Random Wax: 1990 Donruss (3 Packs)

1990 Donruss:  Tom Glavine is one of my favorite Braves of all-time and is also 10 ten all-time amongst all players.  Add him to one of my favorite designs and it's a big win.  He was named to 10 All-Star games, earned Cy Young Award votes in six seasons and won four Silver Slugger Awards as a pitcher. His 682 games started ranks 12th all-time, and his 305 victories are fourth all-time among left-handers. Glavine was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014 (Baseball Hall of Fame).

Charlie Hough had a 216-216 win loss record while playing 25 seasons and garnered one all-star nod.  Jim Abbott had a losing record for his career but that means nothing compared to just making it, and playing at a high level, in the major leagues with only one hand.  His best season was 1991 with 18 wins and a 2.89 ERA.  

I'm a big fan of the Diamond Kings from the era and these are no different.  I like the head and shoulders and full body views on these.  And we also get different backgrounds to help differentiate the cards.

I'm so disappointed in the MVP cards.  About as bland as it gets.

Wasn't quite greatness yet.  Yet.

These all-star cards are top notch as well.  The league logos are just too cool.  You know there'll be more of these on the blog as I'm a big fan.

BREAKDOWN:

45 – Total Cards (3 Packs)
3 – Puzzle
3 – MVP
3 – Diamond Kings
2 – Rated Rookie
1 – All-Star

Random Wax: 2024 Score Football Blaster

 2024 Score: Barry Sanders needs no introduction.  10X Pro Bowl and 6X All-Pro selection.  His stats are so fun to look through.  Just amazing.

I like the design on these, so they are always fun.  Nice pull in this box.

Great photo on this Celebration insert.

Rookies get their time to shine in multiple formats.  And we get to see the great Michigan Wolverine unis.

Some good QB rookie pulls even if I didn't get a Jayden Daniels.

League Leaders inserts including the back of one.  Some of these stats are a bit random but can be fun.  I think some of the old school cards with multiple players in the traditional categories would be more fun, but these have their place as well.

I like the photos on the Sack Attack inserts.

The backs are really colorful and pretty good sans complete stats.

I love retired greats and these all scratch the itch.  Andre Tippet was a 2X All-Pro, 5X All-Pro, and named to the All-1980s Team.

Fun.

Some retired great offensive linemen.  Joe Thomas was a beast.

That Patrick Mahomes is a Stars Parallel #/399.  Great pull and I like the look of those.

Fun box.  Great pull, variety, many PC guys and lots of retired greats.  I'll definitely do more Score.

BREAKDOWN:

132 – Total Cards

39 – RC

34 – 2024 Rookie

21 – Retired Greats

6 – Celebration

5 – League Leaders

4 - Protential

4 – Green Parallel

3 – Sack Attack

2 – First Ballot

2 - 35th Anniversary Rookie

1 – Purple Parallel

1 – Stars Parallel #/399

The Dead Don't Hurt (2023)

The Dead Don't Hurt:  Another western me and pop watched lately.  Written, directed and produced by Viggo Mortensen, it's a non-traditional western in how it's presented and told but still very similar to what you'd expect.  I enjoyed the movie.  It's not the typical fighty fighty western movie.  At its core it's more about the couple starting a life in Nevada around the time of the civil war.  There are some familiar faces in the movie in supporting roles but Vicky Krieps and Viggo Mortenson are the main focus of the movie.  Their relationship is done well and they are fun together.  Unfortunately, local bad elements interrupt the peaceful lifestyle they are seeking.  It's definitely worth a watch but probably not one you need to put too high on your watch list.

Random Wax: 2023-2024 Contenders Basketball (2 Packs)

23-24 Contenders:   Steph Curry and the Warriors have surged lately after the addition of Jimmy Butler.  Steph isn't having his best statistical year but he's still one of the best in the game.

These are two more fat packs from a box I purchased last year.  Good pull and the design is one I like.  I'm in the minority as a member of the Contenders brand fan club but they work for me.

Stallions are a nice-looking card.  I like the coloring and background.  Brandon Miller, though injured this season, is a legit rising star in the league and a great pairing with LaMelo Ball.

These Historic Draft Class inserts are great.  Wish we had retired greats on other designs within the set as well, but these are still fun.

