The King Of Horror

*dusts off the laptop, the screen, the cards but not the coffee mug as that never collects dusts. sits down and gets ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee*

BOO!

Did I scare you? I know it's been 17 days since you have seen a new post on here and then I pop up behind you with a new one and on Halloween to boot. You must be frightened.

If that didn't spook you, maybe you were more scared that I disappeared from blogging on here in general. 

You can't get rid of me that easy. Though I was almost at the point of disposing the body of this blog. GWAHAHAHAHAHAHA *evil laugh, lightning flashing, not like Dr. Evils laugh*

But, here I am and here you are. Hopefully you have a full cup of coffee and ready to read about cards...and aren't too spooked.

*takes a sip*

I mentioned on here in a previous post that RL Stine was an inspiration for me with writing in general, but there was another that inspired me as well. He is known as the King Of Horror, Mr. Stephen King.

*takes a sip*

Growing up I watched a ton of horror movies including most, if not all, of his. Though some were not as great as others, I still enjoyed his creativity and ideas. That led me on a horror writing journey in the 5th grade.

Yes, 5th grade. 

No, I wasn't one of those creepy kids dressed in black that sat in the corner that you avoided, I was normal. Except in my head.....at that time. My mind was always racing with the next writing idea and my goal at that point in life was to be a horror writer combining both RL Stine and Stephen King's talent.

Fast forward to my early 20's, I was still into watching, reading and writing horror stories. I even found myself collecting every Stephen King book that he had already written or was just releasing. It was a really fun chase at the time.

As I got into my later 20's however, I lost interest and quit watching, reading and writing horror. I sold off my King book collection and began getting deeper into collecting cards instead.

My 5th grade dream of being a horror writer had ended, but I was good with that as my card hobby was keeping me busy.

*takes a sip*

Even though I wasn't into horror anymore, in 2017 I found out that Upper Deck included some Stephen King cards in its Goodwin Champions product and knew I needed a few for my Nostalgic PC. What I really wanted from it was a couple of the base cards, the relic card and the autograph card.

The base was pretty affordable, the relic card was in-between and the autograph card I would have had to sell a body part for. Not sure which one, most ache, are worn out, or have some issue with them. Might have taken more than one to do it. Who needs a heart or one leg anyways?

So, I added the card instead to my list of needs so I wouldn't forget about them, but did anyways. Luckily for me, I have friends in places and one of those friends saw my list of needs and supplied it in their Christmas mailing to me last year.

My buddy Wes from the one-time Area 40/JBF blog, sent me a box of goodies at Christmas time and inside of the box was this Stephen King relic. I assume this is a shirt swatch.

 

Since the back doesn't tell you other than it being used in a special writing event. Which is a lot cooler than today's NFL rookie relics that we don't even know were worn by the rookies or not or when they were.

Thanks to Wes for this addition. It will be added to my Nostalgic box of goodies.

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

I thought before I finish up this post I would list off a few of my favorite King films,

The Stand, IT (original), Pet Semetary 1&2 (originals), The Shining and Misery to name a few.

In comments today, thoughts on my card, thoughts on adding writers to card products, and your favorite Stephen King book and/or movie.

Have a great, safe Halloween out there.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out...but not forever*

Musical Memories (an Incredible Random Acts Of Kindness)

