Episode 1:Heart Breaking A Box Of 1995 Topps Series 2 Football

BLOGGERS NOTE: For the next few weeks I will be publishing some posts that appeared on Now That's Some High Quality Cardboard blog starting with today's. I have decided to no longer blog on there because it's too hard to keep up with more than one and the fact that it didn't quite have the response I had hoped. Since not many viewed those posts and I didn't share most on Twitter, those posts will become new to most on here. So for those that viewed them and maybe even commented, you will be seeing them again.

Also these are helping be filler posts for me since I don't have any new content and it's been kind of nice taking a hiatus from having to be on here everyday. All of those posts will be posted with the word Episode in front of them. Enjoy!!

I recently made a big trade with my friend and fellow 90's wax buster Shane. He is the one who runs the Cheap Wax Wednesday and Other Stuff where he breaks boxes that cost under $50 from 80's, 90's and today.

In my trade, I not only got some set help along with some sweet singles,I will show off on here, I  was also able to land some boxes of stuff from 1995-1999 that I will bust and show off on here as well.

I thought for the very first episode of this series, I would take a dive into a very disappointing box of 1995 Topps Series 2 retail football.

Why was it disappointing? Let's take a look.

In every retail box of 1995 Topps Series 2 football, there are 36 packs with 12 cards per pack. This box was $12 so it was a good deal for a lot of cards and memories. I thought maybe I would build the base set or at the very least have the rookies and inserts to enjoy.

However, that wasn't the case.

I ended with this Stanley Richard face after seeing that every pack had damaged corner and stuck together cards.

It was beyond fixable and heartbreaking. My hobby OCD hit an 11 on a 10 scale.

Here were some more base that got the worst of it. The key word here, some. As 95% of the box contained destroyed cards.

Even this Air McNair didn't survive.

or any of the Steve Young subsets that I really wanted back. I think I was able to save one.

Fortunately enough for me, I was able to save this great 1995 Draft Pick card of Kordell Stewart. This was the only one from the box break.

Let's check out my pulls from this box to see if they survived at least.

Here is a Jacksonville Jaguars expansion booster of Kelvin Pritchett. This card didn't get damaged and looks amazing. These fall 1:36 packs. Would be fun set build...hmmmm....

Up next, I pulled three Profiles by Steve Young that fall 1:12 packs. This insert has Steve Young giving his thoughts on each player. The first one I landed was Chris Spielman

This was a set I am building and all three are new additions. Luckily for these as well that they stayed away from having any damage.

Barry Sanders or as I call him, GOAT.

Jerry Rice, another GOAT.

Then I pulled a 1:36 Topps Finest insert of Bruce Smith. These took on the base card design from 1995 Finest. One of the most iconic Finest designs ever.

Then came more heartbreak after being on a streak of positives with my inserts. One of the newest set needs was Air Raid which you can find in these boxes. Which is why I wanted it. They fall 1:36 packs, which should be one per box.

However, I found two. That meant only eight more to go for the set. Well, it didn't quite work that way.

The first one I pulled, a dual of  Cunningham and Barnett had damaged corners.

The second one I pulled and was extremely shocked to see was of Marino and Fryar. Sadly though, it was severely stuck to another card and upon finally prying off very slowly and carefully, it had leftover card on it.

This box wasn't quite as much fun as I thought it was going to be just because the cards were all damaged. I may have been able to save 30 cards from the box as the rest I have given away already to kids who needed some beginning cards to practice with.

I will need to update all of the set adds and needs from this box when I can. In the meantime, you can check out what I already need on the tabs above.

TMNT Episode 1: Prospecting And Established Players

Deep in the sewers of NYC, lived the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Most have forgotten about them living there. Some remember and shrug it off. Others still recognize them as heroes that saved their city from the foot-clan.

What have the turtles been doing all of these years in hiding.....

Sorting sports cards.

Does it truly ever end?

Nobody knew of the turtles and their collecting sports cards except for Casey Jones who would bring the turtles packs to open and card supplies to store their items.

Once in awhile the turtles run into a card-related problem that could use some help solving before it got messy.

Today Donatello and Leonardo were looking at baseball rookies when an argument broke out.

Leo: Man, so glad I collect established players rookie cards. You just never know when a prospects values can drop.

Donnie: Well, I like the upside of having prospects. They could the next future superstars and drive the hobby market! Here, I will trade you this Moncada for your Larkin just to give you a shot of money down the road. Moncada could be the next big thing while Larkin is still stuck where he is.

Leo: NO WAY! Larkin is a Hall Of Famer! Moncada could be done in a year! You even said could be. Could is not definite.

Donnie: Prospecting is awesome! Take my Moncada, you will thank me later. If my calculations are correct, he is due for a big breakout year for the White Sox this year!

Leo: The White Sox hahaha. Larkin will do more than Moncada will ever think of doing. He is here to stay! He will always hold his value and place in my collection. Those prospects are mostly flops!

Donnie: How dare you!

*insert weapon drawn noise*

Usually not the one to talk common sense, Michelangelo decides to step into the conversation to stop the two from the argument.

Mikey: Guys, guys. Slow down. Each their own. Collect what you like dude. If Leo doesn't want to collect prospects, then he doesn't have to. If he likes collecting established players, let him. If you like collecting prospects go ahead Donnie. Both are worth what they are worth in your eyes guys.

First both stopped in shock from the conventional wisdom stowed upon them by Mikey who was usually known for eating the bubble gum out of 80's baseball packs. So the both of them agreed to stick with what they like and not try to force the other to agree with them and shook on it.

 

So for now, Donnie and Leo continued on with the way they have always collected their baseball rookies. And all was happy in the turtles lair til the next cardtrovercy....

So what do you guys do when it comes to baseball rookies? You take the risk and ride with a prospect? Do you focus on already established players and Hall Of Famers? And when you trade, how often do you RISK trading a prospect with a high upside for someone who has already retired but is a Hall Of Famer? Let me know in comments.

I promise I won't let the turtles see your answers. I wouldn't want to stir them up again.

I Miss The Hobby Episode 1

I miss the hobby.......back when an LCS was around. The joy of taking that 20 minute drive to meet up with other collectors and discuss the hobby was always an amazing experience. It was also something that my father and I did every Saturday and left those everlasting memories.

Now, there is a pizza shop (there have been a few businesses that have bounced in and out from that location since) where the LCS once stood over 20 years ago.Yes, I love pizza and the extraordinary smell and taste of it. But, there was just something about the smell of a card shop and the scent that wafts from a fresh pack of cards.You can make memories at a pizza shop, but they won't ever be the same offering a card shop would give.

I wished someday that a new LCS would open up somewhere, but I know the sad reality, there won't ever be one. The loss of that LCS killed the hobby off around my area and the collectors that were once around, are no more. I know I am probably not the only one in this boat as I see collectors across social media discussing daily about not having an LCS. I know you feel for me as I feel for you.

Every day the hobby changes, some things are positive, some are not. This series will take a look at the sad realities not only affecting me, but affecting the hobby as well. Some of these you may agree with, some you may not. Others you may not think about their impact. So stay tuned for more!

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Topic:
Do you have an LCS? If not, what do you miss about it? If you do, tell me about it.