The Grady Boxes: Box 1

A few times a year, blog reader and good friend Grady M (@gradyfishinsea), sends me a box full of goodies. He has been doing this for many years since we met on my Facebook page.

These boxes usually consist of my four New York teams, some player collections and so much shiny that I have no other choice but to smile.

I never know what is arriving and what surprises hide within until it arrives. But I do know that it will be fun.

So, when Grady sent me a Christmas box round of cards, I had a hard time waiting until Christmas to open it, but I did.

Inside of the big box it came in, were multiple empty blaster boxes full of treasure.

I thought to myself, how does one post so many cards on a blog without spamming it completely. After much thought, I sat down and decided I would show off some, yes some, of my favorites from each blaster box.

Let's take a peek of what was inside of this Rookies and Stars blaster.

I don't know what these parallels are called, but I love 'em. I would take all of these that I can.

I think I need to find one in Griffey form. That would be sweet.

I am not sure if Upper Deck just used the same photo twice or if this was in the same product. Either way, two new Griffeys for the PC.

Mahomes! I will continue to take any and all Patrick's I don't have.

I don't know much about soccer, but I saw this parallel and thought it was super cool.

With lack of opening products this year, this card marks my first Aaron Rodgers card in a Jets uniform.

Speaking of NY QB's, Danny Dimes or this year, Danny Hurts. No relation to Jalen. All Giants fans expect this year to be the last straw for him with the Gmen and I expect the same. It's too bad to, last year he played so well. But being hurt often in the biggest position in football is not a great place to be. Not to mention he played terrible when he did play.

 

And last eye-popping card from this box is of newest Yankee, Juan Soto. So far, the biggest acquisition this offseason for the Yankees. The Dodgers made many other moves. But, I don't think the Yankees are done yet.

Well, that does it for Box #1. There are more to come from this series and some boxes I show off more cards than this.

While I am also at it and have your attention, I wanted to let you know of a new blog in the blogosphere that has some fun daily content especially if you are into vintage cards, especially football. Check out daily vintage football card posts from Vintage Football Card Of The Day HERE:Vintage Football Card of the Day - Highlighting a card a day from the Vintage Football Card Gallery and please add it to your blogroll!

I Live In A Metal Universe

I can make a Top 10 list of my favorite base card designs of the 90's, and I guarantee that 1996,1997, and 1998 Fleer Metal Universe all make the list.

That says a lot.

When @dan_haas found out my passion for this product, he said he had some to send me and did so.

When the mail day arrived I couldn't wait to open it up. How cool of a way to ship this to me? Original box (which I am keeping)

And the cards inside of the packs still. I am keeping an empty wrapper as well.

Here is a look at some of my favorite images from this group that Dan passed along to me.

Vlad always played like he was out of this world.

I wouldn't mind being left alone in the woods with Pedro if a bear attacks. He would just throw a fast ball and we would be good.

Tim Salmon under the ocean sea. Makes sense to me though I think adding an actual salmon to the background would have been even better.

 

If I can imagine the perfect card for a Seattle player, this is the one.

And I am showing Tino, just because. Tino was one of my favorite Yankees.

I need to update my set needs for metal now that these have arrived. So far, I am chasing sets for all years of baseball and football. Haven't decided if I can do the basketball ones with MJ and Kobe prices and hockey since that's my least favorite sport.

Thanks again to Dan for the mail day!! Really appreciate the set help.

Thoughts on your favorite card above or if you like Metal Universe in general in comments today.

Random Cardboard Of The Day:1997 Metal Universe Jim Harbaugh

Random Cardboard Of The Day:1997 Fleer Metal Marvel Metal Universe Marshall Faulk

Trading With Da Dufus

I am so far behind on posting these mail days, I did today's trade a couple of months ago.

It was my very first trade with @Da_Dufus and it went great, even with the USPS being a little obnoxious with the arrival of my mail day. 

It showed up after being in limbo for 2 weeks if you were curious by that last sentence.

@Da_Dufus is a Super Collector of Anthony Miller, so when I saw a Kerry Collins I needed he had posted for sale or trade, I jumped.