Today's post starts out with a message I received on Twitter from @MrKDub

This hobby community is built on the amazing backs of awesome people, like yourself, doing amazing things, not for themselves, but for others! We are so appreciative of the effort and work that you put into making this community what it is. The group below wanted to say thank you for your efforts and hard work, we hope this item finds a special place in your collection. Never any pressure, but it is always fun when we can join in and be a part, so if you would be willing to open it live, always fun, but no pressure to do so, bottom line, know that we appreciate who you are and what you do for this hobby community. Let this small token of appreciation be a constant reminder for that. Your friends in #TheHobby ,
@KurtSchwanda
@MrKdub
@thepointsports1
@nearmintzki
@bmw3679
@benfuqua
@eshecker
@KellysKards1768
@DReynolds5294
@papayontrading
@BettsKetts
@QuadosCorner2
@WillieJ3nkins
@Rowdy421
@Brent3323
@dandreaeady
@K37troyer
@s10blazer99
@GarrettAdair19
@MK_breaks
@millerjs241
@jeremynyr
@steelcitygoon84
@allset24
@KellysKards1768
@BentleyTock
@90sNicheFBCards
@keckscards
@IraKates
@jfortner88
@mcfarm21
@CollectorJoe15
@KimJFlanders
@Andyscards85
@HiveCards
@LastSecondSnags
@Peajay021
@HookemMike
@_AlleyAwesome
@HokiePorter
@M_J_Erickson
@ToddSass1
@MikeyBCards
@Tcorvino792
@EgresitsJohn
@ToneyDavid11
@RapidCards
@noah_sattison
@KyleLewisforGov
@good2bgold

In this message was also tracking for a package. I had no idea what was coming and had no idea why still I was chosen for it. All I knew was that I was probably about to be blown away.

The package, after taking a long trip here, arrived yesterday and I am just getting prepared to see what this weeklong surprise is.

*sits down for today's Cards Over Coffee post. has coffee by his side, a surprise package and excitement like it is Christmas in the air. we all know how much I love Christmas*

*takes a sip...looks over at the package and realizes scissors will be needed. gets up, grabs scissors carrying them appropriately and comes back to the table to open the package*

*does so*

 

*looks through the package while trying to video the opening on the phone, gets to the item, realizes it will actually take a new post to do this justice as my video was poorly shot and my hands shaking didn't help*

*feels blown away...pictures the Will Ferrell meme of his mind being blown as myself*

*takes another sip, wipes away a tear, gets ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee*

*hopeful you are ready and tips mug your way while wiping another happy tear away*

Picture it. It was 1991 or so and I was riding in the car with my father running errands and having our one of our bonding moments which was to turn on the radio and listen to music together while we were out. 

When we listened to the radio, we always made sure to turn it up when Elton John came on. My father since his youth was a big Elton fan and always jammed out when he came on the radio. It was something we did every time we got in the car, unless my mom was in it. She was not so much a fan.

A few years later when we started collecting sport cards, my father acquired Elton's Too Low For Zero Cassette tape and we listened to that a lot. So much, that I remembered all of the song lyrics even still to this day. Most of the time we listened to that tape, we were heading out to the card shop or on our way to the monthly card show knowing my mother wouldn't tag along with us for those trips. We wouldn't have wanted her to anyways if she had seen the amount of money "wasted" as she called it. We called it fun and making everlasting memories.

Because of those days and the fond memories, I have attached to them, I became an Elton fan myself. I picked up many of his CD's over the years including the CD version of Too Low For Zero (though I still own the original cassette tape we had) and listen to him a lot.

The power of music and memories attached to them is incredible. Especially as you age and life changes. I don't see a lot of my father since I moved out after high school many years ago, other than a couple phone calls a week as both of our schedules are packed. Listening to music, especially Elton, brings back a lot of powerful times.

*takes a sip, turns on the Too Low For Zero CD in the CD player. yes, I am one of the very few people who still listens to CDs*

*enjoys a minute of memories before continuing on with today's post*

For the past few years, roughly five, I have been getting deep into non-sport collecting and adding pieces from my youth that bring back memories. I have autographs from Betty White, Kevin James, Leah Remini, Bob Newhart, Angela Lansbury, and Bob Saget to name a few that bring back those sweet times.

One autograph I didn't have and couldn't ever afford was my biggest need to my childhood memories collection and collecting overall. Yes, it was Elton.

*takes another sip, jams out to I'm Still Standing for a few seconds before continuing on*

I heard three years ago that Elton did a few TTM autographs from a group on Facebook I was a part of and tried it myself only to get an unsigned photo in return since he didn't have any more signed. So, I waited a few weeks later and tried again only to have my envelope in general returned back to me.

Ugh.

I didn't give up there as I am not one to give up very easily.

I began to use that group to see if anyone had scored an extra one for trade which they did not.

