It Was A Fun Ride

Good Morning Coffee Card Enthusiasts!

*takes a sip*

The weekend has come and gone again and so hasn't my basketball season.

We did pull out the win, but the last girl didn't make her shot which was disappointing. Her teammates tried, us coaches tried and the girl tried multiple shots. The ball just wouldn't fall in.

But, overall, it was a pretty successful season as a head coach. We finished 5-2. We had 9 out of 10 girls make a basket. Every girl on the team bonded. Every girl grew tremendously by seasons end. I am proud of this team and everything we accomplished together as a family. That's what I built our culture on.

So much a family that I got us all matching shirts. Remember that post about a month ago where I traded off the Ohtani Topps rookie and a few other cards, well, this is what I did with it. I got them custom shirts with jersey number, name and same front logo as myself. They just showed up last week which is good timing as they arrived in time for our end of the year celebration on Wednesday.

I can't wait to give them away, but I am also really sad that it's all come to an end. I have seen these girls since November so it's been something I have gotten used to and will be weird/sad not having to spend hours writing up practice notes, drawing up plays and practice drills and posting on the team website every other day.

Next year I plan on coaching again and will be coaching 5th/6th grade and will hopefully have some of the girls I had this year return.

It was a fun ride.

*takes a sad sip with a small tear in the eye*

Another fun ride for me has been collecting Mikaela Shiffrin who is in this year's Winter Olympics and was someone who trained skiing only about twenty to thirty minutes from my house which is super cool. She is also very talented and even though I am not watching the Olympics, I am loudly cheering her on from a distance.

 

My latest add was the Metalized Subset Dots Parallel from Skybox Metal Universe which is numbered to 199.

I need to add this to my TCDB collection at some point. I believe I am still third or fourth place when it comes to collecting her. She was included in the recent 2026 Topps Chrome Winter Olympics product so maybe I will try to add some from that product as well.

I hope everyone has a great rest of your Monday. Some Monday's are better than others, I am currently doing school work while I am typing this so you know how mine is going.

*takes a final sip*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Trade Flip: Spencer Jones

The Trade Flip

If the title of this new post caught your attention, I am glad you came to read.....and hopefully you brought your coffee.

With lack of funds, big time trade bait (lots of base, inserts, numbered is what I have) I have turned to trading for items I am hoping that increase in value so I can trade it for bigger items later on.

So basically, the plan is to "trade flip". Instead of investing and selling, I am trading than trading for higher values later on.

This is something I hope works and doesn't bite me in the tush later on.

One of my first "trade flips" will be Spencer Jones who had a solid spring training with the Yankees.

Not only did I acquire the Bowman first chrome and refractor, but I also landed two autographs.

They aren't the highest of end autographs, but I landed both for less than $30 trade value, so I took them.

Now I sit and wait. Hoping he turns out to be a big superstar and these go for two to three times what I landed them for.

I have a list of needs; both my Top Wants and my 12 Cup Needs which is listed off to the right side of the blog.

I will have more players in this series as I go along which includes a few Yankees. I have been downsizing my Yankees collection this year. The only Yankees I will hold onto are Derek Jeter and ANY 90's inserts or any cool looking cards. The rest will be available for those who ask :)

Hope this idea takes off for not only me, but maybe yourself. Especially if you are struggling with collecting like I am.

Have a great Monday and let me know your thoughts on this idea and don't forget your coffee on the counter, it gets cold too quickly.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Getting Bent Over By The USPS

Coffee is as hot and angry as I am this morning.

This just means it's time for a new, rant edition of #CardsOverCoffee.

*takes an angry sip*

Is it just me...or is the USPS having some serious issues in the last couple of months?

Let's see....

• They have lost 4 PWE's I had incoming.
• They made a couple of my PWE's disappear into thin air and then reappear to my recipient 6 to 7 weeks later than expected.
• Mail is slow both receiving and sending
• Some mail has come partially opened
• And finally...the first case of this...damaged mail

This is what happened with my recent mail day trade with blog reader and friend, Oren.

*takes another angry sip*

Not all of my cards were damaged that came from Oren in this trade.

