It's GRIFFening Day!

Opening Day was yesterday, but today, it's Griffening Day.

This is the day I show off my latest additions to my Ken Griffey Jr PC in celebration of MLB's Opening Day.

*takes a sip from a freshly brewed afternoon cup*

Before I show them off, let me backtrack with a quick backstory to my Griffey collecting that you have probably read on here or one of my other blogs a million time so bear with me. Some of you may be reading it for the very first time.

Ken Griffey Jr was my very first hobby PC. I started collecting him in 1996 and chased every card I could. I spent hours at card shows searching, I spent countless dollars trying to pull him from packs and when I did, it was a celebration. I hoarded every card he was on. I collected every figure, beanie baby or statue I could. I even collected food containers that featured him. I was in deep.

So deep that I was featured in Beckett baseball once for my collection and some random Beckett reader mailed me a free Griffey card because of that article.

Then came 1999. I met a girl, took two years off from collecting because she didn't like it, and yada yada yada (I will occasionally use this Seinfeld quote because it fits everywhere) we broke up and I got back into collecting again.

I came back into the hobby deep buying all that I could, but not particularly chasing Griffey like I once did. That fell off, but I would add the occasional card when I could and did.

In about 2010 when Griffey retired, I decided I only wanted to collect cards and traded off all of my Griffey items including Starting Lineups, figures, food items, beanie babies, etc for NY Giants cards at that time. I wished I had gotten Griffeys.

Fast forward to a few years ago, I have found myself going back to a Griffey faze again. I don't have the means I once did to collect him, but I add the ones I can when I can and I never turn down a new Griffey. Base card or not. It's all new to me.

Though I do have some preferences, 90's inserts/parallels are always first wants because they are the most nostalgic to me. Then comes the newer stuff that I like the shiny cards of. After that, I will literally welcome any Griffey I don't have.

Recently, I was able to add a healthy balance of Griffeys to my Griffening Day diet.

*takes a sip*

 

1996 Score Dream Team. Probably my favorite add of the group. This one falls 1:72.

 

 

1995 Score Hall Of Gold falls 1:6. Can't turn down a cheap insert.

This card sounded cooler and looked cooler in the photo I got it from, not as cool in person.

 

Ultra Respect fell 1:18 packs. I fell for this one because of the shiny part on the Respect.

Old man Griff. For some reason I am feeling this. I have been ageing with him.

And finally, the 1998 Zenith Z-Team. These fell 1:35 packs. I now have the 1995 and the 1998. I really want the 1996 version which is my favorite design of them all, maybe some day.

There you have my latest additions. I will need to update my Ken Griffey Jr spreadsheet, you can find that HERE, before I can update my overall numbers. Last I checked I was sitting at 1400 different.

I hope to add more Griffeys as I go along this year as I am chasing 2k!

In comments today, let me know your favorite Griffey of the group or let me know how you are celebrating Opening Day!

*takes a final sip for this post*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Trending This Week In My Hobby

Welcome to Week 2 of Trending This Week In My Hobby.

If you missed Week 1 or am curious what this segment is about if this is your first time seeing it, I will be posting my Top 10 things I have been either adding or seeking the most or in other words what has been trending in my hobby, hence the name. Next week, the list could change and some things could disappear with new things added or move up and down my interests list.

You just never know because I never know here my head will be week to week.

So, the next post will feature the list of stuff for that week and then will compare it to this week for a breakdown of the trending ways and why. If I have an explanation for it.

Hopefully I will.

Without further ado or more rambling, here is the very first list of what's trending in my hobby this week,

1. 90's Inserts Any Team, Any Sport, Any Player specifically 1995-99
2. 2025 Wild Card Splat Eli Manning Cards
3. Disney Lorcana Darkwing Duck Cards
4. Ken Griffey Jr Cards
5. Jaxson Dart Cards
6. NY Giants Cards
7. Eli Manning Cards
8. Rodney Hampton Cards
9. Non Sport Autograph/Relic Cards
10. Allan Houston Cards

And that's it for this weeks updated list. Not too much has changed other than 90's inserts overtaking the number one spot over the very close second place 2025 Wild Card Splat Eli Manning cards. Those are still strongly wanted and I will really have to do a big reveal at some point either on this blog or Big Blue Cardboard (so make sure you are following that blog too) to show you why.

Falling off my list is Mikaela Shiffrin, who is more like at 10B here. However, moving up really strong is Disney Lorcana Darkwing Duck cards. When I found out those existed and with my fandom/nostalgia of the show, those easily became a must want/have and I have added some that I will post about.

