Recent Listia Wins

There are a number to run through, so let's have at it!

Personally, I consider all cards that show a player in the team uniform, even if labelled to the new/traded team, will be counted as Leafs which is why I picked up the following - which is off centre, but excellent quality:


There was a lot of baseball cards up which included a couple Jays, so I came away with it. Funny thing is, before the cards arrived, I had received the Jays cards in a different trade...


I can't complain since the lot was really for 5 cards plus 5, and I ended up getting 12...

I saw the following card and figured since there were only 199 of them, I wouldn't have much chance finding another so picked it up for about a buck's worth of points...


The blue refractor for a Blue Jay is just snazzy looking in hand, definitely worth the pick up.

There was a 6 pack of random cards for 3,333 points which I figured, I might as well take a try on given the price...

Worked out well given the Tony Fernandez card, and of the rest I didn't have any of the top row as well.

More parallels

Nice parallels in the Santa Lot 20 today...

Highlights:

I wish that the names for parallels and finishes on cards were more consistent. I don't know that I would call the look "metal", but apparently that is what we are calling it at least where 2008-09 O Pee Chee hockey is concerned.

With the 4 yesterday, that's 7 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 variation cards in two days and about 12 of the 50 in the set so far. Still would be cool to complete the set, even if it isn't one I plan on keeping...

The rest
Keepers:

As a kid, getting even a faux signed card is pretty cool, so I give Upper Deck credit with Victory and MVP sets which are lower end and marketed to younger collectors - they do a good job generally with them and they still have some appeal for all collectors.

Traders:

Eli has a really nice signature - easy to read, nice script - I hope his actual signature on all cards is so nice. I'd imagine when players are signing hundreds of cards their signature gets more and more poor.

With that - it's the last weekend, and I get my life back next week - or at least more family time. Work can be exhausting when it's 60-70 hours a week. Definitely rewarding, but exhausting...

Summary (through 1980 cards):

Specific Accomplishments:
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	38	4
Inserts / Var Kept	82	3
Error	9	1
Keep	547	71
Doubles/Sell	182	12	391	328	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	15		19	33

A number of goodies

Before we get to Santa Lot goodies - a package of some Jays came from Tigerfan22 at tradingcarddb.com. I had sent off a number of 1994 stickers and got the following in return unexpectedly (the stickers were part of me making up for the lost package last December.


Of the three sets - I must say I love the 1994 Selectpictures - though might be a bit better without the blue tinged photo on the left, but still nice overall, and great additions to the collection.

Otherwise...a number of good things coming out of the Santa Lot 20 today.

Highlights:

A couple more Masterpieces card for the continuing set which helps, an excellent Mats Sundin parallel from O Pee Chee, and a number of 2007-08 Topps parallels. I like the basketball parallels in so much as they are a throwback design, but the quality of the pictures (which I know is a purposeful effect for the set) bothers me. They just seem too blotchy for my taste. I haven't seen the original 1957-58 set in hand, maybe it is true to the pictures, but I am doubting it. Anyone who has more direct knowledge, let me know.

The rest
Keepers:
None other than the hockey ones shown above.

Traders:

Some more 1999 MVP, including Mr. Kevin Garnett, and a lot of Ultra, including ex Raptor Marcus Camby. With Camby, not sure if it was a case of being a good player on a bad team with Toronto that inflated his personal numbers, or if the change from Toronto threw him off and impacted his performance, but either way the was a decline.

Lots of basketball, but overall, some decent pulls!

Summary (through 1960 cards):

Specific Accomplishments:
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	38	4
Inserts / Var Kept	81	3
Error	9	1
Keep	539	71
Doubles/Sell	179	12	391	323	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	15		16	33

Die Cutting

I'm not completely sure when die cut cards became a "thing" - probably depends on exactly what you consider a die cut card. The definitely come across as special given the design difference from "normal" cards. Some of my favourites are the Crown Royal cards shaped like crowns - fitting design for the set and intricate cutting. I also like some of the McDonalds designs as well, highlight by, well, one of the highlights below.

Highlights:


The Gagne card is cut around the shape of the Philly Logo and although the condition isn't perfect (one of the corners the cards is split with the front and back coming apart ever so slightly), a nice card otherwise.

Also like the retro 2008-09 O Pee Chee parallel set - if only the original set cards can come in such nice condition these days.

The rest
Keepers:

Yay for another Masterpieces card that I don't have!


Traders:

A number of shots around the rim - have to say, the action shots aren't bad, maybe a bit too close, but decent photo work nonetheless.

