PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL!!

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to my Cards Over Coffee YouTube channel!!

I will be busting a bunch of 90s packs in YouTube shorts from all sports, non sports too and already have some longer videos up as well.

You can sub here:

https://youtube.com/@cardsovercoffee?si=JlLpBcpPH8nt2o3U

I won't have a lot of time for longer videos for awhile,  but there will be some shorts and you can go back and watch what I have already posted.

I will do a giveaway on here once I hit 100 Subs. 84 more to go as of this post.

Thanks in advance!

BLOG CROSSOVER EVENT 1: Million Dollar Idea

I watch more TV than I should, but it keeps me centered in my life.

I watch it while I blog, while I sort cards, while I do house chores or simply when I have a few minutes of downtime.

One of my favorite things to watch is when shows do crossover episodes. These kinds of episodes occur when they are trying to either get the word out on the new shows or trying to keep them from continuing to falter. since they can't match the original.

For example, there are multiple NCIS shows and sometimes they will crossover three of them into one extended episode starting with the key show because that first show had always carried the weight. Now it's time to help NCIS Sydney and NCIS Hawaii.

I thought, hey, I run three blogs with two that are kind of struggling, why not do a blog crossover event? It's something that no blogger has done before...at least I don't think it's been done so that would be a fun creative idea as well.

So, here is how this will work. I am showing off my latest mail day from Reader Oren. I will post some of the mail day here, move onto Cards Over Coffee for Part 2 before finishing it up at Big Blue Cardboard for Part 3. 

In order for you to see the full mail day you will have to read all three blogs on three different days.

Hopefully this will also influence you to follow/subscribe/add them to your blogroll while you are at it :)

First, let's see how this one goes while we examine my latest mail day from Oren.

In the Sport Card Collectors part of the mail day, I am showing off the 1997 Fleer Million Dollar Moments cards. These cards fell 1 in every pack and were spread across multiple products from 1997 and early 1998 and sports. Each sport had 50 cards to chase, and each offered a chance to win a Million Dollars.

In order to win the Million, you must complete the 50-card set. Sounds easy, but it wasn't Cards 46-50 were all short printed with one of the cards rumored to only have one copy. Meaning, it's a 1/1.

I didn't find that particular card in this lot from Oren, but here are the ones I did find,

 

As far as anyone knows, there wasn't a one-million-dollar winner announced for any of the sports. I would assume that tough to find 1/1 card is still out there. Maybe a collector even has it and doesn't know it. Maybe some collectors thought these were trash and tossed them. Guess we will never know.

All I know is that we don't offer this kind of fun chases anymore.

I wished.

More to come in this mail day. But you will have to read Cards Over Coffee tomorrow to see what else Oren included in this mail day.

Go Give Them Some Love

If you are reading this tonight, go give my other two blogs some love and drop them a follow (subscribe to!!)

This blog has 184 followers so I know not everyone is following the other two.

Cards Over Coffee 72 Followers (giveaway at 100 followers)

Big Blue Cardboard 31 Followers (giveaway at 50 followers)

Thanks!

Also, once this blog hits 200 followers I will be doing a giveaway!! So, spread the word!

Thanks everyone!

Feeling Mystical

I have found out that posting your wants is a good idea on the blogosphere.

Because you just never know when a reader will have what you need.

When I posted my Unfinished Cup segment post about 2024 Topps Update Mystical on Cards Over Coffee, reader and fellow blogger Stuart who runs S.R. '75 Cards blog, commented saying that he had some help for my set chase.

So, we began emailing back and forth working on a trade. Before I could even begin on my end, he already sent out cards on his end.

Here are five more down for my set chase,

 

Here is what remains in my set chase (click this sentence). This is still such a massively big set, and I still have a way to go.

Thanks again to Stuart. I haven't forgotten about you. Life is starting to slow down a little more so hopefully can hit you back soon.

If anyone else has help for my chase, just drop me a comment or email to sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com.

