Summer Of Wes Card #10

Summer Of Wes Card #13

Summer Of Wes Card #78

Kerry Collins Of The Week Part 2

A new week full of Kerry Collins bliss!

Let's check out this weeks adds....

 

1997 Bowmans Best uncut proof refractor Kerry Collins/Michael Irvin

 

2004 Leaf Certified Materials Mirror White

1995 Upper Deck Sp Championships die cut

2002 Prestige Connections dual relic with Amani Toomer

And the big whammer of the week.....2002 Score Originals Buyback autograph of his 1995 Score rookie. I really loved this card. Only 100 made of it as well.

Well, a short week of adds, but believe me, next week will have many, many more!

Rodney's Corner:2002 Topps Reserve Autograph Mini Helmet

We are on a commercial break on Parts Of My Past with The Origins Of A Cardboard Addict series,

Time to cue the ABC Bumper For Commercial break

with the newest segment, Rodney's Corner. This segment will feature all of my newest Rodney Hampton additions. This will still stick with the 90's because it's the era Rodney was from and why I collected him.

Today's item, yes not a card this time,was the one autograph I had left of Rodney's to find up until Panini released it's 2018 products. I was this close to owning every Rodney Hampton autograph on my checklist til 2018.

Now I am four away including three 1/1's. That's next to impossible.

In the early 2000's, Topps came out with the Topps Reserve line and it was spread across a few sports. Every hobby box of the product came with packs of cards and a mini helmet, hat, or other signed item. I think it was a fun concept and even bought a box of the baseball at the time. I did pretty well and will share that when we hit the 2000's in my Origins series.

For years I have been searching for the Rodney Hampton helmet to pop up at a reasonable price and one finally did. With some work of magic from my friend @90sNicheFBCard I was able to land it and cross it off the checklist.

 

I tried my best to capture the autograph magic but it wouldn't show to well through the plastic with so many reflections. But, here's the back of the helmet with the sticker and numbering of the helmet.

Thanks to Bryan for the sweet addition. This was actually one of many Hampton additions he helped me with in our trade.

Til next time...

Face 2 Face

Football has always been my passion. I grew up collecting it, watching it, been to a couple of games of it

 

and even played it for five years split between high school and Pop Warner.

Football has brought both joyful moments for me like when I got my first NY Giants jersey from my best friend,

And has also brought me some bad memories like my senior year in high school when I tore my right ACL in the fourth game of the season. It's a moment I will never forget.

When it comes to football cards, that brings me joy even if the card features a saddening moment.

Today's acquisition is just that.

When I saw this card featuring facemask swatches, I knew I had to have it. I was a huge fan of Kerry Collins-especially his time for the Giants-for his entire career and Ray Lewis is a Hall Of Famer. So I made a $2 offer and the seller gladly accepted and I snatched this up around Christmas time. That was a pretty good deal knowing the rest of these were listing for much more than that. There are other Giants in the set I will need at some point.

After purchasing the card, I started to think more about it and those deep down hurt emotions from Super Bowl 35 started to surface. The game where Ray Lewis and that vaunted Baltimore defense trampled my Giants to a 5 turnover, 152 total yard, 34-7 thrashing.

Kerry Collins to Ray Lewis was a big connection in the game. Lewis knocked down many passes from Collins and caused disruption throughtout. I was starting to think they were teammates and had to close my eyes every time Kerry went to throw.

I quickly started thinking positive about the past two Super Bowl visits and pushed those deep sad emotions from Super Bowl 35 game back down and started to enjoy the card again as a card.

Another cool thing about this card was the back and seeing the helmets they got the swatches from,

 

I miss the days of seeing the actual memorabilia. I think a lot more of this in today's collecting would help collectors feel better about the relics they pull in packs and lead to less questioning if they are authentic.

It's sometimes funny how a card can bring back some good and bad memories just by seeing the players or the actual photo scene on a card. What's one of your greatest or saddest moments that cardboard has brought back to life for you?

Wrappers Of Collecting Past:2002 Bowman Baseball

Let's go back to 2002. A year I must remember quite well as it was the year I met my wife. Those of you that are married know it's not good to forget important dates and years especially in the first year you were together.

Well, the one thing about my wife is that she likes to bust cardboard. She isn't one that collects, but loves to open and find the hits or my favorite players. So more than likely we busted some 2002 Bowman.

 

The wrapper does look familiar but as for what I may have gotten, it couldn't have been anything too big as I forgot about it. It's probably the only thing I forgot about in 2002.