Double Ugh.

That led me to trying another group on Twitter that did TTM autographs and trying to locate an address for me. That came up empty as well.

Triple Ugh.

Then I attempted the last few years on Twitter trying to trade for one with having no luck. The last few months I actually gave up tweeting about trying to get one. I had reached my point realizing that I wasn't probably ever going to land one. EVER.

Instead, I added a few small cards that Elton was featured on hoping that would work. It did, but still didn't turn me away from wanting his autograph someday.

What I didn't know was that someday was going to be today.

 

Inside of the USPS flat rate shipping package above was a bubble envelope (also shown above), that had a rubber banded cardboard piece (once again shown above) which had this CD inside of it first.

That alone was cool.

When I first heard this remix song, I had mixed feelings. I am not one for remixes but after a few listens, it grew on me. It wasn't much longer after I became obsessed with the song, which by the way became a topic of discussion for my father and I during our weekly phone chats.

Under the CD was this PSA COA.

Then under that....

Well....

Wow....

Skipping across the room....

Tears of happiness....

Jumping for joy.....

Amazing....

Incredible.....

Hand shaking....

Wow...

Oh wow....

Signed Elton Art Card with PSA approval.

If you're mind isn't as blown as mine is right now, please re-read this post.

I couldn't do it on the video and not sure I can even here say the right words of thankfulness I am feeling. It's too hard and I am not even sure those words even exist.

But, all of you guys, I am talking about this list of incredible, thoughtful, amazing, friendly, good-natured individuals that did this for me, THANK YOU. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever times infinity forget what you did for me today.

@KurtSchwanda
@MrKdub
@thepointsports1
@nearmintzki
@bmw3679
@benfuqua
@eshecker
@KellysKards1768
@DReynolds5294
@papayontrading
@BettsKetts
@QuadosCorner2
@WillieJ3nkins
@Rowdy421
@Brent3323
@dandreaeady
@K37troyer
@s10blazer99
@GarrettAdair19
@MK_breaks
@millerjs241
@jeremynyr
@steelcitygoon84
@allset24
@KellysKards1768
@BentleyTock
@90sNicheFBCards
@keckscards
@IraKates
@jfortner88
@mcfarm21
@CollectorJoe15
@KimJFlanders
@Andyscards85
@HiveCards
@LastSecondSnags
@Peajay021
@HookemMike
@_AlleyAwesome
@HokiePorter
@M_J_Erickson
@ToddSass1
@MikeyBCards
@Tcorvino792
@EgresitsJohn
@ToneyDavid11
@RapidCards
@noah_sattison
@KyleLewisforGov
@good2bgold

I hope you guys can feel the raw emotion through the screen. I tip my mug to you all.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post. listens to another song*

As I sit here typing, memories of riding in the car with my father and our trips for collecting are coming back. Great times.

I now also realize a new memory was made with Elton today because of the people above. I cannot say this enough, thank you everyone on that list.

I hope everyone reading this today has a great Friday and weekend. Drink some coffee, not alcohol.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Repack Monday: Fairfield Prime Football Re-Pack

*sits down on this dreary Monday morning to get ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee. coffee always brightens up the spirit outside*

*takes a sip*

Monday mornings are usually a drag, but with a big NY Giants win, a cup of joe and a football repack box next to me, I can't complain.

*takes another sip*

I bought this repack, along with three others, 2 years ago when the hobby was surging, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to ever find any form of cards to open again. 

Boy, how the times have changed since then as I can always find something now if I wanted it......and wanted to pay the higher prices.

But, there is always something about these re-packs.

Today's re-pack is a Prime Pack. This means it comes with packs and not just a stack of cards which leads to the higher price. I believe I paid $9 roughly for this.

This box comes with 1 hobby pack, 2 regular packs and 1 bonus card which is a 2019 Donruss Mark Ingram base card.

The back of the box tells you what is offered within.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

Here were the pack offerings within. The 2014 Topps Chrome mini football is the hobby pack in this break. Fingers crossed on an autograph or something Odell!

And the Ingram card.

