The Lean Years: 2001

 Hello Friends!

Another day, another look at one of the lean years in my collection. As before, I'll take a look at the sets and give my thoughts. 

Bowman was Bowmaning along at this point. I think this was around the time Bowman in general became so convoluted I don't even think about it much. 

Also, here we have Mr Jade Cargill, Brandon Phillips, as an Expo. 

Donruss.. After a couple years away from making cardsm they returned with this offering (plus many others) I wonder if this was the inspiration for Topps' Independence Day cards later on.

Honestly, the stars are distracting. 

Fleer Focus. Similar to last year'sbut slightly different fonts I believe. Still have that white fuzzy outline around the player that almost makes them look like they were superimposed onto the image

Fleer Platinum took design elements from a couple sets from the 80s. The front reminds me a lot of 1981

The back reminds me of 1987 but with more graphs.. 

The set itself isn't bad. I do like it, but I stop short of saying I want more than just my collection goals from it. 

Fleer Tradition. I get they're trying to pay homage to one of the really early sets here, but this is just weird looking to me. Big photo headshot and it looks like a Starting Lineup figure in the background. I'd get the collections for it but the whole set is a miss for me. 

Stadium Club. I don't have words.. I'm not sure what I could even think to say for this one. It's very boring to me. 

2001 is the middle of the similar style, different border colour streak for Topps. Again, kind of boring. Odd to see Irabu as an Expo, after he flamed out in New York, having Steinbrenner call him a Fat Toad. 

Topps Heritage flashing back to 52. I like it, though at the same time, why does it look like Carl Pavano is in the depths of Hell? 

Ultra. As usual, nice photography but the design is very samey.. 

Upper Deck. It's ok. Foil team logo gets tough to read. 

MVP with another samey looking set. I don't get it, really.. 

Finally Victory. I do like this set. This one does remind me of the Collector's Choice from the mid 90s. I believe this was the spiritual successor. 

I think this would be a set I'd look to complete. .

The Lean Years: 2000

Hello Friends!

As the calendar turned from 1999 to 2000, all sorts of things were happening. Of course, the Y2K bug was a big talking point. People wondering if computers were going to suddenly rise up or completely malfunction like a dystopian Terminator hellscape, or if things were going to be just another day.. 

*26 years late spoiler... Nothing much happened* 

The only thing I had to do for my computer was run a program to change the BIOS to read the year as 4 numbers rather than 2.. 

Well, with all that going on, there was still baseball to be played! Cards to be collected!

I think honestly, 2000 is the year I have the least from since I started collecting in 1992. 

Another kind of samey set from Bowman. This was also when they started the Draft Picks and Prospects sets 

It's a decent look, if not looking like it's more of a picture frame than a card. 

Fleer Focus. Again, there was no base Fleer set. Just things like Focus, Mystique, etc. 

I like this one, but I don't know. I don't know how I feel about this set. 

Stadium Club with another full card photo. As always the photography is great on the set. The names are easy to read and I'm just not sure about the foil logos. 

2000 Topps.. It seemed from 1998 to 2002 most of the changes in the set were border colours and slight reworkings of the nameplates. 

Bonus for this card since it had both Michael Barrett and Willis Otanez on it. 

Ultra reminds me of a future version of Stadium Club mixed with the late 90s Fleer base when they were done. 

The cards themselves are nice. Dare I say, I prefer Ultra over SC in 2000. 

2000 Upper Deck. The Star Rookie cards and the MVP set cards look very alike. The remainder of the base is fine, but again... Am I weird for just not liking much of what Upper Deck offered in general?

MVP. Similar to previous years and even to the flagship rookie cards. Just felt very lazy

Finally, Victory. I don't mind this set. The half and half thing is a little weird to me, but at the same time, it's nothing much different from some Score offerings in the early 90s. Not a fan of the second photo on here being a headshot of the main picture. 

Yeah.. 2000 in cards was a very forgettable year for me. Almost all the sets left zero impression on me. It took me a bit to think of more than just "Meh!" for this whole post.. 

 

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..