Marshals Season 1

Marshals:  Pop and I finished season 1 and enjoyed it. It's a Yellowstone spinoff but it's not like it in many ways.  Not near as much violence, cursing and romantic moments.  It feels more like a classic television show, and it was aired on CBS.  The show follows Kayce Dutton as he becomes a US Marshall in Montana.  Since he can stay at home while working with the team, there's plenty of same issues seen in Yellowstone.  But being a US Marshal, it takes on a new look with new team members while bringing back some Yellowstone veterans.  The series really develops the different characters while working cases that fall their way.  It's a good watch.  I liked it.  

Random Wax: 1991 Fleer Baseball (4 Packs)

1991 Fleer:  The All-Star game is tonight and Dave Winfield knows a thing or two about the All-Star game being named to 12 Midsummer Classics in a row (77-88).  Drafted by the NBA/ABA, MLB and NFL he batted .283, with 3,110 hits and 465 home runs over 22 seasons.  He won a championship with the 1992 Blue Jays and was also a 7X Gold Glover and 6X Silver Slugger while also winning the Clemente award once.  

Greg Maddux threw 13 complete game shutouts while pitching less than 100 pitches.  He as an 8X All-Star.

Some A's love including Hall of Famers Harold Baines and Dennis Eckersley who were both 6X All-Stars. Willie was pretty good himself with 4X All-Star games.

We love the stickers and the stats on the back.  Great job Fleer.  I like how MLB does Legend picks for the All-Star game now.  This year it is Justin Verlander.

Kirk Gibson was never an All-Star but had plenty of highlight moments in his career, including helping the Dodgers beat the A's in the World Series with a home run off Eck that is one of the best World Series moments ever.

The backs have that muted look to them, but we forgive them because of the great stats we get.  Wade Boggs was a 12X All-Star.

Dwight Gooden made 4 All-Star teams.  Always fun cards.  

BREAKDOWN: 
60 – Total Cards
4 – Stickers

2021 Rittenhouse Game of Thrones Iron Anniversary Series 2 Arya Stark Subset

 Yesterday, I posted my Game of Thrones thoughts and Arya Stark was my favorite character from the show.  I really like how Maisie Williams played the character while she grew up on the show.

From the 2021 Rittenhouse Game of Thrones Iron Anniversary Series 2 set, each character had 9 cards.  The backs were puzzle pieces. 

Arya was fiercely loyal to her family and isn't the typical lady of the age.  She found herself enjoying a sword in her hand as opposed to wearing a dress.  She's a very strong character played very well.  The design of this set is simple, but good, and the photos let us see the character's changes throughout the show's 8 seasons.

This was an eBay purchase and I'm glad I picked these cards up.  Would really enjoy getting an autograph of hers from one of the sets but they are pricey.  Below is the back of all 9 cards put together which gives us an additional picture of Arya.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones:  Finally got to watch this one which I did with a Blu-ray set I purchased.  I thought I'd enjoy it and I really did.  So much drama, chaos, and surprises all played out so well over eight seasons.  Whatever you've heard about the series is probably true.  I really appreciated was how there were so many surprises.  Or shocks?  Trauma?  You never knew what was just around the corner.  

The beginning is a lot to take in.  So much to learn but it's all paid off in short order as you settle in for a great uncomfortable watch.  So many amazing characters, storylines and actors and actresses.  Over the eight seasons so much is developed to help get us to the end.  There's been criticism about the final season which I had heard way back in 2019 when it all ended.  I get it.  There are plenty good moments in season eight, but the ending is soft.  I won't give away major plot points, but it felt disjointed and some of the plot choices were questionable.  I understand the writer, George R. R. Martin, hadn't written anything past what we see in season 7.  A shame as you'd have to assume it'd land better.  One thing it is, is it isn't for the faint of heart.  The violence, language and sexuality are something that will turn some off of the series. 

