Singles Only (NFL Edition)

Lately I've been doing a little throwback gaming,playing season modes In Madden 98,and It got me thinking about those players from the 90's that I loved so much  like,Emmitt Smith,Barry Sanders,Thurman Thomas,Elway..and the list goes on. I've made It a point to try and recoup some of those players cards that I used to own as a kid and add a few that I never had but always wanted.I loved running backs,who doesn't?Below are only a few of the many that I still have to covet.I'll also be trying to accumulate 80's Broncos cards of Elway,Humphries and Vance Johnson.This will be a change of pace for me and an enjoyable endeavor ,what with MLB In hibernation mode.

  

My Favorite 9 (Right Now)

First off,a special thanks to Junior Junkie , the inspiration behind this post .I had fun.Oh,and thanks for the quick and  quality cut and paste job (butchered Kris Bryant aside) with the card pics I sent over . Homie Is pretty damn fast!Initially ,this wasn't as hard as I thought It would be,but In retrospect ,some very cool cards In my collection got overlooked.Not that the 9 I chose aren't "Favorite 9" worthy   ,because they most certainly are.In fact I think I was pretty honest with myself about It,even though I could have easily added to the list.It's kind of like when someone says something and then asks you to say the first thing that comes to your mind.Well,these were the first 9 that came to my mind.I love the 9 cards I chose.These cards get stared at a little longer than the others when I'm rummaging through my  collection.The level of admiration I have for some are based on star power,while others,like the Canseco,Jefferies and Jones, are just childhood favorites.So without further adieu,  my favorite 9 right now....

Singles Only

        Nothing big,just a couple of Chrome pick ups.The 2015 Topps design was one that I was curious about getting the chrome treatment.I don't know If It's just me but they don't really pop as much as past Topps Chrome stuff.Still,the Degrom and Harvey are nice additions.Stay tuned for my next couple of posts as I'll be showing some recent Football card pick ups.

Singles Only

Before Night Owl could get that Syndergaard out to me ,my itchy finger pulled the trigger on  a '15 Topps Update Syndi and Cespedes.And I finally scored an '04 Bazooka Yadi Molina RC.

Night Owl Covers All The Bases!

A little while ago,Night Owl dropped a post on some 2015 Topps Update he had just acquired.The Syndergaard and Matz rc's really caught my eye as I had no idea they would be featured In the set.I haven't been In pack buying mode lately,so I figured why not cherry pick on Ebay or try to acquire the Syndi and Matz through a trade.Night Owls next post touched on   World Series night games , and how a collection of World Series night game cards was In order.I just so happened to have what he was looking for as well as some cards on his want list,so an E-Mail was sent and a trade initiated.Night Owl covered all the bases , sending me the meat and potatoes part of the trade (Syndergaard and Matz),as well as some other much needed cards on my want list.

I love  It when bloggers take the extra time to add little thank you notes to their trade packages.It's something I rarely do.Shame on me.The face card was totally unexpected but a welcomed addition.A Mets fan can never have too many Degroms In his/her collection.

Now this was the card I drooled a little bit over when catching a glimpse of It on N.O. blog.My first thoughts were - "Man, now I gotta go see If our local Wal Mart has any '15 Update stocked because I desperately need that Syndergaard!" My second thoughts were - "Man, now I gotta leave the house just to go see If our local Wal Mart has any '15 Update stocked because I desperately need that Syndergaard!" My third thoughts were "Fuck that,I'm not going anywhere I'll just Email Night Owl and see If we can work out a trade or something". Next thing you know-"BAM!"

The Boy Wonder ,Steven Matz!

I don't have alot of contemporary stuff,so anything from 2010 to 2013 Is pretty much non existent In my collection.Hence the appreciation of this awesome Panini Hometown Heroes Puig rc!

While I'm not crazy about the original Topps Rookie Cup design,I welcome any of  Dee Gordon's  baseball cards Into my collection .I hope to one day see him leading off for the NY Mets. 

1988 Topps Jose Canseco!This was the card that started It all.1988 marked the beginning of my baseball card collecting ways.This was the card that lit the fuse.So anybody out there holding onto a surplus of this particular card,let me know!I will gladly take them off your hands.

Another card on my want list,this 89 Topps Jefferies Is a personal favorite of mine.It's just a great looking card and one I wouldn't mind having multiples of either.

