The Finest Times

 

*coffee is ready, sunny day is here and we are off running for another new #CardsOverCoffee post!*

*takes out CD player, yes those still exist, and turns on Green Day's Good Riddance Time Of Your Life for today's background music for the post*

*takes another sip, starts to reminisce to simpler times*

The 90's were great. I was young, I was outside with my friends, I was watching Saturday Morning cartoons with my mom while eating a bowl of Rice Krispie Treats cereal, I was jamming to the best decade of music, I was writing tons of nonfiction stories, and I was enjoying the hobby of sport cards like no other time. 

Life was good. I had no complaints.

Compare that to today, where I am older wondering which side of my back I will wake up to aching, mainly inside working, watching nighttime television if I am lucky while trying to limit my eating, almost passing out from gas prices, writing a sports card blog, still in the hobby, dealing with a pandemic, watching everyone's morals fall apart and the world crumble.

That's a shortened up list as well.

The 90's you can say were the finest of times in my life. Which is why I still collect a lot of "stuff" from that era.

Childhood toys, magazines and comics, and sport cards all make up a good portion of what I chase to bring back those finest memories.

So, when my buddy Shane from Cheap Wax Wednesday found some Topps Finest Refractors from the 90's at his recent card show trip, it was a definite want for me.

*takes a sip, sits momentarily to listen to the lyrics of the song. sure was the time of my life*

Shane sent me a variety of years and players with these refractors. I didn't care who they were. I remember a lot of the players and how excited I used to get when I opened a pack of Finest and saw something shiny in the middle of the pack. I would slowly look at the cards in front and behind the shiny card before fulling revealing it.

I couldn't do that with my mail day from Shane as all of the refractors were in a stack.

*takes a breath, slowly scrolls through the uploaded pictures remembering opening up packs of Finest with my father*

 

*smiles after reaching the bottom. takes another sip*

Those cards were such a great memory and trip back in time. For those of you reading today and remember those times, I hope these brought you back as well.

I must also note, see how I left the Finest Protection on, that will always stay on in my house.

Thanks to Shane for picking these up for me.

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

Even though today's times are not as much fun, it's still a blessing to wake up every day and make the most of it. I am also glad I was able to "take the photographs and still frames in my mind" from the 90's and remember them. Cards help bring those memories alive a lot of the time.

Thoughts on today's cards, song choice, the 90's and your favorite part of them welcomed in comments.

Have a terrific Thursday.

*song ends, post ends, CD player put away for another time*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Coffee Card Hall Of Fame

*coffee is hot and ready and I am ready for a new #CardsOverCoffee*

Hall Of Fame. It's where the best of the best go.

In my recent email to blog reader Oren I made reference towards the Kurt Warner autograph he sent me for my birthday was going into my Card Hall Of Fame. Do I actually have one? No. I just used the phrase as it is one of my better cards and that I will have to place it in a careful spot.

I told Oren in my return email that I didn't have one, but he hinted at this could be a good idea to post about. Upon using my brain and a few cups of coffee, I have come up with a fun concept for this.

So here's the deal and here is what I need from you guys, the readers.

I am creating a box where I will be storing my Coffee Card Hall Of Fame collection. I don't have the box or the layout of it complete just yet, but when I do, I will post it. In this box, every year from here on out until I can't brew anymore coffee, I will be placing FIVE cards a year voted on by you to go into the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame. However, I will need some card nominees all year for you to vote on. This is where you guys come into play again. Every post on CARDS OVER COFFEE after today until the December 1st end date, you can nominate a card or cards from any post-including box breaks-in comments of that post you think should be in the Hall for the 2022 year. These will be the nominees.

Those cards will be POSTED HERE all year long. Remember, this is a Hall Of Fame nomination. Not every card has to be a patch, autograph or low numbered, but Hall worthy. I will close nominations on December 1st and will let you guys begin the voting process (how I will do this will be determined later on) on which five cards you would choose to make it into the Hall. The cards with the most votes, get in.

Because I had already referenced this card as Hall worthy,

 

This Kurt Warner autograph will be the first nomination and will appear on that link I showed above.

I hope this sounds like a lot of fun for you guys as I think it will be.