However, it was a product loaded with a good rookie class with players like Joe Mauer and Fransico Liriano.

So I pass it on to you guys...you remember any good hits or pulls from 2002 Bowman? What was your favorite rookie/prospect card from the set? Let me know in comments!

NYG PC Spotlight 21:2002 Topps Pristine NFL Reebok Rookie Premier Jersey Card Tim Carter

 

Tim Carter

Jersey Card

 Card #RPR-TC

Wrappers Of Collecting Past:2002 Donruss Super Estrellas

Today's Wrapper Of Collecting past is a bit off course. It's a product I haven't opened, the wrapper here still has cards in it and it's one that's a product all in Spanish.

 

 

These cards were distributed primarily to Latin America and those areas in the U.S. with a large Hispanic population So they may not be that easy to find.

 

I found my unopened pack at a local yard sale for about $.25. I think at some point I may bust this and show it off on here as there is a Griffey card I need in the 150 card base set and some among the insert sets. So stay tuned for that.

In comments below, let me know if you have busted any or picked up any singles of any.

BASEically Awesome Part 2: 2002 Topps American Pie Spirit Of America Part 2 Vol. 3

Here is the final part of the three-part series of 2002 Topps American Pie Spirit Of America BASEically Awesome.

Today, we look at American Treasures. Names that all of us will never forget for many different reasons.

This part of the set covers cards 116-150. 

You will find American Treasures such as the one and only King Of Rock And Roll, Elvis.

You know what kinda eyes she has....

President Gerald Ford not hiding anything

And Bill Clinton taking a ride. Yes, this one could leave to many puns and I have a few myself. But, I will leave it to your imagination.

Overall, a fun product and should be easy to build with it only being 150 cards. I think I am close, but still missing a few. I would have to check.

Let me know your overall thoughts on this product and this part in comments below.

BASEically Awesome Part 2:2002 Topps American Pie Spirit Of America Vol. 2

You witnessed Volume 1 yesterday with the baseball player portion of 2002 Topps American Pie Spirit Of America, but to me that was only a third of the slice of pie.

Today, we take a look at cards 51-115. Well, not all of them. Some to give you an idea of what this set was made of.

Yes, baseball is known to most as America's Game, but there is so much more of America that this product covers. Cards 51-132 covers Courage, Innovations, Perseverance, and American Treasures that wraps up and shows us how great America truly is.

Cards that showcase Courage from wars battled like Vietnam and the Gulf War

And courageous people such as Rosa Parks and Buzz Aldrin.

 

Innovations such as crayons and

 

 innovators such as the great Thomas Edison make an appearance in here as well.

Perseverance like the Statue Of Liberty and Battle Of Midway make their appearance as well.

And American Treasures such Mt.Rushmore and of course Bazooka Joe, it is a Topps product, make an appearance as well.

Like I said, this set has a lot to offer and a lot of fun to view. Not to mention a lot of proud history.

Up next in the set is.......oh....I won't blow it. Come back for Volume 3 tomorrow!

Thoughts on Volume 2 are welcomed in comments below.

BASEically Awesome Part 2:2002 Topps American Pie Spirit Of America Vol 1

A couple of weeks ago, I post a Wrappers Of Collecting Past segment on 2002 Topps American Pie Spirit Of America and mentioned how I wanted to show some of the base cards off because they are BASEically Awesome. Well, I broke this down to a three-part series this week since the base set makeup is build that way to me.

Most of the time this series will focus on base sets that capture the action on the field with it's photogenic moments, this time, they just capture a bit more than that. They capture baseball history and history itself and I totally bought into it.

So let's take a look.

The first 50 cards of the base set are baseball players.Not just any players, legendary players on the field.

I found it cool to see Willie Mays in a Mets uni, not something you see too often anymore. I had to brush up on my baseball history a bit to see he played for the Mets after being traded from the Giants at the tail-end of his career for 72-73 seasons.

I am always excited to add a Jackie to the collection. Gotta love Reggie's shades. Really brings out the pic.

And some throwback uni's and a Brock not in a Cards uni is also a different site. Unlike Mays, Brock started out with the Cubs but was traded in 1964 after the Cubs got tired of waiting for his development. I bet now they wished they had given him a little more opportunity. I guess it was all apart of the Cubs curse.

 

Seeing the throwback uni's, some of the greatest players in a different uniform and the overall design of the product is some of the reason they are BASEically Awesome. You will have to stay tuned to see the rest over the next two days.

