More from the Shoebox

I was pleasantly surprised to come home to a PWE from Shane at Shoebox Legends and happily opened it to see what I might find.


Befitting his blog name, it started with a legend.

2010 Topps Triple Threads - Sepia #99 (#/499)

A great shot of Jim Brown with those two facemask bars on his helmet. I remember reading that Brown often complained about people trying to poke his eyes in the pile on the ground after a tackle. You can see how easy it would be with this photo.


The other interesting thing is how empty the stands are behind him. I wonder where and when the photo was taken.


A second member of the Hall of Fame also lurked in the envelope.

2011 Panini Limited #101 (#/499)

Two of my earliest Browns favorites are Ozzie Newsome and Clay Matthews. I understood when Newsome moved with the team to Baltimore, but I really still can't understand why he had to wear a Ravens shirt while being interviewed for the A Football Life episode on the 1995 Cleveland Browns. I understand all the others being interviewed wearing the colors of the team that they were working for, but I found it insensitive for a Browns legend to wear his Ravens shirt talking about the move that ripped the hearts out of Browns fans. I know he is their GM, but still, could he not have worn a neutral shirt?


In any case, I still love Newsome's playing career, and respect the job he has done in Baltimore, and love that I continue to see him in his Browns uniform on cardboard.


There was also a couple of nice shiny cards.

L: 2013 Panini Prizm - Prizms Light Blue Pulsar #18
R: 2014 Bowman Chrome - Rookie Autographs Refractors #RCRA-TW

Both players are still playing in the NFL - Jackson with the Colts, and West with the Ravens.


I love the look of the Blue Pulsar cards. It doesn't fit in with the color of the Browns uniforms, but I don't care. I like them.


When I opened the envelope I could have sworn that I already had the West card. Short of time at a card store or show, I probably would have passed on it figuring that I already had it. It looks just like so many other West autograph cards that I have from 2014.


Surprise! I needed it! Always room for one more autograph in the collection.


A couple of Gridiron Kings parallels of the current running backs.

L-R: 2015 Panini Gridiron Kings - Red Framed #29; #128

I love the art look to these cards even though I think that I read that they are digitally enhanced to achieve that look.


I'm sure that Crowell and Johnson will be leaned on this Sunday when Cody Kessler gets his first start.


And finally, it finished with a former Browns quarterback.

L-R: 2014 Topps Chrome - 1963 Minis #26; 2016 Score - Showcase #75 (#/99)

I know that I'll be adding Manziel cards to my collection for years. His cards are rapidly approaching being among the top 10 players in my collection, and at some point they will pass the amount of cards I have of Bernie Kosar.


Shane, thanks for the great cards! I keep looking at cards that I have put aside to send you. I should really get to that soon.