Thursday, August 31, 2017

Anyone up for some...soccer?!?!?!

No? Well - too bad, but I will put them off for two minutes while I first share another quick Value Village pick up. I went for a 20 minute walk with my daughter and whenever I do, Value Village is always a decent enough target for walking to and from. She ended up with a domino Dora game, and while we were looking I happened upon a $2 bag with some Jays team set cards in it. I figured it wasn't a complete set (I was right), but I did get 20 cards...




These are from the 2014 Swing into Summer Safety set. I didn't have any at all, so great add, and I love the Cecil card just for being that bit different with the glasses, but not surprising a few of the cards missing (Ace and Bautista...but mostly figured Ace wouldn't be there...lol).

Now on to the soccer...

Santa Lot Highlights:

Now we have only seen a couple of these, and anything "rare", I love to see out of the Santa Lot, so thumbs up there. The real question becomes....does anyone actually want these?


Not new, but only a second one, so yay for getting another.

The rest
Keepers:

Given the ones below, I thought I might make a bigger dent on the 2005-06 Upper Deck base set with these 20, but no such luck. Funny, if the entire outfit was yellow and purple, probably would have looked a bit better, not having the black. The card design purple helps pull these not so great unis together on the card. The Hasek Pog ain't half bad either.

Traders:

All three of the 2004 Leaf Rookies and Stars sets are needs, knocking it down to only two missing cards out of the "pure" base set. Otherwise, as mentioned, too many dupe 2005-06 Upper Deck - oh well...trade fodder I guess.

Through 9280 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 Base and 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)
- 2009-10 Topps #321 Stephen Curry (Rookie)
Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Austin Powers Other
Toronto 145 18
Inserts / Var Kept 314 43
Error 16 2
Keep 1840 274
Doubles/Sell 1442 192 1477 2769 286 34
Doubles Inserts / Var 99 2 121 206

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Checking in with some hot prospects

Highlights:

Another set with a "pure" base set of 100 cards and then 156 cards that should be inserts - serial numbered, jersey cards, autos, etc. Fair enough set design, even with the complaint that a base set should just be...I don't know...base in nature.

The rest
Keepers:

20907 Upper Deck Series 2....as much as there have been plenty of this series, still not done (not missing many), but this at least knocks one off.

Traders:

Speaking of sets that have a lot of "base" cards that aren't base - and that we see a fair amount of - 2003-04 SP Authentic basketball. I thought for a second I might have had a second complete set, but I am one card #83 Vince Carter short of that goal.

Through 9260 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 Base and 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)
- 2009-10 Topps #321 Stephen Curry (Rookie)
Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Austin Powers Other
Toronto 144 18        
Inserts / Var Kept 314 43        
Error 16 2        
Keep 1836 274        
Doubles/Sell 1434 192 1477 2766 286 30
Doubles Inserts / Var 99 2 121 206    

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Another excellent basketball rookie card

Well, it is not Stephen Curry rookie card but...

Highlight:

A Kevin Durant rookie - even if it is base, and another 1957-58 Parallel card makes for an excellent couple basketball cards. Since I have the parallel listed, going to have to add this one to the specific highlight cards for the Santa Lot summary at the end of the post.

The rest
Keepers:

Though just a few new cards to keep - since I only had about 10 of the 2003-04 Upper Deck cards before this, I will absolutely take the rarely seen set.

Traders:

Hey, a Patrick Lalime pre-rookie card from the 1991 7th Inning Sketch set. Only a few recognizable names in the set, but that would be one of them. Otherwise...a....fourth Ribeiro 2006-07 McDonalds card....can I get some different ones?

Through 9240 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 Base and 1957-58 Variations Basketball  #112 Kevin Durant (Rookie)
- 2009-10 Topps #321 Stephen Curry (Rookie)
Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Austin Powers Other
Toronto 144 18        
Inserts / Var Kept 314 43        
Error 16 2        
Keep 1832 274        
Doubles/Sell 1425 192 1473 2763 286 30
Doubles Inserts / Var 99 2 121 206    

Monday, August 28, 2017

Return of an old friend

It has been a while since we came across some of these cards....

