Another Sportlots order - Part 1: Some Mets and pre-move Browns

Wanting to finish off the opening day starting lineup for the 2018 Mets, I decided to go look on Sportlots and see if I could find a seller that had the five players that I was missing.

Top (l-r): 2018 Topps Heritage #591; 2018 Topps #670

Middle (l-r): 2018 Topps Update - 1983 Topps 35th #83-21; 2018 Topps Chrome #172

Bottom: 2018 Topps #575

Looking at various sellers, I eventually found one that had cards for all five of these players, and picked these up from him for eighteen cents each.

I saw the Frazier card on somebody's blog, and knew that I wanted to look for that card, and I was happy to see that there was an Adrian Gonzalez card for me to purchase since his stint with the team was so short.

After buying these Mets cards, I then looked to see what Browns cards the seller might have that I needed. I managed to find quite a few. Here are some cards that I was missing from before the Browns moved to Baltimore.

L-R: 1992 Wild Card - 5 Stripe #239; 1993 Wild Card - 10 Stripe #41

Two posts in a row with Wild Card stripes!

I can honestly say that I was shocked to find these stripe cards as cheap as they were - one for $0.35, and the other for $0.30. I remember searching for these when they came out, and any stripes that I saw were definitely not that cheap back then.

L-R: 1994 Stadium Club - Bowman's Best Members Only #2; - Bowman's Best Members Only #11

Okay, I'll admit that when these came to me it took me a while to figure out how they were Members Only. Finally, I spotted the black writing printed on the cards. I would say that they barely show up in the scan, but really they are almost as hard to see in hand. The printing is vertical, on the silver stripe on the left of the card. On the Alexander card, it is on the top left of the card. On the Langham card, it is right under his left wrist.

I wonder if I have missed any of these in the past when I've looked through boxes of cards.

L-R: 1993 Pro Set Power - Gold #101; 1995 Classic Five Sport #70; 1995 Collector's Edge - Die Cut #46

I've always liked the base version of this Pro Set Power Michael Jackson card, so I was happy to get the gold parallel. I just love the way that he seems to be watching the ball come down into his arms. I know some people like having their players centered on the card, but I think this works having the ball drop in.

Ohio State linebacker Craig Powell was the Browns final first round draft pick before the team moved to Baltimore. I was surprised that I needed this base card, as I recognized it instantly when I saw it. As it turned out, I already owned a die cut version of the card.

And speaking of die cuts, here's a Collector's Edge one of Andre Rison on a Browns card, in a Falcons uniform. I love the old Collector's Edge cards that were made out of plastic.

Top: 1995 Pacific Prisms - Gold #18

Middle: 1995 Playoff Prime - Minis #19

Bottom: 1995 Playoff Prime - Minis #33

These are parallels that I don't mind. First of all, they are easily recognizable compared to the original cards, and second they are the only parallels for each of their sets. I like how bright and shiny the Playoff Prime Minis look in the scans, and don't even mind that they replaced the card backgrounds with those blue windows, or whatever they are.

Top: 1995 Pacific Gridiron #61

Bottom (l-r): 1995 Pro Line - Printer's Proofs #300; 1995 SP Championship - Die Cuts #86

Okay, it is rare that I am surprised by cards that I order, but the Pacific Gridiron card did just that. I was familiar with the Gridiron name, as it has been re-used over time, but I had never seen one from 1995, and had no idea that they were oversized cards. They are awesome!

Here is a scan of the back of the Gridiron card:

How great is that back? Identifying the game, and giving a game summary? I've wanted to see that for a long time, and there was a set that did it from 1995, and I didn't know about it! And the card credits the photographer too! So nice to see that.

I loved this card so much that I found and bought a complete 100 card red foil set on eBay. I can't wait to receive it.

Top: 1995 Ultra - Second Year Standouts - Gold Medallion #1

Bottom: 1996 SPx - Gold #9

The Gold Medallion cards for the base cards from 1995 Ultra have complete gold backgrounds. The inserts just have the gold stamp. I understand why given the multiple photos, and the background of this card, but I think the base card parallels are more distinct.

I really like the 1996 SPx cards, and their holograms. The gold sides are what makes it the gold parallel.

I'm very happy adding this many 1990s Browns cards to my collection with one order. I'll show the cards from 1999 on in that were also part of this order in a future post.

