Oren Hockey

 Like it says, today, some of the hockey cards from Oren in the package he was kind enough to send my way, and we stay current with cards all being from the last couple years.

In entering these into TCDB, I noticed a number of the sets, I haven't yet updated and gone through to mark my "needs" in TCDB because I have to do so individually, can't just pick "all new Leaf cards" and add them all. I try and do this one a year or so because it's time consuming. I still need oodles of cards from before the current years anyway, but I am sure it does impact my trading a bit since people who are collecting now and have dupe Leafs could be matched up for trades, but aren't.

I may have most of the 2021-22 Upper Deck flagship set Leafs, but the O Pee Chee cards were all new, as were the couple Mitch UD Ice cards. As I've shared before, I like Auston, but I like Mitch even more, so nice getting the adds for him today. The cards here bump me to 73 Marner cards - wouldn't mind getting over 100 this year, though not going to specifically make that a goal.

A few SkyBox Metal Universe cards which scan "meh", but do look good in hand.

2022-23 Upper Deck MVP set - I put you on notice that I am going to be collecting you....soon. I have a retail box to crack at some point, and though I may not be done in a box due to those short print rookies...it is MVP, so should be able to pick up whatever I am missing soon after.

One more bunch of cards from Oren...it's been great so far, so can only imaging what's in the last bit...

Display Finish

 Today, the last of the Blue Jays cards from Oren, and some amazing ones which - spoiler - help to finish my Blue Jays auto display. I have one two framed card displays I picked up years ago from Michael's (think like Hobby Lobby in the US, just not nearly as much selection), one is for hockey autos and one for baseball - each holds 20 cards.

I don't have many autos, so I had other cards in them like SNs, non-Jays, but we get there today - though I'll have to take a picture and show another time.

Some nice 2006 Topps Jays including a couple I didn't have. I'm happy to take another 2005 Upper Deck Classics Jays card - love that set, and I can live with some Archives cards. I've said Archives is not my favourite, and much prefer Heritage between the two, but nice Jays cards are nice Jays cards, even from such sets.

DIe casts cards - very cool - while using the exact same photo on multiple cards, lazy Topps. Sure, the design at least brings something more to the front, but same photo otherwise....boo!

So yes, these are all AMAZING! Kevin Smith was a Blue Jay in the MLB for less than 20 games, but was part of the deal to see Matt Chapman join the Jays.

The Earnie Witt, I am assuming must have been a signing on the card somewhere after release - I don't know off hand if this was in any future set as an insert, but guessing not. The Authentic Signatures is my 5th Jays signature card from that set, and I think most, if not all, have come courtesy of Oren.

The design on the holiday Springer card - very nice with the blue for the Jays. I generally like the A&G relics with the mini card in the outer shell, and the Cesar card is actually serial numbered too which is nice.

If that was all that came, it would have been a fantastic package from Oren, but there's the hockey to start with tomorrow!

More Newer Jays

 Oren didn't disappoint with the Jays cards in his package, still a couple more "packs" in what he sent my way, so let's see what else we have for today.

Frank Thomas as a Jay was a fun time, even better was Joe Carter. For some reason I thought I had that Joe Carter A&G, but alas, I did not, but I do now! The couple 1994 Pinnacle aren't new for me, but always appreciated.

Winner today is the Bowman's Best Donaldson as it is a one and done Blue Jays team set - amazing.

Though I have been fortunate enough to pick up some of the Topps flagship and Heritage cards elsewhere in trades, making these dupes, the Reese Prizm card was my first such parallel card. I dislike having to try and differentiate the different cards for Prizm, and really wish they would label each and every type of card on the back when they have soo many different, but can look similar, parallels or inserts.

They do it with the Donruss set as well. At least, given the options, it was easy enough to see this was my first holo pink card from the 2021 Donruss set, and even then, had to check and see it was the "base" version and not the variant "The 6" version.

It's like they are trying to make each card in each pack unique enough to want to collect them all, without making a million actual, different cards.

Newer Jays From Oren

 e continue with the cards from Oren today, and keep with the baseball theme, just move to much more recent base cards.

Truth be told, I wouldn't be surprised if I unknowingly have some of these that are new to me as I have a lot of about 15,000 baseball cards lined up to go through at some point when I am ready to get into the next lot to share here, and they are mostly Topps baseball from say 2016-2022, but that doesn't mean I like these any less.

