Cards on Cards sends Yards and Yards of Cards, with Regards

Kerry aka madding of Cards on Cards and his special lady have a list of player collections I'm constantly pulling cards for.  I don't quite have it memorized, but being that I'm so keen on looking for excuses to shed cards, Kerry always seems to have some cardboard in the ol' trade stack. 

Kerry sent me a bunch of Griffeys in a used pack wrapper so it felt like opening a Griffey hot pack.  It was super fun, especially since I'd never seen some of the Griffeys he sent:

That is a 2003 Leaf Passing Through Time.  This subet has a reprint of the Leaf card from ten years prior on the back.  I would show you, but that would ruin the 2003 Leaf post that is sure to come later.  That Fleer throwback design is also a great card with a great picture.

The Lumber Company cards are one of the greatest inserts Fleer ever put out, but that Select Certified card was a real surprise.  It has a film on it that's just begging to be removed, and the back is printed upside down necessitating a vertical flip from the front.  I've only ever seen that on error cards.

It looks like the maddings have also been squirrelling away Chuck Finleys for me.  There are a couple here that I didn't even know existed:

I love preview cards.  They feel so naughty and forbidden.  That Sports Illustrated card is also completely new to me. 

Madding has a wealth of knowledge about the card industry and always has something constructive to add to my own posts.  His blog is a staple in the community and his strength of character is a beacon of hope in the otherwise bleak and unforgiving landscape of the Internet.  He also likes airbrushed cards.

Thanks, Kerry!

A Trio of Tremendous Trade Triumphs

I got a package from Kerry aka madding over at Cards on Cards.  He send me Griffeys pretty regularly, and they tend to be unique and easy to find a place for in the collection.  I recommend you trade with him....

Look at all the people on that sheet of stickers - it's like a who's who of card collecting in 1998!  Here's the reverse:

A lot of great players on this one sheet that I collect to this day.  Awesome.

There are a lot of dual cards out there that feature Griffey and a young player that doesn't end up going anywhere or a single-season superstar that doesn't stand the test of time.  Here is the exception: Griffey and Larkin.  There's a lot of skill on this little card. 

The Reds had a great lineup in the mid-00's.  I'm really surprised when I read about how unsuccessful they were in that time.  Reds fans, I'd like your input on this.

Kittle!

Geaux Hornets!  Er, I means geaux Pelicans?  Hm.  That sounds weird.  Anyway, I don't know who this guy is.

I remember this card from my collecting days.  I was really psyched to find it in that trade package as I have no idea where mine went.  A great piece of cardboard history.

Thanks again, Madding!

There is a beast living in my soul that thirsts for all the Griffeys of the Earth, and it is sated not just by new Griffeys but also by duplicates.  Bert at Swing and a Pop Up sent me a package loaded with delicious duplicates of Griffey goodness.  Bert, your offering has pleased the beast.

That's not your computer trying to catch up with your scrolling.  Those are lots and lots of duplicates!!!

There's so many of everything, plus a Donruss rookie!  This package was truly awesome.

He also included these which were too numerous to scan effectively:

Griffey Sr, Griffey Jr, and......Jim Abbott?  I'll never understand the player selection here, but dammit if they're not fun cards.  I may have to look more closely as building the whole set.  They will definitely be getting their own post.

I see Bert just updated his want lists, so go check 'em out.  Thanks, Bert!

Last but certainly not least, Spankee from My Cardboard Mistress sent me a package he assured me I would enjoy.  It was gigantic because the cards inside were stored inside this:

I'm a sucker for small boxes.  I don't know why, I just like them.  This one shows a Griffey signature which is amazingly cool.  The cards inside were just as impressive:

That's five serial-numbered Griffeys.  And that's not even all of them:

That big postcard-sized mamma-jamma is also serial numbered!  Plus that Fleer Triple Crown card is news to me, and who doesn't love collector coins?  He sent two.

Thanks, Adam!  You were right - this was a really fun one to go through.

I've just sent out a massive wave of trade packages.  My memory is not great (thanks, college), so I'm hoping I'm square with everybody.  I try to keep up with everybody using an Excel document, but it's far from perfect.

And if you sent me something and have gotten nothing in return, don't be afraid shoot me an e-mail.  I embrace every opportunity to mail out free cardboard.

All Griffeys Great and Small: Quality Meats and a Mystery Solved

I always seem to get trade packages on Mondays, which is cool because it makes them suck less. 

First, old business.  Remember that trade post wherein I had no idea who sent me that stuff, and I decided it was probably Bill Murray? 

