Tuesday was a busy card trading day! Two new trades went out: one small, one large. The larger one will be posted this weekend. The smaller one when the three cards come back. Also, I got international cards! Yes, the Canadian trade finally cleared customs and made it from Quebec to Peoria. Let’s see what arrived!
1987 Donruss The Rookies
Devon White (#8), Kevin Seitzer (#15), Dave Magadan(#34), and B.J. Surhoff(#17). Always a fan of green, and I really liked the 1987 Donruss set. Once upon a time, these would have a lot more than the $2 total now.
1990 Donruss The Rookies
The green here is almost as obnoxious as the red of 1990 Donruss. Still, kinda cool to get an Expo, a decent looking card, and a fun addition.
2023 Topps Silver Pack
I like the 1988 Topps design. I feel like it’s better than 1989 Topps which has been used a lot by Topps. Not a fan of the mojo refractor style of the “silver packs” but chrome refractors still get me.
And, I had a chance to get two cards of teams that didn’t exist in 1988: the Rockies and Marlins. So, I grabed Jerar Encarnacion (2T88C8) of the Marlins and Michael Toglia (2T88C67) of the Rockies. Also, one from Topps Update, Joey Ortiz (T88CU47)
Upper Deck
A couple of 2000 Upper Deck Expos: Hideki Irabu (#431) and Wilton Guerrero (#162). Also, got two 1996 Upper Decks: Wally Joyner (#509U) and Shane Andrews (#394).
1993 Leaf
Let’s get the formalities out of the way: Billy Hatcher (#109), Kevin Maas (#206), Tim Laker (#367) and Tim Teufel (#10).
The 1993 Leaf set is one of my all-time favorites. The cover is very simple but clean with great colors. But what elevates this set above others are the backs: a color image of something signficant of the hometown (i.e. The Statue of Liberty). I wish my binder didn’t have them front-to-back and that they were in team order like Upper Deck or Fleer.
Finest
More Expos! From the 2000 Finest set, the “Board Game” Milton Bradley (#246), Hideki Irabu (#196), and Peter Bergeron (#239). I also got a 1999 Finest, Michael Barrett (#148).
1995 Flair
You instinctively went Woooo! I love this set because of the sparkly design. Hard to capture in a photo but was more than happy to pick up three more Expos. Carlos Perez (#377), Wil Cordero (#373), and Mel Rojas (#378).
1996 Topps
More Expos! David Segui (#151), Darrin Fletcher (#127), Mike Lansing (#86), and Sean Berry (#113).
1995 Topps Traded
The only other card I have from this set is Benito Santiago. Kinda bummed they were ho-hum Draft Pick cards. J.D. Smart (#49T) and Kenny James (#129T). Expos, of course.
Fleer and Ultra
Time to change it up a bit. I did get a handful of Fleer and Ultra cards. First up, 2006 Fleer Matt Clement (#303). Next, kinda surprised I didn’t have Randy Myers (#97) from 1991 Ultra, as I have most of the Reds. Next, a 1995 Ultra Mel Rojas (#378). An Expo, of course.
Two 1993 Fleer, Bob Zupcic (#186) and Delino DeShields (#74). A 1990 Fleer Ben McDonald (#180) rookie, and a 1998 Fleer Trey Moore (#411).
Mid 00's Topps
A 2007 Topps Gary Sheffield (#470) and two 2002 Topps: Carlos Guillen (#444) and Roger Clemens Cy Young winner (#714).
2001 Topps
I’m moving at a snails pace to finish this set. This weird blue-green-teal color set just seemed an odd choice as the flagship for Topps 50th anniversary set.
The landscape cards, top-to-bottom, are the Reds team card (#759), David Krynzel / Grady Sizemore rookie (#750), and Bobby Kielty / Milton Bradley / Juan Rivera (#376). Then a postseason highlight Mike Hampton (#404), Jose Vidro (#254), Brian Giles (#473), and Ray Durham (#492).
Also received but not pictured: Eric Young (#53), Bobby Bradley / Kurt Ainsworth / Chin-Hui Tsao (#367), Adrian Brown (#427), Jeff D’Amico (#459), and Carl Pavano (#481).
2021 & 22 Topps Update
The first seven pictured (left-right, top-bottom) are from 2021 Topps Update. James Paxton (#US66), Garrett Stubbs (#US296), Chris Flexen (#US206) who looks like he’s flexing, Wade Davis (#US289), Patrick Weigel (#US31), Josh Staumont (#US20), and Tyler Alexander (#US299).
The last card is a 2022 Topps Update, Aaron Civale (#US49).
Received but not pictured 2021 Topps Updates: Chase Anderson (#US19), Adam Frazier (#US86), and Chad Kuhl (#US105).
Donruss
First is a 2019 Donruss Josh James (#223). I got two 2004 Donruss, Ivan Rodriguez (#268) as a Marlin and Kevin Millwood (#326) as a Phillie.
Topps Archives
He got Archives, and I got Archives. Top left two are from 2021 Archives, Gary Sheffield (#97) as a Marlin and Gleyber Torres (#255). Top right is 2020 Topps Archives Matt Olson (#242).
Four 2022 Topps Archives are on the bottom row. Jarred Kelenic (#247), David Wright (#234), Xander Bogaerts (#215), and Jim Palmer (#264).
Junk Wax
Top row: 1983 Topps Ray Burris (#474), 1989 Donruss George Brett (#204), and 1985 Donruss Gary Lucas (#498).
Bottom row features 1992 Donruss: Ozzie Smith All-Star (#423), Dan Plesac (#682), and Checklist 717-784 and Bonus Cards (#784).
Random Cards
2000 SP Authentic Michael Barrett (#64), 2010 Bowman Daniel Nava (#BP47), 2014 Topps Heritage Starling Marte (#205), and a 2006 Sweet Spot Lance Berkman (#6).
2021 / 23 Topps
Some Reds from 2021 Topps. Raisel Iglesias (#174), Nick Senzel (#55), and Sonny Gray (#190). Also got a 2023 Topps Aaron Ashby (#281).
Grand Finale
Various sets but the more interesting ones. First, a 2023 Topps insert – Significant Statistics – of Aaron Judge (#SS1). The coolest looking card I got was probably a 1999 SkyBox Thunder Carl Pavano (#109). Next, a 2021 Bowman Platinum Ice Foil parallel of Matt Chapman (#72). And, a 1995 Topps Cyberstats foil parallel of can’t-miss-prospect-but-did David Nied (#366). The Cyberstats were kind cool, in that Topps simulated the rest of the 1994 season to predict everyone’s what everyone’s final stats might have been.
Bottom row: 2017 Topps First Pitch insert of Joe Mantegna (#FP9), a 1988 Toys’R’Us Rookies Benito Santiago (#26), 2021 Bowman Platinum Matt Olson (#88), and a 2000 Bowman’s Best Josh Girdley (#140).
To Keep ... or Sell?
Last but not least… A 2023 Topps Archives Michael Toglia aqua foilboard (#96). I have a couple of these and I’m debating whether to sell or keep. If I opt to keep the others, I’ll keep this one too.
Final verdit, 95 cards into the collection (net 45 gain). There was a 1974 Topps Phil Niekro that just isn’t going to get added to the collection. Lots of Expos, nothing completed, but a lot of fun variety!