Yes, I Had To

I haven't opened up a lot of products this year, with no sponsors and lack of funds, it's been a real tough go for me. 

One of my favorite things to do in this hobby is ripping packs. I would rather open up packs of cards before adding a PC card or finishing up a set. 

I can see you shaking your heads at that last sentence, I get it.

With this year being so tough, I have had to change my perspective and how I collect and enjoy the hobby. So instead of being able to open up packs, I have been using stamps and making small pwe trades on occasion. Not quite the thrill of opening up a pack, but I am getting adjusted to being more excited about it.

However, with the recent release of Topps Chrome baseball, the itch got the better of me.

I haven't missed a single year of opening some form of Topps Chrome from one or multiple sports since its inaugural year of 1996. Could I really let that streak end this year? It's my favorite product release ever and not being able to open up at least a pack was getting to me.

But so wasn't the price.

I told myself after finding out blaster boxes at Walmart were $40, twice what they used to be, that I wouldn't fork out that cash for a blaster whether I had it or not.

That's until I found out I had money leftover on a Walmart gift card, then I pulled the trigger.

Regrettably so.

You will see why below,

Every 2023 Topps Chrome baseball blaster box comes with 7 packs of 4 cards. So, you're paying $40 for 28 cards. Meaning each card better be worth $1.50 each. I am sure you can find better cards in a dime and quarter box and bring more home for the cost.

 

I kicked off with my first card of the new Topps Chrome with Jose Altuve.

I won't bother showing rest of the base cards as this was the biggest name I found, so let's skip to the rookie portion.

Not a lot going on here. Rookie pitchers are not my thing.

Final rookie card wasn't too bad. I would rather have found Volpe but I will take it.

Next up, let's take a look at my favorite part of Chrome, the shiny stuff.

Meh base silver finds. These are 1:3 packs.

Pink Outman was the highlight of this box. Two Pink Refractors are per blaster.

Ugh. Two Sepia Parallels fall 2 per blaster. Not a fan of either player.

And another not-so-exciting find. The Prism parallels fall 1:6 packs so only one-per-blaster so my one shot wasn't great.

The inserts for my box break weren't much better,

Let's not discuss any further on these most hated inserts. These fall 1:6 packs.

And finally, 1:24 packs falls Technicolor. Tougher pull when you think about these falling 1:3 blasters but still player wise not so great.

I guess I should have let my streak come to an end this year, but, I am a traditionalist, so I had to keep it alive. It was still fun having the thrill of the rip, but I should have not spent the money still. Hopefully I can trade some of these off for something I need more.

With future finances not looking any better, I am sure next year I will be facing the same thought process when Topps Chrome releases next year.

Thoughts on my break, Topps Chrome in general and the prices for this year's product welcomed in comments.

I hope everyone has a Thirsty Thursday, in coffee form of course and has a great day as well.

Speaking of Thirsty Thursday, this coffee card blogger needs another cup.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

That Time Of Year Again

It's that magical time of year again. 

The time of year where we put away our beach towels, summer shorts and fruity drinks and exchange them in for the excitement of Pumpkin Spice season.

I am already deep into my Pumpkin Spice season.

I have my Pumpkin Spice creamer,

 

in my Pumpkin Spice coffee.

I have this Pumpkin Spice muffin to go along with my cup of coffee and this post.

And snacking on some Pumpkin Spice Oreos later.

Not to mention the scent of Pumpkin Spice from a lit candle, while I am wearing a Pumpkin Spice shirt and typing the words Pumpkin Spice multiple times on this post.

Can anyone have too much Pumpkin Spice?

No, I don't think so.

It's what your fall diet should intake.

Speaking of intake and the fact that this is mainly a sport card blog, how about some sports cards in this post? And no, they aren't Pumpkin Spice related.

Here is a Large Flat Rate box of random goodness that my friend @Imitationbacon on Twitter sent me. He goes to Goodwill and finds some incredible cards, some of those cards are up for trade occasionally so I jumped in on a few. Well, quite a few and this is only Box 1 that he has for me.

It took me roughly four days to dig through and sort these into piles that will be ready for future pictures for future blog posts.

With my lack of mail days this year, I may be stretching this one out for a while to make sure I can still have some posts.

I hope all of you have Happy Humpday and make sure you have your Pumpkin Spice latte in hand for the next post.

In comments today, let me know your favorite Pumpkin Spice treat!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

90's On The 9th:1996-97 Finest Foundations Silver Refractor Patrick Ewing

*takes a sip, gets ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee*

Welcome back to a NEW 90's On The 9th right here on Cards Over Coffee. I know this segment is very up and down in terms of views and comments on here but I have recently picked up some cheap and cool looking cards from my favorite era of collecting to you are stuck seeing them.

So, if this doesn't interest you, don't read on but make sure you at least have your coffee ready.

