Marcus of All the Way to the Backstop -- a long-time Clubhouse ally, trading partner and inspiration behind this blog -- recently blew the door off the hinges with a package he sent me. It wasn't a PWE or a yellow mailer. Rather, it was a freakin' 200-count box, brimming with cards that had me oohing and aahing over the weekend.
There were so many amazing cards and collecting categories present in this box, that I'd be scanning all day if I were to try and capture the true essence and scope of the thing. So, instead, I settled on a Ten Best of the Box list.
Without further adieu, and in no particular order, let's have a go!
It's tough to say which of the various Will Clark cards scattered throughout the box would qualify as my fave of the bunch. The header of this post is a tough cookie, since it has The Thrill donning the blue top. But, I'm always a sucker for these Score subsets, such as The Franchise. And, I'm equally as smitten with the bright and sunny look of the Spring Fever cards from this year's Topps. Luckily, I don't have to choose, I can keep them all!
Pedro Martinez cards are among my favorites of any trade package. But, two-for-the-price-of-one cards like this '93 Fleer "Super Star Special" showcasing the uber-talented Martinez brothers are absolute gems.
Mets inserts from 2013! A shiny retail "Chasing History" card of Johan plus a Heritage "New Age Performers" of captain David Wright. Beautiful additions for the respective player collections. Especially lovin' the photo on the Johan card. I believe that might be from the no-no.
Bowman '90 Big Hurt rookie! A lot of folks rag on this particular Bowman release, and I guess I can understand why. Me, on the other hand, I have a soft spot for it. Yucky-colored borders and all. Oh, and I also really dig how the card backs feature team-by-team stat splits form the prior year.
This is the best team checklist card from early-90s Upper Deck, right? Albert snapping the bat in half while wearing a smugly satisfied look on this face -- pretty badass. The only thing that could top it would be Albert plunging the severed barrel into Fernando Vina's chest cavity.
Um, speaking of checklist cards, this is by far the most awesome Donruss checklist card in existence. Go ahead and point your browser towards Google and try to disprove me, you won't get any satisfaction. Hall of Famer Gary Carter blocking the plate and tagging out fellow backstop Kirt Manwaring in a cloud of dust at ol' Candlestick is the beauty of baseball in a nutshell.
Crunchberries!! I'm happy that these Cap' Crunch oddballs have been sprouting up in repacks with regularity. And I'm even happier when they find their way to my mailbox.
1994 Upper Deck SP was one of the first sets to feature die cut parallels. Perhaps the first set? I dunno, but they were a pretty big deal back then. And, to some of us, they still are!
A healthy run of these Donruss Elite cards from 1997 took residence in the box. Lots of foil and gloss on these bad boys -- in other words, lots to love! I still detest the way Doc looked in Yankee pinstripes, but I've come to accept it over the course of years.
This was perhaps the rarest single card from the assortment, a 1991 Topps Desert Shield parallel. This happens to be the first Desert Shield card I have in my collection. Needless to say I was excited to find it.
Last but not least...
Short prints! Hooray for short prints! Two Snakes, one of which is now a Brave. And that Brave is certainly ripping the cover off the ball lately, is he not? Yikes! Anyhow, these two bring my 2013 SP total to 28 of 75 total short prints from the set. Not too shabby for about a month's work, if I may say so.
Marcus, I know your heart and your baseball rooting interests still lie in San Diego, but your generosity is Texas-sized, my friend. Thanks very much for all the tremendous cardboard you shipped my way!
MK
Very nice pickups!
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