Return From Vacation Mailbox Goodies Posts: Checklist Chipaway: 2003 Diamond Kings

I’m down to the final 4 needed to complete the bat relics insert set from 2003 Diamond Kings.  I’ve got 26 of the 30, with this latest addition:

I only need R. Henderson, C. Ripken, R. Sandberg and Babe Ruth.  I’m going to forget about the Ruth one because that ain’t happening.  The other 3 won’t be cheap, especially the Ripken, but I should be able to manage them over the next year.

Sampler Album Week: 1986 Topps

As much as I talk about by Sampler Album, I don't do a whole lot of posts showing the pages that I've completed.  I'll remedy that this week and see if I can alienate a few readers with boring, one-note posts.

Today, I'll show my 1986 page.  This, and 1987are the two years I feel the most nostalgia for when I see them.  I think I have heard a lot of negative opinions on 1986 Topps, but I love it.  I guess because it was the first complete set I ever purchased, after I finally learned that there were dealers out in the world that sold baseball cards as complete sets.  All I knew up until that point was that you had to buy a ton of packs to get even close to building a set.

I think 1986 Topps is very smart:

I know the Will Clark is part of the traded set, but my Sampler Album rules are not hard and fast.  Overall, I love this page.  The Mattingly card is a work of art.  I've got Kirby Puckett on my 1985 page too, and prefer not to have players on back to back pages, so I'll eventually change him out for someone else.  But for now, this page is great and one of my favorites in the album.

A Pack Of Spring Fever Cards

In my recent Topps 13 Hobby box, I had one of those Spring Fever cards that can be redeemed at participating hobby stores.  Thankfully, Cleve's is a participating store and I got a pack:

Ohhh, the mystery!  What's inside I wonder?

Wish I had gotten a Ranger in here, but not bad overall.  Still debating if I want to trade these or not.

Checklist Chipaway: 2009 Topps Sterling

We have major momentum on 2009 Topps Sterling now boys and girls, and need only a baker's dozen to complete the set.

Four more cards came my way this week:

I'm now 90% done with the set, and feel great about my chances of wrapping it up this year.