Read New Posts On Cards Over Coffee

I am always trying my best to promote and build up my other blog Cards Over Coffee. Cross promoting sometimes can help both blogs.

So if you haven't checked it out yet or added it to your blogroll or even followed it (I am still stuck at 59 followers!!), go do it!

Right here: Cards Over Coffee (cardstotalkabout.blogspot.com)

Lots of fun coming up!!!

Have a great day!

MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!!

I decided instead of doing multiple giveaways with multiple shipping, i would just combine them into one massive giveaway!!

Because this is a decent giveaway, there will be am extra step from the last giveaway.  Of course this has to do with building up the two blogs i will be working on the most.

Here is what i am giving away,

Here is how to enter:

1.Must have a U.S. Address

2 MUST FOLLOW Cards Over Coffee (if you already do say so in comments) and comment when you do

3.MUST FOLLOW Big Blue Cardboard (if you already do say so in comments) and comment when you do

4.Follow all 3 steps, 1-3. You are entered!

5.Winner chosen in 2 weeks!

Thank Panini America for their generosity!!!

Contest Reminder

Don't forget to enter the contest in my previous post! Winner picked on Friday!

Also, make sure you follow Cards Over Coffee so you don't miss new posts like my latest product reviews and breakdowns like this one,

Coffee Break:2022 @PaniniAmerica  Chronicles Draft Football Hobby Box

Follow link to see how i did and my thoughts:

https://cardstotalkabout.blogspot.com/2022/08/coffee-break2022-panini-chronicles.html?spref=tw 

Good luck on the contest! More to come!

CONTEST!! WIN 6 PACKAGES OF BCW MODULAR SORTING TRAYS!!

 

I gave our previous winner almost 2 weeks to claim this prize, so guess what, they lose out. Time to pick a new winner who actually wants this prize.

To enter to win Six boxes of BCW Modular Sorting Trays (36 total card cells), shown above, you can do the following,

1. MUST HAVE AN U.S. ADDRESS (BCW's rules)
2. FOLLOW Cards Over Coffee blog, HERE. There is a follow button on the right side of the blog and this entry is as easy as can be
3. BONUS ENTRY BY FOLLOWING BIG BLUE CARDBOARD HERE.
4. Make sure just to comment DONE after you have followed or already follow Cards Over Coffee. I will check.
5. Thank BCW Supplies for their support. Also check out their many items for sale including these BCW Modular Sorting Trays HERE.
6. WINNER will be chosen at RANDOM in one week
7. Thanks again for entering and good luck!

Burrow Hunting

*the sun is out on this morning before the storm starts to creep its way in tonight. Coffee, cards and blogging is on the agenda for now. takes a sip and gets onto the post*

If 100 people were in a room just to simply guess who would be facing off in the Super Bowl this year, I would bet all 100 would be wrong. Not only be wrong, but not have a single one of them even breathe the word Bengals in the conversation. 

However, here we are. Rams vs Bengals.

With the NY Giants playing this year like the bad version of the Little Giants team if not worse, I had a pretty solid list of teams I didn't want to win in the playoff this year.

I had a reason for everyone of them.

• Cowboys-Division rival and can't stand their obnoxious fans
• Eagles-HATED division rival and once again, don't like their obnoxious fans
• Buccaneers- Who really wanted to see Tom Brady win again?? I mean really??
• Packers-Aaron Rodgers is a.........well..... you get the point. It was nice to see him struggle and lose
• Patriots-With or without Tom Brady, I just don't like them

I had a feeling I would have to deal with hating on one of these teams in the Super Bowl, but to my surprise and everyone elses, none of them even made it to the Divisional Championships. So then became the question of....who do I root on?

I chose the Chiefs. Despite how annoying Patrick Mahomes brother can be, Patrick is not. He is a humble Super Star who is fun to watch. He may also be a side PC, but we will talk about that another day. Sadly, the Chiefs didn't pull off the win and the Bengals did. That didn't really affect me too much though, as it's fun to see a team you wouldn't expect in a million lifetimes make it to the big game.

