BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 63: SHINY SET

OH YEAH, THIS IS A BIG ONE. THESE PICKUPS REALLY MADE ME HAPPY AND KIND OF KICKSTARTED MY CURRENT PUSH TO COLLECT ALL THE 90S INSERTS. PREPARE THYNESELVES FOR SOME EXTRA SHINY HOLOGRAM GOODNESS

1993 UPPER DECK CAL RIPKEN JR THEN & NOW

1993 UPPER DECK IS FANTASTIC. IT'S SO GOOD THERE'S A WHOLE BLOG DEDICATED TO IT. AS GOOD AS THE BASE SET IS, THE INSERTS ARE JUST AS GREAT. WILLIE MAYS HEROES, FUTURE HEROES, REGGIE JACKSON HEROES, HOME RUN HEROES. SO MANY HEROES. WALTER IOOSS FANCY PHOTO CARDS, ON DECK NON-BRANDED FANCY PHOTO CARDS, FIFTH ANNIVERSARY REPRINTS WITH CHIPPY BLACK BORDERS. SO PRETTY. THERE'S EVEN SEASON HIGHLIGHTS AND TRIPLE CROWN CONTENDER CARDS INSERTED INTO SPECIAL LIMITED BOXES TO GIVE YOU THE RARE JUNK WAX CARD THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ANYWHERE. THE BEST INSERT SET THOUGH IS THE THEN & NOW CARDS WITH AN OLD FASHIONED PHOTO OF A SUERSTAR ON TOP OF A NEWFANGLED HOLOGRAM OF THE PLAYER. THESE ARE SOME OF THE BEST LOOKING CARDS OF THE DECADE AND SINCE THEY WERE INSIDE ONE OF UPPER DECK'S "LET THE PRESSES RUN WILD" PRODUCTS THEY'RE NOT TERRIBLY HARD TO FIND. AS USUAL CAL RIPKEN JR. IS ONE OF THE CARDS I WAS MISSING AND I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO FIND IT ON COMC FOR UNDER A BUCK. I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AS I FOUND NOLAN RYAN'S THEN & NOW CARD FOR TWO BUCKS AT A CARD SHOW LAST YEAR AND IF ANYONE'S GOING TO BE OVERPRICED IT'D BE HIM. STILL! PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!

I REALLY LIKE THE 1992 UPPER DECK VIBES ON THE BACK. AS GOOD AS 1993 IS, UPPER DECK HAD A VERY SPECIFIC LOOK FROM 1989-1992 AND THAT WENT COMPLETELY OUT THE WINDOW IN 1993, NEVER TO RETURN. IT'S A PETTY GRIPE, ESPECIALLY SINCE EVERY OTHER CARD COMPANY ON THE PLANET THREW THEIR SIGNATURE LOOKS RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW AROUND 1992 IN FAVOR OF FOIL AND UV COATING AND FULL BLEED BORDERS BUT THAT CLASSIC UD LOOK JUST HITS ME IN THE NOSTALGIA A LITTLE BIT. I ALSO LIKE HOW THERE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PHOTO OF THE PLAYER ON THE BACK FOR  A BACKGROUND. UPPER DECK TOOK THE TIME TO PICK OUT A NICE PHOTO JUST TO BE ALMOST COMPLETELY OBSCURED BY TEXT. PANINI SHOULD'VE TAKEN NOTES BUT IT'S TOO LATE NOW. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

1993 UPPER DECK MICKEY MANTLE THEN & NOW

WITH CAL KNOCKED OFF FOR CHEAP, I CHECKED THE REST OF MY WANTLIST AND LO AND BEHOLD, HERE'S THE MICK. MICKEY MANTLE CARDS ARE WEIRD NOW BECAUSE HE WAS EXPENSIVE AS ALL HELL BACK IN THE DAY BUT THEN TOPPS PRINTED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN BILLION NEW MICKEY MANTLE CARDS STARTING IN THE MID-90S AND THE FLOOD OF NEW MANTLE CARDS DROPPED THE PRICES A BIT. I STILL RECALL THE DAYS PEOPLE WERE RIPPING PILES OF 1988 PACIFIC LEGENDS BECAUSE THE MANTLE CARD WAS SELLING FOR TWENTY-FIVE BUCKS SO I'M A LITTLE PRICE AVERSE WHEN LOOKING AT MANTLE CARDS. BUT THIS SUCKER WAS ALSO LESS THAN A BUCK. SOLD!

THEN I LOOKED AT THE REST OF MY WANTLIST AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THERE. 29-YEAR OLD INSERT SET COMPLETE!

