APRIL 2024 CARD SHOW PART 6: FINALLY WE'RE DONE WITH THE DIME BOX

HERE'S THE BITTERSWEET FINALE OF THE DIME BOX POSTS. DIME BOXES ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND - ESPECIALLY WITH ANYTHING MORE THAN JUNKWAX BASE IN THEM - AND I'M PRETTY SAD TO SEE THE BEST DIME BOXES I'VE EVER SEEN GO AWAY. THIS FINAL POST HAS SOME GOOD STUFF TO SERVE AS A SENDOFF. GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE BRENDA, I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO SELL ALL THOSE CARDS AND DON'T HAVE TO LUG THEM TO A SHOW EVERY COUPLE WEEKS ANYMORE

I SAW A LARGE PILE OF 1990 TOPPS FOOTBALL IN THE BOX AND WAS ABLE TO PICK OUT TEN CARDS I NEEDED FOR THE SET. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE THEIR OWN POST UNTIL I REALIZED THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD RIFF ON 1990 FOOTBALL CARDS FOR MORE THAN A PARAGRAPH. THIS IS ONE OF THE WEIRDER DESIGNS IN TOPPS HISTORY AND NOT JUST FOR THE FOOTBALL WITH GREEN BACKGROUND THAT SHOWS UP ON EVERY CARD. THE TEAM COLOR BORDER IS NICE BUT WHAT'S UP WITH THE GREEN STRIPES AND BLUE STREAK? IT'S ALL VERY ABSTRACT AND REMINDS ME OF A PIET MONDRIAN PAINTING GONE WRONG. THE FOOTBALL AT LEAST IS EXPLAINED EASILY

TOPPS FOOTBALL PLAYER CARDS ARE NOT MANUFACTURED, SPONSORED OR AUTHORIZED BY ANY TEAM OR LEAGUE. THEY ALSO ONLY HAVE THE NFLPA LOGO ON THE BACK AND NO NFL LICENSE. I DON'T KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THE LATE 80S NFL LICENSING BUT I DO KNOW THAT TOPPS SUDDENLY HAD SCORE, PRO SET, FLEER AND UPPER DECK AS FOOTBALL CARD RIVALS IN 1990 AND ALSO WENT WITHOUT THE OFFICIAL NFL PRODUCT DETAIL ON THE BACK IN '89 SO MY GUESS IS A TEAM LOGO WAS SUPPOSED TO GO IN THAT GREEN SQUARE BUT THE DETAILS WEREN'T WORKED OUT IN TIME. THAT DISCLAIMER ISN'T ON EVERY CARD PRINTED IN 1990 SO MAYBE THINGS GOT SORTED OUT AND IT WAS TAKEN OFF OR MAYBE THE NFL GAVE THEM A DIRTY LOOK AND IT WAS PUT ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUN. THAT'S FOR SOMEONE WITH RESEARCH SKILLS TO FIGURE OUT. TOPPS HAD THE LICENSE (AND LOGOS) BACK IN 1991 THANKFULLY

FINDING FLEER INSERTS I ACTUALLY NEED MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. THIS 93 ALL-STAR CARD FITS THAT DESCRIPTION. THIS ONE IS A TINY BIT OFF CENTER WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE NORM FOR A LOT OF THESE CARDS IN MY EXPERIENCE. INSERTS FROM BEFORE THE ONE-PER-PACK ERA STARTING IN 94 ARE A LITTLE TOUGHER TO FIND SO I CAN APPRECIATE IT EVEN OF IT'S A LIL JANKY. THIS WAS THE LAST CARD I PULLED ON MY FIRST RUN THROUGH THE BOX AND I FOUND A HAD EXACTLY FIFTY-ONE CARDS. DO I PUT A CARD BACK? DO I HAND OVER A FIVER AND ONE DIME? OR DO I PICK OUT NINE MORE CARDS AND MAKE IT AN EXEN SIX BUCKS? YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT

THERE WERE AT LEAST FIVE COPIES OF THIS ALTUVE CARD AMONG THE SWATHS OF BOWMAN IN THE BOX SO I PICKED OUT THE ONE WITH THE DINGEDIEST CORNER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ANY BOWMAN BASE DESIGN IN THE PAST TWENTY YEARS. THIS ONE ESPECIALLY LOOKS LIKE AN AI WITH ANXIETY ISSUES BARFED THIS ONE OUT BUT I DO LIKE HOW THE BOWMAN LOGO LOOKS NOTARIZED

BOWMAN PLATINUM IS A USELESS SET BUT SHINY SCHERZER IS A KEEPER

ANOTHER RICK CAMP CARD I PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE BUT IT'S 84 DONRUSS. THIS SET HAS BEEN HYPED UP FOR SO LONG IT'S GOT MY MIND MESSED UP AND IT MAY AS WELL BE A PRE-WAR CARD. I BET I COULD FIND A COMPLETE SET OF THIS JUNK FOR LESS THAN A TOPPS FACTORY SET WOULD COST BUT I'LL NEVER DO IT. MAN I MISS THOSE MID 80S BRAVES CAPS. I HAD TWO OF THEM WHEN I WAS A KID AND BOTH WERE WORN UNTIL THEY DISINTIGRATED

