The Lean Years: 1999

 Hello Friends!

After a little bit away due to illness/general fatigue, I'm back. 

I'm going to continue my little series with a look at the cards from 1999.. 

So Bowman.. I honestly had to double take because this, to me, is very similar to 1998's design, just... Flipped? 

It is an interesting card, but I think this was the start of the confusing era of Bowman that really hasn't stopped.. In fact it's just gotten worse.. 

Fleer with a set that's similar to their 1997 offering. Different card stock and filled in foil on the names though. This was during the time where Fleer didn't really have a "Flagship Base" set.. I do like the cards, but not enough to collect more than the necessary collections. 

I think there's really only a certain number of ways Topps can present Stadium Club without it feeling stale, similar, or just paint-by-numbers. 

Don't get me wrong. I generally love Stadium Club sets but they generally mash into an indistinct blob in my head if I'm trying to describe one year's offerings without pictures. 

That said, love this photo of Santangelo. It looks early in the season, since it doesn't look like the ivy is blooming yet

The Old Lad Topps.. I like the photography. The foil is hard to read and I'm not sure of that border.. 

Upper Deck. How about a Montreal pitcher hitting at Wrigley? 

Two of those things are extinct... 

I hate to say it but again... Upper Deck feels like a "try hard" brand. I know a lot of people like them, but I don't know.. Not my cup o tea

MVP Another Upper Deck brand that leand into the futuristic vibes that the late 90s tended to have. They're ok, but nothing that screams "Collect the set!"

UD Choice. I think this used to be Collector's Choice. I honestly like this one the best out of the Upper Deck brands. It has nice photography and the rookie cards are rather unique with the player on a ballpark backdrop.. Though, I feel the park should match the player's team, rather than just being Yankee Stadium 

Finally Victory. The budget set for Upper Deck. I liked this set. it was what people wanted for Big League or the relaunch of Topps Total. A simple design with nice photography that includes players that don't usually get cards. 

That's my look at 1999.. I haven't decided if next post will be my thoughts on collecting over the years or if it'll be The Lean Years: 2000... 

The Lean Years: 1998

 Hello Friends!

Today I'm going to look at the sets from 1998 like I did for 1997

Bowman had another decent look. But again, one I only want what I collect from.. 

Collectors Choice.. I showed two cards because the rookie cards were a little different. Again, a nice set. One I liked but again don't think I could put to fully collect

Donruss... Reminds me too much of 97 Stadium Club

Leaf was interesting.. I kind of like the way the cards look, but only want what I collect.. 

Pinnacle was in there weird era. I like it, but I don't like it, if that makes sense. I think too many Pinnacle sets from this timeframe looked too similar. .

Another solid Score outing. I've had this one cross my mind a couple times. It's not an active set collect, but if somehow a batch of cards from this set ended up in my hands, I wouldn't complain. 

Stadium Club. Nice, clean look. What I normally like about Stadium Club. Is it me, or did they revisit this look not too long ago? 

Topps. Similar to 97, but with colour and full foil for the name! I do like this one as well, but again I think I just want the collections, rather than the set

Finally Upper Deck. I feel like I should like this set.. I feel I should like the company's offerings.. I just can't.. I'll take the collections, but I don't even know if they'd get displayed aside from the Canadians. 

1998 I started University in Peterborough. I didn't know the city since I came from a small town in the middle of nowhere Ontario. I'd come to get to know the city a little, but I don't even know how or where I got cards from when I first moved here. I didn't know about Jeff's Cards and Comics unil 1999 or thereabouts. 

Honestly it was a complete eye opener. I might get into that another time, if it's something people would want to read.. I'll make sure I tie cards into it somehow.. lol 

My Collection: The Lean Years 1997

 Hello Friends!

I haven't been feeling well the last week or so, meaning I haven't had much energy to even think of a topic. 

I decided on one tonight though. I might use this as a filler idea for a bit.. The Lean Years looks into the years where my collection was basically forgotten. Not many cards were added and the ones that were, filled partial holes. 

This post will look at 1997. In 1997 I was living in Terrace Bay still. I wouldn't leave to go to Peterborough until 1998. So cards were a tough find for me. In fact, I don't think any of the cards I have from 1997 were actually collected by me in 1997.. 

I only took a look at the main sets. If I took a look at every major set produced and released, this would take a month. 

Bowman: I believe this is still before they went completely obnoxious with the parallels and inserts that span over multiple sets. Basically for 97 Bowman, I have Jays and Expos, as expected. And, as expected, I'm only looking for Jays/Expos/Canadians from that set. 

Also, I just can't tell if it's a camera trick, or does it look like Barrett is kinda painted? 

Collector's Choice. Even showing my second favourite Jays uni. Again, it's Jays/Expos/Canadians, aside from a Jackie Robinson tribute I kept for whatever reason. 

I like the cards. Nice photography. Not overly gimmicky. I believe this was UD's entry level set.. 

Donruss.. I don't know what it is.. This set just doesn't work for me. I mean I still want the Jays/Expos/Canadians from the set, but it's again not one I'd want to look at and say "Let's get 'em all!"

