A Quick End

It is the end of another busy season, and I am back with a very quick couple small sets represented in the BASEball lot - 2020 Donruss Optic and 2020 Topps Finest. Not a lot to see here, but that's okay, I want to run off and start catching up on a last day of filings and double checking that things are filed so I can then sleep for a few days!

The good from the cards - the Cal and Eddie are keepers because they are 1986 designed inserts. Given the old design and Chrome like finish - these are really difficult for my brain to be okay with.

The back of the cards are fine with the classic 80s Donruss look - except for one thing that really bothers me about them. What is the point of the long white box at the bottom of the stats box? I mean, it's not needed, right? Nothing in it, nothing to add value for it, just get rid of it.

Just the three Finest cards, and nothing to keep there so, if anyone needs an Eddie Murray, I have a few extra, just let me know!

More and Missed Bowman

Back to the BASEball lot today, and some missed 2020 Bowman Chrome, some 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospects inserts and 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome parallels. Yeah, my head hurts just thinking about it because the cards all look the same too. 

Granted, it means a bunch of cards,I get to keep being parallels and inserts, but with the similar designs, I did miss looking at the numbers to get the Bowman insert in the right post, but that's OK, got him covered here.

If you don't know by the player as you look at the cards in this post, hard to tell what is from which.

Happily, one Jay represent here also...

Groshans didn't last long in the MLB, just a stint with Miami in 2022.

Typical Chrome, even in scans, you can see the bowing in cards.

Stick To It!

I have little more than time to check in on the hockey playoffs these days, hoping that the Leafs are still around when May arrives so I might just watch some. So far - going as expected, though the Leafs could probably be playing better, but good teams find ways to win even when not playing well, so being up 3-1 over the Sens, is about right. I didn't think it would be a sweep, but should be done in 5 or 6.....6 would be better for my quickly done playoff pool, but I'd be happy with 5 as a fan.

No hockey today though as far as cards go, instead, we have baseball with a TCDB trade today that is sticker heavy. This trade is with member distirbed1.

As I have said before - I don't go out of my way to collect stickers but happy to take them in a trade. Similarly, playing cards are interesting, but not high on my collecting list per se, but neat to pick up still.

I didn't know the Vladdy was a sticker at first, but full card size stickers - I can get behind that!

Steven Matz wins prettiest card of the trade for his pink wave look. Toronto was a one year pit stop between his time with the Mets and then afterwards with St. Louis.

Fabulous trade and hope to do more in the future with the distirbed1!

Classic Wrestling

 A very tiny PWE trade today. This one is with a fellow Canadian, one from out in Nova Scotia, Rick Mackay.

As a kid, I loved Demolition. Their theme song was fantastic and on point, honestly one of my favourites to this day. As a tag team they were a Legion of Doom rip off, but done well in their own right. Unfortunately between health issues and Legion of Doom joining WWE (WWF at the time), the team disappeared. Definitely paved the way for kick button tough guy teams.

As for Ronnie, his time in the WWF was from 1988-1990, and wasn't someone I connected with well, though remember his retirement angle which had him ref and interfere in matches as the ref, instead. Was definitely different and actually something they could probably bring back and run now as a good angle.

Nice couple adds to the collection though, and much appreciated!

Workin' On Gold

A small PWE trade with TCDB member flyers4life. The "bulk" of the trade was to get a few more 1993 Topps Gold parallel cards as I keep getting closer to completing that set.

These adds bring me to 710 of 825 - more than I ever figured I'd come across to get, but here we are!

The other card in the trade was the 1994 Fleer Major League Prospect Delgado, the only Jay in that insert set.

The other couple cards were kind surprise add on.

Bip is continued set help on Studio and Joe was a Jays need - very nice and unexpected.

Unexpected Package

 Winding down with the last week of busy season, this package confused me for a minute because I could not find the trade it related to.

Well, that's because it wasn't from a trade, just a kind package from Sportcards From The Dollar Store.

