2024 ONLINE BLASTER - PART 13: BASKETBALL STARS

IT'S THREE HOURS BEFORE I FIND OUT TO WHAT EXTENT THE ATLANTA HAWKS HAVE FURTHER TRAINWRECKED THEIR FRANCHISE. WILL IT BE JUST A MINOR BLIP THAT STILL GIVES ME HOPE THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE PROMISED LAND ONE DAY? OR WILL IT BE A THOROUGH CATASTRASTROKE THAT WILL DESTROY ANY CHANCE OF THIS TEAM BEING GOOD AGAIN IN MY LIFETIME? ONLY TIME WILL TELL! IN THE MEANTIME HERE'S SOME RAMBLING ABOUT BASKEEBAWL CARDS I LIKE TO BUY WHEN I SEE THEM CHEEP BECAUSE I NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO CALM MY NERVES. IF THERE IS NO CATEGORY LISTED, ASSUME SUPERSTAR

2022-23 DONRUSS TRAE YOUNG PRODUCTION LINE

CATEGORY - HAWKS, TRAE

TRAE YOUNG IS MY FAVORITE PLAYER BECAUSE WHEN THE HAWKS PICKED LUKA AND AND THEN INEXPLICABLY TRADED HIM I MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO GET UPSET ABOUT A PLAYER I HAD NEVER HEARD OF A MONTH EARLIER AND INSTEAD GO ALL IN ON TRAE FANDOM. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD MOVE FOR ME SO FAR AS TRAE HAS BEEN AWESOME EVEN WHEN THE TEAM, COACHING, MANAGEMENT, FANBASE AND OWNERSHIP HAS SUCKED DONKEY BALLS. I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TRAE FAN EVEN WHEN HE IS EVENTUALLY TRADED TO THE LAKERS OR (SHUDDER) PELICANS. FORTUNATELY, EVERYONE HATES TRAE NOW SO I CAN PICK UP COOL CARDS CHEAP. EVEN THE LOCAL CARD SHOP HAS CUT PRICES AND TWO YEARS AGO THEY COULDN'T KEEP EM IN STOCK! OF COURSE I ALWAYS FIND CARDS CHEEP ON BASEBALLCARDSTORE DOT CA AND THIS PRODUCTION LINE INSERT IS VERY NICE

2019-20 CHRONICLES PANINI TRAE YOUNG

MY CHRONICLES HOARDING HAS DROPPED OFF A BIT LATELY DUE TO GETTING DISTRACTED BY A DOZEN OTHER SETS AND BEING TOO LAZY TO GET A SOLID NEEDS LIST TOGETHER. I WILL ALWAYS PICK UP PLAYERS I LIKE THOUGH EVEN IF THEY ARE FROM ONE OF CHRONICLES' MORE BORING SUBSETS. I THINK THE PANINI BRANDED BASKETBALL SET ONLY LASTED A COUPLE YEARS BUT CHRONICLES WILL DIG UP ANY OLD THING TO RECYCLE. DESPITE THE MINIMALIST DESIGN IT'S STILL A PRETTY GOOD LOOKING CARD WITH THE RIGHT PHOTO CHOICE. TRAE'S ALWAYS GOOD FOR A BUCKET

1991-92 SKYBOX MICHAEL VS. MAGIC

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, WANTLIST

MICHAEL JORDAN AND MAGIC JOHNSON ARE TWO PLAYERS I WILL RARELY PASS UP IN A BARGAIN BOX. ESPECIALLY JORDAN AS HIS CARDS USUALLY CARRY A PREMIUM PRICE TAG. MY 91-92 SKYBOX COLLECTION IS ANEMIC AND I COMPLETELY MISSED MY CHANCE TO BUY SOME BOXES FOR LESS THAN THREE FIGURES SO THIS WAS A QUICK PICKUP

1991-92 SKYBOX MICHAEL JORDAN SKYMASTER

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, WANTLIST

ANOTHER SKYBOX JORDAN THAT FILLS A HOLE IN A SET. THIS WAS IN THE DOLLAR BIN BUT WAS HONESTLY A BARGAIN. I MEAN, LOOK AT THE CARD. IF I FOUND THIS IN AN ANTIQUE MALL IT WOULD HAVE A $20 STICKER RIGHT ON THE CARD

1991-92 FLEER MICHAEL JORDAN TEAM LEADER

I HAVE THIS COMPLETE SET ALREADY BUT IT'S JORDAN. PLUS I'M ONE OF LIKE THREE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIKES THIS DESIGN. COLORFUL = LOGOS = MY KRYPTONITE

1992 SKYBOX USA BASKETBALL MICHAEL JORDAN

I'M NOT SPECIFICALLY COLLECTING THIS SET BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE NEAT TO HAVE A CARD OF EACH PLAYER FROM TEAM USA AND I DIDN'T HAVE A JORDAN SO IT'S A WIN FOR ME

1993-94 UPPER DECK MICHAEL JORDAN NBA FINALS

I MIGHT ACTUALLY NEED THIS CARD? I DON'T REMEMBER. EITHER WAY IT'S A NICE CARD OF A PLAYER I HATE. YES, I DISLIKE MIKE. BEING A NIQUE FAN WILL DO THAT TO YA. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I DON'T HAVE AS MANY JORDAN CARDS NOW AS I WISH I HAD

1996-97 COLLECTOR'S CHOICE SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, SHAQ-FU

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL MANIA HAPPENED AT A VERY INFLUENTIAL TIME IN MY LIFE SO I'LL ALWAYS HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR THE BIG LUG. HIS CARDS ARE WEIRDLY CHEAP TOO? MAYBE DUE TO HITTING DURING ONE OF THE MOST OVERPRODUCED ERAS FOR BASKETBALL CARDS EVER. YES, EVEN COMPARED TO NOW. I HALFWAY THINK I HAVE THIS CARD ALREADY BUT FASHION SHAQ WAS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP

1996-97 SHAQUILLE O'NEAL ON THE BLOCK

FOR SOME REASON I'M NOT TRYING TO COLLECT FLEER ULTRA BASKETBALL SETS. I ALREADY HAVE A TON OF ULTRA CARDS BUT I FEEL NO NEED TO BUILD THE SETS FOR SOME REASON. I STILL LIKE FINDING ULTRA CARDS THOUGH, THEY USUALLY LOOK PRETTY GREAT

1996-97 SKYBOX E-XL SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE SKYBOX E-X AND THIS SECOND YEAR RELEASE LOOKS MUCH BETTER THAN THE BASEBALL VERSION OF THIS SET. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE THICKER FRAME BORDERS WORKS BUT IT DOES. MAYBE BECAUSE THE EDGE DOESN'T HANG ON THE BORDER WHEN YOU'RE SHUFFLING THROUGH THEM

1994-95 STADIUM CLUB SHAQUILLE O'NEAL DYNASTY AND DESTINY

THIS IS THE DESTINY VERSION OBVIOUSLY. THE ONLY THING BETTER THAN SHAQ BASE CARDS ARE SHAQ INSERT CARDS

1995-96 COLLECTOR'S CHOICE SHAQUILLE O'NEAL PLAYER'S CLUB

I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL ABOUT COLLECTOR'S CHOICE, SOME DAYS I WANT TO COLLECT THE WHOLE RUN, OTHERS I WANT TO THROW THEM ALL IN A CARDBOARD BOX AND DUMP THEM AT A THRIFT STORE TO FREE UP SOME STORAGE BOXES. STILL NOT PASSING ON A PARALLEL OF SHAQ THOUGH. UNLIKE THE FOIL SIGNATURES ON THE BASEBALL PARALLELS, OTHER SPORTS JUST GOT A FOIL STAMPED LOGO. BOO 

2021 UPPER DECK SPACE JAM A NEW LEGACY LEBRON JAMES

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, OFFICIAL GREATEST PLAYER EVER

I'VE SAID IT ONCE, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. IF THE ONLY LEBRON JAMES CARDS I CAN GET CHEAP ARE FROM A SHITTY CYNICAL ANIMATED MOVIE, I'LL TAKE IT. GLADLY

2021-22 PRIZM WILT CHAMBERLAIN

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, ANOTHER GREATEST PLAYER EVER

ONE GOOD THING ABOUT PANINI PRODUCTS IS THEY USUALLY HAVE A FEW LEGENDS CARDS SPRINKLED HERE AND THERE. I ALREADY HAVE A FEW PRIZM HALL OF FAMERS AND WAS HAPPY TO FIND ONE OF WILT. DON'T THINK I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT BILL RUSSEL CAMEO

1989-90 HOOPS DAVID ROBINSON

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR ROOKIE

OH MAN OH MAN, THIS CARD WAS THE SHIT BACK IN THE DAY. LIKE, SUPER EXTRA DOUBLE ICONIC. OK, TIM DUNCAN SORT OF STOLE THE ADMIRAL'S THUNDER BUT ROBINSON HAS THE BETTER SMILE. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT DUNCAN'S ROOKIE CARD LOOKS LIKE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT

2012 GOODWIN CHAMPIONS BILL WALTON

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, RIGHTEOUS DUDE

RIP BILL. WALTON HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE GUYS LIKE BIP ROBERTS THAT MAKE ME SMILE WHENEVER I SEE THEIR CARD SO I PICK THEM UP  WITHOUT THINKING TOO HARD ABOUT IT. HE HAS A SURPRISING NUMBER OF MODERN CARDS INCLUDING AN INSERT SET SO IT'S EASIER TO FIND THEM THAN YOU WOULD THINK. EARLY GOODWIN CHAMPIONS WERE ALWAYS CONTROVERSIAL FOR THEIR ART STYLE AND ODDBALL POSES BUT THAT JUST MAKES ME LIKE THEM MORE. I KNOW THAT'S NOT A GIGANTIC CLOUD OF SMOKE IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT IT COULD BE

2010 UPPER DECK WORLD OF SPORTS BILL WALTON

HERE'S BILL IN ANOTHER ODDBALL MULTI-SPORT SET. I THINK THIS WORLD OF SPORTS SET WAS UPPER DECK'S REACTION TO LOSING THEIR BASEBALL LICENSE AND I DON'T REMEMBER IT BEING SUPER POPULAR AT THE TIME. IT'S GOT A PRETTY AMAZING CHECKLIST THOUGH FOR A MULTI-SPORT SET EVEN IF THE SHORT-PRINTED STARS ARE UNFORTUNATE

2021-22 DONRUSS OPTIC ANTHONY EDWARDS T-MINUS

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, BULLDOGS

ANTHONY EDWARDS WAS A BIT OFF MY RADAR AFTER LEADING MY GEORGIA BULLDOGS TO ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE AND THEN GETTING PICKED UP IN THE DRAFT BY MINNESOTA. I'M ALL ON BOARD NOW AND AM NABBING SOME COOL CARDS OF HIS AS I SEE THEM. THIS T-MINUS INSERT CARD WITH THE FREAKING SPACE SHUTTLE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DESIGNS AND I WAS SUPER HAPPY TO PICK THIS ONE UP TO GO WITH MY TRAE VERSION OF THE CARD

