Judge And The Giants

Trading has become a big part of my collecting this the past couple of years especially with funds so low. I will touch base on this in my next Low Budget Collector series.

So I have really expanded my trading circle over the past couple of years, but there are still my main guys I trade big time with. One of them is @90sNicheFBCards. Good guy and very easy to deal with. That's why I keep going back for more trades.

Most of our trades heavily are football related, but some baseball can be found as well. I am currently trying to help him build his baseball collection up. We will get there.

In the meantime, let's show off what was apart of our last trade.

Like I said some baseball and this time some guy named Aaron Judge. Not sure if he can come close to the magic he had last year, but we will see.

A sweet swirly Yankee blue parallel.

Gleyber! I have started growing a small PC of him. So if you have any to throw my way, feel free to.

Another Judge!

Some older Yankee faithful here including a couple of Ruths.

Now onto some major football. Over the next few posts, yes, I had to split this up, there will be some really cool stuff to see but it's all football. Even if you don't like football, I suggest you tune in anyways.

Kicking it off with a couple of cool refractor parallels. Yes, I call Prizm parallels refractors even though it's not the technical term. I am really hoping the Giants give Webb a shot and not draft a QB this year but I have a feeling QB is at the top of their list.

A bunch of Gmen including some legends and some young guys. Eli Apple is a guy I don't mind the Giants unloading. Terrible on the field, worse off of it.

My man Odell. Say what you want about the guy, but he is easily a Top 3 WR in the league. I do wish he would grow up some. My favorite card of the group is that Clear Vision. Really nice layout and design.

Eli. So glad the Giants decided to retain him. It wasn't his fault what he was dragged through last year and he put up solid numbers for what he had to work with.

Engram and Taylor. Will Evan live up to his high expectations and be a Giants legend like LT some day, we will see.

Now we are going high tek!

Eli and some variations. Kinda makes you want to collect them all. Hmmm.....

Cruuuuuuuuuuz. Some variations for him as well.

OBJ again. This time with a purple parallel.

And a couple of new Andre's for that PC. I have kinda dropped off die hard collecting guys like Andre Williams and Rueben Randle. Not only are they not Giants anymore, but they don't seem to have a future in the NFL either. I will still gladly accept cards of them in a Giants uni but not searching anymore.

 

This is just part one and I haven't even gotten to the hits in our trade. There will be plenty to see there starting tomorrow.

REVIEW:2018 Topps Stars Wars Black&White

"Welcome to the Black And White Side."

Topps recently released it's latest Star Wars product this time without any color. Ever wonder what it would have been like if your grandparents had watched Star Wars on TV when they were kids? Well, worry no more! Let's just say I feel like we would have missed out. The black and white version is pretty stinkin' cool.

 

Every box of 2018 Star Wars Black&White A New Hope come with 7 packs of 8 cards each. Each pack will come with a base card parallel, one insert and each box has one hit. That hit is either a sketch or autograph card. Boxes are currently $65 and under. So not a bad price.

The base set is 150 cards and features base cine-photography from A New Hope. Even though A New Hope has seen plenty of exposure on cards over the years, you haven't seen anything like this base set that focuses on images you don't see too often in black and white. 

The black and white really brings out the full bleed photos and gives you a feel like no other. Some of them even might bring shivers down your spine. It's quite amazing.

One of the card backs here to give you an idea,

The base set also has some parallels that add an even newer dimension to the cards.

This is sepia parallel, the most common one to find, that falls 1:2 packs.

This is the blue hue shift parallel that falls 1:4 packs

And this is a green hue shift parallel that is /99 and falls 1:7 packs or one per box. There is just something about this photo with that touch of green that just gives you a whole new feel and appreciation of the film. Do you not agree?

 

Other parallels include,

• Purple Hue Shift that's /25 and falls 1:27 packs
• Red Hue Shift that's /10 and falls 1:67 packs
• Metal, these have gotta look cool, are 1/1 and fall 1:655 packs

Now onto the inserts.

Behind The Scenes takes a look at just that. I always appreciate looking at what happens before and during filming. These fall 1:2 packs and there is 41 of them to collect.

Iconic Characters has 12 of the most important ones from A New Hope. None of which are as important as my Obi-Wan find. These are 1:12 pack finds. So one in almost two boxes.

Concept Art checklist. Takes a look at the art side of Star Wars. There are 12 in the set to collect and they fall 1:4 packs.

Posters. I feel I got the best one.  These fall one per box or 1:6 packs.

And the hit.....

A sketch card. These fall 1:17 packs while autographs fall 1:18. I love the details of the Storm Troopers on the card. Many of the sketches are very impressive.

Card is signed by the artist on the back

 

You can also find autographed cards with single and multiple autographs and die cut sketch cards too.

OVERALL: I like the overall appeal of the product. I actually like the fact it's either a 1/1 sketch or an autograph as your hits choices instead of having a manu relic. I feel the box prices are not to shabby for the offerings within as well. The autograph checklist is pretty impressive with all of the big names including Fisher.

