Box Trade 1 - Shaw Racing

 So today, I start the share on a trade I did in October with Shaw Racing - number wise, I got about 800 cards and sent about 1,600. I wanted to send way more because some of my asks were more insert than base, but mostly because, I want to reduce my card for trade inventory. I have plenty to go through on this one and it'll take a number of days to get there and really enjoy through what I got, so today, let's get started!

Wrestling base cards is a good place to start, so let's go.

1985 O Pee Chee series 2 cards, though may not be in great condition, are great additions. These put me to 57/75 on the set. The couple 1990 Classic cards are decent as well, though not as nostalgic for me.

1998 WCW - so yeah, Jay Leno - enough to say that to know how mainstream wrestling had become in the late 90s.

I don't have much 2008 Topps Heritage cards, but here are some new ones for me. I like the design, though maybe a bit too basic with the surrounding colour, and lack of action shots, nice, but could have been much more.

Nothing like a TriStar Kurt Angle rookie card to make the trade worth it - ha! The 1987 Topps design works well on the WWE cards, as done the 1989 look as well.

Love that Finn Balor card as the Demon.

2019 SummerSlam is a set I have most of my help from here as I am only about half way. It does remind me that some of the guys I look at now and think haven't been around too long - have been with the company for a more than half a decade.

2020 Topps Chrome and, below, Finest, are sets that are a bit pricier so I won't buy directly, but happy to pick up cards in trade like this. The front design is too big for my liking as I'd rather more photo/action shot, but they do feel higher end.

2021 Topps base set is 200 cards and these get me up to 95. Still a long way to go, but almost have way is...something....

Chronicles with a couple to end - I don't like you Panini, but I will still collect you dang it! I will give grumbling praise that the Undertaker pose for the card is a great one.

A fabulous start and though no base sets were finished, I didn't even get to the wrestling inserts...those will be up tomorrow!

Tullyelly Sends The Gold

 A PWE trade that starts with a one and done team set with the Nate 2021 A&G mini rookie design variation - now that's a mouthful!

I love trading for any wrestling cards I don't have, so Goldberg is a perfect end for the trade. I grit my teeth at a lot of Panini design, but at least this one looks pretty good overall.

I will still need another Tavares now for the MVP set since I didn't get one in the box and need one for the set and one for the team set!

Starting tomorrow, I will start working through sharing box 1 of the October trades, this one being with TCDB member Shaw Racing. In an attempt to move a bunch of cards I shipped out about 1,400 to get about 800 back, so it will take a few days to share all the goodies!

Yo Birderman!

 The trade sharing extravaganza begins today and first up, a PWE with TCDB member Birderman.

So, we have one set build card with Harvey, an insert set builder with Lemieux, a variation card for the ERR / VAR binder, and Marcel is just an amazing Leaf pickup.

Plenty of Leaf content and the more I see the Fleer cards with the retro stars, the more I really like them. Doesn't hurt we show three massive stars too!

Parkhurst didn't really need to get into the colour parallels, but at least I now have some red ones! Meanwhile, the SP set cards are looking pretty similar to each other.

The Allure Tavares looks really good. I don't think I have every bought an Allure pack, blaster or otherwise, but happy to collect them through trade!

Perfect as I needed another Tavares if I plan on building that base set.

Last up is an...interesting designed Gary Robert's card. I mean, I get the "X" design, but it is still kind of ugly.

Still, a great trade so big thank yous and hope we cab do another trade in the future!

The Box So Ends

 Last day for the 2022-23 Upper Deck MVP hockey retail box, so let's see if we leave with a limp or a roar.

Solid all base additions. We end with 171/250 foe the base set completion which is pretty good overall.

On the down side, no big roar finish, but on the up side, Burns has beard!

Decent overall as we didn't get any crazy hits in the box, but did well on the set build so that placement feels about right. As I start working through trades, including the October bigger card box trades I haven't shared yet, not sure if I will have one more opening this year to add to that list. Definitely a bunch of good stuff to share though so it's like Christmas is starting early!

Patchy Patch

 No, no memorabilia cards, a nice insert later in thr post.

Aging continues for me as I see more and more guys getting further into their careers and think they haven't been around long because they started in the 00s or early 10s, forgetting that 2010 is now 14 years ago!

The fact Kopitar has played his entire career in LA will be part of the issue I guess. If there was a second team foe later in his career, I'd likely do a better job knowing his career has been near 1,400 games.

There's Patchy! Max is a solid pick up for another Pin Points insert of the regular "silver" variety. The gold would have been more fitting given the tram, but I am happy enough with the silver!

No Keith

 The only downside with getting all new cards like the base cards below, is that I like to pass along dupes to certain people. Now, when I see Bruins, I think of local guy, Jeff, who I put them aside for. I almost feel bad keeping any, and that goes for the two below today.

There are some names that go with players locked in my memory. For example, Max is a great Domi, but if anyone says Domi, I will always first think of Tie. For Tkachuk, it will always be Keith. Not to say Brady is not as good, or better, as time will tell, but it is just the familiarity of it in my brain hole.

