The Lights Go Out, But The Stars Shine

*comes from outside after attempting to start wife's car so she can get to work. don't buy southern cars and try to make them cold northern cars. finally gets coffee ready, laptop is fired up and cards are nearby. time for some #CardsOverCoffee*

As a blogger, there are times you got to make some tweaks along the way with the way you approach your blog. In my 10 years of blogging, I have done plenty of that.

With the start of some new segments on their way here, I need to find a way to cut time on doing posts while also giving you guys a better look at the cards. I feel the lightbox has been great for the shiny cards, but not so great with everything else. The fact I also added in the Cards Over Coffee sign, it has made some pictures seem even more busy and sometimes taking away the actual card.

Looking at this situation, I decided to pull back on using the lightbox and feature the stars of the posts, the cards. Or in today's post, actual cards of stars.

*takes a sip before moving onto today's cards*

In my last trade with @90sNicheFBCard, I acquired some new pieces for my non sport PC of some stars from Hollywood.

One of my favorite relic lines for celebrity relics came from Upper Deck in A Piece Of Hollywood. They had a bunch of big names and big movies featured in this series. You could find these relics one-per-box in 2008 and 2009 Upper Deck Pieces Of History. That product was similar to Allen and Ginter where it mixes baseball, history and pop culture.

I was fortunate to open a box of the 2009 edition back then. I can't remember which celebrity card I pulled at that time, but it was a really good one. I may have to dig through my PC and find it. In the meantime, you can check out my newest ones,

Three Kings featuring a pants relic of George Clooney.

Courage Under Fire jacket swatch of Denzel

Shirt relic of Jamie Foxx from the movie Ray

Jacket Swatch of Demi Moore from GI Jane

Bruce Almighty, funny movie, shirt swatch of Jim Carrey

 

And a cool swatch of Sweater from the movie, The Hurricane featuring Denzel.

Thanks again to Bryan for trading these to me.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I am pretty happy with the way today's photos turned out, but some show some shadowing from the lighting. It will be a work in progress, but I will get there.

Thoughts on today's cards are welcomed in comments or thoughts on your favorite movie from the relics above. Or which actor you think would be fun to have a cup of coffee with.

Have a great Monday. Remember, only YOU can make your Monday great......and a cup of coffee to.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

GIANT CUP: Taking The Hits

*coooofffeeee.....i neeeeeddd cooooffffeeeee as I drag myself out to the kitchen table sounding like a zombie or frankenstein who needs that first taste*

*takes a sip finally...mmmmmmmm. now I am ready for a new #CardsOverCoffee*

Growing up, I played a lot of sports against my childhood best friend Brian. We played baseball, basketball, soccer and football against each other and occasionally with friends or his family joining in as well. They are memories forever embedded in my brain and my body from some of the hits I took from playing those sports with him.

I remember playing football at his infamous birthday parties and how we had to try and tackle Aaron, who was like trying to get Jerome Bettis, and the hits we took trying to do so. I remember how he and I got into a close basketball matchup, and I went for a three-point shot to end it and he shoved me through his grandmother sliding glass door as I shot it. Nailed it and the win by the way. I also remember how we used to play baseball in the rain and how we unintentionally would hit each other with fast pitches because the ball got slippery. Lots of hits but lots of fun.

It was sort of like my mail day from @90sNicheFBCard. There were a lot of hits, and it was a lot of fun.

*takes another sip...okay I lied. I have been sipping all along for this post, but I will break this up just to tell you I am sipping*

The hits in this mail day trade from Bryan were all Giants this time.

Two Jerrell Jernigan relics, the one on the left is a patch /49

Daniel Jones Air Raid

Kadarius Toney autograph. It appears he could use some help signing his name.

Pro Bowl patch of Saquon. This card is much sharper in person. The lightbox didn't do it justice.

 

And a double dose of Hampton autographs. I already had both, but I think to say I am a super collector, I just got to take all of him I can get.

Thanks again Bryan!

