2024 ONLINE BLASTER - PART 7: HOCKEY PLAYER COLLECTIONS

BACK TO MORE CARDS I BOUGHT THIS YEAR. THESE ARE SOME RAD HOCKEY DUDES. I FINALLY GOT MY NEGLECTED HOCKEY CARDS IN ORDER LAST YEAR AND PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION IS DECIDING WHAT CARDS I ACTUALLY GAVE A CRAP ABOUT. I HAD A TON OF PLAYER COLLECTIONS FROM THE 90S BACK WHEN I ACTUALLY LIKED HOCKEY BUT I CUT ALL THAT DOWN TO SIX PLAYERS TO FOCUS ON

CATEGORY - PLAYER COLLECTION

1995 STADIUM CLUB MEMBERS ONLY CHRIS CHELIOS, PAUL COFFEY AND ED BELFOUR

THESE ARE THE BIG THREE: CHELIOS, BELFOUR AND COFFEY. I LOVED PLAYING HOCKEY GAMES ON MY SUPER NINTENDO THAT THESE DUDES WERE ALWAYS AWESOME. CHELIOS AND COFFEY WERE DEFENSEMEN THAT COULD SCORE AND ED HAD AN EAGLE ON HIS HELMET. HOW COOL IS THAT! I HAVE ABOUT A HUNDRED CARDS EACH OF THESE PLAYERS AND HAVE BEEN PICKING UP A FEW HERE AND THERE WHEN I NOTICE I DON'T HAVE THEM, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE FROM A HIGHER END SET OR INSERT. THIS IS THE ONLY PAUL COFFEY CARD FROM THIS BATCH WHICH MAKES SENSE SINCE I HAVE ALMOST AS MANY COFFEY CARDS AS CHELIOS AND BELFOUR COMBINED SO IT'S A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND ONE I NEED

1996-97 SKYBOX IMPACT CHRIS CHELIOS BLADERUNNERS INSERT

CHELIOS IS MY OFFICIAL FAVORITE PLAYER IN HOCKEY SO IF I SEES AN INSERT I GETS IT. I ALREADY HAD A FEW OF THESE BLADERUNNER INSERTS FROM MY 90S PACK RIPS BUT NO CHRIS. HOORAY! INSERT IN MY HOCKEY BOX

1997-98 POST CHRIS CHELIOS

I'M ALSO LEARNING ABOUT A TON OF ODDBALL FOOD ISSUES NOW AND HAD NO CLUE THAT POST DID HOCKEY CARDS AS WELL AS THE BASEBALL CARDS I WAS COLLECTING. THE PINNACLE BRANDING IS COOL AND THIS DESIGN IS PRETTY WILD EVEN FOR THE LATE 90S. I DARE YOU TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS CARD IS OFF CENTER OR NOW. GO AHEAD, THEY TO FIGURE IT OUT

1991 STAR PICS ED BELFOUR FLASHBACK

THE FIRST TEAM I PLAYED ON THOSE OLD NINTENDO GAMES WAS THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AND I QUICKLY LEARNED HOW GOOD ED WAS AT NOT LETTING PUCKS IN THE GOAL. I LIKE GOALIE CARDS IN GENERAL AND ED'S ALWAYS LOOK GOOD. THIS STAR PICS SET WAS ANOTHER ONE I HADN'T HEARD OF BEFORE AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN INSERT WHEN I FIRST SAW IT

1999-00 UPPER DECK RETRO MCDONALDS ED BELFOUR, 1999-00 UPPER DECK RETRO MCDONALDS ED BELFOUR ROOKIE YEAR INSERT

MCDONALD'S CARDS ARE USUALLY PRETTY SHINY BUT 2000 WAS THE YEAR RETRO REALLY KICKED OFF SO UPPER DECK GAVE UP THE RETRO DESIGN FOR THE BURGER CARDS. THESE ARE PRETTY NEAT LOOKING AND WE GET ED IN THE TOWO UNIFORMS HE'S BEST KNOWN FOR

1999-00 UPPER DECK VICTORY ED BELFOUR SEASON LEADERS

I THOUGHT I DIDN'T HAVE ONE OF THESE BUT I FOUND TWO OF THEM LATER ON WHEN PUTTING AWAT SOME UPPER DECK BOXES. THAT'S WHY YA GOTTA GET ORGANIZED KIDS!

1994-95 PINNACLE ED BELFOUR

THIS BIZZARE OBELISK DESIGN ON 94-95 PINNACLE ALWAYS SEEMED ICONIC TO ME SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HOW WEIRD IT WAS. I COULDN'T SWORN I HAD THIS CARD BUT I COULDN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE SO I MADE SURE I HAVE ONE. BUT SERIOUSLY, WHAT IS THAT FOIL THING? A TROTHY? A  STAIRCASE? A CENTEPEDE? WHAT THE HECK IS IT??

2003-04 PACIFIC ATOMIC MCDONALDS ED BELFOUR

LAST EDDIE IS ONE OF HIM IN A TORONTO UNI. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CARDS OF HIM WITH THE SHARKS OR PANTHERS OR LEAFS SO THIS IS A NICE PICKUP. YOU CERTAINLY KNOW IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT ED BELFOUR PLAYED FOR THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS WITH THIS DESIGN

2000-01 PACIFIC PRIZM MCDONALDS STEVE YZERMAN

ALONG WITH THE THREE DEFENSIVE PLAYERS I DECIDED TO COLLECT THREE FORWARDS AS WELL TO BUILD A FULL STARTING LINEUP. STEVE YZERMAN IS MY TEAM'S CENTER AS I SCORE A TON OF GOALS WITH HIM ON THAT SNES AND THE RED WINGS HAVE BECOME MY KINDA SORTA FAVORITE TEAM SINCE THE THRASHERS FLEED THE COUNTRY. DON'T ASK ME IF THE WINGS MADE THE PLAYOFFS BECAUSE I HAVE NO FRICKIN CLUE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SHINY MCDONALD'S CARDS I MENTIONED BEFORE AND HOLY MOLY THIS ONE IS EXTRA SHINY. MAN, I MISS GOOD PRISM WITH AN S

1991-92 O-PEE-CHEE PREMIER STEVE YZERMAN

I DON'T KNOW HOW I DIDN'T HAVE THIS ONE SINCE I HAVE MORE JUNKWAX ERA HOCKEY THAN I COULD EVER WANT BUT I DIDN'T SO I GOT IT

