The Blogger National 2024

*sits down, takes a sip of coffee. opens keyboard, begins to type today's newest post*

The last two years I have posted a Blogger National for those of us who can't enjoy the experience of actually being at the The National Sport Collectors Convention. That way we can still connect with one another without spending the big bucks to do so. Though I would love to sit down, have a cup of coffee and talk cards with you.

*takes a sip, tips mug towards computer screen hoping you will return the favor*

I am right on time with posting this year's Blogger National, so I am hoping you all will participate in this blog bat-around.

What is the Blogger National? Well, it's a blog-bat-around where you just take one post (or multiple if you so choose) in the next few days and dedicate it to showing off your coolest cards or your most favorite cards or a recent mail day you hadn't posted yet using the blog post title, The Blogger National 2024.

I want you to try to find the cards that are show worthy to you. You know, the dazzling cards that would attract all of the people over to your table (blog).

I received some show worthy mail day recently from my friend @Brent3323.

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

We first kick it off with some dirt from Washington Crossing. I never cared much about history or historical cards until I became an adult. I just wished I had paid more attention when I was younger, now I have to do all of the research.

Rintrah autograph from Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. This is my first Marvel autograph add in a long time.

Sean Elliot autograph. As soon as I saw that Brent had this, I wanted it. He was drafted by the Spurs in 1989, was always a consistent player in college and in the pros, was a two-time NBA All-Star, won a Championship with the Spurs in 1999 and also had his jersey numbered retired by the Spurs and his college University Of Arizona.

Then came an onslaught of Sterling Shepards. I always had a lot of respect for Shep. He played great, when he was healthy and was a team guy. Last year during his injury you could see him cheering on his teammates. That's the guy I want to root on.

With so many injuries in his career, it was only assumed this was not only his last season with the Giants, but the last season of his career. But this offseason proved differently as he signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Bucs. I only wish him the best.

(nice patch)

(I think this may be my favorite Shepard card now)

And there you have it for the Shepards.

Brent also passed along a lot of other shiny basketball cards including a JA Morant Revolution rookie (picture didn't upload for some reason)

Thanks again to Brent for this terrific mail day.

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

 

I am hopeful many of you will join in on this. Usually my Blog-Bat-Arounds go nowhere but maybe this one will catch your attention. Last year was no to very little turnout but I am trying again!

And for those of you who read this and don't have a blog, feel free to post your cards on social media and use the hashtag, #TheBloggerNational2024. I will be on the lookout for that hashtag on all social media platforms. Well, except TikTok. I haven't joined that at all yet and don't plan to.

Hope everyone has a great rest of their week!

Before I close, I also wanted to remind you of the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame voting and that it needs you guys to nominate cards in.

Details on the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame can be found HERE. I may add this to every post from here on out for a reminder as I will forget about this too! Haha!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Just Some Stuff

*coffee is ready and so am I, time for some cards over coffee!*

Sorry, but today's post won't be as cool and creative as yesterday's post. Though I am a little disappointed more of you didn't check it out and that none of you at the time of me putting together this post had commented on it. I expected that to be in the running for my post of the year!

Anyways, today is one of those "I have cards in my drafts that I have no creative ideas for" kind of posts, so I am just showing them off.

*takes a sip*

The following cards are recent adds to my collection for a different reasons.

This 2018 Marvel Metal Purple PMG is my newest addition to my Marvel Purple PMG chase and marks my first Black Panther one from the chase.

I finally was able to land a Malik Nabers autograph for my Giants collection. I like to try and add the top pick of my team's draft pick before the season begins. Nabers so far in training camp appears to be the real deal and the most diverse weapon they have had since Odell.

 

With my buying freeze of not being able to open up packs and boxes the last two years, it's really put a damper on my collection when it comes to my rookie card collecting (from all major sports) and my Bowman 1st non-pitcher chases. I was finally able to add these Spencer Jones, one a base chrome 1st and the other a mojo refractor. This is one of many players I lacked in my collection. Still so many more to go especially from 2024 that I have little to none of. 

If anyone has an extra Bowman (non-pitcher) rookies and 1sts from this year from any team, I would take 'em!

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

Well, there you have it. Just some stuff.

Hope everyone has a great Monday. I think I only have one other post scheduled this week because otherwise my drafts are empty again like my cup of coffee. I need a refill on both.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

These Are LIT

My coffee is bussin' this morning, and I am not one to flex.