I GUESSED I HAD THIS ONE ALREADY BUT PICKED IT UP BECAUSE WHY THE HELL WOULDN'T I? LEMMER AT THE BAT RACK, HELL YES. I JUST CHECKED THE BINDER AND... I DIDN'T HAVE IT?? FINDING A LEMKE CARD I NEED IN THE WILD HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT LATELY AND I ALMOST PASSED IT UP! THANK YOU FELIX JOSE INSERT 

GRISSOM IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BRAVES BUT I AM ALSO BUILDING THIS 1995 SP SET AFTER GETTING A LARGE PILE OF IT IN A CRAP BOX A WHILE BACK. I LOVE THAT SHINY BLUE BORDER

HERE'S A PAIR OF AVERYS, I WONDER HOW MANY POINTS THAT WOULD GET YOU IN A BALATRO RUN. I THINK I NEED BOTH OF THESE FOR SETS BUT THEN AGAIN THERE'S A DECENT CHANCE I ALREADY HAVE BOTH OF THEM IN AN UNSORTED BRAVES BOX. I LOVE THAT 95 LEAF SET SO MUCH

OH YEAH I DID BUY ONE MORE TOPPS HERITAGE CARD DIDN'T I. THIS WAS A BLIND BUY HOPING I COULD PUT IT IN MY BRAVES HERITAGE TEAM SET BINDER. DEAR READER, I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN THE BINDER. ANOTHER DOUBLE AVOIDED!

THIS IS THE LAST DIME CARD PICKED UP FROM MAYBE THE LAST DIME BOX EVER. I PASSED BY THIS ONE THREE TIMES COMPLETELY DISREGARDING THAT 1990 FLEER DESIGN. THEN IT CLICKED AND MY BRAIN TOLD ME TO 'HOLD UP, SOMETHING'S OFF ON THAT ONE'. INDEED MANY THINGS WERE OFF. THE EDGES WERE WONKY, THE CARD WASN'T AS BRIGHT AS NORMAL 90S FLEER CARDS AND THERE WAS A SUSPICIOUS DIAGONAL CREASE ON THE CORNER. IT WAS OBVIOUS WHEN I FINALLY PICKED IT UP

BOX BOTTOM CARD! ACTUAL BOX BOTTOMS ARE EASIER TO FIND THAN THE CUT VERSIONS RECENTLY. THIS WAS A VERY NICE FIND TO CLOSE OUT THESE DIME BOXES. I'M SURE I'LL STILL FIND SOME MORE DIME BOXES HERE AND THERE AT SHOWS BUT I'M GOING TO MISS THESE ONES

APRIL 2024 CARD SHOW PART 5: YEP, MORE DIME BOX

THIS POST WAS WRITTEN A MONTH AGO AND I FORGOT TO POST IT LOL. OH WELL NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

MOST OF THE CARDS IN THIS POST ARE FROM A SMALL VEIN OF EXTRA SHINY CARDS THAT I MOSTLY GRABBED WITHOUT REALLY LOOKING AT THEM. I LITERALLY DON'T REMEMBER BUYING HALF OF THESE BUT LOOKING AT THEM NOW I CAN SEE WHY I DID

 I STILL HAVE THE FINEST BUG BUT NOT THE FOCUS TO ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT WHICH CARDS I NEED. THERE'S A PILE OF THEM RIGHT NEXT TO MY DESK BUT HAVE I PUT TOGETHER A WANT LIST? NO! I DO KNOW I HAVE TWELVE CARDS FROM 1993 INCLUDING YOUNT, WINFIELD AND SHEFFIELD SO IF I GO THROUGH WITH MY PLAN TO PUT TOGETHER A PAGE FROM EACH SET I GOT THE OG FINEST COVERED. THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE I ALREADY HAVE EDGAR HERE BUT IF I DO SO WHAT? IT GIVES ME A CHANGE TO PEEL THE COATING. MMMMMM PEEELIES

I HAVE BEEN OBSESSED WITH 1995 FLEER FOR A WHILE TO THE POINT WHERE I'VE PUT TOGETHER A FULL MASTER WANTLIST OF ALL FOUR SETS WITH INSERTS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS MY FIRST ALL-FLEER 9 INSERT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I EITHER HAD AN EXTRA GREG MADDUX OR I PULLED IT OUT OF THE MADDUX BINDER . THIS IS A WEIRD SET AS IT WAS MAIL-IN ONLY AND CHOSE 'KID SCRIBBLING ON A RAINBOW SCRATCH PAD' FOR THE DESIGN. IT'S ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT ON THE BACK AS FLEER USED WHITE TEXT

