Ever Feel Like You Are Being Watched?

 

I have tried to look away...but I can't. They keep looking at me. I keep waiting for their eyes to follow my every move when I am in my card room.

 

These cards are simply....creepy. 

I get what Panini was trying to do with these with mocking T206, but they didn't quite turn out the way they should have. Every one of these cards is either spooky or a Caption This card moment waiting to happen.

Is this Aaron Judge or a gangster from the 1920's? Maybe a model?

It appears George got into the "good stuff"

Nolan appears he has seen a ghost or the Otahni card watching him.

And finally, Jose Aluve is about to join up with Marv and rob some kid who is Home Alone. Probably looking for their trashcans.

These inserts are from 2020 Diamond Kings and are rightly named DK206. There are 20 cards to chase for the set and each features similar pictures to these. The checklist is mix of legends and players of today. So if you're looking for a good time or a blog post to use as a Caption This, these work perfectly.

These cards came from my mail day from SCC reader Grady M. So thank him for today's post if it made you giggle at all....or frightened.

REVIEW:2018 Topps Luminaries Baseball

Topps Luminaries returns for another year as a single card high end autograph product.

Last year I pulled a Bernie Williams autograph. Not bad if you are a Yankees fan, but not good for the price.

Let's see if 2018 treated me any better. Take a look!

 

In every box of 2018 Topps Luminaries baseball. There is one encased autograph or autograph relic per box. Boxes run $200. SO IT'S A BIG GAMBLE!

Here was what I found in my box,

Nolan Ryan is 14/15

 Here are the other hits you can find,

• Hit Kings Autograph
• Home Run Kings Autograph
• Hit Kings Autograph Relics
• Hit Kings Autograph Patches
• Home Run Kings Autograph Relics
• Home Run Kings Autograph Patches
• Master of the Mound Autograph Relics
• Master of the Mound Autograph Patches
• Cut Signature Bat Knob Book Card
• Home Run Kings Ultimate Book Autograph
• Master of the Mound Autograph Patch Dual Book
• Masters of the Mound Ultra Book Autograph
• Letters Book Autograph
• The Greatest Book Card Autograph
• Cut Signatures
• Cut Signature Relics
• Home Run Kings Autograph Patch Triple Book
• Hit Kings Ultra Book Autograph
• Hit Kings Ultimate Book Autograph
• Home Run Kings Autograph Patch Dual Book
• Home Run Kings Autograph Patch Triple Book
• Hit Kings Autograph Patch Dual Book

OVERALL: My box was much better than last year obviously. The autograph checklist is full of stars but does have a few medium level players sprinkled in. Here is the checklist for Luminaries on link so you can give it a look,
https://www.topps.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-Topps-Luminaries-Baseball-Checklist.pdf

Luminaries has nice looking cards and a product that could definitely pay off if you just want to take the gamble.

Please make sure to take a minute out to thank Topps for providing this box for me to review and to be able to add cards to a future promo.  Follow Topps on all social media sites and visit their SITE, as well. 

REVIEW:2018 Topps Tier One Baseball (BONUS HIT)

I have been drooling over Tier One since I saw the preview images. The bat knob cards especially. It's a hobby dream of mine to own one of those someday. I don't care who the player is.

Tier One is one of those high end, high risk, high return possibility products that I am always on the fence with.

This break was a pretty decent one. I have seen some incredible ones and some good ones and some that were flat out fails. It's all about the luck you can have. You take the gamble and you can win big time, but you also have to be aware that you may also fail. Just like with a lottery ticket.

So let's see how my break went.

In every box of 2018 Topps Tier One baseball there are three cards. Yes, three. Two will be autographs and one will be a relic. My box was a hot box with a bonus hit. Boxes run around $120-$150 so you are hoping each card you hit will be worth at least the $50 to break even.

Since there are no base or inserts, we will head straight to the hits.