However, I may rizz you up with something pretty lit bruh. Believe me, I ain't cap.

When I saw a four-printing plate lot of 2023 Leaf Pro Set Lit unautographed Eli Manning on eBay, I thought I was going delulu. I hadn't seen that kind of listing before, something very extra. All I know is that 1/1's hit differently of your favorite players and if I was to win them, it would be pretty poggers.

Not being a Noob on eBay, I knew exactly how to approach winning them.

Which I did. Completely slayed them.

Now the hope was when they arrived that they wouldn't be mid. 

The seller was fast at shipping them as they arrived a few days later, I got a little emo over the sight of them.

 

Boy did these smack. They were exactly what I had hoped.

Well, that's it for today's post. I need to get my drip on and go chill with the fam.

Leave me some Lit comments to read today. I will keep the receipt of them all, but please don't be sus.

Also, don't judge someone older learning teenage slang in 2024, I figure if Leaf can do it, so can I.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

IT'S DONE!

*celebratory brew has been prepared, creamered and sitting by the laptop. it's time for some cards over coffee*

*takes a sip*

What started off as a goofy idea, turned out to be a full-blown chase.

In 2022, I opened up a decent amount of Score football and pulled a couple of Kenny Golladay parallels. I am not sure what came upon me when I did, but I decided I needed to chase the rainbow.

And not the Skittles one.

I knew this wasn't going to be an easy task with 26 parallels to chase in Score. Twenty...SIX. They put way too many parallels out there now and this is low number compared to some in 2023 and 2024 where it was upwards to 40 and more.

Despite knowing the challenges ahead, I still pushed myself to do it.

And now finally, after two long years of chasing, I finally found the final piece.

 

Which wasn't even the 1/1. It was this Stars parallel /399. I assumed a ton of these would pop up being numbered that high, but this was the only one in two years I saw.

So, I put it into the magnetic case I put the rest of them into so it can go into the BCW Interlocking card frame I have set up.

It felt so great to finally lock it into place after so long. I had to enjoy a nice cup of joe to go along with this moment.

And here is the big reveal. I should add four more frames to this and maybe snag some of the autographed versions of this card to fill in the other spots or maybe I should just leave it as is.

Let me know your thoughts on what I should fill in the empty spots with in comments.

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

There is no better feeling than accomplishing a big hobby project like this one. Rainbow chases are hard and not something I ever suggest trying unless you have a lot of patience.

For me, it was two-years of wondering if I started this project and it wouldn't be able to finish it. I am not sure if I could have handled that. Just glad it worked out in the end, and I didn't have to go down that road.

Thanks for reading and hope you all have a great weekend.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Take A Minute And Smell The Coffee

I feel this year has been stressful and depressing and with my latest setback with both back door cables going on my van, a $1,000+ per door fix, I needed a reminder that there are a lot of things in my life that makes it all better.

Sometimes I just have to take a minute and smell the coffee.

Then breathe.

Take a walk.

 

And soak in all of the beauty in the world.

Go spend some time with nature.

And eat some of my favorite foods. Food is such a stress relief for me, but I also know my limitations. Except when it comes to Ben and Jerry's, curse you for tasting so good that I have to eat the whole container!

 

And spend some time with pets and family. My family is my world to me, not that my crazy cats aren't as well. This is Zeus by the way and he would say hi if he wasn't always sleeping and eating.

I am also a Christian so there is no better place to turn to in a tough time than Jesus. I know HE is watching over me. Everything that has happened to me, is just a part of his plan and sometimes we just can't explain why bad things happen. I am sure at some point it will be shown to me why these things happened.

On top of all of this, I also have this blog, the hobby and you guys.

The point of today's non card post is that in the end, I can see not all things are bad. There is always something in my life that brings a smile to my face to brighten up all of the bad things. 

So, if you are reading this and experiencing a rough time or rough year, just do what I did above, I am sure you will realize there is no problem too big that these things cannot make it better. You just have to look for them and experience them.

But remember first, you have to take a minute and smell the coffee.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

It Pays To Read

It's Thursday already and I am up early with a cup of coffee in hand. I have no idea how this week went by so fast, but it's time for another new Cards Over Coffee to keep my streak alive this week of new posts.

