The Starrs Are Aligned

When it comes to blogging... my timing is terrible.  I'll see things on ESPN or on other blogs that inspire a post, but I don't have scans ready to go.  On other occasions... I'll have card images saved and ready... but no time to hammer out a post.

Well... the stars must have been aligned, because I was just thinking about Chris (a.k.a The Collector) yesterday.  The Green Bay Packers are hosting the San Francisco 49ers for an important game for both teams... and Chris is a fellow Packer backer.

This morning I was catching up on reading card blogs... when I discovered (over on Diamond Jesters) that he had taken down his blog.  I hope things are okay with him and his family.  Not sure if he'll ever come back to the keyboard, but if he's reading this... I wanted to let him know that he'll be missed.  He was one of those bloggers who put a lot of time and effort into his blog posts.  I hope he eventually brings it out of retirement, because his All-Time Teams and History of the Athletics are two series I was looking forward to reading again one day.

Anyways... getting back to the perfect timing... today I opened my COMC shipment from October (sorry... I'm a little behind) and wanted to show off the four Packers I picked up:

1998 Topps Chrome Hidden Gems Refractor #HG6

I bought this card back in April for $8.75.  I know this was a blog inspired purchase... but I can't remember the blog that inspired it.  Possibly Chris?  It also could have been Matt over at Cards over Coffee.  We share an interest in 90's inserts and parallels.

Next up is a Brett Favre promo card:

1993 Action Packed Rookie Update Prototypes #RU2

Pretty sure this was also a blog inspired purchase.  Maybe Billy (Cardboard History)?  Sorry... my memory sucks.  But I love 90's promo cards... especially ones that are less than a buck (74¢).

The final two cards are seat relics from Milwaukee County Stadium:

2001 Topps Archives Stadium Seat Relics #AS-PH

My parents are the reason I root for the Green Bay Packers.  They met and married in Wisconsin... and were Packers fans until they moved to the Bay Area in the 70's.  

2001 Topps Archives Stadium Seat Relics #AS-BST

I purchased these two cards ($7 for the Hornung and $13 for the Starr) in their honor, because they attended games at Milwaukee County Stadium back in the late 50's.

Tomorrow... their 49ers face off against Chris and my Packers.  Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot... and need to win this game.

Back in September, Chris sent me a padded envelope with some cards for me and my students.  There was exactly one Packer and one Niner:

2023 Donruss Optic #249

2023 Donruss Optic #173

If these two cards are being used to predict tomorrow's outcome... then normally Bosa would blow away Wicks.  But Bosa is out tomorrow... so the Packers have a chance.  Go Pack go!

Here's a 9-pocket page highlighting the rest of The Collector's care package:

Thank you Chris!  Hope everything is okay.  You'll be in my thoughts as I watch the big game tomorrow.

Let's go Packers!

Happy Saturday and sayonara!