2005-06 PARKHURST STEVE YZERMAN CHECKLIST

I DON'T CARE MUCH ABOUT PARKHURST, WHEN I WAS ORGANIZING MY HOCKEY I DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER SORTING THE STUFF I HAD BUT AN ODDBALL INSERT CHECKLIST CAUGHT MY EYE. IT'S NOT A GREAT LOOKING CARD BUT IT SURE IS DIFFERENT

2003-04 PACIFIC ATOMIC MCDONALDS JAROME IGINLA

JAROME IGINLA IS MY RIGHT WINGER AS I WAS WELL AWARE OF HIS ROOKIE CARDS WHEN I WAS SERIOUSLY COLLECTING HOCKEY AND HE PLAYED FOR THE FLAMES, A TEAM I HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR. I ALSO RECENTLY LEARNED HE'S THE LEAGUE LEADER IN GOALS FOR THE 00S? THAT'S DAMN GOOD. I ALSO LOVE THIS ATOMIC DESIGN SO I'LL TAKE ANY EXCUSE TO PICK ONE UP

2003-04 PACIFIC ATOMIC MCDONALDS ILYA KOVALCHUK

ILYA KOVALCHUK IS MY LEFT WINGER BECAUSE I KINDA HAVE TO COLLECT AT LEAST ONE ATLANTA PLAYER (CHELIOS DOESN'T COUNT EVEN THOUGH HE PLAYED A FEW GAMES WITH THEM AT THE END OF HIS CAREER) AND ILYA IS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY STAR FROM THAT FRANCHISE THAT DIDN'T END UP AN EMBARASSMENT. WELL, AT LEAST NOT WHILE I WAS WATCHING HIM AT LEAST. IVE GOT A FEW OF HIS CARDS IN A TRASHERS BOX SOMEWHERE BUT WHENEVER I LOOK THROUGH IT I GET DEPRESSED SO I HAVEN'T PULLED HIS CARDS YET. THERE'S SOME GOOD ONES IN THERE THOUGH, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST I'VE SEEN OF THIS MCDONALD'S DESIGN SO IT'S A PRETTY GOOD BET IT'S NOT IN THERE

1994-95 CLASSIC IMAGES MANON RHEAUME

I HAVE HAD A TINY MANON RHEAUME COLLECTION FOR THIRTY YEARS NOW AND YOU CAN STILL REGULARLY FIND HERE CARDS IN DOLLAR BOXES HERE IN ATLANTA. I SAW SOME OF THESE CARDS ON THE SITE AND THOUGHT, HELL YEAH, WHY NOT BUILD UP A HUGE COLLECTION OF RHEAUME CARDS! THEN I CHECKED OUT TCDB AND SAW HOW MANY CARDS SHE HAD LOL. I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A TINY COLLECTION BUT I'VE PROBABLY DOUBLED IT SO FAR THROUGH THE SITE. THISONE'S GOT SHINY FOILBOARD BUT IS SADLY NOT AN ATLANTA KNIGHTS CARD

1992 CLASSIC DRAFT PICKS MANON RHEAUME 

MANON'S VERY FIRST CARD! I THINK. THERE'S ALWAYS EARLIER CARDS THE MORE YOU LOOK. AND ODDLY ENOUGH, MANON'S OFFICIAL ROOKIE CARD IS CONSIDERED TO BE HER 2008-09 MASTERPIECES CARD BY TCDB AND HER 2010-11 PANINI DOMINION CARD BY COMC. ROOKIE CARDS ARE FAKE, Y'ALL. JUST ENJOY THE ONES YOU GOT

1993 CLASSIC PRO HOCKEY PROSPECTS MANON RHEAUME 

THESE ARE THE LAST TWO CARDS OF MANON I NEEDED FROM THE 1993 CLASSIC PRO HOCKEY PROSPECTS SET THAT WENT NUTSO ON RHEAUME CARDS UNLESS THERE'S SOME VARIATIONS I DON'T KNOW ABOUT. I HAD ABOUT HALF OF THEM FOR FOREVER UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE REST ON THE SITE. HOORAY FOR COMPLETION!

1994-95 CLASSIC HOCKEY MANON RHEAUME

AND TO FINISH UP WE HAVE MANON IN THE TEAM CANADA UNI WITH TAMPA BAY SPLASHED ON THE SIDE. ANOTHER NICE LOOKING CARD AND NOW I HAVE TWENTY THREE OF HER CARDS. OUT OF A POSSIBLE ONE THOUSAND AND ONE LOL. LIKE I SAID, ENJOY THE CARDS YOU HAVE AND ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR MORE COOL NEW ONES

ONLINE DOLLAR BOX PART 1: HOCKEY GAS

FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME THE ONLINE DIME BOX WAS AN ONLINE DOLLAR BOX AND HONESTLY? I KINDA LIKED IT.  THINGS HAD STARTED TO BECOME EXTREMELY FRANTIC ON THE SITE WHEN TRYING TO SNAG THE GOOD CARDS BEFORE SOMEONE BEAT YOU TO IT. PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE DISCERNING AT A DOLLAR BOX AND IT GAVE ME SOME TIME TO BREATHE AND PICK UP STUFF I REALLY REALLY WANTED WITHOUT HAVING TO REFRESH THE SITE AT 3AM. ALL IN ALL, I PICKED UP SIXTEEN CARDS FROM THE DOLLAR BOX AND THEY WERE SENT ALONG WITH CARDS FROM A SECOND ONLINE BLASTER. I'M GOING TO SPRINKLE THE DOLLAR CARD POSTS IN WITH THE BLASTER CARD POSTS TO KEEP THINGS INTERESTING AND BECAUSE THESE ARE EASIER TO WRITE. I BOUGHT THESE THREE THE MOMENT THEY POPPED UP

YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THIS FROM A PREVIOUS POST. THIS IS THE CHECKLIST OF THE 1988-89 ESSO STICKERS ALBUM. I FOUND A PAUL COFFEY CARD TO ADD TO MY PLAYER COLLECTION, THEN PICKED UP MIKE BOSSY BECAUSE HE'S COOL AND THEN... WELL WE'LL GET TO THAT SOON. NOTICE THE CHECKMARKS ON THE LIST. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THESE WERE AN INSERT IN THA ALBUM THAT YOU COULD TEAR OUT AND STICK INTO THE ALBUM BUT POKING AROUND ON ETSY I FOUND A PHOTO THAT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ACTUALLY PRINTED RIGHT ON THE PAGE

