WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PLAYOFFS

IT'S PLAYOFFS TIME AGAIN EVEN THOUGH WE STILL DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THEM YET. TIME TO FEEL UNIMAGINABLE STRESS AND AGONY IF YOUR TEAM IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN THE GRUELING MONTH LONG SADNESS TOURNAMENT. AND THIS YEAR THE STRESS IS ON TOP OF *WAVES ARMS AROUND WILDLY* EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON! HOORAY! 

LIKE LAST YEAR, HERE'S A POST RANKING THIS YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP HOPEFULS FROM THE ONE I'M ROOTING FOR MOST TO THE LEAST. WHY YES, I DO HATE YOUR TEAM! THE CARDS CHOSEN FOR EACH TEAM ARE THE SHINIEST, WILDEST LATE 90S CARDS I PICKED OUT OF AN OLD STARS BOX I WAS SORTING THROUGH RECENTLY. I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT MORE SORTING AND ORGANIZING THAN POSTING LATELY IF YOU CAN TELL. AS A BONUS I'LL TALK ABOUT THE CARDS A BIT ALONG WITH MY HATEFUL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TEAMS. LET'S START OFF WITH THE OBVIOUS

BRAVES

THAT THE BRAVES ARE EVEN STILL IN IT IS UTTERLY ABSURD. THEIR ACE WAS HURT AFTER ONE START, THEIR MVP WAS GONE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON AND HALF THE TEAM HAS SPENT TWO MONTHS ON THE IL. HOW HAS NO ONE PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY YET?!? NOBODY CAN HIT ANYMORE BUT THE PITCHING IS ELITE SO MAYBE THEY CAN WIN A BUNCH OF 1-0 GAMES. IF THE 2021 TEAM COULD DO IT, WHY NOT

GAWD THESE 1997 SPX CARDS ARE FUCKING BEAUTIFUL. I REGRET BUYING CRAP LIKE COLLECTOR'S CHOICE INSTEAD OF THESE NOW

BREWERS

HONESTLY I ADOPTED THE BREWERS AS MY ROOTING CHOICE MONTHS AGO WHEN THINGS WERE AT THEIR DISMALEST. THEY MIGHT STILL BE NUMBER ONE ON THIS LIST DEPENDING WHAT HAPPENS. I LIKE HOW THEY TRADED THEIR BEST CLOSER AND PITCHER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND STILL BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THE NL CENTRAL. I WILL ALWAYS ROOT FOR WILLIAM CONTRERAS, GO WILD BILL. AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL? BOB UECKER DESERVES A RING. SEEING HIM LIFT THE TROPHY WOULD MAKE UP FOR A LOT OF TERRIBLE BULLSHIT THIS YEAR

2001 ARCHIVES RESERVE IS WHAT EVERY CHROMIUM PRODUCT SHOULD BE: 100% REFRACTORS. IT REALLY IS A GREAT SET IF YOU CAN FIND IT

ASTROS

YES, YES. EVERYONE HATES THE ASTROS FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED SEVEN YEARS AGO. SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER TEAM HAS EVER DONE BEFORE OR SINCE. THEY ARE A BAD TEAM FOR BAD PEOPLE. LUCKILY ENOUGH I AM A BAD PEOPLE! AND I LOVE VILLAINS! AND JOSE ALTUVE WHO IS AWESOME AND COMPLETELY INNOCENT. YOU KNOW IT TO BE TRUE. EXTRA ADDED BONUS: JASON HEYWARD CAN GET HIS SECOND RING WITH THE STROS. THIS FACT HAD ME FLIPPING THE SECOND AND THIRD CHOICES ON THIS LIST RIGHT UP UNTIL POSTING

2000 PACIFIC INVICIBLE IS ONE OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS DESIGNS FROM AN ADMITTEDLY RIDICULOUS ERA. INVICIBLE WAS KNOWN FOR COMBINING PAPER AND PLASTIC ELEMENTS BUT THIS... THIS IS JUST WEIRD. WHAT EVEN IS THIS DESIGN?? MOSES ALOU PARTING THE WRIGLEY WALL? UTTERLY BIZARRE. IT CONFUSED ME SO MUCH I ONLY BOUGHT ONE PACK BACK IN THE DAY, A DECISION I NOW REGRET

GUARDIANS

THE GUARDIANS NOT ONLY HAVE THE LONGEST CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHT BUT THE LAST TWO WORLD SERIES THEY WERE IN WERE FUCKING AGONIZING. THAT GIVES THEM A BIT OF AN UNDERDOG VIBE TO ME, PLUS THEY DESERVE SOME GOOD FORTUNE WHAT WITH THE OVERDUE BRANDING CHANGE. I ALSO WANT TO SEE JOSE RAMIREZ PLAY AS MUCH BASEBALL AS POSSIBLE. KEEP SLEEPING ON JOSE, I LOVE FINDING HIS CARDS DIRT CHEAP

