The Shoebox Delivers Part 4

With the temperatures expecting to reach 50's today, it's time for some hot cards, hot coffee and Cards Over Coffee.

*takes a sip*

Today, I dig further into the shoebox and show off some amazing football cards I found in there. But, before I continue with that, if you missed the previous parts of this post, you can check them out here:

• Part 1 of the magical Shoebox trade 
• Part 2, which you can see HERE.
• And Part 3 which is HERE.

Now onto the amazing football cards. At least they are amazing to me.

1997 Score The New Breed. These fell 1:12 packs.

Pacific Mark Brunell. If anyone remembers on this blog, I am a big Brunell fan especially his time with the Jaguars. I add cards when I can of him.

Challenge Collection was a parallel to 1997 Pinnacle Inscriptions that fell 1:7 packs. I think they look as good as the base cards. Dufex rules the day!

Falling at 1:48 packs, Bowman Best preview refractors were the previews of Bowmans Best before it's release. That isn't too hard to understand even without morning coffee.

1997 Score The Specialists fell 1:15 packs. Not sure how Jim Everett fell under this category but completely get Kordell being on that checklist. Another one of those fun 90's guys that could play multiple offensive positions.

Numbered to 2000 and randomly falling in packs of 1997 Donruss, the Press Proof parallel was a fun chase. Mike Alstott was a beast to say the least, so I enjoyed finding this one.

I can't find odds or details on this, but it's a 1997 Playoff Rookie Wave Blue Pennant. Pretty cool felt card. I always liked these.

Kerry Collins is a PC player, this card is a tough pull at 1:35 packs. Big winner here.

 

 

I don't ever remember pulling a First Day Issue parallel back in the 90's, so now I have a few of them. These fell 1:24 packs or one-per-box.

1997 Stadium Club Never Compromise were 1:12 packs in Series 2. There is a deep checklist of 40 players so I still have a ways to go on this set chase.

The 24K golds were randomly inserted into packs but honestly I don't ever see a lot of them so it makes me wonder how many are actually out there and how many still sit in packs to be opened.

One of these oddball type cards, but I thought it was  a fun find of a Dolphins legend.

1997 Pinnacle Inscriptions V2 was one of the coolest inserts despite falling only 1:11 packs. It is probably why I am chasing this set and have been. These two are new, but I still have a way to go. I also keep them unpeeled.

Speaking of set chases, Game Breakers is another. There were multiple duplicates of these two and a couple others I already had. 

I have no details on this card other than it has two parallels.

And that does it for today's part. There is one more football part left with some more great cards including some autographs. This post was kind of the teaser trailer.

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

This shoebox has been a lot of fun to dig through and makes me wonder if my father even took a glance at what was in there before he traded it to me. He said he did, but sometimes people say that. I took the gamble either way hoping he had missed something, instead it feels he missed a lot.

Just wait til the finale.

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. So far ONLY 2 cards have been nominated!!

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!

Have a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Unfinished Cup:1997 Ex2000 Fleet Of Foot

*with the temps down in the 50's and a cool breeze, it certainly feels like fall. thinking about needing a pumpkin spice coffee later as that is what today feels like so far*

*takes a sip of non-pumpkin spice coffee*

I have been doing way too many Coffee Break posts recently, I still have a couple of banger ones to post, but figured it was time to take a coffee break from a coffee break and put up another form of post. So here is my last Unfinished Cup in drafts. Read that again, it's my last one in drafts and not my last one.

Today I am tackling the die-cut uniqueness of what the 90's brought.

Let's take a look at my needs for the 1997 Ex2000 insert, Fleet Of Foot.

*takes a sip wishing it had pumpkin spice in it*

Fleet Of Foot was a die-cut insert of a cleat in the background featuring a colorful player in the forefront. These fell 1:20 packs of 1997 Ex2000 football.

Here is what they look like. Mark Brunell was one of the first ones I picked up as I never was lucky enough to pull one back in 1997.

I have completed a good chunk of this set, but still need the following,

1,2,6,7,8,14,15,17 and 18.

If you have any, let me know at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com.

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

There will never be inserts like the ones we got to enjoy in the 90's. Today's inserts are blander than a cup of decaf coffee without creamer. Otherwise known as just drinking water.

Your thoughts on today's insert set is welcomed.

Hope you have a fantastic Saturday. 

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

*gets up, puts away laptop, card and now it heading out the door to go get some pumpkin spice coffee*

Unfinished Cup:1997 Pinnacle Inscriptions Football

There is nothing worse than an unfinished cup of coffee.

It's almost as bad as an unfinished set.

So, to finish up some of these sets, hopefully, I am posting my set needs in this set thread called Unfinished Cup. I am hoping someone out there has some set help for me sitting in boxes or on their desk at home. If you do, reach out!

Today's set is one I recently started again. By again, I mean this is one in the 90's I had started but never fully completed. That's because the packs/boxes were so expensive you couldn't afford to buy enough to fill a set. And by the time I was opening up this stuff back the closest hobby shop here began to close up its doors.