I HAVE A FEW OF THESE 2004-05 ULTRA KINGS INSERTS FOR BASEBALL BUT I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST BASKETBALL ONE IN MY COLLECTION. THE MATTE CARD STOCK WITH SPOT GLOSS AND A SPLASH OF BRONZE FOIL LOOKS CLASSY

I THOUGHT THIS GRANT HILL CARD WAS AN INSERT INITIALLY BUT NOPE, IT'S A PLAIN OL 03-04 FLAIR BASE CARD. FLAIR WENT THROUGH A LOT OF WILDLY DIFFERENT DESIGNS AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE OF SUPER THICK, HIGH GLOSS ITERATIONS AND MORPHED INTO SHOWCASE FOR A LITTLE BIT. THIS ISN'T THE BEST FLAIR DESIGN OUT THERE AS THE GHOST PORTRAIT ON FOILBOARD IS A LITTLE OFFPUTTING BUT IT ISN'T THE WORST ONE OUT THERE. THIS VERSION AT LEAST PRETENDS LIKE IT'S A PREMIUM CARD

ELVIS LEERING AT MARY TYLER MOORE'S NUN ASS

REALLY WHAT MORE IS THERE TO SAY

THIS IS A REAL TRADING CARD THAT EXISTS

EVERYONE LOVES FLEER BUT THEY PUT OUT A TON OF COMPLETELY FORGETTABLE ONE-OFF ODDBALL SETS IN THE EARLY 00S. FLEER FORCE WAS A SLIGHTLY UPGRADED VERSION OF THE FLEER TRADITION SET WITH SOME DIFFERENT INSERTS THAT FLOPPED AFTER ONE YEAR, THEN CAME BACK A COUPLE YEARS LATER AS A STANDALONE SET THAT ALSO CRASHED OUT AFTER ONE RELEASE. EVEN THE GOOD ONE-OFF SETS LIKE APEX AND AVANT ONLY GOT ONE YEAR. NOT GOOD IN A HOBBY WHERE THE INERTIA OF COLLECTING THE SAME SET YEAR AFTER YEAR IS SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT. HONESTLY THIS INSERT AIN'T THAT GREAT AS THE EXTRA BUSY DESIGN IS VERY HARD TO SEE ON THE BLAND FOILBOARD BUT I DIG FINDING A CARD OF HAWKS LEGEND STEVE SMITH

PACIFIC'S ODDBALL RELEASES ARE ALWAYS A DELIGHT HOWEVER. I FRIGGIN LOVE LOVE LOVE THE - IS IT OK TO CALL THESE VINTAGE NOW? - VINTAGE REVOLUTION CARDS AND THIS IS ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST DESIGNS. I DON'T EVEN MIND IF IT'S FROM A FOOTBALL TEAM I HATE, GIMME THAT SHINY SPARKLY FOIL

TOPPS REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A HANDLE ON INSERT CARDS IN THE 90S AND THIS ONE FROM 99-00 IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT. YOU'D THINK THIS WAS AN INSERT CALLED FRESH FOUNDATIONS BUT NOPE, IT'S SEASON'S BEST. SIX DIFFERENT SUBSETS OF FIVE CARDS EACH ALL WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNS. WHO ASKED FOR SUBSETS IN AN INSERT SET?? AND TOPPS DID THIS A TON IN EVERY SPORT THEY HAD. ADD THE SPARKLY HOLOFOIL CAMOUFLAGE DROWNING OUT THE DESIGN AND IT'S A BIT MUCH. YOU KNOW I LOVE THE SHINIES, JUST LOOK AT THE PREVIOUS CARD, BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHEN TO GO WILD IN SERVICE OF THE DESIGN

TOPPS FIGURED IT OUT EVENTUALLY, THIS TOP TANDEMS CARD FROM 2002-03 HAS A PRETTY RIDICULOUS BACKGROUND THAT WOULD LOOK AWFUL WITH SPARKLY HOLOFOIL AND WOULD BE HARD TO SEE ON STRAIGHT FOILBOARD LIKE THAT FLEER FORCE INSERT. A NICE FLAT HOLOFOIL MAKES ALL THOSE RANDOM CIRCLES AND ANGLES POP. DON'T GET ME WRONG, THIS ISN'T A GREAT LOOKING CARD DESIGN BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN TELL WHAT EVERYTHING IS

WE FINISH UP WITH AN AWESOME INSERT CARD FROM A TERRIBLE AWFUL SET. 2008 UPPER DECK X WAS AS BIG A TRAINWRECK AS TWITTER X IS NOW BUT DAMN, THESE XPONENTIAL INSERTS LOOK SO, SO GOOD. IT TAKES A SILLY CONCEPT OF PUTTING X'S EVERYWHERE AND MAKES IT WORK WITH A DECENT COMBINATION OF HOLOFOIL AND EMBOSSING. IS THIS ACTUALLY TERRIBLE AND I'M JUST DAZZLED BY THE SHINY? YEAH PROBABLY. I LIKE IT THO

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 17: CANADA COOKIE

NORMALLY ON MY COMC BINGES I ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO PICK UP A VINTAGE BRAVES SET TEAM NEED AND A MARK LEMKE CARD I DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE. THIS TIME I DID NOT DO SO AND SINCE REALIZING THIS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY I WAS THINKING. VINTAGE BRAVES ARE ALL EXPENSIVE NOW, I GET THAT. THE ODDBALL LEMMERS I AM MISSING CAN GET A LITTLE SPENDY, SURE. THIS WAS AN EXTRA-CHEAPSKATE BINGE WHERE I CONSISTENTLY CHOSE QUANTITY OVER QUALITY. STILL, NO BRAVES OR LEMKES? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME??