 2019-20 HOOPS PREMIUM AL HORFORD

CATEGORY - PLAYER COLLECTION

WE BRING IT BACK FULL CIRCLE FROM MY CURRENT FAVORITE PLAYER TRAE TO MY ALSO CURRENT FAVORITE PLAYER NBA CHAMPION AL HORFORD. PICKING AL HORFORD THIRD OVERALL IS MAYBE THE HAPPIEST I'VE EVER BEEN ABOUT ANY ATLANTA HAWKS PICK EVER AND AS A RESULT HE IS A PERMANANT PLAYER COLLECTION GUY FOR ME. I'VE SHOWN OFF MY HEYWARD-HORFORD-TUGGLE BINDER PRETTY RECENTLY AND NOW I CAN FINALLY PUT THESE ONES AWAY. I GENERALLY HAVE NO USE FOR HOOPS PREMIUM OTHER THAN CASES LIKE THIS BUT I DO AT LEAST APPRECIATE HOW PANINI USES DIFFERENT PHOTOS ON THEIR PLAIN PAPER AND FANCY CHROMIUM VERSIONS OF THEIR SETS. UNLIKE SOME OTHER COMPANIES I KNOW

2020-21 HOOPS AL HORFORD

I'VE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT PHILADELPHIA FANS HATE HORFORD WORSE THAN HAWKS FANS DO. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE COULD HATE AL, HE IS A TREASURE AND A DELIGHT. IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE HE HAS A RING AND MIGHT GET ANOTHER ONE NEXT YEAR SINCE HE'S NOT RETIRING EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE MADE FUN OF HIM FOR BEING OLD IN THE FINALS. NO ONE MAKES FUN OF LEBRON FOR BEING AN OLD GEEZER, WHY THE AL HATE. I STILL LOVE YA AL

2020-21 MOSAIC AL HORFORD

FINISHING OFF WITH WHAT I THINK IS MY FIRST CARD OF AL IN AN OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER UNIFORM. I ALREADY HAVE ONE WITH AN OKC LOGO BUT HE'S STILL IN A PHILLY UNI. THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF CARDS OF AL IN THE THUNDER JERSEY WHICH MAKES SOME SENSE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T PLAY ALL THAT LONG IN ONE. I LOVE HAVING AT LEAST ONE CARD FOR EVERY TEAM A PLAYER WAS ON IN MY COLLECTION SO THIS ONE'S BIG FOR ME

ALL RIGHT THEN, GO HAWKS! PICK SOMEONE AS GOOD AS AL TONIGHT! PLEASE

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 15: HORF BANG

PART TWO OF THE NEW ADDITIONS TO THE HEYWARD/HORFORD/TUGGLE BINDER. THIS ONE IS SOMEWHAT TOPICAL SINCE AL'S CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET HIS FIRST NBA TITLE WITH BOSTON. I WON'T TURN MY NOSE UP AT HORFORD CARDS IN A CELTICS, 76ERS OR THINDER UNI BUT I LOVE FINDING COOL CARDS OF HIM AS A HAWK THAT I DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE. THIS IS DEFINITELY IN A HAWKS UNI 

2013-14 PANINI PINNACLE AL HORFORD BIG BANG

THIS CARD WAS ONE THAT ALMOST MADE IT INTO MY CART IN 2022. I COULDN'T PASS IT UP THIS TIME ESPECIALLY AT THIRTY-SEVEN CENTS. I WAS INTERESTED IN THIS CARD BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS DUFEX. PINNACLE BASEBALL HAD DUFEX INSERTS AT THE TIME, I FIGURED SO DID BASKETBALL. THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER PINNACLE HOOPS CARDS IN DUFEX BUT THIS AIN'T ONE OF THEM. THIS IS ETCHED FOIL IN A VERY COMPLICATED PATTERN THAT LOOKS A BIT LIKE DUFEX BUT THERE IS NO DOOF. IT'S AS DIFFICULT TO SEE IN PERSON AS IT IS IN A PHOTO SO HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE

I APPRECIATE THE ETCHED FOIL BIG IN THE BACKGROUND BUT THE REST OF THE ETCHING MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO SEE THE PHOTOS IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ON DUFEX FOR SOME REASON. WHO KNEW THAT EASILY DINGABLE PLASTIC COATING WAS SO IMPORTANT. I'M SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CARD THAT LOOKED A BIT LIKE ASS IN THE LISTING PHOTO CONTINUED TO LOOK LIKE ASS IN PERSON BUT IF I FOUND THIS IN A FIFTY CENT BOX I WOULD'VE GONE APESHIT. AND I GOT THIS CHEAPER THAN THAT!

THE BACK IS BORING BUT READABLE. I AM HEAVILY INVESTED IN THESE NBA FINALS BECAUSE IF BOSTON WINS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS OF ALL TIME WILL HAVE A RING ON HIS WAY TO THE HALL OF FAME AND OF THE MAVS WIN I GET TO HEAR ABOUT LOSING THE TRADE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. NO PRESSURE BOSTON, IT'S JUST MY HAPPINESS FOREVER AT STAKE. THIS POST ISN'T THE BEST THING I GOT ON MY PINGE BY FAR BUT I WILL TRY TO MAKE IT UP TO YOU WITH A PIC OF MY 2013-14 HORFORD PAGE

ALMOST A COMPLETE PAGE! THAT CRUSADE CARD WITH THE HOLOFOIL AND HAWKS COLORS IS A TOP FIVE CARD IN THE HORFORD COLLECTION FOR ME. THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE PREVIEW OF THE SUBECT OF NEXT WEEK'S POST. I BET NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO GUESS WHAT CARD IT IS. WELL, JUNKWAXTWINS COULD BUT HE'S GOT INSIDER INFO

