Get back!

I mentioned that I liked the backs from these cards, so I figure, why not scan a pack of backs to show off exactly why I like them.

A simple small face photo, a decent bio line down the side, and a whole lot of yearly stats as applicable.

As I say, a bit of a shame that there is so much wasted space when only a few years of stats, but looks really nice when there are many years like with Kip Miller.

Speaking of decent careers and longer stats, Valeri fits the bill. Since it is the red parallel, scanned the front as it is different, whereas the back is the same as the base set itself. He may not have quite had the splash of Pavel, but definitely a solid career.

8 Packs, 56 Cards, 241 Points.

Yet another trade to share here from TCDB - this one with thirstydeer - a first time trade partner and someone who is actually a drive away in normal circumstances, but we used the mail as travels were more difficult with schedules.

First out of the PWE is a single set helper - another slow set build with 19992-93 Parkhurst.

Two needed Leaf duplicates as they were uncorrected error cards, so I can have a copy in each the team collection and error collection.

Some other general Leafs that are new for my collection. Broschevsky being best remembered by myself as a 71 rating player in NHL '94 though he never played that highly to me. Still was much better than Baumgartner.

The final card in the PWE is the best as it completes the 24 card team set for 1992-93 Score Canadian edition for me, and a great card to end it with!

A quick pack

It's nice when the foil matches the team colours, makes the parallel that much better.

We also get a double pack of Hurricanes with Rod. He was such a force on Philly, and I enjoyed him the most during his time there.

Short and sweet pack today...

7 Packs, 49 Cards, 220 Points.

Since that was so quick to get through...how about another TCDB trade to share. This package comes all the way from Slovakie and Nikola103881

I may not go out of my way to collect stickers,but happy to take them in a trade since I don't pick any up myself...ever.

The bulk are from a set I have neglected, and should be fairly easy to complete - 2011-12 Upper Deck Victory. It's a decent look for the low end set, and I have about 80% of the 250 card base set, so glad to pic up a few more. Surprised they had to come all the way from Slovakia to get them, but so be it!

No Ron but all burgundy

Some colour schemes just don't work. I have never been a Coyotes uniform fan, and that's true on these inserts as well.

Take the Coyote scheme, slap it on the Eastern All Stars and you get a whole lot of blah. Sure, I could go on about the teal and purple from 1994, but these ones were even less facourable in my opinion.

My preference would be going back to the orange, white and black uniforms from the early 90s. Simple, but bright and they stand out.

Martin here looks like he is a bit quizzical about the uniforms as well.

Miikka didn't get the Flames memo about the pack yesterday and shows up a day late, a buck short.

6 Packs, 42 Cards, 199 Points.

Calgary Stampede

Okay, may not be a stampede of Flames in this pack, but it is strong with Calgary influence...

Gary was more well known for his time in a Flames uniform, but did spend a few years in Toronto. He racked up a ton of penalty minutes in Calgary, but by time he was nearing the end of his career in Toronto, still a tough player, wasn't quite the same force. Still, a great long career that is nothing to throw snow at.

More Calgary with the insert, another red parallel. Shean hopped around to 7 different teams over his career. His Calgary stop lasting a few years.

Still seeing all needed cards when it comes to the base which, should hopefully be the standard throughout the box!

Oh, and Sergei Samsonov - I swear they made 10-15 cards for him in every set during this time, he just seemed to be everywhere on hockey cards from this time frame.

5 Packs, 35 Cards, 171 Points.

Let's also do a quick catch up on another TCDB trade, this one with hawkking. I was able to trade away some Chicago Blackhawks in older to get some nice early year Jays...

These not only help get me close to completing some early year team sets, but the Damaso 1981 Topps card does finish that one off. That's now my earliest completed Blue Jays team set.

Hawkking also sent along a couple Bruins cards in the trade as a few Hawks I traded were Jeff Scott's so I added those to the little pile I have. Hopefully it'll get to Jeff later this summer.

Red Again

Sometimes "rinse and repeat" works just fine. Today, we have a similar pack to yesterday, and I have no problem with that. We get another red parallel...

Matthew started his NHL career in Calgary, but I remember him for the season later on in his career which was spent in Toronto. It wasn't the greatest of years, and it was a one and done in Toronto.

