Flintstones, meet the NFL Flintstones

I had a great time in San Diego and was very happy to see some friends that I only get to see once a year. I hate having to deal with the change in time zones coming back from the west - I really didn't want to get up this morning.


I did find some cards at the Comic-Con.

The M&M's cards were put out by Marvel Comics and picked up while walking by their booth.


I picked up the Preacher cards and the Poison Ivy card at different times in the DC Comics booth.

The Preacher cards are promos for Topps Now. There are three in the package and they will be shown below.


I haven't opened the M&M's cards yet, but thought that I would show the back.


There was nothing on the back of the Poison Ivy card so I didn't show it.

I haven't watched the Preacher tv show yet, but have enjoyed the Preacher comics that I have read.

I bought a sealed "football" box from one card dealer. I already had the three Browns cards in the set, but figured that it would be a fun set to put together.

This product came out in 1993, and as you can see on the box the set contains 110 cards and there are randomly packed Hologram and Tekchrome cards to look for.

The set breaks down as follows:

Cards 1-28 are Draft Picks cards for the 28 NFL teams

Cards 29-56 are Schedule cards for each team

Cards 57-84 have Team Stats for each team

Cards 85-100 are Stone Age Signals showing different referee calls.

Cards 101-110 are a little different - they don't have gloss on the front and are not colored. They are meant to be colored and have facts or games on the back. As it turns out there were one of these cards in each pack unless it was replaced by a Hologram or Tekchrome card.

Searching the checklist at Beckett, I discovered that there were three Hologram cards and one Tekchrome card to find.

Here are the three Browns cards from the set, and their backs:



Top (l-r): #33 Browns Schedule; #5 Browns Draft Picks
Bottom: #61 Browns Team Stats



I like how Barney's number changes on his two cards.

Here is a sample of a Stone Age Signals card.

When I was young, I remember buying hockey stickers that had referee signals on them, and I really liked the idea. These are better than the stickers since they also give a simple explanation of the penalty.

Here is the front and back of one of the activity type cards.

Top: #106 front; Bottom #106 back

I enjoyed opening the box, but was surprised that I didn't complete the base set. And unbelievably it was the ten activity cards that I couldn't complete. I ended up needing cards 104 and 105, and 16 of the 36 packs contained card numbers 107-109. No matter, I'll easily be able to pick up the missing cards.

As for finding the Tekchrome and Hologram cards, I had pretty good success. I pulled the Tekchrome card, and two of the three Holograms. The missing Hologram card may prove a little trickier to find.

Tekchrome #T1

Hologram #H1

Hologram #H2

Anyone have a #H3 collecting dust that they don't want?

Panini had a booth at Comic-Con and I had a great time talking to one of their employees that was also there last year. We had a good talk, but when I went by their booth on Sunday to say bye, and get his name, he wasn't there.

They had some football product with them. I bought a pack of this year's Donruss Elite, and a box of 2016 Panini Football that I will review later this week. I didn't buy any of this year's NFL stickers (I should be able to get them here at home) or the UCLA or USC college blasters that hey had in their booth.

Topps had a table in the large Star Wars area on the convention floor but I wasn't really tempted by the oversize Star Wars cards they had available for sale. They were neat but not my cup of tea.

I really didn't take many photos at the convention - I figure that plenty of other people will post theirs online already and I find that there really aren't many good times to stop in the crowd to snap the pictures.

I'll post about more of my Comic-Con purchases tomorrow.

Quick update - on my way to San Diego

I've been meaning to post but didn't.


My friend absolutely loved the Bowman Martin/Rizzuto card (from last post) that I gave him. He seemed to start shaking slightly when he realized what it was, and couldn't speak for a moment. You could tell that he was affected by receiving the card.


First he wanted to pay for it, but I would have none of that. Not much of a gift if I let him pay me back. He told me that I had no idea what the card meant to him. That card (well, not the exact one that I gave him!) was the first baseball card that his father gave to him when he was a little boy. It definitely brought back great memories for him. It was great to see.


Anyway, as the subject of the post above says, I'm on my way to San Diego. I'm going to Comic Con, and look forward to a lot of fun. I don't look forward to the crowds, they aren't as fun.