So, for the Super Bowl, I am a Bengals fan. It would be nice to see them finally take home the big one.

*takes a sip before continuing on with today's post*

I have been holding onto a couple of 2020 football boxes for the right moment and figured what moment is better than Super Bowl time that features rookie cards of the Bengals amazing Quarterback Joe Burrow.

  

The two boxes I had to open was a 2020 Chronicles NFL blaster box and a 2020 Prizm hanger box. I also wanted to point out the new background for these newer photos I will be doing on here. Needs a little tweaking, but they should look cool when I get it right.

The box that had my attention the most was the Prizm hanger, since everyone wants a Prizm rookie of top players. It's THE rookie card to have.

It was a good thought anyways as these were my two best and only rookie finds in the box,

 

Not that either of these guys are bad players, but the last thing you want to find in a "high end" box is two defensive guys.

With luck down on that break, I turned to the Chronicles where a very nice card was found in the first pack,

A Dynagon silver parallel of Joe Burrow.

Rest of the box wasn't to bad either, I found a couple Jalen Hurts, a couple Tua's, and then the other Top QB from 2020,

Justin Herbert.

The Chronicles break went pretty well I would say, and my Burrow hunt actually landed me one. That doesn't happen too often in a post like this.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I think this year's NFL postseason games were the best I have ever seen and here's hoping the biggest game of them all will be just as exciting. Say what you want about other sports and Game 7's etc, the NFL has the best playoff system. You only get one chance to win so you give it your all.

I also apologize to the fans of the teams above I hoped to lose if you are reading this, nothing against you...unless your an Eagles or Cowboys fan...even still....I had my reasons and I am sure you have yours as well for teams you despise.

In comments, let me know which team you are rooting on for the Super Bowl and what your favorite Joe Burrow card is? While you are at it, let me know which teams you didn't want to see win.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

A Rough Blog January

 I don't know about the rest of the bloggers, but January was an awful month in views, comments and lost followers on here. Probably one of the worst months in the history of this blog.

It's not like I missed a day off or haven't posted something about cards every day, I know in the past some toy posts really didn't view well, it is just weird and not something I hope continues as the blog moves closer to its 10-year anniversary on March 1st.

Just like in life, I always have a bright outlook and hope that it improves.

While I am also just doing a short plain post for today, I am going to toss out Cards Over Coffee again. I am still working on building that following as well. Will do a contest once that blog hits 100 followers. Right now there are 41, so a ways to go.

Check the blog out here,

CARDS OVER COFFEE

And spread the word! Add to your blogroll and follow the blog for a future contest as 100 followers.

Post #5600

 Yup, you read the headline correctly. Today marks the 5600th post on Sport Card Collectors. This has been something 10 years in the making. That's a long time to be doing this on here and that's a lot of posts in that stretch.

I would actually like to take this minute out to give a shout out to Cards Over Coffee that has had some new posts up on. I am still wanting to grow that blog and am hoping with your help, I can. 

So far it has only 41 followers and averages about 50 views a day. I would love to double those numbers by years end and think I can with your help.

This doesn't seem like much of a celebration for yet another big milestone on this blog, but, it's how I wanted to do it.

Thanks to all of you who have stopped by and read one or maybe more of the 5600 posts. There will be more to come.

And before I forget, check out Cards Over Coffee right HERE.

The Latest

I haven't made a lot of trades this year like I have in years past, at least in the variety of traders I use. But, I have made some and even those some have backed me up with posts on the blog to do.