Tier One relics are all numbered differently, but have an high end design feel to them. The relics come with parallels of Dual Relic /25 and Triple Relic 1/1 and come in veteran/rookie levels along with

 

Legends ones. I didn't do to shabby with this sweet orange/red swatch from the great Nolan Ryan. I will say this relic looks so much better on the design then the plain white.

 

There are many autograph options in Tier One, but most commonly you will find the Breakout Autographs. Which is very rookie heavy with 91 in the set. They are numbered /299 or less and have parallels of Bronze Ink /25, Silver Ink /10, and Gold Ink 1/1.

 

Some of the rookie autograph have 2 versions like this Nicky Delmonico which I pulled the B version I believe and same goes for this...

 

Ozzie Albies!!!

 

Other hits not found in my box but could be in yours includes,

• Tier One Autographs
• Tier One Talent Autographs
• Clear One Autographs
• Prime Performers Autographs
• Dual Autographs
• Triple Autographs
• Cut Signatures
• Autographed Tier One Relics
• Dual Autograph Tier One Relic Book
• Tier One Autographed Bat Knobs
• Tier One Autographed Limited Lumber
• Autographed Prodigious Patches
• Signature Tools Autograph Relics
• Cut Signature Relics
• Tier One All-Star Patches
• Tier One Bat Knobs
• Tier One Limited Lumber
• Prodigious Patches

And to see the overall checklist for this product, you can find it here:

https://www.topps.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-Topps-Tier-One-Baseball-Checklist.pdf

OVERALL THOUGHTS.......

Like I said in my opening, it's a high risk product that could potentially give you a high return. My box was an good break saved by the Ozzie but still not as great of a box as it could be.

But, with so many big hit options to find, if you are one who likes gambling and like big time hit chances, this is the product to give it a go in.

If you are like me who can't really afford a product like this, find a breaker. It will feel like less of a gamble that way if you go hitless or don't hit it big. 

 

As in terms of design, the product looks nice from top to bottom. The patches are sharp and the other relics look good in the design.

I do suggest giving the product a try no matter how you want to. The big hits are waiting for you!

Thanks goes out to Topps for providing this box for me to break, show the hits to you and to review. Some of the hits in today's break will be used for a variety of contests so you can reap the benefits of Topps providing me this box to break. Please give them a thank you for doing this so we can continue to do this. Also, check them out on all social media sites and on their website which you can find HERE for all of your MLB, MLS, Walking Dead, and more needs.

Another Griffey Jr Centerpiece

It's been a few months, but @Jake1725 and I just pulled off another big trade. This time the centerpiece was worked around a card we almost pulled off the last time which was delayed from someone else wanting to trade for it. Well, they never pulled off the deal so their loss is my gain. Stay tuned at the bottom for that beauty.

If you don't know @Jake1725 he runs the A Very Simple Idea blog which focuses on his main project of collecting the Topps/Bowman Inception autograph sets. Go check him out if you haven't done so yet.

Our trade focused around helping him acquire more cards for his project and for me, adding more cards to my PC.

 

Up first, here are some freebies he tossed into the trade. Oversized Donruss '84 baseball cards.

 

Including a new Pops I didn't have. He looks pretty good in pinstripes. I always wished Jr had gone that route to. Would have gotten him a ring he so deserved.

 

Cool oversized Finest cards I haven't seen before. One of Gwynn and one of Larry Walker.

 

Speaking of oversized cards that are cool, here is one of Jr I didn't have. I always liked the photo on this one.

 

A Ginter Fielder relic. I dig these mini relics.

 

Luis Ortiz auto rookie

 

Christian Vazquez auto. I have found this one a new home already in a big trade I am still working on.

 

I have always seen Post Cereal cards, but not ones that are unfolded and look like this. Awesome. Also a new Jr.

 

Don't Judge me for wanting some Judge. This is a foil parallel. I am sure this card like all of his others is on fire.

 

And we have finally reached our destination, the centerpiece of this trade. There's not much to say other than just drooling over it. Also check out the numbering. Seems like someone wore 24 once...