Turns out I was wrong.

The generous Griffey-mailing culprit is none other than renowned blogger Wes from Jaybarkerfan's Junk!  He's a Braves collector, which means he is about to get mail-pounded with red and blue cardboard.

Here's another look at what he sent my way:



Look at the picture on that 1999 Ultra checklist.  What a goofball.



I've never heard of Topps HD, but this card looks and feels expensive.  Penny sleeved....



One with a coin, one without.  I have neither, so a welcome addition.  I'ma  bit of a coin collector, too, so this makes perfect sense.



Thanks, Wes!  You're in my address book now, so here's to many successful trades to come....

Kerry from Cards on Cards sent me some beautiful Upper Deck Griffeys and a few other surprises.  Check 'em out!

I already had one of these, but it was in horrible condition.  These are minty fresh.

Kerry posted that Buhner a few weeks ago and I drooled in the comments (Buhner and I have a platonic love thing going on).  Being the stand-up dude he is, Kerry sent me two of them: one for the binder and the other for the bathroom mirror.  Or perhaps the ceiling above the bed, whichever my wife lets me get away with.  Now that I think about it, they'll probably both go in the binder.

I am proud to be part of Kerry's excuse to continue buying basketball packs.

Being a New Orleans boy, it's hard not to root for the Hornets who are about to undergo a name change to the Pelicans next season.  Hopefully that will energize the team a little.  First pick will help, too (we're very much on pace to get that).

This thing is HUGE:

It's a big ol' 5 x 7 baseball card.  It is thick like double-stacked mat board.  The picture is high-gloss, multi-level and the border is a nice textured matte silver.  I may have to run by Michael's and pick up a frame for it.  And check out all the data on the back:

Oh, man.  Remember Posse?  And how about toughest pitcher to face: Scott Radinsky?  We'll have to spend more time on this 5" x 7" beast in my eventual GOUS post wherein I'll cover all my Griffeys of Unusual Size.

Thanks, Kerry!  I'm assembling a package for you, too!

I also got some great new Griffeys from Jason over at The Writer's Journey. 

More lovely Upper Deck Griffeys plus a Bowman with a great shot of the crowd.  I still hope to find someone picking their nose in the background.  Someday....

I get so excited about oddballs, especially if they are for brands I've never heard of.  This one has a reasonably nice design and no logo.  Let's flip this baby over:

WOW!  This card was made for Kahn's Quality Meats out of Cincinnati.  And what did they do?  An amazing job - that's what.  Look at that stat box!  They even included Griffey's three AAA at-bats when he was in recovery following his wrist injury back in '95.  I am blown away by this beast.  I may even put it into a screw case.

So, I am now on the lookout for Kahn's Quality Meats cards.  No joke.  I want them all.

Thanks for the amazing cards, Jason and this, the king of branded oddballs!

Trade With Cards on Cards

Kerry over at Cards on Cards and I swapped some stuff.  I think he's in cleanup mode because he also sent me a criz-azy number of Saints football cards.  Plus he's doing that Basketball card giveaway thing, and I joined up for the Hornets.  Dude is shelling out more cardboard than a.....
 

In exchange I sent him a hairy man-stack of Cardinals, Ozzie (Smith not Canseco), Tim Lincecum, Larry Walker, Troy Tulowitski and whatever else I had of the players on his list.  But enough about me......

These are proof that New Orleans can host a Superbowl and not screw the whole thing up.  I assure you, every local within eyeshot of that power outage slapped their foreheads all at once.  Yeah, it's true.  We may be a third-world country, but we know how to party....

All these guys are legends in this town.  They never won a super bowl (with the Saints, at least), or even a playoff game (most of them), but we love these guys.  It was great seeing them in card form.

These two especially brought a smile to my face.  Jim Mora was an institution here.  Check this out if you have 2.5 minutes:

That's Ron Swoboda.  He still does sports in New Orleans.  I once met Hoda Kotb when I worked at the mall here.  I told her that if she married him, her name would be Hoda Swoboda (not kidding).

Anyway, baseball cards, eh? 

That '87 Topps mini is a killer.  And that Donruss on the top showing Griffey chunking the deuce is also pretty baddass.

I must say that any card showing my guy in a White Sox uniform is a little off-putting, but it's a Griffey, so it's still arguably the best card ever made.

That's not even all he sent me - just a smattering of choice examples.

They will each have a place of honor within the sacred binders of Griffeyhood where their Griffeyness will remain unspoiled and acid-free.

Thanks for all the cardboard, Kerry!  I've already started putting aside more stuff for ya!