As I try to get my mind in the right place with blogging, I am still undecided on my future with it still and the direction I will take, I still have lots to post about regardless if anyone is reading these posts or not. September was a brutal month for numbers on this blog despite my new direction for it which is not a good sign of it's future. September both views (especially views) and comments took a BIG DIP. I am not talking a few here and there, I am talking a ton. Comparing August and September on there, there was a 17,000 view difference and in terms of comments, that was cut in half. It's the kind of thing that drives you away some. It's probably the main reason I jumpstarted Cards Over Coffee back up again, knowing if I am not going to get the views or comments anyways, I might as well continue on with that blog.

Which by the way, if you haven't checked out Cards Over Coffee in awhile, it not only has a new jazzy look but has some new posts. I am still in the process of adding new content, a new look and more fun over there. Check out that blog HERE. Please add it to your blogrolls, use it in your blog posts when you refer to me, etc. Those posts take me hours to do so the more traffic to check it out, the better.

In the meantime for now, let's check out a new post on here and from blog reader Oren who happens to be the person who I have traded with the most this year.

A couple for the non sport PC.

I have always liked Kurt, his passion for the game and for his faith is someone worth looking up to. Not to mention his backstory which will soon be a movie.

90's inserts. I never complain about getting these, the more, the merrier.

Another nice Martin relic for that side PC. Think I have 4 of them now.

And finally...yes, I always save the best for last...

 

Batman Forever Built For Speed. Best card in my Batman PC currently. If any of you are sitting on any Batman cards that are collecting dust, I will send you my address :)

Thanks again to Oren for the trade. I am sure by the time this posts we would have done at least another trade.

As for the rest of you, check out Cards Over Coffee please and once again add it to your blogrolls and even a add onto your post would be appreciated as well!

One

Today, April ONE, it's weird calling it that but I just want you to go with it regardless, I have ONE card to show off. Just ONE.

 

That ONE card is a 1984 Topps Glossy All-Stars Dave Winfield that I have ONE copy of. I also have ONE full set as well. Why did I choose this ONE card from the set? He is the ONE and only NY Yankee from that set....surprisingly. Can you imagine Topps only putting ONE Yankee in a set today? I heard you all laughing as we all know, it's not happening.

Now more on Winfield. He played for more than ONE team, was a ONE time World Series champion and ONE time NL RBI leader. Also, his jersey number for his time with the Yankees, thirty-ONE.

If that's not enough, Winfield retired in 1996 and guess what, was voted into the Hall Of Fame in 2000 and...you got it..ONE. The same year the Padres retired his jersey number... again thirty-ONE.

I think by now you guys are tired of seeing the number ONE. I know this ONE blogger has. Okay, that wasn't supposed to come out that way. It was the ONE and final time I promise. 

I better stop now

Have a great April Fools Day and don't be fooled.

OUTLANDER CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED!!!

So I held a contest over at Cards Over Coffee for a chance to win ALL of the hits from my Outlander box break. However, sadly only 13 contestants had a shot to win. 13!! There was some incredible prizes to be had including an auto, dual wardrobe, single wardrobe and even a 1/1 printing plate.

I guess that's everyone else's loss. That's what you get for not following Cards Over Coffee.

Anyways, we have a winner after my usual 7 randoms....

There were 13 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Bill Svake
2. Unknown
3. William Carter
4. Fuji
5. Dennis
6. RUFFCUTT
7. JKK427
8. Bryan Mc
9. GoOutsideGuy
10. Waxkini
11. cntrybritt20
12. Mike
13. Unknown2

Timestamp: 2020-08-07 12:37:19 UTC


You have randomized this list 7 times.

Congrats to Bill Svake! Please message me at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com, DM me on Twitter, message me on Facebook page or message me on Instagram. Wherever you entered from. You will have 72 hours from today to claim or they will be re-given away in another way.

Thanks to all that entered and stay tuned for more giveaways to come especially when I hit 9,000 Twitter followers.

The Bucs Stop Here CONTEST!

Love an easy contest? Well, I have one for ya! Go check out The Bucs Stop here blog and see his contest for the baseball season and make your predictions for a shot to win some Series 2 or some Bowman! Both of which are not easy finds.  Actually is any retail easy to find right now?

