My Top 10 Acquistions Of 2024

Before we get too far into 2025, I wanted to recap my favorite pickups of 2024.

First though, I need my coffee. So, hold on. It's temps in the negatives and the only way out of that ice coldness is coffee.

*coffee brewed. happiness and warmness achieved*

There is no particular order below for my Top 10 acquisitions as they are all equal. I could have added more and made this a Top 20. But I just wanted to narrow it down.

It's cold and I just want my coffee.

*sips*

 

First card up is Kyle Lauletta. I just love the patch on this card. It would have been really tough to leave this one off the list.

Next up, Karen Gillian. This autograph was a need for my Marvel PC and for the newer Jumanji movies I enjoyed. And I may have a little crush to.

Following that up is Coffee Card Hall Of Famer Craig T Nelson.

I think this Griffey could have been Hall worthy, it was by far my favorite Griffey add last year. Die-Cut, space is exactly what I look for in a card.

Another Hall Of Famer made this Top 10 list. One of my favorite shows on TV right now.

 

I added this one in July I think it was. He should be in the Hall, but isn't. That's why it's important to nominate cards! This is my only Nabers auto to. I would like one in a Giants uniform before next season.

It's real turf. Really cool card.

Hall Of Famer in real life, it didn't get a nomination for the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame, for $12 is a win and had to be on this list.

Another Coffee Card Hall Of Famer made this list. I had wanted this card for a few years and now have it.

 

And finally, this card had to make the list. This was one of my Top 5 most sought after cards last year as well.

Well, there you have them. Let me know which card(s) you thought should have made the list I left out or which one is your favorite and why.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday. Do good for others today and it will be good for you as well.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The 12-Cup Plan

*sits down with some cards and coffee ready to post the latest post on cards over coffee*

This morning, I have been spending some time reflecting on blogging and what I should do moving forward. With time, views, comments playing a factor, this morning I officially retired for good (yes, I promise you they are not returning), Sport Card Collectors and Big Blue Cardboard.

Which now leaves me some decisions with this blog.

The same factors play a role with this one as well along with my decline in mail days. Time is shorter now with my life being busier and I spend a lot of time doing each and every one of these posts when I have time and getting 30 views and 2 comments per post doesn't quite feel like the effort I am putting in is getting the attention I had hoped for. I could spend my little free-time better elsewhere which includes my neglected collection which could use a lot more sorting attention.

But I am not quite ready to just call it quits on this blog yet. I am not retiring it today that's for sure.

It is coming though.

After today, I have "brewed" a full 12-cup pot of coffee and once that pot is empty, the blog will end. Which also means I will have to keep re-warming up the cups before every post. Or just brew single cup. You get the point.

In layman's terms, there are 12 more posts left on this blog which will end on May 10th 2025, the blog's 5th anniversary. I think this is the perfect way to end this blog.

Of course, we all know I have changed my mind on things in the past many times, but right now, I am pretty set on this idea and next summer only gets busier.

To break up the good and bad news of this post, I thought I would share some mail days that have sat in my drafts for a while.

*takes a sip*

Marshall Faulk was one of the players I was missing in my Hall Of Fame autograph collection and now he is home. Leaf or not, it's still an auto.

Shiny Fleer Mystique Supernaturals insert. The shiny Griffey's always catch my eye first.

 

Like above, shiny Griffey. This one is numbered to 199.

And for now, this cleans up my card picture drafts so I have nothing else to showoff right now.

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

With only 12 posts remaining going forward on this blog, I will be very picky and choosy on what I post when I find time to post. Not that I have a lot incoming to post about anyways, but any mail days from bloggers will take high priority over anything else.

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

It's Fall, Y'all

It's too late for a cup of coffee, but not too late for a blog post.

And it's never too late to talk about fall.

Fall is my favorite time of year I have recently discovered. It signals cooler temperatures, football of course and my favorite tastes of the year.

I know many of you hate Candy Corn, but I really like the Harvest corn and especially these pumpkins. These are different then basic candy corn.

Pumpkin Spice! I have already finished two of these and have had a couple Dunkin' Pumpkin Spiced coffees as well.