So, not much changing so far here overall.

If you were curious about last weeks list and how it changed, here it is again,

1. 2025 Wild Card Splat Eli Manning Cards
2. 90's Inserts Any Team, Any Sport, Any Player specifically 1995-99
3. Ken Griffey Jr Cards
4. Jaxson Dart Cards
5. NY Giants Cards
6. Eli Manning Cards
7. Rodney Hampton Cards
8. Non Sport Autograph/Relic Cards
9. Allan Houston Cards
10. Mikaela Shiffrin Cards

Who knows what next week will bring or where the wind will take me next. I guess you will have to come back and see.

While you wait, let me know what you are collecting this week or what's been trending in your hobby!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

5 Things I Did In The Hobby Last Week

Welcome to the next edition of 5 Things I Did In The Hobby Last Week. I am glad a few of you have reached out and let me know this is one of your favorite segments on here. I like information such as that.

But, for those of you that are new to this segment, here is the background to it:

This series is once again related/played on by Elon Musk's email to government officials in February 2025 asking them about what five things they did.

Also, once again, this is not about politics. I just liked the idea.

*its best to never post politics, make friends, not enemies*

Here we go onto my five things.

1.As always, I did a lot more social media posts across my planet of them. I started doing Rodney Hampton, Eli Manning updates along with small mail day posts on there since it's much faster to send out a social media message than putting up a big blog post.

If you want to catch up on stuff you missed out on, here is a list of all of my social media channels:Cards Over Coffee YouTube Channel is for cards:

Cards Over Coffee - YouTube

Matt's World Of Fun YouTube Channel is for everything else:
Matt's World Of Fun! - YouTube

On top of this, I have two Facebook accounts, Cards Over Coffee and Sport Card Collectors,

Twitter/X: Coffee Card Guy

Instagram account: Coffee Card Guy

Bluesky as Cards Over Coffee

There you have that. Now go check me out on those!

(sorry no pictures to post this week for this post)

2. Hey, I finally added a PWE Trade Page on here!! It tells you what I am looking for in return, the cards I have available with more on the way and rules on how to trade with me! Hopefully this works out like I envisioned! Check out what's been posted HERE for now!

3. I have posted almost every day this week!! Will tomorrow end the streak? We will see how much time I have after I get my school work accomplished.

4. I have been commenting on as many blogs I can. I love to read every post, but I don't always have time to leave a comment or at least something insightful. Hopefully that will change once this semester ends in May. I will get two weeks off.

5. I opened up some wax for the first time in what felt like an eternity! I will be showing off what's inside of some newer football products soon! Stay tuned for some new Coffee Breaks coming up!

And there you have it. Five things I did in the hobby last week.

I hope to keep this series going when I have time to post on it.

*takes this posts final sip*

Tell me five things you did in the hobby last week or make a comment on mine. I will make sure to read and comment back on all of them.

Have a great Friday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Just Another Day

*coffee is ready, takes a sip*

Today, marks my 43rd year in this world.

And just like my previous birthdays, today's will be just as exciting.

Yes, that was sarcasm.

Let's just say DMV and meetings makes up my birthday.

Yippeee!

But, that's okay. These are things that need to be done and accomplished and in the end, today is just another day.

The only difference is, I get older and I have these to go home to that a family member dropped off ahead of time,

That is some fun football wax waiting for me. We all know how much I love that shiny cardboard.

It's been so long since I last opened some football wax. I may have to take my time on these and savor every moment like its an fancy expensive meal. Because who knows when the next time will be when I can open more.

I will be sure to post the results of my birthday break in the Coffee Break series. Wish me luck and hopefully I can find some Jaxson Darts!

I hope everyone has a less busy Thursday than I will have!

*takes final sip of this post*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Vintage Trading

 I love a good old fashioned trade.

You know, the one where I get stuff I want, the person I am trading with get what they want and there is no nickel and diming. That's a good vintage trade. The old days trades.

It's really hard to come across people who like to trade like this anymore, especially on social media.

But, then there are those rare occasions and I have had a few of those with @levy2628 previously. Such a good guy, a great trader and friend.

We pulled off a non-sport trade full of fun.

He had a ton of vintage non-sports cards he was just looking to move and I was very interested in the whole lot. Even though I wasn't able to get all of them, I was able to land the key ones I wanted most including this first card.....

A 2011 Topps American Pie Freddie Mercury which was a set need. This has been a set I have been working three or four years on and have narrowed it down to just eight cards left. You can see my remaining needs HERE.