1996-97 Finest had different levels of base cards. There was the base bronze, Silver 1:4 packs and Gold which fell 1:24 packs. A fun and challenging set to build which is what I like.

Each level also had their own refractor levels as well. Today's card is a Silver Refractor which fell 1:48 packs which may not seem like much today, but was tough back then.

Which is why I was surprised to had landed it for under $5 from one of my favorite Knicks of the 90's.

The card looks superb especially in the light. This is actually the first one of these I own.

 

Back of the card.

It's by far one of my favorite Patrick Ewing cards in my collection now. I may have to see what other refractor cards of him are out there from the 90's.

Thoughts on my latest add, this segment as a whole or if you own any of these and of who welcomed in the comments.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Wow

*sits down, takes a look at today's cards and jaw drops again. pushes jaw back up, inserts coffee, keeps jaw closed with hand*

*takes another sip*

I had no idea what direction to go with today's post. Do I talk about Twitter and how helpful that has been towards my collection? Do I talk about the friendships I have made in the hobby? Discussion on trades and their impact in my collecting process this year with my financial situation? Do I turn this to a Finished Cup post? Or do I simply just say Wow and go from there.

I went with the latter.

Wow was the only reaction I could have when I got a PWE in the mail from Twitter pal, @mcfarm21.

*risks taking a gulp trying not to choke when looking at the cards again*

Rick saw my Cards Over Coffee Unfinished Cup post of 1995 Topps Air Raid and looked in his collection to see if he had my missing piece.   

Which he did. I wasn't surprised though as he has a lot of great 90's inserts.

The back of the card. What are the odds the last card I needed was the last card in the set? I didn't even think about that until this post.

This is why I said this post could have become a Finished Cup post. But, I couldn't do that. He had snuck another surprise in there with this card.

 

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Rick has known for a while I have wanted this card from him for my Hall Of Famer/90's autograph collection and he just snuck that in there.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Can't believe he did that!

Thanks again Rick for this mail day. Finishing off a set and a huge autograph need on my Hall Of Fame list is HUGE and I am overly happy and appreciative for it.

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

I am glad that I decided to start posting my set needs on my blog as it has been very helpful for me. I have finished off a couple sets because of it. (thank you to those who have helped!!!)

If you are also curious what remains on my want list for autographs, here is my updated list and some I know I will never land, but they are on there anyways,

• Sammy Sosa Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Barry Bonds Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Tino Martinez Auto Card (Yanks uni only and no TTM or IP)
• Mariano Rivera Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Tim Duncan Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Patrick Ewing Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Paul Pierce Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Kevin Garnett Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Tom Brady Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Randy Moss Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Steve McNair Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Jamal Lewis Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Donovan McNabb Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Corey Dillion Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Tony Gonzalez Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Ike Hilliard Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Marvin Harrison Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Patrick Mahomes Autograph Card (no TTM or IP)
• Wayne Gretzky Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Mario Lemieux Auto Card (no TTM or IP)

There you have it. My remaining autograph needs.

Thanks agin to Rick for helping knock another one down.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee With Matchbox 20

*sits down, turns on some music from Matchbox 20 and gets ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee*

The last year or so, I have been chasing down autographs from singers and have added one from Taylor Swift, Mandy Moore, and Elton John to name a few of the recent ones. Somewhere I also have one from the drummer of Train.

I think Facebook knew this when they put an ad up for the new Matchbox 20 album that the preorder came with, you guessed it, an autograph album cover.

I haven't heard any of Matchbox 20's newest tunes, but really, really love their older stuff. 

*takes a sip, begins to hum an older matchbox 20 tune..okay...wasn't humming was doing best to sing it and was glad that nobody was around to listen*

*takes another sip from dry mouth of "singing'*

Not hearing their newer music wasn't going to stop me from taking advantage of being able to add their autograph to my collection. Especially since a lot of their older songs bring me a lot of nostalgia and memories.

Here is their new album.

 

and the autographed album cover. Really cool.

I am glad that the autograph came separately so I can listen to the CD without messing with the autograph. Maybe I will find a song or two that catches me.

If not, I still have plenty of other Matchbox 20 songs that I enjoy including,

Back2Good

Push

3AM

Real World

How Far We've Come

These Hard Times

Bent

If You're Gone

Unwell

This is not all of them, but just the more important ones to me. I even liked a few of the Rob Thomas solo songs.

I am very happy with my latest addition, and I am always on the lookout for the next one. Maybe Facebook will read this post and help me discover my next. We all know they are paying attention.

In comments today, let me know your favorite Matchbox 20 song and if you have added any musical autographs to your collection recently.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

*takes a final sip*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Belated Birthday Gift

*sits down and gets ready for an exciting post on Cards Over Coffee*

 

Before the post, sip and donut time.

*takes a bite, a sip and gets ready for the post*

In life, people come and go. Most of the time when they go, they are gone never to be heard or seen again. However, there are rare instances when they come back.