*takes a sip*

A couple weeks ago, I was reading and checking out A Penny Sleeve For Your Thoughts blog, still the coolest blog name out there, and saw that Jon had posted some freebie cards available he was trying to unload. Even though I had just gotten an amazing mail day from Jon, I thought I would check in on some of the cards that would fit my collection and Jon happily said he would get them in the mail.

It didn't take long for them to arrive; it's just has taken me forever to upload and post them.

 

I saw these two historic autograph base cards available and thought they would be cool adds to the non sports PC.

Same with this Ellie Walker base from The Andy Griffith Show. I remember watching this with my grandmother, so it also serves as a nostalgic piece.

90's inserts rule. That's all. I don't care who the player is or what team they play for, I want it and I collect it. Finley being a good, underrated player is a bonus.

I am not sure what this even is, I saw the foil and how cool it looked and wanted it.

Growing up having watched a ton of horror/scary movies, this card was the first one to stare at me from the list Jon had available. I can't count the number of times I watched the original Frankenstein movies on SciFi (original name) network.

Vintage non-sport cards have been rising on my list of wants. I think cards like this, especially of space, is wonderful. I know you all will agree.

 

And finally, even as a big time Yankees fan and hater of Red Sox, this card is amazing and not going anywhere (so don't even think about offering me anything for it). Topps don't make them like this anymore.

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

Big thanks to Jon on passing these along. I do have a return planned at some point. I am just really slow about mailing right now.

I would also suggest all of you to read A Penny Sleeve For Your Thoughts as well. He always finds a lot of fun and unique cards to post about. 

Also, in the blogging world, it always pays to read blogs even if it's just to read them.

Thanks for taking some time out to read my blog today.

Before I close, I also wanted to remind you of the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame voting and that it needs you guys to nominate cards in.

Details on the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame can be found HERE. I may add this to every post from here on out for a reminder as I will forget about this too! Haha!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee With Jon Lovitz

*coffee is brewed and I am sipping away.*

*takes another sip*

I could make a list a mile long from this year's Leaf Pop Century of people I want an autograph of. It's probably the most in-depth autograph checklist I have seen from the product.

So far, I have been able to add a couple autographs I want from it, but I have a long way to go. You will see this at the end of today's post.

But let's take a look at who I added for now.

*takes a sip*

Jon Lovitz started out on SNL, but that's not where I know him from.  I first saw him in the film Rat Race (hilarious by the way) and then in other movies such as, Dickie Roberts, The Benchwarmers, Grown Ups 2, Benchwarmers 2, and in my favorite all-time sports movie, A League Of Their Own among other small roles.

This card is numbered to 9. I kind of wished Leaf would show a picture of the actors signing the cards on the back. That would take these to the next level.

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

Before I finish up, as I promised above, here is my list of others I am looking for in this year's product,

BA-AB1 Alec Baldwin
BA-AB2 Amanda Bynes
BA-AG1 Andrew Garfield
BA-AS2 Amanda Seyfried
BA-BB3 Brooke Burke
BA-BC1 Benedict Cumberbatch
BA-BD1 Bo Derek
BA-BDA Beverly D’Angelo
BA-BL2 Brie Larson
BA-BM1 Bam Margera
BA-BP1 Bronson Pinchot
BA-CA1 Christina Applegate
BA-CC1 Chevy Chase (why not add more, he is a PC)
BA-CE1 Carmen Electra
BA-CE3 Clint Eastwood
BA-CGJ Cuba Gooding Jr.
BA-CH1 Chris Hemsworth
BA-CM3 Christopher McDonald
BA-CP1 Chris Pratt
BA-CR1 Christina Ricci
BA-CS1 Charlie Sheen
BA-CS2 Christian Slater
BA-CS3 Cobie Smulders
BA-CW1 Carnie Wilson
BA-DR2 Denise Richards

BA-DVD Dick Van Dyke
BA-EMG Ewan McGregor
BA-EP1 Elizabeth Olsen
BA-GH1 Gene Hackman
BA-JA1 Jessica Alba
BA-JVD James Van Der Beek
BA-KG1 Karen Gillan
BA-LF1 Laurence Fishburne
BA-LR1 Linda Ronstadt
BA-ML1 Mike Love
BA-MR1 Margot Robbie
BA-MR2 Michael Rooker
BA-MT1 Marisa Tomei
BA-MW1 Mark Wahlberg
BA-NC1 Neve Campbell
BA-PS1 Patrick Stewart