Thanks again to Oren for jumpstarting this idea.

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

I am curious on your guys thoughts about this in comments today.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday. Fill your mugs up with joy today.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Unguarded

*another warmer day is helping melt the snow away. the more snow that it melts the more I can get outside and play some sports again such as wiffle ball, football and a sport based on today's topic, basketball. takes another sip, dreams of getting outside but for now gets ready for a new #CardsOverCoffee*

I never played in a basketball league growing up, but I played plenty b-ball with friends at school and at home. There were lots of great memories made. One of those memories I mentioned on here previously when my friend Brian pushed me through his grandmothers sliding glass window as I drained a three to beat him. But, I have other ones as well.

I remember getting elbowed in the face going up for a rebound against a classmate causing me to bleed everywhere, but coming back in the game five minutes later after the school nurse checked me and said I was good to go. I remember Dustin who would always say "fake out" over and over again as he would keep spinning to avoid defenders and make the shot. I remember a kid named George who thought he was Duke material and was the best player on the playground court in 8th grade and how I showed him I wasn't too bad myself. The memory of the high school PE class where I won a 1:1 tournament against actual high school basketball players. I am not sure why I never tried out for a team or whatever held me back, but I sometimes regret not doing so.

*gets up, soaks up some more sun, takes another sip*

I really loved the game of basketball back in the 90's and early 2000's. There wasn't a moment where you didn't see a ball in my hands taking shots. I would go out in the middle of winter and even take some shots with a snow covered ball and at one point, I lived on a farm where my court was a poured concrete silo. It came in handy when I missed as the ball would bounce back from the concrete walls.

When I wasn't outside enjoying the game, you would find me inside watching the Knicks on NBC or watching Duke on ABC. I remember watching a lot of UNC/Duke games and the Knicks taking on rivals, Heat, Pacers and the Bulls.

It was like a Super Bowl win for me when my team beat any of those teams. Especially the Bulls. They had to have been one of the most hated teams in the 90's right? I know I couldn't stand them at all. There wasn't even one player on that team I liked. It didn't matter if it was MJ, Rodman, Longley, Kerr, the Coach Phil Jackson or even today's subject, Scottie Pippen. I wanted them to lose and lose bad.

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

For me, the 90's was the height of the NBA. Those rivalry games were so good as you could feel the hatred and respect right at home. But, as the sport got into the 2000's, my interest started to fade as my favorite players started to leave and even the ones I hated. The game was even changing itself and my love of the sport started to fade as I found myself losing interest.

I no longer found myself inside watching games, I even didn't even feel like playing it outside as much anymore as my shift was towards baseball and football more. Basketball was not in my life anymore and I even started to unload some of my basketball cards in trades.

It wasn't until I was in my 30's when I found myself coming to a realization while turning on a game for background noise that I may had watched the greatest era of the sport. Some of the all-time greats played during that time and I got to watch them. Maybe I needed a way to celebrate that and maybe not all basketball needed to be out of my life.

That's when I started a list of basketball players, I wanted autographed cards of. I wanted those players who made an impact to the game. So I made my list, checked it twice and started to hunt them down.

I have so far scored autographed cards of Allan Houston, John Starks, Karl Malone, Magic Johnson, Christain Laettner, Kobe Bryant and John Stockton since then. It isn't easy landing a lot of the guys on my list with the values of those guys skyrocketing daily, but I have chipped away using some good trade bait to acquire them. Totally worth it though.

One of my latest additions came in book form, even though I told myself I wanted only cards of these guys. I guess you just have to be happy to get what you can get these days.

My buddy Shane from Cheap Wax fame came across an offer for an autographed book of Scottie Pippen and asked me if I was interested in a copy since he was getting himself one, I knew I needed Pippen still from my list and told him I would absolutely take it on.

The signed copy came with a letter of authenticity along with the autograph of Pippen.

Unguarded tells the life story of Scottie Pippen and everything he had to overcome to be a part of that Bulls dynasty. I haven't decided when or if I will sit down to read it anytime soon. I prefer to protect the autograph first since I actually haven't read a book from beginning to end in probably 20 years. I prefer to write more than read.

