The Final Chrome

 From the BASEball lot, these will be the final Chrome cards as we wind down, and 2021 Chrome from Topps shockingly looks like the flagship set, but just Chrome-ier.

Happy to get a handful of Jays including the long-term Vladdy. 

A lot of green grass in the photos - hadn't noticed it the same way in the base set, but in the Chrome set. Hadn't really thought about it, but given the COVID baseball parks which may have been in play with some of the photos taken, makes sense to take away from the empty stand impact on the cards.

Beautiful full stats - Topps does this right with their, let's call them, "main" sets.

Definitely Want This ONe

 I knew that one of these Stadium Club sets would get enough of my attention I'd be adding it to the build list, but I didn't expect I'd also luck out with a parallel...

Sure, not the most exciting, just a red foil parallel, but still a surprise parallel. The photography is so great in this set, even for Stadium Club...more examples below...

So many of these just stand out for being great, be it the little things of a good timing on a sliding catch, a close up of a catcher trying to get an out....it's the little things that make many of these great photos stand out.

I'll deal with the backs being below what I'd want them to be - that's not why we collect this set, it's all about the great front photos.

I can't even begin to pick apart how many of these photos I like and why, but the angels and framing is just so different from the flagship sets, and with the full photos, the set just looks so amazing. Picking up about half the set here, definitely want to try and finish this set. Have a bunch of dupes too so hopefully can trade to build this one, but even if I don't finish the set, these cards are great to enjoy individually anyway!

Finest For Someone

 We continue to wind down the BASEball lot, and getting a good look at 2021 sets that I hadn't had a good look at before, today's being Finest.

A consistent design and look for Finest, and an interesting and colourful enough background design, just not my style.

The backs have the ongoing issue for many releases of only showing one year of stats, but I do like how the design matches up on the cards when put together like above.

The highlight for me, and only keeper from the bunch is another Bo Bo card. My second copy, so was not completely new for me, but a happy pick up regardless.

Almost half the base set from Finest, but still isn't going to be one for me - I mean, I can't collect everything and without a real nice feel about the set from the looks, just not enough draw. Does mean more to trade!

The 1 With The 6

 A few small entries for 2021 sets from the BASEball lot today, but one nice keeper, even if it is my second copy of the card. This is the only card from the set in the lot, but it's a Toronto base variation...

Yes, Bo Bo from "The 6". May not be my favourtie nickname for Toronto, but I get it - it's a reference to the area code of the city, well, what use to be the only area code for the city, but now we are up to three. A nice 2021 DOnruss card, so no complaints at all.

There were more 2021 Donruss Optics cards than "normal" Donruss in the lot, and here are all of them, which could be yours if you are interested...

Exactly the same design as the Donruss set, just Chromier....I mean, more Optical...ier. Again, the background just gets lost with the finish on these, rather have the "normal" product versus the Chrome.

The backs are the same on each product, save for the name of the set of course. The green colouring does give them 100 options for parallels, which Panini takes advantage of, of course, though no examples here for me to show.

THe last, more fancy of the sets as evidenced by it's name....Mosaic...

The lack of licensing really harms the designs in my opinion, when you take away all the background as it means less to focus on, and it's so much more noticeable.

Still, neat cards and nice for trade if nothing else. Maybe I can turn them into something for my collection in the next little while!

Maniac Indeed

 So, a single card to share today, and when I do a PWE and only get one card, you know it's probably something nice, and this offer for a few cards came from TCDB member Kleskomaniac to whom I sent...no Klesko cards actually, just a few other needs filled.

What I got in return has a nice serial number to it...

I love my Bo Bo cards, and getting a serial number one to 150 is a nice enough card, it's worth the stamp and a few cards going the other way.

I have said before, I don't usually do trades for a card, but never say never as it's a nice little exception, and good enough for a stand alone post! :)

Platinum and a bit Blonde

When I think Platinum, I think blonde, and we kind of have a little bit of one in the first card out...

Vladdy with the locks showing a bit of blonde. Both these are not only Jays, but new Jays for my collection as I didn't have any 2021 Bowman Platinum Jays until today. There were some top prospect inserts as well...so more keepers for me...

The cards feel great and look decent, but I really wish the backs would be full stats. That point aside, I like the size of the writing - for someone with vision problems like myself, it's a small point (ha!) but an important one. Just like colour contrast can be for being able to read them - easy when it's black on white background, but sometimes it can get a bit dicey.

As you can see below, I did get a fair bit of the base set, but I don't really like the product enough overall to want to chase it. Happier to just put these into the trade pile and work on finding them homes in exchange for Jays or working on other sets. Actually, I think that will be my next project - I mean after getting through the backlog of unopened goodies I have piled on the last 5 years or so....and after the other mixed sports card lot I have aside to work through....then maybe I'll spend a year solely trading and moving traders and see how well I can do at reducing what I have for a change!

Don't Forget Draft

The good news for me - at least we are talking Chrome inserts from the 2021 release, not just base cards. Bad news - no Jays. 

Still no fan of the draft releases - might as well just put more inseets in the main Bowman release, but maybe it's just me. I don't want the hype of trying to collect the next big star among 100 or 300 "maybe" players.

I do appreciate the cards look good, but Quero is a perfect example - he just made it to triple A level ball in 2024. I mean, great if you like the minors and stars before they are stars, but I just don't have the interest. Give me a set that includes the full roster of every MLB team first, then we can talk minors.