GALLERY ISN'T TRADITIONALLY SHINY BUT THE 1996 VERSION WAS VERY INNOVATIVE FOR THE TIME WITH THE THICK STOCK AND PAINTERLY THEME. THE CANVAS BACKGROUND AND GILDED FRAME REALLY MAKES EDDIE LOOK LIKE HE'S HANGING IN A MUSEUM

ROYALS

IF YOUR TEAM HASN'T BEENIN THE PLAYOFFS FOR A DECADE I'LL LIKELY BE ROOTING FOR YOU. DOESN'T MEAN THEY'LL MAKE IT VERY FAR BUT IT'S STILL A GOOD STORY. BOBBY WITT JR. IS ALSO THE REAL DEAL. TIME TO SNAG SOME OF HIS CARDS NOW THAT EVERYONE IS OBSESSED WITH SHOHEI

MOAR COLLECTING REGRETS: WHEN I DID BUY PACKS OF HIGHER END STUFF IN THE 90S, IT WAS OF SHIT LIKE BOWMAN'S BEST. THE 1999 VERSION IS NOT GOOD. THE DESIGN HAS MORE YELLOW THAN 1991 FLEER AND THE ROOKIES ARE ALL SHORT PRINTED. BUT THE REFRACTORS REALLY POP. THIS PHOTO DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE

TIGERS

ANOTHER TEAM THAT BEEN TERRIBLE FOR FOREVER WHO INEXPLICABLY SNUCK INTO THE PLAYOFFS. THANKS TWINS! THEY'VE GOT A SOME GOOD YOUNG PLAYERS TOO, SKUBAL AND GREENE LOOK LEGIT. WILL THEY MAKE NOISE IN THE PLAYOFFS? PROBABLY NOT! BUT THIS SEASON HAS BEEN SO DAMN WEIRD ALREADY, WHY NOT?

CROWN ROYALE IS ALWAYS NICE, EVEN IF EVERY SET IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FOIL. THEY'RE UNWIELDY AND AWKWARD TO STORE BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL

PHILLIES

YOU'D THINK I WOULD HATE THE PHILLIES SINCE THEY KNOCKED OFF THE BRAVES IN EXTRA PAINFUL FASHION TWO YEARS IN A ROW AND THEN STOLE THE DIVISION FROM US. YOU'D BE WRONG! I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY LOATHE THE PHILLIES AS I HAVE FAMILY FROM THERE AND THEY ARE HISTORICALLY SUCH A SHITTY-ASS FRANCHISE THAT WHEN SOMETHING NICE HAPPENS TO THEM IT'S HONESTLY TOO SURPRISING TO CAUSE BITTERNESS. AND I MEAN, IF HARPER GOES HIS WHOLE CAREER WITHOUT A RING WE'LL ALL BE KINDA DISAPPOINTED IF WE'RE BEING HONEST. WHY NOT THIS YEAR? BECAUSE NICE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN TO PHILADELPHIA TEAMS, THAT'S WHY

THIS IS NOT A SHINY CARD! WTF!!? THERE WERE NO SHINY PHILLIES IN THE CARDS I RESCUED FROM THE STAR BOXES EXCEPT A MIKE LIEBERTHAL MINOR LEAGUE INSERT THAT WASN'T VERY SHINY AT ALL AND ONE OF A PITCHER WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED. I'M NOT PUTTING HIS CARDS ON THIS BLOG IF I CAN HELP IT SO HERE'S THE MUCH LESS PROBLEMATIC PETE ROSE. I LOVE 1983 FLEER AND I REALLY LOVE CARDS WITH PLAYERS LEANING ON THAT OLD CIRCULAR NET THINGY. JUST THINK OF THIS AS A CARD OF THAT NET THINGY AND IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE

ORIOLES

ORIOLES DROPPED FOUR SPOTS FROM LAST YEAR AND WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER IF NOT FOR TWO THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, THEY ARE NO LONGER THE NEW HOTNESS NOW THAT THE SCRAPPY ROYALS AND TIGERS HAVE STOLEN THE UNDERDOG ROLES. THEY ARE A LEGIT GOOD TEAM NOW! BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BEAT THE YANKEES. KNOCK THEM OUT AND YOU'LL MOVE UP IN MY ESTIMATION

FLAIR/SHOWCASE/FLAIR SHOWCASE IS ONE OF THE WEIRDEST BRANDS OF THE 90S AND 2000S. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR THERE WAS A MAJOR DESIGN CHANGE OR NAME CHANGE OR BOTH UNTIL FLEER FINALLY WENT BELLY UP.  1999 FLAIR SHOWCASE EPITOMIZED THIS WITH EACH CARD HAVING NOT ONLY THREE DIFFERENT FRONT DESIGNS BUT THREE DIFFERENT BACK DESIGNS AS WELL, ALL IN DIFFERENT RARITIES. THIS CARD IS THE HARDEST (AND BEST LOOKING IN MY OPINION) TO FIND FRONT WITH THE EASIEST TO FIND BACK. THIS MEANS YOU CAN PROBABLY FIND ONE IN A DIME BOX IF YOU LOOK LONG ENOUGH. IT'S PRETTY THO