Thanks goes out to Shane for helping me land a Scottie Pippen autograph for my collection.

Other players I am still in search of are,

• MJ
• Shaq
• Tim Duncan
• Patrick Ewing
• Dennis Rodman
• Penny Hardaway
• Mugsy Bogues
• Charles Barkley
• David Robinson
• Reggie Miller
• Grant Hill
• Shawn Kemp
• Gary Payton
• Allen Iverson

A mighty list remains that's for sure. I add a few players I forgot about occasionally as well.

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

Up until the last couple of years I haven't watched an actual basketball game other than background noise. That changed when the Knicks drafted RJ Barrett, Duke connection of course, who I thought was an interesting piece for their future. He seems to be the best player they have right now, but also needs some work still.

As for myself playing basketball, I do have a basketball hoop I take shots on still. I am no longer the die hard I once was, especially since my hoop is on uneven ground and I have no ACL in my right leg, but I still take some shots. Now that my childhood friend Brian has moved back from states away this past fall, maybe he will pop over and we can at least do a game of HORSE at least. At our age, it wouldn't take much to get injured otherwise.

In comments today, let me know your thoughts on my latest addition, who your favorite players of the 90's are and if you collect any of them.

Have a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The State Of The Hobby: Hobby Boxes

*first sip to mouth burns the tongue, not a great start to the morning especially since didn't sleep well. at least I am alive for another day. takes another sip more carefully and begins today's #CardsOverCoffee post*

Welcome back to The State Of The Hobby series. 

In the last post, I tackled how the pandemic had changed the face of retail products. That was just the start of the hobby uprising as it not only affected retail products, because it also affected hobby box prices that have now risen to astronomical amounts.

Remember just a couple of years ago when you were able to go to a site like Dave and Adams and find a hobby box of a new product for about $100-$150? Hate to tell you, those days are long gone.

 

Products like the latest Contenders football release used to be $125-$150 for 6 autographs. Pandemic prices have risen them to $700 for the same thing two years ago you could have gotten a third of that. INSAAAANNNEE.

 

It's not just Contenders or football card prices either, it's all hobby box prices for all sports. ALL have at least doubled if not tripled and offer the same thing or less than two years ago. Look at that Playoff football price, that's more like a $100 box.

Even the clearance section, which used to be where my wife used to shop for me for Christmas because you could find hobby boxes marked down for $50 or less has become a joke. Most of the clearance section now is "marked down" retail. Hanger boxes for $20 and a Mega Box for almost $300 is not clearance by any means. The hobby boxes that are on there, don't even bother looking at.

Don't think I am just picking on Dave and Adams here either, this goes for all websites like Blowout, Steel City Collectibles, etc that sell hobby boxes. I chose Dave and Adams since that is where I used to shop.

All of these price changes for the hobby and retail has changed the landscape of the hobby. The "Deep Pockets" still shell out the cash on the hobby and retail boxes while collectors join in on more box breaks, pick up cheap singles and search thrift stores for treasures for their collections since they have been driven away from opening product. 

It's a tough time as collectors to enjoy the hobby we used to, but fortunately most of us can adjust and find new avenues to enjoy the hobby. Sadly some couldn't and have left.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post. not sure how food will feel on my burned tongue surface especially if I go the toast route but I need breakfast very soon*

The changes in prices has reflected on my hobby as well. I no longer buy hobby boxes nor even ask for any for Christmas. I find an eBay gift card sufficient now as I plug in pieces to my collection instead. Occasionally I will buy a retail box if it's a product that catches my attention or if I just get that pack ripping itch under control.

Even though it kills me on the hobby box part, at least I am still enjoying the hobby.

*takes another sip, maybe scrambled eggs for this morning will work*

Lots of questions I am sending your guys way today,
I am curious in comments if you have bought a hobby box in the last couple of years since the price changes? What's the most you have ever spent on a hobby box? Did you used to open product before the pandemic and what do you do now?

Have a Super Sunday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Another Year

*sits down, gets ready for a new post on #CardsOverCoffee. cards sit next to the laptop for today's post and coffee is on the other side. it's going to be a great start to the day*

Today, I turn 39 years old. I can't believe I will be spending my last year in my 30's. Felt like I just turned 30 yesterday. Time flies by for those of you who are younger and for those of you who are older, you already know this.

