Nacho Flavored Set Building

Wow, has it been almost a full month since my last post here?! Well, I can explain. I've been busy over on Twitter talking about cards and sharing new acquisitions and working out a trade with @Pgn3540, better known as Nacho Nordberg.

I really don't even remember how our trade got started, but we went back and forth for a few weeks before we finalized a deal and sent each our some cards. Once my package arrive I realized why it Nacho some time to put his offer together as there were four team bags full of cards...99% of them for sets I'm working on building.

Let's start with the cards I was most excited about...Stadium Club. Nacho sent over cards from my want list for 2017, 2018 and a huge stack for 2019. My love for TSC has really increased over the years and completing these three sets has been a goal I set for myself. I haven't bought a box of either of these years and have just relied on buying retail so I appreciate all the help I can get!

If the TSC cards weren't enough, he also sent over a few cards to help me with some flagship Topps sets such as 2016, some 2018 Big League and a single from 2018 Allen & Ginter and 2017 Gypsy Queen.

Surprisingly there were some 1993 Upper Deck in one of the stacks and even one 2009 Goodwin Champions card. These two sets haven't received much attention from me lately so it's nice to add some cards to the set binders, especially '93 UD...love that set!

I didn't make it to my LCS on National Baseball Card Day unfortunately and I doubt Nacho knew that...but he included three cards from this year's program. Thanks!!

Finally, we have two shiny Bowman Chrome Braves cards of Cristian Pache and a RC of Mike Soroka. Both of these cards are so beautiful in hand, especially the Pache with the Refractor sheen. I've had so much fun watching the Braves this year and Soroka has been a big part of that. Who would have figured this tall, lanky Canadian would come into the starting rotation and be so dominant this year? 

Thanks again Nacho for all of the help with these various sets. My next move is to update my want lists both here on the blog and over at The Trading Card Database.

Box Break - 1993 Upper Deck Series 1

I started collecting baseball cards in 1990 thanks in part to a friend and a stop at a roadside flea market while on vacation. I can remember the impact Upper Deck had on the hobby in my early years of collecting, but the product always seemed to elude me. Come 1993 and it was a different story. I believe there were several gas stations in my area that carried the '93 product and I can remember how amazed I was at the overall quality, design and photography.

Recently I picked up a sealed box of Series One for dirt cheap ($3.00) and cracked open all the packs. I figured this is a set I may tackle completing because I like it so much. It was a blast from the past so to speak opening these packs. While I do like the design, the photography is what really caught my eye. Here are a few of the cards I thought the photographer did an excellent job capturing as well as a few of the hits from the box.

Cal Ripken, Jr. Then & Now hologram

Walt Weiss

Kent Hrbeck & Kirby Puckett - I love these themed team cards...as cheesy as they may be.

Carlos Hernandez

Pat Borders

Lance Parrish - I love how Cecil Fielder is peeking through the umpire's legs

Brett Butler

Craig Biggio

Andy Van Slyke - that looks like it hurt!

Mickey Morandini - I love the emotion in this photo...

Mickey Morandini - and how the photo continues onto the front of the card!

Wilfredo Cordero

Carlos Baerga

Jeff Hinson

Scott Radinsky - that's one way of getting an autograph (putting ball in cup and lowering it down from above the dug out)

Casey Candaele - look at the vertical on this guy!

Otis Nixon - come'on, I had to include at least one Brave!

Ken Caminiti

Eddie Murray

Gary Sheffield Triple Crown Contenders - seeded 1:15 packs and the box only yielded one...but at least it's one that will go into one of my player collections