THANK YOU, RANDOM ETSY SELLER THAT I CAN'T FIND NOW THAT IT'S TIME TO WRITE THE POST. AS YOU CAN SEE NORM ULLMAN IS PLASTERED AWKWARDLY ONTO THE PAGE WHILE PIERRE PILOTE IS JUST RIGHT THERE. THIS IS GOOD BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY 48 CARDS IN THE SET NOW BUT BAD BECAUSE YOU NEED TO TRACK DOWN AN ALBUM IF YOU ARE A COMPLETIONIST. TWO IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO CUT OUT THE 'CARD' STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOOK TO KEEP WITH THE REST OF THE CARDS. I DUNNO IF ANYONE WANTS TO PASTE THESE INTO THE ALBUM BECAUSE THESE STICKERS ARE LIKE STAMPS WHERE YOU HAVE TO LICK THE GLUE ON THE BACK TO PASTE THEM IN. ACTUALLY, STAMPS HAVE BEEN SELF ADHESIVE FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'D COMPARE THESE TO ANYMORE

ANYWAY, HERE ARE THE CARDS I COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT ENOUGH TO PAY A BUCK EACH FOR WITHOUT HESITATION

BOBBY ORR HAD BEEN RETIRED FOR A DECADE WHEN THIS SET CAME OUT BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING EVEN APPROXIMATING A VINTAGE CARD OF HIS. THIS IS VINTAGE ENOUGH FOR ME, IF YOU SAW THIS CARD IN A DARK ALLEY YOU COULD EASILY BE CONVINCED IT WAS FROM THE 70S. WHILE I DON'T CARE FOR 21ST CENTURY HOCKEY I STILL HAVE WARM FEELINGS TOWARDS 70S HOCKEY. I'VE SEEN THAT PICTURE OF BOBBY FLYING THROUGH THE AIR LIKE SUPERMAN A HUNDRED TIMES AND ORR IS A GREAT GET

KEN DRYDEN IS BASICALLY A CANADIAN LEGEND AND SINCE HE WAS A SUPERSTAR WHO ALSO RETIRED IN 1979 I NEVER GOT ONE OF HIS CARDS. HIS CARDS WEREN'T IN THE 70S COMMON BRICKS I PICKED UP CHEAP AND WEREN'T IN THE PACKS I BOUGHT IN THE 80S. I PICKED UP A FEW TRIBUTE CARDS OUT OF SOME 90S RELEASES BUT THAT WAS IT. DRYDEN HAD A RIDICULOUS CAREER, SIX STANLEY CUPS IN EIGHT SEASONS AND HE EVEN TOOK A SEASON OFF TO WORK FOR A LAW FIRM WHEN THE CANADIENS STIFFED HIM ON HIS CONTRACT AFTER WINNING THE CUP AND VEZINA AWARD. FUCKIN' HERO IS WHAT THAT IS

YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS AND WHAT HE DID AND WHY I INSTANTLY BOUGHT THIS CARD. I LOVE DIRT COMMON JUNKWAX ERA GRETZKY CARDS, AN ACTUAL ODDBALL CARD IS JUST WONDERFUL. GRETZKY CARDS SEEM WEIRDLY UNDERVALUED TO ME, I NEED A GRETZKY FOR MY 85-86 SET AND IT APPEARS I CAN PROBABLY FIND ONE PRETTY EASILY FOR TEN BUX. IMAGINE FINDING A COMPARABLE JORDAN CARD AT THAT PRICE!

THESE THREE ARE ALL HOCKEY SUPERDUPERSTARS BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON I INSTABOUGHT THE TRIO. I HOPE YOU LIKE THESE CARDS BECAUSE... WELL YOU'LL SEE SOON

SINCE I WROTE THIS, BASEBALLCARDSTORE DOT CA HAS ADDED A DOLLAR BOX FEATURE TO THE SITE WHICH IS PRETTY COOL. I'VE ALREADY PICKED UP ANOTHER POST'S WORTH OF CARDS BUT THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 10: MOLDY FOOTBALL

IT'S NOT A BLACK FRIDAY BINGE IF I DON'T PICK UP A MOLFY OLD SOCCER CARD OF A PLAYER I'VE BARELY HEARD OF FROM A COMPANY THAT IS COMPLETELY ALIEN TO ME. HERE'S THIS YEAR'S ARSENAL ARCHAEOLOGY

1969-70 A&BC FOOTBALLERS #46 GEORGE ARMSTRONG

GEORGE ARMSTRONG PLAYED FIFTEEN SEASONS WITH ARSENAL AND WAS A BIG PART OF THEIR FA CUP AND LEAGUE WINNING TEAMS. I KNOW ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT ENGLISH FOOTBALL BEFORE ABOUT 2013 OR SO BUT I HAD HEARD OF GEORGE SOMEHOW AND THAT RECOGNITION WAS PART OF THE REASON I PICKED UP THIS CARD. THAT AND THE NEAT DESIGN THAT'S REMINISCENT OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE AMERICAN FOOTBALL SETS, 1968 TOPPS. IT'S NOT NEARLY AS COLORFUL BUT THERE'S A CHARM TO THE SET LIKE SOMEONE CREATING A DIY ZINE JUST IN TRADING CARD FORM

THE BACK IS ACTUALLY MORE COLORFUL, IF YOU COUNT BLACK AS A COLOR. '68 FOOTBALL HAD SINGLE COLOR INK ON THE BACK WITH GREEN FOR SERIES ONE AND BLUE FOR SERIES TWO. AB&C ADDED BLACK TO THEIR BACKS WHICH MAKES THEIR CARTOON A LOT EASIER TO READ. IT'S STILL A VERY MINIMAL BACK BUT PRETTY NICE LOOKING. THIS CARTOON IS TIMELY AS FIFA IS STILL CLONKING SOCCER FANS ON THE HEAD WITH A GIANT BRICK TO THIS DAY. THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAVE, I ALREADY WROTE A BIT ON WHAT AB&C IS IN MY LAST POST ON THE SUBJECT. I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ON NEXT WEEK'S CARD

ONLINE MEGA BOX - PART 29

IT'S MINI TIME WOOOOOOOO! IT WAS MINI TIME LAST POST TOO BUT THIS IS ALLEN & GINTER MINI TIME WHICH MEANS WE NOW GET TO PLAY "DOES THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?" YOU'D THINK I'D KNOW THIS ALREADY SINCE I FINALLY GOT A NEED LIST TOGETHER FOR MY BASE, A&G BACK AND BLACK BORDER SETS BUT HONESTLY I PICKED OUT THESE CARDS WITH THE ONLY CRITERIA BEING 'OH HEY, THAT'S COOL' AND DISREGARDED THE NUMBERS ON THE BACK COMPLETELY