Now onto the pack breaks.

*takes a sip, begins to rip pack 1*

I decided I would do worst to best with the pack openings. The 2020 Leaf Draft football offerings weren't too bad. Tua Gold parallel, Jonathan Taylor, Duvernay who is having a decent year and Austin Mack was a Giant.

*takes a sip, begins to rip pack 2*

2016 Score wasn't too exciting. A lot of cards I already had.

The inserts.

*takes a sip, begins to rip pack 3*

Not too much to brag about in the hobby pack. A couple of rookies highlighted by Anthony Barr.

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

Despite this break not being great, my Monday morning is still shining bright..unlike the sun today. 

Thoughts on these re-packs welcomed in comments.

Have a great Monday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

90's On The 9th:1997 Revolution Ring Bearers Eddie George

*sits down with coffee in hand and gets ready for a new post on cards over coffee.*

*takes a sip*

Is it really the 9th of October? This is nuts. I can't remember any other year flying by as fast as this one.

But, since it is the 9th of a new month, we all know what that means, it's time for a new 90's On The 9th.

What does that mean? It means it's time for me to showcase a new 90's card I have recently picked up. What can this mean for you? I invite you to do the same on your blog and social media as well. Let's make 90's On The 9th a thing.

*takes a sip*

Before I show off today's card, please set down your 3D Doritos, Mello Yello and zip up your fanny pack. I wouldn't want you to spill anything or lose anything out of your fanny pack when you get excited about today's card.

The one I am showing off today, is one towards a set chase I am doing. Though I am a long way away, it's still fun to knock one down when you can when it's found cheap.

The 1997 Revolution Ring Bearers were not easy pulls. They were found 1:121 packs.

 

This Eddie George is the third one that I have towards the set. I also have Warrick Dunn and Mark Brunell.

Thoughts on today's card welcomed in comments.

I hope to see some of you post your 90's On The 9th cards! Please use the hashtag, #90son9th when you post on Social Media. If you post on your blog, please add this blog into your post so more will join in.

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

Hope you all have a Super Sunday! Watch some football. 

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Would You Rather? Rival Team Edition

 *takes a sip, sits down for today's latest post on Cards Over Coffee*

Welcome back to another Would You Rather? Today, I wanted to challenge you a bit more.

The game is called, Would You Rather. In this series you will be given two choices and you must make one decision sort of like The Matrix. Each decision you make will also have a problem tied into it and you will have to decide which is the better of the two choices. 

You will also have to live with your decision for the rest of your life...so make the right one.

*takes another sip before starting today's new series*

*sits in the dark alone wearing all black clothing and sunglasses*

*in a deep voice sitting in the dark*Hello Readers, my name is Mattpheus. I am the leader of the sport card universe and can offer you the control of your future.

    

I have two pills to offer you *holds hand out with both pills* that will lead you on your path today. Each pill gives you both an reward and a penalty.

Today, you can take the Red Pill and can ONLY collect your rival teams cards.

Or you can choose the Blue Pill and not collect at all anymore in any form.

Make your decision below in the comments.

I will be awaiting your choice with my cup of coffee in the dark.

DISCLAIMER:

Please don't take the red pill if you are allergic to it or it's ingredients.

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

I hope you enjoy this segment and I hope a lot of you join in on the conversation. 

Have a great Saturday.

*takes a final sip on today's post*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee With Tom Arnold

*sits down, gets ready for a new cards over coffee post*

It has been a while since I posted in this series. Mostly because it has been a while since I have added a non-sport autograph.

Well, all of that changed when I added two, one will be posted today and a really special one for another day, when I made my latest trade with Shane from Beckett's Cheap Wax Wednesday fame.

He was able to go to this year's National and picked up some cards for me while he was there. One of those cards includes an autograph from an actor who has been in so much TV and movies that he should be household name.

Let's welcome Mr. Tom Arnold as my newest non-sport autograph add.

*takes a sip before showing off today's card*

When I first saw Tom Arnold, it was from his appearances on Rosanne. Which is totally an underrated all-time comedy by the way.