PADRES

THE PADRES ARE ANOTHER TEAM THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WAY HIGHER A YEAR OR TWO AGO BUT 1) I'VE GROWN WEARY OF THEIR ANTICS AND 2) IF THE BRAVES ACTUALLY DO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THEY ARE OUR FIRST ROUND OPPONENT. YU DARVISH IS COOL THOUGH 

THIRTY YEAR OLD 1994 PACIFIC PRISMS LOOK BETTER THAN ANY CARD THAT HAS COME OUT IN 2024. I'LL FIGHT ANYONE WHO DISAGREES. ASSUMING I CAN STOP STARING AT THIS CARD. OOOOOOHHHHH SHIIIIIIINY

DODGERS

DODGERS HAVE BEEN THE PRESUMPTIVE NL PENNANT WINNER EVERY YEAR FOR LIKE EIGHT OR NINE YEARS NOW. I DON'T ROOT FOR TEAMS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO WIN, THAT'S NOT MY STYLE. YES, IT WILL BE FUN TO SEE OHTANI IN THE PLAYOFFS, YES, MOOKIE AND FREDDIE ARE COOL. EVERYONE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM IN THE WORLD SERIES. BUT I'M A GRUMPY JERK. THIS IS THE PLAYOFFS! NO FUN FOR ANYONE! ONLY PAIN

NOW THIS HERE IS WHAT INVINCIBLE IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE! A NICE CARD WITH A RIDICULOUS DESIGN WITH A LITTLE WINDOW WITH A PLASTIC PLAYER INSIDE. I DUNNO HOW PACIFIC WENT FROM THIS TO THAT WEIRD MESS IN JUST ONE YEAR. I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK THAT LIGHT SPOT ON RAUL'S EAR IS. IT'S NOT ON THE CARD AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT REFLECTION COULD HAVE CAUSED THAT. MAYBE THIS CARD IS HAUNTED

METS

I'M AS SURPISED AS YOU ARE! HOW THE HELL ARE THE DISGRACEFUL METS ONLY MY THIRD-MOST DISLIKED TEAM IN THIS COUNTDOWN? I GOT A LOT OF HATE IN ME I GUESS. I REALLY DON'T LIKE THEM AND IF THEY END UP KNOCKING US OUT - OR WORSE - ACTUALLY WINNING IT ALL THE CROWING I WILL HEAR FROM QUEENS WILL ECHO IN MY EARS IN HELL. THEY'RE STILL NOT AS BAD AS THESE NEXT TWO TEAMS I PROMISE

THIS IS A EVRY PACIFIC HEAVY POST BUT CAN YOU BLAME ME? LOOK AT ALL THE SHINY! PACIFIC REVOLUTION IS THE SHINIEST PRODUCT FROM THE SHINIEST COMPANY AND 2000 REVOLUTION IS THE KING OF ALL SHINY. THE GOLD FOIL IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE HOLOFOIL FIREWORKS AND THE YEAR 2000 EXPLODING EVERYWHERE. THE BRAND NAME IS EVEN EMBOSSED INTO THE SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALL THIS SET NEEDS IS TO BE DIE CUT TO BECOME A BLACK HOLE OF SHINY

DIAMONDBACKS

I'M COMPLETELY SICK OF ARIZONA IN GENERAL. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY, LOOK AT MY PREVIOUS PLAYOFF POST I LINKED UP THERE. PLUS THEY WENT TO THE WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR. BLECCH. AND LOST TO THE RANGERS! DOUBLE BLECCH. ANY OLD TEAM COULD'VE DONE THAT! I'M GRUMPY NOW. GRRRRR 

HERE'S A SHORT PRINTED FINEST ROOKIE CARD OF A PLAYER WHO NEVER PLAYED A SINGLE INNING IN THE BIGS. AND NOT EVEN A SERIAL NUMBERED ROOKIE CARD! IT'S A PROMO! THIS CARD IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

YANKEES

I CARE SO LITTLE ABOUT THE YANKEES THAT THE CARD WON'T CENTER AND I CAN'T EVEN BE BOTHERED ABOUT IT. I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO BOLD THE NAME, WHAT'S THE USE. PHOOEY ON THE YANKEES. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE SNAKES WERE DEAD LAST ON LAST YEARS LIST AND THEN IT DAWNED ON ME THAT THE YANKEES MISSED THE PLAYOFFS  IN 2023 AND WAS SOO HAPPY AND THEN REALIZED THAT THEY WERE IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR AND I WAS SAD AGAIN. BARF! BLECCCH! PTUI! THE ONLY POSITIVE OUTCOME TO THEM WINNING THE WORLD SERIES IS IF SOTO COLLECTS HIS RING AND THEN BOLTS FOR ANOTHER TEAM

YANKEES SUCK BUT DUFEX IS THE BEST. HOORAY FOR 1996 PINNACLE.