I would love nothing more than to put this set to rest by year's end.

This card I would say was probably the centerpiece to this trade just because of its significance to the set chase.

But, that doesn't mean that the rest of these didn't sparkle as well,

1953 Maple Leaf Gum Frankie Laine. Gotta admit I didn't know who Laine was so I had to hit Google. I just liked the card.

 

These two 1933 National Chicle cards I wanted just because of the pictures and because they are really old cards. Other than that, they didn't really have a centered purpose.

1965 Blandat "HB" George Harrison. When you can get a vintage Beatles card, you add it.

1953 Maple Leaf Gum Romy Schneider. Once again, had to Google her. Actress, seemed popular in her time.

And finally, let's end this trade with a legend. A 1974-81 Swedish Samiarsaker Pop Star Diana Ross. Big name find in vintage I couldn't say no to.

Now that was a good Vintage Trade! Thanks again @levy2628! Hope you are prepping for our next one!

I wished more people would trade this way. Sometimes trading becomes more of a hassle than being worth the time you put into it. I have had so many traders say, "we are about $2.63 off from completion of this trade". I just want to roll my eyes, instead I give them a couple free cards and a $5 one just to complete the trade. And I don't "comp" any of them, I just go with the flow.

How has your luck been with trades? Are you finding it harder or easier now? What was the best vintage type trade you have made? Let me know in comments or just comments on the cards I added works too!

Hope everyone has a Wonderful Wednesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Card #300 Of 2026 Has Arrived

 *sits down, has cup of coffee in hand, ready to post*

We have done it again! Another milestone hit in 2026! I skipped right over Card #200 and Card #250 just to show off Card #300!

I decided that maybe I need to spread these minor milestones out a bit more instead of every fifty. So the next one after today may wait until I get to card #500. Who knows how long that will take.

In the meantime, let's take a sip *takes a sip* and get to celebrating the card at hand today.

Card #300 is a 1998 Upper Deck Encore Super Powers insert of Fred Taylor. These inserts weren't terribly tough to pull at 1:11 packs, but I think they look cool. Upper Deck Encore was like the Topps Chrome version of Topps where they took basic the basic Upper Deck, and glorified it with shiny thicker foil board. It worked really well and these inserts look 100x better than the base Upper Deck version.

Fred Taylor was apart of the 90's Jaguars team I really liked to watch. There was just something about them with Mark Brunell, Natrone Means, Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. I couldn't get enough of them and if I hadn't already been a Giants fan, I may have been a Jags one.

Well, that does it for Card #300. It will be interesting to see what card this year ends up as Card #500.

Hope everyone has a safe St. Patricks Day. Be smart and make good decisions today. I expect you back here tomorrow to read more Cards Over Coffee.

In comments today, tell me what your favorite Green Card (St. Patty's Day) is your favorite card or comment on my card or let me know how many cards you have so far roughly brought in for 2026.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Trending This Week In My Hobby

I am always looking for new segments or new types of posts to use on this blog. One of my favorite segments on Sport Card Collectors was Trending This Week In My Hobby which showcased what I was into collecting for the week, since my collecting habits seem to change on a weekly basis.

Since this blog is my go-to blog now, I thought it would be fun to move that segment to here to pair up weekly with 5 Things I Did In The Hobby Last Week to give me two easier, but fun posts that I may be able to tackle on a weekly basis. 

Of course, for any posts big or small I still have to put school work first, then blogging.

This week will kick off the first one on here so it will be the ground basis for this new segment.

Here is what to expect from it, today I will be posting my Top 10 things I have been either adding or seeking the most or in other words what has been trending in my hobby, hence the name. Next week, the list could change and some things could disappear with new things added or move up and down my interests.

You just never know.

So, the next post will feature the list of stuff for that week and then will compare it to this week for a breakdown of the trending ways and why. If I have an explanation for it.

Hopefully I will.

Without further ado or more rambling, here is the very first list of what's trending in my hobby this week,

1. 2025 Wild Card Splat Eli Manning Cards
2. 90's Inserts Any Team, Any Sport, Any Player specifically 1995-99
3. Ken Griffey Jr Cards
4. Jaxson Dart Cards
5. NY Giants Cards
6. Eli Manning Cards
7. Rodney Hampton Cards
8. Non Sport Autograph/Relic Cards
9. Allan Houston Cards
10. Mikaela Shiffrin Cards

And that's it, I am digging it. 

