The Lean Years: 2002

 Hello Friends!

I think this little series might go on until 2005. The early 2000s were a weird time for me. I followed baseball, but I didn't collect. Mainly because there was one store in town that sold baseball cards and they were pivoting more towards Magic and Pokemon and Warhammer. 

I didn't really get back into collecting until 2010.. I still collect now (obviously) but I'm less keen on the newer offerings. It could be the endless parallels, the endless inserts, the endless parallels of inserts.. Or it could just be nothing aside from one or two sets actually appeal to me anymore. 

Anyway...

Bowman. I both like and don't like this one. It's hard to read the name and what's under the fascimile autograph. It kind of reminds me of Bowman pulling a Donruss design from the mothballs.. 

Speaking of Donruss.. I'm not sure about this one. It doesn't speak to me at all, and having the diamond in all four corners seems a little odd. Missed opportunity for having the bases and home plate. 

Fleer. Back to a flagship Fleer set after a couple years away. It's something.. Another one that reminds me of Donruss.. Fleeruss? 

Fleer Platinum. Another one throwing back to the 1987 set. Incidentally, my second favourite Jays logo is on here. (The original/Current are first, this one, then the T with the Flexing Bird and Angry Jay are last)

Fleer Tradition. I know this throws back to a set from the 50s or thereabouts. I don't mind it. Though why it has an American flag on Jose's foot is confusing to me. Montreal and Toronto should have Canadian flags if it's for team origin.. 

Flagship Topps. Again a similar looking set to prior years. I do like the manager cards. And this one shows the logo I was trying to explain above. 

Opening Day. The bargain brand Topps.. Slightly different coloured border and a giant Opening Day foil stamp. 

Upper Deck. I don't know what to say about this. It's kind of bland. I think Upper Deck after a while leaned too into the "futuristic" look and just became industrial or corporate looking, if that makes sense. 

40 Man.. I loved this set. Yeah a lot of them are just the guy posing for picture day like in school, but it gave guys who wouldn't get cards normally cards. 

This one is really a Phantom Jay. He was traded to Toronto for David Wells, was injured and never pitched in the Majors again. 

Finally Victory. Another set I enjoyed. I think I liked the offshoot Upper Deck more than I enjoyed Upper Deck proper... 

Again, it's something we've seen but the photography is nice and everything is legible. 

All of the sets listed above are basically collecting the collections. No sets to be made from these.