2025 Favorite Cards and Action Figure

 

These favorite cards posts are one I look forward to every year.  This Eric Dickerson card takes top honors this year.  I really like the colors, the photo, it's a simple design, and the great look at Dickerson's eyes and goggles.  In June I posted this card and other Dickerson cards I got in a Eric Dickerson card lot on eBay.  There are a few good-looking cards in the lot.

This Giannis was close behind.  I thought this 2021-2022 Donruss card did a great job with the photo and subtle design elements making it feel like a show.  It was posted in March.

This 1992 Pro Set Racing card is one of Jeff Gordon's first cards and a big reason I picked up some packs to open.  It's very simple but a card I like.  This one was also posted in March.  

Cards found in this post are cards I posted in 2025.  I'll show of my favorite from each sport and non-sport as well as my favorite action figure.  Why I like them or choose them can be random and it doesn't matter if they are old or new.  

This cool looking card is from a 2024 Upper Deck Marvel Studios Series 2 Cinematic blaster that I also posted in March.  I like the retro lunchbox vibe, and the colors and design really work for me.  I like it.

This 2025 Topps Elly De La Cruz I showed off in August has a nice photo and framing.  A really good use of the horizontal cards from Topps.

This 2022-2023 Upper Deck Trevor Moore was in a June post.  I didn't post much hockey this year, but I kept coming back to this card.  It's the intensity of the bench players that really draws me in here.  Good job Upper Deck.

This Topps Chrome Rhea Ripley was posted in February.  Ripley is very photogenic, and this made for an easy pick.

This Baylan Skoll figure looks really good.  I posted him in May along with Shin Hati, both of the Ahsoka series.  He really captures the actor's looks and is a great addition to the collection.

These are so much fun. Everyone have a fun and safe New Year's Eve!

2025 Donruss Football

2025 Donruss:  Drake Maye and the Patriots deserve some love for the season they are having.  He has thrown 25 touchdowns, 8 interceptions and over 3,900 yards in 2025 guiding New England to a 12-3 record.  And he looks sharp in that Pat's retro uni.

This is my first look at 2025 Donruss and I like it.  It's pretty clean and has a Donruss feel to it.  Really good pull in this pack never hurts either.  Christian McCaffrey is my favorite player in the NFL today and is having another great year notching his second season of 800 yards rushing and 800 yards receiving.  He's one of only 3 players to have accomplished that.  Mashall Faulk and Roger Craig being the others.

I really like these backs which are so different from the designs of Donruss past.  We rarely get this much color and another photo.  The photo is a little awkward here since it isn't horizontal.  Seems like they could have done better in incorporating the photo but overall, I'm like all the color.

We get Rated Rookies with subtle design differences which work.

Last year McCaffrey dealt with injuries again but when he's healthy his is an amazing running back.

Good looking Bomb Squad insert.  Sam Darnold really has turned around his career.  He's 26-6 in his two seasons with the Vikings and Seahawks.  Who woulda thunk?

I love all-time greats in these sets and I'm a big fan of Art Monk.

That Jason Taylor is a Press Proof Parallel.  This was a really fun pack of cards.  We're near the end of the NFL regular season.  I hope your teams are doing you well!

BREAKDOWN:

30 – Total Cards

5 – Retired Greats

4 – Rated Rookie

4 – Press Proof Blue Parallels

1 – Bomb Squad

Star Wars The Black Series Ki-Adi-Mundi, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Action Figure

Ki-Adi-Mundi was on the Jedi Council during the prequels.  One of the things I really enjoyed about the prequels was getting to see all the different Jedi and I enjoy collecting them.  Ki-Adi-Mundi was a Jedi Master and member of the Jedi Council.

This figure is a representation of him during the Clone Wars in which he made multiple appearances during the animated Clone Wars series.  His robes aren't cloth, but I do like his Jedi attire which includes some nice detail.

He looks good from the back as well.

Overall, this is a good figure.  I'm not sure how popular Ki-Adi-Mund is.  I know he's shown negatively a few times across the timeline including the prequels and during The Acolyte series.  Still, he has a unique look that always piqued my interest.