CATEGORY - MINIS

THE MAJORITY OF CARDS IN MY GINTER MINI BINDERS ARE FROM 2013 AND EARLIER SO ANY RECENT MINIS AUTOMATICALLY GET AN EDGE. ALSO VERY FEW CARDS AREN'T GETTING REPLACED BY JOEY VOTTO 

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES

JOEY BOUNCED A 2013 IAN KINSLER MINI. SORRY IAN

ANOTHER 2019 MINI, THIS DESIGN HAS AN EXTRA EDGE BECAUSE OF THE LARGER PHOTO THAT TAKES UP ALMOST THE ENTIRE CARD. THIS REALLY MAKES THESE CARDS STAND OUT AGAINST SOME OF THE OTHER DESIGNS. PLUS BILLY HAMILTON PLAYED FOR THE BRAVES FOR LIKE A WEEK AND A HALF. LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO REMEMBER HE WAS A BRAVE AT LEAST

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES

BILLY REPLACES A 2014 JAY BRUCE MINI. I DON'T HAVE AS MANY 2014 CARDS IN THE BINDER BUT THE GIGANTIC TEAM NAME AT THE TOP OF THE CARD REALLY SQUASHES THE PHOTO. GIANT BILLY OR TINY JAY WASN'T A FAIR FIGHT

YOU ALREADY KNOW TODD HELTON'S IN THAT BINDER, WHO'D HE REPLACE

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES - WITH REGRETS

THIS CHOICE WAS TOUGH. YEAH THIS CARD LOOKS GREAT AND IS OF A FRESHLY MINTED HALL OF FAMER BUT THE OTHER CARD NUMBER 105 IN THE BINDER WAS A 2006 ANDY PETTITTE MINI. PETTITE IS ARGUABLY AS GOOD AS HELTON AND IS FROM THE VERY FIRST ALLEN & GINTER SET. WELL, NOT THE FIRST FIRST ALLEN & GINTER SET BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. THE MAIN REASON ANDY GOT BUMPED IS THAT THERE WERE THREE OTHER 2006 MINIS ON THAT PAGE ALREADY. FRANKENSETTING IS HARD SOMETIMES

I DON'T THINK MARTIN MALDONADO WAS MY FIRST 2022 MINI, BUT IT WAS MY FIRST 2022 SHORT PRINT MINI. I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT IF THIS IS A GOOD DESIGN YET BUT IT SURE IS A LOT OF DESIGN

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES

MARTIN REPLACES A 2009 JUSTIN MASTERSON MINI. THERE'S ALREADY AN '09 CARD ON THE PAGE SO UNLIKE ANDY JUSTIN WON'T BE MISSED

IN 2019 TOPPS SOMEHOW GOOFED THE NUMBERING SO BADLY ON THE SET THAT THERE WERE NO CARDS 301-350 AND THE SHORT PRINTS WERE NUMBERED 351-400. HOW THIS HOPPEN? WHO THE HELL KNOWS. THIS SCREWS UP MY FRANKENSET CONCEPT PRETTY BADLY SINCE THE WHOLE POINT OF THE EXERCISE IS TO BUILD A SET NUMBERED UP TO 350 WITH ONE CARD PER NUMBER. I WILL NOT LET TOPPS' SHENANIGANS RUIN MY FUN SO FOR THE SHORT PRINTS OF VICTOR ROBLES AND JORDAN HICKS I MENTALLY SUBTRACTED 50 FROM THEIR CARD NUMBERS. I WILL NOT FORGIVE TOPPS FOR MAKING ME DO MATH

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

NO

CARD NUMBER 361-50 = 311 WHICH IN THE BINDER IS 2007 DAVID ROSS. FORMER BRAVES PLAYER IN FULL CATCHER'S GEAR? NOT BEATING THAT WITH A WONKY NUMBERED CARD.

JORDAN HICKS IS A CARDINAL WITH A GOOFED UP CARD NUMBER. THAT'S TWO STRIKES ON HIM ALREADY

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

NO

CARD NUMBER 355-50 = 305. THAT'S A 2008 RANDY JOHNSON MINI. STRIKE THREE 

JUST LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS. I MEAN, C'MON TOPPS. IT'S OBVIOUS WHICH OF THESE MADE THE BINDER

THE NEXT THREE CARDS ARE ALLEN & GINTER PARALLEL BACKS. THESE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE TO GET IN THE BINDER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE NEARLY AS MANY OF THESE AS THE BASE MINIS. I'M NOT TOO FAMILIAR WITH TYLER KEPNER'S WORK BUT HIS BOOK A HISTORY OF BASEBALL IN TEN PITCHES IS ONE I'M INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES

TYLER WAS UNCONTESTED AND FILLED AN EMPTY SPACE IN THE BINDER. HOORAY!

I HAVE SO MANY JAVIER BAEZ CARDS AND I DONT' EVEN COLLECT THE GUY. I DON'T HAVE MANY 2021 MINI CARDS AT ALL

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES

ANOTHER EMPTY POCKET TO FILL. WAIT, HAVE I MARKED THESE TWO CARDS OFF MY WANTLIST YET?? 😬

THIS CARD OF HILARY KNIGHT WAS THE ONE I THOUGHT WOULD BE THE AUTOMATIC CHOICE FOR THE BINDER. AN ACTUAL WORLD CHAMPION CHOMPING HER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL? THIS IS THE KIND OF CARD THAT MAKES ALLEN & GINTER WHAT IT IS!

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES - AGAIN WITH RESERVATIONS

THIS CARD WAS DEFINITELY IN THE BINDER UNESS IT WAS TRYING TO KNOCK OUT SOMEONE LIKE HANK AARON OR PELE SO A 2008 CARD OF CARLOS PENA DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE. HOWEVER I STILL FELT BAD REMOVING A CARD WITH THE ORIGINAL OLD PLANTER BACK. CARLOS LOOKS REALLY SAD TO BE LEAVING THE BINDER AS WELL. SACRIFICES MUST BE MADE

I MEAN - LOOK AT THAT GOOFY LOGO THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE CAG THAN A&G. I REMOVED OLD PLANTER FOR THAT. REGRETS.

THE LAST FOUR BASE MINIS ARE BLACK BORDER PARALLELS AND I HAVE EVEN LESS OF THOSE (OR IS IT FEWER? YELL ABOUT MY GRAMMAR IN THE COMMENTS) THAN THE A&G BACKS. IT'D BE GREAT IF ALL FOUR FILLED UP EMPTY SPACES BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN I IGNORED MY WANTLIST. ALSO ONCE AGAIN JAVY BAEZ SHOWS UP. HOW DO I GET SO MANY OF HIS CARDS??