I don't have any plans today other than waiting for my mother-in-law to bring out my banana cream pie I discussed earlier this week. Of course with pie, more coffee is expected which alone is a good birthday.

Normally, I don't get a lot of gifts for my birthdays. As you get older, you don't expect nor get much. It's just how it goes and that's okay. It took me awhile to get used to that, but now just being alive for your birthday is the big gift.

*takes a sip to celebrate another day of life*

This year though, I got a really impressive surprise birthday gift from blog reader Oren, who I have been trading with for a year now. I think the first post/trade with Oren shows up on here on March 6th 2021.

He sent along a nice note with birthday wishes and a mail day I wasn't expecting. Especially the card in the package.

The first part of the mail day was two packs of 2004 Topps Star Wars Clone Wars.

Which I opened hoping to land an insert,

 

And I finally did land an insert in the second pack. This Yoda is a Sticker Card that falls 1:3 odds. I was hoping for one of the battle motion cards. Those look pretty cool.

Behind the two packs of cards was this STUNNER......

2001 Upper Deck Sp Sign Of The Times autograph of Hall Of Famer Kurt Warner.

It took me awhile to shake my excitement as I almost dropped the card on the floor. Of course, I tried to calm down because as you get older you worry about having a heart attack from too much excitement.

 

This marks the second Warner in my autograph collection, but this one by far takes the cake as the better card. My other one I always question it's authenticity.

I don't even really know the words to use to say thanks to Oren for this marvelous birthday gift, but I guess a thank you will have to do for now. Unless I take some time to find other words I could use on Google.

*goes to Google after taking a sip and finds, many thanks · thanks very much · thanks a lot · thank you kindly · much obliged · much appreciated · bless you to use for this birthday mail day*

*takes another sip before finishing up today's post. sees mother-in-law coming with the pie*

*takes pie, slices a small piece, sits down with coffee and takes a bite. happy birthday to me*

I am very thankful for having another day here on earth and the start of my 39th year here.  I am never sure what challenges another year brings to my life, especially with all of my health issues on and off, but I will persevere and will post again next year.

I am also thankful I actually responded to Oren's email as most emails I get from strangers trying to do card deals with me, I don't. Something told me that day to do so and I am glad I did. I look forward to trading more with Oren this year as well and if you see an email from him, I suggest you respond and trade as well.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

*Coffee Card Birthday Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2022 Topps Heritage Hobby Box

*takes a sip, gets ready for the newest post on #CardsOverCoffee which is another fun Coffee Break. takes another sip and let's go!*

It's early I know, but it's time for another Coffee Break on Cards Over Coffee. I hope you have your brew in hand and are ready to check out the latest post. I know I have my coffee and I have my cards so let's see how today's break goes.

*takes a sip...or two, begins to rip*

Every hobby box of 2022 Topps Heritage baseball comes with 24 packs of 9 cards. Each box comes with 1 autograph or relic and a box topper (not pictured in this post but it was Pete Alonso) and each box costs roughly $100.

This years product also takes us back to 1973 for it's base card design.

BASE:

HUGE base set is what Topps Heritage is all about with 400 cards plus 100 short prints making it a 500 total card set.

There are veterans like Mike Trout with posed photos (some veterans have action photos)

Along with Rookies (yes Wander to)

World Series

A little surprise by adding a legend into the mix

Topps Gold Cup

Home Run Leaders

League Leaders

Rookie Trios

And then the High Number Short Prints make up the last 100 cards that fall 1:3 packs. As a set collector myself, I like the challenge and it puts added value on base card sets. That's something we don't see in today's collecting society.

*takes a sip before moving on with this post. some breakfast sounds good as well*

PARALLELS/SP'S

Parallels,

French Text /73, Black Border (50 copies), Flip Stock (5 copies).

Base Card Variations,'
Error Short Prints, Player Icon Color Swap, Team and Name Swap, Throwback Uniform, Image, and Nicknames.

Usually, each box will come with one, mine is an Image Swap.

