Breaking Good - Cardboard Collections

I'm cheap, and I'm OK with that. When it comes to this wonderful hobby, I consider myself lucky f I spend more than $20/month. All it means it that I have to restrain myself with some larger expenditures, like group breaks. Fortunately, there are those who offer up cheaper alternatives, like Colbey (Cardboard Collections). Colbey offers up a lot cheap box breaks, and last year I managed to snag the Red Sox from a box of 2020 Topps Chrome Update. I also was lucky enough to get in on a free break for some 1997 Pinnacle X-Press. Those two breaks netted me 4 new cards - not much, but well worth what I paid for them! 

 

 

  

Favorite Card: Nomar's uniform look like a throw-back, but I'm not positive. Regardless, Nomar gets my vote!

Thanks for the cards, Colbey!

Breaking Good - 2003 Playoff Prestige

Last week, I showed off a group break I participated in that was hosted by Chris over at Nachos Grande. I mentioned at the end of the post I joined a second group break last September, this time for a box of 2003 Playoff Prestige. With this group break, participants were randomly assigned a second team. I ended up with the Cleveland Indians, which I was fine with. My first ever MLB game was in Cleveland, so I have a soft spot for that team.

Just as he did before, Chris had some extra packs he opened as bonus content.

 

Aaron Friggin' Boone, are you kidding me? At least the Ted Williams reprint is sweet.

 

The Prestige box was the main attraction. It's a good looking set - simple, but the dual photography is nicely done. I ended up with some good cards.

Over half of the Red Sox team set, former Sox favorite Ellis Burks, plus a couple of "Hall of Very Good" level players - not too shabby!

The Prestige box turned out to be one of the better boxes Chris has ever opened, with a bunch of relics, more than what a regular box would expect. I didn't get any of those hits, but I did come away with a serial numbered insert.

The League Leaders set is numbered to 2002. It's funny to be reminded of the fact that although he was known for his power, he led the AL in batting that year!

Favorite Card: Manny hits his way to the lead!

Thanks again, Chris!

Breaking Good - 2020 Panini Diamond Kings

If there's a positive that has come from the lack of cards at my local Wally World, it's that I've had a little extra money for other avenues. I've joined a few small group breaks over the past year, and the cards have started to come in.

 

Over the summer, I joined a group break hosted by Chris over at Nachos Grande. He opened up a box of 2020 Panini Diamond Kings. The price for the Red Sox was within my budget (cheap!) so I signed up.

Before the main event, Chris was nice enough to open a few bonus packs from various sets. Three of those packs netted me some extra Red Sox cards:

 

 

Schilling and A-Gone were the only needs from this lot, the rest I already had (If you're one of those types of collectors  that loves all those 80's Donruss variations, then I guess the Cerone might qualify - it was the first of it's particular variation (pack border, no dot after the INC) that I entered into the TCDB. I doubt I'll have the energy to check all my other 1990 Donruss Rick Cerones to see which variables they really are.)

The Panini Diamond Kings set features 7 Red Sox players in the base set, and interestingly enough, none of them are active players. To be honest, that was actually a point in its favor for me and why I joined the break. The lack of a proper MLB license hurts Panini, but with those older pre-World War I era guys you really don't notice.

 

In the end, I ended up with 3 Red Sox 4 Boston players: 

 

 

I was surprised to see Eddie Mathews there. Yep, technically he is a player from a Boston team, but we all know that it wasn't with the Red Sox. If whoever claimed the Braves in this group break feels slighted, I'll gladly pass the card along. Otherwise, I don't mind adding another Hall of Famer to my collection.

One thing I've learned is that I have developed a bad habit when it comes to these group breaks. Normally, the cards don't automatically get shipped to you. You have to request them. That way you can participate in a bunch of breaks and have all your cards shipped for one shipping fee. That was my intent, too. I joined another of Chris's group breaks later that fall...and then forgot about them. I didn't have Chris ship my cards until last month. Whoops! 

Favorite Card: What the heck, Mathews was a pleasant surprise, so why not?

Thanks for the cards Chris!