2023 CARD SHOW - PART 1: PATRICK'S MAGICAL QUARTER BOX

 

DON'T LOOK AT THE PICTURE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS

2023 HAS BEEN A PRETTY FANTASTIC YEAR FOR ME AS FAR AS PICKING UP CARDS IS CONCERNED, I'VE GOTTEN A WHOLE BUNCH OF COOL SHIT. I'VE GOT LIKE EIGHT DIFFERENT PLACES TO FIND CARDS NOW WHICH IS NINE MORE THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SO I FEEL PRETTY FORTUNATE IN THAT AREA. ONE THING THAT AVOIDED ME HOWEVER WAS A CARD SHOW. THERE ARE USUALLY AT LEAST TWO SHOWS A MONTH WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE OF ME (ALBEIT A COUPLE HOURS DRIVING IN SOME CASES) BUT HAVING THE COMBINATION OF BOTH TIME AND MONEY ELUDED ME FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SOME OF THIS WAS MY FAULT AS THE DOZENS OF ONLINE DIME BOX AND JUNK BOX POSTS CAN ATTEST TO, BUT REGARDLESS IT WAS WELL OVER A YEAR SINCE I GOT TO A SHOW. A LITTLE BIRTHDAY MONEY AND A FREE SUNDAY MORNING CORRECTED THAT AND AS YOU CAN SEE ABOVE (SPOILERS!!) I DID PRETTY WELL FOR MYSELF. SINCE THE COMC POSTS WON'T BE BACK UNTIL JANUARY AT THE EARLIEST LET'S USE FRIDAYS TO SHOW OFF ALL THIS STUFF. CARD PRICES RANGED FROM A MAX OF $2.50 TO TEN BUCKS DIVIDED BY HOWEVER MANY CARDS ARE IN THAT BOX UP THERE

WE'LL START WITH THE LITTLE PILE ON THE LEFT IN THE MIDDLE ROW. THESE CAME FROM PATRICK'S MAGICAL QUARTER BOX. I'VE BEEN SCROUNGING THOSE BOXES FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND I ALWAYS FIND SOME NEAT SURPRISES IN THERE. THERE'S PROBABLY AT LEAST TWO OTHER QUARTER BOX POSTS ON THIS BLOG COURTESY OF THESE BOXES BUT I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO SEARCH FOR THEM AT THE MOMENT. PATRICK WASN'T MY FIRST STOP AT THE SHOW, THAT WAS THE VINTAGE TABLE RIGHT AT THE FRONT WITH ALL THE COOL CHEAP OLD STUFF. WELL, COOL OLD STUFF AT LEAST. I HAD A MILD STICKER SHOCK WHEN I FIRST STOPPED THERE AS A LOT OF THE HIGHER CALIBER VINTAGE HAD GONE WAY UP IN PRICE. I LOOKED FOR A COUPLE CARDS I WAS TARGETING, SAW DOUBLE DIGIT PRICES AND MY GAME PLAN WAS OUT THE WINDOW. THE REALLY CHEAP BOXES WERE BEING DOMINATED BY AN OLDER DUDE WITH A WELL WORN NOTEBOOK FULL OF WANTLISTS. I KNEW A FELLOW COLLECTOR FREAK WHEN I SAW ONE AND RESPECTED HIS SPACE AND LEFT HIM BE AS I STARTED TO CIRCLE THE ROOM. I FOUND A DOLLAR BOX OF NOLAN RYAN CARDS, SLABS, A CASE FULL OF STUFF WITH NO PRICES, SLABS WITH NO PRICES, MORE SLABS. A CASE WITH PRICES I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT A DOWN PAYMENT ON, SLABS, SLABS AND THOSE WONDERFUL QUARTER BOXES. I KNOW MY PLACE IN THE ECOSYSTEM, I SETTLED DOWN AND FOUND THREE BUCKS WORTH OF CARDS AT FIVE FOR A DOLLAR. HERE WE GO:

2012 PRISM ADRIAN BELTRE BRILLIANCE INSERT

ADRIAN BELTRE IS A LOW-KEY PLAYER COLLECTION FOR ME AND HE BETTER FUCKING GET ELECTED TO THE HALL OF FAME OR I AM GOING TO BE EXCEEDINGLY PISSY ABOUT IT. I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN PULLING A BELTRE DODGERS ROOKIE YEAR INSERT WAS ALMOST INEVITABLE. YOU NEVER GOT ANYONE GOOD LIKE JD DREW OR RICK ANKIEL OR JOSE CRUZ JR, NOPE, ALWAYS ADRIAN BELTRE. NOW THOSE BELTRE CARDS GO FOR BIG BUCKS! WELL, MAYBE A BUCK. OR TWO. I WASN'T ABOUT TO PASS UP ON A NICE SHINY CHROMEY PRIZM INSERT OF ADRIAN OUT OF THE QUARTER BOX

1998 SKYBOX DUGOUT AXCESS RANDY JOHNSON DISWASHERS INSERT

DUGOUT AXCESS WAS ONE OF THE WEIRDER RELEASES OF THE 90S. THE CARDS WERE PRINTED ON THIN PLASTICKY STOCK AND WERE FILLED WITH REALLY AWKWARD SLANG TO BE HIP WITH THE KIDS. THE DISHWASHERS INSERT FEATURED PITCHERS WHO WERE GOOD AT CLEANING THE PLATE, SO TO SPEAK, AND FEATURES A WHO'S WHO OF STAR PITCHERS OF THE LATE 90S. WHY ALL THESE PITCHERS WERE PUT ON THE MOON, I HAVE NO IDEA. RANDY JOHNSON CARDS ARE ALWAYS INEXPLICABLY CHEAP AND I WILL NOT PASS ONE UP FOR A QUARTER, EVEN IF HE HAS BEEN EXILED TO THE MOON 

