON ULTRA TEAM

CATEGORY - INSERT

I WOULDA BOUGHT THIS EVEN IF I WASN'T WORKING ON THE SET. I MIGHT BUY A COUPLE MORE IF I CAN FIND EM. GIMME GIMME GIMME ALL THE RICKEYS 

1992 UPPER DECK ARCHI CIANFROCCO SCOUTING REPORT

CATEGORY - INSERT, WANTLIST

I'VE BEEN FOCUSING MUCH MORE CLOSELY ON MY 1993 UPPER DECK INSERTS THAN 1992 BUT HERE'S ONE MORE CARD OFF MY WANTLIST. THIS SET ALWAYS CAUGHT MY EYE DUE TO THE NEAT CLIPBOARD SCOUTING REPORT DESIGN ON THE BACK. THIS DUDE ALSO CAUGHT MY EYE WITH HIS NAME. YOUNGER ME HAD READ TOO MANY COMICS AND WAS BEFUDDLED BY THE LACK OF AN E ON ARCHI'S NAME. HE ENDED UP A PRETTY GOOD UTILITY PLAYER SO WHO NEEDS EES

1995-96 UPPER DECK SP DIKEMBE MUTOMBO

CATEGORY - HAWKS

I REALLY LIKED THIS SP DESIGN WHEN IT CAME OUT. ALL FOUR SETS LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT WORKED WELL FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORT. THE BASKETBALL FLAVOR HAS A MARBLE AND CREAM BORDER THAT LOOKS PRETTY CLASSY. IT ABSOLUTELY COULD HAVE BEEN A PARQUET FLOOR MOTIF LIKE A DOZEN OTHER SETS SO I THINK WE DODGED A BULLET. A FULL FOILBOARD BACK WAS ALSO A PRETTY WILD CHOICE BUT IT WAS BACK WHEN A HIGH END PRODUCT MEANT SOMETHING. I LOVE FINDING NICE CARDS OF DIKEMBE AND THIS IS ONE OF THE NICEST BASE CARDS OUT THERE

1993 COMIC IMAGES FRAZETTA II FRANKENSTEIN AND DRACULA

CATEGORY - NON-SPORT

CARD ONE OF TWO FOR THE MONSTER BINDER. FRANK FRAZETTA IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS DUE TO HIS PROLIFIC PAINTINGS OF FANTASY SCENES WITH A HEALTHY DOLLOP OF CHEESECAKE MIXED IN. FRANK ILLUSTRATED A TON OF STUFF AND HAS A PRETTY HEALTHY CULT FOLLOWING NOW. IT'S HARD TO NOT FIND A HORROR OR SCI-FI MAGAZINE FROM THE 70S THAT DIDN'T HAVE A FRAZETTA COVER. HE EVEN DREW LITTLE ABNER FOR A WHILE! COMIC IMAGES KNEW WHAT WAS UP AND PRODUCED THREE CARD SETS OF HIS ART IN THE EARLY 90S. I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S THE STORY WITH THIS PAINTING HERE AS THE BACK OF THE CARD SAYS NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT IT WAS USED AS THE COVER FOR A COMBO BOOK OF DRACULA AND FRANKENSTEIN. IT'S A GREAT LOOKING IMAGE BUT DUE TO THE UV COATING ON THE FRONT IT LOOKS A LOT DARKER IN PERSON THAN IT DOES IN THE PHOTO

1993 COMIC IMAGES FRAZETTA II KING KONG

CATEGORY - NON-SPORT

IT'S HARD TO DECIDE BETWEEN DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN AND KONG SO I JUST GOT THEM BOTH. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EARLY 90S NON-SPORTS SETS I WOULDN'T MIND JUST BUYING THE WHOLE THING. FRAZETTA LOVED KING KONG AND PAINTED QUITE A FEW PICTURES OF OUR BELOVED MONKEY. THIS ONE HERE CAN BE FOUND IN DIFFERENT VARIATIONS ON THE COVER OF A 1976 MOVIE TIE-IN NOVEL AND ON THE COVER OF CREEPY MAGAZINE #11. THIS ONE IS ALSO SADLY DARK IN HAND, POOR KONG HAS BEEN SUCKED INTO A BLACK HOLE