OH WELL, SCREW IT. HAVE A COOKIE

1975 O-PEE-CHEE #169 COOKIE ROJAS

MY 1970S O-PEE-CHEE GAME IS PRETTY DIRE. ASIDE FROM SOME BRAVES I HAVE ACCUMULATED THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE MAYBE TWELVE CARDS TOTAL FROM THAT DECADE INCLUDING THE ONE THAT SERVES AT THE BACKGROUND FOR THIS BLOG. THIS MIGHT EVEN BE MY FIRST 1975 OPC BUT I CAN'T CONFIRM THAT BECAUSE MY CANADIAN BASEBALL CARDS AREN'T ORGANIZED ENOUGH TO KNOW FOR SURE. I AM ALMOST CERTAIN THIS CARD GOT GOT AFTER I WAS DISCOURAGED BY SEEING MARK LEMKE PARALLEL CARDS WITH SALE PRICES OVER FIVE BUCKS AND THEN SEEING THIS FOR LESS THAN TWO QUARTERS WHEN SEARCHING FOR COOKIES. AND WHY NOT? A NICE LOOKING COOKIE, A VINTAGE O-PEE-CHEE CARD AND A MISCUT? HOW COULD I PASS ON THAT?

I WISH THE 2024 HERITAGE CARDS USED THIS CARD STOCK COLOR FOR THEIR BACKS, IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO READ. I ALSO LIKE THE CARTOON ON THIS ONE, LOOK HOW FAT THEY DREW POOR BABE RUTH. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS CARD IS A TINY BIT LEFT/RIGHT OFF CENTER. MOST PREFER 1975 CARDS TO BE OFF CENTER IN THE OTHER DIRECTION SO YOU CAN GET A NEW TEAM NAME ON THE BOTTOM BUT I'M OK WITH THIS ONE. THERE'S ONLY A TINY SLIVER OF THE TEAM NAME ON THE LEFT ON THE FRONT OF THE CARD WHICH NORMALLY WOULD MAKE HUNTING FOR THE PLAYER ON THE OTHER CARD ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE TEAM NAME ENDED WITH X INSTEAD OF S SO THE AMOUNT OF POSSIBLE CARDS IT COULD BE WAS GREATLY REDUCED. I CAME UP WITH TWO POSSIBILITIES: TERRY HUGHES OF THE RED SOX AND STAN BAHNSEN OF THE WHITE SOX. ODDLY ENOUGH, THE SCAN ON TCDB FOR BAHNSEN WAS ALSO MISCUT AND SEEMED TO FIT WITH MY COOKIE

I WISH I MY PICTURE WAS TAKEN STRAIGHT NOW. THIS WAS A FUN COINCIDENCE BUT I WOULDN'T BE CONFIDENT IT WAS COOKIE'S ACTUAL PAIR UNLESS I COULD GET MY HANDS ON AN UNCUT SHEET. OH WAIT, I HAVE THE INTERNET. A FEW IMAGE SEARCHES LATER I FOUND THIS GOLDIN AUCTION FOR A FULL SHEET INCLUDING DAVE WINFIELD, STEVE CARLTON, FERGIE JENKINS, CARLTON FISK AND PHIL NIEKRO. AND STAN BAHNSEN AND COOKIE ROJAS! HERE'S A SCREENSHOT FOR POSTERITY SINCE WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THIS LINK WILL LAST

HOORAY! WE HAVE OUR PAIR CONFIRMED! MAYBE THAT ONE ON TCDB REALLY IS FROM THE SAME SHEET

2024 ONLINE BLASTER(S) - NEW BATCH

    IT'S ANOTHER SHIPMENT FROM BASEBALLCARDSTORE.CA! I'M STILL WORKING ON POSTING STUFF FROM FOUR BOXES AGO SO I THINK THIS KILLS ANY CHANCE OF ME ACTUALLY POSTING EVERY CARD FROM THESE BOXES UNLESS I MAKE THIS MY FULL TIME JOB. I CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW MY FULL TIME JOB IS 100 PERCENTING STARSTRUCK VAGABOND. JUST GOT ALL THE ACHIEVEMENTS! ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS WHEN RECEIVING A PACKAGE IS SEEING THE PACKAGING. THIS BOX USED TO HOUSE A 1993 TOPPS SERIES TWO SET. THIS ONE COST TWENTY BUCKS! I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS A GOOD PRICE OR NOT, WHICH SERIES IS JETER IN

