ANTIQUE MALL DOLLAR BOX GOODIES

 A FEW WEEKENDS AGO I GOT BORED AND DECIDED TO GO TO A CARD SHOP. I FOOLISHLY LET TWITTER DECIDE WHERE I SHOULD GO AND THEY CHOSE 'SOME PLACE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO BEFORE". THIS WAS A TERRIBLE DECISION AS NOW I HAD A NEW CHOICE TO MAKE. I WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE AN HOUR TO GET TO A COUPLE PLACES THAT LOOKED BRAND NEW WITH BRAND NEW STORE PRICES AND NO CHEAPO BOXES OF CRAP AT ALL WHEN I DISCOVERED AN ANTIQUE MALL WITH A CARD SHOP INSIDE. THE DRIVE WAS MUCH SHORTER AND AS A BONUS I HAVE A NEW 5000-PHOTO POST FULL OF ANTIQUE MALL DETRITUS THAT I'LL HOPEFULLY HAVE WRITTEN BY CHRISTMAS. NOT GONNA LIE, THE CARD SHOP WAS UNDERWHELMING WITH A TON OF STAR BASE CARDS AT FIVE BUCKS A POP AND A BUNCH OF JUNK WAX BOXES PRICED FROM TWO TO FIVE BUCKS PER PACK. FUN TO LOOK AT AND THEY PROBABLY MAKE A NICE CHUNK OF CHANGE OFF IMPULSE BUYS FROM NORMIES BUT NOT FOR ME. THERE WAS A DOLLAR BOX THOUGH, AND WHILE A LOT OF THE CARDS WERE QUARTER AND EVEN DIME CARDS IN MY ESTIMATION, MY SPECIALTY IS FINDING THE HIDDEN GEMS AMONGST THE CRAP. ONCE AGAIN I SET A GOAL OF KEEPING IT TO FIVE BUCKS AND ONCE AGAIN I ENDED UP WITH SIX CARDS

2017 TOPPS MATT OLSON RC

2020 OPENING DAY SEAN MURPHY RC

UNLESS THERE IS A MAJOR TRADE, A CATASTROPHIC INJURY OR THE COLLAPSE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, THESE TWO DUDES ARE GOING TO BE PLAYING FOR THE BRAVES THROUGH THE REST OF THE DECADE. I'M FINE WITH DROPPING A BUCK EACH JUST SO I CAN HAS THEM ROOKIE CARDS. REALLY WISH THERE WAS AN ACTUAL TOPPS MURPHY RC IN THE BOX INSTEAD OF OPENING DAY BUT OH WELL

1997 SPX KENNY LOFTON BOUND FOR GLORY 4 OF 20 #783/1500

SPX IS ONE OF THE MANY PREMIUM SETS THAT MADE THEIR DEBUTS IN THE MID 90S AND LOOKED ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. THEN AS THE YEARS PASSED AND GREAT LOOKING CARDS GAVE WAY TO SMALL BITS OF LAUNDRY AS THE MOST DESIRED THING AMONG COLLECTORS, THE SETS GOT SHITTIER AND SHITTIER UNTIL THEY WERE STRAIGHT GARBAGE BY THE 2000S. 1997 SPX IS THE APEX OF GORGEOUS UPPER DECK DESIGNS FEATURING ETCHED FOIL, HOLOFOIL WITH LITTLE UPPER DECK LOGOS, AND THE HOLOVIEW HOLOGRAM PICTURE ON EACH CARD. THIS IS THE LAST TIME UPPER DECK USED THE HOLOVIEWS ON BASE CARDS ALTHOUGH IT SORT OF SHOWED UP ON LATER INSERT SETS. THIS MAKES ME SAD AND I REALLY WISH NOW I'D PONIED UP THE 6 BUCKS A PACK FOR THESE THINGS BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE. FINDING ANY OF THEM CHEAP IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE NOWADAYS AND I WAS HONESTLY A LITTLE SHOCKED TO SEE THIS IN THE DOLLAR BOX

THIS HERE IS AN INSERT CARD AND A SERIAL NUMBERED ONE AT THAT. I CAN'T FIND THE BASE CARD ONLINE FOR A BUCK AND YOU KNOW HOW PRICEY SERIAL NUMBERED 90S INSERTS CAN GET. HOW THIS ENDED UP IN A DOLLAR BOX WHEN BASE GLAVINE AND SMOLTZ ROOKIES WERE PRICED AT FIVE BUCKS IS BEYOND ME BUT I AIN'T COMPLAINING. POOR KENNY LOFTON GETS NO RESPECT AT ALL. I FRIGGIN LOVE IT AND WISH I COULD GET LUCKY ON SOME MORE 97 SPX CARDS

1993 WHATABURGER TRIAD NOLAN RYAN'S RECOLLECTIONS HORSIE CARD

I SPEND A LOT OF TIME BELLYACHING ABOUT HOW NOLAN RYAN CARDS ARE SO OVERPRICED, AND I NEED HIS CARD FOR ALMOST ALL THE SETS I'M BUILDING, AND IT'S SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS, AND HE'S NOT EVEN THAT GOOD ANYWAY. THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO READ THIS BLOG RELIGIOUSLY HAVE TO BE SICK OF MY NONSENSE BY NOW. 

BUT.