UP NEXT - QUITE POSSIBLY THE MOST RANDOM BATCH OUT OF THE BOX

* NOTE FROM A MONTH LATER - I FOUND THEM. STILL HAVEN'T POSTED THE WANTLIST BUT LET'S JUST SAY A FUTURE ONLINE DIME BOX POST MIGHT BE A LITTLE TEAM 2000 HEAVY

OVERDUE DONRUSS FAT PACK POST

 I BOUGHT THIS THING BACK IN JUNE AND DONRUSS IS STILL HANGING AROUND IN STORES IF THAT TELLS YOU HOW POPULAR IT IS. I KINDA LIKE IT THOUGH, THE DESIGN IS NEAT AND THE MIX OF BOWMAN MEETS LEGENDS IS KIND OF FUN. I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS POST IN A WAY WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE TO POST EVERY SINGLE CARD SO I BROKE IT UP INTO SUBSETS AND CUT THE NUMBER OF PICS IN HALF

SINCE THERE'S A LOT OF PROSPECTS IN HERE I CHECKED THE MLB.COM 2023 PROSPECT RANKINGS SO I COULD ANSWER THE ETERNAL QUESTION 'DID I DO GOOD?' THEIR NUMBER RANKING HAS BEEN LISTED NEXT TO THE NAME AND I DID THE SAME WITH THE RETIRED PLAYERS BECAUSE WHY NOT. PROSPECT RANKINGS WILL LIKELY BE OUTDATED BY THE TIME I POST THIS BUT HOPEFULLY IT GOES UP BEFORE THE NEXT HALL OF FAME BALLOT. GRANT WILL BE PLEASED TO SEE I TYPED OUT THE NAMES WHEN I WAS OPENING UP THE PACK WITH ACTUAL LOWER CASE LETTERS AND I'M TOO LAZY TO CAPSLOCK THEM ALL

DIAMOND KINGS:

Juan Marichal - Hall of Fame
Roger Clemens - Not

NEW DIAMOND KINGS WILL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS THE DICK PEREZ ONES BUT THEY ARE ALWAYS REASONABLY NICE. THE ENTIRE CHECKLIST IS FILLED WITH LEGENDS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PULLING A MINOR LEAGUER. THEY WENT WITH THE DIAMOND THEME ON THE DESIGN, MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE'LL GET A CROWN

RATED PROSPECTS:

Jackson Chourio - #2
James Wood - #4
Jackson Jobe - na
Brayan Rocchio - #52 Called up
Carson Williams - #23

ALL THESE RATINGS ARE PROBABLY DEFUNCT NOW THAT THE TRADE DEADLINE IS LONG GONE. THERE'S ALSO PROBABLY A COUPLE OTHER PLAYERS CALLED UP BY NOW. THE FACT THAT ANY OF THEM WERE CALLED UP AT ALL IS INTERESTING TO ME AS PANINI'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SELLING CURRENT PLAYERS. SURE IT TAKES TIME TO PLAN, DESIGN AND PRINT THE THINGS BUT IT'S STILL WORTH WATCHING CONSIDERING HOW LITIGEOUS EVERYONE IN THE INDUSTRY IS AT THE MOMENT. JUST ASK PAUL LESKO. JACKSON HERE IS THE #2 PROSPECT RIGHT NOW AND IS TEARING UP DOUBLE-A SO HOORAY FOR ME!

NEW-DONRUSS CARD DESIGNS HAVE BEEN CONTROVERSIAL AT BEST BUT I REALLY LOVE HOW GOOFY THIS ONE IS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE 1991 DESIGN STRIPPED OFF THE GREEN AND BLUE BORDERS AT THE COST OF LETTING THE BORDER STRIPES GO A LITTLE FERAL. THEY'RE GOING EVERY WHICH WAY NOW AND THE SPECKLEY ONES HAVE MUTATED INTO AN EERILY ORGANIC MESH WITH TINY BASEBALLS IN IT. OR ARE THEY EYEBALLS? BASEYEBALLS. IT'S A LITTLE UNNERVING AND I LOVE IT. SINCE NO ONE HERE IS ALLOWED TO BE A ROOKIE THEY ARE NOW RATED PROSPECTS. I'M OK WITH THIS

AS USUAL, THE BACKS ARE TRASH BUT AT LEAST THEY ARE COLORFUL TRASH. THE BLACK AND WHITE BACKS ON A LOT OF PANINI'S LOW-END STUFF DEPRESSES ME