That all said, it was a great series and deserves all the accolades it received.  I really looked forward to seeing how plots played out and was rarely disappointed.  It's one of the few series I think I'd enjoy taking in a second time, knowing what is to come and better understanding what I'm watching.  I won't ever have time to do that, but I'd do it if I could.  There are two spin-offs which I'm sure I'll watch at some point.  Always curious what others think of the series.

Random Wax: 2026 Topps Baseball Hanger Box

 2026 Topps: Garrett Crochet is injured and a big loss to the struggling Red Sox.  Their pitching is the lone bright point for Boston.  Injuries aren't new to Crochet, but he had an amazing season in 2025, his first with the BoSox - 18-5 2.59 ERA 205 innings 1 shutout 255 strikeouts.  He led the league in innings pitched, strikeouts and batters faced.

Looking to lead the league in triples for the 4th consecutive year, Corbin Carroll currently leads the league with 10.  Max Fried hasn't pitched since early May due to injury but has a 4-3 record with a 3.21 ERA across 10 games.

Somehow Corbin Carroll snuck into a second scan of cards.  Shea Langeliers was just named an All-Star for the first time and already has 20 dingers on the season.

Us Braves fans do miss Max.

Jac Caglianone is having a solid sophomore season with KC. 

Diamante, Pink Holo Foil, and Holo Foil inserts.

I do enjoy League Leader cards.

I think we get good photography again this season.

1991 Topps Baseball and Profiles by Ken Griffey Jr. inserts.  Not a huge fan of either but no complaints either.

One of my 3 Combo Cards.

Nice looking Texas Rangers Team Card.

More good photography with probably the best card in the set, in Clayton Kershaw.

Nice horizontal Diamante Parallel which are exclusive to hanger boxes and I like them.

More inserts to end this post.  Stars of MLB and Titans of the Game.  I'm good with though I wish the Titans of the Game inserts said "Titans" more in the design.  Not sure how you pull that off though.  Another good box of cards from this set which I enjoy.

BREAKDOWN:

59 – Total Cards

11 – RC

3 – Combo Card

2 - Diamante

2 – Team Cards

2 – Future Stars

2 – Stars of MLB

2 – Titans of the Game

1 – Holo Foil

1 – Pink Holo Foil

1 – League Leaders

1 – All-Star Rookie Cup

1 - 1991 Topps Baseball

1 – Pro Profiles by Ken Griffey Jr.

  

Random Wax: Kayou Hero Series Battle Series 1 Legend Booster – 3 Packs

Kayou Hero Battle S1:  Happy 4th of July!  Captain America is a great way to start of the day, right?  He was a character I liked but wasn't a big fan of when reading comics, but I really enjoy what Marvel did with him in the movies.

I really like this set which is a game.  It's licensed by Marvel and made in China. The writing is in Chinese so it's tough to say what is written on them.  Checklists for Kayou Marvel cards can be found here.

Purchased my boxes off AliExpress in 2023.  The cards are very thin like actual playing cards.

In order of the tiers of cards you can pull they go R, SR, SSR, HR, SGR, LR, UR, MR, and CR in that order from most common to the rarest.  Finding information on these cards isn't the easiest to find, but a decent overview can be found here.

These are always fun.  I enjoy this era of Marvel movies, and these cards help you relive the characters in the movies.

BREAKDOWN:

18 – Total Cards (3 Packs)

6 – SR

3 – SSR

Random Wax: 2023-2024 Donruss Basketball

23-24 Donruss:  De'Aaron Fox caught grief during the NBA Finals, and deserved for the most part, but he's really good.  He has career averages of 21 PPG and 6 APG.

Great pull in this pack.  KAT is now a Knick and a champion!  This is a pack I picked up two years ago.

Brandon Miller had another good year with Charlotte averaging 20/4/3 in his 3rd season.  The Hornets seem like they are ready to go to the next level.

Wow, did this pack hit.  I like that SGA photo.  He won his second MVP this past season.

I'm a big fan of New Zealander Steven Adams and that's a great looking Green Laser Holo Parallel.

BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Cards
3 – Rated Rookie
2 – Green Laser Holo
1 – The Rookies