It's GRIFFening Day!

Opening Day was yesterday, but today, it's Griffening Day.

This is the day I show off my latest additions to my Ken Griffey Jr PC in celebration of MLB's Opening Day.

*takes a sip from a freshly brewed afternoon cup*

Before I show them off, let me backtrack with a quick backstory to my Griffey collecting that you have probably read on here or one of my other blogs a million time so bear with me. Some of you may be reading it for the very first time.

Ken Griffey Jr was my very first hobby PC. I started collecting him in 1996 and chased every card I could. I spent hours at card shows searching, I spent countless dollars trying to pull him from packs and when I did, it was a celebration. I hoarded every card he was on. I collected every figure, beanie baby or statue I could. I even collected food containers that featured him. I was in deep.

So deep that I was featured in Beckett baseball once for my collection and some random Beckett reader mailed me a free Griffey card because of that article.

Then came 1999. I met a girl, took two years off from collecting because she didn't like it, and yada yada yada (I will occasionally use this Seinfeld quote because it fits everywhere) we broke up and I got back into collecting again.

I came back into the hobby deep buying all that I could, but not particularly chasing Griffey like I once did. That fell off, but I would add the occasional card when I could and did.

In about 2010 when Griffey retired, I decided I only wanted to collect cards and traded off all of my Griffey items including Starting Lineups, figures, food items, beanie babies, etc for NY Giants cards at that time. I wished I had gotten Griffeys.

Fast forward to a few years ago, I have found myself going back to a Griffey faze again. I don't have the means I once did to collect him, but I add the ones I can when I can and I never turn down a new Griffey. Base card or not. It's all new to me.

Though I do have some preferences, 90's inserts/parallels are always first wants because they are the most nostalgic to me. Then comes the newer stuff that I like the shiny cards of. After that, I will literally welcome any Griffey I don't have.

Recently, I was able to add a healthy balance of Griffeys to my Griffening Day diet.

*takes a sip*

 

1996 Score Dream Team. Probably my favorite add of the group. This one falls 1:72.

 

 

1995 Score Hall Of Gold falls 1:6. Can't turn down a cheap insert.

This card sounded cooler and looked cooler in the photo I got it from, not as cool in person.

 

Ultra Respect fell 1:18 packs. I fell for this one because of the shiny part on the Respect.

Old man Griff. For some reason I am feeling this. I have been ageing with him.

And finally, the 1998 Zenith Z-Team. These fell 1:35 packs. I now have the 1995 and the 1998. I really want the 1996 version which is my favorite design of them all, maybe some day.

There you have my latest additions. I will need to update my Ken Griffey Jr spreadsheet, you can find that HERE, before I can update my overall numbers. Last I checked I was sitting at 1400 different.

I hope to add more Griffeys as I go along this year as I am chasing 2k!

In comments today, let me know your favorite Griffey of the group or let me know how you are celebrating Opening Day!

*takes a final sip for this post*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

12 Cards Of Christmas

 The first card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

A Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee

The Second card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

A heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee

The Third card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee

The fourth card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee

The fifth card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

ONE CARD THAT'S HOCKEEEEEY!

Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee.

The sixth card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

An Artist Proof Scott Rolen, ONE CARD THAT'S HOCKEEEEEY, Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee.

The seventh card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

Set need refractor Erstad, An Artist Proof Scott Rolen, ONE CARD THAT'S HOCKEEEEEY!!, Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee.

The eighth card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

A singer of country music, Set need refractor Erstad, An Artist Proof Scott Rolen, ONE CARD THAT'S HOCKEEEEEY!!, Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee.

The ninth card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

World War 2 Veteran, A singer of country music, Set need refractor Erstad, An Artist Proof Scott Rolen, ONE CARD THAT'S HOCKEEEEEY!!, Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee.

The tenth card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

Iron Chef, World War 2 Veteran, A singer of country music, Set need refractor Erstad, An Artist Proof Scott Rolen, ONE CARD THAT'S HOCKEEEEEY!!, Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee.

The eleventh card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

A Diamond Mine Nomah, Iron Chef, World War 2 Veteran, A singer of country music, Set need refractor Erstad, An Artist Proof Scott Rolen, ONE CARD THAT'S HOCKEEEEEY!!, Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeee.

The twelfth card around Christmas that Oren traded to me,

 

Brett Favre Rocket Launching, A Diamond Mine Nomah, Iron Chef, World War 2 Veteran, A singer of country music, Set need refractor Erstad, An Artist Proof Scott Rolen, ONE CARD THAT'S HOCKEEEEEY!!, Scott Rolen Future Impact, A Caught On The Fly Big Unit, heavy hitter of John Randle and Rob Moore Prime Target Chromeeeeeeee.