1998 PINNACLE JEFF BAGWELL HIT IT HERE INSERT

BAGWELL IS ALSO IN THAT GROUP OF DISRESPECTED HALL OF FAMERS THAT ARE ALWAYS CHEAP. I REMEMBER HOW HOT THE CHASE WAS FOR HIS ROOKIES IN 1991 SO I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR HIS CARDS. THIS PINNACLE INSERT IS EXCEEDINGLY SHINY WITH ETCHED FOIL CARD STOCK. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!

SERIAL NUMBERING! KINDA. THERE'S A SERIAL NUMBER BUT NO /OUT OF NUMBER. THERE'S FIVE DIGITS SO THERE'S AT LEAST 10,000 OF THESE THINGS BUT THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 99,999. TWENTY THOUSAND IS THE ACCEPTED NUMBER PRINTED 

1992 O-PEE-CHEE RICKEY HENDERSON

I HAVE BEEN OBSESSIVELY PICKING UP ANY NOVEL RICKEY CARD I SEE FOR A WHILE NOW AND O-PEE-CHEE IS DEFINITELY A NEGLECTED SIDE OF MY COLLECTION. IF THIS CARD HAS ALREADY POPPED UP IN ONE OF THE BASEBALLCARDSTORE DOT CA POSTS YELL AT ME IN THE COMMENTS. I REALLY NEED TO GET MY ACT TOGETHER AND START CATALOGUING THE MAJOR PLAYER COLLECTIONS IN TCDB BEFORE I START BUYING THE SAME CARD TEN TIMES LIKE I REGULARLY DO WITH BRAVES CARDS

1995 STUDIO JEFF BAGWELL AND MIKE PIAZZA PLATINUM PARALLELS

1995 STUDIO IS ONE OF THE WEIRDEST SETS EVER MADE. THE BASE SET IS KINDA AWFUL, NO ONE ASKED FOR A PLAIN PAPER CARD THAT LOOKS LIKE A CREDIT CARD. THE GOLD AND PLATINUM PARALELLS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE FANTASTIC. THEY ARE NOT EASY TO FIND EITHER I'VE ONLY ACCUMULATED A SMALL HANDFUL OF GOLDS AND THESE ARE MY FIRST TWO PLATINUMS. PIAZZA AND BAGS ARE A GOOD START AND AT 25 CARDS IN THE SET I'M ALREADY TEMPTED TO START LOOKING FOR MORE

2000 PACIFIC PRIVATE STOCK ALEX RODRIGUEZ PS-2000 MINI

MINIS! A-ROD IS IN THAT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TIER OF DIRT CHEAP 90S STARS. THE NOT-IN-THE-HALL-BUT-SHOULDA-BEEN-YEARS-AGO-BUT-WON'T-IN-MY-LIFETIME TIER. I DON'T CARE, I'LL TAKE THE CHEAP CARDS, ESPECIALLY THE GOOD ONES IN A MARINERS UNIFORM. PACIFIC PIONEERED THE T-206 STYLE MINI CARDS YEARS BEFORE TOPPS206 AND GINTER AND QYPSY GUEEN DID IN THE 00S. THE PRIVATE STOCK PACKS KNEW WHAT WE REALLY WANTED AS WELL AND INSERTED TWO MINIS PER PACK. I PASS UP A LOT OF GINTER AND OTHERWISE MINI CARDS IN THESE BOXES UNLESS I KNOW FOR SURE I NEED THEM BUT PACIFIC QUARTER BOX MINIS GO HOME WITH ME EVERY TIME

1987 TOPPS CECIL COOPER BOX BOTTOM CARD

SPEAKING OF MINIS, 87 TOPPS PUT THE BOX CARDS ON THE SIDE FOR SOME REASON SO THESE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1975 MINI SIZE. I FOOLISHLY PUT THESE CARDS ON THE BACK BURNER FOR YEARS WHEN I COULD HAVE PICKED THEM UP FOR NOTHING AND NOW IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND THEM. COOP IS UNDERRATED AND THIS CARD CELEBRATES HIS 2000TH CAREER HIT

1991 7-11 DWIGHT GOODEN SUPERSTAR ACTION COIN

THERE ARE ALWAYS SEVERAL OF THESE IN THE QUARTER BOX AND I'VE PROBABLY BOUGHT AT LEAST ONE OF THESE BEFORE BUT C'MON, HOW TO YOU PASS ON A DOC GOODEN 7-11 SCORE SPORTFLICS STYLE PROTO-POG

1976 SHAKEY'S PIZZA BASEBALL'S HALL OF FAME RABBIT MARANVILLE

I HAD HEARD OF THE SHAKEY'S PIZZA HALL OF FAME SET BEFORE BUT I NEVER ACTUALLY SAW ANY. THERE WERE A COUPLE DOZEN IN THE BOX AND I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME DECIDING WHICH OF THE D-LIST PLAYERS AND EXECUTIVES TO PICK UP FOR A TYPE CARD WHEN RABBIT POPPED UP AND MADE THE DECISION EASY. I HAD NO IDEA THESE THINGS WERE FROM 1976, I THOUGHT THEY WERE LATE 80S MAYBE EARLY 90S. I MIGHTA BOUGHT MORE HAD I KNOWN BUT I ENDED UP NEEDING EVERY LAST PENNY SO MAYBE THAT'S FOR THE BEST