As well, I'll be going to a concert on Thursday night - Straight No Chaser is playing in San Diego. Always a great show!


No cards to post, so I'll leave two videos - one from Straight No Chaser, and one from my friend Danielle Allard, who I was happy to see in concert last Wednesday night at the Ottawa Bluesfest. (Oh, what an old name that it still carries...so little Blues to be heard anymore.)


Straight No Chaser's version of Radiohead's Creep:

Danielle Allard's Shipwreck:

Enjoy!


And I'll try to post from my hotel room in San Diego.

One card post - gift for a friend

I bought a card off eBay that isn't going into my collection.


I don't have many friends to talk baseball with in person. Most of the baseball fans I know here follow and cheer for the Blue Jays, and used to follow or cheer for the Expos, but if I want to talk about the Mets, or other teams around the league, there is only one friend that I can count on to know what I want to talk about. He is retired, a life-long baseball fan, and used to be a card collector so he also gives me someone to excitedly tell about recent additions to my Browns collection.


Sometime before Christmas, while talking cards, he mentioned one card that he wished he had from when he was a kid. He didn't remember the year but it was easy to find with his description of who was on it. I decided to try and find a copy for him.

1953 Bowman Color #93 - Billy Martin and Phil Rizzuto

I had been watching for it for a while and eventually came across this card on eBay for $25 including shipping. I have seen many poorer copies with much higher prices so I jumped at it.

I can't wait to give him the card. I should see him next tomorrow night at trivia, and will probably give it to him then. I'm not sure when his birthday is, but I figure I'll just call it an early/late birthday gift. I know that he'll enjoy it.

Spring COMC order - Final part: 2014 - 2015

Let's finish up looking at my Spring COMC order with cards from the last couple of years, and with some players that are still part of the team.

L: 2014 Topps Finest - Refractor #4
R: 2014 Topps Platinum - Blue #59

What can you say about Josh Gordon? All the talent you could ask for, but can you count on him for your team? Providing that he has stayed clean, he can apply for his suspension to be lifted at the beginning of August. I don't know how the league will rule. I don't think that he helped his cause earlier this year hanging out at parties with Johnny Manziel. Even if he didn't partake in anything it could give the league decision-makers some pause as they consider his case. And Johnny, thanks for wearing the Gordon jersey and tweeting out your support for him a couple of weeks ago, I'm sure that will help his case.

L: 2014 Panini Select #160
R: 2014 Topps Chrome - Refractor #152

Gabriel's production slipped in his second year with the Browns. After a rookie season of 36 catches with an average of 17.3 yards per catch, in his second season he caught a similar 28 passes (in three less games), but only averaged 8.6 yards per catch. Routes may have been different, or he just may not have broken a few catches for big gains, but I'm sure that everyone would prefer to see his yards per catch increase again.


Justin Gilbert is getting a clean slate with the new coaching staff. Hopefully he develops into a solid starter to help justify his first round draft selection.

L: 2014 Bowman Chrome - Refractor #202
R: 2014 Bowman Chrome - Topps Shelf Rookies #TSR-TW

I really liked the Topps Shelf insert card. I like how the background was made to fit with the team colors and uniform.


I know that I had already shown some of the 2015 cards that I had ordered in my post of Score cards, but I also picked up the following 2015 cards that I needed.

Top: 2015 Topps Platinum - Gold #98
Bottom L: 2015 Panini Contenders - Rookie of the Year Contenders #ROY18
Bottom R: Panini Prizm #219

Here are three players that the Browns will be counting on for the upcoming season. Joe Haden needs to stay healthy, while Danny Shelton needs to keep the weight off that he lost in the off-season. There are hopes that Duke Johnson will be an offensive weapon based on how Hue Jackson has used his running backs in Oakland and Cincinnati.

Top (l-r): 2015 Panini Prizm #300; 2015 Topps Chrome - Green Refractor #168
Bottom (l-r): 2015 Topps Platinum #116; 2015 Topps Platinum - Xfractor #116

I had to end with these Vince Mayle cards. I know, I know, I've harped many times on the amount of cards that he has considering that he didn't make the team out of training camp. I just wish that a set like Topps Platinum that was released in the middle of December could have adapted to roster changes from August.

