Random Wax: 1992 Upper Deck Baseball

 

1992 Upper Deck:  David Justice was key to the Atlanta Braves' 1995 World Series run.  He had 1 home run with 6 runs batted in the playoffs and sported a .411 on base percentage.  His biggest hit was his lone post season home run that put the Braves ahead 1-0 in game 6 of the World Series.  Tom Glavine went 8 scoreless innings and Mark Wohlers closed it out for the win.

Kevin Brown won a Championship with the 1997 Florida Marlins and also won 2X ERA titles in his career.  He had 211 wins to go along with a 3.28 career ERA.

We loved the photos on the back of Upper Deck cards.

Another great photo on the back and Dickie Thon looking like a magazine cover model on his card.  Thon led the league in WAR in 1983 with 7.4.  He batted .286 with 20 home runs, 74 RBIs, 9 triples and 34 stolen bases.

Horizontal goodness.  Andy Benes led the league in strikeouts and losses in the same season once.

Great hologram cards.  Todd Stottlemyre won 2 Championships with the Blue in the early 90s.

Scott Erickson won 20 games and a World Championship with the Twins in 1991 in only his second season.  Fun pack of cards.

BREAKDOWN:
15 – Total Cards
2 – Team Checklist

Yours Cruelly, Elvira : Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark

Yours Cruelly, Elvira is the memoir of Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira.  As a teen in the 80s who was a fan of all things Halloween and of course girls, it was impossible not be aware of Elvira.  In my head I thought for all the funny craziness we saw when she was on the screen, I assumed for no good reason her life was much calmer.  Boy was I wrong.  She had a pretty crazy life with so many trials, adventures and triumphs.  It's a good read.  She's very open about everything that went into her life.  No matter what happened or got in her way she persevered.  Again, lots of adventures, lots of crossing paths with stars and lots of fun while showing it was all due to hard work and making it through obstacles.  Great way to start spooky season.

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Upper Deck Hockey

21-22 Upper Deck:  NHL opening night is tonight!  A member of the 2018-2019 All-Rookie Team, Brady Tkachuk is found on this Hundo P insert.  Hundo P is slang for 100 percent.

These cards are pretty nice looking including these horizontal offerings.  No outstanding photos on the three horizontal cards but they are still appreciated.

Duncan Keith is a 2X Cup Winner, 2X Norris, and 3X All-Star.

Photos feel a little stale.  I do think it's harder in hockey to get quality action photos, but Upper Deck usually seems up to the task.

Lots of empty seats as these photos would have been taken during the 2020-2021 covid affected season.

Goalie love!  Jordan Binnington was outstanding for the Blues in the 2019 Playoffs as St. Louis won their first Stanley Cup.  He was called up in January of that year to lead the team's turnaround.  In the playoffs he won 16 straight games, a rookie record.  Without him we wouldn't have gotten a Blues championship parade and the best rendition of Gloria ever from a drunk Brett Hull.

Vrana won a Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018.

Karlsson won a cup with the Vegas Knights in '23.  Good looking backs for these cards as well.  Enjoy the start of hockey!

BREAKDOWN:

26 – Total Cards

1 – Hundo P

1 - Checklist

Sheriff Country

Sheriff Country follows Sheriff Mickey Fox as she leads her department fighting crime while also navigating family and personal issues.  This is a CBS show with 20 episodes in season 1. There are good supporting characters, ongoing story arcs and a few surprises.  This is an easy and fun watch.  Me and pop were both very happy with this one and we're looking forward to season 2 which starts up next month.   It's not much but there is some crossover with Fire Country for those familiar with that one.

2026 MLB Playoffs

 Playoffs start tomorrow!  San Diego is possibly the hottest team going into the playoffs while Houston barely made it in with a .500 record winning the AL West. Milwaukee had the best overall record with 103 wins with the Dodgers (100) and Tampa Bay (98) up next.  Playoff schedule is here. 

Atlanta gets Philadelphia in the first round.  Never want to see a division opponent in the playoffs but Philly won on the last day to get in.  I like the Braves here, but they've been streaky and the offense inconsistent.  That said, they are a good team.  Three game series are always tricky.  You want to win right off the start.  By getting in the playoffs so late, the Phillies starting pitching isn't lined up to start the series.  Hopefully that gives Atlanta an edge and they can get going quickly.  Wish Atlanta wasn't given early afternoon time slots.  Won't be able to watch the games.  Go Braves!

Boston has been locked into playing the 93-win Yankees in the first round for some time now.  Would have been nice not to play New York but it's not to be.  Boston can beat New York. It just won't be easy.  The pitching staffs are fairly even but New York's offense is a little better.   New York won the season series 7-6 but it felt like Boston was very streaky.  The end of the season has been meh for Boston but New York will be without Aaron Judge.  It is Red Sox - Yankees so anything can happen.  Go Red Sox!

Random Wax: 2021 Playoff Football

2021 Playoff:  Tom Terrific has 13,400 playoff passing yards in his career.  #2 is Peyton Manning with 7,339.  That's crazy.

I've always liked the Playoff brand.  A few good looking designs over the years including this one.  Josh Allen and the Bills are off to a 2-0 start and are looking good.  They get the struggling Chargers today.  Allen is already 14th on the all-time playoff passing yards list with 3,915.  Cameron Jordan is in his 16th season in the league with 132 sacks to his name.

Love the retired greats in these sets.  Chad Johnson was a 2X 1st Team All-Pro which is no easy feat.

Najee Harris has rushed for 1,000+ yards 4X in his career.

A-A-Ron and the Steelers' offense are struggling this year, but he looks good on this Call To Arms insert.  He's 3rd in career playoff passing yards with 6,040.

Jalen Hurts and Matthew Stafford have thrown their fair share of playoff passes but not on the scale of those others.

John Elway is 9th on that list with 4,964 yards passing in the post season.

BREAKDOWN:
40 – Total Cards
6 – RC
5 – Retired Greats
3 – Green Parallel
1 – Rookie Wave
1 – Call to Arms

Bob Petit passes away at age 93

Bob Petit passed away this week at 93 years old.  He's truly one of the all-time greats of the game.  I'm not saying top 10, top 20 or 30.  I understand the complexities of comparing NBA eras, but he was a dominant big man in his day.  He averaged 26.6 points and 16.2. rebounds per game in his 11-year career while dealing with the likes of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.  His career points per game average is best for 10th all-time while his career rebounding per game average is 3rd all-time.  As a big NBA fan and a Hawks fan, I've read and seen much on Bob Petit and became a big fan.  From what I know he lived a good life after basketball.  He'll be greatly missed.  RIP.

1X NBA Champion, 2X MVP, 11X All-NBA, 11X All-Star, 2X Scoring Champion, NBA 75th Anniversary Team