It's Life

Basketball has kept me busy for the most part of the week, so blogging was put on the backburner.

It's life.

Here are some basketball updates that I haven't gotten to yet on here. Last Saturday, the first half of the team lost 28-14 as one girl took over the game like MJ. She scored 20 of that team's 28 points. The other half, the one I am head coach on when the main coach isn't available ended in an 18 all tie. We blew a 10-4 halftime lead and looked sluggish in the second half.

This Saturday it was a weird one. We played each other, so we all knew each other's tendencies and obviously the few plays we have. I was in charge of coaching half of the team (the third coach was out with the flu like a couple players too) while the main coach did the other half. I lost 24-11. However, at half time, I drew up a new play we have never practiced since we got the ball to kick off the second half which worked immediately, and we scored on it. I was stoked; the girls were as well. Maybe I got this coaching thing down some.

So far this year, the main coach's half of the team is 2-1

My half of the team is 0-2-1.

Which makes us overall as a team 2-3-1. Which isn't bad for a team mainly built of first year players. We are doing our best as coaches and the players are doing theirs as well. We are all learning together.

It's Life.

Along with basketball, I found out some health news as well.

One, the ENT called me back finally and they want me to get an ultrasound done on my face to just make sure on the two cysts and that they aren't missing anything. Gotta admit, when the big C word could be involved, it's a little nerve wracking. Though the ENT didn't originally seem to concerned.

Also, during practice last Wednesday, my stomach was bothering me with bad cramps/pain, and I felt a lot of nausea, so my wife suggested that I go to the ER just in case it was my hernia acting up and maybe tangled. Four hours, many tests later, they called it just a stomach virus. However, suggested that I get the hernia fixed this year basically as well. On top of that, the catscan I had done, showed a 2mm kidney stone in my left kidney, a partially collapsed bladder and irritation at the bottom of my left ureter. Yay!

Still waiting on my urologist to call me back to see what she wants to do.

It's life.

When trying to find a new post to put up, I was searching for pictures and realized that I never posted all of my Christmas mail day from Dennis of Too many Verlanders fame.

Along with the amazing cards he sent, he also included something for me to rip since 2024 was a year I barely ripped anything.

It was nice he did that.

This is some form of blister pack that included 5 retail packs. I haven't ever seen one of these before.

Here were the packs within. A nice variety.

This is what I found in those packs,

Silver parallel.

Rookie Carroll!

I would had been stoked about this before he went all P-Diddy.

 

Purple parallel.

Some fun stuff. A couple I am adding to my PC.

Thanks again Dennis for this! Sorry it got missed in my original post. I am just busy, health stressed and very forgetful at age 41.

It's life.

Hope all of the readers tonight are having a good 2025 and thanks for reading. I truly appreciate the time you take to read this gibberish.

But cards and coffee are both good gibberish.

It's life.

*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.

Becoming Overwhelmed

*sits down with a stack of cards. a slice of apple cake and coffee tag along and it's time for some cards over coffee*

The past few weeks the hobby has felt like more of a job, than a passion.

I have an overwhelming amount of sorting projects I need to complete. I have people wanting to trade. I have a couple of retail items to open. I have a card room to clean up. I have blogging to do. I just haven't felt like doing any of it.

ANY OF IT.

It feels like that "honey-to-do" list or when you were a kid and your parents gave you a list of chores to complete more than stuff I really want to do.

So, I have been dragging. I am behind on posts, haven't cleaned up my card room (hopefully I won't be punished and sent there), taking forever to dig out trade bait and mail it, etc, etc, etc.

I know, at least I hope, this will end at some point. Just got to get over the hump.

*takes a sip before moving onto the cards in this post*

One thing that might help lift some of this feeling is maybe getting myself to actually complete some of this stuff. Which is why I am trying to catch up on some blogging this week. Just may need some extra coffee to help motivate that.

To continue my third day in a row of blogging, let's show off my latest trade mail day with reader Oren.

*takes a sip*

If you have been a long-time reader, you know I don't collect or show off many hockey cards on this blog. But, Oren has been trying to slowly hook me in by sending me shiny inserts like this MVP Domains Kevin Fiala.

And these Pinpoints of Crosby and Marchano. 

They are very eye pleasing, just not sure enough to get me into hockey collecting.

The shiny didn't end there, this Sean Casey is stunning. Almost 3D look to it.

Then came two new Lamars for the side PC.

A V2 insert which when the card is tipped in different directions shows the player featured moving. Like Sportflix, but more advanced. I am not sure why we don't use this technology today. Their loss I guess. This is probably why I am chasing sets like this one which the Bledsoe is new to it by the way.

Curtis Martin Behind The Numbers relic. I like the die cut number with jersey as it's better than a plain square swatch. This was back in the days when these were game used by the players. Now they are just jerseys off the Fanatics shelves.

I don't collect Diaz or the Brewers, but Dufex I do. Also, the photo is also amazing.

