Friday, March 1, 2024

12-Year Blogversary Post (The Goodbye Post)

In what's been a long time coming, this will mark the final post on here. For real, real this time.

With the huge growth I have seen from Cards Over Coffee this year, the lack of growth here and feeling like this blog is the third wheel on a date, it's time I close things up officially and close things up the right way.

This blog over the years brought me a lot of joy and brought me many places in my hobby career I never thought I would go. I was once sponsored by multiple card companies allowing me to give back to you guys, with that as well I was able to communicate with some of the biggest names in the hobby, I won Blogger Of The Year once (this was the one time I think Night Owl didn't win lol) on GoGTS award show which you can see on YouTube, I was able to write for a few companies, I connected with other bloggers and became a respected part of the hobby community because of Sport Card Collectors.

But, with anything in life, there comes a time when you know you shouldn't be doing something anymore. Such as I know I can't go run a slant route without wearing my knee brace or playing tackle football with my friends in the backyard.  I can't imagine the back pain the next day.

So today just seems right to end the blog on the day it started. Just 12 years later.

In tradition of my this blog's anniversary, I will post my final updated numbers from the previous years on here and this is today's edition,

Year One, Sport Card Collectors blog had 68,169 overall views. 695 Twitter Followers and 118 Facebook LIKES.

Year Two, Sport Card Collectors blog grew to 205,240 overall views, 2,206 Followers on Twitter and 147 Facebook LIKES.

Year Three, Sport Card Collectors blog grew to 340,841 overall views, 3,576 Followers on Twitter and 159 Facebook LIKES.

Year Four, Sport Card Collectors blog grew to 483,217 overall views, 4,494 Followers on Twitter and 431 Facebook LIKES.

Year Five, Sport Card Collectors blog grew to 679,331 overall views. 5,325 Twitter Followers and 541 Facebook LIKES.

Year Six, Sport Card Collectors blog grew to 952,540 overall views. 6,272 Twitter Followers and 627 Facebook LIKES.

Year Seven, Sport Card Collectors blog grew to 1,268,414 overall views. 7,120 Twitter Followers and 815 Facebook LIKES.

Year Eight, Sport Card Collectors blog grew to 1,595,972 overall views. 8,353 Twitter Followers and 1291 Facebook LIKES before I ended the page. 

Year Nine, Matt's Wonderful Blog Of Hobbies grew to 1,814,262 overall views.  9,763 Twitter Followers and 780 Instagram Followers

Year Ten, Sport Card Collectors grew to 2,029,117 overall views.  10.9K Twitter Followers, 1427 Facebook LIkes and 1095 Instagram Followers

Year Eleven, Sport Card Collectors grew to 2,611,826 overall views.  13.2K Twitter Followers, 1500 Facebook LIkes, 1600 followers, and 1119 Instagram Followers

A lot of growth this past year in terms of views which is my highest ever, though it didn't feel like it. I even broke a month record with 75K for a month which was insane.

I don't want to look at today's post as a goodbye, as I am still blogging, I just want it to say hello to the two blogs that I will be continuing on.

Please add them to your follow list and blogrolls,



The main part of my blogging will be done on Cards Over Coffee with the occasional when I feel like it post for my NY Giants collection done on Big Blue Cardboard.

Hope everyone has a great day. I truly appreciate the support over the years and hope to see you on the flipside...well on the other blogs.

Friday, February 23, 2024

Grady Box Onslaught Of Shiny

I don't have a lot to say, I am just going to let the cards do the talking for me.

My latest Grady mail day was quite shiny...














And these were just some of that shine. Believe me, there was plenty more.

Thanks again to Grady for these occasional mail day pick me ups. Always look forward to them as they help me get through another day.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Throwpack Thursday:1992 Wild Card Decision

Welcome to the second Throwpack Thursday!

I said I would plug these in when I had time to do so.

Today's pack comes thanks to blog reader Oren who sent me some packs at Christmas time.

With Presidents being celebrated a few days ago, I thought why not keep the celebration with a presidential product.
1992 Wild Card Decision came with 8 cards per pack. Well, mine came with more. The 100-card product covers the candidates, the issues and love for Ross Perot.

In 1992 I wouldn't have opened any of this product as my cares were more about Darkwing Duck than politics. But, now I find it fun and I still really like Darkwing Duck.

Here is how my pack break went.
It started off with Bill Clinton, then came the brick of cards which I could feel from the outside of the pack to begin with.

Lots of sticking.







Pretty cool design, I like it. And I got 9 cards instead of the 8.

Wished the cards hadn't stuck together though. They will still go into the non-sport PC regardless and I will some day need to chase down the White House card.

Let me know in comments if you opened any of these before and your thoughts on them and if you have enjoyed the Throwpack Thursday series thus far.

Until the next time!

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Bronny

When you find out that one of the NBA's All-Time greats has an upcoming SuperStar son, as a card collector, how can you not want to chase a few cards of his? I guess in most circles you would call this prospecting.

Bronny, the son of LeBron James is already playing college ball and on his trail to the pros despite having a scary cardiac arrest back in July of 2023 which hopefully won't play any further role in his life. So far, Bronny is averaging 5.7 points a game for USC. Not mind-blowing numbers, but you can see some of the plays he makes are pro ready ones.

When I found out Bronny had some early cards in products, I wanted to get a jump on a few. Just in case.