AND HERE'S THE ENTIRE SET

IT'S SO PURDY. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU ALL FIND A 90S INSERT SET THAT SPEAKS TO YOU AND TRY TO COMPLETE IT. IT'S A GREAT FEELING AND NOT TOO SPENDY AS LONG AS YOU DON'T PICK ONE THAT DROPS 1:720 PACKS OR ONE WITH MICHAEL JORDAN IN IT

ONLINE DIMEBOX BLASTER - PART 5

 WE'VE GOT A WIDE VARIETY OF CARDS THIS TIME INCLUDING A BIG SURPRISE AT THE END SO HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS

2021 DONRUSS MATT OLSON

CATEGORY - BRAVES

'THIS IS AN A, NOT A BRAVE' DUDE'S SIGNED UNTIL 2030. HE MIGHT BE WITH THE BRAVES LONGER THAN THE A'S ARE IN LAS VEGAS. THIS IS NOT A 'STUCK WITH A BIG PILE OF JD DREW CARDINALS CARDS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH' SITUATION. PLUS DUDE HAS LIKE 90% OF FREDDIE'S PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE WHOLE CLASHING WITH RONALD OVER PLAYING THE RIGHT WAY NONSENSE. GIVE ME ALL THE OLSONS, GREEN OR BLUE I DON'T CARE

2016 ALLEN & GINTER GRAVITATIONAL WAVES BLACK BORDER MINI

CATEGORY - INSERT, WANTLIST?

THIS IS A WEIRD ONE. I BOUGHT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FULL SIZE GINTER INSERT, BUT I ENDED UP GETTING THIS ONE. I'M PRETTY SURE I TRIED TO BUY THIS ONE THOUGH, AND WASN'T FAST ENOUGH TO GET IT BEFORE IT WAS SOLD OUT. SO I'M PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH THIS SLIGHT CHANGE IN PLANS. WHO KNOWS, THE OTHER ONE MIGHT SHOW UP IN ONE OF MY MANY PENDING ORDERS EVENTUALLY. EITHER WAY I'M HAPPY

THE IMPORTANT QUESTION IS.... DID IT MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES! IT'S NOW THE NEW NEIGHBOR TO BRIAN MCCANN

2006 PANINI STICKERS THRASHERS LOGO

CATEGORY - OTHER TEAM

HOCKEY MAKES ME SAD BUT CARDS MAKE ME HAPPIER AND SHINY STICKERS MAKE ME POSITIVELY GIDDY. THIS ONE IS EXTRA FLASHY. I MISS THAT DUMB BIRD

2004 TOPPS PRISTINE JASON SCHMIDT

CATEGORY - HIGH END

HIGH END BACK WHEN THAT WAS LIKE $150 A BOX, NOT $600 AND UP. SOMETIMES WAY UP. THIS IS BASICALLY FINEST WITH A DIFFERENT LOGO BUT I DIG THE PSEUDO 3-D DESIGN. DON'T FORGET JASON SCHMIDT WAS A BRAVE FOR A HALF A MINUTE AS WELL

1994 CLASSIC TRI-CARDS DARON KIRKREIT, TONY MITCHELL, CHAD OGEA

CATEGORY - INSERT

I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF PERFORATED 3-IN-1 CARDS BUT HATE THE ONES MADE IN THE PAST 40 YEARS ARE ALL INSERTS. THIS ONE IS LIMITED TO 8000 COPIES SO I'M REALLY HAVING TO FIGHT THE URGE TO RIP IT. THESE ARE GOOD PERFORATIONS TOO, IT WOULD BE SO SATISFYING TO FOLD IT OVER AND HEAR THAT SNAP. KIRKREIT AND MITCHELL TOPPED OUT AT TRIPLE-A BUT OGEA PITCHED FOR SIX YEARS IN THE BIGS

1985 FLEER GIANTS LOGO STICKER

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

I'M SERIOUS ABOUT COMPLETING THE FLEER STICKER SETS TO GO ALONG WITH THE FLEER BASE CARD SETS I STILL HAVEN'T COMPLETED YET EITHER. I DON'T THINK I RIPPED ANY 1985 FLEER SO ANY OF THESE I CAN GET IS NICE

2020 BOWMAN STERLING IAN ANDERSON

CATEGORY - HIGH END

I SWEAR TO GOD I THOUGHT THIS WAS A FINEST CARD AND GOT CONFUSED WHEN I SAW IT WAS FROM 2020 BECAUSE IAN'S ROOKIE CARDS ARE FROM 2021. IN MY DEFENSE THE BASEBALL WAS OBSCURING THE BOWMAN AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT FINEST CARDS LOOK LIKE AFTER MAYBE 2007. ALSO I AM VERY UNOBSERVANT. IT'S A NICE LOOKING CARD AT LEAST AND REALLY COULD PASS FOR FINEST 