As for the rest of the pack, all additions to the base set, no surprise there...

We have another prospect in Mike Pandolfo who...played 3 games for Columbus in 2003-04 and never made it back to the NHL again after that. Not the greatest pick then by Pacific for a Top Prospect, but they can't all be Hall of Famers.

4 Packs, 28 Cards, 138 Points.

We end actually with sharing another PWE from TCDB member galemann who was able to provide a few Leafs and some set help.

Any time you can knock a Wayne Gretzky card off the want list for a hockey set, that's a good thing, even if we are just talking 1990-91 O Pee Chee. Also from O Pee Chee (though Premier), a couple more base cards which bring that need list down to about 10 cards.

A nice variety in only four cards. Love the Timmies set though so Kadri is my fave of the bunch!

Thanks for the quick trade galemann!

Seeing Red

Well, thought it would be in the first pack that I'd see one of these, but it took until the third today, we have a red parallel insert.

Todd had an NHL career that spanned from 1993-2011, and through it there was a year and a bit stop in Columbus which is what we have here.

I don't mind the relative subtlety of these parallels, and there is also a blue version which I should see a couple of as they are more rare, but expect I will like them a bit more still given the combo it would make with a Maple Leaf card and the nice blue goil.

Sergei is the nest of the rest in my opinion, though I do still try to forget the Anaheim stage of his career.

3 Packs, 21 Cards, 117 Points.

Also today, a trade to share. I am a bit behind on sharing some trades so I should spread a few over th next little bit. Today's is with TCDB member wbaker01 who took some Red Wings off my hands. In exchange I got these...

I continue to knock off some 1990-91 O Pee Chee hockey set needs - think I have about 30 or so to go, so getting closer on this one. Most of the rest are Leafs from the 1997-98 Upper Deck base set which I need much of.

I am torn on my favourite of the bunch as I really always loved Potvin's mask, and the last card is a nice view of it, but also, Tie Domi was a player I enjoyed watching (yes, for the tough guy routine, he has 365 PIMs in 1997-98 - for comparison Wayne Gretzky had 323 minutes in 9 seasons in Edmonton).

A much appreciated bunch of cards, and many thanks!

First team score

Before the next pack, just wanted to share some pain. So, TCDB recently updated the 1989 Donruss baseball set for the various variations regarding dots after "Inc" and stars around denoting league leaders, which result in 4 different variations of most cards in the set.

I went through all my cards including those for trade and ensured they were now entered correctly. Yeah - that was fun...but my OCD made me have to once it was available to do so.

I had to atleast do the trade cards as I want people to be able to match up to the exact version, and me not have to think about it later when pulling the cards.

Well, one mini project out of the way.

Also wanted to give a couple quick shout outs, one to Jeff Scott and one to TCDB member egreenwo - I received unexpected packages from each, which I will share here in the coming days, but wanted to ensure they knew the cards arrived and how appreciative I am!

The second pack of 2004-05 Pacific hockey cards today and though I didn't scan them, I should mention the backs.

As much as the fronts are "okay", the backs have the one item I really like in any card - full year by year stats. Sure, there isn't the write up to fill space even when the stats are only for a couple years and don't take up much room, but if it means I get 20 years of stats for long term vets, I can live with it!

Speaking of vets...

Given the 1 in 10 pack odds, and now getting two of these in a row, I presume it will be a while before I see another in these packs, but I will take a short term Leaf and Hall of Famer, anytime.

A short term Leaf with only 15 regular season games on the club, he will always be remembered more as a Ranger (does anyone remember his last days where he was a Bruin?).

In those 15 games, he did end up with 15 points, and in the Leaf playoff run that year - he had 8 assists in 13 games. Not a long tenure to be sure, but a tenure that was put in haockey card form at least!

2 Packs, 14 Cards, 96 Points.

I'll end today sharing a quick PIF I received as I mentioned, from TCDB newer member egreenwo. He sent a message just asking for my address and that he wanted to send a couple cards my way, so after obliging...

The (very) slow build of 1982 Topps continues with a nice Jim Rice addition and...

A couple 80s Jays needs. These two look a little dazed (Key) and confused (Ainge), but they have a nice new home in my Jays collection. Always appreciate the kindness of others and just another great member story from TCDB - so many who use it as a nice way to give rather than just receive.