I gave up.

But, not anymore! 

It's time to finish the 1997 Pinnacle Inscriptions football base set.

 

This one is simply eye appealing if you are a fan of dufex, If you're not, you're not a real collector. Just kidding, actually I am not, what's wrong with you?!!? Are you a serial killer? Who doesn't like dufex?!

Okay, enough with that. I mention that you have to be a fan of dufex because the entire 50-card set is built up of that.

Here is what remains for my set, 12,16,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50.

If you have any help, let's talk. Email me at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com or comment below!

Thanks again!

Hope everyone has a happy Wednesday.

Coffee Card Blogger Out.

Building My Avengers Team

*sits down to take a sip of Wednesday morning coffee. It's been quite the last few weeks in my household with many different things popping up, so having a nice cup of coffee before diving back into the hectic life is nice. That, and a new #CardsOverCoffee post*

I have mentioned it on here before, but I am a big Batman fan. He is pretty much the only superhero I really watch when it comes to TV and movies.

That doesn't mean if a non Batman movie or show is on TV, I wouldn't watch it. I am still a bit of a nerd and I really do enjoy the classic TV shows like The Incredible Hulk. Back before they made him all computer animated which I can't stand.

When it comes to cardboard, other than putting a bigger focus on Batman, I will pretty much collect anything that involves superheroes. Especially when they are combined with athletes on a card.

*takes a sip before continuing on*

Back in 1997, Skybox Metal Universe came out with a set that combined both NFL players and Marvel heroes in its Marvel Metal insert. These inserts fell 1:6 packs.

There are 20 cards on the checklist that feature some super and non superstar players with their inner Marvel comparison.

 

A lot of the better players on the checklist go for $20 plus to land so the odds of me trying to build this set would not be easy, though I would love to.

If any of you have any I don't have, I also have Kerry Collins and Terry Glenn, let me know. Always up for a good trade!

*takes a sip, starts to wonder what breakfast would be this morning*

I know if I had an inner Marvel character it would be the Incredible Hulk. Why? Well, if I don't have my coffee, I would probably turn green and start breaking things.

So in comments, your thoughts on these cards, your inner Marvel character and why are welcomed.

Have a good Wednesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

90's Cards Over Coffee:1997 Zenith Football Box Break

*takes a sip on this very nice day in July. This July has been one of the cooler ones we have had since 2009 with temperatures today being in the 70's which is more like fall weather. since it feels like fall and football is technically around the corner, let's do a football card break shall we? takes another sip and moves onto today's post*

Move over Beanie Babies and Furbys, we have some Zenith football to rip today thanks to my friend, Shane from Cheap Wax Wednesday who opens boxes like this all of the time on his blog and on Beckett online.

I landed this box in our last trade which was done around Christmas time so this has been sitting in my drafts for awhile now.

So let's get to posting this as Zenith ranks in my Top 5 favorite 90's products. The 1996 version is tops for me when it comes to Zenith with today's rip being right behind it.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

1997 Zenith football boxes came with 24 packs of 6 cards per pack. What was fun about the 90's was the no guarantees and the thrill of the chase instead. Boxes I have no idea what prices are now, I think then it was $30 but I suspect they are more than double that now.

When you open up the box, the packs are laid out like this. My friend's uncle used to cheat the system and count packs. Meaning he knew which row and packs had the inserts while the others were duds. He used to buy boxes and boxes before knowing the strategy.

The base set is built up of 150 cards. The background I assume is a moon. There is 100 base cards.

15 season highlights

32 "rookies". These aren't true rookie cards as they feature the seasons before rookies.

There was one parallel to find in Zenith.

Artists Proofs that fell 1:47 packs. These are stunning to say the least. I pulled Bryan Still, regardless of player, the card looks great.

Now onto the part I know you have been waiting on.

Rookie Rising was already on my list of set needs and with this box I knocked down three of them. These fall 1:11 packs so I beat the odds.

What are the odds I would pull 2 Dolphins ones? And this one was tucked behind another card so I didn't see it at first. There are 24 cards to chase.

Up next, another set chase.

V2's were apart of the movie motion stage we were all fascinated by in the 90's. These fell one-per-box or 1:23 packs. There are 18 cards to chase.

And to my surprise I beat the odds once again.....

BOOM! 1:72 pack pulled Z-Team. I finished the 1996 Z-Team set, 1997 I am looking at you next! I now own two of the biggies in Jerry Rice (thx to @90sNicheFBCard) and now Marino.

That was a zinga of a box! Puts the caffeine in my caffeine-less coffee I will tell you that much.

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

Yeah, it's fun to pull a big rookie card or autograph from today's products, but I will tell you one thing, it doesn't match the intensity of beating the odds in the 90's. Those were the times to collect and why I still continue to collect cards from that era.

Thanks again to Shane for the box to rip. Memories came back and new ones were made.

*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*