Two New

 Part of why I enjoy buying these random sports cards lots is the chance to see and get cards from sets I haven't seen or picked up cards from before - even if they are sets I am just going to be trading from because I don't collect the sport.

2015 Prestige is a pretty nice looking set and has a good feel to it. You get a decent action shot, though a little "misted" in design, and some solid players here including Eli.

The back continues the classic Panini trick of overusing a single photo front and back, but overcoming that, a focus on the stats and names is fine, though whether you feel a bit put off by the lack of write up will be something some likely won't be able to get over.

Next we have some 2020 Playbook which I hadn't seen before either. I am not a fan of the border colour, but I can see it working with some team colours.

The backs are a little more in line with Panini products like Prizm - though of course we also re-use the photo. I like the write up and though Prestige is a different product overall, I'd rather the layout and information on the Playbook set if I were to choose between the two....but a better colour choice for the front would make it a much easier choice.

More McD For Me

The 2026 Lot giveth more food related cards today as we get more McDonalds related cards...

The 1992-93 McDonald's All-Star set is one I have seen a fair amount of. I have a complete set, including the checklist, and a number of Dave Ellett cards. Actually, logging these couple I can tell you I am now up to 11, including the one in the set.

I didn't know back in the 90s, but did know because I picked up one before, that the following year had an NHL Postseason All-Stars Hologram insert set. I mention because, I got a second one now with...

The Eagle! Speaking of inserts, a later 90s insert with Fuhr too, very cool.

Plenty of other cards that I already have as I have done fairly well on McDonald's sets since they have historically been small in size (25-50 cards for the base set), and plentiful enough in lots I finished many by trades already...

I may have another complete 1992-93 set if anyone needs help on this one at all. I can't possibly trade away Ellett, but have dupes of everyone else at this point.

We get representation right through to the mid-2000s for McDonald's sets, though again, sets I have completed, and even insert sets I have done. Still doesn't change the fact the cards are pretty cool, just not going to have a home here.

Absolutely Continuing

The 2026 Lot decided today we would continue, in Absolute fashion to work through more cards from the lot. 

Of course that's a poor pun at Absolute cards showing up in the lot with the football run today. The more I get cards from the sports I don't collect at all, the more I am considering a local sale or dump of them. I am torn though as I do still get many trades with TCDB that are fine sending baseball or even hockey and wrestling in exchange for football. I don't want to burn chances away, and I am probably getting more "value" in the trade than I would in cash selling the lot, but even from a space perspective, it's tempting.

I THINK, though I may choose different when the year starts, that 2027 I am going to focus on two items almost daily for the blog and for collecting.

First, if I finish the 2026 lot this year, I want to spend all of 2027 opening a pack a day from my backlog of unopened materials. It will give me a chance to go back to my "best buy" scoring and see how well I can do on the various buys, as well as clean up some space, and maybe retire....you never know when a multi-million dollar card might be hiding in a pack (and no - I am not looking at the 1990-91 Pro Set box when I bring that up....).

Second, trade sharing. If I am not really buying at all, which will be the plan, I don't think I can hit a trade a day to share, but I might be able to do 2-4 a week, which would be great to reduce the trade piles. Then maybe I do a local sale when the football trades (and basketball), dry up.

That was quite the tangent, but that's where the cards today led me - what can I say?

Still some solid cards in the group today, and a couple Joe Burrows isn't too shabby. If there is anyone wanting dibs on a football team even, let me know as I am sure I can trade well in your favour to move football cards!

Chillin' In The Lot

Keeping on track to wrap the 2026 Lot in the 2026 year (if all works to big picture plan), we have a day of hockey card pulls from the lot today which really come from a couple sets (almost), and have a couple keepers for the collection...

I am not a fan of the early 2010s Pinnacle sets - no stats on the back, a design on the front I personally do not like, but Jonas is a Leaf and a Leaf is an addition no matter what, so....yay?

