1883 TV Mini Series

 

1883: 1883 is a Yellowstone origin story starring Tim McGraw, Sam Elliott, Faith Hill, and Isabel May.  I'll do a review of Yellowstone at some point after the series ends but 1883 has been out for some time and my pop and I watched the entire mini-series.  We really enjoyed it.  It has a different tone than Yellowstone but stays true to expectations.  The cast do a great job while Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan does an amazing job telling this prequel story.  At the same time you'll get a new appreciation for anyone who made the trip West in search of a new home.  The stars of the show really do make this a fun watch.  The basic plot is the Dutton family heads West to Oregon with Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott) leading the wagon train that includes the Duttons and European settlers wanting to make a new home out West.  You'll laugh, you'll cringe and you'll cry.  It runs the gamut.  No need to go into too many details but I highly recommend the show.  It can be watched as a standalone. You don't have to know Yellowstone in any way.  This is just a good western.  

Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill) and James Dutton (Tim McGraw)

James Dutton (Tim McGraw) and his daughter Elsa Dutton (Isabel May)

2023 Topps Baseball Hanger Box

2023 Topps:  Happy Opening Day!  I have no love for the Yankees but this dude had a crazy good season last year. Judge not only hit 62 homeruns but also hit .311 on the way to winning his first MVP award.  He also led the league in runs (133), RBIs (131), walks (111), OBP (.425) and a few other key stats.  Amazing year and he was rewarded with betting on himself with a yuge contract.

I really like the design this year.  Reminds me some of '84 Topps but better.  I like that headshot, the logo, and home plate with the player position.  I won't hesitate to pick up more of these.

I'm hoping Ozzie Albies can bounce back from injury and have a good season in 2023.

Youngsters are always fun to see how they'll do.  Casas has made Boston's opening day roster and can't wait to see what he does on the big stage.

This is a checklist card.  They've had fun with these in recent years and I like it.

More youngsters.

One of the team cards.  The backs are just as good as the fronts with stats from the season.

Stars of MLB are a hit with many collectors and I like them.  They have another good design this year and they aren't hard to find.

Standard League Leaders card but always fun.

Greatness.  Even with some below average years of late, Miggy is still a career .308 hitter.

Topps goes back to 1988 for their retro design this year.  Not the worst design but a logo, even a small one in the bottom right, could have helped it quite a bit.  I guess Topps isn't doing an Opening Day release this year which really disappoints me. I know it isn't for everyone but I love the logo and release.

These guys got the band back together in New York this season.

Waino and Yadi are Cardinal legends.  Yadi retired after last season and this is the last year for Wainwright.  I like the photo on the Yadi card.  Fun box of cards and a good design in 2023.  Good start to collecting.

BREAKDOWN:

67 – Total Cards

10 – RC

4 – Stars of the MLB

2 – Team Card

2 – Rookie Cup

1 – Leader

1 – Checklist

1 – Future Stars

1 – RC/Rookie Cup

1 – One-Two Punch

1 – 1988 Topps Baseball

2022 Fleer Ultra Avengers Blaster

22 UD Fleer Ultra Avengers: I was looking forward to this set and grabbed a blaster when I saw them hit the shelves.  War Machine gets to lead us off.  Rhodey is a great partner for Iron Man.  Pretty good look at the armored hero though there is a lot going on.

The design on these really is nice.  It's simple and the art takes center stage.  These are on very thick stock.  Feels like wood they are so thick. I'm okay with it but it doesn't feel needed.  Would have appreciated more cards for my money as opposed to the card stock this thick.  Only 18 cards in a blaster.

The backs are simple but I like the info they provide on the character.  That with the color and comic image make this a win for me.

Here we have an Ultra Stars and a Medallion insert.  I like the Ultra Stars card but the Medallion is an all-foil background that doesn't do much for me.  Think silver and not the black look the scan makes it look like.

My Artist Spotlight insert.  This is a nice pull.  I really like Alex Ross so this hit the spot.

These are both green parallels.  Nice classic look at Thor while the Gamora art is not a look I'm familiar with.

My grandsons are getting into DC and Marvel trading cards but they aren't easy to find at friendly prices.  The older stuff isn't cheap nor are newer offerings.  I have found a few that aren't bad but wish it was easier to find affordable hero cards.  Good look at Hawkeye on this horizontal offering.

A couple of key X-Men cards.

Another green parallel in the form of a Greatest Battles insert.  This was a big story arc for Marvel and I think they had considered using it as the basis of a movie at some point.

This is the back of the Silver Age Avengers cards.  The front is below.  That Speed card is a Orange Foil parallel #/549.

I like both of these.  That Spider-Man really looks nice while I enjoy seeing classic comic covers so the Earth's Mightiest Spinoffs inserts is a nice pull.  The Checkmate Iron Patriot below isn't bad for a diecut.  Fun box of cards.  Not sure if I'll pick up more blasters but I'll definitely look for some singles.  

BREAKDOWN:
18 – Total Cards
3 – Green Parallels
1 – 3X3
1 - Medallion
1 - Checkmate
1 – Ultra  Stars
1 – Orange Foil #/549
1 – Artist Spotlight
1 – Greatest Battles
1 – Silver Age Avengers
1 – Earth’s Mightiest Spinoffs

 

2021-2022 Illusions Basketball

21-22 Illusions:  I love this guy.  Damantas Sabonis is so so good.  He's not the best center in the league as Jokic and Embiid outpace him but Sabonis isn't talked about enough.  Got to watch him a lot while he was with Indy but I'm happy he's found a good home with Sacramento where they will break a 17 year playoff drought.  He's averaging 19/12/7 a game and is leading the league in rebounding.

