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.
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.
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*






That Dream Team Griffey is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI just watched the Rangers lose :(
Sorry about the loss! Plenty more games to win!! Luckily its a long season.
DeleteRemember TJ (The Jr Junkie), and how about that Griffey box that Wes got started traveling the country coast to coast many times. I wonder where that finally wound up. My opening day is tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI had it at one point, then I filled it with tons of my dupes. That was fun!
DeleteIf you have any Griffeys for trade, I have tons of Braves!
My favorite is the 1998 Zenith Z-Team. I have always thought that product was underrated and honestly misunderstood. Unless a person was collecting at the time or happened to come across one of the 5x7 cards at some point, they probably don't know that the insert was once sitting inside of an oversized card. And honestly... there are probably a percentage still waiting to be set free. The Dare to Tear concept was years ahead of the Topps A&G rip cards and personally I think they're cooler.
ReplyDeleteI need to hunt down the 5x7 at some point. And yeah, agree, underrated product and I have a few unopened packs of that Zenith kicking around. Not sure I could get myself to rip the cards lol
DeleteReally nice and shiny! Not exactly sure which one is my favorite. Enjoy the hobby all!
ReplyDeleteToo many too choose!
DeleteI myself prefer the 1996 Pinnacle look with the blowing up a huge bubble but Matt its your choices cheers to your coffee selection on these.
ReplyDeleteI like that one as well. I have it somewhere. Prices on those are nuts now, not sure why.
Delete