SO THERE YOU GO! I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE BRAVES WHATSOEVER SINCE THEY CAN'T SCORE MORE THAN THREE RUNS A GAME SO MY DREAM WORLD SERIES MATCHUP IS:

BREWERS VS. ASTROS

WINNER GETS TO BE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. I CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS SO THE ACTUAL RESULT WILL BE THE YANKEES DANCING ALL OVER THE METS' FACES. ONWARD TO HELL! PLAY BALL!!!!1

BLOGGER SOMEHOW PASTED IN THIS PICTURE OF BURGERPANTS FROM UNDERTALE THAT I USED IN A BLUESKY POST SO FUCK IT, IT'S STAYING IN. I'M FEELING KINDA BURGERPANTSY AT THE MOMENT ANYWAY

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

2024 ONLINE BLASTER - PART 6: MOAR CHAOS

OOPS! TWO WEEK HIATUS DUE TO RUNNING OUT OF BUFFER DRAFT POSTS AND AN UNEXPECTED CASE THE OF BRAINSNAKES. I NEED A NICE, EASY CHAOS POST TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING GETS POSTED THIS WEEK. HOORAY! HERE'S THAT POST!

2019 TOPPS CHROME JOSH ROGERS AUTOGRAPH

CATEGORY - IT'S A FRIGGIN ON CARD AUTOGRAPH

CHROME ON CARD AUTOGRAPH ON THE FREE CARD SITE? YEP! THERE'S QUITE A FEW AUTOS ON THERE, MOST ARE UNCERTIFIED ON JUNKWAX CARDS OR FROM 90S DRAFT PICK SETS BUT THERE'S SOME NEWER ONES ON THERE ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THERE'S A DOLLAR BOX OPTION. THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING SIGNATURE ON A GOOD LOOKING DESIGN SO I NABBED IT AS SOON AS I SAW IT. ROGERS IS CURRENTLY IN THE ROCKIES ORGANIZATION AND I HAVE NO IDEA IF HE'LL END UP ON THE OPENING DAY ROSTER. THE CARD IS PRETTY AS HELL THOUGH

1996 TOPPS JUAN GONZALEZ HOBBY MASTERS INSERT

CATEGORY - INSERT, SHINY

POOR TOPPS WAS LEFT AT THE STARTING GATE IN THE INSERTS BOOM OF THE EARLY 90S BUT THEY CAUGHT UP WITH SOME EXTRA SHINY NONSENSE AFTER '96. HOLOFOIL WITH CRAZY PATTERNS WAS TOPPS' M.O. IN THE LATE 90S AND YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE MORE EXAMPLES IN THIS POST. THESE HOBBY MASTERS CARDS LEFT A REAL IMPRESSION WHEN YOU PULLED ONE IN 1997. I WOULDN'T KNOW, I SOMEHOW DIDN'T RIP ANY TOPPS BASEBALL IN 1997 (PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS BUYING A TON OF THE STAR WARS CCG INSTEAD) AND THESE WERE ONLY FOUND IN HOBBY PACKS

SPORTKINGS VOL. 3 RICHARD PETTY, BLACK CAVIAR

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, HORSIE

I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY I'M DOING BUYING ALL THESE RICHARD PETTY CARDS SINCE I DON'T REALLY COLLECT RACING CARDS BUT C'MON, LOOK AT THISONE. IT'S FANTASTIC. I THINK I MIGHT FILL UP A PAGE FULL OF PETTYS FOR A CHAOS BINDER AND THEN CUT MYSELF OFF. UNTIL I FIND ANOTHER COOL LOOKING ONE

HORSIES I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING. GIMME HORSIE CARDS. I ALMOST BOUGHT THIS ONE TWICE BUT LUCKILY I HAD THIS DRAFT POST UP AND REMEMBERED I HAD IT. I DON'T KNOW WHO BLACK CAVIAR IS BUT I'M GUESSING THEY WON A RACE OR PERHAPS MULTIPLE RACES. DOESN'T MATTER, THEY'RE A GOOD HORSIE

