Miss those shampoo commercials...

Who else could we be talking about?

Highlights:

Given that it's Troy, and Turkey Red, probably my favourite card today. They even did a good job with his hair.

Lowlights:

This is too many Austin Powers cards, and not only that - none of the few missing cards are covered here...if they were, I could atleast let this one go. Busby - I really can't unsee that card.

The rest
Keepers:

Like getting O Pee Chee cards that are new, not only to me, but to Trevor - these ones are already gone to his collection since they were ones he needed.

Traders:

A good comparison here that you can see (if you agree) how nice it can be for the same design to be used across various sports for the same year. Also like that the only difference for them really is that the back is green for 2007 Topps football, and black for 2007 Topps basketball. At first I thought the Gretzky was the one I needed (the first three cards of the set are similar design), but no such luck.

Through 8700 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

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

- Complete 2005 Upper Deck Classics (100 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 #64 Marcel Dionne Platinum 06/10

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

- 2009-10 Topps #321 Stephen Curry (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	140	16
Inserts / Var Kept	299	40
Error	15	2
Keep	1728	253
Doubles/Sell	1291	178	1411	2613	275	30
Doubles Inserts / Var	93	1	112	203

Golden and Lights

I swear, this Santa Lot card thing is trying to make me a basketball card collector. I mean, with all these awesome parallels, it is kind of hard to say no...but I think I will leave it to finding a good home (and a good trade) instead.

Highlights:

Another chunk of 2004-05 Ultra Gold Medallion parallels - including what I consider the best of the bunch - Reggie Miller. The gold with the Indiana colours just suits so well!

The rest
Keepers:

I don't know if I really like or really hate this card. It's a bit like someone walking out of the fire with the lighting the way it is. Definitely a memorable card.

Traders:

Yeah - a bunch today. Let's see...well, nice to see Jalen Rose from his Raptor days...and the Josh Smith Glossy parallel.

Through 8680 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

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

- Complete 2005 Upper Deck Classics (100 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 #64 Marcel Dionne Platinum 06/10

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

- 2009-10 Topps #321 Stephen Curry (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	140	16
Inserts / Var Kept	299	40
Error	15	2
Keep	1726	253
Doubles/Sell	1290	177	1410	2606	267	30
Doubles Inserts / Var	93	1	112	203

Inserting a Flutie

I was never really a big follower of football - and still not really to this day. That said, in the 90s and early 00s, I followed the Bills a bit, and kept tabs on the CFL. I enjoyed Doug Flutie, specifically his days as an Argo, but also his thrust into the NFL.

Highlights:

Repeat Leafs and Jays-  great, but focusing on the Flutie card - I find it interesting (in a good way) that the card specifies the exact time of the play it is talking about. A neat little tid bit which adds detail and something memorable to the card.

The rest
Keepers:

A blast getting more baseball I can use as well as another Fedorov in improper clothing. I do wish the 2005 Leaf Cettified cards would scan better though/

Traders:

Many of the usual suspects here...

Through 8660 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

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

- Complete 2005 Upper Deck Classics (100 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 #64 Marcel Dionne Platinum 06/10

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

- 2009-10 Topps #321 Stephen Curry (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	140	16
Inserts / Var Kept	299	40
Error	15	2
Keep	1725	253
Doubles/Sell	1285	177	1408	2603	267	30
Doubles Inserts / Var	93	1	103	203

Some great moments from McDonalds and I finally have a Soul....

So, another pack of cards from Value Village which I picked up because of the 1993 McDonalds Donruss Great Moment cards which took up a lot of it. I know there would be doubles-  it is a 36 card set and it appeared to have at least 70-80 such cards in it and some other stuff. I had about 24 of the cards, but here alone, I was able to get the full set:




A great little set which obviously deals with the 1992 series win by the Jays. I also like a number of the different photos like Gruber holding the bats, and trophy pics.

There were a few other cards, all junk wax era, but a couple other keepers (error / inserts) were:

I like the Ultra Gold Puckett - simple card, great player.

Also have a Santa Lot 20 to go through....

Highlights:

A Leaf and a set I enjoy - can't go wrong there...

The rest
Keepers:

Ultra is generally pretty sleek as always. It isn't a set I have a great affinity for - for whatever reason, and today looks like just the one add.

Traders:

A couple nice things to see here - relatively little seen 1997-98 UD Collector's Choice basketball, and I found a Soul. I was never much into Yu-Gi-Oh. The game was a little after Pokemon which was a bit after Magic came out. I got into Magic early on, and never bothered getting into either of these. Likely because none of my friends did either. I still haven't bothered learning anything about Yu-Gi-Oh - actually looking up this card is probably the first Yu-Gi-Oh thing I have done. I will say that it's a pretty nice picture, but I'd love a bigger font to be used, and if the card was actually standard size - it is not quite the right width.

Through 8640 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

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

- Complete 2005 Upper Deck Classics (100 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 #64 Marcel Dionne Platinum 06/10

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

- 2009-10 Topps #321 Stephen Curry (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	139	15
Inserts / Var Kept	299	40
Error	15	2
Keep	1722	249
Doubles/Sell	1280	176	1407	2600	267	30
Doubles Inserts / Var	93	1	103	202

Ever heard of this Brady guy?

We are four or five months removed from Tom Brady winning the dramatic Super Bowl 51 game and getting his fourth Super Bowl MVP trophy. So I can't just ignore when a couple Brady cards come up in a single 20 card pull from the Santa Lot.

Highlights:

I know - the second picture isn't quite a Tom Brady photo, but he is named, so let's go with it. Great first pic though. Personally, I have never been a huge fan

The rest
Keepers:

Another add for 2007 Topps Heritage...and unfortunately just the one keeper.

