This weekend I was looking for Stranger Things Season 2 on Blu-ray at Target.com which has been impossible to find. Anyways... I decided to see if there were any baseball card blaster boxes online since I haven't seen any of those at my local Target since before the lockdown.
I was pleasantly surprised to find 2020 Allen and Ginter in stock and ready to ship. I'm sitting on a stack of Target gift cards, so I threw a few into my basket where they sit waiting for me to click "check out". Not sure if I'll actually follow through on the purchase. On one hand, I'll never see retail blasters in my area.
2020 Allen and Ginter #201
On the other hand, I'm not the biggest fan of Ginter. Plus... bloggers like Rod (Padrographs) end up sending me their extras like this cool card of Sakura Kokumai (karate champion).
Not only did he supply me with my first helping of 2020 Ginter, he also sent me with my first examples of 2020 Diamond King, 2020 Topps Fire, and 2020 Stadium Club (why can't Target have these blasters in stock?).
As most of you know, Rod is my regular supplier of SI for Kids sheets:
I know at least a handful of these came from the bookstore that Rod has managed the past two decades. Sadly, he announced last month the bookstore would be closing and that he would take the "voluntary" retirement. Just one more piece of evidence proving that 2020 is the worst year of my lifetime.
On the bright side, Rod is a huge San Diego Padres fan and for the first time in fourteen years they're back in the playoffs.
Fourteen years seems like a lifetime ago. Let's see. Fourteen years ago, I was out of the hobby, still teaching at the elementary level, and had no idea what a blog was. The icing on the cake? My current seventh graders weren't even born yet.
Let's go Padres!
Jim (GCRL) also sent me a 2020 first...
2020 Topps Archives #11
Technically, this isn't the first 2020 Archives card in my collection. I've picked up a few of the Fan Favorites autographs. However this is my very first base card from the set.
He also sent me my very first 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire card...
2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire #608
Not exactly sure what the story is behind these Sapphire cards, but I'm pretty sure they're an online exclusive product that is very, very desirable.
Thank you Rod and Jim for thinking of me with these care packages. You guys are the reason, I don't get disappointed when I see empty shelves in the card aisle at my local Target. Who needs them when there are generous bloggers like you two who feed my 2020 cardboard cravings?
Happy Monday and sayonara!
That Sapphire card if Suzuki is SWEET. I need to get his base cards for the catchers binder.
ReplyDeleteNice group of SI for Kids cards!
ReplyDeleteSuzuki has some REALLY good cards over the years. The sapphire that you posted here is one of the best though. I'm a fan of "catcher" cards so I may be biased though. I wish the best to your Padres out of respect to you...but...Machado is one of my most reviled players...kind of like, Lex Luthor...I cannot...STAND the guy...so it's difficult. Ironic that you posted the Henderson Archives. I'm a "set guy" and yet, I have ZERO sets of Archives despite the fact that it meets most of my "criteria." A good mix of nostalgia and past/present stars. I tend to hand pick what I collect out of Archives due to minor details like the "font isn't quite right" on certain replications of cards. I'm such a prima-donna collector. It's no wonder that no one ever wants to trade with me... Lol.
ReplyDeleteHa. I just bought a box of A & G today. From my dealer though.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen of this A&G on the blogs, you're probably better off not buying those boxes. It'd be wiser to just buy any of the singles that you're interested in, especially after everyone moves on to the next big thing.
ReplyDeleteI love that Kurt Suzuki card. There are so many different parallels and variations in the Topps set that I have given up on finding them all, but every once in awhile I see one that stands out. I am going to have to find a few Cardinals and Durham Bulls players like that.
ReplyDeletehmmm. 2020 cravings.....
ReplyDeleteGlad the cards made it and that they were new to you. Chrome sapphire always looks sharp.
ReplyDeleteThose sapphire cards are fire!
ReplyDeleteI can’t keep track of all the releases. The Sapphire card looks pretty sharp.
ReplyDeleteStranger Things, ahhh. Such a great show. I just saw they started production back up for Season 4. Can’t wait.
john sharp - it truly is. suzuki is one of the handful of guys i actively collect that doesn't have a binder yet. maybe i'll work on that this weekend.
ReplyDeletethe lost collector - it is. as usual... lots of variety.
troublewiththecurve.net - he really does. it'd be a challenge to create a top 5 or top 10 for me. i still remember machado and his drama with the a's when he was an oriole. maybe i'll forgive him if he finds a way to help the padres beat the dodgers. as for archives, i'm more of a fan of their fan favorites autographs. but i did put together (as well as buy) a few of the sets over the years. doubt it'll happen this year though
elliptical man - good luck. hope you pull a nice framed autograph
jon - totally agree. my plan is to snatch a factory set as soon as they hit the website.
the snorting bull - i'm glad i'm not a super collector. the number of parallels would drive me nuts. i just like collecting them as they come into my possession. this way of collecting also prevents me from going overboard on my card budget
johnny's trading spot - lol. yup. i've seen how you've taken care of some of those braves cravings. ;D
gcrl - yeah... i especially liked this one because it's part of the braves colors. thanks again jim!
sport card collectors - yeah. wish i was lucky enough to be chosen to buy a box. although, i'd probably just flip it
sumomenkoman - me either. way too many products out there to keep track off. can't wait for them to release season 4 of stranger things. i binge watched the first three seasons either last month or the month before (or maybe it was over the summer).