Mantle and Jeter Breakdown

It's been a long, too long, time since I had a bigger trade with Gavin from Baseball Card Breakdown blog. About 3 years to be exact.

We have done a couple in the past but normally just do PWE ones which I have been really lacking on the last couple of years. Once again I need to lay this out there, I really need to start trading again with bloggers but I always question if they have anything in return for me since my collecting preferences have changed so much since I have traded with most.

My PC is deep, but it's actually much easier than most think. 

1. NY Giants cards I don't have
2. Non Sport cards (mainly celebrities and Batman but don't mind going off course to) and I do enjoy the Allen and Ginter non baseball cards 
3. 90's inserts from any team or sport. 

These are the Top 3 PC's for me. Yes, I do have side player collections I add to occasionally, but if you are looking to hit the sweet spot, these are the three things you want to take aim for.

In this most recent trade with Gavin, he absolutely nailed down one card I definitely needed (saved for a later date) and then were a couple I didn't really need but wanted.

As most know, I am probably one of the lone bloggers who doesn't do a lot of baseball card collecting anymore. I have shifted gears completely and have found myself unloading my baseball player and Yankee collections-with the exception of any 90's inserts- in exchange for stuff I needed and wanted more.

There are also two players to this exception as well. Ken Griffey Jr who I have collected since the 90's and Derek Jeter who is my favorite Yankee player of all-time.

 

Well, here is the latest Jeter add thanks to Gavin. I think this is my 6th or 7th DJ relic. I like this one because of the stitching on it.

So with two cards down in the trade with Gavin, we needed one more to finish it. He showed me some Yankees cards, and even noted he knew I wasn't collecting baseball that much, to see if something caught my eye to finish up our trade.

And there was one....

I can't say no to a Mickey Mantle. This marks my second vintage Mantle and my first graded one, not that I am a grading card guy.

Gavin also tossed in a few extras I will show off another time along with the key piece in the trade.

Thanks again to Gavin for the trade and hope we can do this again soon!

Show Me The Way:1999 Donruss Elite Status /30

Other than the 1/1 stamped Charles Way I showed off in my original post, today's card is one of the more rare Way's I own now.

The card is not only rare,

But it's also very pretty.

Back of the card shows stats and the unique die cut design.

Today's post is a little short but there will be more Ways on the Way.

Until then, Show Me The Way if you have any!

PACK WARS EPISODE 4

When I started this segment, I promised to spread around the love when it comes to different sports and since I hadn't done basketball yet, well, it was all in due time. Though most battles you see on here will be football.

Today, we are in the battle of two 2019-2020 products.

Let's find a Zion!

  VS 

The battle is between two hanger packs Chronicles vs NBA Hoops Premium.

First, the Premium,

Chronicles Basketball:

 

(GREEN PARALLELS)

Well, this one won't be easy to choose from. Nothing outstanding from either break. Do I go the shiny stuff? Or do I go with the one that had the RJ Barrett for my PC?

Let me hear your thoughts in comments!

Cardboard Review:2021 Bowman Chrome (Solid Break)

As baseball season has officially come to a close, we are ramping up on the postseason and when it comes to baseball cards, we are ramping up for the future players.

A lot of late season releases for baseball right now are rookie and prospect heavy as a lot of collectors and MLB teams prep for next season.

Bowman Chrome is included as one of those late season releases and I was able to recently open a box to review. Let's see how I did,

Each Master Box of 2021 Bowman Chrome comes with 2 mini boxes. Each mini box comes 6 packs of five cards and 1 autograph. Each hobby master box goes for roughly $240.

BASE:

The base set is 100 cards deep. Has veterans and

rookies such as Akil Baddoo.

There is also a prospect set as well that includes 100 cards and players like

Spencer Torkelson.

PARALLELS:

It's chrome so you know what's coming, lots of refractors!

Base Set Parallels:
Base Refractor /499, Fuchsia/Pink /299, Purple /250, Blue /150, Green /99, Yellow /75, Gold /50, Orange /25, Red /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

Prospect Parallels:
B&W Mini-Diamond, Shimmer, Base Refractor /499, Speckle /299, Purple /250, Purple Shimmer /250, Fuchsia/Pink /199, Fuchsia/Pink Shimmer /199, Blue /150, Aqua /125, Green /99, Green Shimmer /99, Yellow /75, Gold /50, Gold Shimmer /25, Orange /25, Orange Shimmer /25, Red /5, Red Shimmer /5, Black Shimmer 1/1, and SuperFractor 1/1.

