Prepon This Mail Day Post From Dennis

 

Christmas may be over, but posts about my mail days from Christmas are not.

I received quite a few mail days overall around Christmas, with some being from trades, some being from RAKs and some being my usual Christmas gifts from yearly collecting buddies.

To kick off this New Year, my blog posts are going to be playing catchup on all of those mail days which begins with todays from Dennis over at Too Many Verlander's blog fame.

Every year, Dennis hits up quite a few bloggers and maybe even former bloggers with his excellent Christmas mail days. Mine, as with any mail day I get from Dennis, did not disappoint.

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This is a Gold Medallion from one of the top running backs in NY Giants history.

I can't remember, but pretty sure I claimed this card and

this one as well for my 90's PC. I never turn down a great looking 90's card regardless of who the player is.

Speaking of that, this Bernie Williams right here may have been one of my favorite cards from the entire mail day. This is from 1998 Pacific Paramount and I definitely need the Griffey like this now.

Kadarius Toney isn't one of my most favorite former Giants players, but he was still in blue if even for a short time. The Prizm green is a super shiny cool in-person card.

Plaxico Burress however is one of my favorites. He is also the one I believe helped lead Eli Mannings career and definitely was the reason the Giants made a run in 2008 and beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 42.

Allan Houston will always rank as one of my favorite Knicks all time. I think this may be an in-person or TTM autograph? Not sure if this one is on his checklist. I haven't had the chance to check either.

The next two cards Dennis must have seen on my all-time want list.

My very first Ike Hilliard autograph. I don't know how I didn't already have one since Ike played for the Gmen so long ago, but I didn't. Now I do and he can be crossed off.

 

And Laura Prepon who most may remember as Donna Pinciotti in That 70's Show. That's the main reason I wanted to have this autograph. This goes in the non-sports nostalgia pc part.

There you have it. Another great mailing by Dennis. Thanks again.

This is just one of many mail day Christmas posts I have to come. So, grab your coffee, hot cocoa and get ready for a long ride to see some really fun cards.

Eli's Cardboard:2006 Absolute Memorabilia Team Trios

I miss the days of the Giants playing winning football, I am hoping to see that return soon.

The trio on today's card brought them plenty of wins.

Eli to Plax was an unstoppable force and throwing some Tiki in balanced out the offense. It's just too bad that Barber retired before having the chance to win that ring.

This card is /200

I picked up this card for my Eli Manning collection from Burbank Sportcards.

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Wishful Thinking

We exactly one week away from kicking off the NY Giants 2021 NFL season, well there are other teams playing to but that's not what this blogger is focused on.

The Giants ended their preseason at 0-3 but that doesn't give a good indication on how the season will go as backups played a majority of those games. The starters only got to play in the final game for one half.

I have wishful thinking that this season will be a better one. A winning season that us Giants fan really need. My biggest wishful thinking is that the new Giants WR acquisition Kenny Golladay can stay healthy and turn Daniel Jones career around just like the player on the card I am showing off today did for a future HOF Giants QB.

 

Plaxico Burress made huge contributions in Eli Manning's sophomore NFL year by racking up 1214 yards and 7 touchdowns. He only continued to have great chemistry with Eli for the following three seasons after and helped lift the Giants to a Super Bowl victory in 2008 over the undefeated Patriots. Plax was overly dominant in the playoffs that year and not even the top corners in the league could shut him and Eli down.

Today's card is /25 and I snagged off from eBay for $10. The parallel color of blue, swatch and picture used for Burress simply made this card stand out and was a must have for my collection.

I know I am not alone in counting down until the NFL kicks off this Thursday, but let's hear in comments who you will be rooting on this NFL season whether it's a player or team or both.

I Miss You Upper Deck

 

Upper Deck always played a role in my collecting.

I started collecting some form of their products from the beginning of my collecting era, however I haven't been buying too much in the last few years now that they don't have the rights to make MLB, NBA and NFL cards which are the three sports I collect the most.