Two 90's basketball cards. This is another sport I don't post a lot about, but when they are from the 90's, I will definitely post them. Especially when they are the Wave Of The Future.

And the final card from this mail day, is a Wander Franco rookie from Topps International Trading Card Day.

This one had a little mix of everything.

Thanks again to Oren for our latest trade! I am looking forward to the next.

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

I know I am not the only one feeling like this. I see others post about it at least on Twitter. I am sure I am not the only blogger like this either.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the hobby? let me know in comments!

Have a happy Wednesday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2022 Topps Chrome Hobby Box

*takes a sip, gets ready to rip some newer Topps product. takes another sip. let's get on this*

It's Tuesday! Why is Tuesday exciting, well, I get to open my favorite Topps product since 1996. I haven't missed a year yet of opening at least a pack of Topps Chrome. I like Chrome so much that it has even become a household name. I can use Chrome in my jokes, I can use the word Chrome and everyone in the family will look at me. Chrome is a thing. I am a Chromie (groupie with Chrome love).

Today I am ripping the 2022 baseball edition so let's see how it goes!

*takes a sip, gets box in position*

Every hobby box of 2022 Topps Chrome baseball comes with 24 packs of 4 cards. Each box has 2 autographs, plenty of parallels and runs about $205 a box.

BASE:

The Topps Chrome base set is simple, chrome up the Flagship product. There are 220 cards in the base set including veterans and

Rookies.

I chase the Chrome base card sets, but the ones from the 90's. Not the newer ones as the prices are a tad high.

PARALLELS

As I said earlier, there are plenty of parallels.

Here are this year's options
Refractor, X-Fractor, Sepia, Pink, Prism, Negative, Magenta /399, Magenta Speckle /350, Purple Speckle /299, Purple /250, Aqua /199, Aqua Lava /199, Blue /150, Green /99, Green Wave /99, Blue Wave /75, Gold /50, Gold Wave /50, Orange /25, Orange Wave /25, Red /5, Red Wave /5, SuperFractor 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.

Base refractors fall 1:3 packs. And yes, that is two of the same.

Prisms are 1:6 packs, not to bad on the Cruz pull!

Purple /299

Sepia

Hmmm two Fraziers, start of a rainbow?

Club Plaques fall 1:24 packs and there are 25 cards to collect.

New Classics falls 1:12 packs, love this design, and there are 15 cards to collect. I lucked with the two players I landed, except does anyone even care about Wander anymore?

There are 15 cards in the Future Stars set.

There are 20 cards to collect in the Topps 1987 set. YES MORE OF THESE STINKIN' THINGS!! These fall 1:6 packs.

Heart Of The City falls 1:16 packs and probably is my favorite design in years for Chrome. I want this set. Have any? Contact me for a pwe trade at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com.

HITS:

Well, unless you like the Astros, there isn't much to brag about with my pulls. This is usually how my Topps Chrome breaks go.

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

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

As always, I am a Chrome fan. It was fun to open and see what I can find for refractors. However, I wouldn't pay the price of a hobby box this year. Really steep for what you get. I mean, yeah, there are huge possibilities, but this box wasn't it.

I also normally suggest retail as an option when hobby is unattainable prices, but this year retail shot up in price as well. It is $35 a blaster box and I have seen lots of them just sitting on shelves locally. Nobody wants it which is both good and bad.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Ratings (ratings based on 1-5 🍵 and on a per box basis. not for overall product)

Design 🍵🍵🍵
Photography 🍵🍵🍵
Inserts: 🍵🍵🍵🍵
Hits 🍵
Price 🍵
Value 🍵

Your thoughts on this product welcomed in comments!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2022 Donruss Baseball Hanger Box

*gets today's post coffee ready for this blog and takes a bite of bagel. takes a sip and gets this one ready*

Note: Cover your eyes if you don't like Panini baseball...

BECAUSE I DO!!

Yes, you read that right. I love collecting Panini baseball cards especially Donruss regardless of all of the logo photoshopping.

Every year I try to get my hands onto some Donruss and this year I landed a couple of Hanger Boxes so far. Fortunately for me, it's not a flipper friendly product.

Let's see how I did.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

 

Every 2022 Donruss Baseball Hanger Box comes with 50 cards which is a lot of base, 6 holo orange parallels, 2 diamond parallels, another parallel and a couple inserts. Each Hanger Box is $15.98.

This years base card design had a redo compared to past versions. It's much more up-to-date and has a 3D appeal.

 

Back of the base card shows stats for one year and a small writeup.

The base set features players from past, present and future.

Diamond Kings

A retro Donruss design. I am kind of sick of these just like I am with Topps 1987 designs. Let's just make Donruss a product of it's own, no more throwback designs are needed.

and of course plenty of Rated Rookies.

There are 280 cards in the base set to collect.

