Card #600 Of 2026 Has Arrived

It's here!

Card #600 of 2026 is in hand and sitting next to me.

As I said with Card #500, these cards may or may not be something mind blowing.

Today's is a simple Stadium Club base card of Derek Jeter from 2025 Stadium Club.

 

This is my first look at 2025 Stadium Club thanks to my buddy Grady M. The weird thing is that these base cards have gone way downhill. He included a few in the box of cards I got from him, and I feel the photography wasn't like it once was and the base cards are made of toilet paper. What happened to the card stock on these? It's non-existent. But I had a feeling Fanatics would find a way to mess up cards.

Let me know your thoughts on 2025 Stadium Club if you had any in-hand. Would love to hear your thoughts in comments!

Other than that, have a Super Sunday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Unfinished Cup:1995 Stadium Club Ground Attack

Okay, I am going to admit, when I think about 30 years ago, I am putting myself in the 1970's.

The harsh reality is that 30 years ago was the 1990's.

So, when I think back to my favorite years of the hobby 1995-1999, it's hard to comprehend how long ago that was now.

Which makes it even harder when a set like the one that pops up for today's post and feels like it just came out yesterday.

BUT IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS.

I am feeling old or as some of my family and friends joke, I am old.

The other sad part is that I have many sets just like the one today that I haven't finished up yet even after the thirty years. I feel like it's finally time to do that.

And it starts with this one.

Especially since that set only has one card to go.

  

1995 Stadium Club Ground Attack was a foil-based set found in packs at the odds of 1:18. I am officially only missing card #8 which is the dual threat of Byron Morris/Eric Pegram.

I am not sure why I haven't added this card yet. Maybe was hoping a reader had an extra copy to help me finish this or maybe because of my old age I forgot that I am only one away. Either way, this needs to be completed.

Let me know your thoughts on this set in comments.

Hope everyone has a great evening.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Some That Stood Out

A few months have passed since I got my big box mail day from reader Grady M, Box Ol' Grady, and I have yet to share any of my fun finds from the many mini boxes.

As I have said before, there isn't even enough cups of coffee in the world to share everything he sends. But, a cup today will be good enough to share a few eye keepers.

*coffee is hot and ready to go*

Let's start with these stand out Judges. They may be some of my favorite Judge cards I now have.

Topps Chrome All-Etch refractor.

2024 Topps Chrome 1989

Panini Crusade

Then these two hockey cards from 2023-24 Upper Deck Allure really stood out.

And upon research on these, I guess each player can build a colorful rainbow combination of different colors. For example, the Lafreniere also has a card the same color as the player above once you get to that part of the rainbow by laying the cards side by side.

Wonder if I should choose one of these players and build off from them.

Finally, I love nothing more than a creative flashback to the 90's, 2024 Stadium Club Triumvirates.

I was pretty stoked to have found these.

They look great!!

I considered trying to finish building both three-part team cards, but I think my time would be better spent getting the Yankees team one and the Ken Griffey Jr one.

So, if any of you have any of those cards available, hit me up for trade at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com.

Thanks again to Grady for another great mail day. I can't wait to dig for treasure next time.

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

I am still working on taking care of the cards from this mail day so if I come across anything else I think should be shared, it will be.

Thanks again for reading and have a great day.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Don't forget you can start to nominate cards for the 2025 Coffee Card Hall Of Fame!! Cards don't have to be autographs, patch cards, super star cards. It can be whatever you think is Hall Worthy! Find details and current nominations HERE.

Unfinished Cup:1996-1997 Stadium Club Top Crop

*sits down with hot coffee, a card, breakfast (toaster strudel) and the laptop. now to put up the latest post on Cards Over Coffee*

Lack of mail days comes with lack of content to post on. I do have a couple of non-mail day type of posts coming up, but I need to take pictures first so I can complete those. It will be another Blog Bat Around so hopefully more than three of you will participate in that one.

For now, I present you with another Unfinished Cup (yes, I feel your disappointment through the computer and phone screens)

At least it's basketball this time (now I can feel you glaring at me)

(one or more of you just gave me an eye roll)

(some of you may have even clicked off for another post or blog to read)

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

Falling at 1:24 packs, Top Crop is a fun looking insert that featured All-Star calibers players from the Eastern and Western Conferences on double-sided matrix shine. The U.S. map is featured on the players background for the East Coast and West Coast featured player.

