Single Card Mail Day:2023 Panini Obsidian Lightning Strike Orange Autograph Jessie Armstead

One thing I have really enjoyed about Panini football releases in 2023 is the number of players they pumped into products that you don't see every day.

Especially NY Giants.

In 2023, players like Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Brian Daboll, Tom Coughlin and today's subject which is the randomest of them all, Jessie Armstead.

Jessie Armstead was one of the many great NY Giants linebackers over the years. He played from the Giants from 1993-2001 and was apart of the NY Giants Ring Of Honor.

Jessie made a lot of plays over the years but the one that stands out to me is his Super Bowl pick six for a touchdown that was called back because of a holding penalty. Which was a bad call and changed the outcome of that game as momentum was on the Giants side. The game would have been tied at that point but instead 10-0 because Baltimore kicked a Field Goal soon after. In my mind, that was a scoring play and will always be one.

I am glad to be able to add his autograph to my Giants collection finally as he was one of my favorite Giants players of the 90's.

Let me know if you have added any obscure autographs to your collection recently!

Johnny's Now Trading With Me

A few weeks ago I put up a post looking to do more blogging trades and welcome in some new blogging traders. That post actually surprised me when I had two new guys throw their names into the hat for a trade. One of those trades I am still working on but the other was done the next day with Johnny's Trading Spot.

I have always read his blog but guess didn't correlate the fact he has a blog with the word trading in it and actually trading with him. (smack my head emoji)

But, we got quick one done and his envelope showed up way faster than I had a chance to get mine out. I once again had to grab some extra stamps on hand to make sure I could cover a few more trades which I plan to do soon. I used a few of those stamps for RAK's.

I had no idea what Johnny was sending me in our very first trade as we didn't get to the details, which I am fine with as surprises are the best way to do trades.

And boy was I surprised.

All six cards in the PWE had been signed, not at all what I was expecting.

Derek Brown

Chris Calloway, I always liked him. Never quite stood out as a super star but made some great plays.

Jason Sehorn I always had mixed feelings on. One game he is a shut down corner, next, well he was the leagues worst. Either way, I have more good memories of Jason than bad so I am more than happy to take on his autograph. Didn't have one before this.

The biggest memory I have of Jessie Armstead, who was a heck of a player by the way, was his interception in Super Bowl 35 that got brought for a touchdown. A touchdown that could have changed the direction of that game. But, instead a holding penalty called it back and the game wasn't ever close after that.

Danny Kanell started some games for the Giants, wasn't the answer after Dave Brown but held the seat warm til the Giants brought in....

Oh look, Kerry Collins. There is just something so appealing to his signature. He is always one that seemed to sign his jersey number whether it was 12 or 5. It was always there. This will be a great piece for my Collins PC.

Thanks to Johnny for the first time trade and hope we have more to come. I am kinda curious to say the least where you acquired these from. TTM? In-person? bought? I always enjoy a good backstory with my cardboard.

(UPDATING THIS POST!!! A little over a week later, he sent me another PWE this time loaded with Mark Brunell autos!! I thought while this hadn't been posted yet I would add them to this post since this hadn't been published yet)

As most readers know, I really liked watching Mark play especially his time with the Jags who were my second favorite team in the 90's.

Thanks again for Round 2 as well! Great choice of cards to be signed.

The Origins Of A Cardboard Addict: Counting Blue Car(d)s

Must have been late afternoon
they could tell by how far the child's shadow stretched out
And I walked with a purpose in my sneakers down the street
I had many questions like children often do

I said, "Tell me all your thoughts on Giants cards
And tell me, have I collected enough?"

A big hit for 1996 was Counting Blue Cars by Dishwalla. It was a song I listened to repeatedly on our car rides after recording it off from the radio. Yes folks, we didn't have the digital capability of just downloading your favorite song, we had the radio stations play them and we used our cassette tapes to record them off from the radio in our cassette player. You only hoped the song wouldn't be cut off at the end or have the DJ talk during it which happened to me a few times.

I have found myself counting blue cards recently as I update my NY Giants card numbers on here and coming to the realization that I don't have much late 90's NY Giants.

Crazy to think for a person who loved that era.