Spring COMC order - Part 6: 2011 - 2013

Among the cards in this post are some more parallels that I needed.

Top (l-r): 2011 Topps Chrome - Refractor #28; 2011 Topps Chrome - Xfractor #28
Bottom: 2011 Topps Chrome - Refractor #126

These refractors were really picked up by the printer, and are pretty easy to identify when looking at them in hand. I still need a lot of Xfractors, so was happy to add this to my collection.


I went to Browns training camp in 2012 and wanted to buy a new Browns jersey. I almost picked up a Hillis jersey but went with a Colt McCoy jersey instead. Sigh.

Top: 2011 Panini Rookies & Stars - Rookie Revolution #11
Bottom (l-r): 2011 Panini Rookies & Stars #193; 2011 Panini Crown Royale #45

You have to like the 00 that Little is wearing in so many of his 2011 cards, but at least it shows him in a uniform.


I was happy to see Jabaal Sheard do well with the Patriots. He was a player that got lost in all the turnover with the Browns coaching staffs and the ever-changing defensive systems.


Josh Cribbs was always exciting to watch. He was one of the few constant bright spots on his years with the team.

L-R: 2012 Panini Prizm #286; 2012 Topps Chrome - Refractor #215

Best wishes to Travis Benjamin playing with the Chargers this year. I'm sorry to see him go. With his speed you never knew when he would break one.


D'Qwell Jackson was another favorite that was let go when the coaching regime changed.

L-R: 2013 Topps Chrome - Refractor #13; 2013 Topps Chrome - Blue Wave Refractor #13

These cards always looks so familiar but that is because between the base cards and the parallels that I own of this card, they make up 5 of the 9 Miguel Maysonet cards that I own.


The funny thing with this card is that Miguel Maysonet has an Eagles card in the main Topps set, after he signed with them as an undrafted free agent in April 2013. The Eagles cut him in late May, and the Browns claimed him on waivers before eventually releasing him at the end of August. Topps changed the front, and the color scheme on the back of the card, but the text remained the same.

When I first read the back of this card I was confused as to why a Browns card would have anything to do with the new Eagles coach, Chip Kelly. I thought that Maysonet may have played for Kelly, but no. Then when I saw that his card in the base set was with the Eagles and I figured out why the text is how it is. It was just interesting that they would find a new front photo, and change the color scheme on the back of the card but not update the text.


Anyway, to finish the Miguel Maysonet story, it appears that throughout the 2013 season he was signed to practice rosters with the Colts, Chargers, Jets and Redskins. After the 2013 season he was signed by the Steelers, but cut at the end of training camp. He was then signed to the Bills practice squad but cut after a few weeks there.


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I'd like to finish off this post with a shout-out to Corky at the Pack War blog and congratulate him on the blog's seventh anniversary! He is a great trading partner, and I was lucky enough to meet him to trade in person in March. Great guy that he is, to celebrate he is having a contest. Check it out!

Spring COMC order: Part 5 - Richardson and Weeden

I don't need to tell anyone that the Browns have had trouble with hitting their top picks in recent drafts. Here are some cards that I picked up from the Browns two 1st Round Picks from 2012.


Top: 2012 Playoff Prestige - Draft City Destinations #3
Bottom: 2012 Playoff Prestige - Draft City Destinations #11


L-R: 2012 Topps Platinum #102 and #130

Brandon Weeden signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans in April. He will likely be the backup behind their free agent signing Brock Osweiler.


Trent Richardson signed with the Baltimore Ravens where he will try to make the team.

Top: 2012 Topps Finest - Finest Moments #FM-TR
Bottom (l-r): 2012 Topps Magic - Rookie Enchantment #RE-TR; 2012 Topps Strata #75

Top: 2013 Bowman - Die-Cut #BDC-TR
Bottom (l-r): 2013 Bowman - Black Rainbow Foil #37; 2013 Panini Prizm - Brilliance #5

L: 2012 Topps Chrome - 1965 #6
R: 2012 Panini Contenders - Rookie of the Year Contenders #2

Top L: 2012 Panini Prizm #205
Top R: 2012 Playoff Prestige - Prestigious Picks Gold #8
Bottom: 2013 Topps Triple Threads #39

With the trades that the Browns new front office made during the draft they picked up a second first round pick next year. Hopefully they will make better use of that extra first round pick.