The trade went further than just the one Collins card as I hauled in some 90's inserts as well.

Side PC guy TD. Think this is the first time I have owned a Platinum Portraits.

Donovan McNabb rookie and a Playoff Fantasy Team insert of Steve Young. Those inserts have a sparkle in the background. This is my second one of these...feels like a set chase is needed.

Spx Gold! I have roughly 12 of these towards my set chase of these now.

 

And finally, the Collins card that started the trade, a 2009 Score Inscriptions Gold Zone /50.

Thanks again to @Da_Dufus for the trade, hope we can do this again!

Thoughts on my mail day welcomed in comments.

Single Card Mail Day:1997 Fleer Metal Universe Marvel Karim Abdul-Jabbar

As I posted on Cards Over Coffee, I am chasing this set so here is my latest add to it. This time it's Karim Abdul Jabbar of the Dolphins being paired with Wolverine. Guess they can't get these comparisons all right....

Thoughts in comments on today's latest card are welcomed!

Tradin' With Tim

As I posted awhile back, I am buried in mail days and needing to take about a million pictures. Someday I will get there, if it's only a few pictures at a time.

Today's is one of the oldest mail days I have been sitting on to show off and it's from my buddy Tim, aka, @CardpocalypseNC.

We recently pulled off a trade, well, somewhat (more on that soon) and he sent his end to me first. As for his end, I have no idea what he wants quiet yet but being the great guy he is, he is patient on his return.

For now, I will show off my end of the trade. 

Obi Toppin Rookie from Hoops.

Quickley yellow parallel from Absolute Memorabilia

Some Gmen!

Outstanding Giants sticker.

Metal Universe!! I will take all I can get.....

Especially when they are this cool!

Tim has always been great about set help chasing for me and once again helped this time with my 1995 Ultra Gold Medallion chase,

This was help for the second series. I am also chasing the first series.

A couple new Griffeys, of course I chase Griffeys with eye appeal first.

Anna K cards. Can't complain about these.

Megan Rapinoe. I didn't land her in my box break, so Tim passed one of his dupes along.

I have another card to show off, but that will wait for another day, another....blog?

Thanks again Tim for the trade and I am looking forward to the next one.

Rodney's Cardboard:1997 Fleer Metal Red PMG

One of the most rare, even at a numbering to 150, and coolest parallels of the 90's is by far Precious Metal Gems.

The first 135 PMG's were printed with a red foil and the last 15 were printed with a green foil making those ones even more impossible to find.

I bought a couple PMG's a few years ago at $1 each on eBay from a guy who had a boatload of 90's inserts just to have some. I can't remember who they were now, but they don't come close to the one I have today in my hands.

Ladies and Gents, here is the greatest card in my Rodney Hampton PC....

boom

boom

boom...

 

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAH BABY!!

I am not sure if I will ever be able to locate the green version as this is the only red I have ever seen pop up. But, who knows with a lot of patience.

Until next time, keep an eye out on more Rodney's for me!

All For The Metal

You all may think I am crazy, but I am giving up the "farm" for Fleer Metal Universe cards.

What does that mean? Well, I have been caught trading guys like Luis Robert, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert for plain 'ole Fleer Metal Universe cards. The more 1996 and 1997 they are, the better.

Here's a few recent adds (some photos are missing for one reason or another),

 

The design has always been interesting and fun. I like the 1996 and 1997 more than the 1998 because of the wackiness. Not that the 1998 on locations are bad.

So am I crazy for doing these types of trades? I will let you be the judge. All I know is that I am a collector first.

Saturday's In The 90's: Metal

 

There's not much I am going to say about today's post as the pictures of these cards speak for themselves.

I was reminded back at the end of 2020 how awesome and amazing the Fleer Metal sets were from 1996-1998 and that reminder led me to seek out any and all of the cards I could get my hands onto regardless of sport.

My buddy @CardpocalypseNC and I pulled off a trade where he included a good amount of Fleer Metal cards.

So, even though my writing in today's article is short, I think the images will say enough.

I could stare at these all day. I can't wait to add more.

Thanks again to Tim on the Metal cards and my apologies for taking so long to post about them!