Sunday morning, brings the dawn in... COMC - Part 3 (Michigan)

Listening:  The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground & Nico

My first Sunday post!  Yesterday we woke up to four inches of new fluffy snow.  This morning the ugly downside of winter arrived:  -10 to start the day.

Today we cover the final installment in the COMC Xmas trilogy.  My primary collecting goal is accumulating cards of former Michigan Wolverines, in particular those who played at UM from the mid '80s through the present.  This COMC purchase included only basketball players, but I do collect football and hockey players as well.

First up, members of the 2012-13 Final Four team.  This team started the season 16-0, if I recall correctly, then hit a mid-conference snag, and it all finally came together during the tournament.  Mitch McGary became a force during the run and Tim Hardaway Jr was strong throughout the season.  Below, three McGary RCs (the Donruss is SN99 and the Select is SN249) and one THJ RC.



Wooden Award winner Trey Burke rounds out the new 2012-13 acquisitions.  The shot vs Kansas will forever live in Michigan lore.  And I will never forget the bogus foul called on him when blocking that shot vs Louisville - put him in foul trouble and changed the game.  It would be nice to see Trey get some consistent minutes on the Knicks.  Seems he plays 20 minutes one night and then it's DNP the next.  For Trey we have two RCs, two from 2014-15, and five from 2015-16.



We close out the COMC Xmas package with my favorite Wolverine - Mr. Webber.  I was fortunate enough to attend the 2018 football game vs Penn State where C-Webb served as honorary captain.



I've broken the Webber additions into five photos.  First, we have 1997-98 UD Euro sticker, followed by a 2000-01 card, and then four from 2001-02.  I really like the High Topps cards and the Pristine has a certain Finest-esque quality.



The second photo includes three from various UD brands in 2003-04 and a single from 2004-05.



Next up, eight cards from 2006-07.  We have base-parallel combos for both Triple Threads and Reflections.



In the fourth photo we have two each from 2007-08 and 2012-13.  The Crusade parallel is SN99 and the Elite is a MEM.



And finally, the last photo includes three from 2014-15, one from 2015-16, two from 2016-17, and one from 2018-19.  The Juggernauts parallel is SN49 and the Noir base is SN70.  I often don't think much of Panini's modern sets, but I do love Noir.  I would love to collect Noir sets but with such a low print run on base cards it would require a serious investment.  Box topper cards are really cool - what a clever idea to include a big card in the box.



So that wraps up my COMC Xmas purchase.  I try to take advantage of COMC deals and sales, and only request shipments after surpassing 100 cards, so I only receive two or three COMC packages each year.

Real Winter Finally Arrives & All-Star Trader BeChristensen

Watching:  Chopped on Food Network - my wife's got the remote

We received four inches of snow Friday afternoon into the overnight.  I'm pretty sure it's only the second real snow that's fallen this winter and the first didn't stick around long.  It's been a weird winter to this point - very little snow and relatively mild.  We live near a park that has some nice slopes and is a popular sledding spot.  My daughter and I walked over after lunch and had a blast making countless runs.



Received two packages in the mail today.  The mail carrier arrived about four hours later than usual.  The snow must have slowed them down.  The first was my first trade with TCDB member pjdionne12 and included only basketball cards.  A couple from 1999-00 and one each from 2004-05 and 2007-08.  The Hardaway Jr. is a 2017-18 Essentials parallel that is headed for the Michigan collection.



The remainder of the trade included twelve cards that go toward completing my 2017-18 Essentials set.  Now have 139 cards from the core set of 200.



The second package was from TCDB member BeChristensen.  Benjamin started adding some serious basketball cards to his lists in November.  In early December I became his first trade partner and we have now completed three trades in approx. six weeks.  He is an excellent and valued trading partner.  If you are a basketball collector you must check out Benjamin's lists.

This first photo covers 1991-92 (Hoops McDonald's, Upper Deck) and 1992-93 (Fleer, SkyBox, and Upper Deck McDonald's).  Just four cards away from completing the 91-92 UD set and up to 76% complete on the UD McD's set.  Also two cards shy on the UD Holograms insert set.



The second photo covers 1993-94 (Fleer) and 1994-95 (SkyBox, SP Championship, Stadium Club, Topps Embossed).  Building Stadium Club sets is a primary goal and these five cards bring me up 77% complete.  Love the Reign Man card.



Photo number 3 is strictly 1995-96, including Metal, SkyBox E-XL, SP, SP Championship, and Stadium Club.  I like Metal cards.  The E-XL cards are strange with their faux photo frame. 