2022 ALLEN & GINTER FRANKIE MONTAS, VICTOR ROBLES SPs

CATEGORY - ALLEN & GINTER

I LOVE ALLEN & GINTER AND HAVE THE COMPLETE SET RUN FROM 2006-2013 BUT SINCE I'VE STOPPED BEING ABLE TO BUY UP A BUNCH OF BLASTERS OF THE STUFF I'VE HAD A BIT OF A COLLECTING CRISIS. I CAN'T COMPLETE SETS ANYMORE (ESPECIALLY NOW THAT CHEAP BASE HAS DISAPPEARED FROM MY LOCAL DIME BOXES) BUT I STILL LOVE THE SET. RECENTLY I HAVE DECIDED THAT I DON'T NEED TO COMPLETE ALL THESE SETS FILLED WITH BORING ROOKIES AND DUBIOUS NON-SPORTS SUBJECTS AND CAN JUST BUILD UP A LITTLE PILE OF CARDS I ACTUALLY LIKE. I LIKE SHORT PRINTS. I ESPECIALLY LIKE ALLEN & GINTER SHORT PRINTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T COST A FEW BUCKS EACH LIKE HERITAGE SHORT PRINTS. OR A LOT OF BUCKS EACH LIKE TOPPS BASE SHORT PRINTS. REMEMBER ALL THOSE CHRONICLES POSTS? GET READY FOR A FEW ALLEN & GINTER POSTS LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE

2022 QYPSY GUEEN MOOKIE BETTS

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

I GOT REAL MAD AT MOOKIE FOR TRYING TO STEAL RONALD'S MVP LAST YEAR BUT ALL IS FORGIVEN NOW. GYPSY QUEEN SEEMS TO BE A DEAD SET NOW BUT I LIKE THE DEBUT SET THAT WAS BASED ON THE 19TH CENTURY TOBACCO CARDS AND THE RECENT SETS THAT WENT ART DECO. THIS VAGUELY STEAMPUNK TICKET DISPENSER DESIGN IS ALSO A PRETTY NEAT ONE. IT'S UNIQUE AT LEAST! IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING THIS BRAND RAN ITS COURSE BEFORE WE STARTED GETTING CARDS BASED ON 40S AND 50S DESIGNS. I'M NOT READY FOR ANOTHER TIKI BAR THEMED SET

2000 TOPPS MIKE PIAZZA POWER PLAYERS INSERT

CATEGORY - INSERT

2000 WAS THE PINNACLE OF TOPPS' WILD HOLOFOIL INSERTS. THERE WERE FIVE DIFFERENT SHINY SETS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN SPEACIAL THEMED PATTERNS THAT ALL STARTED TO BLUR TOGETHER. AND THE OWN THE GAME INSERT HAD TWO DIFFERENT DESIGNS FOR SOME REASON! THEY'RE ALL VERY PRETTY BUT AS SOMEONE WHO RECENTLY SORTED ALL THEIR TOPPS INSERTS I GOTTA ADMIT THEY ALL MAKE YOUR EYES GO CROSSED AFTER A WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE GOES TO WHAT SET. WHEN YOU SEE ONE CARD BY ITSELF LIKE THIS ONE WHERE MIKE PIAZZA MUSHED A BASEBALL SO HARD IT CREATED RAINBOW SHOCKWAVES IT'S A VERY ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE

2000 TOPPS JEFF BAGWELL PERENNIAL ALL-STARS INSERT

CATEGORY - INSERT

SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THESE 2000 INSERTS? PERENNIAL ALL-STAR BAGWELL IS OBVIOUSLY SMACKING A BASEBALL SO HARD HE'S CAUSED THE SUN TO SUPERNOVA. IT LOOKS NOTHING LIKE PIAZZA'S SHOCKWAVE SPLAT. BUT GET A BIG MIXED UP PILE OF THESE THINGS IN YOUR HANDS AND IT'S TOO MUCH FOR THE HUMAN MIND TO COMPREHEND. TOPPS PIVOTED FULLY TOWARD THE RETRO REPRINTS AND RELIC CARDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND CUT WAY BACK ON THE HOLOFOIL. OWN THE GAME KEPT THE WILD PATTERNS GOING UNTIL THEY BECAUSE BORING FLAT HOLOFOIL IN 2007 BUT THESE 2000 INSERTS DESERVED TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE HIGH WATER MARK. ONE DAY I'D LIKE TO COMPLETE ALL OF THESE AND PUT THEM IN A BINDER AND GAZE UPON THEM AND BE DAZZLED TO INSANITY