LENTICULAR THREE-DEE FOOD ISSUE FROM WHATABURGER WITH A COCA-COLA LOGO ON THE BACK OF NOLAN RIDING A GOSH-DARN HORSE

OHMYFRIGGINGODITSSOBEAUTIFULIMGONNADIE

GEORGIA GOT THEIR FIRST WHATABURGER LAST WINTER SO THIS CARD WAS NEVER ON MY RADAR AND I THINK FINDING IT IN THAT BOX MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME I EVER HEARD OF IT. THIS IS ONE OF A TEN CARD SET AND IS THE ONLY ONE WHERE HE'S IN COWBOY GEAR INSTEAD OF A BASEBALL UNIFORM. THIS OF COURSE IS PERFECTLY FINE WITH ME AS THIS CARD WILL LIKELY END UP THE CENTER POCKET OF A PAGE OF HORSEY CARDS IN MY NEXT COOL CHAOS BINDER*. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THE HELL TRIAD IS OR IF THEY EVER PRODUCED ANY OTHER TRADING CARD SETS. A GOOGLE SEARCH COMES UP WITH A TON OF RESULTS FOR A FINAL FANTASY CARD GAME AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE DIGGING THROUGH ALL THAT MESS TO RESEARCH IT. I ALSO HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE HORSE NOLAN'S RIDING IS OWNED BY DELTA AIR LINES. THIS IS JUST A STRANGE CARD ALL AROUND

1996 PINNACLE MANNY RAMIREZ PINNACLE POWER

HOO MAN THIS IS A PRETTY CARD. I BOUGHT WAY TOO MANY PACKS OF 1996 PINNACLE BACK IN THE DAY AND I LOVED PULLING THESE OUT OF PACKS. IT'S GOT A DIE CUT WINDOW FOR THE STRIPEY SHINY HOLOFOIL AND THE REST OF TEH CARD IS EMBOSSED, INCLUDING THE GOLD FOIL TEXT. THIS CARD REALLY MADE THE PACKS LUMPY. THE CHECKLIST IS FANTASTIC, A REAL WHO'S WHO OF MID 90S TATER MASHERS. MANNY'S ONE OF THE TOP GUYS ON THAT LIST DESPITE WHAT HALL VOTERS THINK

JEEZ, LOOK AT BABY MANNY ON THE BACK. PINNACLE WAS RIGHT, IT WAS SCARY HOW MUCH BETTER RAMIRÉZ GOT IN LATER YEARS. ALSO SCARY HOW LITTLE RESPECT HE GOT FOR IT. I DON'T WANNA HEAR ABOUT STERIODS, THE LAST PRESIDENT SENT A MOB AFTER HIS VICE PRESIDENT AND KEPT CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS IN THE TOILET. AIN'T NOBODY CARE ABOUT STEROIDS ANYMORE. MAYBE THE VETS COMMITTEE WILL LET MANNY IN BEFORE I DIE, UNTIL THEN I'LL KEEP PICKING UP CHEAP PRETTY MANNY CARDS

1998 LEAF BIP ROBERTS FRACTAL MATRIX PARALLEL CARD

SO YEAH I'M OFFICIALLY COLLECTING BIP ROBERTS CARDS NOW. I ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL DOZEN UNIQUE ONES NOT COUNTING ONES STUCK INSIDE SET BOXES. RECENTLY I'VE GONE FROM MERELY YELLING OH NOEZ! WHEN I STUMBLED ACROSS ANOTHER BIP WHILE SORTING TO ACTIVELY HUNTING OUT WEIRD BIPS. THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE WEIRDER ONES. 1998 LEAF HAD PARALLELS CALLED FRACTAL MATRIX. THE FRACTAL PART COMES FROM THE THREE DIFFERENT FOIL COLORS THE CARD COULD BE (BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD) AND THE THREE DIFFERENT DIE CUTS IT COULD HAVE (X-AXIS, Y-AXIS, Z-AXIS). IT'S ALL VERY COMPLICATED, BUT IN REALITY EACH CARD COULD ONLY HAVE ONE TYPE OF FOIL COLOR WITH ONE TYPE OF DIE CUT. BIP GOT THE MOST COMMON FOIL TYPE OF BRONZE** AND THIS ISN'T DIE CUT ANYWAY SO IT DOESN'T MATTER. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW IT ALL WORKS BASEBALLCARDPEDIA DOES A GOOD JOB EXPLAINING THE MESS

1998 LEAF IS A SNEAKY GOOD SET. IT'S GOT A NICE DESIGN, GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY, AND SOME AMAZING INSERTS. THE BASE SET IS A LITTLE SMALL WITH SOME SHORT PRINTED SUBSETS, BUT IT'S A NICE CAP TO THE ORIGINAL 1990-1998 LEAF RUN. IF THE SHORT PRINTS AND PARALLELS PUT YOU OFF THE BASE SET, YOU SHOULD AT LEAST LOOK OUT FOR THE INSERT CARDS. STATISTICAL STANDOUTS, STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND ESPECIALLY HEADING FOR THE HALL ARE THREE OF THE BEST LOOKING INSERT SETS OF THE 90S. TOP TOPS STUFF. THE BRONZE PARALLELS ARE PRETTY NICE THEMSELVES, THIS IS THE CLOSEST THING YOU'LL PROBABLY EVER GET TO A BIP ROBERTS SUPERFRACTOR

ALL IN ALL THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL WASTE OF AN AFTERNOON. ALSO PURCHASED WAS THAT PACK OF 1987 DONRUSS ALL-STARS, A JAMES BOND DVD AND AN OLD LEGENDS COLLECTABLES PRICE GUIDE WITH GRIFFEY ON THE COVER. FUN STUFF AND MUCH BETTER THAN A NEW STORE WITH A BUNCH OF SLABS

*REMIND ME TO DO A SERIES OF POSTS FOR THE CHAOS BINDERS ON HERE. THE PREVIOUS ONES WERE THREADS ON TWITTER AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THAT PLACE IS GONNA LAST

**MAN, THE ATLANTA OLYMPICS REALLY DID A NUMBER ON TRADING CARDS. HOW MANY LATE 90S SETS HAVE A BRONZE/SILVER/GOLD THEME WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RARITY. HOW MANY SETS STILL DO THIS NONSENSE