PROSPECT BASE:

Druw Jones - #13
Alex Ramirez - na
Gavin Williams - #10 Called up
Jordan Walker - Called up
Jasson Dominguez - #41

VERY HAPPY TO PICK UP A CARD OF DRUW, NOT AS HAPPY HE'S WITH THE DIAMONDBACKS. I'M WONDERING NOW IF HE'LL BE CALLED UP BEFORE OR AFTER ANDRUW GETS INTO THE HALL OF FAME. I KNOW DRUW'S BATTING UNDER THE MENDOZA LINE IN ROOKIE BALL AND HIS POP NEEDS ABOUT 25% MORE VOTES, I GOT A COOL CARD AND I WILL ENJOY MY DREAMS. JORDAN WALKER'S THE GUY WHO TIPPED ME OFF THAT CALLED UP PLAYERS WERE IN THIS SET. HE'S NOT HAVING A GREAT SEASON IN ST. LOUIS BUT THEN AGAIN, NEITHER ARE THE CARDINALS AND HE'S ABOUT A HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS YOUNGER THAN THEY ARE. GIVE HIM SOME TIME. YOU CAN REALLY SEE THOSE LITTLE BASEBALLS IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER WITHOUT THE RATED PROSPECTS LOGO

BACKS ARE THE SAME EXCEPT GREEN AND YOU GET SOME STATS INSTEAD OF THE RATED PROSPECT LOGO. I WONDER IF THE GREEN ANOTHER LITTLE HAT TIP TO 1991 DONRUSS?

RETIRED BASE:

Jimmy Rollins - MVP
Jack Morris - Douchebag
Nolan Ryan - overpriced by boomers
Buster Posey - was out
Bobby Abreu - underrated
Ivan Rodriguez - Hall of Famer
Rafael Palmeiro - should be a Hall of Famer

THE UNIVERSE HEARD ME BITCHING ABOUT HOW I NEED NOLAN RYAN CARDS TO COMPLETE ALL MY SETS AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY FLOODED ME WITH RYAN CARDS THIS YEAR. NONE FOR THE ACTUAL SETS, BUT A LOT OF THEM. I'M NOT GOING TO COMPLAIN, THIS A  NICE LOOKING CARD. I REALLY REALLY LIKE THE RETIRED LEGENDS ON THE CHECKLIST. THERE'S A LOT OF GUYS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY IN THAT INNER CIRLE LEGENDS GROUP LIKE NOLAN BUT ARE STILL FUN LIKE J-ROLL AND ABREU. I HAVE ALWAYS DISLIKED MORRIS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS BUT HAVE RECENTLY SOURED ON HIM EVEN MORE DUE TO HIS VILLAINY IN THE SECRET BASE DOCUMENTARY ON DAVE STIEB. YOU'RE A DOUCHE, JACK. I'M GLAD FLEER USED A BAD PICTURE ON YOUR CARD IN 1982. ALSO DON'T GET ME STARTED ON PALMIERO. I'M ABOUT TO RUIN A NICE SUNDAY MORNING BLOG POST

1990 RETRO PROSPECTS:

Harry Ford - #25

ONLY GOT ONE RETRO PROSPECT CARD AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE BACK THEY REALLY LEANED INTO THE 1990 DESIGN. SO INCREDIBLY RED. HARRY IS A PRETTY HYPED PROSPECT FOR SEATTLE. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HARRY WAS FROM KENNESAW AND THAT HIS PARENTS NAMED HIM HARRISON. STAR WARS FANS I GUESS

1990 RETRO RETIRED:

Shawn Green - played for blue teams despite being named green
John Smoltz - exhausting
Ken Griffey Jr - Kid

CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT MY RETRO CARDS. A GRIFFEY JR. CARD IS A GOOD CARD. SMOLTZ MEANS I DIDN'T GET SHUT OUT ON BRAVES IN THE PACK. ONCE AGAIN A REHASHED VERSION OF THE 1990 DONRUSS DESIGN SHOWS JUST HOW GOOD THAT DESIGN WOULD BE IF IT JUST WASN'T COMPLETELY EYE-BLEEDING RED. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SKIPPED THE 1989 DESIGN THIS YEAR THOUGH. MAYBE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE GRADIENT BORDERS? 

