So this was Christmas...

So I waited a week to get to these, which shouldn't be too surprising considering we have a 3 and 6 year old, so Christmas deservedly was all about them, and left little time for the adults in the house to do anything other than playing with them and their new toys, and start the clean up required after Christmas (as well as all the family gatherings, etc).

So today I figured - before the year is out - I would at least do a run through of what I got, though a number of things will get opened later.

Santa (a great guy who doesn't leave out the parents when coming to leave gifts for the kids) was nice enough to bring me the following items...

Yeah, this is the big one. Revised was the set that I started in on with Magic. I remember buying some of these for a few bucks each - thankfully coming from Santa - not a concern here on how much it cost, though I think they are going for about $80CDN for a pack these days. Thrilled though because my goal for unopened Magic packs from this set onward, so having this starting point in place feels great.

Santa's stocking also included:

As well as what looked like the contents of an assorted box of 11 baseball card packs, including an extra "item". The extra item was...

and as for the packs that were in the stocking, I received the following:


One pack, but a definite add to the unopened pack collection.


Same to be said with this - added to the unopened pack collection.


Another for the collection. I haven't opened any of these before either - a shame only fetting the one so I won't be opening it...


Two packs of 2014 Panini Perennial Draft Picks so, one to keep unopened, one to be put aside for opening at a later time.


Same as the draft pick pack above, have two of these, and will keep one.


Four packs....sigh....I guess these were so bad that they were given to Santa in bulk to give away...heck, I've still open them myself some time in the future.

The last gift, card related, I got from my wife and it was more repack goodness...

Excellent packs in the windows, and I love these because with the 10 packs, you almost always get 10 different packs. So let's see what we have, what we will be keeping, and what we might be opening later...


I hadn't seen these before, and this is one of a few 2015 related pick ups for the unopened packs coming out of this box.


Not from 2015, and at least I have a few cards from the set, but this is the first pack I've seen...KEEP...


These are pretty packs. I only have a single card (a Jay of course) - KEEP for this pack.


Yeah - will be opening this one at another time - you'll see I already have it in my collection - but that is for another post (tomorrow).


Another one for opening later...


I like A&G and don't buy much if any, which is why I haven't got any of 2015 in my collection, and didn't have this pack until now.


I've been able to get most of my Jays needs covered from these sets through trades, and haven't opened any of these types of packs otherwise, so these all go to the keepers for now, though I did get 2 Series 2 packs, so one of those for later.

From my mom and brother, I picked up a couple other card related items. First was a binder from a pawn shop which they picked up for a few bucks and contained most of 1991 Leaf and 1991 Ultra sets - since I had some of these cards beforehand, I am now at:
1991 Leaf - down to 7 cards
1991 Ultra - down to 7 cards
Nothing major in either of these, so I should be able to get these fairly easily.

In addition to these there were the following cards which were alright as well:


Lastly, they gave me 12 2016-17 Tim Horton's hockey packs like this:


So I will keep one and open the rest in the near future right here on the blog!

So all in, a nice little Christmas for myself, and glad to add a dozen new baseball packs to the collection, as well as the Magic booster and getting to sets close to completion, even if they are just "junk era" ones. A good way to end the year.

Getting Guy

Highlights:

Great to keep working on this set, now up to 69% complete. Love the Guy card, other than the uniform he is in, but I'll try not to hold it against him.

The rest
Traders:

A few more Austin Powers cards means that of the approximate 140 cards, the needs (not that I really need them) are down to only 20. Since it is a card game, a complete set doesn't really matter I guess, but would be interesting to "complete" anyway. Also appreciate the dupes for Legends Classics - though dupe Leafs would have been more preferred.

Through 5940 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- 3 Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subsets (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	97	9
Inserts / Var Kept	171	26
Error	12	2
Keep	1312	181
Doubles/Sell	726	51	1104	1766	249	24
Doubles Inserts / Var	62	1	67	80

Cult of personality

A big personality can be a big factor in having people like you or hate you, and in sports, that is no different. David Ortiz in baseball comes to mind from the past year as he definitely has a big personality (and most would likely agree that it is in a positive). One of the big personalities in hockey from the last few decades or more would be Don Cherry.

Through the 90s is when I really got my share of Don from Hockey Night In Canada. He is a more polarizing I think than David Ortiz, but the underlying personality is definitely there.

Highlights:

Here is Don looking younger than I remember seeing him.

Include with that two more Leafs, including another one from the 2005 Upper Deck Classics set in Johnny Bauer, and this was a good 20! Especially since I needed the Mats card too.

The rest
Keepers:

I like the 2006-07 Parkhurst set, it's got a nice older set feel, and good photography on the front with the faded background look to keep the focus on the player. Also pleasantly surprised to get so many 2008-09 O Pee Chee adds to the set as well.

Traders:

Can't complain about Jagr and Brodeur cards I guess. :)

Through 5920 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- 3 Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subsets (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	97	9
Inserts / Var Kept	171	26
Error	12	2
Keep	1307	181
Doubles/Sell	717	51	1104	1764	245	24
Doubles Inserts / Var	62	1	67	80

Not done with just Dunn

First, a quick note and goodbye to Carrie Fisher. Each year it seems that many talented starsare taken from us, and 2016 is feelimg the same, punctuated by George Michael and Carrie. Just tragic, but a thank you for all that they gave us in their lives.

With that said, to more selfish, but positive things, today is one of those days that the Santa Lot just hits a home run - a number of goodies today that I can't wait to share.

Highlights:

Wow...where to begin...