ENTER BELOW ON THE LINK PROVIDED and find bonus ways to win! CONTEST ENDS TONIGHT AT 11:59 PM!!!!
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

CALLING ALL CONTEST ENTRANTS: Win Some 2020 Bowman or 2020 Series 2!

While I also have your attention, I am holding a contest as well over at Cards Over Coffee. Win some cards for just commenting on the last four Coffee Breaks on there.  Earn one entry per comment. Also add it to your reading list. As I have said, this is the final run of Sport Card Collectors with just a little over 30 posts to go.

CONTEST! WIN A PRIZE PACK!!

You like giveaways don't cha? Well, head on over to Cards Over Coffee and comment on this post,

Coffee Break:2020 Chronicles Draft Picks Football

This will mark your first entry into a big prize lot that includes cards from a few reviews coming up on there. You can earn three other entries by commenting on rest of the Coffee Breaks that will be posting over the next week or two. You must have a U.S. address to enter.

Prize pack will consist of 8-9 hits, numbered cards, parallels, inserts and some star base cards. It will be a good mix of baseball and football.

So I suggest you go follow that blog already, add it to your blogroll and don't miss out on more exciting content!

Winner Of The Gavin Lux Auto!

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest over at Cards Over Coffee and also to anyone who has been commenting and following that blog.

For those of you that haven't yet, go do it already!!! Especially since more good stuff may happen later on over there. I am trying to get that blog a following.

Okay...time for that drumroll and my favorite number 7 random....

27 are in it to win it (which seems low for a Gavin Lux auto but hey, everyone else loss)...

here we go...

There were 27 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. JKFF1
2. TheAngriestChad
3. GCRL
4. Dion's IP Autos only
5. @JG24fanever
6. Nachos Grande
7. Autographs
8. The Diamond King
9. amlsportscards
10. baseballcardzrfun
11. @MCL723
12. RUFFCUTT
13. Fuji
14. Kb
15. TONY
16. Dennis
17. Jason
18. @Jake1725
19. William Carter
20. Tim B.
21. Jacob Nassib
22. Daniel DuBay
23. hudsonfan15
24. APetrelak
25. OZsportsfan
26. Chris
27. Johnnys Trading Spot

Timestamp: 2020-07-09 12:55:48 UTC
You have randomized this list 7 times.
Congrats to JKFF1! Please contact me via email at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com with Contest Winner Onyx in subject line, or on Instagram at Cards Over Coffee, Facebook at Cards Over Coffee, or either Twitter account of @collect_sport or @tocollecting. Whichever you found out about this contest on is fine. I will be checking all areas to make sure I don't miss ya. JKFF1, you will have 72 hours from today to claim your prize or it will be re-given away at a later time.

Thanks to everyone who entered and there may be other contests later on.

Once again, go CHECK OUT CARDS OVER COFFEE!!!!! The next post will be about Topps Project 2020 and I don't think you will want to miss it!

Trying The Off Brand

*iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttts cofffffeeeeee and blog time!!!*

Sometimes it's not always the brand name items that brings out the best product. Sometimes it's the off brand that not only packs a punch, but gives you your best value back for your money.

It's that way sometimes for food, household cleaning items and even for your coffee.

There are the headliner brands such as Maxwell House, Folgers, Eight O'Clock, Seattle's Best and Chase and Sanborn just to name a few. All of these are fine brews.

But, they also cost about $12+on the bigger cans that hold 22 oz. I need to buy the bigger cans so I am not running to the store all of the time especially in today's world having to wear a mask, follow footsteps on the floor and trying to stay at least 6 ft from everyone.

Followed by a hand sanitizer bleach down in the card.

*takes a sip*

However, this off brand Best Yet coffee still tastes pretty darn good, has 22.6 Oz and is under $10.