:EVITAGEN ESREVER EKAF 0991

nayR naloN

SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT NOLAN? THIS IS CLEVER, RIFFING ON THE 1990 JUAN GONZALEZ ERROR. I HAVEN'T CHECKED TO SEE IF JUAN IS IN THIS SET OR IF HE HAS HIS OWN REVERSE NEGATIVE CARD AND I'M NOT GONNA

IF IT'S DONRUSS YOU KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE PARALLELS

SHINY PARALLELS:

Carlos Beltran - will be a Hall of Famer sooner or later
Tyler Black - #98
Noah Schultz - na
Willie McCovey - Hall of Famer
Roger Clemens Diamond King - PUT HIM IN ALREADY

AN ACTUAL NUMBERED PARALLEL! TOO BAD IT'S NUMBERED 1997 INSTEAD OF HIS ROOKIE YEAR OF 1998 OR ELSE I'D HAVE AN EBAY 1/1 HERE. i WAS VERY HAPPY HE GOT FORTY-SOMETHING PERCENT OF THE HALL VOTE HIS FIRST YEAR. PEOPLE MIGHT START GETTING SOME VOTES NOW

I LIKE SHINY BLUE BORDERS SO THIS IS NICE. I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE CARD, BUT IT IS NICE

I THINK THE ORANGE PARALLELS ARE THREE PER FAT PACK AND I PULLED A PROSPECT, A HALL OF FAMER AND A DIAMOND KING. GOOD RANGE OF PLAYERS THERE. THIS WAS DEFINITELY THE TEXAS STRIKEOUT PITCHER PACK. I'M SERIOUS ABOUT CLEMENS TOO, JUST PUT HIM STRAIGHT IN COOPERSTOWN, NO VOTE. PUT AN ASTERISK ON HIS CAP IF YOU MUST, BUT I AM NOT AT ALL INTERESTED IN BONDS AND CLEMENS CLOGGING UP VETERAN'S COMMITTEE VOTES FOR ETERNITY LIKE THEY CLOGGED UP THE BBWAA VOTE FOR SO LONG. JUST PUT THEM IN! 

UNLEASHED INSERT:

Mick Abel - #42

I DON'T KNOW WHO THE HECK MICK ABEL IS, ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS HE'S A PRETTY DECENT PITCHING PROSPECT FOR PHILLY. I DO KNOW THAT THIS INSERT IS FUCKING METAL AS HELL. A BEAR A WOLF AND A RATTLESNAKE ON WACKY HOLOSQUARES FOILBOARD. I HAD NO IDEA THESE THINGS EXISTED AND NOW I WANT THEM ALL. SO COOL

ALL IN ALL THIS WAS A PRETTY FUN PACK RIP FOR SEVEN BUCKS OR WHATEVER IT COST AND I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT NEED TO RIP ANOTHER ONE UNLESS THEY END UP IN CLEARANCE BOXES. WHICH THEY MIGHT. I REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I'M DOING WITH MY NEW-DONRUSS COLLECTION GOING FORWARD. I DOUBT I'LL EVER ACTUALLY COMPLETE THE SETS AND WHO KNOWS IF ANYONE WOULD EVEN WANT THE CARDS. I STILL HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR THEM IN ALL THEIR UGLINESS SO IT'S A DECISION I CAN PUT OFF FOR A WHILE. IF YOU SEE ONE OF THESE PACKS IN THE WILD AND ARE THINKING ABOUT PICKING IT UP, I SAY GO FOR IT AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 60: RONALDS

WHILE I HAD CHOICE PARALYSIS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH TRAE YOUNG CARD TO PICK UP, I DID NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM WITH RONALD ACUÑA JR. I KEYED IN ON THREE CARDS I REALLY LIKED AT SUPER CHEAP PRICES. AND THEN WHEN I WENT TO BUY THEM, ONE HAD ALREADY BEEN YANKED OUT FROM UNDER ME. I REGROUPED AND CHOSE A DIFFERENT CARD THAT WAS PRICED LESS  AND IT ENDED UP ALLOWING ME TO PICK UP A REALLY COOL CARD LATER. SILVER LININGS, EH? PLUS I HONESTLY CANNOT EVEN REMEMBER WHICH CARD IT WAS ANYMORE. MAYBE IT'LL POP UP AGAIN THIS YEAR. HERE ARE THE THREE RONALDS THAT MADE IT IN MY ORDER

