Russian Dynamo and a random rant

So before getting to the Santa Lot 20 for today, a random off topic rant, so skip here if you like.

Recently one of our children was invited to an ECHOage birthday party. Essentially instead of buying a gift, you go online and pay an amount (your choice). Half the money goes the the parents of said birthday child to buy gifts from "everyone" and half the money goes to a charity of (supposedly) the child's choice.

Don't get me wrong - I am fully for supporting charities. As a CPA though, I always dig a bit further into the numbers. The sell it as half the money goes to charity, and you get half (less a fee) to spend on your child.

Well digging through the numbers, the parent pays a 4.9% fee of the total money collected, which comes out of the half for the child - so on $100, there goes $5. The charities have to pay a fee of 6.9% of what they receive - so there goes another $3/50 from the $100 dollars collected. The charities also have to pay a $30 or $60 per month fee to be a listed charity. So to round it, about 10% of the money collected goes to ECHOage in some form.

I'd rather, as a parent, collect the cash myself and direct half to the charity so even that 10% gets used by the charity (and don't get me started on the effective use of money by charities for the actual charitable activities versus administration and fundraising - that's a whole other topic.

So, I get the reason for ECHOage (kind of - not sure how many kids really appreciate giving up half their "loot" to charity - but I can understand it being a good lesson to teach) but you can do the same thing more effectively yourself...rant over, Santa Lot 20 begins now...

Highlight:

One specific nice highlight from today's Santa Lot 20 - an add on to the 1991-92 O Pee Chee Sharks & Russians insert set. I am just happy that all of these cards I've seen from this subset have been in perfect condition given they generally come from packs with gum, and I know my cards from the prior year insert set were mostly gum damaged. I am still working to replace some of them.

The rest
Keepers:

Though the floating player shot, do like the colour combo and design of the 2007-08 SPx. I would have thought I'd have the Thie 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum card before now, but apparently not.

Traders:

I am now over 50% on the "true stars base" 2004 Leaf Rookies and Stars set. I would consider the base to be 200 cards (the last part are serial numbered so to me, aren't really "base". Of the 200 cards, half is stars, second half rookies - I think the second half may be tough to complete from the Santa Lot, though the first half may well get done - or very close to it.

Through 4260 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subset (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	81	6
Inserts / Var Kept	130	7
Error	11	1
Keep	1065	123
Doubles/Sell	483	26	901	1025	236	19
Doubles Inserts / Var	38	1	52	55

Platinum and Silver

A couple quick Jays cards pick ups from Listia.

Gotta like the different trophy card photo - as well as Gaston and Beeston in the shot, but it is really all about the trophy.

Highlights:

Today, two very different highlights. First, a few more new cards for the 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum set. Not an exciting set, somewhat Stadium Club like in design on the front and a set I have been slowly collecting.


Second is another 2008 Donruss Threads parallel - this one being a platinum parallel serial numbered to all of 100. Lawrence was in the NFL for 5 years as DE spent between Seattle and Detroit.

The rest
Keepers:

A couple more Black Diamond which do not scan well as usual, and another 2006-07 O Pee Chee which we have seen only a couple of.

Traders:

A lot of 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum cards I already had - including Super Mario and Geoff Courtnall (another player I enjoyed, but may not have been the biggest star - but a solid player). I also enjoy Alexander Mogilny and Adam Oates - so nice to see these guys as well.

Through 4240 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subset (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	81	6
Inserts / Var Kept	129	7
Error	11	1
Keep	1061	123
Doubles/Sell	479	26	901	1014	236	19
Doubles Inserts / Var	38	1	52	55

Sundin and a Kings insert

I know some people are interested in Listia, but haven't really gotten onto the site, so here is a quick summary of what it is, atleast to me. Essentially you can get points by completing surveys, offers, or selling stuff. A lot of people us it to buy and sell essentially having the points allow you to get rid of stuff you don't want and bid on stuff you do. I spend my time here and there on lunch hours doing the surveys and getting points, so I basically put no money into it, just my time.

I recently spent 6,000 points on the 5 cards below. At the time 17,600 points was equivalent to $1US, and these were free shipping, so you can figure out the cost. How did I get the 6,000 points - well completing a 15 minute survey netter 12,500 points, so again, you can figure that I essentially got these cards for about 7 minutes work. OK - that still makes my time spent sound cheap...but it was time I wasn't really doing much with anyway...I guess...enough justifying...here is what I picked up (though I got them of course for the Jays cards)...



As for today's Santa Lot pulls...

Highlights:

This is the third Mats 2007-08 McDonalds card I have, all picked up through the Santa Lot 20 - and I am not complaining about it one bit given how pretty these cards are - and since one will be for the Leaf collection, one for the set completion I am hoping happens, and an extra...um....just because....