HERE'S ALL THE CARDS. ALMOST HALF OF THEM WERE WANTLIST STUFF WHICH I HAVE ALREADY CATALOGUED. AT LEAST I'M GETTING SOMETHING DONE COLLECTING-WISE. OF THE REMAINING CARDS I GRABBED FIFTEEN CARDS THAT LOOKED INTERESTING ENOUGH TO SHOW OFF IMMEDIATELY IN CASE THE REST DON'T GET POSTED UNTIL 2027. NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST CARDS BUT THE ONES THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE. LET'S GO

1994 LEAF LIMITED DAVID JUSTICE GOLD ALL-STARS #09431/10000

CATEGORY - BRAVES, INSERT

QUITE A FEW OF THESE CARDS WERE SPECIFICALLY HELD FOR ME INCLUDING THIS LEAF LIMITED INSERT. THIS FIRST LEAF LIMITED SET IS STUNNING AND THE INSERT SET IS BASICALLY THE BASE CARDS WITH GOLD TINT AND A SERIAL NUMBER. I BELIVE THIS IS THE FIRST ONE OF THESE I'VE GOTTEN AND PRIME DAVE JUSTICE IS A NICE ONE TO HAVE

THE BACK EVEN HAS GOLD FOIL FOR THE CARD NUMBER, THAT'S SUPER CLASSY. IT ALSO HAS THE OLD STYLE SERIAL NUMBER BEFORE LEAF WENT TO THE GOLD FOIL STAMPING THEY USED FOR YEARS. THIS STYLE NUMBERING ISN'T ON A TON OF CARDS, IT'S NICE TO SEE IT

2021 METAL UNIVERSE CHAMPIONS JALEN JOHNSON

CATEGORY - HAWKS

I RECENTLY ACQUIRED A BOX OF 2022 METAL UNIVERSE AND IT WAS PRETTY GREAT! THAT'S ONE OF THOSE POSTS LANGUISHING IN THE DRAFT FOLDER BUT I'LL GET IT WRITTEN EVENTUALLY. THIS IS THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S VERSION OF METAL UNIVERSE AND WHILE I FEEL THE DESIGN IS OBJECTIVELY WORSE IT IS STILL A NICE LOOKING CARD AND HAS THE OLD-SCHOOL METAL FEEL. IT DOES CAPTURE THAT LATE 90'S SKYBOX JANK REALLY WELL. THE 2021 SET BEATS 2022 IN THAT THE HAWKS' REPRESENTATIVE IS FUTURE ALL-STAR JALEN JOHNSON INSTEAD OF CURRENT ROCKETS' BENCH PIECE AJ GRIFFIN. THIS CARD IS SO NICE I BOUGHT IT TWICE

2022 TOPPS HANK AARON DIAMOND GREATS DIE CUT

CATEGORY - BRAVES, INSERT

HANK AARON DIE-CUT INSERT! NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT TO SAY OTHER THAN THAT. HANK AARON DIE-CUT INSERT!! 

1993-94 STADIUM CLUB ATLANTA HAWKS SUPER TEAM

CATEGORY - HAWKS

THE SUPER TEAM GIMMICK FROM STADIUM CLUB WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED. EACH TEAM GOT THEIR OWN SUPER TEAM CARD AND IF THEY WON THE DIVISION, CONFERENCE OR NBA TITLE, YOU WIN SOME CARDS. THE HAWKS DID INDEED WIN THEIR DIVISION THIS YEAR BUT WENT NO FURTHER AS THEY TRADED NIQUE AND BROUGHT A CURSE UPON THE FRANCHISE THAT HAS YET TO BE BROKEN. THE CARDS HAVE A SPECIAL DIVISION WINNER STAMP ON THEM AND ARE NOT THAT EXPENSIVE IF YOU CAN FIND THEM

1994 COMIC IMAGES GIL ELVGREN'S CALENDAR PINUPS 2 TRYING IT ON FOR SIGHS

CATEGORY - NON-SPORT, CHEESECAKE

I HAVE A PROMO CARD FOR THIS SET THAT I PICKED UP QUITE A WHILE AGO BUT NEVER SAW ANY OF THE BASE CARDS UNTIL A COUPLE POPPED UP ON THE SITE. I LOVE OLD PINUP ART AND AM HAPPY TO FIND THESE WHEN I CAN. IF YOU'RE SURPRISED THAT THIS KIND OF STUFF IS ON A TRADING CARD MAY I REMIND YOU THAT THE 90S WERE A WILD TIME AND THERE'S WAY MORE SETS LIKE THIS THAT YOU CAN EVEN IMAGINE