These three 2015 Americana base were fine. I still need to see if I have a complete set of this or maybe more than one. I opened a ton of it.

John McAfee is a businessman and a two-time presidential candidate.

Fans Of The Game of Sam Bradford. If you don't remember Sam, he was mainly known/drafted/played for the Rams from 2010-2014. He was the OROY in 2010.

I don't know who Riff Raff is or his songs, but digging his style.

Bri Baker was a contestant on Master Chef. I like anything that has to do with food, especially food that goes well with coffee.

 

I had to Google Robert Pollard. I had no idea who he was. He is a musician for the group, Guided By Voices. Have never heard of them.

I still haven't watched a single episode of Stranger Things, but sounds like I need to. Mix of 80's nostalgia and monsters.....yup...right up my alley.

 

Lana Turner relic was the surprise of the trade. Oren occasionally throws a blind curveball into our trades. Lana was one of the highest paid actresses in the 1940's. Can't say I have ever seen anything she was in, but this is still a very exciting PC add.

And now...here's the part I get bent over by the USPS. And not in the Matchbox 20 way.

2 cards were badly bent.

And bent so bad they were creased.

And sadly unsavable. I really liked these too!

Thanks USPS. This is sarcasm.

Thanks to Oren for the trade!! This was not sarcasm.

I had to make sure I clarified that because sometimes you can read someone's reaction through a keyboard.

*takes another angry sip before finishing up today's post*

It has gotten so bad with the USPS, that I am now at the point that I worry about anything coming and going from my house. I constantly am checking with people I mail to just to make sure their package or PWE arrived. It shouldn't be like that. It didn't used to be like that. 

Let me know in comments today if you have experienced any of these issues.

Have a great Thursday. And don't let the USPS bite.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

If You're Not First, You're Last

Coffee is ready, I have a donut, some cards and I am ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee.

*takes a sip*

Currently I sit in 4th place on TCDB when it comes to collecting Mikaela Shiffrin.

When I look at that number, one thing comes to mind, "if you're not first, you're last" which is a phrase I have used throughout my life and believe in. Because there is simply wins and losses. There are no in-betweens. There are no participation trophies in life, sports or cards.

Thinking this way doesn't make me upset or offend me or "trigger" me, it drives me. I thrive for a challenge and want to win. So that's what I plan to do.

Because right now I am last and the only way to go now, is up.

Which is why I recently added four new Shiffrin cards to my collection. All come from the Upper Deck Goodwin Champions product.

And even with these four new adds, I still reside in 4th place. I am now only one behind third place though, but still twenty plus from first. With some motivation from being last, I can already picture myself in first. I will get there even if it takes some time.

Because if you're not first, you're last.

*takes final sip*

If any bloggers or readers have any for trade I don't have, check out my COLLECTION HERE and just let me know via email at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com!

Have a great Thursday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

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*

Jennings For Jeopardy

*sipping coffee today before I start a new #CardsOverCoffee*

I have never been known as a big game show person. My mind doesn't have the focus, quickness or the brain capacity to answer the questions. My wife can solve the Wheel Of Fortune puzzle with one letter (sometimes none) on the board and does pretty well in Jeopardy.

Despite my lack of game show talent, I still have played computer and Nintendo game versions of both game shows against her. As you would expect, I had no chance. It would be like watching the Detroit Lions take on the Tom Brady Patriots in the Super Bowl. The only points I ever landed in Jeopardy were questions about TV/Movies and you guessed it, sports. If only they had a coffee category or one especially on sport cards. GIVE ME A CHANCE!!

When it comes to watching those game shows, it's never at the top of my list of things to watch in our free time together. Though we have done so and did so recently and I will say that one of those game shows was a lot less desirable to watch even more so now.

I know since the passing of legend Alex Trebek, Jeopardy has been trying to find their new host and have been sharing the time between two hosts recently. The night we had it on, the first time since Trebek's passing, Mayim Bialik was hosting the show and I found myself falling asleep. It was so boring, that I would almost prefer listening to Ben Stein talk about cheese for half an hour.