Thoughts on Volume 1 are welcomed in comments.

Wrappers Of Collecting Past:2002 Topps American Pie Spirit Of America

In my third post of Wrappers Of Collecting Past, I take a look at a product that offered a little bit of everything. Like a big ole piece of American Pie. Funny coincidence...

Today's pack is 2002 Topps American Pie Spirit Of America Baseball Edition. There were 7 cards in every pack from a variety of things. Baseball, politics, celebs, you name it, it was in here. You could also find some unique relic cards of those items including ones from the great Elvis.

 

As for my memories with the product, I actually never opened any. I did however pick up a nice box lot of them at a yard sale. All base, but they were fun and something I am going to showcase in a three-parter in my BASEically Awesome series.

Let me hear your thoughts on this product and any fond memories you may have of it in the comments below!

Random Card On My Desk:2002 Donruss Studio Press Proof Autograph Austin Kearns

 

Year: 2002

Brand:Donruss Studio

Team:Cincy Reds

Card Type:Autograph

Card Numbered:N/A

Sorting: Will be placed in a top loader  

FACEMASK!!! Number 80, Gain Of One Card

Jeremy Shockey was simply one of those guys who didn't want to see come across the middle of the field if you were a defender. Cause if that ball got in his hands, he would simply take you face mask off with his bullying style run after the catch.

In my latest pickup, it seems Leaf took the face mask off of him.

 

I miss when companies would do more with helmet pieces in memorabilia cards. There are only so many times you can see a plain colored jersey swatch in a box. What about mixing it up a bit??!!!

Recently in 2014, Panini brought back helmet pieces to their Absolute product and I believe it carried out to a few others as well. It was a nice add in and something I was happy to see and pull in that product. There is so much you can do with a helmet. You have the facemask, the numbers, stripes, buttons, straps and so on. Those would make great pieces. I would love to get a prime swatch with some NY on it!

What are your thoughts on helmet pieces?

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?! THE FINALE!

WHAT'S IN THE BOX??!!!! I yelled, well, quietly yelled to myself making a movie reference from the ending of Seven. Cause honestly like Brad Pitt, I had no idea what was inside this shoe box.

There was no head, hand, foot or any other body part found in this box. Just hobby goodness.

To finish up my series of What's In The Box, the final item I found at the bottom of the box was once again a box topper. This one was from 2002 Upper Deck World Series baseball and is a piece for my Yankees PC. This particular one celebrates the 1950 World Series between the Yankees and the Phillies.

Well, I hope all of you have had a fun ride with this series. If by chance I find another box of mysterious items, I will definitely bring it back. In the meantime, check your collection for boxes you may have tucked away. You never know what you may find in them...just hopefully not a head.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?! PART 6

WHAT'S IN THE BOX??!!!! I yelled, well, quietly yelled to myself making a movie reference from the ending of Seven. Cause honestly like Brad Pitt, I had no idea what was inside this shoe box.

Not long ago, there was another one of these Materialistics in this box. The previous one, Roger Clemens. Materialistics are not game worn jersey, but just an image that is printed on jersey type material. There are two variations to some which are home and away jerseys. My Gaffney is a home jersey.

In this Fleer Focus product there were box topper ones and regular sized card ones. This one is a box topper.

Here is the back of the card and explanation of what the card is.

Not a bad find. I think these are pretty cool and glad I have one for both football and baseball. These are something I don't believe has been done since, so it makes a bit more of a fun collectible. At least to me it does.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?! PART 4

WHAT'S IN THE BOX??!!!! I yelled, well, quietly yelled to myself making a movie reference from the ending of Seven. Cause honestly like Brad Pitt, I had no idea what was inside this shoe box.

So cautiously hoping not to find a head, I opened the box and found many scrap papers, trash and some hobby items. Yes, buried within this box were some hobby items I had forgotten about. So for fun, I thought I would come up with a new segment to show you what I found.

The fourth hobby item I found in the box was this 2002 Upper Deck Sweet Spot NFL Player Patch Collection card of the great Randy Moss. These were inserted as over-sized box toppers in 2002 Sweet Spot. I was fortunate with pulling a good player out of the 50 in the set.

This is similar to today's manufactured relics, except back then they were called Souvenir patches. I think it looks really cool. Sometimes I don't mind pulling these if they are done right but overall I prefer something game used.

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Thoughts on this card and other manufactured relics? Are you a fan? Yay? Nay? Let me hear it!