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 58: THE 72S

FINALLY SOME REAL CARDS AFTER ALL THE RANDOM COMC NONSENSE. I DROPPED THE BALL ON FINISHING THE 1976 SET BUT I DID NOT NEGLECT 1972. NO HIGH NUMBERS OR BONUS ARTWORK ON THE CARDS BUT I STILL MANAGED TO CHIP AWAY AT MY WANTLIST. HERE'S 0.5% OF THE SET

#486 JOHN LOWENSTEIN

THE ONE SERIES FOUR CARD I PICKED UP IS JOHN LOWENSTEIN'S FIRST SOLO CARD. HE SHARES A DUAL ROOKIE IN 1971 WITH VINCE COLBERT. JOHN IS WAY TOO CLEAN CUT ON THIS CARD I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM AS THE SAME GUY WITH SHAGGY HAIR, GLASSES AND A STACHE ON ORIOLES CARDS FROM THE 80S. WITH THIS CARD I'M DOWN TO NEEDING A JOHN NASH CARD I ALREADY HAVE IN A TEAM SET AND BENCH AND MUNSON TO FINISH UP SERIES FOUR. THIS CARD DID COMPLETE A PAGE IN THE BINDER WITH SOME EXPOS ROOKIES AND SCRUFFY LOOKING CHILDREN

#613 MIKE FERRARO

A NICELY AIRBRUSHED CARD OF PILOTS ALUMNI MIKE FERRARO FROM SERIES FIVE. THIS IS MIKE'S LAST PLAYING DAYS CARD BUT HE HAS A MANAGER CARD IN THE 1983 TOPPS TRADED SET. I GOT MY SERIES FIVE NEEDS DOWN TO UNDER 20 WITH THIS LOT BUT THE BIGGIES LEFT ARE BROOKS ROBINSON AND (AS USUAL) NOLAN RYAN. THIS ONE ALSO COMPLETES A PAGE

#638 KEN WRIGHT

THE MIDDLE OF THREE TOPPS CARDS FOR KEN WRIGHT. ALL THREE ARE FROM HIGHER SERIES, POOR KEN WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT AT TOPPS. HE PITCHED IN THREE GAMES FOR THE YANKEES IN '74 BUT HAD TO WAIT FOR THE 1992 THE WIZ SET FOR THAT TO BE MEMORIALIZED. THIS CARD SADLY DIDN'T COMPLETE A PAGE, I'M STILL MISSING BILL LEE AND JOE COLEMAN

#649 PETE RICHERT

THIS ONE'S THE OPPOSITE OF LOWENSTEIN'S CARD, I HAD NO IDEA THIS GRIZZLED MUG WAS THE SAME GUY AS THE FRESH FACED PETE ON  HIS 1962 ROOKIE CARD THAT I'VE HAD FOR FOREVER. THIS IS THE MOST BEAT UP CARD OF THE BUNCH WHICH IS APPROPRIATE. PETE ALSO HAS A NICE RUN OF MODESTO A'S MINOR LEAGUE MANAGER CARDS IN THE 80S AND 90S. PETE ALSO COMPLETED A PAGE WHICH IS MUCH APPRECIATED

IF MY WANTLIST IS CORRECT (WHICH IS PROBABLY ISN'T) I NEED 75 CARDS TO COMPLETE THIS MONSTROSITY. AT FOUR PICKUPS PER YEAR I'LL HAVE THIS SUCKER COMPLETE IN 2041. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT I STILL NEED RYAN AND ROD CAREW, LET'S CONSERVATIVELY REVISE THAT ESTIMATE TO 2489

FOLLOWUP TO DEEP THOUGHTS

I SAID I'D GO BACK AND RESCUE SOME OF THOSE CARDS I LEFT BEHIND IN THAT DOLLAR BOX POST AND I DONE DOOD IT. I ONLY RESCUED THREE OF THEM THOUGH. AND PICKED UP THREE OTHERS I MISSED THE LAST TIME. HERE'S SIX DOLLAR BOX CARDS AND A FEW MORE REGRETS 

RESCUED: 1996 PACIFIC PRISM RAMON MARTINEZ LANZADORES DE BOLA DURA

AKA FLAME THROWERS. I HOPE YOU APPRECIATE THE PHOTO BECAUSE IT IS PURE HELL TRYING TO GET THE CARD BACK INTO A PENNY SLEEVE WITH ALL THOSE LITTLE POINTS AT THE END OF THE FLAMES. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS CARD IS FLAMING AMAZEBALLS. IT'S GOT A UNIQUE DESIGN, INTRICATE DIE CUTTING AND SOME REALLY NEAT GOLD FOIL STAMPING AS PART OF THE DESIGN. THESE WERE A ONE IN 73 PACK INSERT SO WERE FAIRLY DIFFICULT TO PULL. ALTHOUGH WHEN A DIE CUT CARD IS INSERTED INTO A TWO CARD PACK, YOU CHANCES OF PULLING ONE INCREASE GREATLY IF YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THE BOX

THE 1996 PRISM SET IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ONE TO GET AWAY FROM THE DAZZLING HOLOFOIL PATTERN USED IN THE OTHER PRISM SETS AND PREVIOUS INSERTS, USING AN ODD FOIL PATTERN INSTEAD. IT'S ALSO THE FIRST ONE TO HAVE INSERTS, THIS ONE AND TWO OTHERS WITH HEAVY HEAVY FOIL ALL OVER THEM. THOSE PRISM SETS WERE BRUTAL TO COLLECT, 144 CARDS AT ONE CARD PER PACK PLUS A LOGO FILLER CARD FOR OVER TWO BUCKS A SWING IF YOU COULD EVEN FIND THEM. IT'S FUN TO FIND THEM OUT IN THE WILD BUT YOU MAY BE LOOKING FOR A WHILE