2021 TOPPS 582 MONTGOMERY CLUB SET 4 RONALD ACUÑA

THIS WAS THE ALTERNATE RONALD. I STILL CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME REMEMBER WHICH ONE I MISSED OUT ON. MAYBE IT WAS THAT SUPER SEVENTIES SET WITH THE MASHUP OF 70S DESIGNS? AT ANY RATE THIS CARD WAS FIVE CENTS CHEAPER. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE 582 CLUB EXCLUSIVE CARDS YOU HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY IN ORDER TO EVEN BE ALLOWED TO BUY THE CARDS SO YOU CAN DUMP THEM FOR UNDER A BUCK A YEAR LATER. I SURE THEY GOT SOMETHING ACTUALLY COOL AND RARE THAT US PLEBIANS CANNOT HAVE BUT I'M FINE WITH THE DREGS. THIS IS AN ODD LOOKING CARD BUT IS BASED ON THE 1951 TOPPS TEAM CARDS SET WHICH IS ALSO HORIZONTAL, BLACK AND WHITE WITH 1991 FLEER BORDERS. I'VE ONLY ACTUALLY SEEN ONE OF THOSE CARDS TWICE IN PERSON SO EVEN A FACSIMILE IS PRETTY COOL TO ME. RONALD IS DOING THE 'STRAW THAT STIRS THE DRINK' CELEBRATION THE BRAVES USED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS IN 2021. IT'S NICE WHEN CARDS CAPTURE LITTLE MEMORIES LIKE THIS

THE BACKS ARE KINDA BORING. JUST AN AD FOR THEIR EXCLUSIVE BIG RICH WHALES CLUB AND ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION OTHER THAN THIS IS A LOST DESIGN FROM THE VAULT. IT'S NOT LOST! IT'S JUST A SCARCE ISSUE! FROM A YEAR THAT TOPPS HAS DISAVOWED SINCE THEY HAVE TO HYPE UP 1952 TOPPS ALL THE TIME!

2020 PANINI PRIZM RONALD ACUÑA INSTANT IMPACT

WHO NEEDS LOGOS WHEN YOU GOT ALL THIS OTHER SHIT GOING ON. RONALD IS THROWING AND SWINGING AND THE USS ENTERPRISE IS GOING INTO WARP 10 IN THE BACKGROUND AND THERE'S GIGANTIC TEXT WITH THE INSERT NAME AT THE TOP AND MY SENSES ARE OVERWHELMED. IF THIS WAS A REFRACTOR PRIZM CARD I MIGHT NOT SURVIVE THE AWESOME. GOOD THING I'M CHEAP. NOT GONNA LIE I'M GOING TO MISS PANINI INSERTS WHEN THE FANATICS OVERLORDS MURDER THEM OFF FOR GOOD

THE BACKS STILL AIN'T GREAT BUT AT LEAST THERE'S SOMETHING ON THEM UNLIKE THE CLUB CARDS

2020-21 TOPPS 582 MONTGOMERY CLUB SET 1 RONALD ACUÑA

OK SO I THINK THIS SET IS ON AN ALTERNATE UNUSED DESIGN FOR 1979 TOPPS. I REMEMBER READING AN ARTICLE WITH A COUPLE TEST CARDS WITH THIS DESIGN A FEW YEARS AGO AND THINKING, WOW, THAT'S REALLY COOL. THEN I SAW THIS CARD AND THOUGHT, WOW THIS IS REALLY COOL AND PUT THE CARD IN MY CART. NOW, I GO SEARCHING FOR THAT ARTICLE, OR ANYTHING AT ALL THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THIS DESIGN IS AND THERE IS NOTHING TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE. OR, MORE LIKELY, IT'S THERE BUT BURIED UNDER A MOUNTAIN OF AI GENERATED CRAP IN THE SEARCH RESULTS. SO IT'S A COOL LOOKING CARD, WITH A NEAT STORY THAT I CAN'T TELL BECAUSE TOPPS COULDN'T BOTHER TO PUT A LINE OF TEXT ON THE BACK EXPLAINING JUST WHAT THE HELL THIS IS

UPDATE: THANKS TO A TIP FROM THE SHLABOTNIK REPORT THIS DESIGN IS FROM A 1979 PROTOTYPE. RIP TO MY LARRY HISLE PLAYER COLLECTORS OUT THERE