 

But since then, I have watched him in multiple movies including True Lies, Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth, Dickie Roberts, and The Stupids just to name a few.

Thanks to Shane for this latest add!

In comments today, let me know your favorite Tom Arnold movie or show appearance.

*takes a sip*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

How I Got A 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout

*sits down, takes a sip hoping that the coffee will help with the head cold feeling. gets computer ready for a new post of Cards Over Coffee*

This summer, I landed the biggest card on my want list in the most unorthodox way. I always predicted myself to trade for one if I was ever lucky enough to do so. 

I never expected one to fall into my lap.

*takes a sip*

This summer I had a text from a local friend that included this stack of cards.

And he asked if I was interested since he doesn't collect or know anything about sports.

Okay...I see the 2011 Topps Update wrapper right on top....of course I am!

He told me they were mine if I wanted to go pick them up. 

I would have jumped in the car immediately; except he was at work, so I waited until the next day.

When I got to his house, we talked a bit about fun memories, since it had been a while since we had seen each other, and he handed me a Walmart bag with the cards in it. He explained to me how he had bought a dumpy mobile home to fix up and flip and how these were sitting in a pile of junk in the mobile home. From the pictures he showed of the place, there must have been one of those people from the show Hoarders living in there. 

It was gross. We are talking animal feces, cat peeing on the walls, trash, food, clothing, you name it. It was there. I told him he should have made a before and after video of it.

Not a place I would drink coffee in and do a new post for Cards Over Coffee that's for sure.

So, we talked for a bit more and said our goodbyes and I went home with a Walmart bag full of cards. 

*takes a sip before showing off the cards*

I got home and dug right in. I do the same thing with mail days and retail rips.

 

We will start with that wrapper on top, when I pulled it out of the bag, I thought it was actually a sealed pack, but it wasn't. But, it appears the person used it to protect some of the cards and stuck some parallels in the opened wrapper.

 

Here is what I found in there. Nothing too special, but I do like those diamond parallels. Still one of the best Topps parallels all -time.

Along with these, there was a big stack of base and tons of parallels. I won't bother with the base show off since you guys aren't here for that, but here is what else I found,

v

Being in a Walmart bag for storage without protection hurt some of the cards. There were some bent corners on the base stack and a couple of the parallels.

Fortunately, the key cards from the stack appeared safe from that.

Anthony Rizzo Update Rookie

J.D. Martinez Update rookie card.

Babe Ruth Sp. Wrong team, so I mailed this to my friend Shane for Christmas.

And the real reason you are here.....

Mike Trout Update Rookie Card.

I was hopeful throughout the stack but wasn't expecting the Trout to still be in there. This was close to the bottom of the pile and as everyone on Twitter states when they find a big pull, "my hands were shaking".

And there you have it, that's how I got a 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout.

*takes a sip before finishing up the post*

I have never experienced this kind of luck in my life before. I see it all of the time but have never actually had it happen to me.

And yes, I told my buddy about it who had no idea who Mike Trout is. I assumed even the casual person does.

Thoughts on this collection, if you own a Trout Update rookie and any other thoughts welcomed in comments below.

Have a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2021 Optic Football Blaster Box (relic pull!)

*sits down on this sunny Sunday to get ready for a new post before a day of football begins*

*takes a sip, has box by his side and gets ready*

It's another football Sunday! Woooooooooooooo! I just hope it goes better than this past Monday Night's game.

With fall and football in the air, I decided it was time to finally post a box break I did awhile back that has been sitting in drafts waiting for me.

*takes a sip*

This year, Panini said, "hey-let's release all of the hot products at the end of the football card season all within weeks of each other" when it comes to Prizm, Optic and Select. I don't know what the strategy was to that, but it's been hard to find any of it on the shelf. I also wonder if they did it that way because of such a weak 2022 rookie class. That way they can still make some money.

I have been lucky so far to have been able to open a tiny bit of each product thanks to my father's timing in Walmart. He lives within minutes of it so in-between each job he does, he checks in to see if anything is on the shelf. Comes in really handy because otherwise, the "kid flipper" cleans off the shelf and I wouldn't have any.