That's nothing against Bialik who is not only tremendously smart with a PHD in Neuroscience and is an amazingly talented actress, but it just says a lot about Trebek who owned the floor, and it is extremely challenging to follow in those footsteps. I also felt she wasn't game show host material. I think just like with doctors; it takes a certain person to be in that field.

That person to take Trebek's spot, I can't say replace as that's impossible, however could be the other host of the show when it's not Bialik's turn. That person is Ken Jennings who not only owns a record for the longest winning streak of 74 straight wins on Jeopardy, but has spent a good portion of his life on and hosting game shows. It's in his blood. He bleeds game shows.

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

I have yet to see an episode of Jeopardy with Jennings as host, as I said I don't watch game shows all that often but thought a few cards of him in my last trade with blog reader Oren were pretty cool additions.

Jennings had base, Sp's, Autograph and Relics in 2020 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions which happens to be my favorite Upper Deck product.

Oren passed along three of the base cards and I believe the Splash Of Color is a Sp.

Base

Another base

Splash Of Color which was my favorite of the three.

I kind of want an autograph now that I have these and will add it to my ever-so-growing want list I recently updated on here. You can check it out HERE.

Thanks again to Oren for the trade.

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

I expect to have you guys in comments let me know who you think is the better host of Jeopardy between the two they have now. I also want to hear who you think should host it even if leaving those two out.

Anyone think that maybe Will Ferrell should? Anyone get this reference? If not, go watch some SNL and give yourself a good laugh right now. The Connery vs Trebek poke and prods are quite hilarious.

Have a great Monday night.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Future

*a day before vacation and all through house, not a creature was stirring, not even a...not sure what would be stirring in my house but hopefully not a mouse. My laptop is on my table with care, hoping the coffee I am drinking will not spill there. My cards are in hand, waiting for me to post them while doing a hand stand. Sorry, I won't be doing or never have attempted a hand stand. Enough with this trying to rhyme, it's cards over coffee time!*

Prospecting in the hobby has never been my thing.  I don't go all out and risk it all on one guy, but that doesn't mean occasionally I won't fall into a little hole especially when it comes to promising guys who play for our favorite baseball team.

*takes a sip being careful not to spill, instead I do because my cup is being a pill*

The name Jasson Dominguez has been floating around the baseball rookie cardsphere for a couple of years now. Prospectors are rejoicing for his cards and chasing all that they can hoping he can be everything that is promised of him. I on the other hand, just add what I can when I can without giving up my entire collection to do so. As I said, I don't bank on prospects and my collecting isn't for the money.

If Dominguez retired tomorrow, it wouldn't affect me.

*takes another sip*

The past couple of years I have been able to add a good handful to my collection via trading and am always seeking more. Here is what I have accumulated so far,

 

This last card I just acquired a short time ago from @Doug_E_B on Twitter and is by far my favorite card of this PC,

 

Panini baseball or not, this is a stunning card and one I continue to stare at.

Currently Jasson is playing for the Florida Complex League Yankees of the Rookie Level. He was selected to represent the Yankees in the 2021 Futures Game.

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

I am hopeful I can continue to add to this PC especially since I have condensed my baseball card collecting to just Jeter, Griffey Jr and Dominguez. Of course I will always PC 90's inserts, but those fall under my 90's inserts PC. There is a difference, I promise.

With vacation underway tomorrow, I am not sure if any more posts will be up for the rest of next week on here. Depends on if I have any down time and if the WiFi works there. Otherwise, new posts will be up the following week and in the meantime check out Matt's Wonderful Blog Of Hobbies.

Coffee With Aries Spears

*takes a sip feeling nostalgic today as the memories are floating back to when I first met my wife and some of the movies and TV shows we used to watch. I am not sure why my mind is floating back then but it may have to do with today's card and coffee mate. See what I did there? takes another sip, it's time for some Cards Over Coffee*

When it comes to comedy sketch shows, I am sure many of your minds jump to SNL. To me, SNL is okay. I preferred one which I called a hidden gem in MADtv

Not only were there some hilarious sketches, but some of the characters they brought to the show made you never forget them. Characters like Ms.Swan, Stuart, Kenny Rogers (well played by Will Sasso), Cabana Chat and some great impressions by today's Coffee With actor, Aries Spears.