Not only was he included in the 2023 Topps Chrome McDonalds All-American Basketball, but he is also in Bowman Chrome U with his very 1st Bowman.
So, I wanted to add one to my collection. Right now they are going pretty cheap.

So cheap that I was able to add this Purple Shimmer

And insert for all under $8 on eBay with some of my gift card.

You read that right.....under $8. If this wasn't a steal, I am not sure what one is.

I am hoping that Bronny will be as good as LeBron, but there is also a lot of pressure when your dad is who he is. A lot of kids of superstars like this struggle to make their own name as they will always be so and so's son until they do.

I hope to add a few more to this collection as time goes on. I also do have the Mcdonald's base card that I got in a trade. Would be fun to add a refractor of it to or any other parallel run to this.

Let me know your thoughts on Bronny in comments.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Upper Deck Is Trying To Hook ME!

Hockey.

It's one of those sports I no longer pay attention to, but feel like I should be because Upper Deck has been putting some great inserts in their hockey products the last few years.

And everyone knows how much I like a well-done insert since we haven't seen those since the 90's/.

When I got my box of inserts from reader Grady M, there was a big stack of hockey inserts/parallels in their. Many of which caught my eye.

I may not know any of the players, but the cards speak for themselves.

Similiar in design and look, but I like them.

 
This one features a foil background on a rink.

Offset player photo and color along with a glaring shine, this makes me happy.

I used to be one of these, so I get this insert. Or does this insert get me?

I have been collecting the Dazzlers inserts for a few years, one of these times I would love to make a rainbow run on them. They look so great under the light box.



 
I should choose a player and go chase it.

Next up, Allure is amazing product for parallels. I knew that just from collecting the Marvel version of it.



Not sure what this parallel is called but feels like a birthday party to me.

These may look even better than Prizm, Optic, Select or any product that involves a shiny parallel.

There were a lot more than the ones I showed above in the box, but wanted to highlight some key ones that really stood out to me.

(side note, I am sure blog reader Oren will enjoy this post and my partial excitement towards hockey cards as he has been trying for a few years to get me to the hockey side)

Thanks again to Grady for the mail day. Looking forward to adding more shine to my life this year.

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Rodney's Cardboard:1995 Topps Mystery Refractor With Rare Peel

Happy Sunday to you all!

Who wants to check out the latest Rodney Hampton card addition to my super PC?

You do!! Well, that's good because here it is!

Today's card is a bit of a rare one. You don't find these too often if not at all.

In 1995, Topps included Mystery Finest and Mystery Finest Refractors in their flagship product. With these being a Mystery card, you didn't normally get to see the card or player until you peel off the black covering.

However, my latest Rodney find, it doesn't have the usual black peeling you would find on those cards. Instead, it has the usual Finest Do Not Peel covering. It's a rare unique card and I have no intention of peeling it off. 

 
The back of the card is the same along with the front image and refractor. It's just got the Do Not Peel instead of the black covering which makes this one a one of a kind.

This may be one of the most unique and nicest looking oddballs in my Rodney collection and I am not sure if there will ever be another oddball that will top it.

This card arrived to me at Christmas time thanks to my friend Wes, formally of Area40 blog who found it.

Let me know your thoughts on the card in comments and if you have ever seen one before.

Hope you have had a great day!

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Throwpack Thursday:1995 Fleer Ultra Baseball Series 2

It's time I finally get this new segment underway. It's one I have been planning on doing for a while and hope to do as often as I can.

Throwpack Thursday is where I will take an older pack of cards from a variety of sports and some non-sports and open it up on here, talk about the "hits" and a few of the players.

Take note how I called it an "older" pack of cards instead of vintage. I refuse to call anything from the 80's and 90's vintage. It drives me nuts for those who do! I am not vintage either!

Today's pack comes from one of my favorite brands from the 90's, Fleer Ultra. But, it wasn't until 1995 where I really started to appreciate what the brand brought to the table.

I don't think I opened more than a couple of packs of the 1995 baseball as opposed to the many, many football packs I ripped. Today's pack will be a nice reminder to me on what it looked like.

First some details on today's pack.
1995 Fleer Ultra Series 2 had 12 cards per pack. Each pack comes with one Gold Medallion and one Insert.

Now onto the rip.

One thing that jumps out to me as I see the first card is a clean design. Very basic, full photography. Not bad.
The first card in the packs reveals us the Gold Medallion parallel. It isn't quite as exciting as the football version that is completely covered in gold. At least it was a player I knew. Harold had multiple stints with the White Sox, won a World Series and was a 6x All-Star.

"Rookie" of Ismael Valdes. It's hard to tell baseball's true rookies. Ismael played for eight teams including two stints with the Dodgers. Was one game under .500 for his pitching career.




All-Rookie insert fall 1:5 packs overall. One of the easier inserts to pull. John played six seasons and was an All-Star in 1994.




Second "rookie card" in the pack. Jeff Cirillo played for more than 10 years and was a two-time all-star. Very underrated player and hobby guy.


And we finish the pack with Cliff Floyd sporting the Expos colors. I remember him most when he played for the Marlins.

There wasn't anything too exciting in this pack. I will probably use most of the cards except the All-Rookie insert for trade bait. That All-Rookie goes into my 90's insert PC.

I hope you enjoyed today's introduction into this new segment. There is more to come.

Hope everyone has a great Thursday!