The 2025 Wild Card Splat Eli Mannings are the most sought after for my collection right now and you will see why at some point. Ken Griffey Jr and 90's inserts are coming in strong as well and we will see how strong they come in for next week. Will they overtake #1?

I am certain some of these will move up and down before next week and maybe even off the list. We will have to wait and see which ones do.

In comments today, tell me what is trending in your collecting  and what you are seeking the most this week.

Hope everyone has a Magnificent Monday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

LowBallin

Are you having trouble affording to stay alive in the sport card hobby? Can you add cards as much as you were once able to? Does overpaying for something that should be cheaper frustrate you? Do you dread it when your wife finds your credit card bill before you do?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, there may be a solution for you. It's called LowBallin.

With LowBallin, you will be able to feel like a collector again.

Symptoms of LowBallin include, being able to afford cards, pay the prices you want to, find money in your wallet, making your wife happy by having extra money for her, and finding that joy in adding that long sought after PC cards.

 

"I can add 1/1 cards to my collection and pay the price I want to pay for it."- Matt (not a paid actor portrayal).

Start LowBallin today. 

Ask your fellow Coffee Card Specialist about LowBallin and start to feel like a collector again.

5 Things I Did In The Hobby Last Week

Welcome to the next edition of 5 Things I Did In The Hobby Last Week. I am glad a few of you have reached out and let me know this is one of your favorite segments on here. I like information such as that.

But, for those of you that are new to this segment, here is the background to it:

This series is once again related/played on by Elon Musk's email to government officials in February 2025 asking them about what five things they did.

Also, once again, this is not about politics. I just liked the idea.

*its best to never post politics, make friends, not enemies*

Here we go onto my five things.

1.As always, I did a lot more social media posts across my planet of them. I started doing Rodney Hampton, Eli Manning updates along with small mail day posts on there since it's much faster to send out a social media message than putting up a big blog post.

If you want to catch up on stuff you missed out on, here is a list of all of my social media channels:Cards Over Coffee YouTube Channel is for cards:

Cards Over Coffee - YouTube

Matt's World Of Fun YouTube Channel is for everything else:
Matt's World Of Fun! - YouTube

On top of this, I have two Facebook accounts, Cards Over Coffee and Sport Card Collectors,

Twitter/X: Coffee Card Guy

Instagram account: Coffee Card Guy

Bluesky as Cards Over Coffee

There you have that. Now go check me out on those!

2. I separated more cards that need to be updated on TCDB.

 

 These will definitely fill up my collection numbers on there when I have time to update them.

  

3. I separated my trade stuff for my usual crew.

. 

Now I just need to find the time to send some of this out. Maybe over the next few weeks I can find time.

4. I have been commenting on as many blogs as I can when I can.

5.I uploaded over sixty pictures on this blog for future posts. I should have content for a little while when i can find the time to add words to the pictures.

And there you have it. Five things I did in the hobby last week.

I hope to keep this series going when I have time to post on it.

*takes this posts final sip*

Tell me five things you did in the hobby last week or make a comment on mine. I will make sure to read and comment back on all of them.

Have a great Saturday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Haunted Hits

Today is Friday The 13th, and for those of you that celebrate by staying at a camp by Crystal Lake and leaving out machetes and axes the night before for Jason Vorhees to use today, hope you can survive the day.

All I ask from Jason first is letting me enjoy my morning cup. Then let me run and scream like I saw a mouse, yes I am afraid of mice, away from him until I trip over something from old age and fall to the ground unable to get up and save myself other than hitting my life alert button (I don't have one yet but we all know its coming).

*takes a sip of hot coffee*

For everyone else, Friday The 13th may have different meanings. Such as avoiding your superstitions for the day or just ignoring the fact that it's Friday The 13th and go on with their work day. Or maybe throwing some raging party if you are young.

However you react to the day, just react however you want.

For me, I will be sharing off a "scary" card on this blog to commemorate a "scary" day.

 

This is a 2025 Wild Card Haunted Hits Eli Manning. It's a parallel of some form and is numbered to 9. It's so hard to figure out the parallels in Leaf products since there are so, so many of them.

I know many people don't like Leaf/Wild Card products, but I think the creativity they use is appreciated. Basically the same kind of creativity we may have seen in the 90's.

Well, that's it for today. Just a short post for the short period of time I have.

In comments, let me know which of the Friday The 13th movies were your favorite or any comments on Leaf/Wild Card products like this one.

Have a safe Friday.

