Hitting Re-pe-pe-pe-pe-peat

 It's never a given, but when buying large lots of cards, you usually end up with some kind of repeat or heavily numbered card(s). We have seen it in some of the posts going through this lot.

Some sets, not too bad. I mean, we have seen a fair bit of early 90s Upper Deck 1990-91 through 1992-93, but not too excessive.

In the end there may be 2-3 copies of many of the common base cards, and they may be in fact different anyway given the hologram differences.

But I really mean cards being repetitive like...

I think I already have a couple Greg Sutton cards, so we are looking at about 10 copies. Now granted, if this was a Jays or Maple Leaf card, I'd be happy, but I am good with no seeing any more 1992-93 Upper Deck basketball for a couple days.

I know one way to ensure that happens....

Similarities

 When you collect sports cards for long enough, you get to notice similarities in cards which others may not notice. Today, we aren't talking about that at all, I mean, what I am talking about is pretty obvious to absolutely everyone.

Not to do with these few keepers...

Though, just to make one difference in generations and how we look at cards, in these, I look at Danny and remember him being a pain for the Jays as a Royal. My son looks at these and thinks it's cool that someone named Zane played in the majors (because one of the ninjas on Ninjago has the same name - spelled differently).

Coming back to my initial rambling though, it's about the cards I am not keeping - at the end specifically.

I know, a very subtle difference. The design stayed the same, and they changed the sport.

I go back and forth on whether I consider it "lazy" to use the same design across sports like this or "smart" because using one design for all sports in a year, people will know what year they are looking at period.

Here, we have 1992 or 1992-93 for hockey to be specific.

What do you think - lazy or smart? Too bad we don't see this much anymore since companies don't typically produce for all sports any more.

Check It Out

 I always like checking out new cards...

Especially when you can literally check them out....

All these cards were set additions (yay), for slowly building sets, but the checklist really stand out to me. We forget in this day and age where, any checklist is basically available at your fingertips on the internet, that this wasn't always the case.

Even back in the early 90s, you relied on checklist cards to know what you had, what you didn't, and what else was in the set.

Whether the checklists were just a few cards, or a team card checklist subset, they were usually part of any base set. Sometimes as simple as the 1992-93 O Pee Chee one here, sometimes with background photos, or different designs, but they were a good part of the set.

Doesn't mean the sets don't have other great cards...

I may not need that middle card, but any Great One is a great one to see as I always expect them to be pulled from a lot before I see it.

I am getting closer on this 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum set that all these cards to day, don't help me get any closer.

Ah - we end with another checklist example of the team variety - definitely worth checking out.

I am on a roll with trades the last few days, here being another one with first time trade partner c squire at TCDB...

Leafs and error cards for the most part. Kurvers highlights as he helps finish the 1989-90 O Pee Chee Leaf set but also got these slightly bigger cards...

Honestly, the larger cards annoy me because the are outside the normal little rectangles we usually work with. I will manage somehow...and good thing they are really nice 1994-95 Parkhurst Tall Boy cards, just wish they didn't grow up to be so tall, boy.

Trickling Like Yesterday

 I don't think we have seen much of this set...

My problem is, when it's the same design used in other sports - hard to remember if it was seen in basketball. I do like the design generally from Ultra.

I also like how, rather than try to tweak or change the photo, the pre season trade wording is just added on cards like Stanley Roberts. As you can see, a few dupes through these as well.

Like yesterday though, a bit of a trickle of a set I worked through a good bunch of not too long ago...

1992-93 Fleer, and here we do get a subset card of Larry Johnson. Not sure why, I remember Larry being bigger than his stats looking back at them now, would seem to show. Not saying he wasn't a solid player, he was a two time all star, and played about a decade, so had some staying power, but what bit of basketball I remember of the time, I would have put him more in line with a Ewing, but I think that may have been generous.

For those who are more into basketball - am I over valuing Larry?

The internet is great for stats, but stats aren't always the whole story.

Let's end another day with another PWE trade, this from fellow Canadian and first time trade partner at TCDB Plach1102 who took a good 40-50 Magic cards from me and sent these along in return....

Another set add for 1989 Donruss, The Rookies Glenallen Hill with the green border Donruss out of 1990, and a number of Leafs which have multiple Matthews.

As I say, new cards are not something I buy these days, so amazing to pick these up through trades, and the fact there are a few short prints in these as well is pretty sweet.

Had to get a few Magic cards too to add to the artifact collection, which all of these end up being new to me for the sets they relate (though most I have from other set releases).

Great trade and hope we can do more in the future!

It Doesn't Have To Be New

 I know many of the cards that I share here are nothing "special" and nothing "new" to a lot of people, but I like to think they may bring back cards that you forgot about, or give you a chance to re-remember them. Jogging memory of cards past is a good thing!