It still tastes just as good, has more in it and is cheaper. So a lot of the times I will go that route. Who doesn't love something just as equally good that can save you money?

*takes the next sip*

I feel the world of baseball cards can relate to that scenario.

There is Topps who headlines the baseball card world with it's never ending MLB license, the Maxwell House and Folgers of the collecting world, and then there is that Best Yet brand in Panini who doesn't have the MLB license, but still has MLBPA and USA licenses.

Is Topps more appealing to the crowds because of it's MLB logos? Yes. But, does it pack the punch for the value like Panini does? No.

I think Panini doesn't get enough respect for their baseball card lines. I hear you guys grumbling, I know there is no logos on the helmet or team names even for the player, but if you can push past that, take a look deeper into Panini baseball products, there is so much more you're missing out on.

Not only are most of their products cheaper, but they also come with more hits and have more value per your purchase. This goes for both hobby and retail.

One of their best products with the biggest value/punch is Donruss. Everyone grew up collecting some form of Donruss in their lifetime. I know it was a regular, and still is, in my household.

Let's compare 2020 Topps Series 1 to 2020 Donruss hobby box style.

2020 Topps Series 1 is $130 per hobby box and you get the following,

• One Autograph or Relic Card Per Box (98% of the time that is going to be a single color relic)
• One Silver Pack Per Box

vs

2020 Donruss Hobby Box that goes for $118

• Three Autographs or Memorabilia Cards Per Box (all three will not be autographs, but they also all won't be single color relics either)
• Seven Parallels Per Box
• Four Independence Day Parallels Per Box
• Five Inserts Per Box

They both have the same key rookies to go for as well and the equally good headlining signers for their autographs as well such as ken Griffey Jr, Acuna, Judge and Otahni just to name a few.

I don't know about you, but that cup of Best Yet is looking pretty good in comparison.

*takes another sip, okay, you caught me gulp and now onto cup number 2*

If you still are not convinced by now, well, I brought some examples of their inserts in here thanks to my buddy Grady who recently sent me some. They are not the bland reprints of designs past or those annoying Topps Now fillers, they are bold, bright and creative.

As Seen...it's supposed to make reference to As Seen On TV. A baseball player on TV, what else can you ask for? The only thing these cards are missing is Billy Mays in the corner.

Dominators a long standing line in the Donruss re-created by Panini. Spectacular!

Same goes for Elite Series (the Arenado is a parallel)

And Donruss HIghlights that's been around forever.

Not convinced yet? Let's see one more shall we?

 

Now Playing (I know a lot of us wished this was true). Creative play on words and once again a great looking card.

Don't tell me that these didn't spark some interest for you and that you sat there looking at the team logos the whole time either. I bet you didn't even notice they were missing and are probably going back to look now.

*halfway done cup number two*

I should probably clarify that not all off brands are equal to the name brand. One of those that comes to mind is immediately Kraft Mac and Cheese. There isn't a single off brand that comes close to it and most are pretty nasty. Take my word on this at least.

Once again though, that is my opinion. Everyone has different tastes.

But, the examples I gave above of coffee and cards (this seems to be a thing on here), are more equal or better than the name brand. Don't take my word for it, you will have to give it a try yourself to experience the full flavor.

Have I Lost My Mind?

Have I lost my mind? Has quarantine really played with it? What am I even thinking?

Do I have answers to any of these burning questions?

No.

Why do I have those questions? Well, over the course of the past month, I have added three new blogs to my blogging. THREE.

One is Cards Over Coffee that I have been partially promoting on here but two others just had their first posts up today.

I may not be able to answer the questions above about my sanity but I can answer some of these FAQ's I expect.

Q:How do you find time to do five blogs?

A:Well, I really only focus on getting this one a posted daily. Otherwise, the other blogs get posts when I find time and have the materials ready to go.

Q:You say you're running out of ideas on here for posts, but you start up multiple other blogs with new posts?