MAN, THESE 582 MONTGOMERY BACKS REALLY ARE DOGSHIT AREN'T THEY

WAIT. I JUST REALIZED I MIXED UP THE BACKS. THIS IS THE BACK DESIGN FOR THE 1951 TEAM SET CARDS AND THE OTHER ONE IS OBVIOUSLY THE 1979 TOPPS ALTERNATE DESIGN. SO THEY DID PUT A TINY BIT OF EFFORT INTO IT! TOPPS IS STILL LAZY FOR THIS AND NOW I'M AN IDIOT ON TOP OF IT ALL. STILL, THREE NICE ACUÑA CARDS FOR ABOUT TWO BUCKS! WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE MUCH, MUCH HARDER TO FIND THIS YEAR WITH THE SEASON HE'S HAVING

BIGGUNS #3 - O-POSTER-CHEE

THE LAST OF THE THREE BIGGUNS I GOT OUT OF THE ODDBALL BOX AT DUCK'S DUGOUT. 

1982 O-PEE-CHEE POSTER DAVE STIEB

I NEVER OPENED AN ACTUAL O-PEE-CHEE PACK OTHER THAN THE SUPER OVERPRINTED PREMIER PACKS UNTIL THE 21ST CENTURY AND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER EVEN SEEN A 1982 O-PEE-CHEE-PACK. I WAS DELIGHTED TO FIND A BUNCH OF THE POSTER INSERTS FROM 82 IN A DOLLAR BOX AND KNEW I HAD TO GET ONE. OTHER THAN THE BIG THREE EXPOS CARTER, DAWSON AND RAINES, STIEB IS PROBABLY THE BEST PLAYER ON THE CHECKLIST. I KNOW I'VE POSTED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND I'LL PROBABLY DO IT EVERY TIME I MENTION DAVE FROM NOW ON, BUT IF YOU HAVE FOUR HOURS TO KILL YOU CAN WASTE IT IN WAY WORSE WAYS THAN WATCHING SECRET BASE'S THE STORY OF DAVE STIEB DOCUMENTARY. IF YOU ALWAYS FELT THAT DAVE STIEB WAS REALLY GOOD BUT NEVER QUITE UNDERSTOOD WHY HE WAS SO GOOD, THIS EXPLAINS IT. THE POSTER ITSELF LOOKS GREAT, NICE BIG PHOTO AND A SIMPLE FUN DESIGN. LIKE WITH ALL CANADA-EXCLISIVE SETS I'M NOW TEMPTED TO FIND A MATCHING EXPO TO GO WITH IT. STEVE ROGERS, PERHAPS? THERE'S ALSO A COUPLE OF FUTURE BRAVES RELIEVERS IN THE SET IN JUAN BERENGUER AND JEFF REARDON. ARGH I CAN'T BE COLLECTING ANOTHER ODDBALL SET, I NEED TO LEARN TO BE HAPPY WITH TYPE CARDS

QUARTER BOX CRAP - BUCK 6

 REALIZING NOW JUST HOW MUCH OF THIS QUARTER BOX BINGE IS OF SHINY SUPERSTAR PARALLELS. A GOOD QUARTER (heh) OF THE CARDS SO FAR AND THERE'S A BUNCH MORE TO COME. THREE MORE JUST IN THIS POST! DON'T WORRY I THROW Y'ALL A KNUCKLEBALL AT THE END

2022 DONRUSS IVAN RODRIGUEZ PINK PARALLEL

SO MANY PARALLELS. THE PHOTO LOOKS A BIT ORANGE BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT THIS CARD IS EXTREMELY PINK IN PERSON. I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS ABOUT PARALLELS OR 1988 DONRUSS OR EVEN THE COLOR PINK, THIS CARD LOOKS GREAT. LOVE FINDING NEW PUDGE CARDS

2022 PRIZM MOOKIE BETTS PRIZM

LOVE MOOKIE ALTHOUGH THE TEAMS HE PLAYED FOR AREN'T MY FAVORITE. THE PRIZMS LOOK REALLY NICE AND I'M GLAD MY PHOTOS OF THEM ARE LOOKING GOOD TODAY FOR SOME REASON. EVERY ONE LOOKS LIKE A RAVE'S GOING ON. THE BACK OF THE CARD SAYS TIER II, NO CLUE WHAT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO MEAN. REMINDS ME OF THOSE ODDBALL TIERED SETS IN THE 90S LIKE FINEST AND FLAIR SHOWCASE