The grandson isn't a huge fan of the alien Jedi from the movies and series for some reason.  Though he's a big fan of Obi-Wan, Anakin and Kylo Ren.

A fun figure to post and round out the end of the year.  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

2025-2026 Topps Basketball Holiday Mega Box

25-26 Topps Holiday:  Merry Christmas!  Jaylen Brown is having a career year.  With all the roster turnover and injuries, he's shown he can carry a team.  Surprisingly, to me anyway, the Celtics are top 4 in the Eastern Conference and Brown is the reason why.  He's averaging 29/6/4 while shooting 36% from three.

Reminiscent of 1982 Topps the Holiday flair brings some pizzaz to the 2025 Topps Basketball design.  Great pull in this box.  Nikola Jokic is leading the league in assists and rebounds and I believe he is having another MVP season.  At age 37 Steph and KD are having historic seasons for their age.

All three of these rookies are having good years with VJ Edgecombe and Derik Queen standing out.

Topps gives us horizontal shots, and this one is tons of fun.

My parallels include Blue Metallic Glitter Parallel, Light Blue and White Glitter Parallel and Glitter Parallel.  You can feel the "glitter" as it feels sprinkled on the card.

My Holiday Relic.  Khaman Maluach is seeing minimal time on the court with the Suns.

Another great photo on that Dalton Knecht card.  Deni Avdija is having a career year in Portland averaging 25 PPG, 7 RPG, and 6 APG while shooting 36% from deep.

That Cedric Coward is my SP Image Variation that comes 1:23 packs (there are 10 packs in a Mega Box).  You get one SP per Mega Box.  An easy way to determine if you have a variation is the code on the back.  Below are the codes.

Base Set — 997
Image Variations — 039
Back Variations — 040
Hidden Elf — 042

My Oversized Diecut Ornament.  I like it.  Nice holiday design.

Some big man love.

Another nice horizontal card.

I really like that Trae Young photo and card.  And I did get a Cooper Flagg.  He's having a good first year in Dallas.  I'm glad I picked this box up.  It was fun.  I hope Santa was good to you all this Christmas.

BREAKDOWN:
100 – Total Cards
20 – RC
7 – Glitter Parallels
1 – Holiday Relic
1 – SP Image Variation (1:23)
1 – Oversized Diecut Ornament
1 - Blue Metallic Glitter Holiday 
1- Light Blue and White Glitter Holiday 

Mail Day from OhioTim

 OhioTim surprised me again with a great batch of cards.  I really appreciate his kindness and his comments on the blog over the years.  We'll kick it off with this Topps Magazine insert.  I love this card.  These inserts just have a cool look to them and Ronald Acuna Jr. makes it that much better.

Lots of Braves which is always great for me.  Freddie with the retro look and that Dansby Swanson Stadium Club are two of my favorites from this package.

I always love going down memory lane that includes Atlanta's 2021 Championship!

Nick Markakis was a "professional hitter".  He finished with 2,388 hits and .288 batting average over 15 seasons.  I always liked him.  Chipper is an all-time Favorite Brave so another great inclusion.

I can't show off all the cards Tim sent me today but so there are so many good ones.  Stadium Club always does so well with their photography.  I like this Austin Riley photo which is not the typical photo we see.

Lots of Atlanta Braves greats.  I love the '84 Donruss design and love seeing Freddie on that blue parallel.  Man, I miss him.

Another really good Dansby Swanson card.

More Acuna Jr. greatness.  This is a cool looking Topps Stadium Club.

As a Yaz fan, that transferred to Mike Yastrzemski as well.  He just signed with the Braves which I was glad to see.

I like the Topps Big League brand.  They do a good job with simple designs providing collectors a cheap option.

Tim knows I'm a fan of the Bills and Creamsicle unis.

John Elway is my favorite all-time NFL player. The back of this Pinnacle Select Certified is pretty unique and fun.  I can't thank OhioTim enough.  Here's to a fun Christmas Eve for everyone!