BA-PD Pete Davidson
BA-RD1 Rosario Dawson
BA-ROD Rosie O’Donnell
BA-RP3 Ron Perlman
BA-SA1 Sean Astin
BA-SH1 Salma Hayek
BA-SP1 Sarah Palin
BA-SS1 Susan Sarandon
BA-ST1 Stephen Tobolowsky
BA-TC1 Tim Curry
BA-TH1 Teri Hatcher
BA-ZS1 Zoe Saldaña
HI-DA1 David Arquette
HI-EA1 Erich Anderson
HI-LB1 Linda Blair
HI-WV1 Carmen Electra
NS-AB1 Alec Baldwin
NS-AG1 Andrew Garfield
NS-BC1 Benedict Cumberbatch
NS-BL1 Brie Larson
NS-DA1 Dan Aykroyd
NS-EMG Ewan McGregor
NS-MC1 Macaulay Culkin
NS-MD1 Michael Douglas
NS-MR1 Molly Ringwald
PBA-AH1 Anthony Hopkins – Redemption
PBA-AP1 Al Pacino
PBA-BC1 Benedict Cumberbatch
PBA-CN1 Chuck Norris
PBA-CR1 Christina Ricci
PBA-CS1 Charlie Sheen
PBA-CS2 Christian Slater
PBA-GD1 Geena Davis
PBA-HS1 Hilary Swank

As I said, it's quite the list. Not one I will probably ever be able to fully accomplish so I will have to pick and choose as I go.

I hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Let me know your favorite Lovitz role in comments.

Before I close, I also wanted to remind you of the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame voting and that it needs you guys to nominate cards in.

Details on the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame can be found HERE. I may add this to every post from here on out for a reminder as I will forget about this too! Haha!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Great Rookie Card Purge!

*another late night post means no coffee for this blogger for this post*

It was time.

I had a rookie card box that was begging me to go through and purge out the ones that didn't belong in there anymore.

It was a box that I have been meaning to purge for a while, but recently only found time to when I was looking for trade bait. This isn't a box I typically take stuff out to trade as it's my keeper's box, but sometimes I make exceptions depending on what's being offered up.

When pulling players, other than a few defensive NFL guys, most were the guys that all "prospectors" were hot on over the last 10 years or so. You know, the Drew Locks, the Mickey Moniaks, the Coby Whites, the Wander Francos (well different reasons for this guy), the Todd Gurleys, the Corey Seagers (some may argue he could stay, but he isn't), the Desmond Ridders, the Matt Corrals, the Eloy Jimenezs, the Yoan Moncadas, the Rhys Hoskins, and the so-so's of the world all combined in this box with actual stars.

  

At one point, I had this five-row monster box tightly jammed packed. After the purge, I have roughly two and a half rows now and I am sure more guys will need to be pulled in a few months. I am looking at you Julio Rodriguez and Heliot Ramos, prove to me you need to stay in there with the greats.

Here are the ten big stacks of random players that I need to redistribute back into binders (and some players I didn't mention above in my purge). IF for some reason any of them turn it back on, I can always re-add them to the box. Otherwise, they will spend a life sentence in a binder and go up for trade bait when someone asks.

With the box emptier now, this only means I can add new guys to it as the year goes on. Time will tell who I find box worthy as I won't just let anyone in anymore. I will be as picky as Elaine was in Seinfeld looking for "spongeworthy" people.

Outside of the purge, this box really has another project within it. I really need to separate it by player and index it. That way I know who I have in there and where they are when I need to locate them. This is on my list of projects to complete among many other planned card projects. I just really need to focus and complete one task at a time on my checklist.

I hope all of you have a great night of sleep (or a great day depending on when you read this). Make sure that coffee is ready for you in the morning when you wake up or if you are reading this tomorrow, have your coffee ready for this short read. I will be having a cup with you.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

It Was Quite The Week

The week before the flood was great, it was quite the week.

 

My wife had just returned from a short trip to Boston visiting her sister and brought home a few goodies, one of which was this mug. I guess she knows me well....and what the coffee does to me.

My father also showed up again, usually only visits a few times a year so this was a bit of a surprise, this time he brought with him three boxes of trade bait. Neither of us knowing its contents, those are the fun boxes, so we pulled off a trade pretty quickly.

From first glance, it appears this would be a good time.

I will post any highlights of it later on along with the first round he dropped off. Haven't had time to dig through it, that's because starting the following day I had my first vacation in five years. A much-needed retrieve away after the luck I have had this year. 

