90's On The 9th: 1997 Leaf Fractal Matrix X-Axis Die-Cut Amani Toomer

Coffee is ready and so am I. 

Not a lot of posts this month, but hopefully some incoming mail days will help.

*takes a sip*

For the first time this year, I am posting a #90sOn9th post. So far, this segment has been a little disappointing as I hoped this would turn into a monthly blog bat-around but also star on Twitter/X as well. 

I am usually the only one who posts these.

That's okay though, I have no plans to stop and hopefully at some point others will join in and use the hashtag #90sOn9th.

*takes another sip*

Today, I am showing off a NY Giants card, something I normally only post on Big Blue Cardboard, but it was my most recent 90's card addition so it fits the segment.

1997 Leaf Fractal Matrix X-Axis Die-Cut fell in random packs of 1997 Leaf. This 200-card parallel set is a multi-micro-etched parallel set with a die-cut. Each player's card is featured in one unique die-cut version and there are 3 different die-cut parallels to chase in X,Y,Z. Each probably comes with their own rarity.

The X-Axis die-cut which is the Amani Toomer above features 100 cards with five of them gold, 20 silver, and 75 bronze.

 

Back of the card is the base look other than the die-cut.

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

I hope to see a few more of you start to join in on this fun monthly event. If not this month, next.

Remember to use the hashtag #90son9th.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Small, But Efficient

*sits down for a big cup of coffee. needing this today, been a long sleepless week*

*takes a sip*

Not all mail days have to be these huge monstrosities to be efficient in my collection, they can also be small ones.

As the Christmas mail days rolled in, there were a lot different sized mail days with a lot of familiar sender's names. One of those names being @CardpocalypseNC whose mail day I am showing off today.

Tim and I have been long time buddies since his days of blogging, and even though he no longer blogs, we have stayed connected because of Twitter and do on and off trades.

My latest trade with Tim not only brought me in a few cards, but it also brought in a few cards I needed for a Christmas gift.

Let's check out my part of this mail day. I am not showing off the Christmas gifts obviously:) Especially since I still haven't mailed them off yet.

Charles Way Legacy /100 that I needed for my PC of him. I never get sick of adding 90's inserts to my collection anyways and will continue to do so.

 

Up next, an Amani Toomer that is very hard to find and maybe most Toomer collectors don't have with it being numbered to 24.

 

And finally, a Rainbow parallel from 1996 Ultra Sensations. Honestly, I was hoping the parallel was super shiny and spectacular since I had never seen one in person, but it compares to the other parallels in the product where the border just has a few changes. It's Meh. Yes, I am making reference to the character in the Emoji movie.

These are a bit rare though, there are only 1% of the total run printed of this parallel. It's probably why I can't find the Rodney Hampton version anywhere.

Thanks again to Tim for this mail day and for the Christmas gift help.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Reaching 200

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

*takes another sip for a celebratory post*

Four days in a row with posts, I know, I didn't expect this either. But, I took some time out to get this done and caught up. I hope you have your coffee and are enjoying this streak.

*takes a sip*

Today marks the day I hit 200 Amani Toomers, well, once I enter them on TCDB. Which I believe moves me up a few spots as well. But, I am still far from the top.

As always, when I get close to a milestone, I try to make the milestone card something cool.

Let's check it out.

 

My first pickup, card #196, was this 2002 Leaf Certified Fabric Of The Game. Remember when Jersey Cards were game worn?

Card #197 was this dual patch card from 2001 Titanium.

Card #198 is Score The Franchise which I landed for .38. You read that right.

I went a little bigger with card #199. This is a 1996 Ultra Sensations Rainbow parallel. Reportedly, the Rainbow cards were one percent of the total print run. I have never found the Rodney Hampton which is the only one I am missing.

And now Card #200....

 

2004 Absolute Memorabilia Ground Hoggs Game Used Shoe. As soon as I spotted this, I wanted it. And you can see the actual game used part of this.

And that's what I am talking about when it comes to a bigger card for the milestone. 

