The Blogger National 2022

*sits down, takes a sip of coffee. opens keyboard, begins to type today's newest post*

This week kicks off the 42nd time I will be missing The National Sports Collectors Convention. It's not that I don't want to go, but it's too expensive, too far away and now with Covid starting to ramp up again, I don't want to expose myself to sickness to the thousands that go.

I am good with where I will be instead. Sitting behind the keyboard, not spending money I don't have, or traveling to a place I don't know and not exposing myself to sickness.

Doesn't that sound good to you too?

So instead, I thought that those of us who aren't going and just sitting behind our keyboards or phone could host a Blogger National. What is a Blogger National? Well, it's a blog-bat-around where you just take one post (or multiple if you so choose) in the next few days and dedicate it to showing off your coolest cards or your most favorite cards or a recent mail day you hadn't posted yet using the blog post title, The Blogger National 2022. 

Try to find the cards that are show worthy to you. You know, the dazzling cards that would attract all of the people over to your table (blog).

I received some show worthy cards in my latest mail day from blog reader Oren and will start The Blogger National 2022 today with them.

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

My latest mail day from Oren was a fun mixed bag of goodies. Not that my previous mail day from him that included cards from The Lion King and Batman were bad, but this one stands out.

IT'S SHOW TIME! (picture this line being done in the voice of Jim Carrey from The Grinch)

A new pink Unleashed Pink Fireworks parallel of Luis Robert. I am still collecting all of these and the 2021 version looks better than the 2022 one.

Not sure what this is, but I like it. Shiny, kind-of non-sport.

This basic parallel looks better than some of the parallels that are produced today. I still add these when I can. Someday I need to add the Griffey.

I don't like many inserts before 1995, but the ones I do are usually from basketball. Basketball has always had the best-looking inserts.

Speaking of best-looking inserts, I can't remember a time I actually like an insert or anything from Gypsy Queen. These Gypsy Gems look great. I didn't open any GQ this year so this is my first card from it. If only the gem included was a relic of a gem, how great would that be??

For all of you 1995 Fleer haters, I guess you don't remember these inserts. Together these make a puzzle. I already have one set, when Oren offered up another almost complete one, I took it. Will hopefully add the Marshall Faulk again and finish this one up again.

This card was a great add to the trade just as it was.....

But adding the parallel to match it, wow. That refractor pops!! If that card isn't show-worthy, then I don't know what is.

And you have to include this Sweet Strokes card to that list as well.

Thanks again to Oren for the trade and the "show" cards.

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

I am hopeful many of you will join in on this. Usually my Blog-Bat-Arounds go nowhere but maybe this one will catch your attention.

And for those of you who read this and don't have a blog, feel free to post them on social media and use the hashtag, #TheBloggerNational2022. I will be on the lookout for that hashtag on all social media platforms. Well, except TikTok. I haven't joined that at all yet and don't plan to.

Hope everyone has a great day. Remember to tell a loved one you love them today. Maybe even visit them for a cup of coffee.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

A Trade Sandwich

*it's 34 degrees, my wife's car was frosted and had to be started ten minutes prior to leaving. That time will need to be increased as winter creeps closer. At least the warmth of coffee will keep me going this morning before my 38 year old body falls apart from the aches and pains of coldness. takes a sip, begins to sit down and hears a snap crackle pop as the sitting process begins. takes another sip and begins to type*

Is it just me or does almost every trade turn into what I would call a trade sandwich.

There is that bottom later of bread, the start of any good built sandwich and the start to any good trade.

Then there is the mayo or special sauce on that piece of bread as your sandwich continues to build. You need this layer and it needs to be thick.

Then comes the meat. I prefer turkey or chicken breast myself, but sometimes I go spicy or add some ham to that turkey. The meat is not only an important piece to a sandwich, but to a trade as well. Without the meat, the trade dies off at the bread or in sandwich terms, enjoy your toast.

Then comes the veggies. I like the basics on my sandwich. Tomato, lettuce, onion. Sometimes I feel a sandwich needs pickles and/or banana peppers depending on the sauce and the meat I use. The veggies in a trade are the surrounding pieces to the part of the trade.

