Slow days are okay too

Not every pack of cards is a blow away winner, but they don't have to be. Base cards can be solid cards for any collection. Personally, I have no problem getting Jays from base sets in the "junk" era, even if I already have them - I enjoy junk sets as much as others.

On a similar note, I don't expect to hit a home run with every Santa Lot 20 I bring up here. Some times there are decent cards, some new, some I collect, some I have never seen, etc. Today just some solid base cards - some I'll keep and some that I won't, but all are decent as base cards - different sports, different designs, different approaches to presenting the info, but all preserving a little piece of history.

Highlights:
Other than the horizontal design, good basic full pictures:



The rest
Keepers:
I think I've said a couple times before, Victory is a nice little set aimed, I think, at kids and starting collectors. The designs are straightforward and can be simple, but they present the player in simple form, provide pronunciation help on the names of the players, are not overwhelming with stats on the back showing 5 years (not my personal preference, but I understand why) and it works on not overwhelming a new collector.


Traders:
In bigger numbers, the 2006 Score Select cards do look nice - I can see a binder of these being very classy and shiny in look. Even in the scan below, it looks like the Lundy Topps card knows it doesn't below in the same scan and is trying to leave. I do miss that the background is very faded and fades away completely to the top of the card, but can understand the look they are going for with the overwhelming shine...


Specific Accomplishments (through 2420 cards):

- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	45	5
Inserts / Var Kept	90	4
Error	11	1
Keep	679	81
Doubles/Sell	229	13	453	486	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	17		24	37

2400 and counting

Classics on a budget...I don't think I'll be buying many cards that would be originals of a number of the players shown in the 2005 Upper Deck Classics set (see cards pre-1970 or so).

Highlights:

Love the look expecially with the black and white photos such as Tommie's above...

The rest:
Keepers:

The only hockey card in the 20 - always liked Luc, mild mannered and great off the ice and on. This is only my second card from this PowerPlay set.

Traders:

Another chunk of 2007 Topps football into the collection. I don't know why it is so much more clear with football, but the cars to tend to have a similar look - either just running or running...not much in the way of action shots. I know hockey can be similar (just skating), but I don't think it is as noticeable...maybe it is to other people...

Summary (through 2400 cards):

Specific Accomplishments:
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	45	5
Inserts / Var Kept	90	4
Error	11	1
Keep	675	81
Doubles/Sell	228	13	453	471	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	17		24	37

Pack Attack - 2009-10 Upper Deck Series 1

Opening another pack of...


As I had not too long ago. Unfortunately, a couple repeats which stinks when I only have about 15 cards in the set before this pack. Those doubles are:



Jerome is a decent double to get. As for the backs, easy to read stats, and at least they go back up to 10 years. Not as nice as full stats, but better than the 3-5 years on some designs. Wish the Iginla card would have continued with all Flames stats after the ones shown....but I regress. I also appreciate the different photo and face close up picture while leaving plenty of room for stats.


I've talked about not liking the horizontal cards, but I will say, the Malone photo is unique enough, I will give it a pass. Would also say it is a nice "stadium" card showing a good view of the rink.



More base cards to end the pack so nothing overly special today. Last comment though is - the colour choice for the most part on the front design does work well given the team colours play well off the uniforms - all four of these cards being great examples of this.

15 for $1 - Can't get that at McDonald's

What you could, over the years, get at McDonald's were the following:

I picked up another 6 pack of McDonald's cards on Listia - they seem to never disappoint. Other than the obvious Leaf card, the Walter Gretzky one is a nice pick up and design as well.

One place I was at was Dollarama for a few small items and as always, I take a quick peek at the hockey cards there in case there is anything worth while. I had the bug for picking up a quick pack so looked for one that would add something to my collection. That said, I came away with the following 15 cards for $1....


Got it - have this set in a box, as many do I'm sure...


As I've said, I'm not interested in the junior sets, so not one I need...


I have this set as well, also in boxed form, so not needed, but a nice card regardless...


Another boxed set I have, but I have one other double from the set, well, now two of the same double....


Last one that was a duplicate, though I don't have much of this set, I happened to have this one....


The good - A nice card that I didn't have - the bad - I don't exactly like Montreal and the best highlight of Patrick's career to me, was his final game for Montreal when he was shelled by Detroit and left the ice to never play for the team again...ah, good times....


A nice insert in the base set design by Parkhurst...


The start of the Coyotes - Jet unis before the Coyotes could be shown in uniform I believe...


Only my second card from the set. Solid card design, but not a big fan of the silver border on a base set...


First card from the set - Tommy had a solid career and a great Swede goalie...


A familiar set to this blog, but a card I hadn't yet pulled, so that's a good thing!


As decent as the 2009-10 O Pee Chee front design is - gotta love tha someone like Rod has all 19 years shown in the stats on the back - I love that about this set...