Franz Wagner, Michigan alum, has become an excellent scorer and is scoring almost 25 points per game this season.  Nikola Jokic is maybe having his best season as a pro.  He is currently top three in the league in points, rebounds and assists per game.  That is nothing short of amazing.  

Young Kyrie!  These Draft Class cards are fun.

That CJ McCollum is a Game Day Bronze Parallel.  Interestingly enough, LaMelo Ball was my oldest grandson's favorite player but he was just recently supplanted by Ja (on a Game Night Ticket).  Fun coincidence since I scanned these in July.

BREAKDOWN:

44 – Total Cards

5 – RC

2 – Stallions

1 – Retired Greats

2 – Historic Draft Class

2 – Bronze Game Day Ticket Parallel

1 – Draft Class

1 – Game Night Ticket

2024 Upper Deck Spider-Man (3 Packs)

 2024 Spider-Man: We'll kick this post off with a good-looking Captain America card.  The art has a classic feel to it which I like.

I wasn't familiar with this set when I saw the packs but knew I wanted them.  I like the basic design.  The dark red borders, logo and art are all good.  Not all the art is a hit with me.  The Wolverine art seems a bit odd but overall, I feel these are classic looks for the characters which I enjoy.

I pulled four Battle Time cards.  These are good cards too.  I do think the bottom border can be a bit smaller but it's not overly egregious.  

Some love for the ladies of Marvel.  I like all three of these with Arachne being my favorite.  Mockingbird's look feels a little off for me but I'm no expert on all her looks.

I'm a big fan of the Rhino who all in all is a minor Spider-Man character so I enjoy his inclusion.

Lots of characters from the Spidey-Verse we see a lot of as well as characters like Captain Britain who we might not think of when we think of Spider-Man.

Here we have the backs of the base card, Monumental Covers insert and Battle Time cards.  All are fine though I wish Monumental Covers hadn't gone all bright on us.

I will definitely go back and look for more of this set though probably singles for the most part.  I paid ~$6 per pack which means these are a dollar a card right off the bat.  I should be used to hero cards being expensive but the price points on Marvel and DC cards still surprises me.  Another reason I tend to go back to the Kayou Marvel and DC offerings.

These are fun cards.  I really like the look of that Iron Fist.  I read the Power Man and Iron Fist comics when I was young.  This Monumental Covers is a great looking card as well.  I really like the design and seeing the covers while feeling retro.

TRADING CARDS:
18 – Total Cards
4 – Battle Time
1 – Monumental Covers

Random Wax: 1991 Pro Set Football Series 1 4 Packs

1991 Pro Set:  Thurman Thomas was such an amazing running back.  He led the league in yards from scrimmage four times.  A Bills legend and I have a Thurman Thomas jersey.

Something about this design, similar to the 1990 set just makes it work.  So simple and even without the team logo it looks good.  I like the Pro Set logos as well.  Not sure why, but it combined with the NFL shield looks good.

Another Bills legend celebrating and Buffalo had a lot to celebrate about in the 90s.

I like the Hall of Fame cards and we also get a Milestone and Award Winner card which I like.  And for some reason we have the team helmets here.  Feels like those would have worked on the base cards though maybe without the colored background behind them.

We all remember Johnny Grier.  Easy to overlook these guys but then when you see their cards, you're like "I remember that guy".

Some of the excellent players from the era. 

Chuck Noll is of course the coach of four Pittsburgh Steelers championship teams.

We get World League cards.  That middle card is a Dallas Public Service Announcement insert which includes players from other teams like we see with Ray Childress of the Houston Oilers.  NFL Newsreel cards aren't bad and a good look at a moment in time.

Knoll would retire after the 1991 season with 193 wins.

I love the All-NFC inserts and this art.

Maybe Steve Tasker won't be celebrating this moment but still a fun card.  Another Bill who will never have to buy his own drink in Buffalo.

So many memories here and fun cards.  Like all three of these players and lots of Bills in these packs which is a win for me.  I also get Deion whose name was in the news quite a bit with NFL coaching vacancies.

BREAKDOWN:
60 – Total Cards
6 – Officials
5 – World League Collectibles
3 - Coach
3 – All-NFC Team
2 – NFL Newsreel
2 – Dallas Public Service Announcement
1 – Milestone
1 – Hall of Fame
1 – Award Winner
1 – League Leader