1998 STUDIO MIKE CAMERON GOLD STUDIO PROOF #141/300

CATEGORY - INSERT

I'M STARTING TO FEEL LIKE MY PURSUIT OF COMPLETING STUDIO SETS AFTER ABOUT 1994 HAS ENDED BUT I STILL WOULD LIKE TO GET A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF EACH WITH THE INSERTS. I HAVE A FEW PRESS PROOFS FROM 1996 AND 1997 BUT NOT MUCH FROM 1998 AND ZERO GOLDS. THESE WERE PRETTY TOUGH TO PULL AND MIKE 'FOUR HOMERS' CAMERON IS A GOOD ONE TO GET

UNLIKE PREVIOUS PRESS PROOF CARDS THE 1998 VERSION ACTUALLY HAD SERIAL NUMBERS ON THEM. THE 300 CARD PRINT RUN WAS THE SECOND LOWEST BEHIND THE SILVER ONES FROM 1996, WHICH WERE ONLY INSERTED IN MAGAZINE PACKS AND LIMITED TO 100. IT CONFUSED ME FOR A LONG TIME WHY I COULDN'T FIND ANY 1996 SILVERS SO IF YOU SEE ONE IN THE WILD GRAB IT

1993 TOPPS FINEST KEVIN BROWN

CATEGORY - HIGH-END

I CONTINUE TO PICK UP SOME FINEST WHEN I CAN AND HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE TIME TO PUT TOGETHER A NINE CARD GROUP OF MY BEST FROM EACH SET RELEASED. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO GET SOME PLASTIC SHEETS TO PUT THEM IN BUT THAT'S THE EVENTUAL PLAN. I WILL PICK UP 93S ANY TIME I SEE THEM THOUGH AND SNAGGED THREE MORE IN THIS BATCH THAT I DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE. I WAS PLEASED TO FIND THAT THE KEVIN BROWN CARD HAD SOME WONKY FOIL THAT CUT OFF RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE PLAYER NAME LEAVING A WHITE STRIP AT THE BOTTOM. THESE 90S GOOFS DELIGHT ME AS IT'S NOT EASY TO FIND MORE MODERN EXAMPLES OF PRINTING ERRORS AND THIS ONE ADDED TO A SMALL PILE THAT I'VE FOUND SO FAR

1993-94 ARENA SPORTS MANON RHEAUME

CATEGORY - PLAYER COLLECTION, ODDBALL

ANOTHER STRANGE ONE FOR MY GROWING MANON RHEUME COLLECTION, THIS CARD IS FROM A GROUP OF ARENA SPORTS CARDS THAT WERE RELEASED IN 1993-94 THAT ALL HAVE THIS GOLD CRACKED ICE FOIL ON THEM. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY WERE DISTRIBUTED AS SOME HAVE CARD NUMBERS AND OTHER LIKE THIS ONE WERE 'LIMITED' TO 15000 CARDS BUT I KEEP SEEING THEM TURN UP SO OFTEN I KINDA WANT A BIG PILE OF THEM NOW. I PREFER MANON CARDS WHERE SHE IS IN AN ATLANTA KNIGHTS SWEATER BUT I'LL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET 

2013 PANINI COOPERSTOWN CARLTON FISK COLGAN'S CHIPS

CATEGORY - INSERT

I'VE BEEN A FAN OF FISK SINCE I WAS A KID AND I THINK HE WAS THE FIRST PLAYER I EVER COMPLETED A FULL TOPPS RUN OF HIS CARDS SO I LIKE TO FIND NEAT CARDS OF HIS WHEN I CAN. I REALLY LIKED THESE COLGAN'S CHIPS INSERTS THAT CAME IN COOPERSTOWN PACKS IN 2013. I DID NOT LIKE THE $3.99 PRICE TAG HOWEVER SO ONLY GOT A COUPLE OUT OF PACKS. THEY SEEM TO BE EASY TO FIND IN BARGAIN BOXES THOUGH AS ROUND CARDS ARE WEIRDLY UNPOPULAR FOR SOME REASON

1991 MONSTER IN MY POCKET COATLICUE

CATEGORY - NON-SPORT, MONSTERS

MONSTER IN MY POCKET CAME OUT AT THE EXACT WRONG TIME FOR ME. TEN YEARS EARLIER AND I WOULD HAD A GIANT PILE OF THE THINGS. TWENTY YEARS LATER AND I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT BLIND BAGS LIKE MAD. THESE CAME OUT IN THE EARLY NINETIES WHERE I WAS NO LONGER INTERESTED IN TOYS. I WANTED AN EXAMPLE FROM THIS SET FOR MY MONSTER BINDER AND TWO HEADED SNAKE LADY WAS THE ONE I GOT. I LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS CARD. THESE WERE APPARENTLY PRODUCED BY TOPPS EVEN THOUGH THE ONLY INDICATION ON THE CARDS ARE COPYRIGHT MORRISON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. ONE OF THE ARTISTS, JENICE HEO, WON A GRAMMY FOR THE PACKAGING OF A NEIL YOUNG BOX SET. COATLICUE HERSELF IS AN AZTEC GODDESS WHO WEARS A NECKLACE MADE OF HUMAN HANDS, HEARTS AND SKULLS AND A SKIRT OF LIVE SNAKES