Last month, my pops timed it right and grabbed me a blaster of Optic football. I wasn't sure what to expect from it, but I knew I just wanted some.

*takes a sip before moving onto the box*

Each blaster box of 2021 Optic football comes with 6 packs of 4 cards each. There are no guarantees other than three purple shock parallels and each blaster box goes for $35. Once again, I miss the $20 box days.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

I won't bother boring you with the base cards but will show off my Rated Rookie finds. At the time, I was super stoked to pull the Lance. Now that he is out for the season, not so much. Kids, don't invest in cards....EVER.

There are 200 cards in the regular base set and 100 cards in the Rated Rookie base set.

There are also plenty of parallels to find for both.

Veteran Base,

Fire, Freedom, Holo, One Hundred, Red Stars, Rocket, Stars, White Sparkle, Aqua /299, Orange /199, Blue /179, Silver Circles /125, Red /99, Orange Scope /79, Pink Velocity /79, Purple /50, Lime Green /35, Black Pandora /25, Ice /15, Purple Stars /15, Gold /10, Green /5, and Gold Vinyl 1/1.
PREMIUM BOX SET PARALLELS: Base Wave /299, and Black 1/1.


Rated Rookie Base,
Blue Hyper, Blue Scope, Bronze, Fire, Freedom, Green Velocity, Holo, Holo Variation, One Hundred, Pink, Purple Shock, Red Hyper, Red Mojo, Red Stars, Rocket, Stars, Teal Velocity, White Sparkle, Aqua /299, Orange /199, Blue /179, Silver Circles /125, Red /99, Orange Scope /79, Pink Velocity /79, Purple /50, Lime Green /35, Black Pandora /25, Ice /15, Purple Stars /15, Gold /10, Green /5, Gold and Vinyl 1/1.

PREMIUM BOX SET PARALLELS: Base Wave /299 and Black 1/1.

Holo Silver Base

Holo Silver Rated Rookie

 

Purple Shocks. These look pretty cool!

*takes a sip before moving onto the inserts*

The inserts in Optic are kind of bland if they don't have some shine.

Like this, The Rookies. Bleh. Trey Lance, now bleh as well. There are 20 cards in the set.

Legendary Logos is pretty cool. There are 20 cards in the set and all of them are holo silver.

The final pack also had a surprise....

 

Blasters no longer have relic guarantees, so just to pull one is cool now. Nothing big but looks cool.

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

Well, not too much to brag about in this break. I have set aside some of the cards I pulled in here for trading buddies I hope to send to them soon. For now, I will also tuck the Trey Lance cards away just in case.....unless I get a good trade offer for them.

Let me know your thoughts on the product and the break.

Best of luck to your teams today, Go Giants and have a Super Sunday!

*Coffee Card Blogger out*

Unfinished Cup:1998 Playoff Contenders Leather

*takes a sip. gets ready for the first new post of the new month*

It's October and baseball is still on. But my focus is and always has been football. Not that I still don't root on the Yankees, but football is always my focus.

Which is why looking at all of my set needs, most are football related.

And speaking of those needs, here we are with a NEW Unfinished Cup.

*takes a sip*

Today's set is from the 1998 Contenders product which featured a variety of different base sets including, the base (with autographs), pennants and today's cards printed on leather.

Back in 1998, I was able to open a few packs of the product without a lot of success in pulling the top rookies of Peyton Manning and Randy Moss, but the leather football die cut cards really caught my eye and for years I wanted to chase the set. Now I am.

 

There are 100 cards in the set to chase. I have quite a few but still need quite a few more including the two big ones.

Here is what I have remaining,

18,20,21,23,30,31,33,35,37,48,52,53,69,70,71,72,73,74,78,80,81,82,84,85,86,87,89,90,91,93 and 99.

This set is at the top of the ones I want to complete, so I am hoping some of you out there will have some. If you do, please email me at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com.

I hope everyone has a great Saturday and first day of October.

Thoughts on this set welcomed in comments.

*takes a final sip for the post, not for the day*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*