Western Conference side

 

Eastern Conference side.

There are 12 to collect in the set.

Here is what I have remaining,

1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,12

If you have any of my remaining needs, let me know below or contact me at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com. Always up for a PWE trade!

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

Hopefully the next time I post, it won't be another Unfinished Cup. My other hope, is that my WiFi will actually allow me to post. It was an hour long struggle today just to push through even this short post. If I haven't mentioned it yet, don't ever use HughesNet. Overpriced and doesn't work.

*takes another sip and bite of cold breakfast*

Hope everyone has an awesome Friday and amazing weekend!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Not All Heroes Wear Capes, But Some Do

*gets laptop ready, sits down with a fresh cup of coffee. says goodbye to the Mrs as she heads out to another day as a hero*

If the last two years taught us anything, it's that not all heroes wear capes. 

Everyday healthcare workers put their lives on the line for others. With the ongoing pandemic, many of them go through so much more than that. 

The emotional and mental health toll the pandemic has put on the frontline healthcare workers is tough to see. They say that 1:4 healthcare workers suffer from some form of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even questioning why they go into their profession. This should not be the way things are.

This is why I get so frustrated when I see many not taking the preventions to stop the spread of Covid-19 or saying it's some form of "government conspiracy". I am not on the frontlines, but my wife is and works in a pediatrics office where she sees sick kids EVERY DAY with symptoms of Covid-19 and some in worse shape. Covid-19 is no joke. NO JOKE.

*takes a sip before moving onto the card portion of today's post*

Other than healthcare workers, my other favorite Superhero I have posted on here before is Batman. 

I have collected some Batman cards on and off for a while now, but none were as cool as the ones I got for Christmas from Wes.

An unopened pack of Panini MetaX Batman gaming cards.

Batman Returns Topps Stadium Club unopened pack. Batman Returns was my favorite movie from that series of Batman movies. I plan to keep this sealed but I really want to land this set someday.

Batman Forever magnet

1966 Topps Batman Red Bat cards

Another Magnet

Batman holograms (who doesn't love a hologram in the first place, but a Batman one, oh yeeeaaah)

Then came the two coolest cards in my Batman collection.

In 2005, Topps created cards for the Batman Begins movie. It has a base set of 90 cards, three small insert sets including one that's embossed that I really want, some top notch autographs including Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes and Michael Caine and then three memorabilia cards.

Each of the three memorabilia cards had different odds of finding them.

The tire from the Batmobile fell 1:75 packs.

Back of the card shows the tire the swatch came from.

The cape was the easiest of the three memorabilia cards to land falling at 1:37 packs.

The back of the card features the cape.

The only card I am missing now for the set is Batman's Costume, which falls 1:467 packs. I am hopeful to find that card someday and finish this set.

As a Batman fan, this is as slick as it gets for Batman cards and as close to Batman you can get.

Big thanks to Wes for all of this!

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

Today's post is not meant to be a political fire starter, it's simply just the way I see things and how we need to recognize that the pandemic is real and that the healthcare workers are heroes. If you disagree, that's okay. We can still be friends. I just may not give you the good cup of coffee if we meet.

As for my Batman card collection, hopefully I can gather them all together and show them off all at once sometime. There are still a couple of action figures from the Animated Series I really want to add to my collection such as the Clayface figure.

If you have a Clayface figure or any Batman cards up for trade, I am always up for that. Unless they are just collecting dust for you and you just want to RAK them. I am good with that too :)

Thank you again to Wes and an even bigger thank you to our healthcare workers.

In comments, thank you's to healthcare workers, my new additions are welcomed.

Hope everyone has a safe and great Friday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Big Three

*takes an afternoon sip, gets ready for a new post on #CardsOverCoffee*

The 90's were a great time in the hobby for me. I started collecting towards the end of 1993 and built off from that in 1994. From there, I was all-in in 1995.

So when anyone asks me what I collect, I always list the following as my Big Three (and no I am not talking about any team that LeBron James played on) that are in no particular order.

• NY Giants. I take ANY AND ALL I don't have but have a bigger emphasis on Charles Way, Rodney Hampton, Eli Manning, Rueben Randle, Andre Williams, Darius Slayton and Kadarius Toney when it comes to players.
• Non Sport Cards. Allen Ginter Non Sports, Autograph and Relic cards from TV, Movies, celebrities
• 90's cards and inserts from 1995-1999. The shinier, the holographic, the unique, the acetate, the numbered, the better!!