CHECK OUT THIS PRETTY LADY WITH THE IMPECCABLE FASHION SENSE. I'M GLAD I PICKED THIS CARD INSTEAD OF A BORING OLD ZOMBIE. ALTHOUGH TRUTH BE TOLD I'D LIKE TO RIP A FEW PACKS OF THESE THINGS, IT'S GOT A GREAT CHECKLIST OF FUN BEASTIES

2000 FLEER ULTRA JD DREW CRUNCH TIME

CATEGORY - INSERT

I AM NOT A HUGE JD DREW FAN BUT I AM A FAN OF SCARCE FLEER ULTRA INSERTS. THESE CRUNCH TIME CARDS WERE FOUND ONE IN SEVERNTY-TWO PACKS IN 2000 AND THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE SEEN OF ONE DESPITE RIPPING QUITE A FEW PACKS BACK THEN. THE FRONT HAS A TEXTURED MATE FINISH AND EMBOSSING ON THE SEAMS

YOU CAN SEE THE EMBOSSING ON THE BACK GOING AROUND JD'S HEAD. THIS WAS A VERY GOOD DOLLAR BIN PICKUP FOR ME

1989-90 7TH INNING SKETCH OHL DENNIS SCOTT

CATEGORY - TRAINER

I'VE BEEN A SOMEWHAT ADDICTED TO PICKING UP MINOR LEAGUE TRAINER CARDS LATELY. I'VE BOUGHT SEVERAL FROM THE SITE AND PICKED UP A FEW OUT IN THE WILD AS WELL. THIS 7TH INNING SKETCH SET HAD SEVERAL GREAT CANDIDATES BUT I SETTLED ON DENNIS HERE JUST BECAUSE HE LOOKS SO HAPPY. PLUS JUST THINKING ABOUT NIAGARA FALLS MAKES ME GIGGLE. THE BACK IS GREAT TOO

TRAINER AND COACH CARDS JUST GET A GIGANTIC TEAM LOGO AND THIS ONE OF THE NIAGRA FALLS THUNDER IS MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST BORING LOGOS I'VE EVER SEEN. THE WHOLE PACKAGE IS JUST AMAZING. I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW THE MANUFACTURER OF HOCKEY CARDS HAS A BASEBALL PUN FOR A NAME. THERE ARE ALSO NO SKETCH CARDS IN THIS PRODUCT AS FAR AS I'M AWARE

2022 TOPPS CHROME JOSE ALTUVE HEART OF THE CITY

CATEGORY - INSERT

GREAT GOOGELY MOOGELY I LOVE THIS INSERT SET. I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE AN ALTUVE AND HONESTLY I MIGHT TRACK DOWN A FEW MORE NOW SINCE THEY ARE NOT THAT EXPENSIVE. THANK GOODNESS FOR CHROME BREAKERS WHO ONLY WANT AUTOGRAPHS. I'VE ONLY BEEN TO HOUSTON ONCE SO AM NOT OVERLY FAMILIAR WITH THE SKYLINE BUT I HOPE IT MAKES HOUSTON RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE I DO WHEN I SEE FREDDIE FREMAN'S CARD

1987 PROCARDS JOHN SMOLTZ

CATEGORY - BRAVES

THIS IS ANOTHER CARD THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY RESERVED FOR ME WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NABBED OFF THE SITE IN ABOUT THREE SECONDS OTHERWISE. THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO SMOLTZ CARDS OF HIM IN THE TIGERS ORGANIZATION. YOU CAN'T SEE JOHN'S EYES ON THIS ONE BUT I LOVE THAT GLENS FALLS TIGER LOGO. THERE'S AN EVEN BETTER LOGO ON THE BACK

QUINCY'S! BASEBALL CARDS AND COMICS! AND UHHH GIFTS? AND GREETING CARDS? NOW THAT'S A CARD SHOP! THERE WERE SO MANY BASEBALL CARDS SOLD IN SHOPS THAT WERE DEFINITIVELY NOT A BASEBALL CARD SHOP BACK IN THE DAY AND I MISS THOSE PLACES. I CAN ALMOST SEE THE BOXES OF CARD PACKS NEXT TO THE LONG BOXES OF COMICS BY THE HUGE RACK OF HALLMARK CARDS IN MY MIND