2022 DONRUSS JOHNNY BENCH ORANGE PARALLEL

MOARER LEGENDS CARDS FROM PANINI, THEY SHOULD JUST DO THIS FULL TIME NOW. MAKING A HYPOTHESIS THAT PANINI DOES GOOD CATCHER CARDS. BETWEEN THIS, THE PUDGE AND THAT COCHRANE CARD FROM A FEW POSTS AGO, ALL THE LOGOLESS CATCHERS LOOK GREAT. GOING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR PANINI CATCHER CARDS NOW TO TEST THIS. BENCH WOULD LOOK EVEN BETTER WITHOUT THE ORANGE BORDERS I THINK BUT I'LL TAKE A SHINY

2022 TOPPS JAZZ CHISHOLM FLASHIEST FEET INSERT

THIS IS A WILD ONE. THE BORDERS ARE WILD, THE TEXT IS WILD, THE CONCEPT IS WILD. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THIS WAS NOT AN OPENING DAY INSERT. HOW DID THIS MAKE FLAGSHIP? I LIKE JAZZ, HE'S ONE OF THE VERY FEW MARLINS PLAYERS THAT DO NOT ANNOY ME. I HAVE HARDLY ANY OF HIS CARDS SO NICE TO FIND SUCH A UNIQUE ONE. I NEED TO GO SEE IF RONALD HAS ONE OF THESE CARDS, SURELY THEY PUT HIM IN THIS SET

ONLINE DIMEBOX BLASTER - PART 7

 I PROMISED A LOTTA INSERTS, IT'S TIME TO DELIVER

2020 TOPPS EMPIRE STATE AWARD WINNERS PETE ALONSO WALK-OFF WINNER

CATEGORY - INSERT

NOT RIPPING PACKS COMPULSIVELY MEANS YOU MISS A LOT OF STUFF. I HAD NO IDEA PETE ALONSO GOT HIS OWN 30 CARD INSERT SET IN 2020 TOPPS. RONALD GOT ONE TOO IN 2019 SO I'M NOT COMPLAINING, IT'S A NEAT LOOKING SET, VERY NEW YORK, AND I LIKE HAVING A TYPE CARD. AS FAR AS PETE ALONSO GOES ALL I CAN SAY IS 'THROW IT AGAIN' 

1981 FLEER STICKERS CLEVELAND LOGO

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

I DON'T SPECIFICALLY HAVE A WANTLIST FOR 1981 STICKERS AS I AM FOCUSING ON 1982-1991, BUT I'M SURE NOT PASSING UP ANY I COME ACROSS. I'LL THINK ABOUT IT IF I AM ABLE TO GET A PILE OF THEM SOMEHOW. I'D ACTUALLY RATHER COLLECT THE BACKS:

GOOD OL LAUGHLIN COMICS ARE ALWAYS A DELIGHT. WARM THAT BENCH YANKS

2022 DIAMOND KINGS JAVIER BAEZ GALLERY OF STARS

CATEGORY - INSERT

GALLERY OF STARS TO ME IS THE DOLLAR GENERAL VERSION OF DIAMOND KINGS THAT WAS INSERTED INTO TRIPLE PLAY RESULTING IN ME BUYING WAY TOO MANY JUMBO PACKS TRYING TO BUILD THE SET. WHICH I NEVER DID, BASE OR GALLERY OF STARS. IT WAS A LEGIT NICE LOOKING SET. THE 21ST CENTURY DIAMOND KINGS VERSION IS... OK. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TOPPS FIRE CARD FOR A MOMENT WHEN I SAW THE THUMBNAIL IN MY ORDER CONFIRMATION E-MAIL