LOOK AT THIS FANTASTIC BACK WITH THE PIZZA SIGN ON IT. HOW IN THE WORLD DID A PIZZA JOINT IN SEATTLE PULL OFF A WHOLE-ASS BASEBALL CARD SET

1983 CRAMER BASEBALL LEGENDS KIKI CUYLER

SPEAKING OF ANCIENT LEGENDS SETS THAT HAVE ELUDED ME, I AM SORT OF COLLECTING THE CRAMER LEGENDS SET BUT THIS HERE IS THE FIRST CARD FROM THE 1983 4TH SERIES I'VE FOUND. JUST THE OPPOSITE OF THE SHAKEY'S CARDS, THESE SEEM TO ME LIKE THEY SHOULD BE MUCH OLDER THAN THEY ARE. IT'S GONNA BE A LONG LONG WHILE BEFORE THIS SET IS FINISHED BUT I ONLY HAVE 110 MORE TO GO

1987 RALSTON PURINA FERNANDO VALENZUELA

HERE'S A SET I ACTUALLY GOT A FEW CARDS FROM WHEN I WAS A KID. THESE RALSTON PURINA CARDS WERE INSERTED IN BOXES OF COOKIE CRISP CEREAL. I KNOW I GOT A FEW PACKS WHEN I WAS A KID BUT I'M STILL MISSING MOST OF THE 15 CARD SET. I'M NOT SURE IF I LOST THE CARDS OR MAYBE GOT A LITTLE EXCITED WHEN EATING THE CEREAL AND SCARFED THE CARDS DOWN AS WELL. I REMEMBER FOR SURE THAT ALL THE ONES I GOT WERE AS WEIRDLY CUT AS THIS ONE. THIS WAS MAYBE THE MOST LOW BUDGET LOOKING ODDBALL SET OF THE 80S, A REAL STEP DOWN FROM THEIR MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOKING SET IN 1984 WITH THE TOPPS BRANDING

1982 DONRUSS HAROLD BAINES

THERE ARE ALWAYS A TON OF EARLY 80S STAR CARDS IN THE MAGICAL QUARTER BOX AND TODAY WAS NO EXCEPTION. SADLY I'VE BEEN DOING SO WELL ADDING TO SETS LATELY THAT THE ONLY CARD I ACTUALLY NEEDED WAS THIS 82 DONRUSS HAROLD BAINES. OH WAIT, HALL OF FAMER HAROLD BAINES. YESSSS HOW DELICIOUS THAT SOUNDS. THIS IS A NICE LOOKING CARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING IT INTO THE BINDER

1977 TOPPS JOE TORRE

ALONG WITH THE 80S STARS, THERE'S ALSO  USUALLY A NICE LITTLE HANDFUL OF 70S CARDS IN THE BOX. SOMETIMES EVEN 60S OR EVEN 50S CARDS, BUT I DIDN'T FIND ANY I NEEDED THIS TIME. THIS JOE TORRE CARD WAS A NEED THOUGH AND IT'S A HELLUVA PICKUP FOR A QUARTER. I AM NOW ALMOST COMPLETELY DONE WITH MY 1976 TOPPS SET AND I'M TRYING TO DECIDE ON WHICH 70S SET TO ATTACK WITH FULL FORCE IN 2024. THE OBVIOUS CHOICE IS 1975, BUT I HAVE PICKED UP OVER A DOZEN 1977S BY COMPLETE ACCIDENT IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS SO THE UNIVERSE MAY BE PUSHING ME IN THAT DIRECTION. LOOKING OVER MY WANTLIST, I SEE THAT I NEED THE GARY CARTER ROOKIE FOR 1975, SO THAT MAY CAUSE ME SOME PROBLEMS. OH WAIT, I NEED THE GODDAMN PETE ROSE FOR 1975 BUT I ALREADY HAVE IT FOR 1977! THAT SETTLES IT, 2024 IS THE YEAR OF 1977 FOR ME. WATCH ME FIND A BOX FULL OF 75S THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY

1976 BOBBY BONDS RECORD BREAKER AND FRIENDS

MISCUT CARDS ARE HOTTER THAN ANY MANUPATCH OR RELIC CARD RIGHT NOW AND I MADE A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEEING SOUND WHEN I SAW THIS BEAUTY. I ALREADY HAVE A COUPLE OF THESE BOBBY BONDS 30-30 RECORD BREAKER CARDS BUT I DON'T HAVE ONE WITH CAMEOS FROM LARRY ANDERSON AND KEN CROSBY. ALL THIS HERE COST LESS THAN THAT PACK OF TOPPS UPDATE I SHOWED OFF A WHILE BACK. PLUS I GOT ONE MORE CARD! THIS WAS A GREAT START BUT THE NEXT TABLE I HIT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SHOW. IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOUR POSTS TO SHOW OFF ALL THAT STUFF SO SETTLE IN, WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE UNTIL JANUARY