Highlight:

A Leaf is a keeper. Still need a number of cards to complete the 100 card base set, but this gives me a bit of renewed hope we may see the remaining 22 cards.

The rest
Keepers:

Awesome group of 2008-09 Victory cards. Filled some holes in the base set and brought it close to 50% complete.Not sure if all the rookies would be there if I keep getting these cards, but fingers crossed.

Traders:

Unfortunately the rest of the Upper Deck Legends Classics cards were not needed, and I did have a couple of the Victory cards too. That is about the worst I can make of the day. Oh, and just to give a sense of some of the duplication out of the Santa Lot...that is the sixth card of Rasho Nesterovic from 2004-05 Ultra.

Through 9220 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 144 18        
Inserts / Var Kept 314 43        
Error 16 2        
Keep 1827 274        
Doubles/Sell 1414 192 1472 2762 286 30
Doubles Inserts / Var 98 2 120 206    

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Trade With SaveDaKid and Pack Attack - 2013 Topps Baseball Series 2

I had a trade with SaveDaKid at TCDB recently (his cards should show up to him this coming week, but he got his package to me first).

First up were a number of 1990-91 Pro Set hockey needs covered:

Most of these were dupes I needed for the error/variation binders because I needed second copies in order to have a complete set and then the error extras.


Definitely not my favourite Electric Ice design, but happy to get the parallel.


The ad card is from 1989 Topps. I figured with the complete set and half these cards, I might as well add these inserts to the set, so shall see if I can get them all. As for the '96 Ultra, these are the first such cards in my collection, and I have to say, I really like the design (name on the front might be a bit too big, but I'll admit I can read it very easily at least).


In a theme, the 2000 Ultra cards - first I have for the collection, and man, they look really nice in hand too. I am finding this true of a number of Ultra set. I never had to many originally collecting through the 90s, but the more sets I see, the more I find Ultra generally pretty nicely constructed designs.



An awesome variety of cards.

A really like the Target red border parallels, but my favourite of these cards would be the Hometown Heroes Drabek card. His dad, Doug, was one of the players I strongly remember from childhood and really liked for whatever reason, so getting a nice card like this for his so is a neat add to the collection.

Big thanks again to SaveDaKid for the trade, and I hope we can do another one some time soon.

With regards to the pack, I was surprised, I actually had about 100 cards from 2013 Topps before this pack. Shows that I have some newer cards - though most are 2007 and earlier, and really mostly mid 80s to mid 90s. I should need most of the cards anyway, I believe....


A lot of ball shots here with from the Revere and Mercer catches to the Nicasio throw - and the face full of effort putting into the throw - yikes.


Here are the few dupes from the pack if anyone is interested.



The gold Topps cards looked really nice in 2011-2013 or so, much better than on the current year release - my personal opinion. I wouldn't complain getting new parallels as well, just though with the solid white border, the other colours had more pop.


Last card is an insert which is great. I generally like the chasing history inserts - but I am a sucker for history and stats so these are great adds as such, and Cano is a decent enough player to get a card for.

Pretty good pack overall, was just missing a Jay to make it perfect.



Saturday, August 26, 2017

Pack Attack - 2007 Topps Baseball Series 2

I only have a handful of cards from the set, so this should all be new for me. Hopefully with only 6 cards, I can get a Jay or an insert, so let's see if I can get either...or maybe one card that is both!

Here is a look at the base cards:

The standard design for Topps in 2007 across the major sports. Standard fair, would have liked a bit more action in the photography though. Atleast, with six cards and these being the only base - means good things, right?


Okay, not too bad. I appreciate stadium shots and this is fairly good for the field. I know that isn't necessarily the theme of the insert, but it is the highlight for me.


This could be an interesting set to collect. The cards were issued over a number of different sets, so that makes it harder to complete. I am happy to get this one, but no plans to get more.