2000-01 UPPER DECK VINTAGE CHRIS CHELIOS

CATEGORY - PLAYER COLLECTION

CHRIS CHELIOS IS MY FAVORITE HOCKEY PLAYER AND IF I HAVE A HOCKEY PLAYER COLLECTION IT'S HIM. AND ED BELFOUR. AND PAUL COFFEY. MORE ON THEM LATER. THIS UD VINTAGE SET IS A BRAZEN THIEVERY OF 1954-55 TOPPS HOCKEY EXCEPT WITH TEAM COLORS FOR THE BOTTOM TEXT BARS. IT'S KINDA AMAZING ACTUALLY, I'D WANT TO COLLECT THE SET IF I WASN'T COLLECTING 4783 OTHER SETS AT THE MOMENT. I'M HAVING FUN REDISCOVERING MY ENJOYMENT OF HOCKEY STUFF BUT I REALLY NEED TO PICK ALL THE CHELIOS CARDS OUT OF MY NEGLECTED HOCKEY BOXES IF I'M GOING TO BE COMPULSIVELY BUYING THEM ONLINE

2021 CHRONICLES JOEY VOTTO

CATEGORY - CHRONICLES, SUPERSTAR

I LIKE CHRONICLES AND JOEY VOTTO IS A BEAST. I'VE ALREADY COMPARED THIS DESIGN TO AN EARLY 00'S UPPER DECK VICTORY SET, RIGHT? SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THESE CARDS

1992 PINNACLE JIM ABBOTT TEAM 2000

CATEGORY - INSERT

THE FIRST EXPENSIVE HOBBY BOX OF CARDS I EVER WASTED MONEY ON WAS A BOX OF 1992 SERIES ONE PINNACLE JUMBO PACKS. I HAD PLANNED TO TRY TO SELL IT BUT I ENDED UP RIPPING IT INSTEAD. THIS GOT ME MOST OF THE SET AND A BUNCH OF THESE TEAM 2000 INSERTS. I WANT TO COMPLETE THE SET NOW BUT LET'S JUST SAY MY PINNACLE INSERT BOX IS, UM, ON VACATION AT THE MOMENT AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONES I ACTUALLY NEED. I STILL PICKED UP A COUPLE OF THE BEST ONES I COULD FIND, WHO DOESN'T WANT A JIM ABBOTT INSERT

2015 DONRUSS ADAM JONES DIAMOND KINGS

CATEGORY - WANTLIST, INSERT

HELL YEAH, A SHORT PRINT FROM A DONRUSS SET I ACTUALLY TRIED TO COLLECT OF A PLAYER I REALLY LIKE. I SINCERELY DOUBT I WILL EVER COMPLETE ANY DONRUSS SET PRINTED AFTER 1995 BUT IT'S STILL FUN TO TRY

2016 TOPPS ZACK GREINKE MLB DEBUT

CATEGORY - INSERT, SUPERSTAR?

IS ZACK GREINKE A SUPERSTAR? HE'S ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST PITCHERS OF THE PAST 20 YEARS, THAT'S FOR SURE. A SUPERSTAR IS LIKE TOM CRUISE. ZACH SEEMS TO ME TO BE MORE A STEVE BUSCEMI OR JEFF GOLDBLUM KINDA GUY. ABSOLUTELY A STAR BUT BELOVED FOR THEIR QUIRKIER ROLES

2013 TOPPS PABLO SANDOVAL WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

CATEGORY - INSERT

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC CARDS ARE PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS COOL. I HOPE THEY'RE ABLE TO KEEP THE EVERY THREE YEARS SCHEDULE NOW, THE GAMES ARE TOO MUCH FUN. SPRING TRAINING BE DAMNED. THIS CARD IS IS ATLANTA BRAVES LEGEND PABLO SANDOVAL, THE MAN WHO GAVE THE TEAM A PANDA HEAD AND EDDIE ROSARIO 

2021 DONRUSS HIGHLIGHTS TIM ANDERSON

CATEGORY - INSERT

I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS A PARALLEL OF SOME SORT OR IF THESE HIGHLIGHTS CARD JUST LOOK LIKE THIS. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I STILL HAVE NO IDEA. I SEE LOTS OF FLAVORS OF SHININESS BUT NO JUST PLAIN OL CARDBOARD BUT WHO KNOWS IF THIS IS THE DEFAULT KIND OF SHINY. IT IS SUPER DUPER SHINY THOUGH, AND I REALLY LIKE TIM ANDERSON AS A PLAYER AND WAS SUPER HAPPY TO SEE NO ONE PICKED THIS ONE UP WHEN ONCE AGAIN I GOT TO THE NEW LISTINGS WAY LATE

UP NEXT - A BUNCHA BRAVES THEN CHAOS. PLUS A REALLY OLD ONE!