I was lucky to have a few of those spots filled in 1998 thanks to some help from @Cardpocalypse.

The first cards are 1998 Skybox Premium. I recall buying some packs of these but not too many as they sold out fast. There was some rookie Quarterback that everyone was chasing and 1998 stuff didn't last long on shelves. Well, at the gas station I bought cards from.

I was always a fan of this product line from 1995-on. Great base designs, fun inserts and rare parallels. These are the base cards,

Michael Strahan, the Giants sack mastah!

Jason Sehorn was and on and off player. Sometimes QB's picked him apart while other times he made some big plays.

Tiki's second year card has him looking like he has blazing speed. The Giants knew he would take over for Rodney when he stepped away from the game and he did.

1998 Skybox Premium Blue Card Count: 3

Must have been late afternoon
On my way home, the sun broke free of the clouds
I only count only blue cards, skip the others in the pack
And ask many questions like children often do

The next base cards I was able to cross off my Giants needs were from 1998 Topps Chrome. Nobody except those in that era of collecting will realize how vital it was to have Topps Chrome rookie cards of top guys. They were the most sought after and valuable ones you could have.

With only four cards per pack, chances at landing that Peyton Manning were slim. So the more you bought, the better the chances. I know I didn't get many packs of 1998 Topps Chrome and definitely never pulled a Manning or the Giants cards below, but did land some refractor cards. It was later on in my life when I was able to go back and purchase a graded Manning rookie before he won his Super Bowls. Best hobby decision I ever made.

Here are the base adds for Topps Chrome 1998,

Jessie Armstead who was very underrated. My best memory of him was his pick six in the Super Bowl that was called back on holding. That was the end of that game after that.

 Another Tiki and

Another Sehorn.

Kanell wasn't the greatest QB, but was a step up from Dave Brown if that says anything.

And we finish it up with another Strahan.

1998 Topps Chrome Blue Card Count: 4

Overall 1998 Blue Card Count: 7

I will have to add these seven blue cards to my updated numbers when I get to do them.

We said, "Tell me all your thoughts on Giants Cards
'Cause I'd really like to Collect them.
And ask why where they are."

Tell me all your thoughts on Giants cards
'Cause I'm on my way to find them
So tell me, am I very far
Am I very far now (from collecting them all)

Giants In My Cardboard Clubhouse

There are a lot of generous people in this hobby and especially in the blogging world. One of my recent run-ins with that generosity came from Cardboard Clubhouse. He had some NY Giants he wanted to send my way.

This years Giants team is very reminiscent of the disappointing Giants teams of the 90's which is where these cards came from. I always had big expectations of those teams, but they always had little showing. I am hoping this years team is more reminiscent of the Bills late 90's team that started off 0-3 and made the playoffs. Not sure I see that happening however with this offensive line and defense that has taken a step back and the fact they are now 0-4.

Speaking of defense, Jason Sehorn was such an up and down player. One week he could shut down Michael Irvin and then the next week give up 100 yards to Herman Moore. Keith Hamilton was always a solid defensive player.

Armstead was one of my favorite LB's on the Giants in the late 90's. I will never forget his interception in the Super Bowl vs the Ravens where it was called back on a terrible holding penalty. That game may had turned out different had it not been for that. Momentum shifted big time after.

Some Rodney, sadly had all however. But, all of my doubles go into a pile to keep. Maybe I should send one out with every trade I do as my calling card....

I don't know who did better at QB for the Giants, Dave Brown or Kent Graham. Both were terrible and both went to or came from the terrible Arizona Cardinals team in the 90's.

Dave Meggett was one great return guy. The return game has always lacked for the Giants but he was a bright spot in the years.

A trio of rookies. Lewis was a solid player, Alford didn't hand around long but I like the design of the card and I had never heard of Winrow. I also assume it's my first card of him as well which I always like filling in gaps when I can.

Gary Brown. I was so excited when the Giants got him from the Oilers. I don't remember how long he played for the Giants, I wanna say one year as he didn't pan out as well. This is a cool card however being a Gold Ignot parallel.

 

A big thanks goes out to Adam at Cardboard Clubhouse for the cards. I will see what Reds I have in return for your generosity and get something out to you as well :)