Browns on Cards - stripes, gold and a monster

A while back, Kerry of the Cards on Cards blog posted that he had picked up some football cards at a Goodwill store. Luckily he thought of me for a bunch of really cool Browns cards that were in there.

Top (l-r): 1992 Wild Card - 10 Stripe #172; - 10 Stripe #168

Bottom (l-r): 1992 Wild Card - Stat Smashers #SS-22; - Running Wild #22

Who doesn't like Wild Card stripe cards? I was thrilled to see these, and to add them to my collection, especially a new Clay Matthews card.

When I was buying Wild Cards packs, I never managed to pull any of the Browns inserts, and there are two in the Stat Smashers insert set, and three in the Running Wild one. I always smile when I get them now as I think back to my frustration back then.

Ah, Metcalf and Mack, the Browns Tecmo Super Bowl running backs. More happy memories.

Top (l-r): 1992 Topps - Gold #38; - Gold #301

Bottom (l-r): 1992 Topps - Gold #271; 1992 Pro Set #471

I love these gold inserts. How can you beat that Matt Stover kicking card? Well, you can add Eric Metcalf and Touchdown Tommy gold cards to it. And while you're at it, toss in another Tommy Vardell rookie card.

Top (l-r): 1992 Upper Deck - Gold #G31; - Gold #G43

Bottom (l-r): 1993 Pro Set #114; 1993 Score - Pinnacle Men of Autumn #33

I guess that I could have turned the two Upper Deck cards over to show the gold holograms, and that these are the gold inserts. These cards both have different photos than the base versions of the Kosar and Perry cards.

Seeing the Vinny Testaverde Pro Set card makes me realize that I really haven't looked at my 1993 cards in a while. The photo on it makes me laugh as it looks like he is holding hands with the defender coming in to tackle him.

As a Canadian, I really like these Men of Autumn insert cards with the maple leaf logo on them. And, again, it always makes it better that it is a Clay Matthews card.

Top: 1994 Topps Archives 1957 - Gold #76

Bottom: 1994 Topps Archives 1957 #28

More gold for my collection.

I appreciate these Archives reprint sets a lot more now than I did when they came out. Although I own copies of most of the vintage 1957 cards, and love them, it is also nice to have these cleaner reprints to go with them.

The Renfro gold parallel brings me up to owning six of the thirteen Browns cards from the set.

Top (l-r): 1994 Ultra - First Rounders #11; 1999 Upper Deck Retro #38

Bottom (l-r): 1994 Upper Deck - Electric Silver #156; 1995 King B Discs #20

I'm never going to complain about receiving Jim Brown cards, or rookie insert cards like the one of Antonio Langham. (Ah, who am I kidding, I don't complain about receiving any Browns cards!)

Eric Turner was another of my favorites, and I was so happy when he left the Ravens to join the Raiders. He was a safety that just seemed to fit the Raiders - if he couldn't be a Brown. It is so sad that he died of cancer at the age of 31.

1994 Coca-Cola Monsters of the Gridiron #7

The title of this post said there would be a monster. Here you go, one of my favorite oddballs!

Thank you very much, Kerry, I really appreciate the cards! (Ummm, small 'c'. I'm still annoyed by the 1985 and 1987 Cards that kept the Mets out of the playoffs, so I don't appreciate them.)

A minute a card: five random cards from my collection 6

Another weekly installment showing five random cards from my collection from the collection randomizer at The Trading Card Database, with one minute of commentary on each card.

1990 Pro Set #70

What can I say? An absolutely great football name! A nice photo for a defender.

I miss Pro Set. They always had such large team sets that you got players that you wouldn't normally get. So they were overprinted...

2003 Topps Total - Silver #40

Speaking of sets giving you players you don't normally get, I miss Topps Total for the same reason. Although White, as a running back, would get cards made of him in most sets.

I didn't mind having a parallel or two to get, especially since border colors are so easy to figure out.

2004 Leaf Limited - Bronze Spotlight #136 (#/100)

I'm happy when I get cards of Browns that are in the Hall of Fame. Love the old helmet.

This parallel picked up the color from the scanner. I actually like the refracted colors that show up.

1998 Ron Mix HOF Autographs - Platinum (#/2500)

Well, a randomizer is a randomizer. I showed this card recently when I updated my all-autograph team. I still love it though, and am happy to show it again.