This includes, Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) among many others.

Please take a minute out to thank Topps for providing the box to review. Some of the cards you see above will be included in the Fantasy Baseball contest! Follow Topps on all social media sites and check out their website HERE for cards and more!  

I Walked The Plank With A Funny Story

I had an unexpected pretty big mail day last week. Finding mail days from @90sNicheFBCard, Bob Walk the Plank, and @NYCollects whose mail day was the biggest surprise of them all.

Here is why @NYCollects mail day was such a surprise.

Back in January, @NYCollects and I pulled off a small trade and being the nice guy he is he planned on mailing a bonus package of freebies as he was trying to downsize his collection. About a week later, it took both of us some time to mail, I got his package in the mail from the trade. All is good right. Well, about a week after that, I saw the mail lady pull up to my front door, they normally leave the packages by the mail box which is slightly down the road, and she was carrying this huge long box.

At first I was a tad excited, then I saw the label which seemed to had been taped on weirdly and the return address and thought, wow, this guy is totally trying to downsize. However I also realized this wasn't the picture of the packages he sent me.

I opened up the box slowly and to my surprise I found some brand new LED lights. So then I thought, this guy must really be trying to downsize :0

Upon checking out the package, I could see another address on there where it was really supposed to go back in December before Christmas. The label he used to send me the freebies had somehow fallen off the package I should have gotten, got taped onto that persons package of lights that were sent out before my package, and arrived to me a month after they were sent out to the other person. Weird but nothing surprises me anymore with the USPS.

So here I was with these long lights. So I contacted @NYCollects to let him know about the situation which we both could only laugh about. He did his best on his end to figure out the entire situation and to figure out what to do with the lights. Since he never heard anything back about them, well, the new lights were mine. However, I had no where to use them so I donated them to my father in law for his wood shop where he uses those lights.

So a month after that, this week, a the original package which we both thought had been lost in cybermail, arrived. I tried the best I could to hold back the laughter, but I couldn't.

The mail day was well worth the wait as he sent some pretty cool Gmen.

A new Brandon Jacobs for my PC

 

StarQuest inserts I needed towards my set. A new Hankins, wished the Giants hadn't let him go to Indy and my man Shockey.

90's love and I loved it. Look at the Stadium Club Sehorn and design of it. Great photography.

 

The 90's had some fun brands that weren't mainstream and a lot of them were made by Pacific who were geniuses at the time.

 

Another Stadium Club, some metal and a nice Score Amani Toomer.

 

Charles-show me the-Way. Loved my big bully full back. Giants haven't really had a good one in a few years.

 

And to end it without some football, a really cool acetate non sport insert. Dig it!

 

 

A big thanks to @NYCollects for the mail day. Give the dude a follow to. Good guy all around.

 

Up next, is my first ever mail day from Bob Walk the Plank.

 

All I can say is that you never forget your first.

 

Some Davis Webb love. Didn't have any of these.

 

 

Odell! Matt did well as I only had one of these cards. Really dig the Prizm Draft Picks card.

Other Gmen. I believe this is my first base card rookie of Travis Rudolph. A guy I kind of had a man crush on this season.

 

Landon Collins Chrome rookie, a trio of Gmen and an Evan Engram rookie.

 

Shiny stuff too. Didn't have the Eli and I love me some Crusades. Best looking insert out there right now especially by Panini.

 

A couple of rookies-Harrison and Apple-and a couple of Giant handsmen.

 

Whoa! Paul Perkins /10!! It's also the first one out of 10. XR was one of my favorite busts of 2017.

 

And if a /10 wasn't enough, a two color patch auto from Certified of Perkins. Very nice looking card.

 

Thanks Matt! That was one plank I don't mind walking again. (there are a ton of us with that name as bloggers so sometimes I feel like I am thanking myself when I get a mail day from one). I hope to hit you up again with another mail day soon. I have a stack that needs to go out to many.

TMNT Episode 1: Prospecting And Established Players

Deep in the sewers of NYC, lived the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Most have forgotten about them living there. Some remember and shrug it off. Others still recognize them as heroes that saved their city from the foot-clan.

What have the turtles been doing all of these years in hiding.....

Sorting sports cards.

Does it truly ever end?

Nobody knew of the turtles and their collecting sports cards except for Casey Jones who would bring the turtles packs to open and card supplies to store their items.

Once in awhile the turtles run into a card-related problem that could use some help solving before it got messy.

Today Donatello and Leonardo were looking at baseball rookies when an argument broke out.

Leo: Man, so glad I collect established players rookie cards. You just never know when a prospects values can drop.

Donnie: Well, I like the upside of having prospects. They could the next future superstars and drive the hobby market! Here, I will trade you this Moncada for your Larkin just to give you a shot of money down the road. Moncada could be the next big thing while Larkin is still stuck where he is.

Leo: NO WAY! Larkin is a Hall Of Famer! Moncada could be done in a year! You even said could be. Could is not definite.