Reif-Foley and the Chrome cards are new to me, and that's not a surprise as my cards from the last 10 years are mostly just what I have been able to trade for so, plenty of holes to still fill.

We definitely see a lot more ref uniforms on cards for the Jays with the alternate jersey being used the last number of years, and what seems to be Topps having picked more cards with it being used. It was actually back in 1996 that the Jays first started using a red jersey - for Canada Day or celebrating Baseball Canada, but it wasn't until 2017 when it really became a more regular alternative uniform. That will likely be the big driver for more cards with the uniform pictured, but it is interesting flipping through the Jays binders to see the change from straight blue and whites to a smattering of red.

Regardless of the uniform colour - or non-uniform photos - Stadium Club cards still look amazing. Sure, Berrios looks a bit goody with the protective goggles ensuring the champagne doesn't get in his eyes, but the emption and celebration are real and well captured. Beautiful backs to the cards as well, save for the lack of historical stats.

I may not have finished off any Jays team sets from these ones, but definitely a few getting closer thanks to Oren!

Another Oren Package

 It may have taken a few weeks to get to sharing it here, but only because I had a couple packages come in around the same time, but Oren, a frequent reader and trader from the US, reached out about some cards to send my way, and we have a number to share over a few days - yay!

I figure I'd start with what many may consider the least exciting - a whole bunch of 1992 Fleer Blue Jays. Now, to be fair, I do have a team set so these are all duplicated in that sense, but at the same time - aren't.

Oh micro-variations and how I never knew about you when I was a kid. If you aren't aware, a small difference in the PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. line on the back as one version of most cards does not have the last dot after the A.

It was the missing dot version I was missing on a number of the cards, and that problem was solved in almost all cases with these cards. Very cool, and will mean I only need a couple last variations in order to complete a master base team set.

Even without that fact, we are talking about the Jays team that was at the height of awesomeness given the 1992/1993 World Series wins, just a bonus to actually need some of the variations and have them come across.

Very good day for cards indeed, and I am sure others ahead from Oren!

Rootintootinrobot Wrestlin'

 Before I get into a package I received from regular reader, and regular trader Oren, a quick PWE trade through TCDB with member rootintootin with some wrasslin' cards!

The Godfather - definitely the most remembered character played by Charles Wright, but wasn't his only one in WWE as he first appeared as Papa Shango and then was Kama and part of the Nation of Domination before hitting his stride with the Godfather, who for a period of time then became the Goodfather as part of Right To Censor.

By all accounts, a good guy behind the scenes, and close friend of the Undertaker, he may not have been a great technical wrestler, and never really touched the main event scene, but was a solid mid-card guy most of his run as the Godfather.

THe rest, all set helpers, and some good star power of more recent years. I miss Ember Moon as I think she had a lot of WWE potential, but she has been doing alright since departing.

Still not sure why they had to change Raquel's last name other than if they were worried about the connection to Giant Gonzalez, but many years have passed, so not sure why that connection would be a worry.

We end with a couple Panini cards which continue to frustrate me as a product, if for no other reason than, with this design, we use the same photo twice on the front and again on the back. Just lazy...

Still solid wrestling cards and a great little trade I appreciate!

The Last of the Cards

Today is the last bunch of cards from Jeff, and just in time for June. A lot of newer cards in the bunch.. 

I didn't really like the Allure sets when I first saw the cards coming out. I am not a big Chrone / O Pee Chee Platinum or similar collector. Don't get me wrong - I still want my team guys, but I don't think there are many, if any, such sets on my build list.

Then I got the Morgan Barron card above, and putting it into TCDB - I have more reason to not like the set. I mean, how many different parallel colour combos do you need? Yikes!

Colour parallels are fine in theory. I mean the green Ice ones above are fantastic, but I don't need to try and collect the 7 different greens and 8 blues, etc that some sets seem to put out.

I did fine with the above, about half helpers and half traders. The Rookie Retrospects are alright inserts to get too.

Not going to be building an SP set...though nice inserts and parallels as per below...

The use of blue does look fantastic on Leaf cards. Definitely want those!

Also want to give a big thank you to Jeff again for the amazing cards. Much appreciated and now I have some work to do it getting something more together for you. I always feel I end up getting more than I give with Jeff, but appreciate it all and don't take any of it for granted.