Mmmm 🤤🤤🤤🤤pumpkin spice donut....also have had Apple cider ones as well (and of course some apple cider)

Spooky football cards! I managed to gather enough gift cards together from all of my apps to pull off a package of these. I thought they looked pretty cool upon seeing some images.

There are still some things I enjoy that I haven't gotten to yet. I occasionally like to turn on a horror movie from my childhood for background noise and nostalgia. I need to still make my annual apple bread and apple pie. And it's not colder weather without chicken and dumplings, soups and my favorite homemade chili with cornbread.

Can't wait for those.

*smiles/grins excitedly like the grinch before closing up today's post*

Hope everyone has a good night sleep, including myself.

Wake up, drink some coffee and enjoy your Tuesday.

Also, let me know your favorite fall treat in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Decaf Drip

Good morning again Coffee Card enthusiasts!!

Today I am showing off some cards and some coffee.

As many of you know by now, I am strictly a decaf person due to health issues involving caffeine. So, I had to eliminate all caffeine from my diet about 6 years ago.

The hard thing was finding a good coffee tasting decaf as most tasted like water. I only drink coffee and water, but I kind of want the two to taste separately.

So, on Twitter/X, I recently discovered a new coffee company I hadn't heard of before that strictly focuses on making decaf coffee. It's the first I have heard of as most who make decaf make caffeinated as well.

Their company name is Decaf Drip.

They take out all of the caffeine but leave the good stuff.  The actual coffee.

Which sounded good to me, so I got a bag.

Which also had a card on top of it as I pulled it out of the package. Literal, Cards Over Coffee.

That card was a 1993-94 Upper Deck John Stockton. I grew up a Knicks fan, but I really liked watching Stockton and Malone on the Jazz. You had the Mail Man delivering while having the mail being dished into his truck by Stockton. Maybe that's why the USPS has gone downhill, they don't have employees like this anymore.

Before I keep going on that and get off topic, let's talk coffee instead.

I opened up the bag and put my allotted amount in the filter. It smelled like heaven and I felt like I was floating.

And I didn't hesitate with a taste before I added some cream, it was a pretty good tasting brew.

I would definitely-easily add it to my Top 5 decaf coffees to drink. This one however is even better because Decaf Drip doesn't use chemicals to remove the caffeine from the beans which doesn't add anymore stuff to my body that I don't need.

So, if this looks/sounds good to you, I can SAVE YOU 10% off your next order from Decaf Drip.

With code COFFEECARDS

Order here,

https://decafdripcoffee.com/?sca_ref=6902678.wWYCdws7HKUdPij

And don't forget the code!

Also, while you are there on their website ordering or just checking it out, read about what benefits decaf can do for you and what you are actually drinking when you drink caffeinated coffee. Lots of useful information on there.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy this delicious cup of brew and hope you will too.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Blog Bat Around: Letters To The Hobby

This blog bat around is simple, just write a letter (blog post) to the hobby, to a player, to a card company, or something in general.

Here is mine,

Dear Card Companies,

I know I am not alone in saying this, but can you please bring back the days when you would show us where our memorabilia would come from!

 

I miss the days of being able to see a picture of where my piece of sports history came from. For example this latest card to my PC. It's cool to not only know that this swatch came from Veterans Stadium, but to also see a picture of the stadium it came from. I think one step more of showing a swatch of the field would have been nice as well.

But please just show us the jersey, bat, base, or whatever our relics are coming from. A picture speaks a million words.

To take this another step forward, I would also like to see a picture of the player signing cards/stickers. For authenticity sakes and that way, we know autopen or relatives didn't play a role, let's see them do the work. That isn't asking for much more. Especially since most backs are so bland now with just a guarantee write up and supposedly a company rep is there with the signers most of the time. Just snap a pic!!!! Same with celebrity autograph cards.

So, if any companies or reps from a company is reading this today, please make this move. I promise you collectors would be so happy and maybe buy more of your products. They just want to see what they are getting.

Sincerely your friend and helper,

Matt G

Cards Over Coffee

Now let me see what your letter is or who you will write to. Post a link below of your blog post so I can check it out when you make your post.

In the meantime....

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Cards From Pops: Box 1

It's time.

It's time that I finally get to sorting (and posting) out the two trades I pulled off with my father. I haven't had a lot of time recently to do so with sickness and family visiting.

