A Mixed Bag

When Dion from Dions IP Autos Blog trade, it is usually a mixed bag of cards. There isn't usually a theme to any of them.

In our latest trade, there is a mix of a most sports and non sports.

He showed off his haul already on his blog, here is mine;

Gleyber Torres, I have cut back on collecting Yankees in general now unless it's Derek Jeter, 90's inserts or a card that really catches my eye.

NBA Rookies. Just because I like to build up my rookie card collection resume.

Same with this Kyle Lewis.

 

Some non sport/non baseball cards. I appreciate Allen Ginter non baseball figures more and more.

 

And finally, some more Kenny Golladays.

Thanks again to Dion for the trade and I am looking forward to our next trade!

MMMB:RAK Had More Than I Expected

 

A few Friday's ago, I started a Want/Need thread on Twitter to help out collectors looking for specific cards. On that thread also, others can pipe in if they have said card you are looking for and try to trade, sell or RAK it to you.

It's a fun concept that led to a lot of collectors getting what they wanted in some form or another.

At the time, I was looking for Topps Update rookies of Kyle Lewis and Randy Arozarena since I couldn't find any Topps Update locally and needed both for my rookie card collection.

That's when @JrNoble1 jumped in and said he would RAK them to me.

Before this, I don't recall having any prior conversations with him so it's always a surprise when new followers come out of nowhere to help. The hobby community is full of great people like this.

The mail day arrived a few days later with a nice stack of cards including the two I needed,

 

And so much more! 

I was surprised and excited to see what else was sent.

The other cards he sent covered the other big rookies from Update that I was stoked about,

Gavin Lux

Aristides Aquino

and then there was a small stack of Giants cards too. Wow!

Very cool! Always dig having Prizm parallels of Giants.

Big thanks to @JrNoble1 for the superb surprise-filled mail day. I really appreciate it and glad we now have daily interactions.

Breakin' Wax:2020 Donruss Baseball Hanger Box

It was awhile ago when I busted this hanger box of Donruss baseball, end of August roughly, so I figured it was time I posted it.

 

Donruss baseball wasn't my first choice in something to open, it was the only option at the time so I was happy to find something when I had the itch.

Was it worth fixing the itch? Guess you will find out here,

There are 50 cards in every hanger box of Donruss baseball. You have a shot at autographs and relics but are guaranteed to find 6 holo orange and 2 diamond parallels in every box.

At the time, I hadn't seen any Donruss baseball up close.

but it felt like a repeat of the past few years with the same design

the terrible nickname cards overflowing

and and overused Diamond King theme.

I wasn't too impressed to start this box.

Then came the rookies,

Can't argue with Bo Bichette and Kyle Lewis who to me is the runaway ROY in the American League.

Then came more disappointment,

These 1986 Donruss design is cool, but feels like it has been in this product for years now.

Something that hasn't though is a new line of emoji parallels to hip up this product and tickle those born after 2000. Such as this On Fire of Brock Burke and also the infamous Baby Shark then Look At This,Number 1,One Hundred and Presidential Collection.

 

Now onto the guaranteed parallels starting with the 2 Diamond parallels of 

Marte

and Chapman.

Those inserts usually look shiny anyways, but its the diamond shapes in the shine that separate it from a base version.

 

Up next is the 6 orange holofoil

Cal Ripken is a nice find

So wasn't Gerrit Cole and Luis Servino

Not a terrible break overall with a couple of good rookies and a few decent parallels.

I do like what Panini does for Donruss football and wished they would take that approach to the baseball as well. Not that the baseball is terrible, but there is room for improvement. 

 

One of the biggest improvements I would make first is getting rid of the nickname cards.

All About The Photography

*computer is open, looks out the window above it and can see where the hard frost had left behind its white freeze on everything. Fall has officially fallen hard here. Nothing better to fight the chill off then a nice warm cup of coffee*

I am a little behind the 8-ball when it comes to posting the latest hottest products when they come out, but I have had somewhat success in acquiring them via retail.. All of my retail finds this year have come from trades with my father who will pick up extra packs when he can find them. He of course grabs a couple for himself as well.