I'm really happy to have "The Toe" inscription with the autograph.

2000 Impact #49

Nice action shot on this card. I like how there is a border to the card but that it just fades the photo into it.

Impact was a nice low-end set to pick up. I actually bought some of it when it came out. The return of the Browns to the NFL brought my collecting back for a short period.

Players with only one card in my collection - 4

Continuing a series showing cards of five players with only one card in my collection, and using images from The Trading Card Database. I'm also using their sorting tools to look through my collection listed on their site to see who only has one card, and then finding the first five names that I haven't posted yet.

1991 Topps #513

Roy Green played 14 seasons in the NFL, twelve with the Cardinals (nine in St. Louis, and three in Phoenix), and his final two with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cardinals traded Green to the Browns after the 1990 season, but he was released by the Browns before the 1991 season started, and was then signed by the Eagles.

He was the 16th member to be inducted into the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor.

Although he has plenty of NFL cards, this is the only one associated with the Browns.

1952 Bowman Small #67

Dick Logan is another player that never played for the Browns.

The listings at Pro Football Reference contradict the text on the back of his card. It says that he was drafted by the Browns in the eleventh round of the 1952 NFL Draft, and that he then played in 19 games with the Green Bay Packers in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. He passed away at the age of 86 in 2016.

This, along with a 1952 Bowman Large card, are his only football cards. The team association on the back of the card makes the two Bowman cards Browns cards for my collection. I'm sure I'll eventually pick up the missing Large card.

1954 Bowman #74

I really had no idea of Warren Lahr's history with the Browns until I looked up his information to write this.

Warren Lahr was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1947, but instead signed with the Cleveland Browns of the AAFC. After missing the 1948 season with injury, he played eleven seasons with the Browns from 1949-59.

Lahr was part of four championship teams, one in the AAFC and three in the NFL. He still has the second-most interceptions in Browns history, with 44.

After his playing career, Lahr did color commentary on Browns' broadcasts between 1963-67. He was honored with induction into the Browns Legends Program in 2008.

Warren Lahr died at the age of 45, after a sudden heart attack in 1969.

This is his only NFL football card. Other than this, I'm aware that he has a 1950 Picture Pack photo, and also cards in two different decks of Hero Deck playing cards.

2001 Pacific Invincible - Retail #57

I remember Curtis Enis being the fifth overall pick of the Chicago Bears in the 1998 NFL Draft. I don't think that I was ever aware that he had signed with the Cleveland Browns until I go this card many years after the fact.

After three years with the Bears, Enis signed a contract with the Browns in March 2001, but was forced to retire about six weeks later with a degenerative knee injury.

Even with that short stint that he was signed with the Browns, he has 13 Browns cards listed in the Trading Card Database. I believe that all of them show him in a Bears uniform, with the Browns being listed on the card.

1993 Pacific #296

Today's final player is Shawn Collins, who played his 1992 season with the Browns, sandwiched between three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, and one with the Green Bay Packers.

I have no memory of his stint with the Browns, and this is his only Browns card.

Not my usual card show purchases

Last Sunday, I poked my head into my local monthly card show. A usual vendor that I like to buy from was not there, and there were a few new faces that had set up tables.

In my first run through of the hall, I didn't come across anything for my collection, including from the one usual guy that has football cards there.

However, while looking around, I spotted a few boxes of CDs and DVDs that were being sold for $2.00 each, or 3 for $5.00.

I pulled out a bunch of CDs that I had mostly previously owned on cassette, and then found one DVD to get up to 12 items to bring my total to $20.00.

The box of DVDs had a whole bunch of movies that I had seen, and a bunch that I already owned.

Of course I had seen St. Elmo's Fire a few times before buying this, but I hadn't seen it recently and figured it was a good purchase for under two dollars.

I had previously owned the CCR CD on cassette and am happy that I will once again be able to listen to it in my car.

I have owned other Guess Who albums, but not this one. But the music is well worth picking up.

The Irish Descendants CD replaces a previous copy I owned that I gave to one of my friends in Seattle. It is nice to have easy access to their version of Barrett's Privateers again.

As far back as I can remember, Billy Joel has been my favorite singer. I think I might already own this CD, but I haven't seen it in years if I do, so I decided to pick it up.

Again, the Joplin CD is a replacement for previously owned music.

I have owned a Gordon Lightfoot album before, but not this one. This is a nice pick up.