Donnie: Prospecting is awesome! Take my Moncada, you will thank me later. If my calculations are correct, he is due for a big breakout year for the White Sox this year!

Leo: The White Sox hahaha. Larkin will do more than Moncada will ever think of doing. He is here to stay! He will always hold his value and place in my collection. Those prospects are mostly flops!

Donnie: How dare you!

*insert weapon drawn noise*

Usually not the one to talk common sense, Michelangelo decides to step into the conversation to stop the two from the argument.

Mikey: Guys, guys. Slow down. Each their own. Collect what you like dude. If Leo doesn't want to collect prospects, then he doesn't have to. If he likes collecting established players, let him. If you like collecting prospects go ahead Donnie. Both are worth what they are worth in your eyes guys.

First both stopped in shock from the conventional wisdom stowed upon them by Mikey who was usually known for eating the bubble gum out of 80's baseball packs. So the both of them agreed to stick with what they like and not try to force the other to agree with them and shook on it.

 

So for now, Donnie and Leo continued on with the way they have always collected their baseball rookies. And all was happy in the turtles lair til the next cardtrovercy....

So what do you guys do when it comes to baseball rookies? You take the risk and ride with a prospect? Do you focus on already established players and Hall Of Famers? And when you trade, how often do you RISK trading a prospect with a high upside for someone who has already retired but is a Hall Of Famer? Let me know in comments.

I promise I won't let the turtles see your answers. I wouldn't want to stir them up again.

Neglected Hobby

I have two hobbies, one is obvious by the title of this blog. The other, is playing Madden NFL. It's the ONLY video game I buy and play on a yearly basis. I am one of those Madden nuts who must have it on release day.

Ever since I have gotten Madden NFL 18, I find my card hobby has taken a backseat some which is why some of my projects I have been working on have taken extra time. It is also why a lot of my posts from Aug-Dec were short and sweet and a bit behind.

This is the first time in my Madden history I can't seem to win a Super Bowl. I have played Madden since the beginning but became a die harder in Madden 96. I only play Franchise mode and never have gone online to play. I like to play it this way and don't ever plan to change.

I played three and a half seasons with the NY Giants. I made multiple trades, free agent pickups, my usual moves on making a team young and cheap. However, I went 20-36 in those years with the Giants missing the playoffs each year. I then gave the Jets a run after the Giants canned me and started out 0-6 before deciding I needed to restart my franchise mode over.

I carefully made a quick look at things and decided to go with the Browns. Yes, the Browns. They were already young, had cap space and pieces I could work with. For some reason or another, I was winning with them finishing 11-5-1 in my first season and winning the Division and claiming a playoff spot.

I even won two playoff games before falling to New England in the AFC title game. (in case you are wondering that is a Patrick Malhommes led offense)

While I was making my run, stacks and stacks of cards were growing deep on my desk from trades and pickups. Despite that, I couldn't stop playing to go take care of what I needed to take care of. I think part of my problem was how the 2017 NFL season went. Giants were embarrassing, the Super Bowl came down to two teams I didn't like and ended with a team that I hoped would never win. I used Madden as a distraction to control the 2017 NFL season and smooth things out in my mind. It has worked....some.

I just currently finished up my second season with the Browns going 14-2 and won the division, got a bye, beat the Jags in the Divisional playoff game all leading up to another match up with the Patriots who are also 14-2. I did beat them in the regular season pretty badly but I don't feel good about this game which I should have played by the time this is up and posted.

If I can somehow, someway pull out a big win over them and lead my team to a Super Bowl win, then, maybe, I can finally focus on Mt.Cardsmore and get that taken care of. In the meantime, it's all focus on the Lombardi trophy.

So I am sorry cards, you have taken a backseat for now. But, don't worry, I don't plan on neglecting you much longer. I have faith that the Browns can beat the Patriots and win the Super Bowl. 

I do hope you read everything above.

How many of you have a second hobby that sometimes overrides your card collecting? Let me know!!

(UPDATE:The Browns beat the Patriots in the closing seconds. Then played a two overtime thriller against the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl and were victorious 26-20. Now onto year three which has started out 7-4 record and some card sorting!)

Stalked By Penny Sleeves

For anyone who has ever used this stuff ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

Whether you're a teacher, parent, or a former child that has, you know this stuff gets everywhere. All it takes is one simple art project or mistaken spill of glitter and you will find it for weeks, and weeks and weeks.

I find in the hobby, penny sleeves are the same way. Once you open a package or take cards out of them, for some reason or another you will end up finding them everywhere in your house.

I found some on my counter next to the coffee maker.

In my drawer with the towels.

On the kitchen table

Between furniture and cushions

 

And even in my underwear drawer. Sorry, not posting a picture of that.

I can't figure out why they spread everywhere. I not only find them everywhere, I seem to step onto them everywhere as well. They can get a bit slippery on a flat carpet so I am always on the lookout especially near my card man cave area. 

Am I alone in finding these everywhere? I doubt it. But, I would love to hear if I am or not. Let me know if you find penny sleeves everywhere.