FINALLY FOUND A PACK OF 2023 CHRONICLES

 I DON'T GET TO TARGETS VERY OFTEN ANYMORE BUT FOR THE PAST MONTH I'VE BEEN OBSESSIVELY STOPPING BY TO CHECK FOR CHRONICLES PACKS EVERY CHANCE I GET. AN UNEXPECTED TRIP YESTERDAY RESULTED IN A COMPLETLY RESTOCKED CARD AISLE AT A STORE THAT USUALLY NEVER HAS ANYTHING. THEY EVEN HAD UPDATE HANGERS AT A REASONABLE PRICE THAT I PASSED UP ON AGAIN BECAUSE WHAT'S THE POINT ANYMORE. THERE WERE ALSO $4.99 CRAP PACKS BUT IN SOCCER THIS TIME?? I HAVE NEVER SEEN THOSE BEFORE AND WAS TEMPTED BUT ONCE I SAW CHRONICLES RACK PACKS AND BLASTERS AND EVEN A MEGA BOX I SNAPPED OUT OF IT AND CLAIMED THE SPOILS OF MY HUNT. UNLESS THE GUYS WHO CONSISTENTLY WIPE OUT ALL THE BASEBALL PACKS AT THIS TARGET ARE JUST NOT INTO CHRONICLES THIS YEAR (POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL PACKS ALWAYS REMAIN UNTOUCHED) THIS MIGHT BE MY ONLY CHRONICLES PACK OF 2023 BECAUSE I'M NOT COUNTING ON ANY OF THE PACKS STILL BEING THERE THE NEXT TIME I HAVE $7.41 IN MY WALLET

HERE ARE THE "ODDS" ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO ODDS THERE OTHER THAN ON AVERAGE YOU'LL GET 3 BASE CARDS AND 12 NOT BASE CARDS PER PACK.YOU THOUGHT 1994 FLEER WAS HOT SHIT WITH ONE INSERT PER PACK? TRY TWELVE, CHUMP. AMAZING PANINI MANAGED TO CONVINCE IDIOTS LIKE ME THAT BASE CARDS WERE NOT BASE CARDS. PURE GENIUS. ALL THAT TINY TEXT IS BASICALLY A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL THE CARDS YOU WON'T GET, MOST SERIAL NUMBERED ANYWHERE FROM 200 TO 1. HERE'S THE CHECKLIST FOR REFERENCE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MENTION HOW WEIRD IT IS ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES IN THIS POST. LET'S RIP THIS SUCKA

THE FIRST CARD. I PULLED THIS OUT OF THE PACK AND SAW TED AND WENT !!!!! AND THEN SAW LYONS AND WENT LOL. DEFINITELY A CLASSIC PLAYER FOR A CLASSICS CARD. I REALLY DIG THE DESIGN OF THIS ONE WHAT WITH THE PRIMARY COLORS AND THE CLOTH TEXTURE WHICH SORT OF MATCHES THE DESK MAT I USE FOR A PHOTO BACKGROUND. IT'S SUFFICIENTLY RETRO FOR MY TASTES SO THAT I DON'T EVEN MIND THAT IT'S SUPER GLOSSY LIKE THE REST OF THE BASE CARDS IN THE PACK. THE ACTUAL PHOTO SEEMS A BIT EXCESSIVELY PROCESSED THOUGH, I HOPE THE PROSPECT CARDS AREN'T ARTIFICIALLY ANTIQUED LIKE THIS ONE

THE BACKS ARE NOT CLASSIC HOWEVER LOL. TYPICAL PANINI MINIMALISM. I LIKE THAT THE WRITEUP PRAISES TED LYONS' CHAD INNINGS EATER STATUS

AND HERE'S THE BASE CARD. I STILL THIN IT'S HILARIOUS THAT SINCE PANINI ABANDONED THE HEADLINE GIMMICK ON THE BASE CARDS IN 2020, EVERY SET HAS HAD THE DESIGN ELEMENTS SLIGHTLY SWITCHED UP EACH YEAR. THIS TIME CHRONICLES GOT MOVED TO THE TOP, THE LOGO SHIFTED TO THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER AND THE UNNECCESSARY SECOND PHOTO FLIPPED TO THE RIGHT SIDE. I EAGERLY AWAIT TO SEE HOW THEY MANAGE TO SHUFFLE EVERYTHING IN NEXT YEAR'S SET, ASSUMING PANINI ISN'T SUED INTO OBLIVION BY THEN

I'M FORCING MYSELF TO SHOW OFF EVERY BACK DESIGN AS PUNISHMENT FOR LOVING THIS DISASTER SET. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT COMPARED TO PREVIOUS BASE CARD BACKS THIS ONE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. THIS SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE PREVIOUS BACKS. THE LEGENDS SUBJECTS IN THIS SET ARE DELIGHTFULLY ALL OVER THE MAP, FROM BABE RUTH AND WILLIE MAYS TO BEN SHEETS AND VINCE COLEMAN. CONE IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHO MIGHT UP THE HALL OF FAMER COUNT IN THE SET IN A FEW YEARS WHEN THE VETERAN COMMITTEE VOTERS FINALLY REALIZE NO ONE'S EVER WINNING 200 GAMES EVER AGAIN LET ALONE 300 AND OVERREACT. A CY YOUNG, FIVE RINGS, 194 WINS AND 121 ERA+ LOOKS PRETTY DANG GOOD RIGHT NOW

WOOO! DOUBLE-X SWINGING THE RUBBER BAT. THIS PICTURE LOOKS A LOT LESS MESSED UP THAN THE TED LYONS ONE. I'M NOW REALIZING THESE CARDS REMIND ME A LITTLE OF THE OLD BATTER UP VINTAGE CARDS FROM THE 30S THANKS TO THE OUTLINE AROUND THEM. I KINDA WISH THE CLASSICS SET WAS ALL RETIRED PLAYERS BUT I KNOW THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE

HERE'S THE LIMITED DESIGN WHICH IS AS BORING AS ITS SUBJECT. I KNOW I CAN'T ALWAYS JUDGE THESE CARDS ON THE SETS THEY ARE BASED ON BUT WHEN I THINK LIMITED, I THINK OF THE SUPER SHINY MID-90S LEAF LIMITED SETS AND THIS LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT EVEN A TERRIBLE DESIGN! IT'S JUST NOT LIMITED TO ME

THE BACK IS AS BORING AS THE FRONT. I YAM DISGRUNTLED BY THIS CARD. I DON'T MIND MORE OBSCURE HALL OF FAMERS BUT I DO NOT WANT TO PULL A CARD OF A SENATOR. WALTER JOHNSON EXCEPTED. THE CHECKLIST FOR THIS "INSERT" IS VERY ODD. HOW THE HECK DID SEIYA SUZUKI GET IN THIS SET?

HERE WE GO! CLASSICS PROSPECT. OH WAIT, I MEAN ROOKIE CARD. THAT RC LOGO MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ANYMORE. WITH PANINI OR FANATOPPS, IT'S ALL NONSENSE NOW. GOTTA SAY I LIKE THE LOOK OF THESE CARDS AND THE CHECKLIST IS PRETTY LEGIT. NOT SURE IF IT'S LEGIT ENOUGH TO COLLECT THE WHOLE THING BUT SINCE CLASSICS ARE ONE OF THE EASIER SETS TO FIND IN PACKS IT MIGHT BE DOABLE. EDOUARD JULIEN PLAYED 109 GAMES FOR THE TWINS THIS SEASON AND KINDA KICKED ASS, KNOCKING 16 DINGERS, A 130 OPS+ AND 2.6 bWAR. SO I GUESS THIS ONE REALLY IS A ROOKIE CARD?? AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW PANINI GETS AWAY WITH THIS

HERE'S A PROSPECT BASE CARD OF PETE HANSEN. PETE IS AN ACTUAL PROSPECT AS HE WAS DRAFTED IN 2022 AND HAS PITCHED EXACTLY ONE INNING ABOVE SINGLE-A BALL. MAYBE HE'LL BE GOOD? WE'LL FIND OUT IN FIVE YEARS I GUESS

LUMINANCE IS USUALLY MY LEAST FAVORITE CHRONICLES DESIGN BUT I REALLY LIKE IT THIS TIME? I THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF 1995 PINNACLE FOOTBALL WHICH IS PRETTY GREAT LOOKING. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY THE EDGES OF THE PHOTO ARE DARKENED LIKE THAT. WHY WOULD A SET CALLED LUMINANCE BE DARKER THAN NORMAL. JUSTIN CRAWFORD IS ANOTHER 2022 DRAFT PICK WHO IS PHILLY'S #3 PROSPECT AT THE MOMENT. I'M NOW NOTICING THAT THE RC LOGO IS NOT ON THE PROSPECT CARDS THAT HAVE NOT MADE THE BIGS YET. PLEASE IGNORE MY ROOKIE LOGO RANT ABOVE AND INSTEAD DOUBLE DOWN ON MY "HOW IS PANINI GETTING AWAY WITH PRODUCING CARDS OF ACTIVE PLAYERS?!?" RANT INSTEAD

THE BACK! IS BORING. BUT YOU KNEW THAT ALREADY. AND WHY COULDN'T PANINI FIND A PICTURE WHERE JUSTIN'S FACE WASN'T COMPLETELY OBSCURED

WOOOOO! BARVES! I SAW THIS CARD AND GOT VERY HAPPY AND THEN SOMEWHAT UPSET THINKING THAT RITCHIE HAD BEEN TRADED BUT HE HAS NOT. YET. THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO IN THE OFFSEASON AND ANTHOPOULOS NEEDS A STARTING PITCHER. RICHIE ADDS TO THE 2022 DRAFT PICKS IN THIS PACK AND WHILE A TOP PROSPECT HE WAS DRAFTED OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL SO IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE HE SEES THE BIGS. OR HE MIGHT BE IN THE BULLPEN NEXT YEAR, THERE'S BEEN A FEW METEORIC RISES AMONG THE PITCHERS ON THE BRAVES' FARM LATELY. THIS PINNACLE DESIGN LOOKS AWKWARD BUT IT'S A NEW TAKE ON THE 1991-92 PINNACLE HOCKEY SET WHICH ALSO LOOKS AWKWARD

I WAS ABOUT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SHEER AMOUNT OF DEAD SPACE ON THE BACK OF THESE CARDS FOR THE HUNDREDTH TIME BUT IT MUST BE HARD DESIGNING CARD BACKS WHEN YOU CAN'T CHEW UP HALF OF IT WITH SOME STATS SO I WILL STIFLE MYSELF

LET ME GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY FIRST - I AM SUPER HAPPY WITH A FERGIE JENKINS CARD. NO COMPLAINTS AT ALL ABOUT THAT. THIS IS STILL THE MOST DISAPPOINTING CARD IN THE BACK FROM A DESIGN ASPECT. VERTEX'S ENTIRE SCHTICK FROM THE 2022 SET IS THAT ALL THESE DISTRACTING BACKGROUND SHAPES WERE EMBOSSED AND THERE WAS A NEAT TEXTURE TO THE CARD THAT LOOKED INTERESTING. THIS TIME IT IS ALL SHADING AND TRICKERY AND THIS CARD IS AS FLAT AND GLOSSY AS ALL THE OTHERS. I KNOW EMBOSSING IS EXPENSIVE PANINI BUT YOU CAN'T KILL OFF A DESIGN'S ENTIRE DEAL AND STILL KEEP IT JUST AS UGLY AS BEFORE. ALL THESE LINES ARE COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING POOR FERGIE AND THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. A+ FOR FERGIE, F- FOR VERTEX AS A BRAND