The top two on this list are pretty standard, but I always note when I collect 90's inserts and cards, I prefer that they are on or after 1995. That's my sweet spot. My nostalgic sweet spot. For the most part, my trading partners nail it. I know my buddy and reader of this blog Oren has.

*takes a sip before continuing on*

If you haven't guessed yet, the following cards from today's post is my latest trade with Oren who went 90's insert heavy this time.

Including quite a few 1995 Topps Stadium Club Clearcut Inserts

More

A couple more

look more....

And one more. The acetate makes these cards really cool and it may drive me to another future set chase.

Ultra in the 90's always brought the coolness for inserts and this was one of their common lines with Double Trouble.

And 1996 Score Dream Team Manny. This is a beaut of a card!!! I already have a couple more of these on the way.

the final card today isn't from the 90's,

 

but it tackles a side player PC from the 90's in a Curtis Martin relic.

Thanks again Oren for the trade! I look forward to our next.

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

Even though I have a Big Three when it comes to my collecting, I also have many other side collections off from that. There is Ken Griffey Jr, a ton of NFL players mainly ones from the 90's, Christmas related cards such as Topps Holiday Sp's and Pro Set Santas and others that are too many to list. I guess you can simply say I love to collect....or as my wife calls it, hoard.

Let me know below your thoughts on 90's inserts or what you consider to be your Big Three of what you collect.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Fusion

*takes a sip feeling nostalgic once again today. 90's inserts do that to me every time I land any or pick any up. takes another sip and gets ready to show off today's #CardsOverCoffee post*

The definition of Fusion is the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity.

Some examples I can think of when two things become one, other than the Spice Girls song, is marriage which joins you and your wife as one. Coffee and myself which makes me move, because without it I would be a bump on a log. And then an insert line from Stadium Club that took two players from a team, put them on separate cards and when you landed both versions they fused into one.

*takes a sip before moving on with today's post. would you consider my coffee an infusion with every sip?*

I bought a ton of 90's Stadium Club from all sports especially between they years of 1995-1999. I remember going into the local pharmacy, Brooks Pharmacy, with my father and grabbing packs that were located up front next to the travel medications. I guess that's just in case you got a headache from landing a nice pull and shouting loudly about it.

I pulled a few fun cards, but never the 1:24 packs Fusion insert. Instead, I had to wait close 20 years and buy a few instead since the prices were much higher back then. Of course I couldn't do it without buying a fused set.

Since there were not any NY Giants in the Fusion set, which is Topps loss, I searched for the cheapest combo I could that would fit my collection.

So I chose Curtis Martin (side PC) who is paired with Drew Bledsoe. The design is a wonky gear, but I totally get that they run off from each other so you need both parts.

Now cue the Spice Girls....two become one.

*takes another sip. tummy wants some breakfast*

I was happy with owning just the two football ones and to say I finally had some for my 90's collection. But, then I saw a basketball version that actually had a team with my interests.

I would have preferred Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston, but this is still a solid combo. This design is much more unique than the football one. A team name being fused is pretty darn cool.

Once again, cue the spice girls...two become one!

I loved watching the NBA in the 90's, especially my Knicks. Speaking of the Knicks, how about those 2021 Knicks so far!! At least one New York team can hopefully bring me some excitement. 

*takes a sip fusing myself with coffee*

I may have to chase a few more of these, would look pretty cool having a few teams fused together laid out. It's just too bad that Topps never brought this concept to baseball or even back. They are condition sensitive however as you would imagine with the side corners it has.

In comments today, let's hear your thoughts on the Fusion cards, if you own or have pulled any or have any for trade :)

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Etymology Of Junior

*takes a seat after finishing up some chores, decides this cold cloudy/rainy morning is a perfect time for another #CardsOverCoffee post*

I consider myself a Ken Griffey Jr closet collector. It used to be more known that I was one of the "Griffey Guys" but as I continue to add more football cards to my collection and downsize my baseball, my Griffey collecting has taken a backseat as well.

But, that doesn't mean I have completely given up on collecting Griffey as he still remains the biggest player PC I have with over 1,000 different cards, but it's just not a main focus. I do add some with my trades with Shane (Cheap Wax Wednesday) and occasionally will add some if I see any I need up for trade on Twitter.