2006-07 UPPER DECK MVP ILYA KOVALCHUK INTERNATIONAL ICONS

CATEGORY - OTHER TEAM (THRSHRS), INSERT

AGAIN, EVERYTHING THRASHERS MAKES ME SAD BUT THIS IS A SUPER NICE LOOKING INSERT. OF ALL THE THRASHERS PLAYERS KOVALCHUK IS THE ONE I'D MOST LIKELY ACTUALLY COLLECT. HE WASN'T A FLOP LIKE STEFAN AND THERE AREN'T BAD MEMORIES LIKE HEATLEY. EITHER HIM OR SOME DUDE LIKE RAY FERRARO

2003 ULTRA LANCE BERKMAN ALL-STAR

CATEGORY - INSERT

THIS IS TECHNICALLY A BASE CARD, BUT IT'S A SHORT PRINT WHICH IS AN INSERT IF WE'RE BEING COMPLETELY HONEST ABOUT IT. IT'S A PRETTY COOL LOOKING CARD TOO. THE 2003 ULTRA SET IS JUST COMPLETELY STUPID, IT'S GOT A TOO-SMALL 200 CARD BASE SET, TWENTY OF THESE SHORT PRINTED ALL-STARS, 20 ROOKIES-THAT-ARE-NOT-ACTUALLY-ROOKIES IN THE 2002 DESIGN, TEN PROSPECTS THAT ARE ALSO NOT ROOKIES BUT ARE AT LEAST THE RIGHT DESIGN, AND FINALLY FIFTEEN MORE PROSPECTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY ROOKIE CARDS THAT ARE ALSO SERIAL NUMBERED TO 1500 AND WERE INSERTED INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRODUCT. IT'S COMPLETELY FUCKIN STUPID, JUST LOOK AT IT. IT'S A SHAME TOO BECAUSE THE DESIGN THAT YEAR IS VERY UNIQUE

1991 ULTRA KENNY ROGERS

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE KENNY ROGERS FOR WALKING ANDRUW JONES IN THE 1999 NLCS. A SERIES-ENDING SHRIMP IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BASEBALL MOMENTS. THAT'S NOT WHY I BOUGHT THIS CARD THOUGH. THIS WAS A WANTLIST CARD. THIS IS A CARD THAT DID THIS:

BEHOLD A COMPLETE SET OF 1991 FLEER ULTRA. ONLY TOOK ME 32 YEARS AND I STILL NEED TO FINISH THE INSERT SET, STICKER SET AND TRACK DOWN AN UPDATE SET SOMEWHERE. BUT I FINISHED A SET AND THAT'S A GLORIOUS FEELING

UP NEXT - WE DESCEND INTO MADNESS

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 40: MONSTER SET

UP UNTIL NOW I'VE BEEN SCREWING AROUND BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS. TIME TO COMPLETE A SET THIRTY FIVE YEARS LATER

1987 TOPPS WWF STICKERS - KING KONG BUNDY

KING KONG BUNDY STICKER CARD. THIS CARD WOULD FIT NICELY WITH THE KAIJU IN MY MONSTER CARD COLLECTION. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT BUNDY OTHER THAN I'M A FAN OF HIS NAMESAKE BECAUSE I WASN'T A HUGE WRESTLING FAN WHEN I WAS A KID. I WAS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT SPORTS AND WAS ALL LIKE 'WRESTLING ISN'T A REAL SPORT, IT'S FAKE AND THEY'RE JUST MAKING THINGS UP' LIKE A BIG DOPE. OF COURSE IT'S FAKE AND THEY'RE MAKING IT ALL UP, THAT'S WHY IT'S FUN. IT WAS TOO POPULAR TO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT AT ALL THOUGH, THERE WERE COMMERCIALS AND SATURDAY MORNING TV SHOWS AND WRESTLERS WERE IN MOVIES ALL OVER THE PLACE. ENOUGH FRIENDS LIKED IT TO MAKE NERDY STAT HEAD LITTLE ME MORE ACCEPTING OF THE FAKERY. SO WHEN I FOUND A BOX OF 1987 TOPPS WWF IN THE CLEARANCE BIN AT THE CARD SHOP FOR SEVEN BUCKS IN THE LATE 80S I GRABBED IT AND RIPPED. WRESTLING IS FAKE BUT CARD PACKS ARE REAL AND I COULDN'T PASS UP OPENING A WHOLE BOX FOR 20 CENTS A PACK. COLLATION IN THE BOX WAS PRETTY GOOD. I GOT THE ENTIRE 75 CARD SET AND ALL BUT ONE OF THE 22 STICKERS. SINCE I WAS IN FULL 'I'M GONNA FINISH A GODDAMN SET IF IT KILLS ME' MODE DURING MY BINGE IT WAS A NO BRAINER TO FINALLY GRAB THE ONE STICKER THAT ELUDED ME 