1992 ECLIPSE TRUE CRIME JACK THE RIPPER

CATEGORY - LEGEND, MONSTER

I HAVE A WEIRD RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUE CRIME, I'VE BEEN A BIT OBSESSED WITH IT SINCE I WAS A KID AND WATCHED TOO MANY SCARY DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT CRIME AT TOO YOUNG AN AGE. BUT UNLIKE HORROR MOVIES WHICH ARE ALL FAKE WHEN I CHECK OUT TRUE CRIME STUFF I EVENTUALLY REALIZE THEY ARE ABOUT REAL PEOPLE WHO HAD TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM AND IT MAKES ME SAD. I BOUGHT A FEW PACKS OF THIS STUFF AT THE FLEA MARKET AND WANTED TO BUILD IT UNTIL I READ THE BACKS AND REALIZED THAT HALF THE CARDS WERE PEOPLE WHO DID HORRIBLE THINGS TO PEOPLE AND THE OTHER HALF WERE THE PEOPLE WHO GOT HORRIBLED AND IT ONCE AGAIN BUMMED ME OUT. HOWEVER. JACK THE RIPPER IS A TRUE LEGEND. TONS OF MOVIES, BOOKS AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE GRAPHIC NOVELS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THIS GUY.  PLUS THE FIRST DOCUMENTARY ON SERIAL KILLERS THAT I WATCHED WHEN I WAS A KID THAT SCARED THE LIVING PISS OUT OF ME AND GOT ME ON THIS CRIME KICK IN THE FIRST PLACE PROMINENTLY FEATURED JACK'S DEEDS. YES, MR. THE RIPPER WAS AN ACTUAL PERSON WHO DID AWFUL THINGS TO REAL PEOPLE BUT THANKS TO INCOMPETENT COPS AND GREEDY JOURNALISTS HE BECAME ELEVATED TO A MYTICAL MONSTER. AND THAT'S WHY THIS CARD NOW LIVES IN MY MONSTER CARD BINDER. I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED ANY MORE CARS FROM THIS SET BUT THE ZODIAC KILLER WAS THE OTHER GUY FROM THAT DOCUMENTARY THAT SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME AND A LANA TURNER CARD WOULD BE REALLY COOL EVEN IF THE STORY BEHIND IT IS EXTREMELY NOT 

1998 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED BARRY LARKIN

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

I JUST TYPED OUT LARRY BARKIN AND GIGGLED FOR A MINUTE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MY CURRENT STATE OF MIND. I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES ALREADY BUT WHAT THE HELL, LET'S SAY IT AGAIN. I REALLY LIKE THE FLEER SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CARDS AND I WILL NEVER EVER BUILD ANY OF THE SETS. I WILL ABSOLUTELY PICK OFF RANDOM STARS THAT LOOK GOOD THOUGH AND THIS LARKIN LOOKS GOOD. COLLECTING BY PURE VIBES IS NOT GREAT FOR ORGANIZATION BUT IT'S A HELLUVA LOT OF FUN

1996 SCOREBOARD ALL SPORT PPF VLADIMIR GUERRERO

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

SCOREBOARD ALL-SPORT PPF WAS A PRETTY WILD MULTI-SPORT SET WITH A FANTASTIC CHECKLIST FULL OF STARS AND ROOKIES FROM ALL FOUR MAJOR SPORTS INCLUDING ONE OF KOBE BRYANT'S FIRST CARDS. THESE WERE DONE PANINI STYLE WITH MAJOR LEAGUE LOGOS AIRBRUSHED OUT OF THE STARS AND THE ROOKIES IN MINOR LEAGUE OR COLLEGE UNIS. I BOUGHT A FEW PACKS CHASING THE ONE 'VINTAGE' CARD PER BOX BUT ONLY GOT BASE AND A FEW (ADMITTEDLY NICE LOOKING) INSERT CARDS. THIS VLADDY IN AN ALBANY POLECATS UNIFORM REALLY GRABBED ME. MAYBE IT'S THOSE SILVER UNIFORM NUMBERS, MAYBE IT'S HOW HAPPY VLAD SEEMS TO ME, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE PANINI'S AIRBRUSH ARTISTS PUT VLAD INTO A WHITE SOX UNIFORM. AT ANY RATE, IT HAD THOSE GOOD GOOD VIBES AND I PICKED IT UP. HOPEFULLY I DDON'T FIND IT AGAIN IF I EVER LOOK THROUGH MY MINOR LEAGUE BOX AGAIN LOL

2014 TOPPS HANK AARON UPPER CLASS INSERT

CATEGORY - BRAVES, INSERT

I STILL HAVEN'T GOT MY TOPPS INSERTS AFTER 2010 CATALOGUED YET SO THERE'S AN EXTREMELY HIGH CHANCE I HAVE THIS CARD ALREADY. WHO CARES, AARON INSERT. YOU WOULDA BOUGHT IT HAD YOU GOT THERE FIRST, DON'T LIE

1998 SKYBOX DUGOUT AXCESS FRED MCGRIFF NAME PLATES SUBSET

CATEGORY - BRAVESISH, CRIME DOG

SKYBOX DUGOUT AXCESS IS AS WEIRD A SET AS IT IS TO SEE FRED IN A DEVIL RAYS UNIFORM. NICKNAME CARDS ARE COOL AND LICENSE PLATE CARDS ARE NEAT SO WHY THE HELL NOT? THIS IS ANOTHER CARD THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IS ALREADY IN A FLEER ODDBALL BOX AND ONCE AGAIN I WAS PREVENTED FROM BUYING IT TWICE BY THIS POST. STILL, IT'S GOT THEM GOOD GOOD VIBES EVEN IF THE GREEN AND PURPLE IS A BIT OF AN EYESORE

2022 BOWMAN U KELEE RINGO REFRACTOR

CATEGORY - GEORGIA BULLDOGS, LEGEND

AS A LONG SUFFERING GEORGIA SPORTS FAN THERE ARE FIVE MOMENTS OF JOY PERMANANTLY ETECHED IN MY BRAIN:

