Baby It's Cold Outside!

 

Overnight low temperatures in the area have been hovering around -10 degrees, with even colder weather expected tonight. Despite the deep freeze, I decided to venture out yesterday for a local card show. The event’s proximity—just ten minutes from my home—made the trip worthwhile, offering a welcome alternative to another day spent indoors binge-watching TV.

This particular show has been growing remarkably in popularity. I've been attending since it started at this location, and the crowd has exploded from filling just half the gym to absolutely busting at the seams with dealers. Even with another large show taking place only 20 minutes away, this venue was packed full of collectors.

All right let's get to the good stuff.

I couldn't pull this Cooper Flagg rookie from a pack so I bought it.  And no, I am not completing this set.

I can't stop collecting Ant rookies.  I'll take as many as I can get.

I have an issue with acetate cards.  I like them too much.  That greyish background isn't the card, it's the cardboard I placed on top of it while scanning the card because I didn't want a white background.  Maybe I should have used blue or red.

This is a 2021-22 Panini Illusions "King of Cards" Stephen Curry basketball card.  I had never seen this card before but I couldn't take my eyes off it.  

Another Lebron.  Iconic card if you ask me.  I will complete this set some day.

And another Ohtani.  Just can't get enough of him.

This guy has been a phenom since arriving from the NPB league where he dominated.  I'll be picking up more of his RC's.

I said I would build this 100 card insert set and it has begun!  My first card from the set.  I saw a dealer with a pile of the flagship inserts, but he wanted a buck a card.  For flagship?  I passed because I want the Chrome insert set - but that doesn't mean I won't put together the flagship set.

This is a 2023 Topps Composite Heritage Chrome Emmitt Smith X-Fractor.  I had no idea what it was when I bought it and had to look that up when I got home.  The only thing I knew is that it looked awesome and Emmitt is one of my favorite RB's of all time.  If you haven't heard yet, he's got a new company called Prova that is inserting smart chips in cards.  Should be very interesting to see how collectors react to this technology.

Yep it's a Zion rookie.  Boy, these are getting cheap.

This card is a 2021 Panini Chronicles "America's Pastime" Fernando Tatis Jr.  I don't have many cards from the set but for some reason this caught my eye.

All of the cards above I picked up for $30.  Was this a good deal?  I'm not going to ask the bot, but I feel pretty good about paying less than $3 for each of those.

This might be the best conditioned card from the 1952 set that I own.  For $35 I couldn't turn down adding this hall of famer to my collection.

I figured since I'm working on this set why not pick up a 2024 Topps Chrome Payton prism refractor? 

As winter makes its presence known, I had to cap off this post with a hockey card acquisition. One dealer at the show boasted an impressive table stacked with vintage hockey cards—an area where my own collection is noticeably sparse. Fortunately, I had plenty of time to browse and spotted this stunning 1962-63 Parkhurst Gordie Howe. I immediately fell in love with the image; I had never seen this particular card in person before yesterday. After some successful negotiation, the dealer and I reached an agreement, and for $200, it became mine.

There is one more weekend of shows left before the new year, hopefully I can find more great stuff like these cards.  Until next time stay warm!