With their only license being hockey and it looking that way for some time, it appears I won't be adding too much more Upper Deck in the near future either. Though I do REALLY like their Goodwin Champions product but I can never find it locally.

So for now I will enjoy what we once had at our fingertips and just like Saturday Morning cartoons, you never know how much you miss something once it's gone.

 

@JGfan24ever recently sent me a package full of NY Giants which was packed full of 2008 Upper Deck. The product that celebrated the Giants Super Bowl 42 win over the undefeated New England Patriots.

I do have all of these, but this Super Bowl was so special to me that I break out of my norm of not keeping duplicates in my collection to keeping them. 

I will never get sick of celebrating this win.

Plaxico's game winning Touchdown

 

The Giants defense taking it all out on Tom Brady

The Key to the city!

 

Shockey watching the game from the suite after getting injured in the season. But, that wasn't a bad thing as the Giants turned to Kevin Boss who made a huge play in the game.

Toomer finally reaching the ultimate destination

Jacobs plowing Patriots over. No better sound than that.

Also in the 2008 Upper Deck product came the Giants rookie class from that year,

One of these players, yes I am looking at you Mario Manningham, would make a huge play four years later when these two teams met up again and the Giants took home yet another trophy.

Looking at cards like these and my 90's Spx project makes me happy that I lived through a time where Upper Deck owned the hobby. Their photography, holograms and the way they engaged fans with their products was like no other out there.

I hope some day we will get the opportunity to enjoy all of that again just as I am holding out hope that those Saturday mornings with a bowl of Cap'N Crunch and a three hour block of cartoons will make their return as well.

$25 A Week Challenge Week 11:Gotta Wear My Shades

I wear my sunglasses on cards......So I Ken...So I Ken...keep track of myself in my eyes....

Sorry, Corey Hart came to name when I saw this Ken Griffey Jr 1997 Pinnacle Shades pop up. It was one of those cards I had wanted for awhile and finally made the decision just to grab it.

Especially since I landed it for only $4

I have been really addicted to these 1997 Collectors Edge Game Balls after grabbing two Kerry Collins ones for cheap. I especially like the Playoff ones as 1996 had some great games that I still remember to this day.

   

One of those games was in 1996 between Jacksonville who barely snuck in as the 5th seed taking on the mighty Bronocs. The Jags had just upset the Bills the week before and went on the road to face the Broncos who looked unbeatable. Problem was, it was just a look. Jags took a ten point fourth quarter lead and held on to win 30-27 which coincidentally was the same score of the Bills game. However, a week later they lost to the hated Patriots 20-6. Guess you can't win them all. But, being a big Jags fan, once again my second team, back then it was memorable to see those two victories.

So when I can grab this relic for $6+$1 shipping without a doubt it was worth it just for the memories alone.

When I have a NY Giants autograph need, I grab it. And so I did for only $4 and free shipping. Kaden looks to have secured a spot on this roster for next year or at least I hope so. He can block in the run game, make the tough catches in traffic and reminds me of another Greg Kittle. This guy could be big next season. He almost had 100 yards in the Giants finale vs the Eagles.

To me, the Giants wouldn't have made their Super Bowl run without Plaxico. He was the one guy Eli relied upon and nobody could stop that combo. The Giants won Super Bowl 42 because of Plax who played the entire playoffs hurt but helped lead them anyways. Not to mention caught the game winning TD in the Super Bowl. The Giants were blowing away opponents the following year as well up until Plax's shooting himself incident. Giants fell after that. But, a Super Bowl I won't ever forget combined with his game winning touchdown and talent he had when he played, I couldn't go wrong for $6.95 plus free shipping.

I showed off a souvenir stamp of Darkwing Duck before on here, so for $1.50 and free shipping, it was a no-brainer that I grab two more.

$1.50

$1.50

This weeks total was close at $24.95 but once again I was good and stayed under budget.

Some pretty cool PC adds this week which is what I like.

So now I gotta know, what would you have picked up this week for $25?