SID SLID
GRISSOM CATCHING THE FINAL OUT IN 1995
TRAE SHUSHING MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
JORGE SOLER MASHING A HOME RUN OVER THE TRAIN
KELEE RINGO'S INTERCEPTION

A SHINY BOWMAN U CARD OF THE GUY WHO MADE KIRBY SMART JUMP FOUR FEET IN THE AIR WAS A NO-BRAINER EVEN THOUGH IT'S PRINGLED LIKE A 2010 CHROME CARD AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTO. THE TOP LOADER IT'S IN NOW SOLVES THAT AND THE CARD LOOKS GREAT

UP NEXT: WHO KNOWS? PROBABLY MORE VIBES

ONLINE MEGA BOX - PART 4

TODAY WE HAVE SEVEN SPORTS AND THREE CARS AND WE START WITH TWO SPORTS IN ONE

1990 COLLECT-A-CARD KINGPINS CURTIS ODOM

CATEGORY - FRIGGIN HILARIOUS

THIS CARD WAS ONE I TRIED TO GET A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN THE SITE DROPPED THE PRICE TO FIVE CENTS A CARD AND I GOT GREEDY AND TRIED TO PUT THREE HUNDRED CARDS IN MY CART AND BROKE THE SITE. I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHICH CARD WAS THE FUNNY BOWLING CARD I WANTED WHEN I JUMPED BACK INTO THE DIME BOX SO I LOOKED AT THE GALLERY ON TCDB AND IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THIS AS THE ONE. THIS IS CURTIS' ONLY CARD AS FAR AS I CAN TELL AND IT'S PROBABLY THE GREATEST ONE-HIT WONDER IN TRADING CARD HISTORY 

2012 OPENING DAY SUPERSTAR CELEBRATIONS MARTIN PRADO

CATEGORY - BRAVES, INSERT

I KINDA FEEL LIKE I BOUGHT THIS CARD BEFORE FROM THIS SAME SITE BUT IT HAS JASON HEYWARD WITH A CAMEO SO IF I DO HAVE TWO OF THEM THIS WILL SIMPLY GO INTO THE HEYWARD BINDER

AS A SIDE NOTE - I COMPLETELY REGRET ALL MY YEARS OF OPENING DAY SLANDER. THE BASE SET SUCKS BUT I REALLY REALLY MISS THE INSERTS

2008 INDIANA JONES HERITAGE DRIVING BY SHORT ROUND

CATEGORY - NON-SPORTS

THIS SET CAME OUT IN 2008 AND COMPLETELY PASSED ME BY SOMEHOW EVEN THOUGH I WAS RAGING HERITAGE FANBOY BUYING UP EVERY SPORT AND EVEN THE MARS ATTACKS AND STAR WARS VERSIONS. MAYBE IT WAS HOBBY ONLY? IN ANY CASE I REALLY LIKE TEMPLE OF DOOM AND I APPRECIATE SHORT ROUND HERE WITH HIS NEW YORK GIANTS HAT AND PICKED OUT THIS CARD OF AN OSCAR WINNER

1991 LIME ROCKDREAM MACHINES 1968 FORD MUSTANG

CATEGORY - HORSIE

WHOOPS - I ALREADY BOUGHT THIS CARD, IT CAME IN THE LAST BATCH I POSTED. OH WELL, NOW I HAVE TWO. MAYBE I'LL TAKE A GREEN MARKER TO THIS ONE AND PRETEND IT REALLY IS THE BULLITT CAR

2013 SCORE MATT RYAN AIRMAIL

CATEGORY - I DON'T LIKE THE FALCONS STOP SAYING THAT

MY METHODOLOGY FOR PICKING UP CARDS IN THESE LOTS FOR A WHILE WENT LKE THIS: I HAD A FOLDER FULL OF BOOKMARKED CARDS I WAS INTERESTED IN. I PICKED OUT ABOUT 50 OR SO COOL ONES I WANTED THE MOST AND PUT THEM ASIDE IN A SEPERATE FOLDER. THEN WHEN A TON OF NEW CARDS GOT POSTED, I PICKED OUT THE ONES I WANTED BUT DIDN'T BUY UNTIL I SAW A CARD I COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT. THEN I MADLY ADDED 40 CARDS TO MY CART PLUS SHIPPING AND TRIED TO CHECK OUT. AND LOST LIKE TWO OR THREE CARDS IN THE TIME IT TOOK TO ADD EVERYTHING SO I HAD TO TAKE THOSE OUT AND ADD A COUPLE MORE TO GET BACK TO 40 CARDS. AND THEN LOST TWO OR THREE MORE CARDS AND HAD TO REPEAT UNTIL I COULD FINALLY PAY WITHOUT GETTING SNIPED. EVENTUALLY I LOST TOO MANY CARDS AND THEN FINALLY FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS AND JUST DID SMALLER ORDERS WITH THE NEW CARDS I WANTED. AT ANY RATE, A WHOLE PAGE OF A CERTAIN PLAYER'S CARDS CAME UP AND MATTY ICE HERE WAS IN LINE TO BE A FILLER CARD BECAUSE I SAW IT AT ONE POINT AND IT LOOKED COOL. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN INSERT BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A BASE CARD. OR MAYBE A SUBSET CARD? THERE'S FULL STATS ON THE BACK SO I'M NOT SURE. I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND SCORE FOOTBALL AT ALL AFTER ABOUT 1992