A:The new blogs have their own specific directions and may revisit old stuff I have already done. Sport Card Collectors no longer has a direction really.

Q:If I add those new blogs to my blogroll and follow it, will you keep posting on them or drop them like your past attempts at more than one blog leaving me with a blogroll full of nothing?

A:I plan to keep posting on all of them. Like I said, they won't be daily like this one at all and could be once a week. Could be more. Could be even less. But, they should keep on having new posts. I don't plan to stretch myself thin with them like I did with other blogs in the past which is why they failed.

Q:What are these blogs names, links, and can you tell me a little about them?

A: Here we go, BLOG LINKS ARE EMBEDDED WITH THE NAMES.

1. Snagging Cardboard: This is my NY Giants card blog and sometimes complaint central during the season. I post my cards there and sometimes an article.
2. Cards Over Coffee: If you are looking for my best work, that's this blog. I spend a long time working on these articles and try to tell a story about the cards while having a nice hot brew. there is plenty of reading on this blog so far and many great cards you may have missed out on if you haven't read it yet. You can find Cards Over Coffee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well.
3. Collectin' Rodney: Well, it's my Rodney Hampton PC. I will do my best to keep it in order from 1990 til now re-visiting all of the cards and sets along the way.
4. Let's Talk About Sets: Just like with the segment on here, I will be using that blog to post a front and back of a set need along with the numbers I need as well. I am hopeful that will show what I need to others can recognize it. Maybe even some of you have stuff I need.
5. Sport Card Collectors: Mail days, reviews, Rodney's Cardboard, Autograph Of The Week.This will be the main purpose of this blog.

Follow the ones you think are interesting, leave the rest or follow them all and add them to your blogrolls. Completely up to you. I have had some partial discussions with myself, who doesn't talk to themselves, about possibly retiring this blog and going to Cards Over Coffee full time. But, as of now, I have no plans to do that and plan to continue what I have been doing here for almost 9 years. And I am only 101 posts from hitting the 5,000 plateau once this one publishes. Also remember this is also a streak of no missed days on here since March 2012.

I hope I clarified everything up and maybe even caught you off guard today with all of this.

Thanks for stopping by!
Matt

A Mystery

*sun is already shining, heat/mugginess is building, and here I am sitting down with my first cup of joe to type this*

 

I love a good mystery.

Well, except for my coffee. Don't mess with my coffee. I have one way of liking it so don't mess with it and add some flavored mumbo jumbo or replace it with tea. 

Don't you dare.

Otherwise a good mystery is fun. Whether it's a mystery book, mystery movie, mystery mail day or mystery packs that you can buy. A good mystery keeps us on the edge of our seats.

Just like recently, when I tried my very first mystery pack.

Why is it my first? Well that's not a mystery I will leave you hanging on.

I always worry about buying them not knowing what kind of junk could be within. I assume in order to get the money the sellers are seeking, that the "chase" cards are impossible to find and a lot of it is what we could find in nickel and dime boxes. Which I am running out of places to store that kind of stuff. Yes, I have gotten to the point of collecting where space is becoming an issue. Mainly because my boxes to store stuff in are running low.

Another point to make about these mystery packs is most of these packs cost $10 when I could have turned that into a card or even two for my PC instead of possible junk.

But, this mystery pack was different than the rest I found. It was focused on my favorite era of collecting, late 90's and early 2000's. What made this pack even better, it was cheap. It had my attention.

So for $2.25 plus shipping, you get 30 cards. There are "25 cards" plus 5 cards that are Inserts/Parallels/RC cards. Intriguing.

All of the cards are NBA cards from the late 1990's through early 2000's. The seller put the Inserts/RC's/Parallels/#'d cards in plastic sleeves and each pack was wrapped like the above example.