1996-97 is the focus of the fourth photo.  This includes Collector's Choice, Metal, Z-Force, Stadium Club, Topps, and UD3.  Three Iverson RCs are nice additions.  The UD3 set is an interesting mish-mash of styles. Some work, others don't.  Stadium Club progress now at 28%.



Photo five includes Flair and Stadium Club cards from both 1997-98 and 1998-99.  I really like '90s Flair.  I should make these more of a priority.  '97-'98 SC completion rate up to 79% while '98-'99 stands at 20%.



1999-00 cards in the sixth photo below.  Flair, Metal, Stadium Club, Stadium Club Chrome, and Topps Gallery included.  I like the previous Flair sets better than this edition. 



The seventh and final photo includes one 2000-01 Finest, one 2000-01 Stadium Club, and a lot of 2006-07 Topps Turkey Red.



BIG thank you to Benjamin for the trade.  Several of these were extras not included in the "official" trade.

Michigan Wolverine collection additions -  T. Hardaway Jr.

Buttons for Eyes and Other Mothers

Watching:  Coraline on DVD

Our daughter loves the movie Coraline.  I find it quite peculiar.  I wonder what the creators of this movie were on when they came up with some of their ideas.

Two packages in the mail today - both trades with TCDB members.

First, a PWE hockey trade with vanoirm - our first trade.  This trade included cards for 1) sets, 2) Blackhawks and 3) Michigan.  Cards going toward sets include one 1990-91 Pro Set VAR, two 1991-92 Pinnacle, two 1991-92 Pro Set, and five 1992-93 Upper Deck.  Slowly chipping away at the Pro Set ERR and VAR cards.  I love the Pinnacle set.  Apparently, I am in the minority as this set carries a 5.4 rating on TCDB - 5.6 now :)



The vanorim trade also included two Eddie Belfour cards to go toward the Blackhawks collection.  Belfour is my all-time favorite Hawk.  Loved his fire.  I still have the custom jersey I received in '93 while still in high school.  I have Dallas and Toronto jerseys as well.



The vanorim trade wraps up with some Wolverines. 



The second package was a PWE football swap with AwgyDawgy.  This was our third trade.  All of the cards go toward the Michigan collection.



Michigan Wolverine collection additions -  (Football (17): T. Biakabutuka, E. Grbac 3, B. Griese 5, S. Hutchinson, C. Perry 5, D. Terrell 2 -- Hockey: M.Comrie 1, B. Morrison 2, J. Norton 1, D. Oliver 1, S. Shields 1, M. Turco 2)

Blackhawks collection - 2 (E. Belfour)

COMC - Part 2 (Giannis)

Listening:  Tears for Fears, Song From The Big Chair

Last night I teased that today's post would be a little "freaky".  The middle portion of my COMC Xmas package is devoted to Giannis Antetokounmpo.  Giannis is THE reason I collect current cards.  Initially, I was just going to complete 80s and 90s sets, but I became a Giannis fan and collector.  Collecting Giannis cards is my #2 collecting goal.

First up, six 2014-15 cards, including two Hoops parallels, an Excalibur base and parallel, a Thread parallel, and a Totally Certified base.

Five 2015-16 cards up next.  A Complete insert, Court Kings base, Prestige base, Revolution insert (Nova), and a Select base.

Next we have 14 cards from 2016-17 with cards from the Donruss, Donruss Optic, Hoops, Aficianado, Complete, Excalibur, Grand Reserve, Prizm, Select, and Threads sets.  The majority of these are inserts or parallels.

On to 2017-18.  Below we have three Donruss and six Donruss Optic.  All are inserts and parallels.

Continuing with 2017-18, we have two Hoops inserts, a Chronicles parallel, two each from Contenders and Contenders Draft Picks, and three from Essentials (one parallel and two inserts).

More 2017-18 cards following.  This batch includes one Mosaic, two parallel versions of inserts from both Prestige and Prizm, and four Revolution (three parallels and one insert).

And finally, a 2017-18 Select base and three from Totally Certified (one parallel and two inserts).  A 2018 National from the "Multi-Sport" category and two 2018-19 Donruss inserts round out the new additions.

That completes the second part of the COMC trilogy.  I may save the final installment until Sunday so I have something to share on a Sunday for a change.  These cards will be a-maize-ing!

Giannis collection additions - 64  (Collection total now 330)

COMC - Part 1 (Sets)

Watching:  Bucks vs. Grizzlies on Fox Sports Wisconsin

Received one package in the mail - a box from COMC!  Basically, this was my Xmas gift to myself.  This package includes cards purchased as far back as August or September I believe.  The contents of the shipment can be broken into three groups, the first of which is tonight's focus - sets.