I haven't specifically gotten into newer sets because there is so much that is new for me that is old to everyone else...

The best of the 15 cards though are....

I picked up the pack due to the Hejda parallel card, and got lucky enough to get a Leaf within.

A decent pack all in, again for all of a dollar....

Kellogg's Card

So just back from a couple nights with the family at Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls (I know you missed me! Ok - I know that you didn't even have the chance to tell since I didn't bring it up and don't like disclosing trips away until they are over - yes, I am just that paranoid). For anyone with kids (mine are currently 5 and 2), it is a fun time and if water fun is the key for everyone, one night is fine, but if you enjoy the arcade, mini golf, MagiQuest, etc, two nights is a must. With our 5 year old, assuming he would enjoy the MagiQuest game, which is essentially a live play game where you go around the main part of the hotel with a wand, finding, pointing, and interacting with objects, we stayed two nights. Yeah - all in, I think he spent about 4-5 hours playing MagiQuest...so worthwhile, and with the amount of walking involved, I got my exercise between that and the water so I am good for 2016.

With that aside discussed, one other related point - being away a couple days meant a small backlog of mail, and to this regard, here are a couple Listia pick ups first that were awaiting my arrival home.


I did not have this pack for my collection, and since the listing was for two, I now have one to keep, and one to open here at a later time...

In a separate auction of 2013-2014 Upper Deck base cards, I picked up the following 6 cards even though I already have the Leaf cards because I do like the look, and they went for cheap.


Lastly aone off auction card that I had to get as it is new to me and as a jersey card, would always like to pick these up.

A plain piece of jersey, but my first card from the 2006-07 Ultra insert set.

So that catches me up on the mail, now onto today's Santa Lot 20...

Have to love cards with food products. Well, the highlight today is from early 90s Kellogg's card set, and Brian Leetch is a pretty decent player too!

Highlights:


Lowlight:

I'll continue to hold on to these advertisement cards for now, atleast until I get through the entire Santa Lot 20 purchase to see what I have, and how many.

The rest
Keepers:

Not too many keepers, but continued completion of sets seen.

Traders:

Speaking of continuing to get cards from sets we have seen - more basketball 2007-08 Topps and 2004 SP Authentic as both tic closer to completion (though still have a ways to go).

Specific Accomplishments (through 2380 cards):
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	45	5
Inserts / Var Kept	90	4
Error	11	1
Keep	674	77
Doubles/Sell	228	13	452	457	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	17		24	37

Foil Icons and some Alomars

Posting on the run today, so it'll be a quick 20 today and a couple quick Listia pick ups.

First, a couple Roberto Alomar pick ups on Listia (I had one of the 1991 Upper Deck cards, but not the Studio 1992):

Always enjoyed the different phot choices for the early 90s Studio baseball sets - here a "normal" background photo, nice "studio" main photo.

As for today's Santa Lot 20:

Highlights:

Since I don't know the football sets too well, had to take a good look to figure out this was a foil parallel. Not a bad look, but the scan isn't great. Can't argue with the calibre player with Randy Moss - though if I ever followed a football team, it was the Buffalo Bills, so not a Patriot's fan at all.

Lowlights:

Well - a different ad card at least....

The rest
Keepers:

I like the design of the 2009-2010 Ultra with the name down the left side and as usual decent action shot.

Traders:

Never bothered getting into the 1991-92 7th Inning Jr hockey sets, but have a fair number of these cards if anyone is interested. As much as foil stamping on cards can make them much more difficult to read - the 50th anniversary Topps football stamp is understandable and nicely designed.

Summary (through 2360 cards):

Specific Accomplishments:
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	45	5
Inserts / Var Kept	89	4
Error	11	1
Keep	669	77
Doubles/Sell	224	13	443	456	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	17		24	37

A very young Iginla

A quick Santa Lot 20 today brings a couple nice highlights, but not much else unfortunately.

Highlights:

I have to say - the old picture of Jerome is quite cute - kid with a killer smile. Definitely a nice McDonalds card insert. Also nice to get the Kaberle - still a number of 2008-09 Victory for the full team set though.

The rest
Keepers:

Not much for keeping here, but good star power between the two.

Traders:

Another 2007-08 Topps insert from the 50 year old - 1957-58 variation set. I have a feeling I might just end up with all of these though personally, not a set I thoroughly like the look of. Again, just too "fuzzy" as far as the picture goes.

Summary (through 2340 cards)

Specific Accomplishments:
- Completed 2007-08 Upper Deck McDonald's Checklist Subset (6 cards)
	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	ET	Star Wars	Rocky	KISS	Clue
Toronto	45	5
Inserts / Var Kept	88	4
Error	11	1
Keep	664	77
Doubles/Sell	218	13	442	450	226	8	5	2	3	1
Doubles Inserts / Var	17		24	36