DEEP THOUGHTS ABOUT SOME DOLLAR BOX PICKUPS

 I HAVE FOUND YET ANOTHER DECENT CARD SHOP WITHIN A HALF HOUR DRIVE FROM MY HOUSE. FOR THOSE COUNTING, THAT'S THREE DECENT SHOPS, A FLEA MARKET AND A MONTHLY SHOW NEAR ME. THIS IS UTTERLY FANTASTIC OR IT WOULD BE IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY. I DO HAVE A TINY LITTLE BIT OF MONEY SO I CAN STILL HAVE MY FUN BUT I HAVE TO MAKE A LOT MORE TOUGH CHOICES NOW. I WENT INTO THE SHOP DETERMINED TO BUY THAT JAMAAL WILKES CARD I NEED TO COMPLETE THE 1979-80 TOPPS BASKETBALL SET BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT. SO I PIVOTED TO PLAN B: SPEND FIVE BUCKS FROM THE DOLLAR BOXES AND ONLY FIVE BUCKS. THIS FAILED AS WELL, I SPENT SEVEN BUCKS TOTAL. TWO OF THE CARDS WERE NO-BRAINERS, THEY WILL BE SEEN IN OTHER POSTS. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FINALLY DECIDE ON THESE FIVE HERE AS THERE WAS A BUNCH OF COOL STUFF IN THE DOLLAR BOXES. I AM A LITTLE BITTER THEY ARE NOT QUARTER BOXES, OR AT LEAST FIFTY CENT BOXES. IF THEY WERE EVEN 6 FOR $5 I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SPENT TWICE AS MUCH BUT THAT'S THE HOBBY IN 2023. THE STUFF I DID GET WAS KIND OF ODD EVEN FOR ME AND IT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE CHOICES I ULTIMATELY MADE AND WHAT I LEFT BEHIND. HERE'S SOME ANALYSIS ON WHAT I BOUGHT AND WHAT IT BEAT OUT AND WHY DID I EVEN DO THAT? IT MAY SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT KIND OF COLLECTOR I AM NOW IN THE POST-INFLUENCERS ERA. OR IT MIGHT JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT I WAS STARTING TO GET TIRED AND MY JUDGEMENT WAS IMPAIRED

DIFFICULT CHOICE #1: AL HORFORD PANINI CONTENDERS DRAFT PICKS GREEN FOIL EXPLODEY SHINIES WHITE JERSEY VARIATION

THIS CHOICE WAS KINDA OBVIOUS AS I HAVE AN ACTUAL BINDER OF HORFORD CARDS AND HE'S ONE OF A HANDFUL OF PLAYERS I'VE TAKEN THE TIME TO ENTER MY COLLECTION INTO TCDB. YOU KNOW I LOVE THE SHINY, AND THIS CARD IS SUPER EXTRA SHINY WITH EXPLOSIONS AND GOOFT GREEN FOIL. ON THE OTHER HAND, I ALREADY HAVE ANOTHER VARIATION OF THIS SAME CARD WITH DIFFERENT GIMMICKS. PLUS AS A DAWGS FAN IT IS A LITTLE PAINFUL TO GRAB A FLORIDA CARD. EXTRA SHINY COVERS UP A LOT OF SINS THOUGH

CARDS I PASSED UP: SEVERAL ATLANTA HAWKS ROOKIE CARDS INCLUDING DE'ANDRE HUNTER AND ONYEKA OKONGWU

THERE WERE QUITE A FEW ROOKIE CARDS OF LOCAL GUYS IN THE DOLLAR BOX, ALTHOUGH SADDIQ BEY WERE ALL MARKED WITH $2 STICKERS WHICH IRRITATED ME GREATLY. THE HUNTER AND OKONGWU ROOKIES WERE VERY TEMPTING. BUT DE'ANDRE HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD PLAYER SO FAR WHICH DOESN'T QUITE CUT IS AS A NUMBER 4 OVERALL PICK. PASSING UP ONYEKA WORRIES ME MORE AS I DO NOT HAVE AN OO ROOKIE YET AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE TAKES OVER FOR CAPELA AND PEOPLE FIGURE OUT HOW GOOD HE IS. ULTIMATELY I DECIDED THAT I WILL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO PICK UP ROOKIE CARDS OF BOTH OF THEM ON COMC FOR A BUCK EVENTUALLY AND THAT I'D RATHER HAVE THE FLASHY SHINY CARD TO ADD TO THE BINDER

FINAL VERDICT:

I MADE THE RIGHT CALL ON THIS ONE, THE ADDITION TO TCDB PUT ME BACK INTO THE HORFORD TOP TEN

DIFFICULT CHOICE #2: 2000 TOPPS TEK FRANK THOMAS

ANOTHER THING THAT HAS BEEN WEIGHING ON MY MIND LATELY IS WHAT SETS AM I ACTUALLY COLLECTING. I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON ANY FLAGSHIP SETS YET (ALTHOUGH PANINI DONRUSS IS VERY CLOSE) BUT EVERYTHING ELSE I REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT. I GAVE UP ON HERITAGE LONG AGO AND I NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH GINTER. A LOT OF RETRO SETS FROM 20 YEARS AGO LIKE ARCHIVES AND TOPPS206 HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN YEARS. STUFF LIKE BOWMAN I'M READY TO CHUCK OUT THE WINDOW. EVEN SETS I PUT TOGETHER WANTLISTS FOR LIKE LEAF IS USUALLY BECAUSE SOMEONE SPECIFICALLY ASKED ME FOR IT. I AM FINDING THERE ARE A FEW ODDBALL SETS, MOSTLY FROM THE 90S, THAT I REALLY DO LIKE AND WANT TO COLLECT. TOPPS TEK IS ONE OF THOSE SETS. MY GENERAL RULE IS: IF I SEE TOPPS TEK FOR A DECENT PRICE, I GET TOPPS TEK. THIS IS TOPPS TEK. A BUCK IS A DECENT PRICE FOR BIG HURT. I GOT IT