*takes a sip before moving on*

Aries Spears has been in both film (he was in Jerry Maguire and Malcolm X to name a couple) and TV, but to me will be best known for his role on MADtv. He has some great impressions including two of my favorites of his in Jay-Z and Eddie Murphy.

Spears appeared in Upper Deck's Goodwin Champions product in 2019 which is known to find autographs/relics of people you don't get everyday.

 

 

I recently snagged this autograph for $4 on eBay with a leftover gift card. As always, my celebrity autographs always represent a part of my past and memories. Spears also has base, parallels and a relic card as well. Maybe something to look at down the road.

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

Aries played on MADtv between 1997-2005 and currently does some voices in cartoons, guest appearances on shows and still continues his roots of comedy stand-up.

I think if I was to go back in time, I would have tried some stand up myself. I love comedy and especially making others laugh. The saying goes "laughter is the best medicine" and I believe in that. I did all I could to make people laugh last year as I know we were all going through a tough time. The laughter of others also helps yourself feel better too.

*takes a sip, Coffee Card Blogger Out*

A Mixed Bunch

*Sits down with coffee and computer. Everyone should know what time it is...and it's not tool time*

It's gonna be another warm one today with temperatures getting close to 90 with the humidity. A day where you don't want to use the oven inside and want to wear pretty much next to nothing. Don't worry, I am fully clothed...for now. I am sure those who are in the south adjust easily to these temps, but here in the northeast, we don't. Regardless of the temperatures though, I am still having this nice hot cup of coffee to start my day. My wife always picks on me for drinking hot coffee and not iced on a hot day but I really have to be in the right mood to drink iced.

*takes a sip of warm coffee*

On Friday, if you didn't know, it was #NationalDoughnutDay.

I had to celebrate it of course with some Munchkins to pair with my coffee. Coffee is never a side, it is always the main course and anything I have with it is the side.

With my Munchkins I always like a good variety, but don't mind if they go blueberry cake heavy either. It is by far my favorite Munchkin and even enjoyed as a full size doughnut though I would had gone Boston Cream for full size if I went that way, but I wanted some variety.

*takes another sip, wished had saved a few of those doughnuts for today*

I not only like a mixed batch of doughnuts occasionally, but I also like a mixed batch of cards in my mail day as well. It's nice to have a themed mail day, but, a mail day with some variety can "bring down the house" as variety is the spice of life.

This was the latest case with my mail day from Cards Over Coffee reader, Oren.

Once again, Oren and I pulled off another fantastic trade and last week I received my end of it.

First card is a Dazzlers of Rask. These cards bring me back to the 90's and kudos to Upper Deck for doing that for me.

 

A couple new Giants cards in Engram and Webb.

Some of the coolest cards out there are prop cards. This one is a Wine Bottle piece from The Walking Dead. I don't own too many prop cards, but treasure the ones that I have and always welcome more. I would take these 100% over any plain sport relic.

 

And it may appear I am a Walking Dead fan with as many relics I pickup, but to be honest, I haven't seen an episode. I do enjoy any non sport acquisition regardless of what movie or TV show it's from. I may however check out The Walking Dead at some point.

And the final card of this mail day is a Goodwin Champions Canine Companions card. Goodwin Champions has a really fun variety of hits to find from manufactured ones to World War/History piece to actual space relics. It's a fun product I really enjoy.

As you saw, there was a nice mixed bag of items in this mail day with plenty of Blueberry Cake.

Thanks again to Oren for the trade.

*takes a sip before closing up*

If any of you reading this today is in the heat today, play it safe. Drink plenty of fluids and stay out of the sun as much as you can as too much heat exposure can lead to further problems other than sweating. I plan on spending my day finding cards to send out to people for trades.

Hope everyone has a great day. If you have a favorite doughnut, let me hear it in comments! Or your thoughts on iced coffee.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*