I Should Do More Of These

The title is appropriate for the trade as outlined below, but also for the first card show I have ever really gone to. CardEx was a first card show yesterday at the Burlington Mall. I knew it would be mostly Pokemon, but being a 15 minute walk from home, it was worth the go. Kids went and I gave them each $50 for Pokémon and One Piece cards as that is their thing. I didn't expect to spend too much, and I didn't really. I looked at the few sports card tables and I have a hard time spending a few bucks on a card - especially when their bargain stuff is $1-$2 a card and it's stars from 1991 Donruss or 1990 Upper Deck or other high production years. I have half a mind to get a table myself next time, put out all my traders and ask a quarter each just to move the stuff. Generally, I am into my cards for pennies each given I get most of them from big lots I buy for a penny a card or so, with some purchased cards which will obviously be more costly from buying blasters or boxes.

Was it fun? Yes. Did I come away with something at least? Yes. I met up with a few TCDB members, ThirstyDeer to complete a trade (very nice guy), I got to see rmpaq5 who was there, and I had a great conversation with CharlesD and we did a trade as well which I wish I had more to give him for. I'll share those as I get to logging the trades, but I did pick up some packs for the unopened pack collection and some for opening later which I can share.

First table had a bin of $1 per pack cards and I picked up these...

Figure it should be a set I can finish with these packs as I only have a few of the cards.

I needed the 2021 National Hockey Card Day pack for the unopened collection as well as the 1996-97 McDonald's Ice Breaker, so two more additions there and a bunch of cheap packs to rip later.

Another had packs which were roughly $20 for 5 and I picked up a bunch needed for the unopened pack collection - though I think I have some I would have got in unopened boxes I have aside to still get to - but just means I can open all the packs in those!

I think the only one I somehow goofed on was the 2022 Series 1 which I already had. Not sure how I missed it, unless maybe I misread it, but still for $4 for the pack, I am not really going to complain about it. A nice variety of newer packs and moves me to 971 total unopened packs logged in (probably a few others I have in the unopened materials). Of those, 293 baseball and 376 hockey. Very cool and since the Walmart super boxes where you could get 16 assorted packs for, like $30 are long gone, this is as good as I can do these days, and I guess that's alright.

The important thing about the show, is fun was had by all.

Another trade to share today, and a reminder that it can be more cost effective to send 70-100 cards across the border than sending a PWE. This trade was with TCDB member dobby9 and saw a bunch of my 2018 Topps Update base cards turn into Jays I needed from, well, a number of different sets and years.

The cards range from the mid 90s to about 2012 sets, and include a number of Jays team set completions which is amazing. Actually, that's where we first start as Batista and Lilly are the last couple 2006 Topps Heritage base Jays I needed for that team set.

The baseball design on the Ovation Cruz Jr. stands out for being different. The design is actually raise so have a very different texture for the card which makes it unique. Had never seen the design before, so that's always cool too.

Woodward is another team set finisher - sweet! As for the sets, definitely a good variety including some higher end (for the time) sets represented like 1997 Flair Showcase Hentgen. Thick cards with great effects for the time.

Cassidy along with Gross in the scan above are the two Jays from 2001 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects which knock off that team set in one go.

Then we have other sets like 2002 Bowman Chrome where we pick up some cards, and still have a "long" way to go.

Gold Reserve cards I remember more from hockey where I have seen them much more frequently, but baseball had them as well.

If you want thick base cards, 2010 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Gold cards like McGuire and Sanchez below are as thick as relic cards.

Can you tell I have lots of Bowman and Chrome needs? At least it makes for plenty of stuff to look for in trades! At least Coco is a one and done Prospect insert for the Jays collection.

Not all the cards are base as you have seen, there are a few inserts and parallels. The Lawrie above is a rookie variation insert, the couple refractor Bowman Chrome cards of Bautista and Rasmus are really sweet looking in hand too.

An amazing trade all around, and much appreciated as always. As for the economics, cost was just under $10CDN sending as a small tracked package through Canada Post, but if I had tried to send as 3-4 PWEs, would have cost around $15, so definitely worth keeping in mind to check out how to package and price out shipping as there can be decent savings without necessarily creating a risk in sending the cards, or it may be an even better method.