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES

JAVY'S GOT THAT EMPTY POCKET LUCK TODAY

I INCLUDE THESE RACK PACK EXCLUSIVE GOLD BORDER CARDS IN WITH THE BLACK BORDERS BECAUSE I'M SURE NOT STARTING A FOURTH MINI FRANKENSET FOR THE DAMNED THINGS. I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY OF THE GINTER X MINIS OR THE CHROME, LORD KNOWS WHAT I'LL DO WITH THOSE. THEY BOTH HAVE THE FANCY VICTORIAN WROGHT IRON FENCE BORDERS IT'S JUST ONE IS PAINTED BLACK AND ONE IS GILDED. NAME THIS ONE THE FENCE SET AND WE'RE GOOD. THIS FENCE DESIGN IS EXTRA FINICKY FOR 2019. POOR DAVID BOTE LOOKS LIKE HE'S TRAPPED IN AN ARISTOCRAT'S FANCY GARDEN PARTY WONDERING HOW TO MAKE SMALL TALK WITH THE GRAND BARONESS OF GILDERSLEEVE

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES

MORE EMPTY POCKET MOJO FOR THE CUBS

MATT CARPENTER IS GIVING ME THE STINK EYE AFTER PUTTING TWO CUBS IN THE BINDER. 'YOU'RE GONNA PUT ME IN THE BINDER TOO, RIIIIGHT?'

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

NO

A 2013 DEREK HOLLAND BLACK MORDER MINI BLOCKS MATT. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE PUT MATT IN, I ALREADY HAD A 2013 CARD OF ANDRE DAWSON ON THE PAGE, BUT THE COMBINATION OF AN ACTUAL BLACK BORDER CARD THAT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE LAST ONES THAT ACTUALLY HAD A MOSTLY SOLID BLACK BORDER AND NOT A FANCY GARDEN FENCE 

THE 2022 BLACK BORDER PARALLELS LOOK A LOT LIKE THE BASE CARDS JUST WITH A LITTLE EXTRA OOMPH. I DO LIKE THE CHANGE THOUGH, THE PATTERN LOOKS MORE LIKE A FANCY EMBOSSED LEATHER BOUND BOOK THAN SOMETHING TO PUT AROUND THE HYDRANGEAS TO KEEP THE RABBITS OUT. MICHELLE WIE WEST IS ALSO A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AS A RECENT A&G NON-BASEBALL SUBJECT WHO ACTUALLY PLAYS A SPORT AND ISN'T AN INFLUENCER OR YOUTUBER OR PODCASTER

DID THIS CARD MAKE THE FRANKENSET?

YES

THIS ONE BUMPED A 2014 CARD OF CARL CRAWFORD. 2014 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FIDDLY NOT-COMPLETELY-JET-BLACK BORDERS AND I REALLY DON'T CARE FOR THE DESIGN. IT ALSO LETS YOU KNOW VERY CLEARLY HOW OFF CENTER YOUR CARD IS. NAW, GET OUT 

BONUS! A PIC OF THE COMPLETED PAGE WITH VOTTO AND HELTON

EXTRA BONUS! ALL THE REJECTS

I'M SORRY OLD PLANTER, PLEASE FORGIVE ME...

UP NEXT: MOAR MINIS BUT INSERTS!

EVEN MOAREREST PLAYOFFS

 IT'S BASKEYBAWL PLAYOFF TIME WHICH IS EXCITING BUT WILL MOST LIKELY END UP GOING BADLY FOR ME. SINCE I DID MY BASEBALL AND FEETSBALL TEAM RANKINGS WHY NOT DO BASKETBALL AS WELL. DON'T EXPECT HOCKEY THOUGH, I DO NOT KNOW NOR DO I CARE WHO'S GOOD IN THAT SPORT ANYMORE. TEAMS SHALL BE REPRESENTED BY COOL 90S INSERTS BECAUSE THEY ARE AWESOME AND WILL BE RANKED IN ORDER FROM BESTEST TO LEASTEST FAVORITE. ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN 57 POSTS ABOUT TRAE YOUNG ON THIS WEBSITE KNOWS WHO IS THE FAVORITERIST. I'LL STOP WITH THE RIDICULOUS SPELLING NOW

ATLANTA HAWKS

THE HAWKS ARE ONCE AGAIN IN THE PLAY-IN ROUND AS THE 10TH SEED IN THE EAST. THEY ARE 3-0 IN PLAY-IN GAMES BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING 5-0. THE TEAM IS A MESS, THE ROSTER DOESN'T FIT AND MOST OF THE BEST PLAYERS ARE BEAT UP TO HELL. I'LL STILL BE LISTENING TO STEVE HOLMAN CALLING THE GAME ON THE RADIO FOR AS LONG AS I CAN BUT I'M NOT FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS ONE EVEN WITH TRAE PLAYOFF MAGIC IN THE MIX. THIS IS GOING TO BE A CRITICAL OFFSEASON, NO MORE SALARY CAP DUMPS PLEASE. IT'S SAD, THEY'VE GOT THE BEST PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY AND A LOT OF GOOD YOUNG TALENT ON THE ROSTER BUT CAN'T WIN AT EVEN A .500 CLIP

THE HAWKS STRESS ME OUT BUT THIS CARD DOES NOT. ALMOST COMICALLY SIMPLE COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE CARDS IN THIS POST, THIS 1992-93 ROOKIE SENSATIONS CARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITES. IT'S SO 90S! PURPLE? CHECK. GRADIENT? CHECK. CHUNKY COMPUTER GRAPHICS? CHECK. IT HELPED THAT AUGMON WAS MY FAVORITE PLAYER IN THE EARLY 90'S. HE KNOW HOW TO PLAY DEFENSE UNLIKE SOME OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW 

BOSTON CELTICS

I HATE THE BOSTON CELTICS. I HATE THEM SO BAD IT'S BLED OVER TO MOST OF NEW ENGLAND. FUCK OFF RHODE ISLAND! QUIT LOOKING SO SMUG, VERMONT! EAT SHIT, THE PARTS OF MAINE NOT HAUNTED BY A STEPHEN KING MONSTER! OOOOOOH I HATE THE GODDAMN CELTICS. BUT. THIS MIGHT BE AL HORFORD'S LAST CHANCE AT A RING. AND I LOVE AL HORFORD. HORFORD NEEDS A RING! GO GET HIM A RING YOU BASTARDS! DON'T CHOKE IT AWAY AGAIN LIKE YOU DID THE PAST TWO YEARS!!! FSGJHFSKAJGH