Fleer was the weird one again in 1997. The cardstock felt like a cross between a felt and fine grain sandpaper. I found them hard to sort. Because of the stock, the cards also seem washed out to me, but that could just be me again. 

I do like the cards, but again not something I want to collect fully. 

Score. I rather liked Score in 1994 and 1995. I don't remember 96. 97 is interesting. Maybe a little too white. I don't know. Lettering maybe could be bigger.. 

I would consider collecting the full set of this, though right now my focus is the usual suspects. 

I hate to say it.. I don't like 97 Stadium Club at all. It's honestly one I would even consider skipping entirely. 

This may get some raised eyebrows.... But I like this set. I'd consider collecting the full set but I also know that 1997-1999 is the "Complete bitch to find" era.. 

Santangelo was one that used PEDs. It gave him the uptick enough to go from AAA or Quad A player to utility player in the majors. 

Upper Deck. Again, This will get some hate, likely.. But.... *exhales* Aside from 1993, I haven't liked Upper Deck period. Right now, all my UD is in a 5000 count box.. 

Finally, Pinnacle.. 

It's ok... But... I don't know. Probably the usual suspects.. 

So of the 1997 cards, I've found one set I'd want to look at completing, and the rest just being Jays/Expos/Canadians aside from maybe UD and SC.. 

Cards Are Still Subjective

 Hello Friends!

Last post I wrote about the sets from the Junk Wax Era I didn't care for or outright disliked. Today is the opposite. I'm writing about sets from the Junk Wax Era that I like.

As with yesterday these are in no particular order

1986 Donruss Now the reason I'm showing two cards here is twofold. 1. I absolutely love Diamond Kings from that era, and 2. the backs of the regular cards are different from the DKs. 

The lines on the front are nice. Kind of in your face but not obnoxiously so.. 

1990 Bowman After the return of the brand in 1989, Bowman went a little more classic in design. Standard card size, A nice border and a nice image. I'd maybe like the player and team to be a bit larger, but those are small nits to pick. 

The back again went to the team splits. It was an interesting concept that was unique for the time. It couldn't be done on a card today with everyone playing everyone now.

1990 Leaf I honestly think this card is close to perfection. Love the photography in the set. I might lessen the rooster tail behind the logo, but that again is a small nit to pick. The backs are nice as well, with full stats on the back. I also like the presence of another small headshot on the back. 

1991 Stadium Club I really like this set, though in general, I've found Stadium Club to be difficult to collect over the years. I don't know if it's popularity, or print runs, or what, but I both like the cards and find myself unbothered to collect them. Yeah I know that makes no sense. 

Anyway.. Stadium Club has always had interesting photography I'm guessing that here we have Mike Fitzgerald and ol' Oil Can celebrating a win. 

The backs are unique with a photo of the players' Topps rookie card. 

1991 Studio Honestly, the whole run of Studio from 91-93 are some of my favourites. 91 and 92 especially with the photoshoot style pictures on the front. 

The backs were different. While you'd find little interesting factoids on cards dating back to the 50s, this one blended both baseball and personal life to show the person behind the meatsuit in the uniform, if that makes sense.. 

Speaking of 1992 Studio, here it is. Again, love the photography on the front. The logo is nicely tucked in the corner. 

The backs again have personal information and baseball information for the players. 

I'm not sure why, but this set almost feels more premium than some of the premium sets released in that timeframe. 

1992 Donruss This one may be divisive in some circles, but I have a soft spot for this set. It was the first one I started collecting when I entered the hobby. 1992 was a departure from what came before from Donruss. Different cardstock, a glossy feel and minimal borders. 

I've tried defining this set before and I almost want to say it's industrial. It doesn't blow you away, but it catches your eye and conveys what it's trying to convey. 

One thing I've always liked about the backs of Donruss is the contract status information. 

I know many people don't like this set, but to me it's great for what it is. A step in the right direction for Donruss after some disastrous sets

1993 Donruss It's funny.. This is honestly a set I forget about. Most of 1993 sets I forget about. I have had difficulty getting into this set for years, but it's honestly very clean. Nice photography, I like the nameplate and logo box the way they are. The brand logo is out of the way.. 

The backs are nice as well. A nice picture again rather than just a disembodied head. Overall a nice set that I'm going to have to set more serious about finding. 

1993 OPC This was O Pee Chee's first time creating a flagship set that wasn't a licensed reworking of the Topps set from that year. 

The team name on the front is interesting. The photography is a major step forward from the OPC Premier sets. 

The backs are nice as well. Stats, a little write up in both official languages of Canada and another headshot. I also like the team logo being put in the background behind the stats. 

1993 OPC Premier Premier seems to follow the formula the previous two Premier sets established. The photography was a lot better though. I like the OPC Branding on the card looking like a seal. 

The backs are standard Premier. The few stats it always showed for the previous season. Nice big photo and logo. This was the last OPC Premier set put out. 

So there you have it.. The Junk Wax Sets I like. Agree? Disagree? Calling for the men in the clean white coats to come take me away? (haha!) Let me know..