CARD I PASSED UP: 1997 EX-2000 HIDEO NOMO

THIS WAS BY FAR THE HARDEST CHOICE OF THE DAY. I LOVE TEK BUT I LUUURRRVE EX-2000. I WOULD DARE TO SAY THAT EX-2000 IS THE BEST LOOKING SET OF THE 90S. THEY ARE ALSO SEEMINGLY MUCH HARDER TO FIND AS WELL. ALONG WITH TEK, EX-2000 IS ONE OF THE ODDBALL SETS I'VE RECENTLY TAKEN THE TIME TO GET WANTLISTS TOGETHER FOR AND IT WAS A FIENDISHLY DIFFICULT CHOICE BETWEEN THOMAS AND NOMO BUT TEK ULTIMATELY WON OUT. WHY NOT JUST GET BOTH, YOU IDIOT? BECAUSE MY BRAIN WASN'T WORKING THAT WAY. I HAD A BIG STACK OF CARDS I PULLED THAT GOT WHITTLED DOWN TO ABOUT FIFTEEN, THEN I HAD TO WHITTLE THEM DOWN TO FIVE AND IT WAS EASIER ON MY BRAIN TO PUT CARDS IN GROUPS AND AND CHOOSE ONE CARD PER GROUP. IF I HAD BRACKETS OF CARDS GOING THROUGH ELIMINATION ROUNDS I WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE TIL MIDNIGHT TRYING TO DECIDE.

FINAL VERDICT:

THE FINAL CHOICE CAME DOWN TO A TIEBREAKER: I NEEDED BOTH CARDS, BUT I ALSO NEEDED THE BACKGROUND PATTERN ON THE TEK CARD. I WILL KICK MYSELF IF NOMO IS GONE UPON MY NEXT TRIP TO THE SHOP BUT I AM AT PEACE WITH MY DECISION

DIFFICULT CHOICE #3: 2022 CHROME HEART OF THE CITY JOSE ALTUVE

OK SO AT LEAST TWO OF YOU OUT THERE ARE SEEING THIS CARD AND THINKING THAT MY BLOOD SUGAR MUST HAVE CRASHED AND MY BRAIN HAD THE DUMB FOR CHOOSING THIS CARD OVER LITERALLY ANY OF THE OTHERS. IN REALITY, THIS WAS THE EASIEST DECISION OF ALL OF THEM. I LIKE THE ASTROS AND ADOPTED THEM AS MY AL TEAM WHEN THEY PICKED UP GATTIS AND MCCANN. I LIKE JOSE ALTUVE, I THINK HE'S A GREAT FUCKIN PLAYER. AND MOST OF ALL I LOVE THIS CARD, I THINK IT LOOKS GORGEOUS. I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THAT YANKEE AND DODGER FANS THINK THE ASTROS ARE WORSE THAN SATAN AND THAT JOSE IS THE MOST DEVILISH OF THE DEMONS, BUT GUESS WHAT, I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT YOUR TEAMS

CARDS I PASSED UP: A HANDFUL OF EARLY 90S UPPER DECK AND FLEER INSERTS 

A MAJOR FOCUS OF MINE THE PAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN ATTACKING UPPER DECK INSERTS FROM 1990 TO 1993 AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY I'VE PUT A MAJOR DENT IN MY WANTLISTS RECENTLY AND HAVE EVEN COMPLETED A FEW INSERT SETS. THAT BEING SAID, MOST OF THOSE CARDS SHOULD BE IN QUARTER BOXES, NOT DOLLAR BOXES. HONESTLY THE ONLY CARDS OUT OF THE PILE THAT LOST TO ALTUVE THAT I CAN REMEMBER IS A COUPLE 1993 HOME RUN HEROES CARDS. TOM BRUNANSKY MAYBE? FOR A BUCK? EEEEH

FINAL VERDICT:

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST LOOKING CARD I GOT OUT OF THE DOLLAR BOXES AND I WENT SUPER SHINY HEAVY WITH MY PICKUPS. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY INSTANCE WHERE I'M NOT WANTING TO RUN BACK TO THE SHOP TO TRY TO FIND THE CARDS I LEFT BEHIND

DIFFICULT CHOICE #4: 1998 PACIFIC AURORA ON DECK LASER CUTS FRANK THOMAS

PACIFIC INSERTS ARE THE BEST, DIE-CUT PACIFIC INSERTS ARE THE BESTEREST. THIS AURORA INSERT HAS THE DIE CUTTING ON THE OUTSIDE UNLIKE MOST OF THE DIE-CUTS THEY ARE KNOWN FOR. IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD THOUGH AND GIVES IT ALMOST A 3-D EFFECT ON THE CROSSED BAT HANDLES. WITH A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF CARDS I COULD PICK UP I WAS TRYING TO GET A NICE VARIETY OF STYLES AND PLAYERS BUT STILL ENDED UP WITH TWO OF FRANK THOMAS. AND WHY NOT? FRANK THOMAS IS AWESOME AND IS A BIG REASON I WAS A WHITE SOX FAN IN THE 90S. I STILL BITTERLY LAMENT THE MISSED BRAVES-SOX WORLD SERIES IN 1993. WITH MY CARD BUDGET DWINDLING I'VE NOTICED CERTAIN PLAYERS COME HOME WITH ME MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. GUYS LIKE REGGIE, RICKEY AND YOGI. STARTING TO THINK FRANK SHOULD BE OFFICIALLY ADDED TO THAT LIST

CARD I PASSED UP: A DIFFERENT DIE CUT PACIFIC INSERT

I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE INSERT BUT IT'S ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE A BASEBALL WITH FLAMES COMING OUT THE BACK AND THERE'S A PITCHER ON THE CARD. IT WASN'T A BIG NAME - RAMON MARTINEZ MAYBE? - BUT IT LOOKS COOL AS HELL. I HAD TROUBLE DECIDING ON THIS ONE BUT I THOUGHT I MIGHT ALREADY HAVE THE CARD. LOOKING THROUGH MY INSERT BOXES, I DIDN'T SEE IT

FINAL VERDICT:

NOT UPSET AT ALL AT PICKING UP A COOL BIG HURT CARD BUT IF THAT FIREBALL INSERT ISN'T IN THE DOLLAR BOX THE NEXT TIME I GO BACK I WILL BE SAD