The Griffey Stack

*sits down with a huge stack of cards nearby, gets up, makes coffee and sits back down for a new Cards Over Coffee post*

Before I collected NY Giants cards, before I collected 90's inserts, before I collected non-sport cards, before I became known as the Rodney Hampton Super Collector, I was known as the Ken Griffey Jr guy. 

Well, at least locally when the hobby was alive here.

I used to trade for Ken, add any item that featured him on it (still have an Easy Cheese canister from 2000) and search for his cards at Card Shows.

But, since I joined the online game with collecting, my Griffey days went to the side. There are so many Griffey collectors online with such massive collections and so many bidding wars on his cards, that a little guy like myself wouldn't match up.

So, I don't really fully collect him anymore but that doesn't mean if a Junior card is offered in a trade to me, that I won't trade for it. Just ask Shane from Cheap Wax Wednesday fame whose latest mail day was loaded with Junior.

*takes a sip before moving onto today's cards*

There were so many Griffey's in this mail day that I can't show them all. It would take a miniseries on here to do it. Instead, I had the trouble of narrowing down the stack into my Top 5 favorites from it.

5. 2000 Fleer Mystique High Praise. Cool sky background with some shiny appeal has my attention.

4.1997 Fleer Team Leader. Die Cut, check. Griffey swing. Check. A smiley face. Check on me and him.

3. 1996 Ultra Power Plus. This insert line kicked around a long time for Ultra with a cool unique design every year. This one is condition sensitive and has micro etching technology.

2.2008 Upper Deck UD Premier Premier Remnants. Triple jersey card of the Hall Of Famer, which marks only my 6th jersey card of him.

 

1.2007 UD Masterpieces Stroke Of Genius. It has been years since I added a Junior autograph, mostly because there was never one for trade and the outrageous prices the pandemic drove them up to, but here is a new one. On Card autograph as well. Griffey autos are as sweet as his swing.

Thanks again to Shane for the Griffey's and our massive trade again.

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

I guess you can use the term, closet Griffey Collector when you talk about me collecting him. I don't advertise myself as one, but I don't deny it either.

It was nice to add all of these to my collection and hopefully at some point I can add up how many I have again. I know it's over 1,000 different, just not sure how many. For now, I will take Griffey's anytime I can and trade off my dupes for more.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

In comments, let me know if you collect Griffey in any form

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

A Perfect Trade

*coffee smell is throughout the kitchen this morning waking up all of the senses. goes and pours creamer in, stirs, goes and sits for today's post*

Trading has really been slow for me in 2022 so far. It's not like I don't have the pieces to trade, it's just that I can't find the right collectors for those pieces and the few I have found didn't have anything for me in return.

That changed this past week where two decent pieces I had to trade found their way to new homes.

*takes a sip*

One of those pieces found their way to @ShoffJason who is a big White Sox fan and on top of that, had pieces for me in return. That my friends is called a perfect trade.

Speaking of perfect trade, this one was easy and fast which also makes it perfect.

I will start by showing off the bonus cards that Jason threw into this trade,

Shiny Derek Jeter I didn't have, awesome.

I only have a couple 20 Years Of The Captain, so all of these are new.

Christmas and Yankee PC all in one card.

Shiny Aaron Judge for my rebuilt Judge PC.

2008 Topps Chrome Uncirculated Gold refractor /199

Those were just the freebies, now onto the trade portion which will kick off with some new Kerry Collins,

1995 Playoff Draft Pick

1995 Ultra Gold Medallion (these still look better than most parallels today)

Team Pinnacle Collins and Marino

1996 Upper Deck Silver Team Helmets

1995 Ultra Extra Gold Medallion

Phone Card from Assets.

And now the finale but first....

*takes a sip*

The trade had started when Jason noticed I was a Giants fan and had a few Saquon Barkley available,

2018 Gold Standard Newly Minted Triple Relic with some guy from Cleveland, Saquon and a solid wideout from Carolina.

And the final card......

2018 Leaf Limited autograph patch rookie Saquon Barkley.

Thanks again to Jason for the trade.

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

I have another big trade to post coming up soon.

Thoughts on my trade today and if you feel your trading has gone down this year so far.

Have a thankful Thursday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Kerry Collins 500th

*sits down, takes a sip and gets ready for a new #CardsOverCoffee post*

It has been quite some time, possibly a year or so, since I did any update on my Kerry Collins collection and that's because I kind of tossed it to the side. When you have so much stuff to collect, you kind of have to pick and choose a focus and that focus has not been Collins.

But, a recent Collins find while I was sorting led to that fire rekindling or new cup brewing and here we are today.

About a couple weeks ago, I started to dig back into my Collins collection as I was sorting cards out and found some I hadn't catalogued yet. After adding those, I did my math and I sat at 495 different Collins. I had forgotten how deep I was into the chase awhile ago.

