Let's Call It Complete

The 2026 Lot continues today, ans I just grabbed a big chunk of the 2023-24 Upper Deck cards I could see, and I'll just say that, this finished the extended series pure base set which doesn't include the YoungGuns.

There were Leafs a plenty, so let's of good adding there as well. Nice they haven't been plucked out of the lot.

There were a number of cards from the first and second series but nowhere near the volume that has been in the lot from the extended series.

One surprise in the bunch...

A penalty box variation base card. Very cool and the first one I have had in hand.

I won't scan all the dupes, though they are all listed on my TCDB account if anyone needs set help, but here are all the additions in shorter order...

There was the one shorter run base card - the 701-750 run versus 501-700, with Connor Zary. Still a bunch to go if I actually want a full base set, but awesome to get as much of this base set as I have in this lot.

Footy Shine

Back to the 2026 lot, and some football.....some shiny football. 

Typical Prizm and no stars that I know of so....next...

I like the look of these Illusions cards, and I do keep enough track of the Bills to know some of the players, like Josh. Still a shame we can't see them with great playoff success, but I'm use to it being a Leaf fan.

Some Mosaic with one of the better Mosaic designs in my opion, and then cards from the following year Illusions set which don't look quite as good.

We end with a couple Select Draft cards and me left wondering if I will be able to find homes through trades with these, or maybe should consider a bulk local sale to move them off somewhere....

Lorwyn Standards

 Yes, I am a bit behind on some of my sharing - this being sitting a bit, but the set came out about 6 months ago, I just didn't have opportunity to share....or I forgot to....either way, we are here now.

Lorwyn Eclipsed was another MTG release - they come so fast and furious these days that these "regular" sets can get missed, I swear. I mean, after Avatar at the end of last year, the TMNT release was the next people seemed to focus on that this got a bit lost in the shuffle.

I try to watch when I buy singles that fit my artifact collecting, but goofed and picked up a wrong first card - no black mana allowed here! SOme shiny foils and some regular pick ups, but my favourite of the bunch are...

Two very sweet Sol Rings. One of my favourite cards throughout the history of Magic, one of the first artifacts I regularly played in my decks, and then used as a focal point to boost my artifact decks early on. Extra mana early is great, and even later, is useful for many of the pump up abilities I was playing with.

A decent set and some solid cards, even if it doesn't have the same draw as say TMNT, The Hobbit, or Final Fantasy crossovers do.

Small Trade Good Trade

I have said before, I don't usually do small trades, say less than 10 cards, as I try to ensure the trade is worth the postage. I have been doing a few more smaller trades as it has opened up to getting new Trade partners who may not have a ton of matches.

ShowTimeWBC was looking for a couple Ohtani base cards and sent these my way...

Three Vladdys and a Bo is a great trade for me. I think the cut Goin' Yard is my favourite, but any Bo card since he is gone from the tteam, I am excited to get too.

This trade being me up to 176 Vladdy cards and 104 BoBis - if this was the 1970s, that would sound like career total card numbers instead of today when it could be found in a couple releases.

Very happy and grateful for the trade!

On a completely separate note - we recently bought some Crokinole discs or buttons for the game so that we had enough, and differently coloured for four players. If you haven't played Crokinole, it's on an octagonal board which lies flat on a table, has essentially a large dart board, but instead of pie like sections, there are scoring rings like in archery, the goal being to flick your discs into the centre to score points. Fun game for the family, and quick and easy to play, but why am I writing about it here? Well, the pieces must be made by a religious group (nothing wrong with that by the way - just was interesting), because it came with this:

Never had a Jesus card before! You can look it up, but BibleCards is apparently a thing, and I guess they stick one in with each purchase because - well, that's what they did here.

Definitely not my thing, and I will use the card for packing material as I am not going to bother adding to my tradeers, but was interesting to find a card in such a way, and find out about a whole set of cards I didn't even know existed.

Continuing in '82

Every now and then, I complete a trade which helps to move along my 1982 Topps set build. We get such a trade today with TCDB member crabby1701.

I'm over 650 for the set, though Cal's rookie is not one of them and will likely be the card I will need to shell out cash for if I really want to complete this set.

I wasn't a fan of the old Pittsburgh uniforms from the time, but I am sure I am not the only one. Still a fan of the trade and getting 13 cards closer to done on this very nice set!

