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Showing posts from May, 2024

2024 Topps Finest UEFA Soccer Auto Pulls

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 I really like opening soccer cards, so recently when I went to my local card store in Carlsbad, CA to buy some football hobby products for my brother in law, I noticed that they had a new shipment of 2024 Topps Finest UEFA Champions League/Europa League. The autograph checklist on this set is massive as they contain a bunch of huge names, and you are guaranteed two autographs per box. The big chase was a 1 of 1 dual auto of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi, which coincidentally got pulled locally at another store I frequent.  I'll get it out of the way quickly and say I did not pull an autograph of that magnitude, nor anywhere close really, but the box I opened ended up being fantastic due to the numbered cards I pulled.  Goncalo Ramos auto is /99, and the better of the two autographs in the box. He's a pretty good young forward playing for PSG. The other auto was a base auto of defender Benjamin Henrichs of RB Leipzig. The jewels of the box though were two numbered cards...

Bowman Retail Strikes Again!

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 I've had some pretty decent success with Bowman Baseball. Bowman is a product with the coveted '1st Bowman' cards of baseball prospects. Obviously the extreme outcomes of prospects in Major League Baseball makes it a complete crapshoot as to which players you pull that will actually pan out. The biggest hit I've ever pulled from the product, and keep in mind I only ever have bought retail, is the second biggest card I have ever pulled. Take a peek at what that was  here . I've also pulled autos of players still considered among the best in baseball like Harry Ford numbered autos, etc.  This past weekend I went to a new LCS really close to my house with my daughter and had her open four blasters of this year's Bowman. In the second box, she pulled this beauty. Colton Cowser on card auto rookie card numbered 14/99. This is a really cool card and Cowser is having a very good rookie season this year.  In a box I opend last week, I pulled another Mariners 1st Bowman...

Anthony Richardson

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 This post is going to have a bit of the investment element to it, as I feel like I bought low on a quarterback who in my opinion has massive upside if he stays healthy. Anthony Richardson, who coincidentally was the only rookie QB with autos in this past season's Panini NFL product, was the recent purchase I made off of eBay. This is a numbered Panini Mosaic rookie auto numbered 79/99, and is a team color match as you can see.  In terms of the card only being graded a 7, that is definitely what kept the cost lower on this card than I otherwise think it would or should be. It is obviously encapsulated as authentic by PSA since they graded it, but it is also sealed by eBay itself as authentic as well. I have half a mind to crack it out of the slab and send in back to PSA for grading the autograph itself only, as that would likely grade high and take the "stain" off this being a 7. That goes contrary to how I usually operate however, and is probably only something I'd c...

Mariano Rivera Private Signing

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 I think it's safe to say that one of the bigger names I'll end up acquiring in 2024 came through the mail yesterday, and I am very happy with how it turned out. Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in MLB history and first ever unanimous Hall of Famer is the signature that came back, on a 1996 Score rookie card. I chose this rookie card because the Bowman rookie that most people prefer is just so goofy and I definitely prefer the action shot as opposed to a guy standing there not in uniform. 

Oscar Robertson

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 I have mentioned previously that there are constantly autograph signings happening all over the country and that there are websites I use (preferably sportscollectors.net) to help me find said signings and determine whether the price is something I want to pay for a specific athlete. The highest prices tend to be players who had more modern careers, or are currently active. NFL and NBA signings tend to be higher prices than getting Hall of Famers from Baseball and especially the NHL. One other factor I always consider is whether or not it's cheaper to get a signed card from a Panini or Topps product. In the case of one of the all time NBA greats, Oscar Robertson, the latter was by far the way to go. I was notified by email last week that Oscar was going to be doing a signing, and the below list is what the prices were going to be; Autograph Pricing: Flats up to 11x14 / Magazines / Non Rookie Cards:  $169 + S&H  16x20 / Toy / Figure:  $189 + S&H Jersey: ...

Bernie Parent Private Signing

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 Yesterday I received my card back from a signing by one of the NHLs all time great goalies, Flyers legend Bernie Parent. Parent was named to the NHLs all time top 100 team and is clearly considered one of the greatest goalies in history.  As you can see, I had the HOF 84 inscription added to the card, and as usual I am happy with how this one turned out. I've mentioned this in the past but one thing that stands out to me about hockey signings is that they are so much more affordable than the other sports. You can get all time greats without breaking the bank.