The Gridiron Kings insert set from 2008 Donruss Threads was done with two insert sets - a Pro and a College set. Personal preference is the pro set as shown here - which goes to my preference overall for pro cards versus college cards.

The rest
Keepers:

Nice to see a couple 2007-08 Upper Deck Ice cards again - I love the feel/texture to these.

Traders:

Other than a bunch more 2008 Donruss Threads cards, nice to pick up another 2007-08 McDonalds insert card from the checklists. Only one card away from completing a second set of it.

Through 4220 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subset (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	81	6
Inserts / Var Kept	129	7
Error	11	1
Keep	1055	123
Doubles/Sell	468	26	901	1012	236	19
Doubles Inserts / Var	38	1	52	54

Another visit to 1957-58

Highlight:

The slow quest to complete the 1957-58 variation set from 2007-08 Topps continues with this addition. I still don't like the aged photo look, but like the thought of the old design - similar to an archives or heritage set in thought.

The rest
Keepers:

Baseball! Nice to get a few more baseball cards - even if most would consider them "junk wax" cards. Interesting they both are catchers...

Traders:

Another string of 1999-2000 Upper Deck MVP basketball cards - getting a feeling there may be more of this to come. Compared to the 1991-92 set here, I honestly can say, I like the earlier set better in the simplicity.

Through 4200 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subset (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	80	6
Inserts / Var Kept	129	7
Error	11	1
Keep	1052	123
Doubles/Sell	465	26	901	1001	236	19
Doubles Inserts / Var	37	1	52	53

Closing in on a set - again

For, obviously the big news yesterday was the passing of Miami Marlin Jose Fernandez in a boating accident. Always tragic to lose a life so young, and he had such a promising career ahead of him. Does not mean it would have necessarily been hall of fame calibre, but whether it could, will no longer be known.

On a lighter note and from a colder sport, it may not be a Leaf, but I generally enjoy Jersey cards, so I had to pick this one up on Listia since it went for less than a dollar worth of points...

This is the first from the set I have seen - decent enough design though the picture could have been bigger on the front. I know it is a plain white swatch, but I can't say that specifically bothers me.

Santa Lot 20 today...

Highlights:

One good item of note I guess - with the couple more 2003-04 SP Authentic cards, I am 3 cards shy of completing a second set of the first 90 "true base" base set. Won't complain in getting a second complete set, if it happens, because it is likely easier to get rid of as a completed set.

The rest
Keepers:

That's it for today - just the one keeper...

Traders:

Stinks getting the number of 2007-08 Topps dupes here in a single pick 20. Best of the rest is the Damon Stoudamire card as it reminds me of his time leading the Raptors ahead of his move out and to the Trail Blazers. He was a solid little man playing a big man role.

Through 4180 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subset (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	80	6
Inserts / Var Kept	129	7
Error	11	1
Keep	1050	121
Doubles/Sell	465	25	890	998	236	19
Doubles Inserts / Var	37	1	51	53

Any Value in the Village?

Not sure if there are Value Village stores in the US - I don't think so, but I can be wrong. Essentially they are a for profit thrift store where you can find used clothing, toys, etc. On occasion I go with the kids to pick up a couple books for them, and every now and then they tend to have previously loved sports cards. Typically they will be junk era cards, but the price is cheap enough typically that they are worth a lark.

So last time I was there, I picked up a package of cards which came out to being 62 cards for $1.99 CDN plus tax which is $2.25. Of the 62 cards, there were 4 which were damages enough I just gave them to my son for his box of cards, so of the last 58 - here is a look at what was there....

Highlights:

Out of almost 60 hockey cards, I ended up with two Leaf cards (both ones that are new for me), a McD card I don't have (yet), an Electric Ice parallel and the Oleg gold parallel. As for the Rob Blake, a variation card as this came with or without the "Sporting News" headline on the back and this is the version without. So 10% into the collection.

The rest
Keepers:

Seen a couple of the Victory cards now and opened a pack or two as well, but decent enough cards here...

Like the Pinnacle Linden card - good thick card stock, and looks a lot better in hand. Also - love the flowing Fleury locks.

1994-95 Donruss - as much as the foilage makes it so hard to read - I really like the look of these in hand - actually, this one is so much easier to read scanned than in hand.

Junk wax or not, one of the better cards is the 1990-91 Score Gretzky - good pic and good purpose.

Traders:

Yeah - seen enough of this set in the Santa Lot to not be sur[prised this was a double.
Y
I don't like Classic sets - any of them, any design - just my personal preference, but haven't found anything good about any of them...goes for the ones here as well. Odd one is the Voisard card which is actual from the Check set and definitely not in English.

Since I have the complete bowman 1990 set and 1991-92 O Pee Chee - makes sure no use for these.