Before I go on with today's post, I must admit I would be lying if I didn't say I already went through the cards once for a quick glance. Sorry, the cards I post won't be unknown to me as I post them. I do promise there will be a lot of amazing stuff to post along the way in this miniseries.

However, it's going to take some time.

This time around will be a more in-depth look along with sorting them into the piles they belong in for my collection. As I sort the cards out, I will be pulling out favorites to post so it won't be every card as I don't have time for that.

Nor would you guys reading it.

Some boxes will have more cards to show off more than others.

Today's box didn't have a lot to show off as it was mainly base cards of hockey and NASCAR, two sports I don't dabble in a lot but do collect some of.

That doesn't mean that there wasn't some that caught my eye.

This one is pretty cool. The window on the other side is die-cut opened.

You can never go wrong with a Dale Earnhardt card. This one is a film cel type of card. It may be my favorite card of the box.

Another Dale, this time with some dufex action from Classic.

1999 Upper Deck Bronze John Mabry /100

Igor Kravchuk 1999 Upper Deck Bronze /100

Jeremy Roenick Will To Win insert. 

HoloGRFX had some great looking inserts.

HOF rookie card. I didn't have an Action Packed of him.

This is the closest to $1,000 I will ever hold in hand and be able to keep. I thought the photo on this phone card was great.

 

Joe Smith shiny Rookies insert.

There were a few others I could have featured, but decided these were the best of the best.

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

There is more to come from this series as there are a lot of cards to go through. This is the only box I have sorted through so far as I have other stuff to post as well. My plan is to mix these posts in as I go.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Drawing A Blank

I have written today's post multiple times over the last few days. I was trying to find the right approach or theme to the cards featured and just kept coming up empty.

Not my coffee mug, just the theme for the post.

First, I attempted to try a 90's music theme and tie in the years of the cards with some of my favorite songs, then it came to a dead end with it. Then I attempted to do a Back In Time post, got halfway done, then fell flat. Then attempted combining both ideas, nothing. Then tried to tie in #90sOn9th or even save the cards for those posts but didn't as the post went nowhere.

I am drawing a blank.

But I want to showcase this pretty awesome mail day from friend and blog reader Oren, so I guess we will get one of those basic this card and that card kind of post.

At least I have an idea of what I want while I am posting this. Coffee. Yup. No surprise there.

*takes a sip*

 

This first card was a set chase. It's a 1995 Flair Wave Of The Future that fell 1:37 packs. I have been wanting to piece together the 10-card set for many years now but only have three of them.

Side note, James Stewart looks like me while I am watching someone add too much sugar or creamer to their coffee.

The next few cards are Select Mirror Gold are shiny standouts and fell 1:5 packs. The lightbox really makes these blossom the way they should. I don't have a ton of these, but the ones I do, I really enjoy.

This next card features one of my favorite parallels of the 90's. These 1000/3000 yard club booster parallels fell 1:36 packs and with 41 subjects to find. I am also set chasing these, but I have a long ways to go with only 6 in hand.

Special Fx Die-Cuts were the combo of shiny and die cut I am always looking for (insert the Anthony Anderson rubbing hands meme-look it up if you haven't seen it). Then on top of that you toss in the hologram and it had me drooling. These were tough pulls at 1:75 packs.

The next card is a Jerome Bettis Profiles By Steve Young that fell 1:12 packs in Series 2. This card is another set chase. I might have about half of the set down.

Before Chrome was Chrome, we had Playoff Illusions that put out some great looking parallels with a chrome-like texture.

Next card is from DCIII, an all die-cut base set.

Now I may have another set to chase thanks to Oren. These stunning Hidden Gems refractors fell 1:24 packs. I know Topps brought back this insert into newer products, but nothing is better than the OG.

 

If I had stuck with a 90's type post, this card would have had to make a later on appearance since it's from 2000. But those who collected the early 2000's know they were just as nice as the 90's. Things didn't go downhill until 2009. Just my opinion.

Thanks again to Oren for our latest trade and I hope you like what I sent. Can't wait for our next one, I am ready when you are!

*takes a final sip before closing up today's post*

If all goes well the next time I do a post, I can be more creative. I don't want you guys having to drink caffeinated beverages just to keep you awake to read this because I was drawing a blank.