Then there are the rare times where I will actually buy one now. That is what today's card is all about.

*takes a sip, looks over at the latest Griffey addition next to the coffee mug*

For some reason or another, I have been all over getting cards with athletes and some form of superheroes on them. There will be another post coming up with more of those types of additions. So today's Griffey had a hero of some form on it so I had to have it.

In 1996, Stadium Club produced an insert set called Mega Heroes that fell 1:18 packs. 

The 10 card set featured a superstar player along with a mega hero. The cards have a rainbow foil front that really glow in the light. Especially a lightbox, see what I did there.

 

The back of the cards had a small write up and gives the history of the players featured had their nicknames. For Griffey, most call him Junior and that's because when he and his father played together for the first time in a game, it got confusing since they both carry the same name so they had to find a way to separate the names. So they began calling them Senior and Junior. Pretty simple.

This card sells for $5 and up, but being stingy like I have to be, I made an offer and landed it for $3 with free shipping. I got a deal and was happy to add a nice card.

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

My Griffey collection will continue to grow as time goes on. I am no hurry to chase them all down, however I would really love the 1998 Skybox Dugout Axcess Superheroes card. Griffey is featured with Spiderman. So if you have one available for trade, hit me up.

Hope everyone has a great Monday. If you enjoy this content, please share with the buttons on social media below this post and add the blog to your blogrolls. Thanks for reading and drink some coffee, it's never too late in the day.

In comments, let's hear if you are a closet collector of any player or team.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

First Day Of Fall

*sits down at the table, looks out the window to see the rain falling. First day of fall wouldn't be the same if it wasn't raining. The scent of fall blows in the window....the rain blows in with it soaking my couch...I guess I should shut that....well...that was an enjoyable lead up to today's newest post. Guess I better just get my coffee ready for the latest Cards Over Coffee*

Today marks the official first day of fall, though my fall always starts when September does. As you saw in my last post, it was already Pumpkin Spice and football season, now its the countdown to Halloween and Thanksgiving. Possibly my thoughts have already turned to my favorite holiday Christmas, but, I can feel your glares when you read that part so I won't mention that part yet.

The color of the leaves here have begun to change here and have been for about a week.

They still have a ways to go before they reach their full color, but I am in no hurry to see that still.

When the trees do reach their full color, my wife and I usually drive around and try to take some amazing pictures.

*takes a sip, wonders if the rain has slowed down some to re-open the windows. Walks over, opens window, wind blows rain in on me, nope not quite time yet*

When the trees are full in color, it's looks like a piece of art. Something you just want to paint. Which is what my wife and I recently attempted.

Of course, she is more like Michelangelo and I am more like a preschooler looking for a participation ribbon.

Originally I was going to do a fall picture, but to me nothing says cooler weather in the fall like coffee. Are you at all surprised?

 

So the beginning of the coffee cup painting.

And then the 4 year old me messing up the cup

So I had to fix it the only way I knew how.

And the final piece once I got it together.

Not great, but not my worse. Maybe I will get a white ribbon this time.

Then came my wife's fall painting,

 

Like I said earlier, she earns a blue ribbon every time.

Side by side, there is no comparison.

*takes a sip before moving onto some cards for this post*

It took me a lot of years before I started to appreciate cards with artistic twists. I was always pro photography, but in the past year I have reached the point where some art cards have reached equal status.

A lot of those have come from the 90's, my favorite collecting era.

First it started out with adding some Fleer Metal Universe and then it expanded to other inserts. One of those inserts were these pretty cool 1996-1997 Stadium Club Mega Heroes cards I grabbed a couple of on eBay.

This is the one that caught my attention the most first, THE BEAST Joe Smith with a beast behind him. Card look even more amazing in person.

The other I added was of Charles Oakley who is known as Oak and appears to be guarding a oak tree.

Both cards are made with foil etching and I can't find the odds on these. The baseball version of this insert fell 1:48 odds.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's 2 hour long post*

Fall has begun, there is no turning back to summer at this point. But, I have come to realize that I like September thru December more than I used to. I guess as I age I begin to appreciate things I never did before such as the art cards. If only I could art myself then it would be the best of all worlds. It still makes me happy to try though just like that preschooler who does their first finger painting picture to bring home to their parents.