*takes a sip to finish up....I am actually on my second cup sipping away throughout this post*

Sport card hits are a different kind of fun and leave a different type of memory, but the hits I took playing sports with my friend Brian were special memories. If I move just right, sometimes the memory pops up pretty quickly :)

In comments today, thoughts on the cards or if you took any hits when you were younger that gave you memories.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Things Are Great With A Downtown

*the coffee is hot but not as hot as today's card...I promise you that much. takes a sip and gets the mind ready for today's #CardsOverCoffee post*

When you're on a chase and collecting is wanting you to land a cool looking card
You can always go
Downtown
When you've got worries about pulling one with all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help I know
Downtown

My luck when it comes to pulling or trading for case hits has not been great. However, the past couple of months, my luck has changed. Not only did I pull my first ever Kaboom Insert (gold Russell Wilson /10) which looked even more impressive in-person, but I was able to trade for another case hit I have always wanted to get my hands onto.

That case hit, Downtown.

Things will be great when you're
Downtown

*takes a sip before showing off the coolness of this card*

When I saw on Twitter that my buddy @90sNicheFBCard had been in a break of 2021 Diamond Kings and landed a Downtown card of Christian Yelich, I immediately messaged him asking if he was interested in trading it off. Without much hesitation from him, he said sure, but it would be a little while before he could pass it along my way since the breaker he used liked to mail out a lot of cards at once.

The wait was awhile, but it was so worth it.

Front Of The Card

A closer look at it.

 

And card back. If only the back was as good as the front.

Thanks again to Bryan for this great addition. This will probably be the only one of these I will ever own but at least I can say I have one. I also didn't have to go Downtown to get it.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I think my attention gets drawn towards the case hits because the long odds and the look of the cards brings me back to the 90's when inserts like these mattered. If only companies could make rest of the inserts look as great, but I guess that would take the thrill out of the chase.

The cards look so much better there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares and grab some coffee there (I had to add this in)

So go downtown
The cards look great when you're
Downtown
No finer card for sure

Thoughts on Downtowns or case hits welcomed in comments!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Continuing To Grow On Me

*sits down, takes a sip and gets ready for a new Cards Over Coffee post*

I used to despise Project 2020. It's all I saw and heard about for months. I thought the cards were also ugly. But, after seeing a lot of collectors flipping them early on, I went and bought the Shore Griffey in hopes I could use it to trade for something bigger for my collection. I started a dream list aiming for some of my top card wants that I was going to use that Griffey for. The only problem, I was one of ninety-nine thousand thinking the same thought.

Now you can't give the card away. Not that I would want to, it's a piece of hobby history now.

But, something in me the past few months had me actually wanting to collect the P2020 cards and add some when I can.  I guess my glasses became clear and I saw more about the cards than I did before.

In my latest mail day from @90sNicheFBCard, I added a few more of them to my collection.

*takes a sip, continues on with today's post*

@90sNicheFBCard had visited a card shop while he was out and found a good deal on a handful of P2020 cards and picked up a few for our trade knowing I collect Griffey and Jeter.

This Jeter was a pretty cool take on his Topps rookie card.

But, not so much on this Griffey. I could have handled doing this one with most of my art being stick figures.

 

This Griffey on the other hand, really sharp.

Thanks again to Bryan for these additions.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I have actually added some Project 2020 and now Project 70 cards to my want list now and would take any that nobody else wants as well. Even if I have them.

Your thoughts on today's additions and the Project series is welcomed in comments. (also throw in any you may have on your want list)

Have a great Wednesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

GIANT CUP: The First Post

 

*coffee is ready as you can see, a stack of cards and a new segment is on the agenda with this cup as I prepare for a new Cards Over Coffee*

I have stated this before on here, this blog is very temperamental when it comes to what I can post. I always feel I hold this blog to very high standards and not every card can make the cut. It's like the Ms. America pageant. Can't just accept any card into the top spot to be shown off and paraded around for the world to see.

The problem with that is I am unable to post all of the great cards in the mail I get as I have to sift through. The other issue is that I can't just post a "I got this" mail day post. Everything on here must stay to the degree of perfection I have it set at, or I would probably get upset and tear it all down. Which is great for you all of you reading but makes things very tough on me.

Over the past couple of months, I have been getting some New York Giants card mail days in and didn't post any of them. Most of the cards got a private messaged thank you or a quick tweet. They didn't even make it onto a blog for all of you to see. I recently sat down with myself and of course a cup of coffee and tried to hammer out how I can add more cards to this blog including my favorite team cards and came up with a new segment to try in Giant Cup. Get it? Sure, you do.

*takes a sip before continuing on*

I am not going to go back in time and repost all of the Giants cards that came in, but I will post the new ones from here on out in this segment.