1990-91 Upper Deck is definitely not "ew". We have all likely seen it, and then put the cards away, seen again a while later, and forgotten. I know I have all the Leaf cards, but I don't necessarily pull them out regularly to look at them, so sometimes seeing them here is another reminder.

I mean, the cards are great. They were good at the time, and hold up well. As for the players, I remember them all though none were specific faves.

Those are all the keepers for me, but plenty more and here are the backs...

Easy to forget the simplicity though effectiveness of the back designs too. Though I should have scanned the front of the Esa card where he is holding up the Stanley Cup - always a nice cameo when it's in the pic.

We get to end with a few 1992-93 Upper Deck basketball which missed out on the large bunch of them I worked through not too long ago. I don't think any of these are new, but more dupes of the dupe heavy set.

Well, since we are talking about things not having to be new, how about a newer card to end. I don't typically do PWE trades for a single card, but this one was shiny enough, I didn't mind sending a few cards in exchange for it....

So, it wasn't until I scanned the card, I noticed the line across the top in the scan, and yes - it's actually on the card itself too. My best guess is, whatever happened must have happened in transit because it is the card scanned at TCDB here, and that looks fine. It feels fine in hand as well so don't have a clue what happened there. Similarly on the bottom of the back there is a slight indent straight line across the card noticeable when reflecting the light. My guess is both issues must have something to do with rollers maybe in the mail? I dunno. It was packaged in a PWE, in a penny sleeve and top loader, so packaged fine...

Any guesses?

Either way, still appreciate the trade with Orry04 - but seems a small mystery is afoot. No worries though, all good, just curious. :)

You (Maybe) Can't See Me

 1990-91 Upper Deck hockey cards are one of those sets with an interesting variation that is a pain and irritate perfectionists.

Different holograms - a 1990 version and a 1991 version. Personally, this isn't a set I care - I am not collecting both. That said, I haven't seen much of the 1991 hologram version

That continues today as the above Leaf, and the rest of the cards are all those of the 1990 hologram variety. Only variation I care about (a little), is getting the Leaf cards in both. At this point, I don't have any of the 1991 version.

I do have this...

You can't see it well in the scan, but a nice error card with a crimp right across the top of the card - very cool. I know some people consider it damaged, but I like them, in case you have any baseball or hockey cards of the like you are looking to get rid of.

Only the couple cards of personal interest today, but here are the rest.

LaFontaine - always a Sabre in my memory, and always a smooth skater - real life and video game form as well (NHL '94 to be specific).

Most card backs just have the stats and no write ups, but with the big second photos, that was really the main draw/focus, and the checklists are typical Collector's Choice goodness.

Billwill305 at TCDB became yet another new trading partner, again in the forms of a PWE or two. I gave up some women of the WWE dupes in exchange for some Blue Jays.

A bunch of newer - which really for me means, the last 5 years or so - cards. Nice to get the regular and red foil versions of Smoak, and the retro Bichette may be my fave of the bunch.

The Stadium Club base cards in this PWE do let me complete the massive 4 card team set which is awesome!

I really like that Urena card - great framing for the picture, and I am a sucker for most Bautista Jays cards to, so inserts work well there.

Many thanks as always to you, and everyone who I have had the opportunity to trade with. I am getting close to 300 trades on TCDB which is not as many as some, but I really haven't actively sought out trades. That will likely change if I have less "new" cards to go through.

The Few

Can't always get a bunch of keepers, sometimes you just get a lonely set build addition... 

Even ended up with more Jays than set keepers...

Alright, this is my 14th copy of the Steve Karsay card, including the one in my 1991 Score complete set, so let's talk about the man's career as a Blue Jay. He didn't have one. He was traded before making the big leagues as he didn't do that until 1993 with Oakland.

He played in the majors from 1993 through 2006 however was out for the full years of 1995 and 2003. With a 32-39 career record over a career that spanned 5 teams, he did alright, but obviously the injuries impacted his career.

Lots of 1990 Score covering the rest of the cards...

Those big headed all star cards just look like bobbleheads. Not complaining, still a neat way to do them, but that's what they remind me of.

Still really like the Franchise subset cards - a bit of a Studio vibe to them.

Before we go, another PWE trade share with a small trade with TCDB member aselchert10 who was nice enough to turn some basketball inserts into baseball cards I need...

I am a sucker for serial numbered cards, so those are winners in my book, and the crackle diamond effect on the Gregg is so overwhelming, it's just something to behold - whether you really like or really don't like it.

Big thanks for the awesome additions as I really do love even the high numbered gold parallel cards, they usually look pretty darn solid.