I always welcome Jays and Leaf cards to my home, without hesitation. As my kept collection ad a whole closes in on 100,000 cards, about 16k of which are Jays and 10k of which are Leafs, I enjoy each pick up as much as the first.

I mean, how can you not love picking up a card like the Power Couple one above?

Whether new, old, star like Matthew's or...not so star but good hand like Zezel, I appreciate them all.

Though a sweet looking Sundin gold medallion may get a slightly longer happy glance!

Really appreciated and may have some cards heading back your way when April is done.

Learning Lessons

 Let me start by saying - it happens and I am not mad at the trade partner here - this happens and I am fortunate enough that it isn't a huge deal, but it is worth sharing in case it helps others.

Declared value when filling out customs information can have an impact. In this case, the post office in the US, not even the trade partner, put $100 value to the package when sending. The trade partner is looking into it, but I suspect they were asked about insuring the value "up to $100" and that is where it came from.

Well, there may not be duties - well, at the time of this trade anyway - on values under $150, but there is sales tax on values over $40.

So when this arrived, it cost $28 CDN to accept. Almost half of that being the customs "fee" for them handling, charging and collecting the sales tax.

A good reminder to keep an eye on how customs forms are completed, as I don't think these are worth $40 let alone $100. The trade partner was going to go back to the post office on it and let me know what happened, and if they can at least get a refund as they even paid $17 USD shipping....yikes. 

Thick Boys

 It may have been a trade where myrke sent me 11 cards, but it was thick enough it could have been 20.

Sure, we have these four normal cards include the two and done Jays from 1987 Fleer's Baseball's Exciting Stars set, but then we also have these...

The Bowman gold cards are all thick, like slightly thin memorabilia cards, each maybe 3 cards thick. Made for a thicker PWE, but all arrived safely.

Unfortunately for the Jays at the time, none of these guys had break out careers with the Jays so the prospects were more duds than studs. Still, decent cards hindered by faux signatures.

Surprise Add On

 A small PWE trade with TCDB member Erdoro which brought me some nice Jays cards...

They may not be super rare, but the 80s had a bunch of glossy inserts or send ins from Topps that I still don't have in my Jays collection. I solve a couple here is the All-star team card (I guess it counts...) and with George Bell.

2000 Upper Deck Ultimate Victory was a smaller set at 120 cards, but with some of those serial numbered, the pure base set was only 90 cards. It means the three Jays cards here are what you get to complete it.

We then had a surprise add on...

From 2003 Bowman, A Signs of the Future auto. Now, Jason didn't end up being the future for the Jays, or any MLB team as he never made it to the big, but he does have a good looking autograph.

An unexpected but much appreciated surprise.

Wrestling From Martin

 A small PWE trade which came in from martinchabot - my most traded with partner according to TCDB as we are at almost 20 trades now.

None of the cards complete a set, but I really wnjoy the Rhen & Now inserts or subsets, and Edge is a great one here...and would be very different if done today.

A couple more Panini cards gets me to 58....of 500! Year, massive set that I am not a fan of, but.....wrestling!

Big E - great guy by all accounts. A shame he had to retire from the ring, but he is solid as a talking head on pre shows so at least we still get to see him.

Appreciate the trade as always Martin, thank you!

Get The Boots!

With Timmies packs behind me, Somes trades from past days to share. It's another good way to enjoy some quick card intervention in April.

Today, a first time TCDB trade partner Boots. I sent away mostly 1999 Topps Chrome cards in exchange for...

I love the Donruss puzzles and Lou here is one I didn't have much of. Still one more I need, but these get me a lot closer.

 The Gallery cards are great, but the couple 2019 Holiday cards finish the 4 Jays pure base set for me, and getting the Vladdy rookie is the big one for me in this trade. This gives me 3 Vladdy cards marked with the "RC" - though I know people definition of rookie card can vary. I don't fuss and am moreso happy to have 160 Vladdy cards total so far, definitely one of my fave Jays regardless of how long he stays in Toronto.