I know in my hobby life; I have met lots of great people online whether that be through blogging or on my Facebook pages or on Twitter. Some I haven't heard from in years. Some I talk to everyday and one...well...I thought was gone but has returned after six months.

Welcome back Oren. Glad to have you back.

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

*takes a bite of donut as well*

*another sip*

Not only was it great to hear from Oren and knowing he was fine, but it will be fun to kick off our trades again and being able to email one another as well.

Oren also had a surprise packed for me and sent me a belated birthday gift and it was amazing.

Check this out,

New card for my Marvel PC, more on that coming up in a future post.

We all have seen that Bowman Mantle before, but have you seen these other promotional Mantles before? I haven't.

Here is the back to them. Interesting oddball addition.

The base version of this 1997 Bowmans Best Best Cuts Jake Plummer will go great with the refractor version I have :)

Cooper Taylore was a 5th round pick of the Giants in the 2013 draft. He didn't quite make a big splash and was cut by the Giants, but always welcome any Giants player as long as they are wearing blue.

Do you know how bad I wanted one of these back in 2000? REALLY BAD! I have always kept an eye on one and have wanted still since. I guess I can cross it off now.

Wayne Gallman showed some bright spots when he started some games for the Giants when Saquon Barkley got injured.

David Stambaugh is an actor for The Bad News Bears movies, and this marks I believe my third autograph from this set. 

Along with sending along those great cards above, Oren hit me up with some wicked cool unopened packs. I haven't decided which ones I am opening or adding to my unopened pack PC.

The Simpsons. First time I have one of these in my collection. I really need to chase down the base set.

Upper Deck Dinosaurs. I remember winning a box of these and how fun that product was to open.

2022 Absolute Memorabilia retail pack. I ripped this bad boy.

Results. Not a bad find with the Pickens, he showed some serious highlights last year and could grow off from it this year.

 

These are beautiful!!! OG Batman movie packs (I want this base set and sticker set), Batman Begins pack (I am wanting this base set and hologram set) and Batman Forever hanger pack (want this base set and hologram set). I haven't decided which of these I will open yet or keep them sealed for my Batman collection.

Then came a huge surprise......

2021 Historic Autographs Written Word POTUS The First 36. This would mark my first hobby box opening of 2023. With no company sponsors left, I figured I would never see a hobby box again then came this surprise.

What's really cool with these, there are chances to pull DNA cards which would be beyond EPIC for me to find.

Each box comes with two cards for that chance at one. Here is what those two cards can be overall, Written Word Card, Limited Edition Die-cut Monument Card, POTUS DNA Hair Card, POTUS DNA Dual Hair Card or an Authentic POTUS Cut Signature Card

I couldn't wait any longer, so I tore in that box like I did when I opened up the donut one,

This is what it looks like on the inside.

Card #1

Andrew Johnson, our 17th president cut up handwritten words from him. Pretty cool and wonder what kind of document they cut up for these. You would think it would be in a history museum. You can view the documents online which I will probably do at some point.

 

And the next card is Grover Cleveland, the 22nd president cut up handwritten words. Once again, I need to look up the documents they cut up.

I didn't get the DNA card or even the cut-up signature I had hoped for, but I am still beyond stoked for these. Really cool history pieces for my non sport PC. I really want to open another now!

Thanks again to Oren for this superb gift. Really appreciate it beyond words.

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

I hope everyone is ready for more of the mail day posts from Oren coming up this year. I am sure there will be more fun cards to show off.

In comments today, comment on the cards or what you do with packs like the ones I have above. Do you collect unopened packs? wrappers?

I hope everyone has a great Monday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Blogger National 2023

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

Last year I posted a Blogger National for those of us who can't enjoy the experience of actually being at the The National Sport Collectors Convention. That way we can still connect with one another without spending the big bucks to do so. Though I would love to sit down, have a cup of coffee and talk cards with you.

*takes a sip, tips mug towards computer screen hoping you will return the favor*

I am a few days late on posting this year's Blogger National, but I am still hoping you all will still participate in this blog bat-around.

What is the 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 2023.

I want you to 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 a few of my recent mail days.

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

I am not sure why, but I felt drawn to needing an Indiana Jones rookie. Maybe because of the new movie or maybe because I was a fan. I am looking forward to watching the new movie at some point.

I didn't have a Zebra parallel in my collection before and now to own one of the league's best running back and of a Giant, I am happy. I acquired this one in a trade on Twitter.

This card I have been wanting a very long time. Great moment in Knicks history by my favorite Knicks player.....and it's shiny. This came from a long time Twitter friend.

And finally, along with the Allan Houston above, I was given this 2001 Kerry Collins E-X Essential Credentials /299. Great 90's parallel, not as exciting of a 2000's insert but still a need.

*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. Last year was no to very little turnout but I am trying again!

And for those of you who read this and don't have a blog, feel free to post your cards on social media and use the hashtag, #TheBloggerNational2023. 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 weekend.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*