THE BACK OF THE STICKER FEATURES THE HULKSTER'S HAND. I ALREADY HAD THE COMPLETE PUZZLE BACK SINCE THE 22-CARD STICKER SET REPEATS THE SAME 10-CARD PUZZLE TWICE ON THE BACK ALONG WITH TWO FULL PUZZLE BACK CARDS. MAYBE THAT'S WHY I NEVER FELT AN INSATIABLE URGE TO FINISH THE SET BEFORE NOW? THAT AN I COULD NEVER REMEMBER WHICH CARD I ACTUALLY NEEDED SINCE THE STICKERS RECYCLE PHOTOS FROM THE SET. I'M PRETTY SURE I ALMOST BOUGHT THE GEORGE 'THE ANIMAL' STEELE STICKER AT A CARD SHOW ONCE THINKING THAT MIGHT BE THE ONE I NEEDED BUT HELD OFF. THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BAD PICKUP IN RETROSPECT. IN ANY CASE, KING KONG IS NOW SNUGLY TUCKED IN THE BINDER WITH THE REST OF THE SET. HERE'S A NICE PIC OF THE NOW COMPLETED (SECOND) PUZZLE:  

AND YOU KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO POST ABOUT COMPLETING A SET WITHOUT SHOWING THE WHOLE DANG THING OFF SO HERE WE GO!

FINISHING THINGS FEELS NICE! THIS ISN'T THE LAST SET I COMPLETED EITHER, SO STAY TUNED

The Twelve Days of Setsmas: Day 6 - Coolness

Ten years ago yesterday I was happy and carefree and content with my life and then the next day I started a blog about baseball cards and everything's been all downhill since

In honor of this auspicious date where I not only ruined my life but inspired many others to engage in self-destructive behavior as well (remember kids, do drugs, not cards*) here's an achievement I don't think I thought I would ever do 10 years ago when I was squandering my short-lived riches on new product.

1959 Topps Braves Team Set

Now I'm miserable and broke and old and sick and let a once-mildly-successful-in-a-tiny-niche-market blog go to shit without ever really monetizing it but dammit, I finally tracked down one of the three versions of that Warren Spahn card and finished a team set from the 50s. Four Hall of Famers. Four different cards of Hank Aaron. Five high-numbered All-Star cards. AND most of the set is yellow, which is not my preferred border color to say the least. But I strived and endured and now it's done and it's beautiful.

Kinda like this shitty blog. Will the blog last ten more years? Absolutely not. I'll probably purge my entire online presence once The Purges begin sometime next year. Flush! Right down the memory hole while I obliviate myself with Victory Gin. Enjoy the set while it lasts.

 Tomorrow: Nothing! I'm working!

*drugs are way cheaper and less addictive

The Twelve Days of Setsmas - Day 5: Space Punk

SPOILERSQ!QQQQ@!!@Q!!!!!!!

there is a movie out now and it is about space and it is about armed political confict
there are spaceships and robots and lazer swords that go voom voom
it is a movie that is set after the prequels and before the actuals so it is a betweequel
there are ninja monks and paranoid droids and unhinged Forest Whitaker which is fun
there is also a lot of drama and grimdark and death death death death death and more death and a big slice o' death with a little bit of murder on the side which is not quite as fun
Peter Cushing is still the best
what the hell does this have to do with Trading Card Sets

2016 Punk Rock Paint Galactic Greats Set

This is a homebrew set created by @PunkRockPaint who is the best* and you should all go sign up for Twitter and follow him right now. It's a mash up of the Space Fights (c) tm patent pending Cinematic Universe Franchise and 1986 Fleer Logo stickers. Cosmic characters are morphed into baseball logos and Laughlin-like cartoons for your enjoyment. People born in a very specific period of time will go insane over these things while everyone else in the world is probably just bewildered. There are at least two jokes per card so make sure to look at the backs too. Mr. Paint was kind enough to include exactly 36 individual items of a papery nature in my Artist's Proof Set so it fits in 4 pages perfectly.

The set is only half the fun, the packaging is even better! I didn't take a picture of it so you'll have to take my word for it. Wait, there might be a picture in his e-shop....
Go take a look and if you like it go buy his stuff!

 Tomorrow: No idea! Maybe nothing!

*not as best as Peter Cushing but who the hell is