Hope everyone has a great first day of fall and tell me some of your favorite things to do in the fall or your favorite art cards or even tell me if you paint in your spare time.

The Griffey-Coaster Ride

*takes a sip, may had snuck a couple bites of chocolate chip cookies during that sip. Looks over at the stack of cards next to me and it's now time for some Cards Over Coffee*

This past Saturday, my childhood best friend Brian came over to my house for the first time since moving back here. Between working 55 hours a week and the unpacking still, he hasn't had time to stop by. But, he finally had the chance to squeeze some time in for me and took a good portion of this past Saturday off to do so.

Not only had it been years since he lived here, but it has also been over 20 years since we last played sports against each other. Let me tell you what, it was just as much fun as it once was.

*takes a sip before continues on*

Back in the day, 80's and 90's, Brian and I would spend 6am until 9pm outside. We would wake up, grab a few Mountain Dews, a bag of beef jerky and his boombox and we were rocking. Some days it was football (a lot in the winter), other days it was basketball and summer days were mainly spent playing baseball. It was 1 on 1, 9 innings of pure fun.

When he arrived Saturday, I made sure we would bring back some of those memories...now in a much older time. Gone was the boombox (didn't want the loud music for my in-laws) and the Mountain Dew (I can't have caffeine), and baseball but I came in with the fun with..... Wiffle Ball.

*takes another sip, starts to think about some form of breakfast today...probably not beef jerky*

Ah yes, Wiffle ball. The game with a plastic ball that has holes in it that makes the ball curve all wacky. It's not baseball, but just as if not more fun...when you are older.

So I set up a field,

(cones serve as foul poles and a homerun line. Also own a backstop for a strikezone)

(my wife's glove and ball on the pitchers mound)

(bat and home plate ready to go)

 

(I am not that tall, though some may see me this way at 6ft 2in)

And we played.

The game that was over 20 years in the making went to extra innings with myself coming out victorious. It was a ton of fun, but after throwing all of those pitches, my arm is still feeling it. Hello heat, Icy Hot and Salonpas and of course not all at the same time.

I realized after giving up a lot of hits that I  may not have the arm I once had (back when I pretended to be Randy Johnson), but my offense was still rolling. It may have helped that I still attempted my best right-handed Ken Griffey Jr swing. Though it is near impossible to mock either right or left handed for anyone. Ken Griffey Jr was da man as they say.

*takes another sip, then another, well finishes the cup. Gets up and quickly gets a second cup brewed and returns to sitting to continue on with today's post*

Ken Griffey Jr's swing was only apart of the reason I followed him and his career. He was also an incredible Centerfielder and an icon for baseball. He was a player I quickly jumped on collecting as well.

However, over the years, even though I haven't really ever quit collecting, I have been on and off with Griffey. It's sort of been a rollercoaster ride with my collecting of him. In the 90's, my friends and others knew me as the Griffey guy as my collection grew to 300 different cards back then. But, as the 2000's hit, I dropped Griffey some especially after he had multiple injuries and put my focus on football. Since then, I will trade/add some, then take a long break only to add some more later on.

I would be safe to say though, about 95% of my Griffey adds now are thanks to my friend Shane of Cheap Wax Wednesday fame.

Which is where today's nice stack of Griffey's came from.

I may note that these are only a few of my adds from Shane as I focused on the best for today, there were a lot more that aren't featured here. I will save those for another time and will have to do a recount on my collection to see how far past 1,000 different cards I am now.

With my rollercoaster collecting of Griffey, I have found a big key to my new adds. I mainly focus on cards that are either numbered, relics and autographs or anything eye appealing. You know, the shiny stuff. With well over 16,000 cards out there for Griffey and with it being a rollercoaster PC, I feel I have the right to be fussy. It's not like I am really Super Collecting him and need every card like I do with Rodney Hampton.

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

Before closing, I just wanted to thank Shane again for the trade that helped me add the above Griffey's and any future trades when I ride that rollercoaster of needing to add more.

My friend Brian before he left said he would be back in a couple weeks for another round of Wiffle Ball, maybe some football and a game of Madden.

 

Until then, I will enjoy my cup of coffee, overlook the field and hopefully rest my arm up for next time. Maybe even get out there and practice my Griffey swings again.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*