NEW FIND: 1999 STADIUM CLUB JEFF BAGWELL TRIUMVIRATE LUMINOUS

TOPPS GOT THEIR LUNCH EATEN BY JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER OUT THERE IN THE 90S BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THEY DID SOMETHING WILD LIKE THIS. TRIUMVERATE WERE A TRULY WEIRD INSERT IN 1998 AND 1999 STADIUM CLUB. EACH 'CARD' WAS THREE DIFFERENT CARDS THAT WERE DIE CUT WITHIN AN INCH OF THEIR LIVES THAT FIT TOGETHER LIKE PUZZLE PIECES. IN ADDITION THERE WERE THREE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF EACH CARD: LUMINOUS IS BASICALLY CHROME, LUMINESCENT IS A REFRACTOR, AND ILLUMINATOR IS ACETATE. THERE'S ALSO FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL VERSIONS IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO CHASE YET ANOTHER SCARCE MICHAEL JORDAN INSERT. TOPPS TRIED TO RESURRECT THE CONCEPT FOR STADIUM CLUB IN 2014 AND 2022 BUT THE DIE CUTTING WAS MINIMAL AND THE CARDS ARE LAME

THESE CARDS AREN'T TERRIBLY SCARCE, THERE'S MAYBE A COUPLE THOUSAND OF EACH ACROSS ALL RARITY VERSIONS, BUT THEY'RE STILL A NICE SURPRISE WHEN THEY POP UP. THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT DIE-CUT DESIGNS, ONE FOR EACH SERIES IN 98-99. WITH CAREFUL PLANNING YOU CAN GET A TYPE CARD OF EACH DESIGN AND RARITY TO COMPLETE FOUR DIFFERENT PUZZLES. I PULLED A FEW OF THESE BACK IN THE DAY AND WHILE IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT, ACTUALLY PUTTING THE PUZZLE TOGETHER IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT WITHOUT FEELING LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO DESTROY THE  CARDS. MY PERSONAL RANKINGS ON THE DESIGNS ARE:

#1 - 1998 SERIES 1 STITCHING DESIGN

#2 - 1999 SERIES 2 BASEBALL DIAMOND DESIGN

#3 - 1998 SERIES 1 GLOVE DESIGN

#4 - 1999 SERIES 2 BLOCKS DESIGN

STILL LEFT BEHIND: ALL THOSE NON-DIE CUT EARLY 90S UPPER DECK INSERTS I NEED. I STILL FEEL LIKE THOSE SHOULD BE PRICED AT LIKE A QUARTER

RESCUED: 1998-99 FLEER ULTRA ALLEN IVERSON UNSTOPPABLE

I WAS VERY COMPELLED TO RESCUE A 1:36 PACKS LATE NINETIES BASKETBALL INSERT OF A HALL OF FAMER. ESPECIALLY ONE THAT I DON'T ALREADY HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF. IT'S JUST SOOOO DAMN UGLY. THIS IS THE FRONT DESIGN WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED AS THE BOX FOR A FLEER METAL SET, NOT A SCARCE INSERT. THERE'S MORE GIMMICKS THOUGH, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CARD IS ACTUALLY A FLAP YOU CAN FOLD OVER TO SEE AN ACTUAL FULL SIZED PICTURE OF THE PLAYER. IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD! BUT TO SEE IT YOU HAVE TO FOLD A FOIL CARD IN HALF AND I DO NOT HAVE THE NERVER TO DO SUCH A THING YET. WHICH IS RIDICULOUS, BECAUSE THE CARD IS UGLY AND IT WILL NEVER SELL FOR MORE THAN ABOUT 5-10 BUCKS BUT I'VE BEEN TRAINED SINCE THE EARLY 90S TO NOT MANGLE RARE, EXPENSIVE CARDS BECAUSE I WILL REGRET IT FOREVER. I'M SUCH A DOOFUS. FOLD THE CARD, IDIOT! BUT I HAVE NOT. HERE'S A RODMAN CARD ON COMC WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. SO MUCH BETTER, RIGHT?! THE PLAYER BUSTING THROUGH THE METAL BASKETBALL LOOKS GREAT. MAYBE ONE DAY I WILL NOT BE A COWARD

HERE'S THE BACK. FOR THE RECORD THE BACK IS NOT NEARLY AS GOOD THE MIDDLE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING. PRETTY TYPICAL FLEER INSERT BACK, REALLY. REHASH OF THE FRONT, SMALL PICTURE OF THE PLAYER, CARD NUMBER IN A RANDOM LOCATION. IT'S FINE

NEW FIND: 2020 PANINI CONTENDERS DRAFT PICKS ANTHONY EDWARDS 2020 DRAFT CLASS

SO FAR MY PICKS HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT SCARCE 90S INSERTS FROM POPULAR SETS WORTH LIKE 5 BUCKS THAT LOOK COOL AND ARE A BIT OF A BARGAIN. THIS CARD IS NEW, NOT COOL AT ALL, FROM A SET THAT COLLECTORS ACTIVELY HATE AND COULD PROBABLY BE FOUND CHEAPER IF I LOOKED A LITTLE BIT. IT'S GOT AN UGLY PANINI DESIGN TOO! I HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR THIS, I LIKE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA CARDS, THIS IS A UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA CARD, SO I HAD TO GET THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA CARD. THERE ARE ALSO WAY LESS BASKETBALL BULLDOG CARDS AND THIS IS ONE OF AN ACTUAL GOOD PLAYER. SHAME ABOUT BEING STUCK IN MINNESOTA, BUT HE PLAYS GOOD

I DO LIKE THE BACK DESIGN WHERE THEY JUST SAID SCREW IT, GIGANTIC FONT AND CALLED IT A DAY. THERE ARE LIKE A HUNDRED OTHER CARDS I COULD'VE PICKED UP THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN THIS ONE, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE I HAVE NO OTHER ANTHONY EDWARDS CARDS AND THAT COLOR SWAP PACKERS LOGO MAKES ME HAPPY