Back of the card near the number tells you what variation it is. The card was also in the pack backwards so I knew I had one. I must also note since we are looking at the back of the card, with the black backs, these cards get damaged very easily. Just by looking at this through the screen I am sure it has whiting somewhere on it now. That was an issue I had in every pack.

Topps Heritage Chrome

Each box usually has one of these /999, I wished they would make this a set, and they come with the following parallels,

Hot Box Refractor, Refractor /673, Red /573, Silver /373, Green /273, Black /73, Gold /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

Green /273

INSERTS:

New Age Performers has 25 cards of the newest players in the league.

News Flashbacks and Baseball Flashbacks bring you back to the biggest news of 1973. I like the News Flashbacks myself for my non sport PC. Each one has 15 cards in their respective sets.

Then and Now has 15 cards and features a player of today compared to one of the past. Not quite sure if Robbie Ray is a good one in this case. Or if anyone is.

HITS:

9.9 percent of the time, you will pull a relic card. 9.8 percent of that time, it will be a plain swatch Clubhouse Collection.

 

And that's what I find every time. At least it's a Game Used relic.

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

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

I always enjoy opening Topps Heritage and even though there are some massive hits to be found, I don't focus on that part as I never pull one. I treat the hit as a bonus. It's all about the base, inserts and especially chrome for me.

I know many of you will hate this thought, but a chromed Heritage product would be beautiful. I would probably shorten the base set down some. Maybe 150 veterans and legends, 25 rookie and 75 short prints kind of set.

Thoughts on this product is welcomed below.

Have a great Friday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2022 Topps Opening Day Hobby Box

*sits down with the latest Topps product and a cup of coffee. is there anything better than this?*

Before I say the following statement, I will knock on wood.

*lifts fingers off keyboard, knocks on the table, takes a sip while at it and then returns to keyboard*

Spring is coming. I can see the grass poking out from under the thin layer of snow, my father-in-law has been making maple syrup in the sugar house, the temperatures are supposed to hit 60 today and my road is like driving on a Class 5 with the mud if such a road existed. But the smell of spring is alive and so isn't the 2022 baseball card season.

The product I am opening today is the second release in the baseball card season to get us set for Opening Day. Get It....or is that joke too lame this early in the morning.

Either way, lets check out what today's product has to offer.

*takes a sip, gets ready to rip*

Every hobby box of 2022 Topps Opening Day baseball comes with 36 packs of 7 cards each. Boxes come with no guarantees and run roughly $50. Which is about $20 higher than it used to be.

BASE:

There are 220 cards in the Opening Day base set. The base has the same photography and design as Series 1. Other than a smaller checklist, the only other difference is the thinner cardboard used for the product.

Aong with Veterans, there are rookies

and Future Stars.

And yes even the man known Wander Franco is on the checklist.

PARALLELS:

Blue Foil (2,022 copies), Black Foil 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1.

My only two parallels. I love the blue shine.

 

And this isn't a true parallel, but I always love a fun miscut.

*checks the weather really quick again to make sure didn't curse spring is coming by typing it. safe...for now*

*takes another sip, gulp actually. moves onto the next part of this review*

INSERTS:

You can find 1 insert per pack and some inserts have the following parallels,

Rainbow Foilboard /99.

T

Triple Play combines three players on every team and brings back those memories of  1980-1981 Topps basketball with the splits down the side. These fall 1:8 packs and have 10 cards in the set to collect.

Opening Day has to be an insert in Opening Day right? These fall 1:5 packs and has 15 cards in the set of the excitement and celebrations of Opening Day.

24 cards that fall 1:3 packs make up the Mascots set. I always enjoy finding these in this product.

 

25 cards that fall 1:3 packs that include hitters of the past (yay Griffey Jr) and present slugging those bombs.

HITS:

I didn't pull one, but I will say, there are some really fun ones to find including relic pieces of Mascots.

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

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

I feel Opening Day is still trying to be a kids friendly product, but with the price increase, it takes away some of that feeling.

Personally, for me, I was really happy a couple of years ago when they started doing more with the inserts such as fun eats and events at the games. I think those would be fun to go back and add in the 2023 set. Make this product stand out more and not feel like the rest. Let's give that Opening Day feel.

Have a great Thursday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*