*takes a sip, looks around safe from danger. Jason must have listened for now*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2026 Topps Baseball Series 1 Easter Egg Tin

*coffee is ready, pictures are in the post, time to party*

*takes a sip*

I am a little late to the party on this post, but here it is anyways for you enjoyment and eyes.

When February hits, it means the Super Bowl, NASCAR, creeping closer towards spring and some girls that set up at Walmart and sell me cookies.

Because they know every year I am buying.

And with every year, I have to get a box of my favorites, Samoas. I wished I had gotten more than one box.

 

Then I had to grab my second favorite cookie, Do-Si-Dos. I am not one for the chocolate covered peanut butter ones, I am all in on these though.

And finally and disappointingly, they didn't make S'mores this year as they replaced it with a new one,

Exploremores, which is terrible by the way. Bring back S'mores!!

I should set up at their location and protest for them to bring it back!

But, I will wait on that. 

At least they have my Somoas still. If those ever leave, well, you will see me walking those picket lines and I will be the one with the microphone on the news.

*takes a bite of Somoa to go with the freshly brewed cup of coffee*

I suppose February also brings along something else. Something that every baseball collector counts down to. What's this? A new season of baseball cards being kicked off by 2026 Topps Series 1.

And even though baseball cards are not on my radar like they used to be, it's still fun to open a new product of a new year and I always find a way to open some version of Series 1 yearly.

So I went egg this time. Usually the only egg I go for are those Cadbury ones that are stuffed with that delicious gooey insides.

Each one of these Easter Eggs comes with 54 base cards, 2 holiday variations, 1 polka dot parallel, 1 1991 Topps insert, and 1 Stars of MLB or Titans of the Game insert. They run about $15 each.

I didn't feel like posting all 59 cards since it was a pretty lame/boring break, but here are the key cards I found in it,

 

The parallels look cool. That's about it. I feel Topps has beaten the Stars Of The MLB insert into the ground and I am tired of seeing it. Just like they did with the 87 and 88 throwbacks.

Overall, it was boring, didn't even hit the one rookie I wanted, Anthony (this is from a Red Sox hater too), and didn't feel like I got my $15 back. But, that's the chance you take and ripping stuff is still fun. I think if I was going to rip Series 1 again, I go blaster. It's much more fun to rip more than one pack. Odds are though, I won't open anymore and will just try to get the Anthony rookie and any Griffey inserts especially the Profiles one of Judge and Griffey.

Ratings (ratings based on 1-5 🍵)

Design 🍵🍵
Photography 🍵
Inserts: 🍵
Hits N/A
Price 🍵
Value 🍵

There are my ratings. Just take them as it is because that's what they are.

Let me know in comments your thoughts on my break, my evaluation of Series 1, the Stars Of The MLB inserts and what your favorite Girl Scout Cookie is.

Hope everyone is having a magnificent Monday. I know I am. I have coffee, cookies and fifty degrees. Couldn't ask for more today.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Continuing Saga

*coffee is ready now, time to pour a cup and get ready for a new post*

*takes a sip*

The season of downsizing has continued.

If you are just reading about this, last year I made a big decision that I was finally going to start downsizing my collection.

First, it was unloading 75,000 base cards to my father. Then it went on to moving hundreds of relic and autograph cards and sending them to fellow blogger for trade around Christmas time.

And now, on Monday, my father came over for another visit and once again I took some time away from school to make a trade with him and continue the downsizing.

For about four hours, I dug through boxes again. Getting rid of base that didn't have any meaning and pulling out ones with great photography and from my favorite era of collecting, 1995-1999.

 

 

 

 

 

In the end, another whopping 14,403 cards left my collection. Yes, I counted them by hand so I can keep my numbers updated on here accurately. 

In exchange,

I added 41 cards. Yes, just 41 cards and nothing that is outstanding, just stuff I wanted.

Here are a few key ones,

(one of the top rookies in the NBA this year)

 

Like I said, nothing outstanding, just stuff I wanted.

The important part with a trade like this is the amount of cards I was able to unload. I am sure there is more to come from this downsizing when spring comes around and I get the opportunity to get on spring break.

I have a ton of 80's sets that don't interest me and possibly some others as well. 

My next move is to update my numbers on here which will probably also mean another new small milestone post coming up.

My goal this year was to trade/send more cards out I don't want for my PC, then adding more that I actually do. I am on great pace for this.

I hope everyone is having a great Saturday.

In comments, let me know how you are approaching your collecting. Downsizing? Adding? Trading? Selling?

*takes final sip of the post*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*