STILL LEFT BEHIND: I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE WEIRD E-X INSERT LAST TIME, IT WAS ACTUALLY A TONY BATTIE CARD, NOT SHANE BATTIER. MAH BAD. I'LL PROBABLY REGRET PASSING ON IT ONE DAY SINCE IT'S SUCH AN ODDBALL. I ALSO PASSED ON ALL THOSE HAWKS ROOKIES LIKE HUNTER AND OKONGWU. IT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR IF ANY OF THEM WILL BE LEFT ON THE TEAM IF THE HAWKS HIT THE TRADE MARKET, PLUS I CAN DEFINITELY GET THOSE CHEAPER ONLINE

RESCUED: 1997 SKYBOX E-X 2000 HIDEO NOMO

MAYBE THE BEST SET OF THE 90S. JUST LOOK AT IT. A GIGANTIC PHOTO TAKING UP THE WHOLE CARD ON TOP OF A SHINY HOLOFOIL BORDER FRAMING A WINDOW OF PEACEFUL FLUFFY CLOUDS. I KINDA THINK CARDS PEAKED RIGHT HERE. I BARELY HAVE A QUARTER OF THE SET AND NOW I HAVE SLIGHTLY MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THE SET. IF I SNEAK IN MY BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL VERSIONS INTO THE PILE. I NEVER BOUGHT ANY PACKS OF THEIS STUFF BECAUSE I WAS ALL 'EW, THAT'S TOO MUCH MONEY FOR NOT ENOUGH CARDS' BUT I'D TRADE A WHOLE BOX OF THE CHEAP JUNK I DID PICK UP FOR A FEW OF THESE NOW

SINCE EX-2000 IS ESSENTIALLY AN ACETATE SET PRINTED ON CARDBOARD, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO WITH THE BACK BUT THIS DOES IT WELL ENOUGH. I NEED TO TRACK DOWN A PILE OF THESE SO I CAN PUT THEM IN PAGES WITHOUT HALF OF THEM BEING COMPLETELY EMPTY. I'M ONLY HALF KIDDING ABOUT FRANKENSETTING THIS WITH FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL CARDS. I MIGHT DO IT IF THE OTHER SPORTS WEREN'T EVEN HARDER TO FIND. I WISH THE 90S SETS I WANTED TO COMPLETE WEREN'T THE ONES EVERYONE ELSE IS HARDING, WHY CAN'T I GET OBSESSED WITH A COLLECTOR'S CHOICE SET FOR ONCE

NEW FIND: 2022 PANINI CHRONICLES PHOENIX RONALD ACUÑA JR.

I LOVE ACUÑA AND I LOVE CHRONICLES SO THIS  WAS A PRETTY EASY CHOICE FOR ME ONCE I FOUND IT. THE ACTUAL OFFICIAL  BRAVES BOX UP AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE ACUÑA CARDS WERE LIKE FIVE BUCKS A THROW SO THIS WAS A FORTUNATE FIND. I'M HONESTLY A LITTLE NERVOUS THAT RONALD MIGHT REPLACE ONE OF THE CURRENT HOBBY DARLINGS THAT THE WHALES LOVE AND CAUSE PRICES TO GO NUTSO WITH THE SEASON HE'S HAVING. I'M GLAD I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PICK UP SOME CHEAPOS WHILE I CAN. PHOENIX IS A B-TIER CHRONICLES PRODUCT BUT IT'S NICE ENOUGH AND THE SHADES LOOK COOL

MY CURRENT OBSESSION WITH CHRONICLES IS STRANGE EVEN TO ME, BUT I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE TWO CHRONICLES THINGS I ACTUALLY LIKE ARE CHEAP SINGLE CARDS, PREFERABLY OF PLAYERS I LIKE (OR AT LEAST HAVE HEARD OF) AND THE SEVEN DOLLAR RACK PACKS. I SAW SOME BLASTERS AND WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY THINKING CHARGING 25 BUCKS FOR 20 CARDS?? THERE'S EVEN SOME 15 DOLLAR 30 CARD RACK PACKS, WHO IS BUYING THE RIPOFF BLASTERS. THE 2022-23 NBA SET  IS ABOUT TO BE RELEASED AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO USE SOME RESTRAINT AND JUST LIMIT MYSELF TO A SINGLE PACK. THE CARDS I REALLY WANT ARE ALL TRAE AND EVERYONE HATES HIM RIGHT NOW SO I'D PROBABLY BE BETTER OFF PICKING THEM UP INDIVIDUALLY. I WONDER IF THOSE PACKS WILL LINGER FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS LIKE THE DRAFT PACKS HAVE. I WISH THE BASEBALL PACKS WOULD DO THE SAME

STILL LEFT BEHIND: THERE WAS A CRAPLOAD OF RECENT STADIUM CLUB BRAVES CARDS IN THE BOX AND THE AUSTIN RILEY CARD OF HIM CELEBRATING AND POPPING CHAMPAIGNE HURT TO PASS UP. I ALSO FOUND A DIFFERENT ACUÑA CARD FROM CHROME UPDATE BUT I LIKE CHRONICLES BETTER. I ALSO ALSO FOUND ANOTHER E-X 2000 CARD, THIS TIME OF NOMAR GARCIAPARRA. YEP, I NEED IT. UGH, MAYBE I NEED TO GO HIT THE DOLLAR BOX ON MY LUNCH BREAK

SO WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? FIRST, I AM UPPING MY DOLLAR BOX LIMIT TO 6 CARDS. EVERY TIME I TRY TO KEEP IT TO FIVE BUCKS I FIND SIX CARDS. NOW I WILL FIND SEVEN CARDS I CAN'T PASS UP INSTEAD. HOORAY! MORE CARDS! I'M ALSO NOTICING THAT WITH THE TIGHT LIMITS I'M MOSTLY GOING FOR THE NICEST CARDS THAT FIT A SET OR PLAYER COLLECTION MIXED IN WITH SOME NICE SHINY INSERTS THAT DAZZLE MY EYES. THAT'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY GOOD FOCUS, AT LEAST FOR ME. WE AREN'T DONE WITH THE DOLLAR BOXES EITHER, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER POST