I hope you at least enjoyed the card gallery.

Have a Super Sunday. Be nice to others.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

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 4 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!

A Little Positivity

*takes a sip of coffee, gets ready to dive in on some topics of 2020 and go offbeat from cards for a little bit*

*another sip before the dive it*

2020 has been a really bad cup of coffee, my internet has been awful with so many using it do to Covid-19, oh yeah, we have Covid-19, riots and acts of violence spreading like wildfires, we had actual wildfires, killer bees, plane crashes, death tolls and so on and so forth.

But to me, one thing is clear, it's one simple person/act that has spread all of these issues. Have we ever wondered what it would be like to have the opposite of that? What happens if one person was to give to someone, say a kind word to someone and then that person feeling good about themselves passes that along to somebody else who is feeling good about themselves and then passes that along to two people and then that continues to move on. Imagine that, a world of positivity.

I was raised to have good manners mostly by my grandmother. I say please and thank you. I hold the door for anyone behind me. I compliment someone when the moment strikes. I push the shopping cart back to the store. I say good morning to anyone I pass. If I see someone on Twitter who needs a encouraging word or message of hope, I let them know that someone is there for them. I like to make people laugh, hopefully at my jokes and quick wit and not myself, but either way it helps to make someone smile. My wife and I have even bought lunch a few times for an unsuspecting group of people. It doesn't take any effort and comes out naturally and I feel good about it. It would be amazing to see others be like this as well especially during these times where we all could use some lifting up.

I am not saying be like me, but even a small bit of effort, can change the world.

 *takes another sip of coffee, steps off the soap box and moves onto some cardboard*

During these times, I have found some comfort in being nostalgic in the hobby. I think others have as well with players like Michael Jordan, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr, Dan Marino and products like Spx, Topps Chrome and Fleer Metal being put back in the spotlight again.

Some of the hype I fell for, but not all. Some I didn't need to as I already had the hype in me and some of the cards especially Fleer Metal. That was one of my favorites especially when it turned to Metal Universe later in the 90's.

It had some wacky, but incredible background designs especially for 1997 and 1998 with volcanoes, city highlights, etc. The 1999 version I didn't remember much about as it was around the time where girls became more important than cards.

It got me wanting to open some, as along as the prices weren't insane like the other releases of it, and I found packs for less than the advertised price on the package.

So I grabbed four packs. Three to rip, one to keep. It's been a tradition in the last year when I bought nostalgic cards that I keep at least one sealed. Sort of like a time capsule later on in life when I may not be able to find some of these.

It's time to give these a rip.

There are 6 cards per retail pack and I paid $2.25 per pack. There are chances at plenty of great inserts including PMG cards which I was really hoping for. Precious Metal Gem cards of the 90's were some of the best/rare parallels. Never once did I pull one despite plenty of my metal pack ripping. Guess you could say I was a metal head.

Will today be the day I find a PMG? Its time to see (unintended Dr.Seuss rhyme)

PACK 1:

Not a bad start to find Brett Favre as the first card. The card is covered in metal foil with a steelworks kinda headline with the players last name embossed.

Back of the card, you can see the embossing behind the players head. It's an okay design, but definitely not as good as 1997 and 1998. I think it actually would have looked better without the last name header.

Rest of pack one landed me a PC card with Gary Brown and a player PC card in Jake Plummer.

PACK 2:

In this pack we find Keyshawn, Marshall Faulk and two NFLPD subsets. Also found a Amos Zereoue rookie card.

PACK 3:

Corey Dillion, Rod Smith, and Antonio Freeman headline the final pack. Also found a Matt Stinchcomb rookie card.

Not a lot of big hits, but didn't matter. Nostalgia rules! It left me wanting more and wanting to open up that final pack. Which, I didn't. Maybe instead I will find a couple more later on to open online. Seller had a ton.

**finishes first cup, moves onto the second**

So today, I ask you to take a minute out and say hi to someone, hold a door, show a smile, ask how someone is doing, buy that coffee (I know your in line somewhere to get one) for the person in front or back of you, and even return that shopping cart. The walk isn't that far, I promise. It will make you feel good and the person you are doing it to as well.

And who knows, that could start the next up-rise.