Pro Set Platinum...

A nice reminder today, that Pro Set Platinum wasn't just for hockey....there was a football set as well... 

No surprise the look, front and back is identical to the hockey version, and like the hockey version, I could get behind the uniqueness of the set for the early 90s as there was nothing similar to it at the time.

Actually, also the first cards from the 2014 Topps set that I have ever had in my possession. It's actually a really nice design - though I might change to not have name foiling on the front.

At least a number of the names are ones I have seen and known from Elway before to Gronk and Kelce here...

Young and Marino as well - very nice. Still not a fan of the draft pick sets, but at least a name I know with the throwback inclusion of stars.

For a second I thought the Ahmad may be a variation because of the nickname, but apparently not, that's just part of his name on the card. Not a bad variety here - and the Select cards are pretty nice too - Burrow and Tua being nice pick ups too.

Not a bad bunch given I don't collect football.

Help For The Future

 The 2026 Lot adds today are Topps base related....

Wouldn't mind seeing more 2013-2017 Topps sets in this lot, just hasn't been too much of these so far. As for 2019, there has been a bit, but happy to get adds for the flagship and Oepning Day sets. 

2024 Topps seems to be in fair numbers in the lot, and here we have a number of Future Star cards which is nice. Sometimes these get pulled like the rookie cards when someone goes through the lots, so good to get them here. My favopurite card of the bunch has to be the shower card though, great shot and use of the vertical card design. Actually, next one is a good use too...

Stroman looked so promising for Toronto, but the bitter split which probably could have been avoided early on, was not a surprise by the time it was done. The card here looks great, and he had some great games for Toronto, a shame it couldn't work out better here.

The rest of the cards today, all for trade...

Other than a single random 2013 Bowman insert (which I just happened to have), we get the bunch of 2019 Topps cards, including the very nice sprawling Springer.

Auto-Matic

 A single card share from the 2026 Lot today, so you know it's a good one...

The card is a little beat up with a couple indents, but that doesn't bother me - it's staying in my collection and the condition is fine enough. I have some base cards from the set, but this is the first autograph. On card autos are so much better than sticker ones, and that shows here. It also matters because it's cool to know, the card itself was what was held and signed by the athlete.

Stu was a tough guy back when such a role really existed - or the end of the time when it really existed as he played from the late 80s into the early 2000s.He played for close to 10 different teams and had over 2,000 career penalty minutes. Can say he wasn't on the ice for his scoring abilities as he had all of 39 points in 729 games.

Very cool pick up in the lot, and does pique my interest on seeing whether we may see another autograph or two, or if this happened to be a one-off.

Dickerson-ing Around

Before we get to the title subject matter from the 2026 Lot, a trade share with TCDB member Tdorsay who I have done a number of trades with. I sent some cards his way, he sent me a couple cards and a couple other non-card items which he had and wanted to send...

An excellent 8 by 10 signed photo of Alex Gonzalez. A Jay for a goo stretch of the 90s and early 2000s, a solid player for the team, and a decent signature by the looks of it too. Wasn't expecting to have a signed photo of Alex on the wall in my basement, but it's there now!

No idea where Trevor got these advertisements. They look like little stands for a bar or table - not sure what establishments, is any specific, but a neat pick up that I will keep as is - no need to use them, will keep them in the condition they are in!

Oh, and there were a couple cards too....

The 1987 Topps Major League Leaders Mini brings my missing list down to just 4 cards in the 77 card set, and I should have those all in the next month or two as I have trades on the go to maybe get them. A cool little set to complete.

As for Cote, a copy needed for the error binder as his birth place is misspelt. I know, not an exciting error, but I'll take it!

Always a big thank you to Trevor for the trade and thinking of me with the amazing extras.

As for the 2026 Lot...well, the Topps flagship baseball continues though 2022 if not a year I am working on, however I do get a couple keepers from the Lot still today...

Corey's time in Toronto was brief, being only part of the 2021 season. Actually, a lot of his stays have been pretty brief. In playing on 8 teams through the end of last year, half the stays were for less than a full year.

The other, and error card with a wrong name listed on the back - the rest below are up for trade...

It is at least another solid set of team cards thrown in around the set.

Under The Helmet

The learning continues - and that's a good thing!

Here we have a bunch of 2021 Donruss football cards and I learned that there are base cards with variation photos with helmets off. I learned this with the few cards above, and don't mind that we have them for Brett or Barry who were both massive stars. It's not a bad idea for variations since all on field action would be helmeted, and it does add to the uniqueness of the photo to be without.

The Score set also provides some learning - that green and yellow do not a good design make. I kid - a bit - as the design actually gives me 1989 Dobruss baseball flashbacks, especially the backs   

Those side colours just scream 1989 Dontuss baseball borders - or is it just me?

More 2024

The 2026 Lot continues to add to my 2024 Topps flagship baseball set with a bunch of additions today.

Still too many Dodgers for my liking....still not over last year...but I guess I need them for the complete set, but I don't have to like it.

Allies and Machado are nice pick ups.

I do like that flagship has great back designs in recent years and the tweaks are small enough to not take away from the good in the design.

Happy to trade base dupes for needs if anyone else out there is working on the set!

Tagli Trade

 TCDB member jamestagli reached out with a great offer I couldn't refuse...

Gold parallels and serial numbers are fantastic and always welcome! 

The Hentgen is SN to 3999, a fairly low number for serial numbers in the 90s.

The Gypsy Queen cards from 2018 add to the team set, but still a couple to go, though the three names were big ones for who the Jays were for that year.

My first couple Bob Ross related Jays from the cool and different 2023 release. I am more accustomed to the more distant paintings by Ross, but adding a blue dot for a Jay wouldn't really work, so we get these shots of players playing in the forest.

Orlando was an popsicle addition on my end as a want, but it is still a keepers as it fits the inserts/parallels - so we can call it a happy little mistake.