My recent trade mail day with @90'sNicheFBCard landed me a good stack of guys in blue.

Gold parallels of Martinez and Toney from 2021 Score.

Red 2021 Score parallels of Jones and Engram.

Same here.

A couple of really sharp cards from Absolute. Engram is a parallel /100 and the Saquon has a great photo and is a Red Zone insert parallel /50.

I don't know the name of the Tate parallel but that is numbered and there is also a gold 3D Giants insert parallel.

A couple more Toneys

A Red Hot Rookies Toney I have been wanting.

Shiny Saquons

 

And two more numbered Giants to close in Jones and LT.

Thanks to Bryan for this trade mail day.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I hope this segment doesn't take away from what I have built on here. This blog hasn't really been one for segments in the past couple of years so attempting to do one I am iffy about should be interesting. Just hope it's something you guys will want to check out and read. That may help me decide if I continue it.

Have a great Tuesday, drink a cup of coffee for me.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Jennings For Jeopardy

*sipping coffee today before I start a new #CardsOverCoffee*

I have never been known as a big game show person. My mind doesn't have the focus, quickness or the brain capacity to answer the questions. My wife can solve the Wheel Of Fortune puzzle with one letter (sometimes none) on the board and does pretty well in Jeopardy.

Despite my lack of game show talent, I still have played computer and Nintendo game versions of both game shows against her. As you would expect, I had no chance. It would be like watching the Detroit Lions take on the Tom Brady Patriots in the Super Bowl. The only points I ever landed in Jeopardy were questions about TV/Movies and you guessed it, sports. If only they had a coffee category or one especially on sport cards. GIVE ME A CHANCE!!

When it comes to watching those game shows, it's never at the top of my list of things to watch in our free time together. Though we have done so and did so recently and I will say that one of those game shows was a lot less desirable to watch even more so now.

I know since the passing of legend Alex Trebek, Jeopardy has been trying to find their new host and have been sharing the time between two hosts recently. The night we had it on, the first time since Trebek's passing, Mayim Bialik was hosting the show and I found myself falling asleep. It was so boring, that I would almost prefer listening to Ben Stein talk about cheese for half an hour.

That's nothing against Bialik who is not only tremendously smart with a PHD in Neuroscience and is an amazingly talented actress, but it just says a lot about Trebek who owned the floor, and it is extremely challenging to follow in those footsteps. I also felt she wasn't game show host material. I think just like with doctors; it takes a certain person to be in that field.

That person to take Trebek's spot, I can't say replace as that's impossible, however could be the other host of the show when it's not Bialik's turn. That person is Ken Jennings who not only owns a record for the longest winning streak of 74 straight wins on Jeopardy, but has spent a good portion of his life on and hosting game shows. It's in his blood. He bleeds game shows.

*takes a sip before continuing on with today's post*

I have yet to see an episode of Jeopardy with Jennings as host, as I said I don't watch game shows all that often but thought a few cards of him in my last trade with blog reader Oren were pretty cool additions.

Jennings had base, Sp's, Autograph and Relics in 2020 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions which happens to be my favorite Upper Deck product.

Oren passed along three of the base cards and I believe the Splash Of Color is a Sp.

Base

Another base

Splash Of Color which was my favorite of the three.

I kind of want an autograph now that I have these and will add it to my ever-so-growing want list I recently updated on here. You can check it out HERE.

Thanks again to Oren for the trade.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I expect to have you guys in comments let me know who you think is the better host of Jeopardy between the two they have now. I also want to hear who you think should host it even if leaving those two out.

Anyone think that maybe Will Ferrell should? Anyone get this reference? If not, go watch some SNL and give yourself a good laugh right now. The Connery vs Trebek poke and prods are quite hilarious.

Have a great Monday night.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Deja Vu

*takes a sip, posting my Valentines gifts a few days late but it's better than not doing so. takes another sip and gets ready for another new #CardsOverCoffee*

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I have been seeing a lot of Walgreens football box breaks recently on Twitter and many collectors bragging of the riches within. There were many collectors landing some pretty great packs in their breaks such as 2020 Select. One guy had even pulled a Justin Herbert rookie autograph from the pack or so he says. I see those boxes sold occasionally at my Walgreens, so I told my wife if she saw any, that I wanted a couple of them.