Overall, any pack with a Mantle, can't be a bad pack. Overall pretty darn good for what it is.

Friday, August 25, 2017

Even if it is a dupe...

Highlight:

Well, this is a duplicate as I already got one of these out of the Santa Lot, but it is a nice enough card - I can appreciate a good card.

The rest
Keepers:

Oh my gosh - Jeremy Roenick looks 12 on this card (though he would have been about 21). Can't say I noticed other cards in Pro Set Platinum with a black and white background like the one here. Curious why it was done this way, but does make the player stand out.

Traders:

I hadn't been keeping specific track of the 2004 Leaf Rookie and Stars set, but with these, I am 5 cards short of the pure base 100 card set (not including the rookie cards which are numbered abve 100 (so I guess the first 100 would be the Stars set?

Through 9200 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 143 18        
Inserts / Var Kept 314 43        
Error 16 2        
Keep 1817 274        
Doubles/Sell 1409 192 1469 2761 286 30
Doubles Inserts / Var 98 2 120 206    

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Can't pick just one...

Highlights:

I just couldn't choose which was the best here, so I didn't. Excellent to get another Retro Rookie, would love to get all 30 - currently have 9 of them. Prince Fielder National Card Day, an excellent add, though I did prefer his father, even if he ended his career in not that great of shape. Add a shiny McD card, and this is a great trio.

The rest
Keepers:

Happy to get a 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum card as I'm getting close to 2/3 completion.

Traders:

Similar to yesterday, a bunch of 2007 Topps football, however I only needed one of these - well technically none of them, but you know what I mean....

Through 9180 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 143 18        
Inserts / Var Kept 314 43        
Error 16 2        
Keep 1814 274        
Doubles/Sell 1407 192 1469 2748 285 30
Doubles Inserts / Var 98 1 120 206    

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

The best a man can get

Not every day can be a highlight that I will end up keeping, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Highlight:

We have seen these inserts in both Football and Basketball before from Topps circa 2007. Not going to be keeping this of course, but can appreciate these inserts as in the past, simple design, but detailed. Stadium names these days though, can irk me. I get it, sell the naming of the stadium, make a ton of money, or have them put the money into building the stadium, but regardless, you get some interesting names for stadiums. Gillette just stands out - not too far out of the realm of names, but stil stands out a bit - there have definitely been worse.

The rest
Keepers:

That new age rookie card design on the heritage card still bothers me...wish they would have done something more retro.


Traders:

Yeah, plenty of traders today. Still plugging away on that 2007 Topps football set I am not really looking to finish as most of these were new for the set.

Through 9160 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 143 18
Inserts / Var Kept 313 42
Error 16 2
Keep 1811 272
Doubles/Sell 1406 192 1466 2739 285 30
Doubles Inserts / Var 98 1 120 206

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Another day another retro

As simple as that - the headline is the highlight, or at least one of them...

Highlights:

I do have one of these already, but since I am going for the set, I needed a second because it is an error card (and being Gretzky at that). I have also talked about liking these trophy inserts in base sets too, so overall nice card, even given it is from 1990-91 Pro Set.


A retro parallel of a skilled two way defenseman? Yup - that's a highlight too.

The rest
Keepers:

I'm not sure how much I care about the 1991-92 Score cards as these are the Canadian Bilingual versions, and I am close on the Canadian English version. I will keep them nonetheless, but I don't see it being a set I try to finish if I get the Canadian English version done.

Traders:

As much as I want to earn points, I don't think that's a thing anymore Upper Deck - though points for this being the first one of these dummy ad cards I've seen. If I didn't have about 45 of the 1991-92 Pro Set Ed Belfour cards, I may have though the Jim Waite card was the French version.

Through 9140 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 143 18
Inserts / Var Kept 313 42
Error 16 2
Keep 1810 270
Doubles/Sell 1401 192 1466 2728 285 30
Doubles Inserts / Var 98 1 120 205