You then enclose the veggies and the meat with the cheese and another helping of sauce or mayo. For me, give me swiss cheese on my sandwiches or a few more 90's inserts in this case.

And to finish up a sandwich, you need that top layer of bread which finishes up the sandwich or the trade in this case. I like to make sure my top layer is worthy to finish off my sandwich or trade.

Thanks again to @NickLoffer1 for the trade. There was more layers to this trade sandwich, but I wanted to capture the most important ones.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post. looks outside and sees how cold it still is and realizes that errands still have to be run...sigh....takes another sip*

Not all of my trades are sandwiches, sometimes they are just a piece of toast or two. Usually if I am going to mail a bubbler, it better be sandwich worthy. Otherwise, those will be going PWE.

I got a lot of great cards from Nick above as I targeted 90's inserts as the main part of the trade. As I stated it started with the Betts for my Unleashed collection and then was built from there. The Toney I really wanted as the top piece as that is one great looking card with Giants blue against the Press Proof blue.

In comments, I want to know if you make trade sandwiches, what your favorite sandwich is and what your favorite sandwich place is.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Unleashed Again

  *sits down on this cloudy fall day to get ready for the latest post on Cards Over Coffee. Cup is full, cards are next to me and the time has come*

I don't usually re-visit cards on this blog. I try to aim for new content and new cards every time, but today is an exception.

I enjoy the 2021 Donruss Unleashed cards so much that I wanted to give an update on how far my collection has gone with them so far. 

Thanks to a recent mail day from blog reader Grady M, I have added quite a few more.

*takes a sip before showing off the cards*

Overall there are 26 base inserts to collect in the Unleashed set. 

So far, I have 7 of those.

There are also multiple parallel levels to them as well, Diamond, Pink Fireworks, Rapture, Vector, Silver /349, Blue /249, Red /149, Gold /99, Green /25, and Black 1/1.

 

I can't tell the difference with some of the unnumbered parallels, but I at least can sort them by the design.

So far, I haven't seen a better designed insert this year in baseball. I do challenge you in comments to prove me wrong.

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

Thanks to Grady M for adding to my collection and if any of you have any available for trade that I don't have above, feel free to reach out. We can have some online coffee and do some trading.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Unleashed

*takes a sip, maybe two,maybe more. It was one of those long nights of no sleep. Coffee is on the agenda, but aren't cards. So let's do some #CardsOverCoffee shall we?*

Every year, I find myself indulging in one newer set that catches my attention. I don't collect as many newer cards as I do 90's, but there usually one set that stands out to me. In 2019, it was Optic Base set(which I still need to finish the last 8 cards to). Last year it was the 2020 Donruss Holiday Sweater Sets (still need 4 duals to master set it all) and this year, I felt a bit Unleashed by Donruss.

Now before you go into complaining about Panini baseball cards, I still stand firm by them. They have some great value and some nice looking cards and guaranteed if they had a license, you would be seeking out more than Topps. At least for a few of the products.

*takes a sip, well, two, okay I lied, a few more*

I have always liked Donruss since Panini revived the brand. Not so much the base and the endless name variations, but the attractive inserts. Those are the big draw.

Donruss is full of shiny/numbered inserts that grab you in like a good book. But, none, NONE of the inserts caught me more than this years Unleashed.

Unleashed features a unique design featuring players from the top of the food chain. Since I can't ever seem to pull a Downtown or Kaboom that features unique art look, these are the closest to cool I can get.

The checklist for Unleashed features 26 cards and also a wide variety of parallels, Diamond, Pink Fireworks, Rapture, Vector, Silver /349, Blue /249, Red /149, Gold /99, Green /25, and Black 1/1. There is still plenty to be unleashed. However, I am just happy collecting what I can of them. I don't see any rainbow chases in the foreseeable future nor can I even tell the difference in most of the cards.

  

Here are all of the ones I have found so far.

I hope to add to this as time goes on with any cards I don't have and will seek out small trades to do so.

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

My chase came early on this year for a product as its usually a later season product that catches my attention. That's okay, maybe this year I will find more than one to chase. Not that I need anything else to pile on.

Let me know your thoughts on these in comments or if you have any I don't, let me know. I have plenty of trade bait available.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*