I've never owned a Monkees album before. I don't know why, as I've always liked their music.

I owned Bob Seger's Greatest Hits on cassette so this is another replacement.

Have you noticed a trend? Every one of these CDs that I've picked up are collections of greatest hits. I guess it is one of the ways to make sure there are songs I like.

I didn't own either of these before, but have always liked Paul Simon and a bunch of the songs on this album.

The Britney Spears album is me picking up a guilty pleasure for under two dollars. I don't know how often I'll listen to it, but it is there if I want it.

I like Thorogood, and have seen him in concert, but had never owned any of his music. It seemed I could always borrow his music off of roommates or friends if I ever wanted to listen to it.

After buying this, I took one last look around, and noticed that one of the new dealers had a football monster box that I hadn't seen, underneath a couple of hockey boxes.

Taking a look at the football box, the cards seemed to range from the 1950s to 1986, with not too much from any given year. The cards weren't in mint condition, but they were there.

The dealer told me that there were prices on the cards, but that he would lower the price on anything that I wanted to buy. He also told me that he had picked up this box at a Florida show for a good price without really knowing what was inside.

I didn't find any Browns cards that I needed, but one card jumped out at me. It had a $30.00 price tag on it.

I decided that even if it was just knocked down to twenty dollars, that I would be happy to own it, so I handed it to the dealer to see what he wanted for it.

Okay, you can see some corner damage, and it is has centering issues, but I never thought that I would be buying a Joe Montana rookie card.

Do you know what the dealer knocked it down to? Ten dollars. (And don't forget, I'm in Canada, so that was ten Canadian, which is just under eight US dollars.) How fast do you think I pulled out my wallet?

Here's the back. It is in nice shape.

Although I'm not a 49er fan, I am a Notre Dame fan, so this was a great card to pick up.

So, that's it. Not my usual card show purchases, but one nice football card that I am happy to own, and a bunch of music to listen to, and a movie to watch again.

Blaster of 2018 Topps Big League

While in a local Walmart recently, I spotted a few blasters of Topps Big League. I decided to pick one up.

Pack 1:

I like leader cards, and it has a nice photo of Sale throwing the ball.

Yay! A Met in the first pack.

Does Stanton have the same facial expression while swinging on both cards? It's kind of cool to see the ball on both cards.


Pack 2:

Some nice horizontal cards - a league leader, a great action shot, and a throwback uniform.

Second pack, second Met!

I like the action shot with Bader making a catch.

Smoltz shows me that there are retired players in the set. Good to know. But I guess Smoltz didn't get the message that he was supposed to point his finger here, not pump his fist.


Pack 3:

Another couple of league leaders cards. But why do I seem to be getting all these AL Leaders?

I think that is a great picture of Buxton running the bases. I like that his whole body is shown.

Okay, I can't complain about getting these two base rookies, or the player's weekend Rosario card, and the fact that it means that I've received three Mets in three packs.

Nice photo of Crawford with the helmet coming off on the gold card, but it is loses points for being a member of the Phillies.


Pack 4:

Okay, I like this Baseball Landmark card, and another good fielding shot on the Schwarber card. Schwarber is framed nicely in the card with the ivy in the background.

Another AL Leaders card, and another good photo with LeMahieu throwing the ball.

I'm sure Night Owl would accuse me of trying to sneak a Dodger card by him, so I better point out the Seager card.

Too bad, the Mets in consecutive packs stopped at three.


Pack 5:

Cool! Another Ballpark Landmarks card. I'll have to take a look at the checklist to see what else is out there.

And another AL Leaders card? But I'm a National League guy...

I guess that the gold Dodger card will have to make its way to Watertown at some point.

As I picked up one blaster, I noticed that the one behind it had a different image. This made me look closer at the boxes, and when I saw that one of them had an Ohtani card on the box, well, I knew which one to grab.

If you look at the bottom right corner of the box, you'll see that there is a bonus pack of four blue parallel cards.

It is nice to get another Ballpark Landmarks card in the blue parallel pack, and I like the Sisco card in his catcher's gear.


All in all, I'm very pleased with this blaster. There are obviously lots of league leader cards, and a really cool Ballpark Landmarks subset. It really tempts me to try and complete this set, but I know that I would have to buy quite a bit to complete the 400 card set. I'm sure that I will buy some more of it in the near future.