The Two Jo(h)ns

I found the fact that I got two mail days from two different blogger Jo(h)ns in the same day was quite funny to me. I don't think that has ever happened before. The name is as common as Matt is across the blogosphere.

First up, my winnings from the BFG I was in at Johnny's Trading Spot. I sadly didn't get to choose a number or make a steal because I wasn't awake at the time the game was being played. I also would have to be on my laptop to comment as my phone doesn't allow blog comments even on my own. Hopefully next time I jump in I will be ready or maybe send an email when it's my turn.

I miss cereal cards in boxes. I think marketing things like that in food will help grab kids attentions. I know Topps has done some food things the past couple of years but it's time for Panini and Upper Deck to step up their game more.

Thanks for the Post cards Johnny and yes I realized there was another one hiding behind one of these after taking this pic and uploading it.

Next mail day is from Jon over at A Penny Sleeve For Your Thoughts.

Along with some claims on Free Friday, I also was sent some Giants including some older ones I didn't have.

I am always looking to add to my vintage or oddballs collection for baseball. I don't really have any vintage in general. The Yaz was a nice add.

Holograms....

Another hologram...I don't ever turn down some good holograms. One of the greatest hobby innovations ever! Sadly though, nobody uses it today. I am talking about you Upper Deck!!!

You know this card is bad, it's bad, you know it. Sorry wrong Michael Jackson but right card for my 1998 Topps Chrome refractor chase.

And final card was a nice 1999 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion of Kerry Collins. Not sure where Jon found this one, but it makes me happy!

Thanks Jon for the awesome mail day! Hopefully can finally pack your return surprise up and send it out this week.

Check this out too↓↓↓↓

Everybody Loves Shiny

2016 MLB HOF Inductee, Ken Griffey Jr!

First off, we all knew I couldn't go today without at least saying something. So congrats to a well deserved place in the Hall Of Fame to one of the greatest to EVER step out on the field, Ken Griffey Jr.

Second, Upper Deck asked this weekend on Twitter and Facebook that fans show pictures of their favorite Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr cards. If you didn't know, Upper Deck and Ken Griffey Jr are like PB&J. You couldn't have one without the other and between 1989-2009 you found plenty of Griffey UD cardboard. There were special commemorative sets, inserts, packaging and so on plastered with the face of baseball at the time.

But, sadly today, we don't get to marvel at what once was with the hobby all singled out to one company per sport. We do get a few Griffey cards from time to time in special promo sets from UD, but not like it once was.

So, today, I thought I would pick out a few of my favorite Upper Deck cards that's not the infamous and Hobby Hall Of Fame worthy '89 rookie card to appease Upper Deck's social media request and to celebrate what I have waited for to see for years with Griffey Jr making his final baseball stop.

This isn't a big gallery, but I chose a few of my favorites.

Let's see my gallery and in comments you can tell me some of your favorite Upper Deck Junior cards.

Bloodlines. Nothing like getting the family together on a card. You can tell pops is pretty proud.

 

The key to Upper Deck's early baseball card success was they always had fun when they did photos like this

 

Griffey is everywhere!!!!! I wished I could have said that more in the 90's in my card packs, but I always think this was one of the more unique photographed base cards I had ever seen.

 

Bugs Bunny and Ken Griffey Jr on a hologram...boo yeah! Can't go wrong here.

 

Not sure how many of you remember how popular this card was. This one and Aurora were the first two to feature Ken Griffey Jr in a Red's uniform after the trade. This one was the hotter and more popular of the two with collectors running to chase packs to find it. I was fortunate enough to pack pull it.

 

And we close it out with some Austin, I mean, Awesome Powers. UD Ionix was such a pretty product and this was my favorite insert pulls from it.

 

Hope you all enjoyed my gallery and like I said earlier, would love to hear about your favorites too in comments.

Congrats again to Ken on making the Hall Of Fame and for giving us 90's raised kids someone to idolize. It was a career and highlight reel that I will never forget with those amazing catches and that "sweet,sweet" swing. I started watching baseball because of you and even though I was a Yankee fan, I always routed you on even when you faced them.

Thank you.

Oversized Griffey Mail Day

It had been such a long time since I added anything Griffey to my Griffey PC with my main focus staying on Rodney Hampton since his items are much cheaper.

But that doesn't mean I wasn't scoping out deals waiting for one to fall into my lap.

Well, it did just that.

For .99 I was able to add these two cool Upper Deck cards to my PC. The high gloss and touch of hologram sold me. Besides the price of course.

These are 1993 5x7 promo cards with team checklists on the back. Let me know your thoughts on my new pickups in comments.

Breakin Wax: 1991-1992 Upper Deck Hockey Pack Break

Feels like Upper Deck hockey has been around forever, well, it has. With the recent news of Upper Deck locking down the NHL license all to themselves, I thought it would be fun to dig back in time and check out what the NHL has loved about Upper Deck hockey cards all of this time. Well, I know what I like about them. Do you agree...we will find out.

Every pack of 1991-1992 Upper Deck hockey comes with 12 cards per pack. There were chances at 3-D Award Winner Hologram cards and Hockey Heroes cards. Both of which I did pull but first you will have to check out the base card gallery.

Just like I recently mentioned about Upper Deck basketball cards, it's not every often you see UD use borders on their base cards. Seemed to be an early 90's thing. The one thing that separates UD from other companies no matter if they use border or not is the unique photo's they capture. It's almost like you are at the game. Just check it out for yourself.

Can't go wrong finding these three in a pack including my favorite in The Great One.

You gotta appreciate a good mullet.

For those of you who have been following my blog reads for awhile now, you know how much I dig this next card and for once my camera caught it at its greatest view.

Overall, pulling three star players including Gretzky, a Hockey Heroes of Brett Hull, and a pretty sweet hologram of Ray Bourque, I call this a really solid pack break.