 

 

This makes Griffey auto card number three in my PC. I know that's not much compared to some, but it's all I can do for now.

 

A big thanks goes out to @Jake1725 for the trade and for considering me next in line for the Griffey auto. I am so thankful that we were able to work out a trade in the best of both of our interests. This card has found it's final home and I look forward to our next trade.

If you are not following him or have not checked him out yet for helping him with his project, please do so. He is overall a really good guy as well.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX:SPECIAL FLOWERY EDITION

The segment you thought was over last week, has one more addition to it. A very special addition at that.

Recently my mother-in-law dropped off this box and told me I would like it's contents. She had picked up this item at a yard sale she happened to stop at before coming to my house.

I slowly opened the box expecting to find some oddball items and hopefully not earnings. Luckily I was in-agreement with her after opening it up. .

SWEET! CARDBOARD! She knows me so well and is always on the lookout for cards at yard sales. She paid a dollar for the box and it's contents. I immediately started to rummage through the goods.

There wasn't really anything too special in here, but here is the rundown of every card that I found.

Not a bad McGwire amongst some prospects

STAR!

Classic. A few names here.

Can't go wrong finding a Nolan Ryan

Pedro I will have to send my buddy Shane. Boggs too!

The Straw-man!

It seems to be at least worth the dollar she spent. A few of these I will keep and the rest will be used to pay-it-forward especially since I have most of them.

I must also note before you ask, the box isn't FT or FS as my mother in law took it back. Sorry!

Hoping this isn't the last time I get to do a What's In The Box post but in all likelihood it is. Unless another surprise like this arrives.

Breakin Wax:1999 Topps Baseball Series 2 (BIG HIT)

In my second to last break from the auction lot, I broke a box of 1999 Topps baseball Series 2. For the most part the box was very lame with the lack of anything but base cards. But, the wanting to pull of the inserts continued me through the 36 pack box. Glad it did as something very tough was pulled..........

What was my tough pull? READ ON!

In a box of 1999 Topps Series 2 baseball, you will find yourself busting 36 packs with 11 cards per pack. So you get a lot of cards in a box.

The base card design wasn't too shabby in '99, the only part I didn't like was how bad the cards chipped.

Back of the base cards

Rookie cards. Once again, rookies, prospects and whatever you call them in baseball just frustrate me. I only call a rookie a true rookie when Beckett does. But, I guess everyone has their own definition but it irks me endless that baseball cards are so confusing for rookie cards. A player shouldn't have a card marked rookie card or prospect three years in a row.

Subsets. I like the ones with trios. Some incredible ones to find including one that I did for #MissionGriffey.

Sammy Sosa HR Parade "inserts".  They are technically all card #461 with 66 different varieties celebrating Sammy's big year. But, in order to call a base set a base set, you must include one of these in it. They fall a couple per box.

Nolan Ryan reprint inserts. These fall 1:18

A Finest reprint falls at 1:72

I LOVE THESE! Mystery Finest. These fall 1:36 or one per box. Love the mystery, but was just a tad disappointed when my players were Jeter, A-Rod and Griffey and I find A-Rod lol.

Up next is All-Matrix.. Beauty of a card!

And finally are my Record Number inserts. These fall 1:8. However, I noticed upon second glance that one of them was a bit different....

One was a GOLD and odds of pulling them, especially the first ones in the series are amazingly tough. Schilling, if I remember right, falls 1:23,000 packs (I misplaced my pack so I couldn't fully confirm this but I am pretty sure that's what it said) Booo Yah! Some are even tougher!

And it's numbered to 319. In today's world this would probably fall many per box.

Overall, a 1:72 Ryan, a Mystery Finest, the Schilling all made this break worth while. However, they don't have much value in terms of monetary, but they do represent some pretty cool 90's additions to my PC.