THE CELTICS MAKE ME MAD, THIS CARD IS KINDA COOL. AN INSERT FROM 1999-00 ULTRA, YOU GOT A GIANT CELTICS LOGO ON A PARQUET FLOOR WITH THE MOST AWKWARD PHOTO OF ANTOINE WALKER AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. THIS IS AN EXTRA-ODD INSERT SET AS BOSTON IS THE ONLY TEAM WITH A PARQUET FLOOR, THE ORIGINAL FLOOR WAS ACTUALLY RETIRED IN 1999, AND THE INSERT SET INCLUDES THE USUAL MIX OF PLAYERS FOR ALL DIFFERENT TEAMS. THIS ONE WITH A PLAYER WHO ACTUALLY PLAYED ON A PARQUET FLOOR SEEMS A LITTLE SPECIAL

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

MY NORMAL RANKING PROCESS OF TAKING TEAMS THAT HAVE WON A CHAMPIONSHIP THIS CENTURY AND TELLING THEM TO GO JUMP IN A LAKE IS NOT WORKING THIS TIME. EVEN THOUGH THEY WON A CHIP VERY RECENTLY I STILL SEE THEM AS A BUNCH OF SCRAPPY UNDERDOGS, ALBEIT ONE WITH A GIANT MONSTEROUS GREAT DANE THAT CAN RIP PEOPLE'S HEADS OFF IN THE PACK. I LIKE GIANNIS AND IT WOULD BE THE FUNNIEST THING EVER IF DOC RIVERS WON ANOTHER TITLE AFTER EVERYONE SHIT ALL OVER HIM FOR THE PAST DECADE SO IF THE ROTTEN CELTICS BLOW IT AGAIN ANOTHER TITLE FOR MILWAUKEE WOULD PLEASE ME. 

LATE 90S INSERTS WERE WILD, YO. EVERYTHING ESCALATED SO MUCH THAT BASE SETS LIKE FLEER TRADITION WERE POPPING OUT EMPBOSSED, TEXTURED, HOLOFOIL ENCRUSTED CARDS LIKE THIS ONE. THESE THINGS WERE 1:20 PACKS IN A 98-99 SET WHOSE THEME WAS THE 1961 FLEER DESIGN. GOD BLESS THE 90S

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

OK, BACK TO THE ACTUAL SCRAPPY UNDERDOGS. THE TIMBERWOLVES HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE TIRE FIRE FOR THEIR ENTIRE EXISTENCE. THEN THIS YEAR WITH BULLDOG LEGEND ANTHONY EDWARDS THEY LED THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR BEFORE BLOWING THE LAST GAME VS THE SUNS AND ENDING UP WITH THE 3RD SEED. BUT THAT JUST MAKES THEM SCRAPPIER! I'M WAY TOO HIPSTER ROOT FOR THE #1 SEED. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE TO A WOLVES TITLE IS THAT IT WOULD RUIN MY RUNNING JOKE THAT MINNESOTA SOLD THEIR SOUL FOR A 1991 TWINS TITLE AND ALL THEIR TEAMS WILL FAIL MISERABLY UNTIL THE SOUL OF KENT HRBEK IS DRAGGED DOWN TO HELL. NO ONE LIKES THAT JOKE BUT IT MAKES ME LAUGH

THIS ISN'T TECHNICALLY AN INSERT AS IT'S FROM THE 1992-93 UPPER DECK TEAM MVP HOLOGRAM SET. BUT REALLY, WOULD YOU RATHER SEE THIS OR SOME JUNKY INSERT OF CHRISTIAN LAETTNER OR ISAIAH RIDER. I WASN'T LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL COOL GARNETT INSERTS

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

I HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR PHILADELPHIA EVEN THOUGH THEY KEEP RUINING MY LIFE. THE SIXERS HAVE BEEN AS BIG A TRAINWRECK AS THE HAWKS THIS YEAR THOUGH AND ARE ALSO IN THE PLAY-IN. THIS HAS CAUSED MY HAWKS GAME TO GET PUSHED TO 9:30PM BECAUSE OF A HOCKEY GAME, GRRR. IT WOULD BE FUN TO SEE EMBIID IN THE FINALS THOUGH, ASSUMING HE CAN STAY HEALTHY THAT LONG

THIS WAS AN INSERT IN 1996-97 ULTRA AND WAS KINDA TOUGH AT 1:72 PACKS. IT'S SUPER NICE LOOKING THOUGH, THIS JERSEY GIMMICK HAS BEEN DONE NUMEROUS TIMES AND THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST OF THE BUNCH. I JUST REALIZED THIS IS A ROOKIE YEAR INSERT AND CHECKED SOME PRICES AND UH, THIS NEEDS TO GO INTO THE SPECIAL BOX WHAT WITH THE LOCKS ON IT

SACRAMENTO KINGS

IF THE KINGS MADE THE PLAYOFFS THIS SEASON THE HAWKS GOT THEIR 1ST ROUND PICK FROM THE KEVIN HUERTER SALARY DUMP TRADE. AFTER BEING IN THE TOP 6 MOST OF THE YEAR, THEY POOPED OUT AT THE END AND NOW ARE IN THE PLAY-IN HAVING TO BEAT THE WARRIORS JUST TO STAY ALIVE. I'M BEGINNING TO HATE SACRAMENTO, BUT I WANT THAT DAMN DRAFT PICK SO I'LL ROOT FOR THEM 

DID YOU KNOW HOOPS BECAME SKYBOX AT SOME POINT IN THE 90S? DID YOU ALSO KNOW THAT THIS CARD IS SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING A COMPUTER MONITOR? IF THE OBSCURED COLOR DISPLAY/20 DIDN'T KEY YOU IN, PERHAPS THE SMOKY YELLOW BORDER REPRESENTING A CRT MONITOR PLASTIC THAT SOAKED UP FIVE YEARS OF CIGARETTE SMOKE DID. I STILL HAVE ONE OF THOSE MONITORS IN THE BASEMENT SOMEWHERE

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

AH, THE CLIPPERS. THE NBA FRANCHISE THAT MAKES THE TIMBERWOLVES LOOK LIKE THEY WERE BLESSED BY ANGELS. I DON'T HAVE A TON OF OPINIONS ON WESTERN CONFERENCE TEAMS BUT IT WOULD BE FUN FOR THE WORST FRANCHISE EVER TO WIN A TITLE JUST SO THREE FUTURE HALL OF FAMERS COULD HAVE THAT ON THEIR RESUME