1980 TOPPS WACKY PACKAGES 4TH SERIES RERUN BEANBALL

CATEGORY - NON-SPORT

I THINK THIS IS THE THIRD OR MAYBE FOURTH DIFFERENT COPY OF THIS CARD I HAVE. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PARTICULAR WACKY PACKAGE CARD. IT'S NOT JUST THE BASEBALL CARD PACK THEME. IT'S NOT JUST THE TOPPS NON-SPORTS ARTISTS COMPLETELY DUNKING ON THE SPORTS CREW. IT'S NOT EVEN JUST THAT THE FICTIONAL TEAM IS VERY CLOSELY COPYING BRAVES' UNIFORMS. IT'S THAT GORILLA PLAYING BASEBALL. I LOVE GORILLAS AND I LOVE BASEBALL, IT'S A PERFECT MATCH. IT DOES RAISE SOME QUESTIONS THOUGH. WHY IS A GORILLA PLAYING BASEBALL? WHY IS THE TEAM NAMED THE APES, IT IS A NAPOLEON LAJOIE SITUATION? WHY IS THE GORILLA USING A RUBBER BAT WITH A HOLE IN IT? WHO WOULD BE STUPID ENOUGH TO THROW AT A GORILLA'S HEAD? IMAGINE THE ENSUING BRAWL! ESPECIALLY IF THE ENTIRE TEAM IS MADE UP OF APES. IMAGINE A BENCH CLEARED OF CHIMPS, GORILLAS, GIBBONS AND ORANGUTANS ALL BEATING UP THE NEW YORK METS. SOMEONE MAKE A MOVIE OF THAT AND SAVE THE THEATER INDUSTRY

UP NEXT: WHO KNOWS! IT'S A MIRACLE THIS GOT POSTED AT ALL

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 19: FLAMING PHIL

HERE'S THE SECOND AND WEIRDLY, LAST ADDITION TO A VINTAGE TEAM SET. I DECIDED TO POST THE BRAVES PICKUP NEXT WEEK BUT THERE WASN'T ONE. NOT SURPRISING SINCE PRETTY MUCH EVERY CARD I NEED FOR VINTAGE TEAM SETS NOW IS EITHER A HALL OF FAMER OR A HIGH NUMBER OR BOTH. NOT SOMETHING GOOD FOR A PICK UP AS MANY COOL CHEAP CARDS AS POSSIBLE BINGE. THIS ONE IS QUITE CHEAP AND COOL HOWEVER AS IT COMPLETED THE FIRST TOPPS ATLANTA FLAMES TEAM SET

1972-73 TOPPS #109 PHIL MYRE

I HAVE BEEN TO HOME GAMES FOR ALL THREE OF ATLANTA'S FORMER HOCKEY TEAMS. THE FIRST FLAMES GAME I WAS AT WAS IRONICALLY AGAINST WINNIPEG. THERE ARE RUMBLINGS OF A POSSIBLE EXPANSION TEAM COMING TO THE METRO AREA IN ALPHARETTA OF ALL PLACES BUT I THINK I'LL PASS ON THAT ONE. FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU, FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME, FOOL ME THREE TIMES, YEP I'M A STILL A FOOL, FOOL ME FOUR TIMES? CAN'T GET FOOLED AGAIN. I STILL LIKE THE VINTAGE CARDS THO AND WAS LOOKING THRU MY FLAMES/1974-75 SET BINDER LAST YEAR AND WAS SURPRISED THE 72-73 TEAM SET WAS MISSING A CARD. I CHECKED COMC, IT COST FORTY-THREE CENTS, TEAM SET COMPLETE. HOORAY! THERE'S SEVEN MORE PLAYERS I DON'T HAVE (INCLUDING MY FAVORITE FLAMES PLAYER DAN BOUCHARD'S ROOKIE CARD) IN THE O-PEE-CHEE SET THAT I DON'T HAVE I WILL ENJOY THIS WIN FOR NOW

MYRE WAS THE FLAMES' FIRST PICK IN THE EXPANSION DRAFT AND SHARED GOALTENDING DUTIES WITH BOUCHARD UNTIL HE WAS TRADED TO ST. LOUIS IN 1977. LATER IN 1980 HE PLAYED FOR PHILLY IN A CUP FINAL WITH HIS FORMER TEAMMATE PAT QUINN AS HIS COACH. I'M HAPPY FOR PHIL BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF PLAYOFF SUCCESS IN ATLANTA

HERE'S THE WHOLE TEAM SET PLUS A 73-74 CAMEO. THIS IS AN ODD BUT FAIRLY ATTRACTIVE DESIGN. I LIKE THAT 'GRANDFATHER OF COMIC-SANS' TYPE FOR THE TEAM NAME. SINCE THE FLAMES WERA AN EXPANSION TEAM ALL THE PLAYERS ARE IN THEIR ORIGINAL TEAMS' SWEATERS WITH THE LOGOS TACTFULLY REMOVED. I ORIGINALLY COLLECTED ONLY TOPPS VINTAGE HOCKEY BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I COULD FIND EASILY WAY DOWN SOUTH. I KIND OF REGRET THIS NOW AS THE O-PEE-CHEE SET NOT ONLY HAS MORE PLAYERS BUT HAS PICTURES OF THE GUYS IN A FLAMES SWEATER INSTEAD OF THESE AIRBRUSH JOBS. THEY LOOK REALLY GOOD! THESE ARE WAY MORE NOSTALGIC FOR ME THOUGH AS MOST OF THEM WERE PICKED UP IN THE 80S OR 90S