This Might Be My Personal "Hit"

 First - Yat- continuing to get all new base additions...

However the winner today is...

A sweet Marner insert! I may not love the design, but a Leaf insert will always get my thumbs up.

According to TCDB, there are just over 3,000 cards for Mitch, and I now have 80. Still, love Marner and have mentioned before, I do personally put him just ahead of Matthew's, so yeah, good packs today.

One could say I almost Filip'd for this Fox-y insert.

More Under Kerfoot

Nice to get another Leafs add today...

Kerfoot spent 4 seasons in Toronto, coming here in a trade that saw Kadri make his way to Colorado. Usually a 3rd line centre for Toronto, Kerfoot was solid, but after the 4 years, he moved on top sign a 2 year deal with Arizona.

Nothing too spectacular in the inserts, but all new so can't ask to much more.

By Our Powers Combined...

No, I don't really have a tie in to Captain Planet - though it was a very quirky but great cartoon in the 90s.

I do have 2 MVP packs combined for this one share of cards, so let's see what the result is.

A day of doubles - not cards themselves as these are all new to me, but Troy and Tyler with the double T initials and a couple Jacob's and a couple John names as well.

Always enjoy Toews and still not there on loving the Seattle logo.

2023-24 saw Jordan as a regular on the blue line for his first full season in the NHL.

The Ice Battles cards - I said before that thr rankings seem fine, but one caveat - I have to idea how they get to their overall ranking. I can only assume there are other criteria because no matter how the ones listed, are rated or weighed, I don't see how we get to the overall that is shown.

I guess awareness can't have much impact.

Still, great pick ups all around.

There We Go!

 Two great cards in the first pack...

Brent lives the beard life. He IS the beard life - love it.

Boom! It mat not be the most rare or valuable card, but a Toronto insert, let alone one with Auston on it makes fir a great hit as far as I am concerned. Now, this combo may be the more recent on ice encounter, but I remember the late 90s and the rivalries the two teams had back then.

Pack two...

Another grat Pin Points insert to end the second pack as pretty darn great. As for the base cards, like seeing the Carey too.

Former Leaf

 A shame his success came after leaving Toronto, but on a player level, I am glad for him...

Nazem had a good run in Toronto, but shone further with the Avalanche. He has done fine with Calgary as well, and not sure if he would still fit in with the Toronto tram today, but would have liked to see if it could work.

Sweet - another silver script. Maybe I am being greedy hoping for a Leaf insert, but it would be really nice to at least get one.

Pack two...

Tom Wilson's card reminds us that there is still a COVID impact to the world as masks still remain a regular, if more uncommon apparel for fans at games.

Holy Goalie

 I do love a good goalie card...

Denko and Lehner both look fantastic on their cards here. I don't know if it's how well the photos and design being shaped together just work well or what - but really like them.

I'm not going to be getting to 250 cards on the Ice Battles set, but should get to about 30 which is a nice start!

Pack, the second...

Still not loving the Dallas uniforms with the bright green.

It's touch and go in the NHL for Adam. He only played in about a dozen games before the start of the current season and has gone back and forth from the league. The Ice Battles numbers don't do too bad a job of reflecting real life skill in broad strokes, I should have shown the back, but maybe next time.

Pin Point

 First pack in and we get a nice Pin Point insert to go with the base additions...

I have to say that of all the designs of the inserts so far, they are my favorite. I like the gold version a bit better, but both are great. Now, the fact that it's Connor makes it just that much better. Any card of a generational talent is a good card.

Second pack...

After 7 years works his way through the ranks and minor leagues, Johnny made it to the NHL. Spending a brief time with Winnipeg before a couple years in Montreal, and now being with New Jersey, he has been able to stick in the big leagues so far.

Hopefully we can stick with more additions again tomorrow!

All New Continues

Happily, another day with all new to me set additions and inserts in the couple packs of 2022-23 Upper Deck MVP, so let's check them out.

I have had a Stamkos insert already, so nice to now pick up the base card.

Still looking for the one in 36 pack gold script 20th anniversary card which should be in this box, but we do have a second "regular" bronze or copper script. Ryan is a great one from the insert set to get, so no complaints there.

Second pack...

Nice - another Leaf base card out of the way. Getting dupes for the set build is a need of course, so all good there.

Jacob (instead of Jakub) looks great with the goalie pose here, nice, full and no action in front to skew the photo - love it.

Another silver script (every 5 packs) to finish another solid couple packs.

A Sad Reminder

With the couple MVP hockey card packs today, a sad reminder of the tragic events from this past August.

Johnny and his brother passing away, victims of what appears to be a drunk driving related incident was tragic news. A shame for the stars as it's such a tragedy in any event, but gets the news headlines due to the victims of course.

Kinds of makes for a sad posting - sure the cards are almost all new additions, and all - but it's one thing to be looking at cards from the 80s, 90s, etc, but for a newer release like this, not a tragedy you want to be reminded of.