I purchased only two hockey cards, but they met a goal as they completed 1991-92 Upper Deck - Award Winners Hologram set.  These hologram cards were so cool back in 1991 and they still are today.



Next up on the set docket - baseball.  I picked up the three biggest cards in the 1983 Topps set (Sandberg, Gwynn and Boggs).  I also nabbed a biggie from the 1984 Topps set (Mattingly).  A 1986 Donruss Brett brings me within two cards of completing that set.  The two 1986 Bonds cards completed those respective sets.  While the three 1987 Fleer cards completed that set.  I had all of the 1986 and 1987 cards as a kid but somewhere along the line I traded or sold them.



Football is up next.  I continue to chip away at the 1984 Topps set.  The addition of eight cards, including the likes of Marino and Dickerson, bring my completion rate up to 84%.  I vow not to rip this Marino RC to shreds!  With these 1985 Topps additions I am now just two cards away from completing that set.



I am also two cards away from completing the 1986 Topps set after receiving five cards.  The Jerry Rice completed my 1987 Topps - 1000 Yard Club set.  My 1989 Pro Set set is almost complete after finally getting Barry Sanders.  And finally, four key 1989 Score RC additions. 

 

And the night concludes with basketball.  When I resumed collecting my first goal was to complete the 1986-87 Fleer set.  After accomplishing that I set my eyes on the 1987-88 set.  One card has alluded me sever since and I finally got it - Larry Legend.  I also picked up Hakeem and Kareem to complete my 1987-88 Fleer - Stickers set.  Hey, master set!  I picked up the 1988-89 Fleer - Stickers Jordan.  Always nice to add Michael to the collection.  Still need two more to complete that little set.  The two 1990-91 Fleer - All-Stars round out that set.  I now have both the All-Star and Rookie Sensation sets for that year.  Seven cards away from completing the 1992-93 Fleer set after getting the Jordan.  Added a couple of Grant Hill RCs to the 1994-95 Stadium Club and Ultra sets.



And then finally, I purchased the final ten cards I needed to complete the 1994-95 Finest set.  I love Finest so anytime I can finish a set I am very pleased.



That's enough for tonight.  Tomorrow's second part of the COMC trilogy will be a little "freaky".

Set completed - 1991-92 Upper Deck - Award Winner Holograms (Hockey)
Set completed - 1986 Donruss The Rookies (Baseball)
Set completed - 1986 Topps Traded (Baseball)
Set completed - 1987 Fleer (Baseball)
Set completed - 1987 Topps - 1000 Yard Club (Football)
Set completed - 1987-88 Fleer (Basketball)
Set completed - 1987-88 Fleer - Stickers (Basketball)
Set completed - 1990-91 Fleer - All-Stars (Basketball)
Set completed - 1994-95 Finest (Basketball)

One Trade - 1989 Score Football

Abbreviated post tonight.  Too much to do.

Received one package today - a trade with TCDB member Setshot68.  This is the third trade we have completed.  The trade focused solely on 1989 Score football:



The addition of these 18 cards brings me up to 68% complete.  I really like this set - very appealing.  It also includes a strong rookie class and at only 330 cards it is star heavy.  I spent 1989 focusing on Pro Set rather than Score.  I only wish I had balanced my collecting out more back then.

Zion, Recent NES Success, and One Trade

Watching:  Syracuse vs Duke basketball on ESPN

Zion is ridiculous.  Heck, the whole Duke freshman class is ridiculous.  The chase for RCs in 2019-20 basketball collecting will be absolute madness.  I cannot even begin to imagine the heights some of the break auctions will reach as people chase the top picks.

My mid-life crisis is not limited solely to card collecting.  My wife gave me a NES Classic for Xmas and I play for a few minutes each day.  Nothing like the marathon sessions of the 80s and 90s.  I managed to first lead Link to victory, then Mario.  Feeling pretty accomplished right now.

 

Late last week I received a trade offer via TCDB from Billy Kingsley.  Billy offered up a nice collection of Stadium Club basketball cards as he noticed I listed those as a primary collecting goal.  It was nice to receive a trade offer as nine times out of ten I am the one peppering members with trade requests.  Billy's cards arrived today - nicely packed and in perfect condition.  First up, eight from the 1994-95 edition to bring up to 76% complete:



Next up, a single card for both the 1996-97 (18%) and 1998-99 (19%) sets:



And last but not least, 34 cards from the 2000-01 (20%) edition round out the trade:

 

Thank you, Billy, for helping me chip away at this primary collecting goal.  I really miss Stadium Club basketball and the myriad of action shots.  Look at these great shots - guys driving to bucket, contesting shots, etc.  Panini sets do not look like this and that is a shame.