Guess what I got for Valentine's Day....you guessed it.....and she got me two of them!

*takes a sip, begins to show off the boxes starting with the one closest to the cup of coffee.*

Each of these boxes are produced by the Fairfield company and are $5 each. They come with a handful of cards and one pack. I didn't see how many cards come in the box and forgot to count for today's post, but I will say roughly twenty to twenty-five. 1:4 of these boxes comes with a hit.

Let's see how lucky I am!

*takes a sip, begins to rip box 1*

I will only show off the key cards in these breaks and not all the cards. Just so you guys know. Yeah, I am being lazy about taking a bunch of pictures to post. It's a lot harder since I switched to the light box to post a bunch.

The first box kicks off with a large stack of Sage cards with Davis Mills being the headliner. The rest? Well, they weren't worth the picture effort.

The Bengals! A team that should have won the Super Bowl this year if they hadn't borrowed the Giants offensive line for the game.

Roy Williams rookie insert

Shannon Sharpe Skybox base

Action Packed base card from 1991. This was a product line I always enjoyed.

Conley base from Contenders. One of the "newer" brand cards in the pack.

Lamar Jackson Highlight Reel insert. Not too bad and it goes into my PC.

And my pack........

2004 Pacific CFL. Sigh. Not even NFL. Guess it's better than those Leaf packs I have seen in past releases of these.

*takes a sip, begins to rip Box 2*

Now let's see if there was better luck with Box Two,

 

Hmmmm a vaguely familiar start with the same Sage cards and Mills again.

 

Ken Norton Skybox Super Bowl subset base

Haven't I seen this card before?

Wait...what?

A rookie Action Packed.

A parallel from this Panini Gaming set. Other than Conley, the only other "newer" card in this box.

And my pack.....

What in the peanut butter sandwich is this???!!!

Was it me or was there some deja vu in this two-box break?

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

Well, the thoughtfulness of my wife picking these up was great, but the breaks were as lame as can be. I have opened other Walgreens Boxes before and had more fun than I did with this one. I think half of the cards being no name Sage cards to kick off the box is the most painful part other than a CFL pack. I would have rather had some base cards from 1995-1999.

Thoughts on my break welcomed in comments and let me know if you have opened any of these and what luck or packs you found.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Kerry Collins 500th

*sits down, takes a sip and gets ready for a new #CardsOverCoffee post*

It has been quite some time, possibly a year or so, since I did any update on my Kerry Collins collection and that's because I kind of tossed it to the side. When you have so much stuff to collect, you kind of have to pick and choose a focus and that focus has not been Collins.

But, a recent Collins find while I was sorting led to that fire rekindling or new cup brewing and here we are today.

About a couple weeks ago, I started to dig back into my Collins collection as I was sorting cards out and found some I hadn't catalogued yet. After adding those, I did my math and I sat at 495 different Collins. I had forgotten how deep I was into the chase awhile ago.

My buddy, @tmcbmatt, must have saw how close I was to my milestone and sent me a mail day recently that included some Giants cards, 90's goodies and some Kerry Collins.

Guess how many of those Collins were new from the stack he sent? Well, if you read the post title you would know it was exactly 5. Sooooooooo you know what that means....500!!!

*takes a sip before showing off the latest Kerry Collins*

There are still so many basic Collins out there I need still, it isn't too tough to fill in some gaps and add to my collection.

Like this 1997 Ultra Sunday School insert. It's a basic, but fun design. Creative name for it as well.

And this 1996 Metal base. These Fleer Metal bring back a lot of memories as I remember opening up plenty of packs with my father.

Skybox Impact base. The 90's had plenty of color to their base.

One of the cooler adds in the entire lot that @tmcbmatt sent, was this 1:47 odds The Franchise of Collins. Not exactly an easy pull and nothing flashy, but the simplicity makes this one a nice addition.

 

And my final new add, was this Leaf Gold Star /2500. Though inserts in 1996 Leaf fell 1:4 packs, but with some being numbered less than others, odds may be increased. 

Thanks again to @tmcbmatt for the latest adds and for helping me reach 500.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

Overall, Kerry has 2,820 cards so I still have a way to go, but also have some more on the way soon. If you have any Kerry's collecting dust around your house, you can find my missing Kerry Collins HERE.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Comments on today's adds or Kerry Collins is welcomed in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*