OK BACK TO COMPLAINING ABOUT WASTED SPACE. WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THIS. WHY DOES VERTEX EXIST. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL VERTEX HASN'T BEEN A STANDALONE PRODUCT SINCE 2017 FOOTBALL AND THAT WAS A HIGH END SET AND THE BASE CARDS DIDN'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THIS IS AS BAD AS TOPPS RESURRECTING THE FAILED BASKETBALL XPECTATIONS PRODUCT TO CHUCK ONE LAST HIGH END BOX INTO THE MARKET BEFORE CHRISTMAS. LET THE DEAD STAY DEAD ALREADY

JOE GIRARDI CUBS CARD - INTERESTING CHOICE OF TEAM HERE. THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD PLAYERS IN THE LUMINENCE CHECKLIST LIKE SATCHEL PAIGE, I'M GLAD I LIKE THIS DESIGN THIS YEAR. THERE'S ALSO BUD SELIG 😡

HEEEELLL YEAAAAAAH SPAHNNIE. I GOT BOTH BRAVES PINNACLE CARDS IN THE SAME PACK, HOW LUCKY IS THAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT BRAVES SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE NUMEROUS CHRONICLES SETS. RETIRED PLAYERS INCLUDE MADDUX, GLAVINE, SMOLTZ, BOTH JONESES, MURPHY AND RAFAEL FURCAL. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THE PROSPECTS BUT AJ SMITH-SHAWVER IS THE BIG ONE AND JARED SHUSTER IS THE ONE WE ALREADY TRADED THAT I'M GOING TO FIND A THOUSAND COPIES OF JUST LIKE 2022 KYLE MULLER

I GOT CARRIED AWAY AND TOOK A PIC OF THE BACK. IT'S SPAHN THOUGH, WE COULD ALL USE MORE SPAHN

WELL SHIT. LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN ACTUALLY PULL ONE OF THOSE CARDS IN SMALL PRINT ON THE BACK OF THE PACK. KYLE MANZARDO GOT TRADED TO THE GUARDIANS THIS PAST SEASON AND THEN WENT NUTS IN THE ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE. CLEVELAND NEEDS A FIRST BASEMAN AND SOMEONE WHO CAN HIT DINGERS SO I GOT SOMEONE TO WATCH NEXT YEAR. I AM GUESSING THIS IS AN ORIGINS ROOKIE SIGNATURES BLUE CARD FROM WHAT I CAN SUSS OUT ON THE BACK OF THE PACK. I CAN'T FIND IT ON THE CHECKLIST SO IT MIGHT BE A RETAIL ONLY THING. IT'S SERIAL NUMBERED 65/199 SO I'M ROOTING FOR KYLE TO HIT 65 HOMERS NEXT YEAR TO GET ME AN EBAY 1/1. I HAVEN'T BEEN ON EBAY FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS NOW SO I WOULDN'T ACTUALLY SELL IT BUT I'D LIKE TO HAS AN EBAY 1/1

THE BACK IS BORING BUT THAT'S ALLOWED ON SUPER BIG TIME MOJO HITTZ. I WONDER WHY TAMPA TRADED THIS GUY? THEY ARE USUALLY PRETTY SMART WITH THEIR PROSPECTS. THERE IS A BASE ORIGINS CARD ON THE CHECKLIST BUT IT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND HAS A HORIZONTAL DESIGN WITH TIGER EYES STARING OUT AT YOU THAT LOOKS COOL AS HELL. THE PLAYER LIST IS INSANE TOO WITH MAYS, MANTLE, RUTH, GRIFFEY AND JACKIE. I'D LOVE TO PICK UP ONE OF THEM BUT I'M GUESSING THEY WILL BE SCARCE AND VERY SPENDY

YES! WE ARE FIRMLY INTO THE SHINYASS PORTION OF THE PACK. THIS IS AN ESSENTIALS CARD AND YOU DON'T GET ANY MORE ESSENTIAL THAN ICHIRO. THE HOLOFOIL IS DOING SOME EXTREMELY HEAVY LIFTING ON THIS DESIGN AS THE COLOR PALETTE CONSISTS OF EXCLUSIVELY GRAY AND NAVY BUT IT STILL LOOKS PRETTY DAMN GOOD. THIS CARD IS SUPER EXTRA THICK AND HAS A MASHED CORNER, WHICH IS SOMEHOW THE ONLY DAMAGE ON ANY OF THE CARDS IN THE PACK. WHO CARES IT'S ICHIRO, I'M NOT GOING TO BE GETTING RID OF THIS CARD ANYWAY

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS WAY MORE COLOR ON THE BACK THAN ON THE FRONT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES ON OVER AT PANINI SOMETIMES