I KINDA GOOFED ON THIS CARD AS 2000-01 FLEER FUTURES IS NOT A 90S INSERT AND ALSO NOT A PRODUCT ANYONE'S EVER HEARD OF BEFORE. BUT LOOK AT THAT GIGANTIC HOLOFOIL SEAM OVER ON THE RIGHT. IT ELEVATES AN ALREADY DECENT LOOKING CARD TO ANOTHER LEVEL

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

I LIKE THE LAKERS ABOUT AS MUCH AS THE CELTICS. THESE GUYS WOULD NORMALLY BE MUCH LOWER BUT PEOPLE ARE SO MAD THAT LEBRON IS THE ALL TIME SCORING LEADER NOW THAT YET ANOTHER TITLE FOR HIM IS GONNA MAKE THEM EVEN MADDER. IF A TEAM I DON'T LIKE IS GONNA WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP ANYWAY IT MAY AS WELL CAUSE A LOT OF CHAOS

WOOO A 1999-00 TOPPS KOBE INSERT! IT'S GOT A BAD CORNER AND IS NOT A REFRACTOR SO IT WON'T PAY OFF MY PHONE BILL YET. I AM GLAD I GOT A FEW OF THESE BACK IN THE DAY BECAUSE I SURE CAN'T AFFORD THEM NOW

NEW YORK KNICKS

THESE GUYS SHOULD BE MUCH HIGHER AS THEY HAVEN'T WON A CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE I WAS A BABY. BUT NEW YORK TEAMS ARE ALL SPLIT INTO TWO GROUPS OF ONE SNOOTY ARISTOCRATIC TEAM AND ONE WORKING CLASS SAD SACK TEAM AND THIS IS THE NBA ARISTOCRATS TEAM. I WON'T BE MAD IF THEY WIN, BUT WHEN THEY LOSE I'LL HAVE A GOOD CHUCKLE AT ALL THE MISERABLE "FUCK TRAE YOUNG" CHANTERS OUT THERE

1995-96 SKYBOX WENT INSANE WITH THE FOIL INSERTS AND THIS CARD IS NO EXCEPTION. I GUESS THEY SPENT ALL THAT MONEY ON THE METAL UNIVERSE TECHNOLOGY SO THEY HAD TO USE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. JOHN STARKS SEEMED TO ME TO BE THE QUINTESSENTIAL KNICKS PLAYOFF PLAYER AS WELL 

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

THE FIRST OF TWO TEAMS THAT DIDN'T TECHNICALLY EXIST IN THE 90S. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST OKLAHOMA CITY, IT WAS A VERY NICE PLACE WHEN I VISITED. BUT I'M STILL A LITTLE MAD THAT THE SUPERSONICS DIED SO I'M SOMEWHAT CONFLICTED. THEY ARE A VERY GOOD TEAM AND MIGHT ACTUALLY WIN IT ALL SO I BETTER MAKE MY PEACE WITH THE SITUATION QUICK

1995-96 HOOPS WAS SUCH A WEIRD SET. THE BASE CARDS WERE BASIC AS HELL BUT THEN THE INSERTS WERE ALL COMPUTER GENERATED NIGHTMARE VISIONS. I WILL SOON BE SAYING SIMILAR THINGS ABOUT THE 1994-95 VERSION BUT 95-96 REALLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL. POOR DETLEF SCHREMPF IS GETTING HIS SHOT BLOCKED BY HIS OWN JERSEY NUMBER WHILE ORBS HUNT HIM DOWN WITH INTENT TO MURDER

I'M NOT KIDDING, LOOK HOW TERRIFIED DETLEF IS ON THE BACK

DENVER NUGGETS

LIKE WITH THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS IN THE PREVIOUS FOOTBALL PLAYOFF POST, THE NUGGETS WOULD BE MUCH, MUCH HIGHER HAD THEY NOT JUST WON A CHAMPIONSHIP. I LOVE JOKIC BUT THE NBA IS EVEN MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DECADES-LONG DYNASTIES POPPING UP OUT OF NOWHERE AND I DON'T NEED THAT SHIT UNLESS IT'S MY TEAM THAT IS THE ONE STOMPING EVERYONE ELSE'S GUTS. ONE TITLE IS FINE, BUT TWO IN A ROW MIGHT HAVE SILVER GETTING SOME IDEAS

CLEAR ACETATE VAPORWAVE 1994-95 STADIUM CLUB MUTOMBO INSERT IS BY FAR THE BEST INSERT IN THIS POST SO IF YOU ARE TIRED OF HEARING MY NBA GRIEVANCES (AND NOT EVEN ON FESTIVUS!) I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO  JUST LOOK AT THE PRETTY CARDS AND SCROLL THROUGH THE REST. LIKE YOU WEREN'T DOING THAT ALREADY, LOL

ORLANDO MAGIC

IF IT WEREN'T FOR SHAQ I WOULDN'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT THE MAGIC AT ALL. I'M COMPLETELY FED UP WITH FLORIDA TEAMS IN GENERAL AT THE MOMENT SO I WOULDN'T MIND IF THESE GUYS WERE BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND. WHO ARE THEY PLAYING? OH. THE NEXT TEAM ON THE LIST. SIGH

I LOVE BASKETBALL CARDS WITH WOOD COURT DESIGNS. I LOVE CARDS WITH GIGANTIC TEAM LOGO. AND I LOVE SOME SHAQ-FU. THIS CARD GOTS THE TRIFECTA

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

THE CAVALIERS WERE ANOTHER TRAINWRECK DOGSHIT FRANCHISE THAT MADE ME FEEL A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT MY OWN FAVORITE TRAINWRECK DOGSHIT FRANCHISE. THEN THEY GOT LEBRON, WON EXACTLY ONE (1) CHAMPIONSHIP AND NOW THEY ARE BACK TO MERELY TRAINWRECK. LEBRON'S GONE, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS TEAM 

YET ANOTHER EMBOSSED INSERT CARD FROM FLEER, THIS TIME 97-98 ULTRA. I DON'T RECALL SEEING A BASKETBALL HOOP USED IN QUITE THIS WAY ON ANOTHER BASKETBALL CARD. ADD THIS TO THOSE 90S CAVS UNIFORMS AND THERE'S ALMOST TOO MUCH ON THIS CARD

PHOENIX SUNS

THE SUNS WERE FUN WHEN THEY HAD CHRIS PAUL AND HOMETOWN HERO DEANDRE AYTON. NOW THEY'RE GONE AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE ROOTING FOR KEVIN DURANT ANYMORE. "A RING FOR BOL BOL" IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET ME TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE SUNS