Here's an example of some of the sets that were to be included into these mystery packs,

• 1997-1998 Topps Chrome
• 1997-1998 Bowman's Best
• 1998-1999 Fleer Mystique
• 1998-1999 Fleer Brilliants
• 1998-1999 Topps Finest
• 1998-1999 Skybox Thunder
• 1998-1999 Fleer Ultra
• 1998-1999 Upper Deck Black Diamond
• 1998-1999 Upper Deck Ionix
• 1999-2000 Skybox EX
• 1999-2000 Topps Gold Label

And the list of players that are in it as well,

• Kevin Garnett
• Vince Carter
• Grant Hill
• Shaquille O'Neal
• Anfernee Hardaway
• Tim Duncan
• David Robinson
• Jason Kidd
• Steve Nash
• Paul Pierce
• Dirk Nowitzki
• Richard Hamilton
• Chris Webber
• Kobe Bryant
• Michael Jordan
• Scottie Pippen
• Reggie Miller
• Karl Malone

Combine all of that with the price, the BIG NOSTALGIA FACTOR, how could I say no? So I grabbed two of these packs and paid under $10 for them both. After getting the packs and seeing how I did, I wished I had gotten more as they sold out almost immediately.

*smiles during my next sip*

Time to show you why they sold out so fast after opening them,

PACK 1:

We kick off the pack with a Topps Finest Felipe Lopez rookie card in old school Grizz uni. I would love a pair of those shorts to wear.

(no that's not an extra Lopez, that's the same one) I found John Stockton and a Karl Malone. Man I wished that Jazz team could had won a title. But, those darn Bulls...

Tim Hardaway, Payton, Garrity Finest rookie

Marbury (I wonder if my buddy still collects anymore who was a big time fan), another Payton and a Barkley

Shaq, Garnett, Penny Hardaway (forgot he played for the Suns)

And now onto what's supposed to be the good stuff. I thought I had already seen all of that up to this point.

Grant Hill Wing Men

Charles Barkley NBA All Stars

Elton Brand Topps Gold Label rookie. Imagine how hot this card must have been back then? For me it's about the Gold Label

Kobe! Great photo to. I never busted any of this Fleer Genuine

Cummings Topps Chrome rookie

And a Larry Hughes Black Diamond rookie. If I remember right, the rookies in this product were Sp's.

That was just pack number one folks. I was feeling like I had drank the best cup of coffee I had ever had after opening that one. Well, the cup I have right now isn't too shabby either nor is Pack 2.

*takes another sip*

PACK 2

I remember Mcleod and how hot his cards were supposed to be.....

Here we go some more. Fleer Mystique was another great looking product, PC guy Allan Houston Topps Chrome, Shawn Kemp, Spreeeeeeeeeeewelllll or as MSG called it out

Jamal Mashburn, Ewing, my first dupe with the Stockton, Kittles

A few Gary Paytons, Barkley another Hakeem Olajuwon

Marbury peeled Finest parallel, The Admiral, Hakeem again, Ray Allen

The sleeved cards including Webber, Tom Gugliotta nice die cut insert

Tim Duncan insert. I think it's either rookie year or year after. I can't remember now. I opened this awhile back.

And I believe I can fllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyy wooooooooooooo. An MJ spotting. Very cool especially being a side PC card and the way his cards have been moving. Fleer Ultra was also the bomb back then

 

It was the back of the card that caught my attention. I am not sure if you can read it, but the Did You Know? was "four hours before every game, Michael eats a 23-ounce New York Steak, either a baked potato or mashed potatoes, a salad and ginger ale."

That's crazy. Can you imagine running around for three hours with that in your system? That's just another reason why he is the GOAT.

*cup one down, next one coming up*

I contacted the seller afterwards and thanked them for a trip back in time and told them how much I enjoyed their mystery pack. They mentioned to me that they may make a second series seeing how this one went, if they could find the rest of their cards.

A week later, guess what they found and made and even contacted me about.

And guess what I did

And guess how I did...

A mystery isn't it....

Too bad that's for another cup of coffee, or two, another day.