Now onto parallels which Donruss offers the following,

Holo Blue, Holo Orange, Holo Pink, Holo Purple, Holo Red, Independence Day, Liberty, Yellow, Red /2,022, Career Stat Line /500 or less, Season Stat Line /400 or less, One Hundred /100, On Fire /75, America /50, Presidential Collection /46, Voltage /25, Artist Proof /10, Press Proof /5, Number One 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.

Independence Day parallel was the bonus parallel in my box.

Then came the Orange Holos,

My first Orange holo parallel was FIRE!! Doesn't get any better than this!

Then my others. Looks like a couple of Tigers that will be making their way to a new home.

And now the promised Diamond Parallels. Both of mine were inserts which by the way is my favorite part of Donruss,

The Hit List has 12 cards to collect in the set.

 

Elite Series that has 12 cards to collect as well.

Inserts also have the following parallels,

Diamond, Pink Fireworks, Rapture, Vector, Silver /349, Blue /249, Red /149, Gold /99, Green /25, and Black 1/1.

Both inserts looking great again this year. I still want to pull an Unleashed and especially a Marvel. Those look cool.

Thoughts on my break today welcomed in comments. Another break of Donruss baseball coming up tomorrow and hopefully it will be as good as this one.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2022 Bowman Baseball Hobby Box

*sits down and gets ready for another product review post on Cards Over Coffee. there are still other pre-published posts of these to come*

It's no surprise how hot 2022 Bowman has arrived in the hobby knowing how the hobby is turning into a money grab with everyone looking for the next big thing to flip.

For me, I just enjoy Bowman to find the latest rookies and possible future Hall Of Famers for my collection. I have been collecting rookie cards since I started collecting. It's just a fun PC.

So, let's see who I pulled in this hobby box break.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

Every hobby box of 2022 Bowman baseball comes with 24 packs of 10 cards. Each box guarantees one autograph and boxes currently run $280.

BASE:

The base set design is the typical Bowman look. This years I feel could have transferred over to a flagship Topps design as well.

There are 100 cards in the base set featuring veterans,

And rookies.

Along with finding veterans and rookies in every pack, you will find yourself also submerged with prospect love with a mix of paper prospects and chrome versions. There are 1st Bowman, the most popular line, and regular for both.

There are 150 cards in each of the paper and chrome prospect base sets.

PARALLELS:

You can find the following parallels in Bowman, 

BASE SET:

sky Blue /499, Neon Green /399, Fuchsia /299, Purple /250, Purple Pattern /199, Blue /150, Blue Pattern /150, Green /99, Green Pattern /99, Yellow /75, Gold /50, Orange /25, Red /5, Platinum 1/1 and Printing Plates 1/1.

PROSPECT PAPER:

Sky Blue /499, Neon Green /399, Fuchsia /299, Purple /250, Purple Pattern /199, Blue /150, Blue Pattern /150, Green /99, Green Pattern /99, Yellow /75, Gold /50, Orange /25, Red /5, Platinum 1/1 and Printing Plates 1/1.

PROSPECT CHROME

Base Refractor /499, Lava /399, Speckle /299, Purple /250, Purple RayWave /250, Fuchsia /199, Fuchsia Lava /199, Blue /150, Blue Shimmer /150, Aqua /125, Aqua Shimmer /125, Green /99, Green Mini-Diamond /99, Green Shimmer /99, Yellow Mini-Diamond /75, Yellow /75, Gold /50, Gold Shimmer /50, Orange /25, Orange Shimmer /25, Red /5, Red Lava /5, SuperFractor 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.

Fushia /299

Blue Refractor  /150

Blue Shimmer /150

INSERTS:

Most inserts come with the following parallels,
Atomic /150, Aqua /125, Gold /50, Orange /25, Red /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

Bowman 3D! falls 1:18 packs and has 20 cards to collect.

Bowman Invicta (future product preview?) has 25 cards and falls 1:18 packs.

Bowman Scouts Top 100 has well....100 cards and falls 1:4 packs. Excuse my lack of cropping on this photo. My OCD is eating me up on this one.

Virtuosic Vibrations has 20 cards and falls 1:8 packs. Beach Boys Good Vibrations immediately comes to mind here.

Hi-Fi Futures comes with 25 cards falls 1:4 packs.

Rookies Of The Year Favorites falls 1:8 packs and has 15 cards to collect. I get such an 80's vibe from these, I dig it.

HITS:

 

1st Bowman Chrome autograph of Creed Willems. I don't know who this is...lol. This is also a Speckle Parallel /299.

Keep in mind with the autographs, that there are also some veterans mixed in to pull as well.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

The fun thing with Bowman is that you can't decide if you got your money or back yet. Right now, it may not be pretty. But, if you give this box break a couple of years, who knows?

I will say I liked this years Bowman inserts as they have been jazzed up some. I also like the fact that Jasson Dominguez continues to make an appearance in the product for my collection. Now I just need to track down the prospect chrome.

Thoughts on this years Bowman design and overall product welcomed in comments below.

*Coffee Card blogger out*