IF I LOSE MY MIND AND BUILD A TRIUMVIRATE FRANKENCARD OR FOLD ANY INSERTS YOU ALL WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW

A BUCK'S WORTH OF QUARTER BOX CARDS

 RIGHT AFTER POSTING THAT IT'S HARD TO FIND QUARTER BOXES I REMEMBERED ABOUT THE PLACE THAT HAS A QUARTER BOX AND RAIDED IT. I'VE GOT WORD CONSTIPATION WRITING MY COMC POSTS AND MY MULTIPLE 50-IMAGE POSTS ARE A BOONDOGGLE SO LET'S SLIP IN A FEW JUNKBOX SHITPOSTS INTO THE DRAFT QUEUE TO KEEP THE CONTENT COMING. LOL JUST KIDDING, THERE'S NO CONTENT TO BE FOUND HERE. I'M STILL POSTING THE JUNK THO - I HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO SCROUNGE FOR GEMS AND THE PICKS WERE BASED ON INSTANT VIBES. HERE THEY ARE MORE OR LESS IN THE ORDER I PICKED THEM OUT OF THE BOX

1988 TOPPS ERIC DAVIS GLOSSY ALL-STAR

EVERY OTHER CARD IN THE BUNCH WAS CHOSEN WITH THE CRITERIA "YEP, THIS LOOKS COOL" BUT THIS CARD HAD TO BE CHECKED OFF ON MY WANTLIST. THERE WAS A BIG PILE OF THESE GLOSSY RACK PACK ALL-STARS IN THE BOX AND I AM DETERMINED TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE 1984-1991 RUN OF THIS INSERT BEFORE I DIE. THE FINAL TWENTY (12 OF WHICH ARE FROM 1991) HAVE BEEN REMARKABLY ELUSIVE DESPITE FINDING AT LEAST 4-5 OF THEM IN EVERY JUNK BOX.  ERIC DAVIS IS AN EXCELLENT ONE TO FIND

2021 ELITE EXTRA EDITION SPENCER SCHWELLENBACH

THE BRAVES' SECOND ROUND PICK IN 2021, THE ONLY REASON THIS CAUGHT MY EYE IS BECAUSE HE WAS THE BRAVES' REPRESENTATIVE IN THE FUTURES GAME THIS YEAR. I STILL HAD TO TRIPLE CHECK FOR THE ATLANTA ON THE CARD. AS AN ENJOYER OF BRAVES CARDS, I LIKE SNAGGING PRE-ROOKIE CARDS WHEN I CAN. IT PREVENTS STUFF LIKE NOT GETTING A SPENCER STRIDER CARD UNTIL OVER A YEAR AFTER HIS DEBUT. AND WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH SPENCERS, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN

2022 TOPPS RAISEL IGLESIAS SOME KIND OF PARALLEL

SPEAKING OF BRAVES, I HAVE NO CARDS OF THEIR CLOSER UNLESS ONE OF 'EM IS HIDING IN A TOPPS FLAGSHIP SET. THIS HERE IS THE BEST USE OF A PARALLEL CARD: TO THROW IT IN THE TEAM COLLECTION. RAISEL'S DOING PRETTY WELL THIS YEAR ALTHOUGH THE SAVE OPPORTUNITIES ARE HARD TO COME BY WHEN THE OFFENSE BLASTS 6 HOMERS A GAME AND BLOWS EVERYONE OUT

2022 DONRUSS JUAN SOTO ORANGE (?) SHINY PARALLEL THING

THIS IS THE SAME QUARTER BOX I GOT ALL THOSE CHRONICLES CARDS FROM AND I'M STILL ASTONISHED THAT I'M FINDING JUAN SOTO CARDS THIS CHEAP. I GET THAT INTEREST IN JUAN IS DWINDLING NOW THAT HE'S A PADRE BUT HE'S STILL HITTING THE CRAP OUT OF THE BALL AND THAT RING IS NEVER GOING AWAY. I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THE HECK THIS PARALLEL IS BUT IT'S SHINY SO WHY THE HELL NOT

ANOTHER BORING PACK RIP

I CHECKED OUT A NEW CARD PLACE YESTERDAY, AND PICKED UP SOME MORE LOOT TO SHOW OFF ON HERE. IT WAS A BOOTH IN AN ANTIQUE MALL SO YOU BET YOU'LL GET ANOTHER POST WITH A THOUSAND PICTURES OF CRAP ONE OF THESE DAYS WHEN I CAN GET THE PICS OFF MY PHONE. THIS PLACE HAD A BUNCH OF JUNK WAX AT INFLATED PRICES BUT EVEN MY CHEAPSKATE ASS WAS TEMPTED BY THIS:

1987 DONRUSS MAJOR LEAGUE ALL STARS POP-UP PUZZLE AND CARDS

MY 2006 FLEA MARKET BRAIN INSISTS THAT THIS PACK SHOULD COST 25 CENTS NOT A BUCK AND A QUARTER. 2023 HARSH REALITY BRAIN REALIZES THAT EVERYTHING IS STOOPID EXPENSIVE NOW AND I SHOULD GRAB LITTLE PIECES OF JOY WHEN I CAN. 1987 IS THE ONLY DONRUSS ALL-STARS SET I DON'T HAVE AT LEAST 90% COMPLETED SO THESE WILL PROBABLY BE NEW-TO-ME CARDS IN HERE. IT WAS ALSO THE CHEAPEST PACK IN THE BOOTH OTHER THAN A BUCK FOR A PRO-SET MUSIC SET I ALREADY HAVE COMPLETED AND $1.11 FOR A MAXX RACING PACK. WHY $1.11? WHO THE HECK KNOWS