All in all - not bad for $2 on whim, but not something I would do often unless I could see some of the cards and knew I was getting something decent. I did spent $15 once on a bag at baseball cards at Value Village, but it had around 250 cards and about 80 of them were from the 70s, so it was still a bit of a gamble, but I could see condition was decent on most of them, so I picked it up (though I will say, one had a hole punched in it with a hole puncher...I've heard of wallet cards, but maybe someone had been using it as a necklace card?).

Pack Attack - 2007-08 Upper Deck MVP Hockey

For those who don't know - Tim Horton hockey cards came out this past week. I like the look, but am not part of the craze of people going out and dropping hundreds of dollars on boxes just to get master sets. I will try and pick up my one pack to keep unopened for my pack collection, and otherwise just look to pick up the Leafs off Listia or the like. You never know - maybe I'll end up with some for Christmas this year!

Talking of Upper Deck cards...here we have another MVP pack...



Well - the pack felt rigid, and to spoil it for you...just an ad unfortunately, but there are 8 cards in the pack, let's see if they are something I am looking for...and since I only have 11 cards in the base, should be good otherwise...



Very similar to prior year MVP cards.



Excellent pickup with Mats for the Leaf collection, and a couple other quality players -* both with the teams they should be in my mind.



Always like Staal, and Girardi ended up a good rookie - still playing well with the Rangers.

Great pack overall today - definite thumbs up.

Lookie at some rookies

Rookie cards can be a collection unto themselves. I personally don't go out of my way to collect them, but obviously they are part of my team collections if nothing else. Also, they have become more and more, a part of specific base sets with some having sections of the checklist being specifically rookie cards.

Highlights:

A number of Victory set rookie hockey cards coming up today - so let's take a look at their success in the NHL.

Hanzal - 287 points in just over 550 games, all with the Coyotes (solid)
Doell - 8 games for the Thrashers - that's it - only one point (NHL bust)
D'agostini - 107 points in 324 games played across 5 teams (NHLer)
Valabik - 7 points in 80 games for the Thrashers

Overall as a group probably better than average as there can be many a player profiled who only plays a handful of NHL games and goes nowhere in the NHL, then back to the minors.

The rest
Keepers:

Nice seeing more from these sets as there hasn't been too much to date from them out of the Lot.

Traders:

I like the pre-throw down pose on the Ronald Murray card.

Through 4160 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subset (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	80	6
Inserts / Var Kept	129	7
Error	11	1
Keep	1049	121
Doubles/Sell	465	25	873	996	236	19
Doubles Inserts / Var	37	1	51	53

I got nothin'

Sad news as I just found out From Hockey to Hollywood in Toronto closed it's doors. I have bought a couple things there this year, and thought it would become a regular place to go, so unfortunate that I don't have that option anymore. Given it was right beside a Tim Horton's and space wise, it would be easy for Timmies to take up the whole space, I'm going to guess this may happen there soon. I'll have to keep an ear to the ground and see if they open somewhere else...

Can't always have things go the way you want...which continues with the highlights today...

Highlights:

Yeah - that's it. Garnett because, after getting one finally to complete the base set, here is another. I think I am actually getting fairly close on a second full 90 card base set...I will have to look at it. The other highlight - who can argue with Jerry Rice, one of the greatest receivers in NFL history (I am biased - only football I really followed had me enjoy Montana/Rice and the Buffalo Bills).

The rest
Traders:

So does Jackie Slater's card show that the man works so hard to push himself to the brink and needs oxygen - or is it sad that the best photo they had was this versus an action shot?

Guess not much else to discuss today since these are nothing new and not sets I care for. Can't win them all. I am going to guess tomorrow will be better though....

Through 4140 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subset (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	80	6
Inserts / Var Kept	129	7
Error	11	1
Keep	1038	121
Doubles/Sell	463	25	867	995	236	19
Doubles Inserts / Var	37	1	51	53

Threaded Parallel

Highlights today from the Santa Lot 20:

Have to include the 2008 O Pee Chee hockey metal parallel. I like these, one because they are shiny, and second because I like the card stock much better than the base set which is just the "classic brown cardboard" content. Though I prefer the classic look of the base set, for better aging, the parallels will likely hold up better.


The bronze foil, which scans a bit pink really, is nicely numbered out of 250.

The rest
Keepers:

I like the gold reserve that scan pretty ugly - much nicer in hand. Also a few rookie cards, great, even if they are only Victory set cards.

Traders:

I think Tolpeko might be the first hockey card that I end up with two of in the same 20 pull (but don't hold me to it|). Otherwise, a number of base Threads 2008 football cards. Pretty nice overall today - see you again tomorrow!

Through 4120 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subset (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	80	6
Inserts / Var Kept	129	7
Error	11	1
Keep	1038	121
Doubles/Sell	463	25	858	984	236	19
Doubles Inserts / Var	37	1	51	53