Incoming Box From @Tmcbmatt

Once again a great friend in @tmcbmatt hit me up with another box of goods. He knows I am a huge Giants fan and when he finds a good stack of them, he passes them along. This time with a few other small surprises.

But, first, the Giants roll on! There was so much in there I couldn't show them all off. Would take a week to post it all. However, I will show off a few. Just take note, this wasn't even close to the amount of them, especially new ones I found.

Plaxico! Wasn't with the Giants long, but one of my all time favorites with them. There was a good stack of Burress cards in both Giants blue and Steelers black.

Tiki Barber running with many cards in this box. Wonder how many of his I have now? Could really use a Giants autograph of him. When I first saw this Black Diamond card I hoped to discover more, especially a Rodney Hampton, but I didn't. Instead I can just appreciate this one Black Diamond card as it is. Upper Deck made great football cards.

 I found a Toooomah.

 '89 Score and my first Dave Meggett rookie...#winning

 Tyrone does not look impressed being drafted by the Giants. Probably why he did nothing for them.

 Frank Gifford...what a player and this is a great looking card. I haven't ever seen these before.

Brandon Jacobs looking like a bulldozer in his rookie uni. Don't have this rookie card. 2005 was another off year for me and collecting.

 He not only sent Giants, but a few set needs as well. Derrick Brooks Gold Medallion...

Steve Young Pinnacle Showcase. I just recently started to want to do this set.

A thanks goes out to Matt for another great mail day. I owe you a surprise at some point and you're on my list. I know you don't expect anything in return, but just can't take something for nothing.

I will hopefully re-update my Giants cards numbers again soon.

NYG PC Spotlight 101:2006 Ultimate Collection Spectrum Game Jersey Plaxico Burress

 

Plaxico Burress

Jersey Card

Card #d 3/40

Card number

 

I should also mention that this card and the rest I will be posting this week and last week are brought to by Wes. Wes, the man who sends the big ole heat mail days!

Big Blue Monday:New Additions Add Some Cheer

1-5 is staring me straight in the face. 1-5. This is the second year in a row I am having to suffer through another NY Giants season instead of enjoying it. Even that team in green in NY is having much more success with a rookie QB.

Do I question the Giants not taking a QB like Darnold at 2. No I don't. Not a single second.

Saquon Barkley has overly proven himself to me and I don't ever doubt the Giants for making him the second pick in the draft. In the Giants last game, a throbbing loss to the Eagles, Saquon had over 200+ total yards catching and running. He alone is a highlight reel and his the only thing exciting right now to watch on the Giants.

I recently pulled off a trade with @JayRCards and got to add a few more Saquons along with my first ever autograph of a Super Bowl and Playoff hero named Plaxico. We will wait to show that off.

First up, Elite Draft Saquon,

Elite Series from Elite Draft

A numbered Amani Toomer from Edge Masters. You know I am totally digging this. It's as close to a late 90's insert I can get!

Looking at Eli Manning's season, maybe Webb should have stayed.

Adams was a late preseason cut. I wished they had kept him looking at the poor back up TE's they have been using.

Whoa! LT relic! This card is also a beaut! Really love the throwback design

Rueben Randle autograph I didn't know. I know, surprising.

Sterling hasn't been quite as good as I expected him to be. But the way the oline has blocked and Eli's inaccurate throws he really can't make much of an impression yet.

And the final card from our trade, this beautiful Mirror Signatures of Plaxico Burress /25. It's my first ever Burress auto. I am also glad it's in a Giants uniform. He made the game winning TD catch  in Super Bowl 42 vs the undefeated Patriots. It was beautiful and still re-plays in  my mind especially when watching this Giants team the last few years.

A big thanks to @JayRCards for the trade. Hope we can do more!!

As for my Giants, tonight they face a high scoring Falcons team on Monday Night Football on the road. Do I expect them to win? No. But, could they? Yes. Atlanta is not that great this year and their defense is struggling big time. If the Giants defense can make a couple stops, offense can give Eli time, if he can make the throws and if Saquon continues to do what he does, they absolutely have a shot. Time will tell.