Ending On A High Note

Don't worry - not the blog - just the Timmies packs, but we end overhead...

The Tavares is my best Leaf pull from these packs. A good looking card, but goalie in this insert set do look better.

Ending with the McDavid base works too as it is probably on of the top three base set gets.

So, how did these packs do overall?

With the Leaf pulls, these being my first packs into the set, and a bit of luck not getting too many insert dupes, a very solid outcome.

Another Kid Insert

They may not be rare, but another Sid insert works for me...

Honestly, the True North one yesterday is much better to me, but I am not complaining about this Frozen Hot Shots one. Unfortunately, starting to see some base duplicates, but I should be able to trade them easy enough assuming we continue to have a mail system in Canada (joking but at the same time, it is not financially healthy, even with recent price increases).

Side note - the Kraken jerseys are starting to finally be something I am getting use to seeing.

More Kid

 We move on to the last few days of 2024-25 Timmies Packs with the hopes of more set goodies.

Still not hitting any super-long odds on cards, which is fine. I always hope but never assume. Continuing to knock of cards from the more regular insert sets, and with the Pure Gold inserts, keeping an eye out for more poor imprinting, though today's looks fine.

The Crosby True North insert wins today. I usually don't like the international jerseys in NHL sets but stick The Kid in a Team Canada one on that insert and it would be fantabulous!

Drunk Printing

 Okay - maybe there are issues with the Oure Gold inserts...

Fiest looks good, buy the next two are both way off. The scan works well to see it as you can look at the shadowing around the head to see how off the print/stamp is. I mean, they are off a good bit - at least they weren't upside down I guess!

Great for me in collecting the error cards, though I will need good copies for the set build - but that's all good and well.

Almost took away from the Auston pick up....but those are some great packs for me!

Chugging Along

 It's mid-April - work is exhausting, days seem long as forever, sleep fleeting as is time with family....so...how about a few new cards for a few minutes of relief...

Ah - much better. A second Inmotion pick up, but otherwise standard fare for the packs. Definitely my eyes draw to Jacob - goalie cards do rule.

I can look forward to May so I can relax a little and I should have a handle on what I need for finishing this set so I can start trading again then too.

Trending

 Seeing red with the Timmies cards today...

Those Future Trends inserts line up nicely in design and will look snazzy on a full page, though I didn't really need the back-to-back Habs. Getting Connor is great though - I find he is so collectible that it can be a little harder to get his cards in trade - not impossible, just a little harder.

At least the base set build continues well - looking like 50% or more is very possible.

So Close

I have mentioned a few times, as opportunity provides, that thete have been some great overhead photography done for some goalie cards. This Tim Hortons set actually provides an on topic insert set, but just misses at being what I would ideally want to see.

If they would have pulled the design back a bit on the top amd bottom of the Above The Ice insert set, and then leave the ice background in check, it would have been perfect. Instead, the background looks like what you see after being bunched in the face - more circles than stars.

I know the insert set itself isn't all goalies, and hopefully another example comes up as they fall every eight packs.

The Pure Gold insert looks well stamped here, so maybe yesterday's was a one off.

Oiled and Flawed

 Another triple shot of Timmies packs today and we hit oil...

Can't really complain in getting two more McDavid cards, and both being inserts is sweet.

Let's talk printing errors though. The Forsberg Gold Rush insert looks great, but the printing on it is obviously off as you can see the imprint off from the player outline. It's cool because I will take it as an error card, and I am surprised to see it in Timmies cards as I haven't before. Don't know if it's a real issue for this release or if I got "lucky".

NY and Washington

Three packs again today and a number of cards from New York and Washington.

I will remain not so much a fan of Ovi, but will give him his dues as I though he was about to be written off production wise before this past season, but he look like himself from 5 years ago this past season.

Luck of the draw gives a Ranger in each pack to boot.

His Set

Second day of packs and we get the man himself...