My sister-in-law came to visit and had rented a camp by a lake for five days. The camp is only about twenty minutes from my house, but it was still nice to get away.

And I had this view every morning with my coffee.

The camp week ended with small rain shower and God's promise.

It was a fun relaxing five days filled with good eats, wiffle ball games, sitting by the water (I don't swim as I have waterphobia), no chores, and plenty of coffee.

I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Also, during that time, I had my first article published on @CheckOutMyCards blog.

Finest Rules | COMC Blog

(I have submitted three to them so far in my spare time instead of blogging)

And another new one on BCW Supplies blog as well,

How to Store and Protect Cards with Unusual Sizes - BCW Supplies - BlogBCW Supplies – Blog

If you have time to check them out, please do! I hope to continue submitting articles everywhere. If you have any leads on other places accepting articles, please let me know!

As I said, it was quite the week, which is what made it hard to come home and have a flood hit. The bright side was, I was safe at home and not at the camp. Not sure how hard that area got hit.

I plan to share more card posts on here soon as I feel I have gotten away from that recently, but I do have lots to share. I hope everyone had a great weekend and before I forget, I will be changing my Hotmail address to a Gmail address soon for contact. I will be sure to let everyone know who usually emails me. I am really sick of the spam emails and possible hacking that comes along with having Hotmail.

I am heading to bed, but need to make sure the coffee is ready for my morning wake up call first.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Flooded

Life is like a 2024, you never know what you're going to get.

I know for me and my family, this stands true.

We have been hit hard and it just continues this year. (last week we had oil lines on our van bust causing a $465 bill)

Our recent jab was from the remnants of Hurricane Beryl.

In 2011, we experienced our first ever Tropical Storm (Irene) in the area which caused flooding and disaster. Which we thought was a one-time only thing. 

We were wrong. 

On July 10th of last year, we got hit with more flooding just from a storm system that produced a lot of rain. Both of those storms put water levels across the bridge we use to get in and out of so we had to keep our distance until the water went down.

Fast forward to July 10th of this year, one year to the day from last year's storm, welcomed Hurricane Beryl remnants.

This was by far the worst we have ever been hit in our area.

The day started out with some light rain and by 3pm heavy rains covered the area. We watched Facebook to keep track of what was going on locally since most of our friends are here.

 

By 6pm, they were warning people of Severe Flash Floods in the area and told everyone to stay home and off from the roads. At that time where we lived, it wasn't too bad.

I stayed up until 2am keeping track of my basement, though we live on a hill and we shouldn't get hit, I just had to be safe. Water freaks me out and it doesn't take much before water can become very dangerous.

By 5am, I was awoken from a deep sleep by the fire department. One of my buddies works for them and told me that our road/bridge had been washed out and there was no way in or out. Then informed me if we needed anything and not knowing how long it would take to fix, he was available and would find a way to bring necessities.

At that point, I wasn't going back to sleep. I had to check out the damage.

It didn't look too bad here, but believe me, the other side was gone. And this tree came from somewhere else.

(just a small look at the main road washed out under)

This is the bridge connected to the road. Looks like a small gap.

All in all, my father in laws gage told us there was 5inches of rain, before we had more showers that day. That has to be a record. Also, this bridge/road has never been washed out and that's saying a lot knowing that my 76-year-old father-in-law has lived here is whole life.

It was a tough sight to see. I was also short on groceries, but at least had coffee. I wasn't sure how long it would take to fix this.

But in an impressive two days, they made a makeshift road to get us in and out. It is scary to drive on as it's very makeshift, but at least I was able to run an errand for groceries.

The main road though and much of its stretch still requires a lot of work. There is trash, wood and random items everywhere on the property where cleanup will take a while. I think I counted 10 car tires. Fortunately, no damage or flooding to my house.

The local town 10 minutes from me saw a ton of devastation. Local businesses will take months to clean; these are small businesses to, the town is covered in mud, trees, and trash. There are businesses with dumpsters outside their buildings, people I know lost everything, one 73-year-old guy that used to take me to school when I was younger took a chance and drove into high waters costing him his life. It's sad to see anything like this hit here and not something I ever expected to see. EVER.

We will all recover though. We have every time. Just hopefully this won't keep happening every year. I know when July 10th comes around next year, I will be aware of it.

I hope everyone has a safe Friday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*