 

As we all know, the Flipper Vultures lurk around every corner waiting to swoop in on any retail they can find and flip for three times its value. Gotta love them. And yes Sheldon Cooper, that is sarcasm.

*takes a sip, always glad to toss in a Big Bang Theory reference when applicable*

Today I will be breaking a "once upon a time" red hot product in Stadium Club baseball.  When this product came out it was all about hunting for Luis Robert for most. When I saw this product come out, it was all about the photography for me. Why else buy Stadium Club if you're not chasing the photography?

 

My father managed to find a couple value Packs of Stadium Club and traded one of them to me, while keeping the other for himself.

I wasn't expecting much out of the 12 cards, but was hoping for at least a good time and some great scenes of baseball.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

 

Each value pack of 2020 Stadium Club baseball comes with 12 cards. That's it. No guarantees within and each pack is $5.98. Unless you buy from a flipper which will cost you three times that.

*takes another sip before looking at the very small stack of cards from the opened pack*

Once again I will say it, let's be honest that we all buy Stadium Club for the base card photography and there is 300 cards of it to collect.

Mike Soroka immediately jumps out at me with the great photo angle. I know a lot complained about this years design, but I like it. The photography pops with the design.

 

I will say though that the name not having capitalization does bother me some and my OCD.

Next card is of Juan Soto who is having a heck of a year and showing that maybe he is the best young talent in baseball.

Next two cards are of Joey Votto (dig the throwback uni) and Yu Darvish

Jose Altuve, Giancarlo Stanton and Joey Gallo make up the next three cards in the pack

Then came the rookies. No there wasn't a Robert but I think I did well still.

Kyle Lewis is having a good time and so aren't collectors with his rookie cards as he came out of nowhere this season. Easily should be American League Rookie Of The Year.

Gavin Lux who I have been holding onto waiting for him to explode. This is a fun photo choice for his rookie in Stadium Club. Sometimes the non action photographs are more fun then the ones with it.

We are 11 cards down in the pack with one more to go which happens to be a 1:3 pull of a red foil parallel. These are not numbered.

I am not sure what Dale is thinking here, probably wondering why they used this photo for his 2020 Stadium Club card.

Other parallels you can find in Stadium Club are, Red Foil, Black Foil, Sepia Black & White, Blue Foil /50, Rainbow Foilboard /25, First Day Issue, Members Only, Photographer’s Proof, and Gold Rainbow Foil 1/1.

*takes another sip before recapping this pack rip. Also thinking about breakfast since I hadn't eaten since early afternoon as I got busy*

 

For about $6 pulling two good rookie cards, a red foil and some excellent base cards I can't go wrong with a rip like that. I wonder if I will find anymore in the wild as I wouldn't mind opening another one.

Lewis and Robert

It had been a long time since @Brent3323 and I did a trade, so we thought we would make up for lost time with this one.

I always keep an eye on what Brent posts for sale just in case it's something I want to try and trade for. Recently he broke a box of 2020 Diamond Kings and had two cards that caught my attention immediately so I inquired. Fortunately, we got a deal done pretty fast as Brent is amazing to work with on trading.

Not only did I trade for those, but some new Saquons I needed for my PC as well.

 Gridiron Kings. Always wanted this one.

Playoff Goal Line parallel

Playoff Bowl Ticket parallel /99

Donruss Rated Rookie

 Unparalled relic

Then Brent tossed in a huge other stack of Giants that included these,

Evan Engram Phoenix rookie

 

Crown Royale rookie

A bunch of 2020 rookie cards I need.

And then the two cards that caught my eye from his Diamond Kings break

 

Purple border Robert (he tossed in the base one) I don't have much for Luis. These help

 

And then the main card in the trade, Kyle Lewis auto. This replaces the Bowman's Best one I had I shouldn't have traded this summer. I like when I am able to do that kind of move. I probably won't be able to do that with the Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard Prizm rookies I had and want back.

Thanks again to Brent for another excellent trade. As always I appreciate you as a friend, trader and for your generosity.