More Carolina Panthers from a Michigan Fan

I'm really starting to feel guilty here as I have received several bubble mailers full of great cards (mostly Carolina Panthers) from Dennis (Too Many Verlanders). Other than from the goodness of his own heart, I'm not sure what I did to deserve receiving these awesome cards, but a huge thank you! I swear Dennis, as soon as I find something relevant to what you collect it'll be in the mail to you!

2002 Upper Deck SPx DeShaun Foster Winning Materials Rookies #WMR-DF

This big, thick card features a raised rubber square with the Panthers logo along with a big black swatch of jersey. Foster was a pretty good running back before injuries started to set in place. He would eventually wind up in San Francisco with the 49ers before fading into obscurity.

2005 Upper Deck SP Stefan LeFors Rookie Authentics #223 (487/890)

One could argue that before the Panthers "won" the lottery and drafted Cam Newton, our QB play hasn't been that good. Yeah, Kerry Collins had a few good years even Jake Delhomme took the club to the Super Bowl one year, but how many Stefan LeFors have there been? At least this is a pretty card to look at with an on card signature.

2006 Upper Deck XL DeShaun Foster XLmemorabilia #XL-DF

While not the best looking card out there, this is just another example of why I miss Upper Deck. At the time the quad relic was still something special. While card technology has far surpassed this now a days, I'm grateful to own another relic of Foster.

2007 Topps Co-Signers Steve Smith / Dwayne Jarrett RC #85 (24/50)

Jarrett had a lot of hype coming out of the University of Southern California, but he couldn't quite make it with the Carolina Panthers, or the NFL for that matter. I always kept hearing in the local media that he had a hard time adapting to a pro style offense and that he could read the playbook. Kinda funny he's matched up with Steve Smith who obviously didn't have a hard time making himself known in the NFL for his style of play.

2013 Panini Contenders Kawann Short Autograph RC #159

I have to be honest here, this card surprised me. I'm used to receiving early 2000's era Panthers cards from Dennis, so to receive a modern card...and a rookie auto at that caught me by surprise. Kawann is just now starting to come in as his own player at the Defensive Tackle position. For years the Panthers have had a pretty good defense and it's key guys like Kawann that have help with the Panthers D what it has been.

I haven't cataloged all my Panthers cards yet, but I do believe this is my first Kawann Short card, period. Thanks!

This is just another reason that I love to blog about cards...it's the cool people that I've met over the years. Of course I'd say this about Dennis or any other blogger even if I didn't receive any cards out of it. Thanks again Dennis and I'm serious, please let me know what I can send you in return.

One parallel down, a million more (it seems) to go

The only parallels I even bother with to this day are cards of Tim Hudson. He's my defacto guy I collect for so I'll buy up whatever I can find / afford...this includes the smattering of colored parallels Topps keeps releasing in their flagship sets.

This Rainbow Foil parallel is my first of 2015. The gold version is on it's way in the mail. So by my calculations that leaves me with the Black, Pink, Silver and Snow versions left to pick up. Oh and believe it or not I still need the base card.

Once I manage to find those I'll be set...until Opening Day comes out, then Series 2, then the Mini set (if Topps does that again). Then of course they'll be the Bowman sets along with Gypsy Queen and Allen & Ginter and so on and so forth. Man, when will this insanity end?!

A little 2015 Topps swag

Only a week or so into the release of series 1 of 2015 Topps and I've already landed a few nice Freddie Freeman inserts. I'm not going crazy this time around buying up any and every Braves card I can find as money is just too tight, but these were priced right and look beautiful in hand.

I'm still on the fence trying to determine how I feel about all of these manufactured "relic" cards, such as these new MLB Silhouetted Batter Logo Pin cards. It looks beautiful, but it's so thick I'll never be able to put it in a page with other cards of Freeman.

The Career High cards as a normal insert set are just meh. Throw in a little piece of jersey and they are a little more interesting. While searching out this card I discovered the little swatch of jersey also comes in red and white...or was that cream? Any who, I'll probably seek those variations out too as long as the price is right.

It feels weird to be buying cards again. A good weird though. I needed the time away from things, but just holding these 2 cards made me remember just how fun collecting (and blogging) can be.