Base Refractor

Purple Shimmer

INSERTS:

Only 4 insert sets to chase and all four are all about the rookies/prospects

Dawn Of Glory has 30 cards to collect and falls 1:12 packs.

Summer Camp (great looking card by the way) has  30 cards and falls 1:6 packs.

40 Man Futures has 30 cards to collect at a going rate of 1:4 packs.

HITS:

This has been the part you have been waiting for! AND NO PITCHER AUTOS!!

Since I don't know much about baseball prospecting, I have to do some research by asking a fellow friend and by Google.

Viandel Pena

And a nice one here in Pedro Leon who is a highly touted prospect.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

You can never judge the price on a box of a product like this vs what you get until the haul. Some of these prospects you may wait years on. Some not so much. A product like this is for those who have patience, I wouldn't say it's for the every day collector unless you find some retail, jump in a box break or buy team lots.

Let me know your thoughts on my break and Bowman Chrome overall below.

As for the rest of you, check out Cards Over Coffee please and once again add it to your blogrolls and even a add onto your post would be appreciated as well!

Oren's Top 12

Yes, it's that time again. Time for another mail day reveal from my latest trade with blog reader Oren.

Since everyone loves a good countdown (sorry Jon from Penny Sleeves) and Oren partially suggested it, I am counting this one down from 12 to 1 and letting you see which cards were ranked my favorite from our trade. Not that I didn't enjoy all of the cards, but there is always one or two that are more favored than others.

Now time for the countdown (my inner Casey Kasem)

12.Upper Deck Special Report Foreign Focus subset card.

11.Hall Of Gold Manny Ramirez

10.Big Bats Manny Ramirez

9. Big Bats Kenny Lofton

8.Donruss Elite Elite Series

7.Black Diamond Diamond Debut

6.Leaf Rookies and Stars Dress For Success Dual Relic Curtis Martin

5.Topps Lords Of The Diamond Nomah

4.Upper Deck Rock Solid Foundation

3.Pinnacle Aficionado Cal Ripken Jr and Mo Vaughn

2.Leaf Limited Lumberjacks Juan Gonzalez

And you're NUMBER ONE...........

1. Donruss Preferred X-Ponential Power Manny Ramirez

It wasn't easy to do the Top 6, but I think my selections fit what I really like about 90's inserts. Shine, unique textures and acetate.

I want to know your thoughts on my selections and then I want you to make your Top 12 below if you don't agree with mine.

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!

Rodney's Cardboard:2020 Select Gold Prizm Die-Cut Autograph /10

I am way off this week with my Rodney post, so here is the newest Rodney show off and as of now, the final Select card I have in hand.

The last two months of build up has led to this card. Even though earlier in this series I did show off the other gold non die cut counterpart.

 

Always found the shape of the die cuts in this set to be odd.

 

This is numbered to 10 just like the plain gold autograph in the series.

Here is the complete chase below. With each card I reveal, I will be crossing it off on this list. You can find my complete haves and needs HERE. (if you want to blow the fun )

57 Signatures Black Prizm 1/1
57 Signatures Black Prizm Die-Cut 1/1
57 Signatures Green Prizm /5
57 Signatures Green Prizm Die-Cut /5
57 Signatures Gold Prizm /10
57 Signatures Gold Prizm Die-Cut /10
57 Signatures Tie-Dye Prizm /25
57 Signatures Tie-Dye Prizm Die-Cut /25
57 Signatures White Prizm /35
57 Signatures Light Blue Prizm /50
57 Signatures Maroon Prizm /75
57 Signatures Blue Prizm /99
57 Signatures Prizm /199

Only three cards remain in my chase for this rainbow. However, it's the hardest three to find.

Til next time, keep an eye out on Rodney's for me!

Show Me The Way:1998 Topps Chrome Base

I probably posted this in the wrong order since I posted the refractor first, but, this one was out of my Way at the time I was importing pictures.

But, here it is. Better late than never.

(the photo is great by the way with Way diving in for a touchdown)

 

Way is card 105 in the set.

Stay tuned for more Charles...on the Way.

Also, if you are sitting on any at home, Show Me The Way!