THE ELITE DESIGN IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE VERTEX DESIGN, JUST ON FOILBOARD. LOTS OF ODD SHAPES AND ANGLES EVERYWHERE. IT WORKS A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER THAN VERTEX THOUGH, THE FOIL HELPS THE PLAYER TO POP ON THE CARD AND ALL THOSE ANGLES DON'T OVERPOWER THE PHOTO ON HERE.IT ALSO HELPS THAT I KNOW WHAT AN ELITE CARD IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE AND IT LOOKS KINDA LIKE THIS. FOIL CARDS AREN'T USUALLY MY FAVORITE BUT THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. COBY MAYO IS YET ANOTHER TOP ORIOLES PROSPECT AND THEY'VE HAD A LOT LATELY. HE'S CURRENTLY RANKED #4 IN THEIR ORGANIZATION AND MIGHT GET A SHOT AT THE BIGS IN '24 AFTER A GOOD SHOWING IN TRIPLE-A WITH A TON OF DINGERS. I'M HAPPY TO GET A BUNCH OF PROSPECTS WHO CAN MASH IN THIS PACK

AT THIS POINT I WAS SO DAZZLED BY AUTOGRAPHS AND ICHIRO I FORGOT THE TAKE PICTURES OF THE BACKS. YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH GUESS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ANYWAY

HOORAY! CRUSADE! THIS YEAR THE DESIGN HAS DRAGONS!!! HELLS YEAH! I PRETTY MUCH LOVE CRUSADE EVERY YEAR, I JUST WISH PANINI PUT MORE COLOR ON THE CARDS. THESE LOOK SO GOOD WHEN THEY HAVE LOTS OF BRIGHT COLORS BUT PANINI KEEPS DOING THAT MINIMALISTIC SILVER AND GRAY AND ONE TEAM COLOR THING ON THE CHRONICLES CRUSADES AND IF THAT COLOR IS NAVY OR BLACK THEN TOO BAD. IS BRIGHT INK REALLY EXPENSIVE OR SOMETHING?? THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY IS HEARTBREAKING. JUNIOR CAMINERO IS NOT ONLY THE RAYS' #1 PROSPECT BUT IS CURRENTLY THE #6 OVERALL PROSPECT IN BASEBALL. HE MADE HIS DEBUT FOR TAMPA THIS YEAR BUT I GUESS IT WAS TOO LATE IN THE SEASON TO GET HIS RC LOGO ON HERE. JUNIOR PLAYS SHORTSTOP SO HE'LL PROBABLY GET SOME PLAYING TIME NEXT YEAR UNLESS WANDER HAS A REALLY GOOD LAWYER

LAST CARD IN THE PACK. GOOD THING I DIDN'T TRY FOR THE FIVE FINGER DISCOUNT EH. I GOTTA SAY THIS PACK WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. TWO BRAVES, LOTS OF HALL OF FAMERS, SOME REALLY GOOD PROSPECTS AND A FRIGGIN AUTOGRAPH. COMPLETELY FANTASTIC PACK AND I DIDN'T EVEN PULL ANY CARDS FROM MY FAVORITE SETS! NO OBSDIAN, NO REVOLUTION, NO TITAN, NO ZENITH. I'M ITCHING TO PICK UP SOME MORE PACKS BUT I'M PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. HOPEFULLY SOME PACKS SURVIVE THE CHRISTMAS RUSH

ONLINE MEGA BOX - PART 8

 WE'RE CRUISING NOW, HERE'S ANOTHER PILE OF JUNK THAT MADE THE CUT WHILE DIGGING THROUGH CARD LISTINGS

2020 TOPPS UPDATE HOME RUN ACTIVE LEADERS ALBERT PUJOLS

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, WANTLIST

I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BAD ABOUT PICKING UP RECENT TOPPS FLAGSHIP CARDS FROM MY WANTLIST. SO BAD THAT I'M STARTING TO WONDER IF I EVEN COLLECT THESE SETS ANYMORE. IT'S HARD TO BE A DISCIPLINED SET BUILDER WHEN THERE'S SHINIES AND ODDBALLS TO DISCTRACT. PUJOLS CARDS ARE AN EASY PICKUP THOUGH

2020 TOPPS UPDATE WAR ACTIVE LEADERS ALBERT PUJOLS

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, WANTLIST

VERY EASY TO PICK UP. I PICKED UP TWO IN FACT

1993 COMIC IMAGES OLIVIA II REDHEAD, HARUM SCARUM

CATEGORY - NON-SPORT, BOOBIES, WANTLIST

DID SOME UUUUH CREATIVE CROPPING JUST IN CASE SO MY BLOG DOESN'T GET DELETED WHEN THE BLUENOSES INEVITABLY TAKE OVER. I GOT A LOT OF THESE KINDS OF ARTSY PINUP SETS WHEN I BOUGHT A BUNCH OF BULK NON-SPORTS FROM A DEALER AT THE FLEA MARKET WHO WAS RETIRING AND I HAVE MOST OF THIS VERY SHINY CRACKED-ICE STYLE SET FROM OLIVIA. THESE TWO WERE LISTED AND ON MY WANTLIST SO WHY NOT?