Spring COMC order - Part 4: 2004 - 2010

Here are some more cards from my most recent COMC order.

Left: 2004 Bowman Chrome #212
Right: 2004 Topps Finest #75

Two rookies from the 2004 season, and at the time if you had asked who would still be in the league over ten years later, I'm sure that most people would have guessed Winslow.

Left: 2006 Press Pass - Blue #B14
Right: 2006 Playoff Prestige #202

A good friend of mine is a fan of the Washington State Cougars, and I always hear from him when the Browns draft one of their players. (This friend bought me a Browns jersey last Christmas - of former Cougar defensive lineman Xavier Cooper.) He had nothing but exciting things to say about Harrison. I was hoping for the best.


After getting very few carries during his first three seasons with the team, he really turned it on with 561 yards during the last three games of the 2009 season, including a 286 yard game in Kansas City which broke Jim Brown's team single-game rushing record.


He had a slow start to the 2010 season, with limited carries and was traded to the Eagles on October 18 for Mike Bell. After finishing the season with Philadelphia, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions. The Lions arranged to trade him back to the Eagles, but the trade was voided after his physical discovered a brain tumor. He had surgery, which discovered that the tumor was benign, but there were complications which led to the end of his career. According to his Wikipedia entry, on Thanksgiving 2012, CBS aired a special documenting his recovery which said that he had regained many of his motor skills. I have seen no other updates as to how he is doing.

Top: 2006 Topps Chrome - Refractor #112
Bottom (l-r): 2006 Topps Chrome - Refractor #67 and #150

I didn't own any refractors from this Topps Chrome set before finding some in this COMC order. You can actually tell they are refractors in the light, but best of all they show it on the back.

One reason to show you the back of this card was to show that they actually identify the card as a refractor, but the main reason to show it to you is the trivia that the cartoon brings. (And Tuesday is my trivia night with Buzztime trivia.)


John Havlicek actually participated at training camp for the Browns in 1962 as a wide receiver. I guess he made the right choice in going to the NBA as he had a Hall of Fame career with the Celtics.

Top L: 2007 Bowman Chrome - Refractor #BC142
Top R: 2007 Topps Draft Picks & Prospects - Chrome Black #75
Bottom: 2008 Bowman Chrome - Refractor #BC211

More parallels of former Pro Bowl players that didn't have the extended careers that many thought they would have.

Top: 2009 Topps Chrome - Refractor #TC13
Bottom (l-r): 2009 SP Threads - Die Cut #AP17; 2009 Topps Mayo - Mini #197

Once again, more parallels. I was a fan of Brady Quinn, and was always hoping he would do well. I wish he had been given more of a chance to succeed.

Top: 2010 Topps - Peak Performance #PP48
Bottom (l-r): 2010 Panini Classics - Team Colors #34; 2010 Topps Finest - Finest Moments #FM-5

A second round pick out of Tennessee, Montario Hardesty fought injuries throughout his time with the Browns, and finished his career with 537 yards on 153 carries between the 2011 and 2012 seasons. After once again being injured during the 2013 training camp, he was placed on injured reserve and then released from the team.

Happy 4th of July!

To all my friends south of the Canadian border, have a great Independence Day! I'll be sure to watch some of the fireworks on tv tonight.


This is just going to be a simple post with no commentary. The following are a selection of cards in my collection that are all numbered 4 in their sets, with pictures borrowed from The Trading Card Database.




2004 Topps eTopps

1969 Topps

1970 Kellogg's

1992 Sunoco Browns Hall of Fame

1993 Fleer

2002 Fleer Genuine

2005 Topps

2008 Upper Deck Icons

2009 SP Signature Edition

2011 Panini Threads - Heritage Collection

2012 Topps

2014 Topps Finest - Refractor

2015 Panini Gridiron Kings