2021 CHRONICLES TITAN DANIEL LYNCH

CATEGORY - CHRONICLES 

I HAVE GONE ABSOLUTELY APESHIT ON THE CHRONICLES CARDS ON THIS SITE. AT FIRST I WAS BEING PICKY AND ONLY GETTING THE BEST PLAYERS AND MY FAVORITE DESIGNS BUT I'VE GONE OVERBOARD LATELY. THE TITAN DESIGN IS ONE OF MY TOP FAVORITES SO I SNAGGED THEM WHEN I COULD. DANIEL LYNCH IS STILL PITCHING FOR THE ROYALS WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY FOR A LOT OF THE CHRONICLES ROOKIES IN THE SET

1998-99 SKYBOX METAL UNIVERSE MAURICE TAYLOR NEOPHYTES

CATEGORY - INSERT

IT'S REALLY HARD TO PASS UP ON SKYBOX METAL INSERTS. THIS IS THE SECOND NEOPHYTES CARD I PICKED UP. I THINK THE FIRST ONE WAS ANTONIO DANIELS AND I DON'T KNOW WHY ANTONIO GOT PICKED BEFORE MAURICE. THEY'RE BOTH NICE AND SHINY THOUGH AND VERY METAL

2001-02 PACIFIC HEADS UP RAY FERRARO

CATEGORY - SHINY

THE THRASHERS MAKE ME SAD BUT PACIFIC MAKES ME HAPPY AND CRAZY PATTERNED HOLOFOIL CARDS REALLY MAKE ME HAPPY. FERRARO WAS A COOL DUDE AND I'M GLAD HE GOT TO PLAY ON MY DEAD TEAM FOR HALF A MINUTE

1997 COLLECTOR'S CHOICE BILL ELLIOTT CC600 GAME CARD

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, WEIRDNESS

THIS ONE'S A REAL ODD ONE. I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THERE BEING A COLLECTOR'S CHOICE RACING SET AND I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A COLLECTIBLE RACING GAME INSERTED IN THE PACKS. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THE GAME WOULD EVEN WORK BUT IT WAS A NEAT ODDBALL OF AWESOME BILL SO IT WENT IN MY CART

1984 TOPPS WILLIE TULLIS

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

ANOTHER NUMBER CROSSED OFF MY 80S TOPPS FOOTBALL WANTLIST. I ONLY NEED ABOUT 50 OR SO CARDS TO COMPLETE THE 1984 SET BUT WHO OF THEM ARE THAT GUY AND YOU-KNOW-WHO SO I'M ESSENTIALLY AS CLOSE AS I AM WITH MY 1952 TOPPS SET. I REALLY DIG THE OILERS COLORS ON THIS CARD AND I REALLY WISH THEY'D STRIKE OIL IN GALLATIN SO NASHVILLE COULD JUST GO BACK TO THESE UNIFORMS

1994 FLEER ULTRA MARK LANGSTON STRIKEOUT KINGS

CATEGORY - INSERT

THIS CARD WAS THE IMPETUS TO FINALLY PUT TOGETHER A FLEER/ULTRA INSERT WANTLIST. FLEER'S INSERT OFFERINGS IN THE 90S WERE THE BEST IN MY OPINION, THEY ALWAYS LOOKED GOOD AND FLEER DID THEIR BEST TO MAKE SURE YOU PULLED THEM FROM PACKS. THIS STRIKEOUT KINGS SET FROM 1994 IS FANTASTIC WITH THE MULTIPLE PHOTOS AND GAUDY LOGO. I STILL THINK OF MARK LANGSTON AS A MARINER THOUGH

2000-01 TOPPS DAN MAJERLIE

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

I'M STILL KICKING MYSELF FOR NOT BUYING A SINGLE PACK OF TOPPS BASKETBALL CARDS IN 2000-2001. WHY DID I SKIP THIS PURPLE NIGHTMARE OF A SET? PROBABLY BECAUSE THE HAWKS WERE ASS AND I WAS FALCONS FOOTBALL CRAZED AT THE TIME. I WILL STILL PICK UP ANY SINGLES I SEE AND WILL PROBABLY COMPLETE THE SET AROUND 2078 JUST BY PICKING OFF RANDOM CARDS FROM CHEAPO BOXES AS I FIND THEM

UP NEXT: THE FIRST OF MANY THEMED POSTS