I'M SHOWING AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF ULTRA INSERTS BECAUSE ULTRA HAD THE BEST INSERTS. THIS 94-95 CARD FEATURES GOLD GLITTER EMBEDDED IN THE COATING THAT MAKES THE NEON EXPLOSION BEHIND SIR CHARLES EVEN MORE AMAZING. THE PHOTO DOESN'T DO IT JUSTICE. FLEER USED THE SAME EFFECT ON THEIR 1995 TEAM LEADERS INSERTS

INDIANA PACERS

I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT OKLAHOMA CITY WAS ONE OF THE NICEST CITIES I'VE VISITED. INDIANAPOLIS WAS THE MOST BORING. GRANTED, I WAS THERE FOR ONE NIGHT 25 YEARS AGO AND THE WHOLE TOWN HAD CLOSED FOR THE EVENING BY THE TIME I GOT THERE BUT THAT'S MY IMPRESSION. MEH 

SOMEONE AT FLEER DISCOVERED THE CUT AND PASTE FUNCTION ON HIS MAC AND JUST WENT WILD

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

NEW ORLEANS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NBA'S TWO WORST TEAM NAMES WITH THE BOBCATS AND PELICANS SO I'M NOT TOO KEEN ON THE FRANCHISE IN GENERAL. THEY'VE GOT SOME GREAT PLAYERS AND IT'S FUN THAT ZION IS ACTUALLY HEALTHY FOR ONCE BUT... UGH. THANKFULLY THIS IS THE LAST TEAM I HAVE ZERO MEANINGFUL OPINION ON, THE REST I GOT GRUDGES

IF YOU THINK THIS CARD IS EXCESSIVELY BUSY, YOU SHOULD SEE THE ONES THAT LOOK JUST LIKE THIS BUT WITH TEXTURED FOIL. THE SHOE TREAD DESIGN IS KINDA COOL THOUGH, YOU DON'T SEE THAT EVERY DAY

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

THEY ALREADY GOT 28 CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS CENTURY THEY DON'T NEED ANY MORE. AND AL HORFORD WOULD HAVE A RING ALREADY IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM. AND THEY'RE GONNA BEAT THE KINGS AND COST THE HAWKS A DRAFT PICK. BLEARGH. SCREW THE WARRIORS

I REALLY REALLY DO LIKE THESE EARLIER MINIMALISTIC FLEER INSTERS. JUST A BOLD NEON OUTLINE OF A BASKETBALL COURT, VERY PRETTY. WAIT... IS THIS THE COURT THEY CUT AND PASTED FOR THAT REGGIE MILLER CARD?

DALLAS MAVERICKS

LUKA DONCIC IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE IN THE NBA FINALS UNLESS HE IS FACING TRAE YOUNG AND THE HAWKS. SORRY, THEM'S THE RULES. THE HAWKS ARE LOTTERY BOUND THIS YEAR SO SORRY DALLAS, ENJOY YOUR RANGERS TITLE BECAUSE THE MAVS ARE FORBIDDEN TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND

95-96 WENT CRAZY WITH THE COMPUTER GRAPHICS BUT 1994-95 HOOPS DID THE SAME WITH THE FOIL. LOOK AT THIS! RAINBOW SUPERFRACTOR DESIGN ETCHED FOIL THAT COVERS HALF THE CARD. THE RAINBOW IS ALL RANDOM DEPENDING ON WHEN IT WAS STAMPED ON THE CARD SO NO TWO CARDS ARE EXACTLY ALIKE EITHER. PLUS THERE'S A SILVER FOIL PARALLEL. AND ALL OF IT HAS SUFFERED FROM THE FOIL ROT THAT PLAGUED A LOT OF SETS FROM THE 90S SO YOU MIGHT SEE SOME CHUNKS RANDOMLY MISSING. THIS SET IS AWESOME, I'D COLLECT IT ALL IF I HAD SEEN EVEN A SINGLE CARD OF IT FOR SALE SINCE I RIPPED THESE HOOPS PACKS THIRTY YEARS AGO

MIAMI HEAT

THE MIAMI HEAT ARE MY #2 FLORIDA PAIN IN THE ASS TEAMS SECOND ONLY TO THE MIAMI MARLINS AND YOU KNOW WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS THEY ARE. NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF CHAMPIONSHIPS AND BEAT UP ON MY POOR HAWKS REGULARLY BUT THEY ALSO RUINED AL HORFORD'S CHANCE TO GET A RING LAST YEAR. OOOOH HOW I HATES THEM. THEY ADMITTEDLY HAVE NEVER THROWN A BEANBALL AT RONALD ACUÑA JR. AT LEAST

HA HA, REMEMBER WHEN THIS GUY WAS KNOWN AS BABY JORDAN? SPEAKING OF JORDAN

CHICAGO BULLS

I NORMALLY DON'T MIND THE BULLS NOW THAT THEY SUCK, BUT THE HAWKS GOTTA BEAT THEM TO KEEP UP THEIR PERFECT PLAY-IN GAME RECORD SO THEY CAN GO JUMP IN LAKE MICHIGAN. I FEEL A LITTLE BAD BECAUSE BULLS FANS ONLINE SEEM TO BE SUFFERING IN DESPAIR TO AN ALMOST WORRYING EXTENT, EVEN WORSE THAN THE PANICKY HAWKS CROWD CURRENTLY MELTING DOWN BECAUSE VIT KREJCI WAS LEFT OFF THE PLAYOFF ROSTER. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR TEAM WAS THE BEST OF ALL TIME THIRTY YEARS AGO AND HAVEN'T DONE SQUAT SINCE. DON'T CARE, I AM NOT INTERSTED IN RANDOMIZING TANKATHON A THOUSAND TIMES SEEING IF I CAN GET THE HAWKS THE #1 PICK IN THE LOTTERY, THEY GOTTA GO DOWN

SEEING ALL THE JORDAN INSERTS IN MY BASKETBALL BOX RILED UP ALL MY ANCIENT GRUDGES BUT I LIKED THIS ONE BECAUSE THE ODD SHADOWS MAKE IT LOOK LIKE MICHAEL HAS GOOGLY EYES

PREDICTION TIME! CELTICS OVER WOLVES WOULD MAKE ME VERY HAPPY. BUT IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR SO I'M NOT ALLOWED TO BE HAPPY. NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO BE HAPPY EVER AGAIN. A PLAY-IN TEAM IS NOT GETTING TO THE FINALS TWO YEARS IN A ROW SO IT'S GOTTA BE

MAVERICKS OVER PACERS IN SIX

ENJOY THE HOOPIES KIDDOS! OR AT LEAST THE ONE GUY WHO READS THIS BLOG WHO ACTUALLY ENJOYS BASKETBALL. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE LEFT READING THIS SO THANKS FOR THAT!