DIFFICULT CHOICE #5: 1996 LEAF TOTAL BASES KIRBY PUCKETT

AS YOU MIGHT SUSPECT I AM NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF KIRBY PUCKETT. I WAS HAPPY FOR HIM IN 1987 BUT AFTER THAT NOT SO MUCH. SO IT MAY BE SURPRISING THAT I PICKED THIS ONE OUT OF A GIANT PILE UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND THAT 90S LEAF INSERTS MAKE ME GO ALL GOOFY. ESPECIALLY IN THE LATER YEARS WHEN THEY GIMMICKED THEM ALL UP LIKE CRAZY. TEXTURES! HOLOFOIL! DIE-CUTS! METAL! WOOD! EVERYTHING THEY COULD THINK OF THEY TRIED AND MOST OF THEM WERE SERIAL NUMBERED! THE NEAT BASE TEXTURE ON THE FRONT IS COOL BUT IT WAS THOSE GOLD STAMPED NUMBERS ON THE BACK THAT REALLY GOT ME. THE REST OF THE PILE HAD NO CHANCE

CARDS I PASSED UP: A MENAGERIE OF ODDBALL 90S INSERTS THE BEST OF WHICH WAS A SKYBOX ALLEN IVERSON ODDBALL

MY PROCESS WHEN DIGGING IN DIME/QUARTER/DOLLAR BOXES IS TO PICK OUT EVERYTHING THAT LOOKS INTERESTING LIKE A DERANGED MAGPIE AND THEN SORT THROUGH THE PILE LATER TO MAKE MY FINAL CHOICES. LIKE I SAID EARLIER MY PILE WAS UP TO ABOUT 40-50 CARDS BY THE TIME I WRAPPED IT UP AND THERE WERE QUITE A FEW 90S INSERTS IN THERE. OF THE TWO I REMEMBER MOST CLEARLY, ONE WAS THE AFOREMENTIONED IVERSON THAT WAS A STRANGE EMBOSSED THING WITH ONE HALF FOLDED OVER ON THE BACK SO YOU COULD SEE TWO DIFFERENT PICTURES DEPENDING ON WHICH HALF WAS FOLDED. THERE WAS NO PICURE ON THE FRONT SO I'M NOT SURE OF THE POINT OF IT? SKYBOX LOVED FOLDY CARDS AT THE TIME THOUGH, I GIVE EM PROPS FOR EXPERIMENTING. THE OTHER ONE WAS THIS STRANGE DIE-CUT BEAN SHAPED INSERT CARD THAT HAD A METAL RING PUNCHED INTO IT LIKE IT WAS A LUGGAGE TAG OR SOMETHING. I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND MIGHT HAD PICKED IT IF IT HAD BEEN ANYONE BESIDES SHANE BATTIER. WHILE TEMPTING, NEITHER CARD WERE SERIAL NUMBERED ALTHOUGH I'D WAGER THEY WERE TOUGH HITS

FINAL VERDICT:

I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK FOR THOSE FLEER BASKETBALL INSERTS BUT I'M HAPPY WITH NUMBERED KIRBY

SO THERE'S MY FIVE. ON A DIFFERENT DAY IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT FIVE. I KNOW FOR A FACT I LEFT THE ALTUVE BEHIND ON A PREVIOUS VISIT. YES THERE WAS A PREVIOUS VISIT, THAT POST IS HALF WRITTEN ALREADY BUT I NEEDED TO DO THIS ONE WHILE IT WAS FRESH IN MY MIND. THINKING ABOUT THE STUFF I'M PICKING UP LATELY IS DEFINITELY SHOWING ME THAT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF I VALUE MORE NOW THAN I DID A FEW YEARS AGO. FAVORITE PLAYER COLLECTIONS, 90S INSERTS AND CHASING MORE SMALL ODDBALL SETS TO GO ALONG WITH THE OLD STANDBYS OF VINTAGE SETS AND FAVORITE TEAMS. I'M STILL HAVING FUN, AND MAYBE I'M HAVING SMARTER FUN

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 49: SHINY AL

I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING COOL TO MY AL HORFORD COLLECTION AND WHEN FACED WITH A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SUPER CHEAP CARDS I HAD TO MAKE THE FINAL CHOICE THE ONLY WAY I POSSIBLY COULD: CHOOSE THE CARD SO SHINY IT MADE MY EYES BLEED ATLANTA HAWKS COLORS

2013-14 PANINI CRUSADE AL HORFORD CRUSADE RED

CRUSADE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PANINI JAMS AND SHINYPRISMFRACTOR CRUSADE CARDS ARE GREAT AND SHINYPRISMFRACTOR CARDS IN TEAM COLORS IS THE BEST. BATTLING GRIFFONS AND FLEUR-DE-LIS IS A GREAT DESIGN FOR A TRADING CARD. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE, IT'S JUST SO GORGEOUS. I CAN'T EVEN STOP LOOKING AT IT LONG ENOUGH TO TYPE. GO AHEAD! STOP LOOKING AT IT! I DARE YOU! IT LOOKS EVEN BETTER IN PERSON TOO. HONESTLY THIS LOOKS AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL DONRUSS CRUSADE INSERTS

THE BACK'S BORING BUT IT'S GOT THE CARTOON BIRD LOGO PLASTERED ON IT SO I'M OK WITH IT. WE GOT A SERIAL NUMBER BLENDING INTO THE DARKNESS, THIS ONE HAS 349 COPIES. DOES ANYONE CARE ABOUT SERIAL NUMBERS THAT AREN'T A SINGLE DIGIT ANYMORE? THIS COST LESS THAN A BUCK AND I SEE STUFF NUMBERED TO 100 IN QUARTER BOXES ALL THE TIME. BETWEEN THIS CARD AND A REALLY NICE LOOKING MATT RYAN I PICKED UP LAST YEAR I KINDA WANT TO START UP A LITTLE COLLECTION OF THESE THINGS TO GO ALONG WITH MY THOUSAND OTHER LITTLE COLLECTIONS. THERE'S A BUNCH OF SUPER CHEAP PRIZMS ON COMC AND IT AIN'T EVEN SALE SEASON SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON BLACK FRIDAY THIS YEAR