Also wanted to continue with the MTG Marvel card additions I made as I had a chance to scan the artifact cards I picked up from the base set, the foil parallels and the commander run as well.

I like Marvel, but I am not a huge comic book guy. I like the movies, but I am not out there waiting for opening day to see any of them. There are ones I still haven't seen, but I can appreciate the crossover and like the nods to some of the characters, and can see the bigger appeal of the set, even if it doesn't hit a big home run with me like Final Fantasy did.

The artwork does well in keeping the MTG feel while encompassing the Marvel universe. The Vibranium Energy Daggers looks solid, and some of the lands are really well done too.

Happy to pick up a solid bunch from the sets, though there are a decent number of cards I'd still need, and as usual, a couple of them are expensive cards right out of the gate that I probably won't be picking up, though I'd love to have them. Still, a good start on yet another new MTG set.

Irregular 4th Colours

I may not be an American, but instead be a northern neighbour to our American friends - and yes, despite the ever changing political scene, I like to think that the actual people's of both countries are still on same terms as we were a decade ago. Hopefully the 4th can be happily celebrated by all (safely of course).

It's a big day in Canada as it stands with the Canada vs. Morocco round of 16 game from the World Cup happening this afternoon. Realistically, Canada has met or exceeded their expectations for the tournament, but I think this is the end of the line, barring a major upset. Don't get me wrong, upsets can definitely happen, especially when it's playing a single game, and as Morocco had a very tough match in order to get by into the round of 16, but if I were to guess, I'd say Canada works hard to keep it close, and whether it's a 3-1 Morocco win or something much closer will depend on how much Canada might give up in chances in trying to score or keep up on offence, and how much Morocco is able to take advantage as Canada stretches away from their own end to do so.

Before the 2026 Lot share today, as mentioned, I did pick up more of the Marvel Play boosters, so wanted to share the pack artwork because it is great.

Sometimes it doesn't have to be complicated to be good. Wolverine and Scarlet Witch join Black Panther. Yes, I now have an extra play booster to put aside and open since I have a Black Panther pack already, so that will be a nice open...eventually.

I pulled some hockey cards from the 2026 lot today and figured, there may not be red, but some blue and white Leaf cards would be good. Then of course...

I mean, if you want to go with a vastly different alternative jersey, this is pretty good. I know it's throwback about 100 years to the near decade long run as the St. Pats, but the green stands out big time in my otherwise blue Leaf binders.

I am just glad these uniforms don't get regular use - leave it to the white and blue thank you.

More success with the 2023-24 flagship Upper Deck build as we can share the rest of the keepers. There a good run of the set and I will probably go through it in a couple days in the near future, so that will only help to this set build, though I expect I won't see any Young Guns.

I do miss Kadei as a Leaf, but he made the right choice for himself given how his career has gone since leaving. A Stanley Cup in Colorado would likely make the move worth it, and the Calgary contract a great way to maybe (I'd guess, given his age), finish his career.

Now there are green uniforms that make more sense!

Hard to believe McDavid may be only about half way through his career.

Still liking the simple and understated backs.

A fantastic bunch of additions and anyone needing any help on the set, especially the extended series - cards 500-700, let me know as I would be happy to start moving a bunch!

Blame Sue

Yes, apparently it is complete Sue's fault - at least that is what TCDB member sues2blame seems to be saying with their member name. So, I will blame this great trade accordingly, as here are the Jays that came my way...

Delgado is a 1994 Pinnacle Museum Collection parallel which had a print run of 6,500 - very cool. It's my first Jay card from the parallel too - nice.

Benito is another parallel, this one from the Always Mint parallel of 1997 Topps Stars, another first for my collection.

Tony is another first for me - it being a copper parallel for 2000 Pacific Paramount.

Brisker isn't as exciting, but does add a new Jay and the second of four from the insert set.

Wellinton is an insert of Chrome Prospects from 2010 Bowman - just one more Jay to get there.

Manoah is my second rainbow foil parallel of 2022 Topps Gallery.

Daulton is my first Logofractor parallel of 2023 Topps Chrome.

Well, pretty darn good trade with all those new to me sets (parallel or otherwise) being represented. Will definitely be blaming Sue for the awesomeness.