My buddy, @tmcbmatt, must have saw how close I was to my milestone and sent me a mail day recently that included some Giants cards, 90's goodies and some Kerry Collins.

Guess how many of those Collins were new from the stack he sent? Well, if you read the post title you would know it was exactly 5. Sooooooooo you know what that means....500!!!

*takes a sip before showing off the latest Kerry Collins*

There are still so many basic Collins out there I need still, it isn't too tough to fill in some gaps and add to my collection.

Like this 1997 Ultra Sunday School insert. It's a basic, but fun design. Creative name for it as well.

And this 1996 Metal base. These Fleer Metal bring back a lot of memories as I remember opening up plenty of packs with my father.

Skybox Impact base. The 90's had plenty of color to their base.

One of the cooler adds in the entire lot that @tmcbmatt sent, was this 1:47 odds The Franchise of Collins. Not exactly an easy pull and nothing flashy, but the simplicity makes this one a nice addition.

 

And my final new add, was this Leaf Gold Star /2500. Though inserts in 1996 Leaf fell 1:4 packs, but with some being numbered less than others, odds may be increased. 

Thanks again to @tmcbmatt for the latest adds and for helping me reach 500.

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

Overall, Kerry has 2,820 cards so I still have a way to go, but also have some more on the way soon. If you have any Kerry's collecting dust around your house, you can find my missing Kerry Collins HERE.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Comments on today's adds or Kerry Collins is welcomed in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Write Your Story

*takes a sip, sets down mug next to laptop. grabs a handful of cards off from the counter and gets ready for a new Cards Over Coffee*

Some people tell me I have lived an incredible story from those knowing where I came from and what I had to deal with and where I am today. It's something I take pride in as I continue to write my story and move forward every day. 

I am sure my story doesn't even come close to what some others may have gone through, could go through or are going through right now. Everybody's story is different.

Just like the story of today's athlete who went from a nobody to a Super Bowl champ and Hall Of Famer. Let me introduce you to, Mr. Kurt Warner.

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

*stomach starts to growl sounding like cookie monster when he is munching on a handful of cookies*

*gets up, grabs a handful of trail mix to make the tummy happy until breakfast is cooked*

 

*sits back down, continues on with the post*

Kurt Warner dreamed of being an NFL QB but his journey wasn't easy. He had to write his own story of never giving up. He went from practice squad releasee with the Packers to working at a grocery store then played in the AFL, signed a futures contract with the Rams and played in the NFL Europe league, and was given his once in a lifetime opportunity due to an injury to the Rams starting QB Trent Green in 1999. Now Kurt knew it was showtime and he put on a show that season. He actually put on the Greatest Show...On Turf. He was league MVP, led the Rams to a Super Bowl win and was the Super Bowl MVP. Kurt wrote his own story and his perseverance and God led life brought him this moment.

Of course, Kurt's story didn't end there. It was just the beginning.

Kurt had a rough 2000 season before leading the Rams back to the Super Bowl in 2001 vs the Patriots where Tom Brady's Super Bowl winning ways began.

2002 and 2003 were terrible seasons for Kurt and he was even replaced as the Rams starting QB and was cut in 2004 where two days later, he became a member of the NY Giants. Kurt started the season as the team's starting QB and led the team to a 5-2 start. After losing the next two games, Kurt was replaced by some guy named Eli Manning and there began his career while Kurts was about to take another turn.

Warner signed with the Cardinals in 2005, led them to the post season twice with up and down performances but helped them reach the Super Bowl where they lost to the Steelers.

Despite the ups and downs, Kurt never gave up. He wrote his NFL story all the way to the Hall Of Fame. He also showed his faith in God along the way as well.

I have always been a fan of Kurt's story and recently added some cards from Burbank Sportcards Marketplace of him.

*takes a sip before showing off the cards*

*grabs another handful of trail mix before cookie monster continues to grumble*

My Giants collection has always been a little lacking in the Kurt Warner department so I found some to add.

Career Colors showcasing Kurt across his multiple teams

A couple Upper Deck cards.

It says Cardinals on the card, but clearly he is wearing blue.

A couple more

Can't go wrong with Ultra photography and a Gold Medallion parallel

Shiny!

And my favorite add, this Spectra

Don't forget you too can score cards from Burbank Sportcards Marketplace and save 10% by using code 15BURBANK at checkout to do so! Also spend $50 and you will get free shipping. Link is in this paragraph.

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

We are the only ones that can write our own story. If our story is not going the way we want it to, make a change, say a prayer and write it the way you want it. 

By the way, the story of Kurt's life can be seen on the big screen with the movie, American Underdog.

In comments, say something about your story, or about Kurt Warner or today's cards.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*