FIFTY CENT GIFT CARD BINGE - PART 2: EVERYONE ELSE

MOARER FIFTY CENT CARDS WHICH ENDED UP BEING FORTY CENT CARDS BECAUSE I BOUGHT A TON OF EM. NEXT TIME I COULD CONCIEVABLY GET THIRTY-FIVE CENT CARDS IF I BUY SEVERAL TONS. THERE'S MORE THAN ONE PLAYER THIS TIME, SO STRAP YOURSELVES IN

2022 TOPPS FIRE OZZIE ALBIES

RONALD ACUÑA IS MY #1 BRAVES PLAYER BUT HE DOESN'T SHOW UP IN THE 50 CENT BOX EVER UNLESS IT'S ON A MULTI-PLAYER CARD SO OZZIE IS ALWAYS MY FIRST DIG IN THE BRAVES BOX. 90% OF THE NEW CARDS SEEM TO BE FLAGSHIP OR BOWMAN OR MAYBE HERITAGE SO WHEN SOMETHING BRIGHT AND FLASHY SHOWS UP I TAKE NOTICE. I AM NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF TOPPS FIRE BUT IN SMALL DOSES LIKE A SINGLE OZZIE ALBIES CARD I ENJOY IT

THE BACK IS PATHETIC THOUGH, THIS IS PANINI LEVELS OF PHONING IT IN. JUST REALIZED THESE ARE ATLANTA HAWKS COLORS, NO WONDER I LIKE THIS CARD

2020 PANINI CHRONICLES CERTIFIED AUSTIN RILEY

RONALD AND OZZIE ARE #1 AND #1a AND AUSTIN IS LOCKED DOWN AS MY #2 BRAVE FAVE. THE LAST TIME I HIT A 3 FOR $5 BOX THOSE WERE THE THREE PLAYERS I CHOSE. IT'S NICE WHEN YOU COLLECT PLAYERS WHO ARE SIGNED THRU MOST OF THE DECADE. NEXT THREE ARE PROBABLY MONEY MIKE, SPENCER STRIDER AND VAUGHN GRISSOM BUT I NEED THEM TO GET A FEW MORE CARDS UNDER THEIR BELT BEFORE I'M GOING TO SEE THEM IN THE FIFTY CENT BOX. THIS CARD IS SHINY AS HELL SO OF COURSE IT DAZZLED ME INTO TAKING IT HOME

I'VE BEEN TRAINED TO EXPECT ANY PANINI BASEBALL PRODUCT I RUN ACROSS NOWADAYS IS FROM CHRONICLES AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT. THIS IS FINE WITH ME AS I LIKE THE PRODUCT AND ENJOY GETTING MY HANDS ON SOME OF THE WEIRDER SETS. IS PANINI STILL MAKING BASEBALL AFTER THE SHAKEUP? I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT 2023 CARDS AND I'D BE SAD IF FANATICS MURDERED CHRONICLES. I STILL HOLD A MASSIVE GRUDGE ABOUT NEVER GETTING MY 2010 GOUDEY AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ADD THIS TO MY LIST OF GRIEVANCES

1997 FLEER ULTRA JAMAL ANDERSON TALENT SHOW

IF I SEE A SHINY INSERT CARD FROM THE 90S I GOTTA BUY IT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS. THIS IS FROM THE FIRST SERIES OF 97 ULTRA AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE HARDER TO GET INSERTS BUT IT TURNS OUT IT'S JUST 1:4 PACKS. I BET IF I DUG IN MY FALCONS BOXES I'D FIND I HAVE ONE OR TWO OF THESE ALREADY. I LOVE THE SHINY THO

90'F FLEER INSERT BACKS ARE SO COMFORTING TO ME. BIG PHOTO, BOX O TEXT, CARD NUMBER IN AN AWKWARD PLACE. SO ICONIC

HERE COMES A WHOLE MESS OF PLAYER COLLECTION STUFF. I GOT THESE WHEN I WAS PUTTING STUFF INTO TCDB AND I REALLY WANTED TO RISE UP THOSE RANKINGS

2009 PANINI AL HORFORD

I THINK THIS WAS PANINI'S FIRST BASKETBALL SET AFTER GETTING THE EXCLUSIVE. I BOUGHT TWO PACKS AND THEN MORE OF LESS IGNORED PANINI HOOPS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I LOST TOPPS BASKETBALL FOR THIS?? I TOLD YA, I HOLD GRUDGES

2009 PANINI THREADS AL HORFORD

THREADS IS ONE OF THOSE SETS THAT IS COMPLETELY OFF MY RADAR BUT ADDS SOME SPICE WHEN YOU'RE PLAYER COLLECTING. THE DESIGN KINDA SUCKS BUT SEEING THE THUNDERSTICKS IN THE BACKGROUND GIVE ME A LITTLE NOSTALGIC SMILE. THOSE THINGS HAE BEEN BANNED FROM EVERY ARENA BY NOW, RIGHT

2008-09 SP ROOKIE THREADS AL HORFORD

ONE OF UPPER DECK'S LAST BASKETBALL HURRAHS AND IT'S UGLY AS SIN. I'M SURE THE PATCH CARDS ARE PRETTY THO

2012-13 SELECT AL HORFORD

I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT PANINI UNDERSTOOD THAT PINNACLE SELECT WAS THE RED-HEADED STEPCHILD OF PINNACLE SO IT MADE SELECT THE RED-HEADED STEPCHILD OF PRISM. DOES ANYONE COLLECT THIS OR IS IT JUST ANOTHER PRODUCT TO CRAP OUT? IT SURE IS SHINY, HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY MY HAND SELFIE HERE