Catching up on old trade posts

If someone sends me cards I feel obligated not only to make sure I say thank you to the other party, but also highlight some of the goodies here on my corner of the internet. This package comes courtesy of The Dutch Card Guy, all the way from the Netherlands. I've had this team bag full of Braves cards sitting off to the side for so long now I can't remember if we made a trade, or if he was just trying to get rid of some Braves (that filthy Yankees fan!). Either way I'm very grateful for the cards as I needed most of them.

There was a good selection of mid 90's stuff, but these 4 stood out the most to me. Let's start with the Crime Dog himself, Fred McGriff. I always loved the Fleer Metal stuff and this 1996 Metal Universe card is awesome. I love the orange ripple effect over top of Fred. It's as you can almost feel the swing of the bat and the crack of the bat against the ball as he launches it into the outfield. The other McGriff card comes from a Tombstone Pizza promotion. I love the unlicensed and odd ball stuff like this. I also like the Panini stuff, but that should come as no surprise if I like stuff like this Tombstone card.

The Chipper Jones Mining For Gold insert from 1996 Metal Universe is awesome. These cards look so much better in hand than they do scanned. When I checked my lists I was surprised that I didn't already have this card.

The last card of the 4 is none other than slugger Ryan Klesko. The card comes from the 1995 Topps Stadium Club Member's Only set. The details of the set itself are foggy in my brain, but in addition to the chrome aspect of the card you can see a cracked look in the background. It almost looks like scales from a reptile or something. Not sure what Topps was aiming for here, but they achieved a neat looking card none the less.

These cards traveled a long way to me, but I'm glad to be able to add them to my Braves collection. Thanks again!

It's Your Fault!

I've stated several times since I've dusted off this blog that I was done set building (outside of maybe GQ and A&G). I wasn't planning on buying any packs of 2015 Topps Series 1. I was just going to live vicariously through other blogs with the pretty scans and witty dialogue.

But no, everyone had to keep talking about how marvelous the front and backs of these new 2015 Topps are. You just had to keep posting scan after scan of your retail and hobby hits. You just couldn't stop, could you. Just the other day I found myself standing in the check out lane at my local Walmart with a rack pack of 2015 Series 1 in hand. Yes, this is all your fault!

One of the first cards that really stood out in the pack was this World Series card of NC native, Madison Bumgarner. While not a fan of the Giants, it was fun watching him pitch in the Series. Glad my man Tim Hudson also got a ring.

Not a single Braves base card in the pack to be found, bummer. At least I got two cards for my other PCs.

Parallels. 2014 seemed to have too many. I still haven't counted how many exist this go around, but at least the annual gold parallels look nice this year. The Rainbow Foil...I could do without those.

If I'm being honest, these inserts look like crap. Especially these 1st Home Run cards. Silver foil or gold foil, they still look horrible. So glad I'm not building insert sets again.

Bingo! Nice design, check. Braves player, double check.

And to round out the pack a 2nd gold parallel. This time it's a keeper.

I still haven't decided what I'm going to do with these cards, outside of a few. I do have to admit that you are right. These do look nice. So much nicer than 2014. I still can't put my finger on it (pun intended) of why I like this design so much, but rest assured if I buy any more packs I'm still blaming you.

Video baseball anyone?

** UPDATE ** Game is spoken for!

I was listing a few items in my eBay store this afternoon and I thought I'd see if anyone by chance that reads this blog would be interested in my used copy of MLB 2K11 for the Playstation 3. It's not like it'll sell for more than a few bucks anyhow...if it even sells.

If anyone is interested let me know and we can work something out. Cards, a few bucks to cover shipping, whatever, just let me know.

2014 Topps Gypsy Queen and Allen & Ginter Want Lists posted

Yeah, yeah, I know I'm really late to the party, but better late than never. Right? During my hiatus so to speak, I didn't buy much of anything outside of a few retail blasters and rack packs. However I really like the GQ and A&G brands and I'd like to finish off at least the basic sets. I've added the SPs, inserts and relics I'd like too, but for now I'm focusing on the base set of each brand.

I've also added a few cards up for trade from both series too. I doubt anyone can use them, but just in case make sure to check those lists. I've got a good many Mini cards. I'm still working on my backlog of what I have left to trade, so I'm only entertaining trades / purchases right now involving these 2 sets.

2014 Topps Gypsy Queen Want List

2014 Topps Allen & Ginter Want List