Dollarama Surprise

 A few months ago, I saw these in local Dollarama's and eventually figured, why not grab a couple to open and share here. I expect for $4 + sales tax I am going to come up well short on any value in these, but we can wait and jufge after tomorrow. My kids will be happy as, I'm just going to give the contents of each to them, so they win either way.

I am guessing there are not many with unopened packs, and if there are any, it's probably the trick or treat Halloween offerings or something similar. I also figure each bag probably has the sleeves as they are probably quite cheap, but seem like they have value to the purchaser, anyway...here we go...

So - 20 sleevs, 9 cards and some worthless energies for $4.....well, unless there's something amazing here, I got screwed...

Well, no real variety on the energy cards but, wasn't going to be anything there to get excited about.

Well, I know Floette at least given I did buy (more for my son who wanted, but I played and finished it as well), Pokemon Legends on the Switch 2. Side note - not a bad game, but with a little grinding, there's no need to rely on "smart" battles, you can just overpower your way through.

Ariados which is a foil, is the best card of the bunch, and even then, might be talking about fifty cents at most.

Am I surprised by the outcome on bag one? Absolutely not - it's just what I thought it would be, but still happy to share here and provide the service announcement of "purchase at your own risk". I mean, even just to pick up a couple cards you need for $4, is likely a better option.

Slow Grow

 Sweet - Topps baseball today from the 2026 Lot, and with it, a few base additions from a couple sets...

I have been working on the flagship and Opening Day sets for 2019, and these four cards help those along. The base set it further along, even though it's a much large set.

Doesn't hurt getting a couple duplicates when it's Jays. Grichuk moved around after leaving Toronto, with stops with the Rockies, Angels, Diamondbacks and Royals. Rowdy was only with Toronto for 2018 through part of 2021, not a long tenure, but with batting that doesn't keep up for a first baseman and with Vladdy coming up, was an easy move out for him as far as Toronto was concerned.

Well, I do have plenty of trade bait for 2019 Topps, but we add a bit to it here...

Similarly, 2021 Topps but didn't luck out getting of my missing cards from what was here today.

Very rare so far in this lot, but the Kyle card at the end is damaged and will be packing material. I mean, hard to try and trade the card when the front is badly enough bent you can see it well in the scan, left to right and across just at the bottom of his face.

Can't complain though, hasn't happened much so far.

Panini Payyers

 Let's talk basketball today - or so said the 2026 Lot...

I remember having a bunch of 2008-09 Fleer cards from an earlier lot, but putting these in, was surprised how little is left. Always like seeing that as I know it means I was able to change them into cards I need, or at least get them to a happier home where they will be appreciated.

Then we get into Panini and their silvery schematic for multipl sets, starting with Prizm in 2016-17. I guess the truth of the matter is, most sets do this - tweak or small adjustment to design year to year - but if it wasn't for the name on the from of the sets, I'd say it would be easy to interchange the designs. It's not like Gypsy Queen, or Heritage, that truly stands out as different in look and feel (though Heritage and Archives do mix a bit too close).

More 2019-20 Mosaic shows I could just slap the Prizm logo where the M is, and it would feel just the same.

Optic I can give the pass to, it does have it's own look and feel.

Well, at least Thompson and Cousins are names I recognize.

Appreciate the variety from the lot - at least in sets, it's not the lot's fault Panini made them look a little too alike.

Misleading Names

Hockey cards from the 2026 Lot, and all from a set that has always bothered me in name - 2000-01 BE A Player Memorabilia hockey card set. I mean, the memorabilia may be a draw for the set, but don't go and name the set after it unless the base set is your memorabilia related set. The set also does a very Be A Player thing with different colours for the names on the front for parallels, but none of those here, but what we do have... 

Not a fan of the design at all, but do like Maxime's card. Would be even better with a minimal design and more focus on the photo front and centre on the card.

So, the interesting part of these specific cards to the set is that these are all 400 numbered cards. The original set was 396 cards, and then a box set was released as the rookies and traded type update, and that is where these cards are all from. Doesn't give me more reason to collect them, but does make them a LITTLE more unique for coming in this lot. Someone must have broken the box apart at some point, probably to team or star collect I presume.