Summary (through 1940 cards):

Specific Accomplishments:
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	37	4
Inserts / Var Kept	81	3
Error	9	1
Keep	537	71
Doubles/Sell	178	12	379	323	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	15		12	33

Ready for some football?

A special post today regarding the Santa Lot. I seem to hit a "chunk" from one set, so rather than break it up, I figured I would post the chunk all at once. Why? Because I can and because it is not a set I really care about....2007Topps Football...

So it seems I have all the cards here from 214 - 273 (60 cards). Since I need to post some pictures as that is what we do here, rather than all 60 here is a good portion to highlight what was included....




All I will say on this one is - they would make a nice wallpaper for a man cave...

Summary (through 1920 cards):

Specific Accomplishments:
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	37	4
Inserts / Var Kept	79	3
Error	9	1
Keep	528	71
Doubles/Sell	178	12	370	323	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	15		12	33

Have no fuhry...oh wait, I do!

Well - last week of April finally so just need to survive the loooong week at work and this busy season will be behind me. Definitely in the "always tired" phase, but at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Granted, easy to see the light with the last 80 hour work week behind you...as busy as this next week will be, I should be quite that busy....I hope....

So not tons of time to pull out Santa Lot cards, but I'll try and keep posting!

Highlights:

No huge hits from this 20, but I was always a fan of Grant Fuhr and this is a nice card. I tend to agree with the card also, that Fuhr should be remembered as an Oiler though he played with a number of other teams.

Lowlights:

Dang - that is a lot of damage - glad I don't need this card as I already have a clean one because this will go in the junk pile my kid can play with...maybe he can "Driver" his cars into it and bang it up a little more, and yes - in late April and under sleep deprivation conditions, that joke passes for funny. Sad, but funny.

The rest
Keepers:

A few more 2007-08 SP Authentic cards as I get closer to half way on the 100 card "true" base set (not including the short prints, etc which make up the extra 90 cards.

Traders:

Those 2004 Leaf Certified Materials cards are great for picking up finger prints. A couple seconds with your hands on them and you will leave your mark. At least they wipe off just as easy, but still, try putting them in sleeves without a mark - good luck! If you'd like to try though - they could be yours!

Summary (through 1860 cards):

Specific Accomplishments:
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	37	4
Inserts / Var Kept	79	3
Error	9	1
Keep	528	71
Doubles/Sell	178	12	370	263	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	15		12	33

Box of Packs

Those who have read my posts before know I collect unopened packs of cards. So one of the things I used to buy when Target was in Canada was their boxes of assorted packs. Back then I wasn't fully into collecting the unopened packs (wish I was...) but I loved the variety in packs from these boxes. Target always brought in the Fairfield boxes which are still easily found across the US I believe - not so much in Canada though.

So when I was at Walmart (conveniently located a 10 minute walk or 2 minute drive away) the other day and say a box of packs that was different than the ones they had there before - I had to pick one up. For just under 25 bucks, you get the following:


As you can see, I already removed the packs which I will share with you shortly. For the price, this is what the old Target Fairfield boxes went for, and they had one hit guaranteed and 16 packs, so it appears on the cover to be slightly better - but we will have to see what kind of packs are inside. Given the general lack of baseball cards compared to hockey, I would pick up this box in baseball at a heartbeat if available in Canada, and that is without even knowing how good/bad the packs are inside.

Just to get them out of the way first, here are the couple memorabilia cards that were included, and I ended up getting a two pack of the same player...


Overall, decent player, nice cards - can't complain. Could have been better obviously, but going in blind, not a bad couple of cards.

As before, I will show the packs I got and am keeping below, the rest will be saved for showing as I open them over the next little while...


Can I say that I find this to be a very pretty package? Artifacts showing Gretzky - makes sense to me. As an Oiler - definitely classic. The design, nice. Generally I've always liked the Artifacts set, though there have been good and bad designs, always generally been a positive to me.


Didn't have any packs from Series One, so nice pickup.


The very expensive set - as seen in the price tag on the package. Earlier year victory - I have a number of packs from the later years, so this fills an early hole.


Who can argue with that cover? Parkhurst in the mid 00s is similar to the Artifact sets I believe in what they were trying to accomplish - but Parkhurst just didn't last.


Never been a fan of In The Game - maybe the licencing, maybe the off designs, but I'll still hang on to this pack.


I have a hobby pack, so here is the retail.


The reverse true here as I had the retail, and here is the hobby pack.

Given 16 packs, and getting 7 packs that I will be keeping - not bad, I always hope for atleast 6, so overall a success there. Will there be more success when I open the remaining packs? Guess we will have to wait and see!