Standard to the set, base card number one is Tim Horton himself. Also get my first Inmotion insert. Luke was a Calder Trophy finalist in 2024 and is a solid part of the Devils line up.

Great adds with no dupes today.

Start The Timmies!

As promised, today we start into the 2024-25 Tim Hortons packs I got at Christmas from mom and with the binder, see how far we get on a master set...probably not very - but should be a good  start.

As usual, Crosby on the pack, and one away for the unopened pack collection, and a bunch to open! Usual three a day to start.

Well, if I am going to get a dupe in the first three packs, I am cool with it being a Leaf. With 120 base cards, surprised to get one so quick, but all good.

Not a big fan of the stress on the "10" logo given the anniversary, I get it, but too much to the logo for me.

The base design otherwise is great usual Timmies, and the couple inserts here are the most common, but look good. Wouldn't have minded a die cut Maple Leaf for the True North design, but small complaint.

Solid start!

Bowman's Finest

 When I see Bowman's Best cards, they remind me of a Finest ripoff. Well, shouldn't say ripoff, but a similar take. Not sure why there is such a need for sets so similar, and this one for 2020 at a whopping 70 cards in a base set means there isn't much to collect there and again, it's all about the inserts/chase.

Good news for my collection - the Top Prospect cards are inserts, so I keep the above but not enough to collecthe base cards which are here...

At 70 cards for a base set, easy to just keep the set to the stars. The design is fine enough but the backs definitely lack...

I am tired of the basic write up backs - give me stats! No Jays (boo), but I am sure I can trade some of these away - just having to put more effort into that once busy season is over. I'm still going to post every day, but I am going to work through the 2024-25 Tim Hortons packs I got from my mom at Christmas, as they make for fun, but short openings each day and will hopefully help me get through another April!

News and Drafting Again

Before we get to the cards and post for today - obviously Ovi has been the big news with the hunt for, and passing oof Gretzky for the goal scoring record in the NHL. I have never been the biggest of Ovi fans - always been a Crosby fan in the rivalry between the two, and no matter how you cut it, it's a great accomplishment, and you can't really compare the two as the time Gretzky played in is quite different from the one Ovechkin has played in, but I will say one thing, which I find a compelling argument when considering who is better.

Gretzky isn't a goal scorer. Gretzky was a playmaker who was best known for seeing and reading plays from his office behind the opposing goal when on offense. Let that sink in - Ovechkin's being celebrated for passing a guy, who happened to get a lot of goals, but who wasn't a goal scorer.

Don't get me wrong, Gretzky was a good goal scorer, but his "job" has to do with the assists he earned, and doing that, he happened to get a lot of goals too. I have no problem saying Ovi is a better goal scorer than Gretzky, but a number of people were "better" goal scorers, however none were better at reading the game and being able to play ahead of where the game was at to find the opening that was going to be there in a few seconds, based on the play that was unfolding.

I stick by the fact - you really can't compare play across generations as the game itself is quite different, and Ovi can be celebrated for accomplishments, and it doesn't take away from Gretzky and his - just very different players, at very different times, that ended up with one stat being similar.

In baseball, if initial headlines are true - Jays may well just have locked down Vladdy Junior at $500M over 14 years which will make him a career Jay one would expect. Cautious optimism and hoping this turns out to be a done deal and agreed to, though should be seen that we find out!

Most of the cards from the BASEball lot today are 2020 Bowman Draft cards, but nice to get a couple keepers. 

Groshans was a solid card at the time, and nice to get, not one, but four copies. Since I didn't have one before, nice to get a new pick up. The other keeper...

I suspect this was missed when searched through by others before the lot got to me. Definitely a surprise and solid pick up being a serial numbered card.

Those are the keepers, but a smattering of cards to show you from the base set are below. Same design as Bowman, just the Draft set and at 200 cards, not enough to push me to want to build it.

There were a few other Bowman cards. I updated the numbers and nothing new for me here, but I missed sorting properly as they would have been shown before if I did.

The Best of Bowman from 2020 to show tomorrow.