BACK OF THE PACK TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW. 60 BIG POSTCARD SIZED PLAYER CARDS, 20 POP-UP CARDS AND THE UBIQUITOUS PUZZLE CARD. PREVIOUS ALL-STAR SETS AT LEAST HAD A UNIQUE PUZZLE DESIGN BUT IN THE LATE 80S DONRUSS GOT LAZY AND JUST PUT THE SAME ONE IN EVERYTHING. TIME TO CAREFULLY OPEN THE PACK SO THE WRAPPER DOESN'T SHRED

POP-UP - DICK HOWSER

THE POP UP SET IS THE STARTING NINE FOR EACH SQUAD PLUS THE MANAGER. GETTING A MANAGER ISN'T THE SEXIEST PULL BUT NONE OF THESE ODDLY SIZED POP-UP CARDS ARE EASY TO FIND IN THE WILD AND THE MANAGERS ESPECIALLY SO. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A DICK HOWSER SECTION IN YOUR LOCAL CARD SHOP'S STAR BOX. I DON'T HAVE THIS CARD SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO PULL DICK

LOOK AT THIS GLORIOUS ALL STAR LOGO. IT SHOULD BE AIRBRUSHED ON THE SIDE OF A VAN SOMEWHERE. THE ASTROS REALLY KNOW HOW TO LOGO. THE CARDS FOLLOW THE FIRST TWENTY CARDS OF THE SET BUT THERE ARE NO CARD NUMBERS FOR POP-UPS. THIS IS ANNOYING IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A WANT LIST FOR THEM

#19 - GARY CARTER

GARY CARTER IS A NICE START TO THE PACK. AS YOU CAN SEE THE DESIGN IS BASICALLY THE DONRUSS FLAGSHIP DESIGN MINUS THE BASEBALL STRIPE DOWN THE MIDDLE. THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THAT DESIGN BUT WHATEVER, BLACK BORDERS LOOK NICE. THE GIGANTIC NATIONAL AND AMERICAN LEAGUE LOGOS ON THESE CARDS ARE ALSO PRETTY COOL. IT WOULD TAKE UP A GOOD SIXTH OF A STANDARD SIZED TRADING CARD. IF YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS CARDBOARD REAL ESTATE YOU MIGHT AS WELL USE IT

HERE'S THE BACK. A LOT OF HIGHLIGHTS, A LOT OF LOGOS AND A LINE FROM A BOX SCORE. VERY SIMPLE AND NICE LOOKING. CARD NUMBER COULD BE BETTER. BLACK ON BLUE AIN'T EASY TO READ, BUT I'M NITPICKING. ODDLY, THE BACK IS BLUE INSTEAD OF THE YELLOW THEY USED ON THE BASE SET. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME SHADE OF BLUE USED ON THE 1988 SET SO MAYBE DON OR RUSS SCORED A SWEET DEAL ON ELEVENTY BILLION GALLONS OF BLUE INK. SO MUCH INK IT LASTED UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF 1991

#25 HAROLD BAINES

HELL YEAH. HAROLD WEARING THOSE GREAT MID 80S WHITE SOX UNIS. OH I'M SORRY, HAROLD "MOTHERFUCKING HALL OF FAMER,  BITCHES! CRY ABOUT IT" BAINES. HALL OF FAME INJUSTICES HAVE CAUSED ME A LOT OF ANGST IN THE PAST COUPLE DECADES BUT BAINES IS A NICE REMINDER THAT CHAOS STILL REIGNS AND DESERVING PLAYERS CAN STILL GET HONORED IN THEIR LIFETIME. FRED AND SCOTT GETTING IN IS PRETTY AWESOME TOO, I LIKE BEING HAPPY ABOUT THE HALL OF FAME, MORE OF THIS PLEASE

#17 MIKE SCHMIDT

YEAAAAAH MICHAEL JACK SCHMIDT. FUN FACT, THE SCHMIDT CARD IS THE ONLY ONE I NEED TO COMPLETE THE 1983 ALL-STAR SET. I COULD HAVE BOUGHT THE WHOLE DAMN THING FOR FIVE BUCKS A FEW YEARS AGO BUT NOOOO I FELT THE NEED TO BUILD THE SET FROM MY TRASHED CARDS FROM 1983. IT'S NOT LIKE THAT IS ONE OF MY TOP TEN FAVORITE SETS OF ALL TIME AND WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE HAVING TWO SETS, ONE MINT AND ONE OF THE CARDS FROM MY CHILDHOOD. WHY DO I ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SHIT I DIDN'T GET INSTEAD OF THE PILES OF STUFF I HAVE. WHY IS MY BRAIN THE WAY THAT IT IS. 

ANYWAY, FUCK YEAH COOL MIKE SCHMIDT CARD. THIS RULES, DESPITE THE INADVERTENT PSYCHIC DAMAGE. JUST LOOK AT MIKE'S BIG BOOTY IN THOSE POWDER BLUES

LOOK AT IT

PUZZLE PIECE 40, 41, 42

ROBERTO CLEMENTE'S THIGH AND SOME LEAVES. I HAVE ALMOST A FULL 1600-COUNT BOX OF COMPLETED DONRUSS PUZZLE SETS IN TEAM BAGS AND AN ADDITIONAL THREE 800-COUNT BOXES MOSTLY FILLED WITH EXTRAS. NOT TO MENTION THE ONES I PUNCHED OUT AND PUT TOGETHER. IT'S ASTOUNDING HOW THESE THINGS ACCUMULATE. I DO NOT HOWEVER HAVE A LIST OF WHICH PIECES I NEED TO COMPLETE MOARER SETS. I SHOULD MAYBE GET ON THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS

THREE HALL OF FAMERS IN THE PACK, QUITE ACCEPTABLE. I WISH THE PACK COST A QUARTER INSTEAD OF EACH CARD BUT IT'S THE FUTURE, BABY! QUARTER BOXES BARELY EXIST ANYMORE, THIS WAS A STEAL. AM I GONNA RUN BACK TO THE ANTIQUE MALL AND BUY UP THE REST OF THE PACKS? EEEEH.... I'D NEED 20 PACKS MINIMUM TO COMPLETE THE SET AND LORD KNOWS THAT KIND OF COLLATION AINT' HAPPENING. NOT SURE I WANT TO SPEND 40 BUCKS TO WIPE OUT THE REST OF THE BOX JUST TO BE SHORT SEVERAL CARDS FROM BOTH THE MAIN AND POP-UP SET. I HAD MY FUN THOUGH AND CAN STILL DREAM OF STUMBLING UPON A CHEAP COMPLETE SET ONE DAY

BIGGUNS #1 - STATS ON THE BACK

I HAVE LITERALLY THREE SHOEBOXES* FULL OF ODDBALL GIANT SIZED CARDS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH AND AM TOO LAZY TO TRACK DOWN PROPER SIZED PAGES SO I CAN BINDER THEM ALL. THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY SWEET STUFF IN THERE TOO, I FEEL BAD FOR NEGLECTING THEM THE WAY I HAVE. I RECENTLY WENT THROUGH ONE OF THE BOXES TO CHECK OUT MY COOL STUFF AND GOT THE IDEA TO TAKE SOME PICTURES OF THE COOLEST ONES TO SHOW OFF ON HERE AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BREAK FROM ALL THE GOOFY STUFF I'VE BOUGHT ON COMC. THIS TOOK LONG ENOUGH THAT I HAD NO LONGER HAD TIME TO SORT TAND PUT THEM AWAY. WIN-WIN! NOW I HAVE AN ENTIRE FOLDER FULL OF COOL OLD STUFF SO OF COURSE I'M GOING TO SHOW OFF SOMETHING I JUST BOUGHT FIRST

1962 EXHIBIT LEW BURDETTE STATS ON THE BACK

EXHIBIT SUPPLY COMPANY CARDS ARE ONE OF THE BETTER KNOWN VINTAGE ODDBALLS OUT THERE. THEY WERE PRINTED FROM THE 20S TO THE 60S, ARE POSTCARD SIZED, AND ARE COMMON ENOUGH TO BE EASY TO FIND AND WEIRD ENOUGH TO BE CHEAP COMPARED TO CONTEMPORARY BASEBALL CARDS. THEY WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH VENDING MACHINES AND COULD BE FOUND WITH ALL KINDS OF SUBJECTS INCLUDING MOVIE STARS, BOXERS AND CELEBRITIES. THERE'S A TON OF ODD VARIATIONS (MEMORIALIZED IN THIS RIDICULOUS EARLY 00S'S LEAF INSERT). BEFORE THE AGE OF THE INTERNET IT WAS SUPER HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YEAR OR SERIES ANY INDIVIDUAL CARD WAS AND SINCE THERE WERE NO COPYRIGHT YEARS, CARD NUMBERS OR EVEN TEXT ON THE BACK. THEY WERE BARELY BASEBALL CARDS AND MORE LIKE POST CARDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOME CARDS LITERALLY SAID POST CARD ON THE BACK. ONE SERIES WAS DIFFERENT THOUGH AND HAD STATS ON THE BACK. I HAD WANTED ONE OF THESE CARDS SINCE I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THEM WHEN I WAS A KID, BUT THOSE WERE SCARCE AND COULD COST SEVERAL DOLLARS. I COULD BUY A WHOLE PILE OF VINTAGE COMMONS FROM THE 60S FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY SO I ALWAYS PASSED. THEN I FOUND THIS ONE AT DUCK'S DUGOUT FOR LIKE FOUR BUCKS. FOUR BUCKS IN 2023 IS WAY DIFFERENT THAN FOUR BUCKS IN 1988. PLUS IT'S A BRAVE! LET'S LOOK AT DEM STATS

WHEN THEY SAY STATS ON THE BACK, THEY MEANT IT. THIS IS A WHOLE EXCEL SPREADSHEET WORTH OF STATS INCLUDING MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS. KANSAS CITY AND SAN FRANCISCO MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS, GOTTA LOVE THE 50S. THIS CARD HAS STATS UP TO 1961, BUT THERE'S A 1963 VERSION WITH 1962 STATS. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER VARIATION WHERE THE STATS ARE IN BLACK INK INSTEAD OF RED. IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF NEAT HOW MANY DIFFERENT VARIATIONS THERE ARE OF THESE CARDS SINCE THEY WERE CHEAP POSTCARD SOUVENIERS INSTEAD OF AN ACTUAL TRADING CARD SET. BAD FOR SET BUILDING COMPLETIONISTS BUT GREAT FOR WEIRDOS WHO LOVE HAVING A TYPE CARD OF EVERYTHING. I BET YOU CAN GUESS WHICH CAMP I'M FALLING INTO LATELY, HUH. UNLIKE THE REST OF THOSE POOR CARDS SHOVED BACK INTO THE SHOEBOX, THIS ONE DID ACTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO MY ODDBALL BRAVES BINDER. MAN, I COULD DO POSTS JUST ON THAT BINDER FOR MONTHS, BUT MAYBE I SHOULD FINISH UP ALL THE ONES IN MY DRAFT FOLDER FIRST

* ONE OF THE BOXES IS ACTUALLY FROM AN ODDBALL ELECTRONIC DEVICE BUT SHOEBOXES IS EASIER TO SAY. ODDBALLS IN AN ODDBALL BOX IS VERY APPROPRIATE