We also get a single Parkie card in the bunch today, and that nice Parkie gold stamp on the bottom front means it's a parallel so, insert addition it is for me. I preferred the Parkhurst green/emerald parallels from the early 90s, but this one is alright in the grand scheme of parallels.

As for "the rest" - plenty of mid-90s Donruss and more early 2010s Pinnacle up for trade...

1996-97 Donruss was a set after my collecting time as a kid, and well before I got back to the hobby, so as much as I know the players and watched still, I didn't collect and didn't have any of these cards. Now, I don't have an attachment to the set, and it's not one I am looking to start so....no thank you.

Still, a fun day of pulls to add to the totals....

Recent Jays

 Another day, another great trade to share. This one with TCDB member sgill08 who sent a 2 PWE trade my way which saw me change a bunch of basketball cards into Blue Jays - recent Blue Jays actually, so let's take a peek!

We are covering ONLY 2025 and 2026 with these cards and this may be my "biggest / soonest" trade of picking up a large number of recent year cards in a single trade.

Scherzer as a Jay I love because I enjoyed Mad Max, so having an opportunity to pick up some of his cards to add to the team collection is great.

As you all know, I also will not be upset picking up any more Vladdy of Bo cards for the collection.

A shame there won't be much opportunity for more Jays cards for Gausman, but I am able to get the full 6 card base team set from 2025 Topps Holiday all in this single trade to be done with that one - sweet!

Hoffman is another "no longer Jay" card to get, though his departure was needed.

We end with some more 2026 Topps flagship set additions and a couple Heritage Jays too - Springer always makes for a good card.

Definitely a helpful trade and really a quick boost for recent year Jays that I am not use to doing - usually it's a couple more years past before I start clocking in this many "new" Jays cards so - awesome!

Back That Trade Up

 A trade today from TCDB member ravishingrick which I can only assume is a throwback to the WWF days of the 80s and 90s and Ravishing Rick Rude. I automatically go to his feud with Jake The Snake Roberts and the paintsprayed tights Rick wrestled in.

I digress as today, we are talking trade, and we start with baseball.

Chrome cards which don't quite complete the team sets for me, a 2021 Bowman Draft Camo parallel and some A&G. I will say, of the different options for parallel, I am not a fan of the camo - it just doesn't blend anything in usually, as odd as that seems to be.

The A&G from 2024 are my first Jays, and now 4 of the 6 base card Jays for the team set - sweet.

Oh, but the best card is for last, and ties back to wrestling...

Nice! He may have done it for The Rock, but I liked him most with Too Cool. His signature is pretty nice and it might be a sticker auto, but a good card design for it, so I am all thumbs up.

Getting the card, I was curious and had to check - it's my 17th wrestling autograph. I know there are people out there with hundred or more of autographed cards, but I look at it as, that's 17 I never thought I'd have when I was starting collecting, even getting back into the hobby 12 or so years ago.

If I had a "wish list" card that I'd love to pull but would never put the money to individually buy - a Kiss card. I thought these were a cool idea, and the fact they had Goldust do them - just awesome.

Wrestling With Trades

Rare I get a just wrestling card trade, but here we are with a great offering from Ehoff01 over at our friendly neighbourhood TCDB.

2018 Topps WWE Road to Wrestlemania is a set I don't think I ever opened a pack for, so all the set build has been from trades. We are now up to 61 cards of 100 - fantastic! Looking back, I can't believe this was about a decade ago! Roman looks so young, and so - not comfortable compared to where he is now.

Speaking of set help...

I had a couple (or was it a few) blasters of 2022 AEW which helped get this set going, and now with the additions here, over 80% done on the base set. I still rarely watch AEW, but I appreciate it as an alternative and look for their stars to eventually cross to WWE in most cases. Will be interesting to see if someone like MJF ever does.

It wasn't just base cards though, as we get some of the parallels including a bunch of gold which look great, but the best card in the bunch...

A sweet red parallel SN to only 100. Wow. Was never lucky enough to pull a card that good in the boxes, but very much appreciate the addition to the collection from this fantastic trade!