Traders:

Another surprisingly good day on getting additional cards from sets that I don't want. most of the 2007 Topps and 2008-09 Fleer fit into this. Nice to get another Orr - too bad it isn't Bobby though....

Through 8620 cards:

Specific Accomplishments:

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

- Complete 2005 Upper Deck Classics (100 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 #64 Marcel Dionne Platinum 06/10

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

- 2009-10 Topps #321 Stephen Curry (Rookie)

	Hockey	Baseball	Basketball	Football	Austin Powers	Other
Toronto	138	15
Inserts / Var Kept	299	40
Error	15	2
Keep	1721	249
Doubles/Sell	1278	176	1401	2591	267	29
Doubles Inserts / Var	93	1	103	202

Pack Attack - Dollarama 15 and '95-'96 Score Hockey

Hello!

Nothing like opening some new hockey cards as we get close to the end of June. I have a few of these on hand which I have picked up over the last few months as it is always nice to dip into opening something. I actually was recently at Dollarama and they have a couple new card related items. They have BASEBALL cards!!! 80 random cards for $3 - not bad, so I picked up three right away in case I never see them again. They also have 100 Magic cards for $4. Compared to 10 cards for a dollar, I presume there will be more commons in those, and some lands, but I picked one up to see if they were worth the fuss. For the baseball, I made sure to see at least on Jay quickly on each, and for the Magic cards, at least one artifact - though I am sure there will be more. Would be curious for any fellow Canucks out there, if they have seen the same at Dollarama just so I know if these are new and will be out there regularly or if I should scoop up any I see. Either way, the packs I picked up...those are for another day though. For today...

As for today - here is the pack (you will never guess what the first card is!):


So what does a successful pack look like to me? Well, a majority of cards that I don't have is ideal. Getting at least one Leaf or insert as well. If I can get those two things, I can't complain about the pack - let's see how today's goes...


He flies through the air with the greatest of ease...and into my collection as I didn't have this 2014-15 Upper Deck card.


Great photo, excellent player in Mike Modano, but I did already have this 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum card (set is around 64% complete actually).


Well here is the insert for the pack, so that one is met, and I needed it (as much as I need any insert). I only have a few of these 1994-95 Parkie Golds.


Does ANYONE need these 1990-91 Bowman hockey cards? I have a complete set, and I believe a complete Leaf team set also.


As far as singles go - don't see a lot of Score traded hockey cards, and as I have the complete set, don't need this 1990-91 Traded card.

Another set I already have completed so another card I don't need - 1991-92 O Pee Chee.


This is an exciting card - a good photo of a good player from a set I only have two other cards from.2003-04 Topps isn't the prettiest bordered card, but is right in the heart of the time for which I don't have a lot of hockey cards from, so that works out well.


Back to back goalie cards, and fairly new to my collection sets. This card is from 2000-01 Pacific Private Stock and as suggested by the name, is on thick cardboard which feels very nice. First card I have from this set.


Back to back to back goalies! 2002-03 Be A Player All-Star Edition. The colour works well for the card, nicely accentuates the All-Star game colour.


Already have this one in my collection...


Surprised to see another card from a set I have completed - 1991-92 Score American Efition - though still a decent card for a base card subset.


I was going to say I don't need this one, as per above, completed this set already, however this is an error card and thus a keeper (leader stat on the back isn't highlighted as such).


Still need about 200 cards from this set, but this isn't one of them for 1991-92 Upper Deck.


Boo - minor league hockey which I don't collect


Boo - see above, however with the heroes aspect of the set, a begrudging keeper...

Well, unfortunately this pack falls short of being a success with too many duplicates (and the couple minor league cards as well). Oh well, still really nice with the three back to back goalies in the middle though...

A quick pick me up...these arrived on Friday from a Listia win. Actually, I had won a couple card from the set I am looking to finish, and he asked what else I needed - happened he had a few Leafs I needed dupes of, so not closer to finishing the set, but I did get...


I didn't know, and he didn't say, the Johnson was a golden portrait version which was a parallel for the set. Definitely wanted it , just didn't know it was what I was getting. Anyway, a nice pick up!

You know what...since I still have a few minutes to spare, let me also show another Value Village pickup. I don't have much 1995-96 Score Hockey, so I picked up a bag I saw there for a couple bucks. Looked like just a chunk of base cards...which it was...but I did get the following....

A number of Leafs I didn't have before. Going through the cards, it's funny - all the Canadiens were missing, so I gather these came from a Montreal team collector.

Just to show some other base cards...

The design if alright - a bit too much white-ing out from the design, especially noticed on the Burke card. Less noticed on cards like Tkachuk, but still takes a bit away from the photos.

In all, 143 cards I needed for the base set. Adding these with what I had, I am at 218 of 330. Not yet at the point to chase completion, but getting there.

Pack Attack - 1990-91 Pro Set

Yes, another one of these suckers...

but, not one that sucks...

Which you might think odd given these were the only non-error adds for the set:


But when you then consider these were the error adds...
 
Just goes to show why this set is loved for error filler reasons. Also, to be honest, the Sutter isn't an error but a variation related to the retired banner on the front, but close enough for my collection.

I also don't know why the grey strip at the bottom on the Blues card of Lalor - doesn't go at all though would be fine on say, a trophy or Kings card!

So we only ended up with a few dupes:


As well as another single Leaf for the collection...

and doesn't he look thrilled to be on a hockey card?

Not tons to say about these packs per se, but I still enjoy opening them!