I am also talking about this mornings cup of coffee which is spot on. Some days it is, others it is not.

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

I have since added a few more Toomers, so I will see where I am at and now am on the chase for 250. I will wait on adding the cooler card once I reach 300.

Thoughts on my milestone, the cards and what player milestone you are chasing next welcomed in comments.

Hope everyone has a great day.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

My Rankings On TCDB

Good Morning! Well, if it's morning where you are reading this. I have my coffee in hand, ready to figure out what breakfast may be, and preparing for a new Cards Over Coffee Post.

*takes a sip*

I haven't been on here much recently because life has kept me busy and I really didn't have much to post about. It's hard when you don't really have a lot of cards incoming and you have been tearing apart your collection sorting to come up with anything creative and worthy of posting that hasn't already been shown off.

So on top of lots of sorting and re-organizing, I have been adding some player collections on TCDB (Trading Card Data Base). Not only does it make it easier for me to figure out my needs, but my favorite part is seeing my rankings among those who also have collections of the same players.

For the most part, I did pretty well.

I took the top spot for Victor Cruz.

Barely snuck up on the top spot for Darius Rucker.

Blowing away the field for Charles Way.

I have just a few Andre Williams, I also never added the duplicate relics/autographs I had. So this is straight up individual cards.

Have over a 100 card lead here with Rueben Randle. Another guy like Andre Williams I was heavily invested in.

Took the top spot for Chevy Chase.

And now onto some that I need to do some work on.

  

I still have a ways to go with Eli, but my first goal is to reach 1,000. I have added some recently that I didn't put on TCDB yet, but not even close to that goal yet.

 

I couldn't believe my lack of David Wilsons in comparison to the first-place person.

  

My lack of Amani Toomers is appalling to me and disgraceful to him. How could one of my Top 10 favorite NY Giants not have more. I really need to get on this and move up the board.

  

I believe I was within two cards of first place until recently. It appears I have some serious competition here to move up more.

 

Tied with John Starks, Allan Houston is my favorite NY Knick of all-time and yet I sit in 10th place here. Even fellow blogger Billy has a significant lead on me. I need to work on this collection, maybe Billy has some duplicates.

I still have a few players I really need to add on there, and maybe even Kerry Collins and Rodney Hampton who are only done through spreadsheets.

Thoughts on my rankings, what some of your rankings are and how many collections you have uploaded on TCDB welcomed in comments.

Now it's time to find some breakfast with the rest of this cup of coffee.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Friends With Cards

*takes a lunchtime sip. Sips of coffee are good any time of the day. I have my latest round of cards from Cards Over Coffee reader Oren right next to me and I am ready to get the latest post up*

Little pieces of cardboard with pictures on it can be more than just that if you think about it deeper. They can symbolize joy, a hobby and even friendships.

  

I enjoy all three of those aspects and more within my little pieces of cardboard. The hobby has a lot of meanings to me, some deeper than others. But, one thing is for sure, I have enjoyed all of the friendships I have built because of the hobby especially since all of my "close friends" are no really so close.

One of those friendships I built was through email. This was a first one for me in my ten years of being apart of the online hobby community. Usually my email is the last place, besides Facebook, I try to start up any form of trading or interaction. I have gotten some funky requests over the years in my email that I usually don't respond to, but for some reason I felt good about the one Oren sent me and gambled. I am glad I did.

Not only have I acquired some excellent cards in our trades, but we have also created a solid friendship.

Speaking of our outstanding trades, we just made another and once again, it didn't disappoint.

*takes a sip of a dunkin' hot mocha that my wife just set down next to me, time to show off the goods from this trade*

There was a great mix of cards in this trade,

Alec Ogletree Purple Power /49

Mario Manningham Certified Potential

Lamar Jackson Thunder & Lightning (love the parallels in these)

Amani Toomer Stadium Club rookie (this is a picture of him as a kick returner which is how he got his foot going in NY)

 

Hakeem Nicks Bowman Chrome Rookie Refractor /99

Mark Brunell (side PC player) game worn relic from Gridiron Gear

Jerrel Jernigan Topps Precision red inked auto

I have always wanted one of these, 2001 Topps Super Bowl Bunting swatch. This fits perfect in my unique relic PC, this one just makes me sad. Super Bowl 35 was an embarrassment for the Giants I prefer not to go any deeper into. At least the relic is cool.