What's odd is I've had these for 5 months and never posted them.  I normally post new releases quickly after I pick some up.  Kyrie and what he does in Dallas will be a big storyline.  I know talent plays but at some point it'll be about winning.  Can he and Luka figure it out in Dallas?  This is a pretty good design for Illusions.  It's still on the shelves so I assume collectors aren't that enamored with it.

Love retired greats.  Just need more of them.  I like how young Allen Iverson looks in that photo.  It's also an orange parallel.  Cade Cunninghan is a really good young player in the league but injuries cut his season short.  King of Cards is a nice design with the silver foil border raised.

The backs are fairly plain but we do get some color.  Even one line of stats would be nice though.

Austin Reaves has found a nice niche in LA.  He's had a few highlight moments this year and is averaging 11 points per game.  A good pack of cards.  Nice pull and design.  Final Four will be set today.  Have fun!

BREAKDOWN:
12 – Total Cards
2 – Retired Greats
1 – RC
1 – Kings of Cards
1 – Orange Parallel

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Contenders Basketball

21-22 Contenders:  Sweet 16 baby!  Devin Booker and the Suns are hoping the addition of Kevin Durant will put them over the top.  But don't overlook Booker.  I tend to but then see him play and go yeah, this guy is amazing.

KAT has been hurt most of the season but somehow the Timberwolves are still right there in the playoff hunt.  Joel Embiid will give Nikola Jokic a run for the MVP this year but I still think The Joker wins his third in a row.

Fun seeing retired greats like Vlade Divac here.  Santi Aldama is a solid player for Memphis averaging nine points per game but a guy whose name I didn't recognize.

Showing off the backs for a change of pace.  Ja Morant is a great of the game but has to figure out some things off the court.  Ingram is having another excellent year for the Pelicans who have struggled again with Zion out with injury.  And Luka is just amazing.  It does feel like he plays out of control at times but it works for him.

Middleton needs to find his groove again after his shooting has fell off this year.  Speaking of Zion...   And Rudy Gobert has struggled with Minnesota after they traded away a ton to get him.  I always enjoy Contenders and this was another fun pack.

BREAKDOWN:

22 – Total Cards

2 – 2021 Draft Class

1 – Retired Great

1 – Bronze Game Ticket

1 – International Ticket

Random Wax: 2021 Topps Baseball Series 2

2021 Topps:  Getting close to the start of the season.  We'll kick it off with one-time all-star and career long Phillie Aaron Nola.  He only had 11 wins last season but did have a 3.25 ERA in over 200 innings.  Philadelphia made a surprise run to the World Series last year before losing to the Houston Astros.  The 1986 Topps designs look good on new cardboard.

Mark Melancon has led the league in saves twice in his career (2015 and 2021).  Vazquez is now with the Twins while Mancini is with the Cubs.  Both won rings with the Houston Astros last year.

Sean Murphy is now an Atlanta Brave.  A gold glover with some pop I'm hoping he'll behind the plate for Atlanta for years to come.  McClanahan has had a really good two years with Tampa Bay pitching to a 2.92 ERA.  

It felt like Wil Myers was going to be traded by the San Diego Padres for a decade now.  Not true but still.  He did make it to Cincy in the offseason as a free agent.  Christian Walker had 36 home runs for the D-Backs last season.  The '65 Redux inserts are fun and are a good design.  Fun pack of cards. 

BREAKDOWN:
16 – Total Cards
3 – RC
1 – Rookie Cup
1 – Future Stars
1 – 1965 Topps Redux
1 - 1986 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Hoops Blaster with Relic

21-22 Hoops: We're in the throes of March Madness as well as the final few weeks of the NBA regular season so some Hoops basketball it is.  I bought this over a year ago and finally posting the highlights.  This guy!  When healthy, Kevin Durant is the best player in the game today in my opinion.  But he's got to stay healthy.  Phoenix looked really good in the limited time he was on the court with them.

Simple but good Hoops feeling design here.  Some really good guards here.  Donovan Mitchell has taken it to a new level with the Cavs while Murray is now an Atlanta Hawk.  

None of these guys have made their mark in the NBA yet but Toscano-Anderson does have a championship ring playing for the Warrriors.  He was also a fan favorite while playing there.

I love Slam inserts.  I read it back in its early days in the 90s.  They just have a cool vibe.  Pure Players and Arriving Now aren't bad but not overly exciting.

Frequent Flyers is a nice looking card as is the Rookie Remembrance Relic.  I like seeing veterans in their early years.

Lights Camera Action is always fun and these horizontal takes are even better.  Another good pull as Steph is a favorite of mine.

More star power from the box.

And it only gets better...my money is on Jokic to win his third straight MVP.  I love watching him play.

Don't sleep on this guy or the Kings.  They are so good and might be the second-best team in the Western Conference depending on where KD's health stands.

There are 88 cards in a blaster but this one really seemed to deliver.

These three are some of my favorites and PC guys in the game today.  Fun box.  Really fun.  We'll end it with maybe the third guy in the league's MVP race.

BREAKDOWN:
88 – Total Cards
12 – RC
3 – Blue Parallel
2 – Lights Camera Action
1 – Slam
1 - Skyview
1 – Pure Players
1 – Arriving Now
1 – Purple Parallel
1 – Frequent Flyers
1 – Rookie Remembrance Relic