Lots of "NO NHL stats" given that information, or when they do, at least they are full stats. I will also give credit that the tiny headshot is actually a different picture from the one used on the front.

So, the entire bunch is up for trade except for one...

No, not THAT Petr Scoboda, this one was born in 1980 and had all of 18 games in the NHL, all with Toronto. Prior to was time in the Czech league, and subsequent were a few years with the St. John's Leafs. Didn't make a big splash in the NHL, especially in comparison to the OTHER Petr Svoboda, but a good add here for me.

Thick Boy

 Thick - not a reference to the players on the cards, and not a reference to the size of the trade as it was just a two card trade with TCDB member Emepep - but those Exquisite cards are thick!

The serial numbered card (to all of 399) of Ilya, is as thick as any memorabilia card - reminds me much of The Cup base cards. Very nice and sturdy, and is a one card Leaf teams set which doesn't hurt. 

Ilya was in Toronto for a few seasons before some time in Vancouver and now being part of the Blackhawks. He came in undrafted and has done well for himself.

Nick Robertson, another one and done Leaf team set, this being for the Debut Dates insert from the flagship product.

Nick is into season number 6 for the Leafs this year, very nice. I do wonder about the inclusion on the Debut Dates insert set though - I mean, highlighting his 0-0-0 stat line for the fact he played in a game - not sure I get it. I'd rather see an interesting story about his trip to the majors and overcoming hurdles to get there or something as the write up for the card, instead, half the back is taken up by a bunch of zeroes in a stat line.

Still - love the couple team set additions!

Back To Football

As much as I love surprise lots of cards - at this point, I am hoping not to have too many more of these days with 1991 Upper Deck football. I keep saying, at least they continue to move in trades fairly well, but not so much for me to talk about with them.

Some overlap from the recent pulls - another Boomer and Prime Time. Can't complain with the stars though.

A same that 1991 was the first year of four consecutive years of sorrow for Bills fans - many of whom are in Toronto. Even back then, it was the NFL team for many Canadians because of the close ties to the city. Add in the Doug Flutie connection on the latter part of that run, and it's all the more reason.

It was definitely the height of my Bills fandom - each year thinking it would finally be the year they won the big one, and each year being let down. Sure, the last couple years, the Cowboys were a strong dynasty style team, but still felt Buffalo had good chance of winning each year heading into the game.

Kind of like days with the lot here - feels good going in, then just beaten by the 1991 Upper Deck football cards. Hopefully, and at a high level glance, I'd say it's leaning towards, there not being too many more days like it going forward.

A Trade About Wrestling

 Another trade with TCDB member Amagee, and this one is almost all wrestling coming my way. Loved being able to trade some hockey cards in exchange, and plenty of goodies back.

Just to keep it interesting, one Jay and one Leaf card, both nice additions. Romano in a Capstone and Matthews in an MVP - both nice adds, but the rest are all 2023 Panini WWE base cards. It's a nice set of about 200 cards, and this trade puts me over 50 which is a nice little milestone, but let's see who that entails.

We get stars of now and then with Cena, Mankind and Owens being my fave in the first scan Dolph, I thought, was a WWE lifer, but I expect he will end up back even if just behind the scenes in retirement.

R-Truth and Bayley are greats here - I mean, R-Truth is such a great team player, personality, and has the ability to run with anything he is given and put 110% effort into it. Bayley, so obviously, has embraced her ability to teach and elevate other wrestlers, while still keeping herself well positioned and interesting from a character standpoint.

Can't say enough about Rhea, as this is when she really started coming into her own. Though one I thought we would see more from on the main roster was Shayna. I don't know why exactly, but she didn't seem to click. I was looking forward to Gigi getting a main roster run, and it didn't really get going before she was gone.

The Godfather - now there's a character that wouldn't be allowed to run the way it did if it started out today. Yikes! Goldberg in with the past stars found throughout the base set.

As far as wrestling stars go, doesn't get much bigger than ending with Eddie and Hulk.

Appreciate the great trade and massive help on getting going with the base set!