Believe it or not, this autograph had me hooked. Imagine how popular I would have been in 1998 carrying around this bad boy. I have been wanting autographs of guys like this and landed a Tim Couch auto not too long ago. I can finally cross Leaf off my Top 100 wants.

By the way, Ryan Leaf may have never turned his career around, he at least turned around his life after a rough stretch.

The final in this trade, but not really final card as I will get to that in a minute, is Vance McDonald Happy Holidays Santa Hat swatch for my Christmas PC.

*takes final sip of the Dunkin' coffee before finishing up today's post*

I did receive three other cards in this trade before I came on vacation, but didn't have time to upload them. I will include those in my next mail day posting from Oren which I know will be sooner rather than later.

So thanks again to Oren for the trade and I am looking forward to the next.

*takes a look around for something to eat, need to finish this up so I can grab something*

The hobby has provided me with an outlet in life when times get tough, just look at 2020 for example. Last year I started some new sorting projects, moved my card room around, traded away stuff I never wanted to and started to build sets again. It was a nice distraction which also helped me make some new friends through trading last year as well. The hobby has always been there for me and I have always been there for it and supporting others when I feel they need a pick-me-up. Who needs a stress relief ball when you have a piece of cardboard with someone's face on it to make connections..

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Well Dressed With A Cup Of Coffee

*just found out today is a National Day of celebration for the one and only, coffee. Takes a sip*

My wife just informed me today is a very important day.

So grab a friend and celebrate #NationalCoffee Day. Is there really any better day? Not that I need a reason to celebrate more coffee in a day but here we are.

I took advantage of the free coffee with purchase at Dunkin' today and enjoyed a nice hot brew of the coffee form,

I know it's not straight up decaf (if you missed why I have to drink decaf in a previous post it's because I get tachycardia now with caffeine) plain coffee, but I was feeling a bit excited so I went a little off course.

*takes another sip. Mmmm the mocha is where it's at today folks!*

Another exciting thing about today is my sharing of the latest mail day I had from Too Many Verlanders blog that may have led me to another chase. It seems his mail days have done that to me TOO many times.

Right here is a huge stack of.....Amani Toomer cards. 

 

Amani Toomer or as Chris Berman nicknamed him "well dressed" was a 2nd round draft pick Wide Receiver of the NY Giants in the 1996 NFL Draft. He had 668 Receptions, 9,497 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career all with NY. He retired in 2008 after winning Super Bowl 42 with the Giants and is apart of the Giants Ring Of Honor in 2010, He also holds double digit team receiving records that I doubt will ever be broken. Unless Darius Slayton really turns it on.

I have always been fond of Amani and have always felt he was underrated despite the numbers and the big catches in important moments like in the 2008 playoff game vs Dallas where he took a short pass 52 yards for a touchdown. However, my fondness of Amani has never quite translated over to cardboard

 

Well, that's until this mail day came.

Thanks to Dennis and this big stack of cards, I will officially put it out there that I am seeking Amani Toomer cards and will add him to my list of players I collect. Bring them on!

*takes another sip...or two...before showing off some goods*

I won't dive into the entire stack that Dennis sent of Amani, but will show off the ones that caught my attention immediately,

Don't tell me those didn't catch your attention as well.

I will have to update my Amani Toomer collection numbers at some point and see where I am at. Will also need to download a player checklist to avoid duplicates which there were some in this stack.

*takes another sip and actually chugs the rest before it gets cold and so this post can be concluded*

Thanks to Dennis for the mail day and for sending me yet on another quest. It's not like I needed another PC to chase but same goes for my coffee as well. It's not like I need another cup, but I always go for more. A day like today though with the celebration of coffee, I gotta grab another cup or two.

Happy #NationalCoffeeDay