2008-09 UPPER DECK MVP AL HORFORD VICTORY INSERT

 

THIS ONE CONFUSED THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN I FOUND IT, I HAD NO IDEA UPPER DECK PUT OUT A VICTORY SET AFTER ABOUT 2001. TURNS OUT THEY DIDN'T, THIS IS AN INSERT SET IN MVP (WHICH I ALSO DIDN'T REALIZE IS STILL A THING). TO FURTHER CAUSE CONFUSION, THE HOBBY VERSION IS CALLED ULTIMATE VICTORY AND IS ON SHINY STOCK. I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF VICTORY AND CONCIDER THE MONEY I SPENT ON IT BACK IN THE DAY WASTED BUT THIS CARD GAVE ME THE NICE FEELS OF SIMPLER DAYS GONE BY WHEN YOU COULD BUY A WHOLE-ASS PACK OF CARDS FOR A BUCK

2015 PRIZM AL HORFORD ALL-STAR TEAM

THIS ONE MADE ME HAPPY. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS AN INSERT BUT THIS IS PART OF THE BASE SET. BASE SET ALL-STARS WITH A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DESIGN IS COOL AND OLD-SCHOOL. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE COLORED LAZER BEAMS IN THE BORDER, GREAT LOOKING DESIGN HERE. I'M A FAN OF PRIZM WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE I LOATHE CHROME. I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE IT IS IT'S OWN THING AND NOT JUST A REHASH OF ANOTHER SET. I HATE OPTIC TOO, SO THAT MAKES SENSE

2020 PANINI CONTENDERS DRAFT PICKS AL HORFORD PARALLEL?

I'M NOT A BIG COLLEGE BASKETBALL GUY, THERE'S TOO MUCH PLAYER CHURN FOR ME TO KEEP UP WITH AND MY TEAM SUCKS ASS ANYWAYS. BUT I DO LIKE SEEING MY GUYS IN THEIR COLLEGE UNIS. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT AL PLAYED FOR MY SCHOOL'S BIGGEST RIVAL BUT HE'S NOT IN A FOOTBALL UNIFORM SO IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S UP WITH THIS CARD, IT'S ON FOIL BOARD AND HAS HOLOFOIL STAMPING. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT 'TICKET' VARIATIONS IN THIS SET BUT IS CAMPUS TICKET THE PARALLEL? OR IS THE HOLOFOIL A PARALLEL FOR THE CAMPUS TICKET VARIATION? IT'S HELLA COOL LOOKING EITHER WAY, I REALLY LIKE THE PHOTO WITH THE ARENA ROOF IN THE BACKGROUND

THESE CARDS GOT ME UP TO 88 DIFFERENT AL HORFORD CARDS WHICH HAS ME CLINGING TO THE #10 SPOT ON THE HORFORD RANKINGS BY MY FINGERNAILS. ENTERING IN CARDS FOR AL IS AN ENORMOUS PAIN IN THE ASS SINCE EVERY CARD HAS A HUNDRED PARALLELS TO SCROLL THROUGH. VERY UNLIKE THE CARD LIST FOR THIS NEXT GUY:

2021 PLAYOFF JESSIE TUGGLE

TCDB IS FANTASTIC FOR COLLECTING PLAYERS WHO PLAYED IN THE 20TH CENTURY. JESSIE HAS 266 CARDS LISTED AND THERE ARE A FEW PARALLELS AND A COUPLE VARIATIONS BUT NOTHING LIKE HORFORD WHO PROBABLY HAS WAY OVER 266 CARDS FOR SOME YEARS. HE ONLY HAD 240 UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN PANINI STARTED ADDING HIM AS AN AUTOGRAPH IN SOME RECENT SETS. AUTOGRAPHS WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COLORED PARALLELS. TO MY DELIGHT, I FOUND THERE WAS AN ACTUAL BASE CARD IN 2021 PLAYOFF! I DIDN'T KNOW PLAYOFF EVEN STILL EXISTED! I CHECKED THE FALCONS BOX (WHICH IS WHERE I FOUND THE JAMAL ANDERSON INSERT) LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS DUMB CARD AND I HIT THE JACKPOT. IT'S A DIRT COMMON AND IS PROBABLY IN A TOM OF DIME BOXES AND LOTS OF BULK CRAP HEADING TO THE SHREDDER BUT SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR ONE RANDOM CARD IN THE SEA OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY FINDING IT IS AKIN TO A MIRACLE THESE DAYS. OF COURSE THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN PARALLELS TO THIS CARD INCLUDING A ONE OF ONE AND A COUPLE AUTOGRAPHS BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE AS OF THIS POSTING I AM THE NUMBER ONE TUGGLE COLLECTOR IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE

THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING ABOUT COLLECTING TUGGLE IS IF YOU CHUCK ALL THE SERIAL NUMBERS AND PARALLELS AND AUTOGRAPHS AND NONSENSE OUT THE WINDOW THERE'S WAY LESS THAN 200 DIFFERENT CARDS OUT THERE TO COLLECT SO ALREADY I'M OVER HALFWAY THERE. AND A LOT OF THE STUFF I'M MISSING IS SIMPLE BASE CARDS LIKE BOWMAN AND WHATNOT. IT'S GREAT! I CAN PROBABLY HIT 150 PRETTY EASILY AND CHEAPLY IF I CAN STAY FOCUSED FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU ALL PICK A RANDOM FAVORITE PLAYER WHO RETIRED BEFORE 2000 OR SO TO COLLECT, IT'S GREAT FUN AND WON'T BREAK YOUR BRAIN