Later Gader!

 A TCDB trade today to share, this one with member Gader09.

There are a few cards in my 1990-91 O Pee CHee set that I am doing quality upgrades on - just very heavy gum stains, so that's why Scott is in the trade. The rest are Leaf needs, including my first two Preview UD Leaf cards from 1998-99.

The stars of this trade are the 2012 Panini Molson Stanley Cup Collection cards, which are 10 Toronto Maple Leaf cards from the set (I have one other Leaf one), and the Arena one. I just need the St/ Pats, but will count this as complete for the Leaf team cards....for now...

I just wish there were more recent years represented on these cards....but I can dream.

Time To Play The Game

 Another typical pick up to catch up on my Magic cards from 401 Games 

We have the first set going back to a single booster (play) from the draft / set split types. Of course we still have the collector booster as well. The Clue inspired set is...alright, but nothing that draws more attention from me. Let's look at some colorless artifacts and lands from the set - might as well pick up some singles...

Many more lands that produce colorless mana in this set than I have seen in a while.

Nit a surprise to have a lot of clue tokens in a set with the Clue theme. I should have scanned the backs as there is a scene that goes across the Clue cards when put together side by side - very nice.

No "big" cards in the bunch, but it does knock some of them off my list on, essentially day one. I do try to avoid more expensive cards right away as MOST bounce down before going back up. Not all but a good enough strategy overall.

Victory To Be Had

 ddevito1988 sent me a trade offer on TCDB, and it was to help me with a set build. Who am I to say no?

2001-02 Victory is now 395 of 440 cards complete for me. All started with a box I bought, and from there, mostly trades, and a little help from some lot purchases, and getting to within striking distance now.

Oh, and had a Leaf tack on too...can't say no to that. Tucker is an important one too as he completes my Leafs base set for 2002-03 Upper Dexk Victory.

See - Victory!

Another Small Timmies PWE

 Another pack-like trade for Timmies cards, and this one with TCDB member nordiques24.

How can anyone not like Al MacInnis? A great star for the flames and a great 'stache! We continue to creep on completing the base set, I just need to stay focused. 

I think it's part of collecting. We can focus, hyper focus, lose focus, refocus and need focus, but I try to keep in mind then need to ensure the hobby remains fun, no matter which applies.

Traded for Traders

 Had a small in person trade with fellow Burlington resident and TCDB member Sean_bren. The cards I gave him weren't actually cards he needed, but cards he needed to trade to someone else for their needs. Works for me!

Not able to finish any Leaf team sets or Timmies base sets, but these all sure helped.

Still really like the over the top flashy gold etchings inserts from Timmies.

A second Tavares is needed so I have one for the team set and one for the set build.

Always good to see you Sean.

Interesting Extras

 The package today to share is a trade with TCDB member jamestagli. The trade was for mostly Jays but we got a couple extras too.

The Pitching A Gem insert from 2022 A&G is a one and done Jays team insert set, and I am down to only one base Jay left from the same set.

The Carter purple ice prizm is the shinier of the bunch.

The packing extras were a surprise and though I have no plans to collect them, are an interesting look at non -English cards.

A great little trade and very much appreciated.

Player Highlights

The COVID lot decided today would be a good day to highlight a few players, and who am I to argue? 

Scott started with Minnesota in 1990 and it was his 20 win season in 1991 which had him as a star of the game very early in his career. It didn't last though as, he ended up leading the league in losses with 19 just two years later.

A move to Baltimore in 1995 helped a bit and he did well through the 90s. Truth be told, I don't remember him pitching after 1999, but apparently he had a few outings spread across four teams in 2004-2006 - which were not great, before calling it a career.

 He did get his World Series ring with Minnesota in 1991, but that was it. Wonder what the mind set is winning so early and whether it's really appreciated at the time, or more so over a career where it continues to be elusive.

Garret was almost a career Angel's organization player. The last bit of his career was with Atlanta and then the Dodgers. Over his career, he surpassed 2,500 hits and almost 300 home runs.

Getting his World Series ring in 2002, and winning the home run derby in 2003, he was a really great player, but as shown with his one year Hall of Fame voting (getting 0.2%), he wasn't in that top echelon.

The Marlins early years quickly saw Charkes be the guy behind the plate. He was a solid defensive catcher winning 4 golden gloves and helped the team in it's early years, including the 1997 World Series win.

After leaving the Marlins, he bounced around a handful of teams but only saw the playoffs again in 2000 as a member of the White Sox.

An interesting trio of stars from the 90s (mostly).