80'S CHEESECAKE PINUPS ARE GREAT AND THERE ARE SO MANY SETS OF THEM FROM THE MID-90S. FRAZETTA, BORIS VALLEJO, JULIE BELL, OLIVIA, THERE'S FANTASY ART BOOBLES FOR EVERYONE

2020 OPENING DAY AUSTIN RILEY

CATEGORY - BRAVES

AUSTIN RILEY, YAY! OPENING DAY... OK. THE CARD LOOKS GOOD AND MY AUSTIN COLLECTION INCREASED BY ONE. THAT'S A WIN

1998-99 BE-A-PLAYER ED BELFOUR

CATEGORY - PLAYER COLLECTION

THIS IS THE LAST ED BELFOUR CARD FOR A LITTLE WHILE I PROMISE. UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS EDDIE CARDS BE A PLAYER IS A FANTASTIC SET MUCH BELOVED, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT WHITE SPACE WITH THE NAME AT THE BOTTOM IS AUTOGRAPHED. THIS IS MY FAVORITE OF THE BE A PLAYER SETS, I REALLY DIG THE CLEAN DESIGN. BE A PLAYER IS AN ODD DUCK THOUGH, THE BRAND BOUNCED AROUND BETWEEN MANUFACTURERS STARTING OFF WITH UPPER DECK, THEN TO PINNACLE BEFORE SETTLING IN WITH SOME COMPANY CALLED IN THE GAME THAT ONLY MADE HOCKEY CARDS AS FAR AS I CAN TELL 

1994-95 HOOPS BILL LAIMBEER SCOOPS

CATEGORY - INSERT

I HATED BILL LAIMBEER WHEN HE WAS PLAYING THE HAWKS BUT I LOVED HIM WHEN HE WAS BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF GUYS LIKE MICHAEL JORDAN AND LARRY BIRD. NOT NECESSARILY BEATING THEM  ON THE COURT, JUST LIKE ELBOWING THEM IN THE DICK AND SUCH. BILL LAIMBEER WAS A DIRTY BASTARD BUT I REALIZED AT SOME POINT THAT MY PLAY STYLE WAS VERY SIMILAR TO HIS AND I STARTED TO RESPECT HIS GAME. IT'S ACTUALLY VERY SURPRISING I NEVER GOT MY ASS BEATEN AFTER ALL THE HARD FOULS I GAVE IN PICKUPS GAMES

I NEVER GOT THE SCOOPS TRIVIA CARDS GIMMICK. DID HOOPS REALLY TRY TO DO A TRIVIAL PURSUIT INSERT SET? ALSO WHERE'S THE ANSWERS? ARE THEY IN A DIFFERENT INSERT SET? WHO SIGNED OFF ON THIS

1993 FLEER FINAL UPDATE DAVE WINFIELD

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

WINFIELD IS A LOW-KEY PLAYER COLLECTION OF MINE AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE COMPLETE SET IN BOX I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO GET DAVE'S CARD ANYWAY. I THINK THE CARD LOOKS GREAT, EARLY 90S FLEER SETS SEEM TO BE UNFAIRLY MALIGNED TO ME. I'VE EVEN COME AROUND ON 1991 FLEER. IT'S TERRIBLE IN AN ED WOOD KIND OF WAY. DREADFUL, BUT INTERESTING

1993-94 TOPPS ARCHIVES DERRICK COLEMAN #1 DRAFT PICK

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

I HAVE BEEN LIKE SIX CARDS AWAY FROM A COMPLETE BASKETBALL ARCHIVES SET FOR MAYBE TWENTY FIVE YEARS NOW AND I CAN NEVER FIND THE DAMN CARDS AND WHEN I DO FIND THE CARDS I CANNOT FIND THE LIST OF CARDS I NEED. AN EXTREMELY RARE CONVERGENCE OF FINDING A CARD AND FINDING MY LIST FINALLY HAPPENED AND NOW I NEED LIKE FIVE CARDS TO FINISH IT UP. AT LEAST I THINK THAT'S HOW MANY I NEED, I MISPLACED THE BINDER WITH MY SET IN IT AGAIN. YEAH, I'M A MESS

1992-93 PINNACLE BRIAN HAYWARD MASKS

CATEGORY - SHARK

FUCK YEAH COOL SHARK MASK. I THINK THIS WAS THE THIRD ONE OF THESE CARDS THAT WAS POSTED TO THE SITE BUT THE FIRST TWO GOT SNATCHED UP BEFORE I COULD GET TO IT. THIRD TIME WAS A CHARM AND I GOT MY SHARKIE MASK

THE BACK KIND OF REMINDS ME OF A PANINI CARD EXCEPT THEY'D HAVE TO SKIP THE LOGO AND USE THE SAME PHOTO FOR BOTH PICTURES

1994 FLEER ULTRA JEFFREY HAMMONDS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

CATEGORY - INSERT

I SLEPT ON 1994 ULTRA BACK IN THE DAY AND I REGRET IT. THE CARDS LOOKED GREAT AND THERE WAS AN INSERT IN EVERY PACK. AND MAN, THESE INSERTS WERE WILD LOOKING, SO MUCH COMPUTER GRAPHICS. LOVE ALL ULTRA INSERTS

2021 CHRONICLES PHOENIX MONTE HARRISON

CATEGORY - CHRONICLES

CAPPING OFF THE POST WITH YET ANOTHER RANDOM CHRONICLES CARD. THIS ONE IS FROM 2021 FOR A BIT OF A CHANGE. MONTE DID NOT PLAY MUCH WITH THE MARLINS AND MOVED ON TO THE DODGERS IN 2022 AND WAS IN THE BREWERS SYSTEM LAST YEAR. PHOENIX IS ANOTHER BRAND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND. IF MOSAIC IS BOWMAN PLATINUM, WHAT IS PHOENIX? ALLEN & GINTER CHROME MAYBE? WHY IS THIS SET?

UP NEXT: SOME FOOTBALL! AND SHINY STUFF, AND COOL PHOTOS AND JUNK