Now for the breakdown. I took the inserts, star players from the base and rookies and got a rough Beckett Book Value for it:

Here is what I paid: $4 for the box
Here is what I roughly got in Beckett Book Value from it: $50

I did okay. Can't complain with the tough hits I got and the price I paid. Better than most Topps breaks I do now-a-days.

That 90's Card: 1991 Leaf Gold Moments Nolan Ryan No Hitter #7

Winner Of The Nolan Ryan/Derek Jeter Base Cards

Well another contest is done here on Sport Card Collectors. The turnout for this one was a bit disappointing unlike the Cal Ripken Jr. one but no matter how many entered, I still have cards to giveaway and here they are again:

 

After three randoms, my favorite randoming number, the winner is Harold Tourjee. Congrats to Harold on the win!

There were 18 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Harold Tourjee
2. Lowery Ross
3. mrblu1976@aol.com
4. @APetrelak
5. Scott N
6. @EKLOKKEN
7. Jamie Baldwin
8. supertom
9. Jim Pineda
10. rlbouch
11. Wilson
12. Corey Clever
13. Jonathan Hoffman
14. Dennis (seahawksfan605)
15. Zac Smith
16. J.J. Hernandez
17. Tony L
18. Chunter

Timestamp: 2014-03-25 10:04:02 UTC
You have randomized this list 3 times.

Harold, please contact me at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com with your address. You have 7 days from today to claim your prize or it will be re-given away.

As for more contests, I will be doing more of these in the future so keep an eye out! There will be a variety of players still to come. But, for now, be prepared for the return of the monthly contest. Contest info, rules and prizes will be announced Thursday or Friday so stay tuned!

WIN!! These Nolan Ryan/Derek Jeter Cards!

Last summer I went to one MASSIVE Yard Sale and came across a huge amount of sports cards, mainly baseball, that I showed off on this blog. I also have spent the last 6 months sorting through them. Finally I have them in piles I want them in for now before I move onto the next round of sorting, but I did notice quite a few doubles along the way. Normally I stick these doubles into huge yard sale boxes that I give away or sell real cheap to kids hoping to entice them to continue on with the hobby. This time I decided to yank some out to share with you guys.

So throughout the baseball season I will be randomly picking times to give some away. They will usually consist of 5-6 80's and 90's base cards but of stars such as Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, Tony Gwynn, Frank Thomas, Cal Ripken Jr., some 90's baseball inserts, a few Yankee card lots, among other stars including today's featured giveaway lot of Nolan Ryan with bonus Derek Jeter cards because I love you guys! Some players will have multiple contests so keep checking back in.

Here is the healthy assorted lot you are entering to win:

All you have to do to enter is, to tell me which team you think will be the most improved . Like I said, will be very easy to enter. There are only two rules, one, this contest is OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY (sorry), and you gotta have fun.

Entries for this contest are due by March 24th 2014 by midnight and a RANDOM winner will be announced on March 25th 2014.

Good Luck to everyone that enters and thanks for supporting this blog!

FANdom Card Of The Day: 2001 Upper Deck Game Jersey Nolan Ryan Astros

2001 Upper Deck Game Jersey #CNRA Nolan Ryan Astros


To own this card follow this link!
 http://bit.ly/YUgZ5M

What other stuff do you collect?

Some of us collect cards. Some of us collect memorabilia. Some of us collect both. And then there is those of us who look at everything as a collectible.

The one definite spot I can put myself in on that is cards. I do have some memorabilia. Not much though. And I do have other collectibles such as bobble heads, magazines, newspapers, mugs, glasses and other unique odd and ends pieces. But overall, my main focus is in card collecting.

I did at one time have quite the lineup of McFarlane and Starting Lineup figures...but I traded most of them away mainly to land these....

I thought it was a great trade. The only problem was the Nolan Ryan auto baseball didn't have the certificate of authenticity but the card shop guaranteed it was authentic. I mostly did the trade for the Super Bowl winning qb.The baseball has is no longer apart of my collection.

This is what I have left of my starting lineups:

Couldn't let my Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms go.