The Adam Dunn card is serial numbered out of 100 and dang if it didn't scan nicely to show the red metallic shine. Next to that we have a 2007 Heritage Then & Now insert card which includes David Ortiz who just retired this past year, and Mickey freakin' Mantle. Add to that another Pacific 2001-2002 insert card and that would have made a great day.

Then, since there were no real inserts in the early 80s and prior, I include the "special" base cards such as the record breaker and leader cards.

So why the Esposito card? Uncorrected error as one of the goal lines incorrectly note 78 goals instead of 55, but I guess Phil was scoring enough, I can understand the error.

The rest
Keepers:

As if one Phil wasn't enough, we get a second. I doubt there will be many more old (read as being pre-1988) hockey cards, so nice to get these.

Traders:

Even these deserve a wow given the Rookie Fantasy Team insert cards which include Beastmode. Factor in the rest of the rookie cards, including one of the awesome yet hilarious shots with Dorsey (was he jump posing for this - the eyes give away great concentration in this one..).

Awesome all around 20 today - hope this holds for the rest of the year...what, only a few days left....dang.

Through 5900 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- 3 Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subsets (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	95	9
Inserts / Var Kept	171	26
Error	12	2
Keep	1297	181
Doubles/Sell	711	51	1103	1763	245	24
Doubles Inserts / Var	62	1	67	80

Ex Leaf

The lull between Christmas and New Years...generally now it just means Junior World Championship hockey, and trying to enjoy the few days left until the new year and the unofficial start to busy season at work (January through April).

Highlight:

Yeah, not a lot today so I had to go with this card for two reasons. First, ex-Leaf, and second, of the cards keeping here it is the one that isn't horizontal...which still bugs me.

The rest
Keepers:

Decent goalie picture for the Vokoun card. Goalies always have the most chances at getting a great photo of an action save. Be neat to see a set of just such cards. Actually, there probably is such a set out there...

Traders:

A whole lot of QMJHL cards today, though none that bring out a household name. Also, kinda stinks to get the three copies of Brad Stuart in the one pull, but can't win them all.

Through 5880 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- 3 Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subsets (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	95	9
Inserts / Var Kept	168	24
Error	11	2
Keep	1295	181
Doubles/Sell	709	51	1102	1757	245	24
Doubles Inserts / Var	62	1	67	77

Happy Boxing Day!

Well, Christmas is over, boxes and wrapping paper are out for recycling/garbage, and children are still on a high of getting lots of gifts - and hopefully you are too. I'll save my goodies for the weekend when I really have more time to show and share with you all, but I did get a couple thing card related, and hopefully you did too.

An awesome variety of Santa Lot cards today, even if there isn't tons I am keeping from it, some new things to share nonetheless.

Highlights:

First, we have two keeper cards for the collection, but for different reasons. The Robin Venture Upper Deck rookie card is an uncorrected error card - simple spelling issue on the card which says Samta Maria instead of Santa Maria.

The Owen Nolan mini is an insert so of course is kept for that collection. Not the first card from this set that I have, but still, nice to see another one.


These are on a completely different stage. The Laettner is a Promo card - if you hadn't picked this up from the back of the card. The soccer cards are the first such soccer cards to come out of the Santa Lot, and are pretty darn good players. Te Ronaldinho is a metallic card but part of the base set - not sure if this means it was short printed at all.

The rest
Traders:

Another day of no more keepers, just more trade bait, and all of it is 1991 Upper Deck football.

Through 5860 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

- Complete 2003-04 SP Authentic Basketball (90 card pure base)

- 3 Complete 2007-08 UD McDonald's Hockey Checklist Subsets (6 cards)

- 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #30 Bobby Orr (All-Star)

- 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends Classics Platinum Hockey #64 Marcel Dionne 06/10

- 2007-08 Topps 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	95	9
Inserts / Var Kept	168	24
Error	11	2
Keep	1292	181
Doubles/Sell	692	51	1102	1757	245	24
Doubles Inserts / Var	62	1	67	77

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and yours....now why are you here on Christmas Day? Well, thank you for joining me here, and I will share a quick something new, but hope you are able to spend your day otherwise enjoying whatever cardboard you may have received, but also spending time with those that supplied you with such cardboard.

A quick little Dollarama pick up to open and share - I will fill you in on my Christmas spoils tomorrow - with a couple young kids, today is not about the parents.

So I picked up one of the $2 hockey surprise bags - mostly because I wanted another pack of 100 soft sleeves for cards, and as I have mentioned before, this is a nice way to get them and a little something else. In addition to that, I got the following...

1990 Score American - at least I don't have the set, so I will open this...yeah....now....

These are all the needs from the pack - Messier would be the highlight.

Duplicated to me, but the Jagr is probably the best, or one of the best cards from the set to get, so I won't complain.

 Lastly, but not least, a solid Leaf pick up - and since I didn't have this before, the pack is a solid win.

If it is Leafs, that will make this well worth the purchase, so let's take a look...

Yeah! Great pick up overall here, so this makes it well worthwhile. The only dupe card is the 2013-14 Score Frattin. The Bester is the error version (name incorrect on the front), The Damphousse is French, and the Ultra I didn't have at all.

This was the last item. These can be quite hit or miss, and a lot of the time, you never really know how the supposed superstar was designated to be. Frankly, they should have gone with Hall of Famer, at least that you can't argue. Anyway, what we got was...

A decent variety, and only the 1991-92 as a duplicate.

Not a bad little pick up for today - definitely was worth the couple dollars. Enjoy your day and check in again tomorrow!