A new Yadi!By far my favorite Catcher with Salvy Perez coming In 2nd.I'd love for  Molina to come over and platoon with Darnaud at some point In his career.Could you imagine how much more dangerous Degrom ,Syndergaard and Harvey would be with this guy sitting behind the plate?!? 

Night Owl must have read my catcher collection post as he threw In a couple of  gems ,especially the Mayne.

WHEN I SAY ROOKIE,YOU SAY CUP-"ROOKIE!CUP!ROOKIE...."

  

Thanks again for the trade N.O.Now I don't feel as obligated to go out and get any Update ;)  

90's Football Video Game King - Barry Sanders!

I've always been a fan of baseball,but didn't really get into football until I started playing Tecmo Bowl on the NES.That Super Bowl between the Broncos and the Giants In 87 kind of lit the fire ,but it was the video games that fanned the flames.My first memories of Tecmo Bowl was rushing for a 70 plus run touchdown with Bo Jackson ,down In my buddies basement.I must have been 12 or 13 then.After that I was hooked!The legend of Tecmo would ensue on the SNES and later, Madden  would come In and dominate the genre .Chronologically,I should have started this themed post with Bo Jackson,but I don't have any of his cards at the moment.However,I recently picked up  a card of my second favorite all time football video game player,Barry Sanders!Yeah,he was awesome In real life,but untouchable In video games.I remember getting Into arguments with anyone who chose the Lions on Madden or Super Tecmo Bowl because It usually meant game over for me.In single player  season modes,I would dominate with Sanders,Perriman and Herman Moore,usually making It to the playoffs.I'm thinking about making this a recurring theme,featuring not only football but also baseball and basketball video game legends.

Ecstatic We Made It To The World Series,Elated That It's Over With!

I remember getting on the "Over The Falls" log ride with my 8 year old daughter  this past summer,and shamelessly expressing my outright fear of  getting on It.I'm not one of those macho dads that hides his fear of things behind a fake Superman crest on his chest.If I'm afraid of something ,I'm gonna let you know about It.It's sad I know It,my daughter has bigger cojones than I do,lol.You see,this ride has no seat belts ,just a bar you hang onto as you   go plummeting down 100 feet or so into a shallow pool of water that breaks the fall and splashes the crap out of you.My stomach just Isn't what It used to be.Anyways,2 minutes into the ride and I realized ,at that point,that there was no turning back.This unassuming little log raft ride that was slowly approaching the foot of the hill, slowly tugged us up to the top ,before the clanking sound of whatever metal mechanism It was holding us onto the track  ,released us into a scream inducing free fall.This Is the best metaphor I could think of.The Mets In the World Series was the Log ride ,my couch was the log raft and wouldn't you know It,sitting right next to me,accompanying me through It all was my daughter.There was no turning back now.My Mets were In the World Series and I was going to have to endure every nail biting  minute  of It.The first two  games I caught at my parents house,with my nephew and my dad but It was the final three,at my place, that took the most out of me.My daughter watched  a few innings  with me and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much she's learned about the game.She knew the count and kept me current whenever a bathroom or drink break was In order.When I say drink,I'm referring to water.That's all I had throughout the entire series.Water.I didn't even snack on anything,I couldn't. My stomach was In knots the whole time.Fans on certain forums say that this Is a once  In a lifetime experience and that I should enjoy every moment of It.Bullshit.Although seeing my guys up there wearing World Series patches on their unis and grabbing headlines was extremely cool,It was far from  enjoyable  to watch Cespedes,Wright,Murphy and Duda kick the ball around like a game of  hacky sack. What really broke my heart was watching the excitement In my daughters eyes when they reversed the Flores tag up play In game 4.Ever since the crying incident,Flores has become her favorite Met.She never stood up long enough to watch game endings,so every morning she'd ask me If we won or lost.Sadly I 'd have to break the bad news to her the next day.While she wasn't distraught like her dad was,I could see It starting to bug her.She hated to see the Royals celebrating In the dugout.I secretly did too,but had to explain to her that they were just excited and had every right to celebrate.I didn't want her to develop hatred for another team so early In her Mets fandom.I can't remember why but  at one point she even got mad  at Ned Yost,lol,the calmest guy In the Royals dugout!There are some positives,though.Namely,the fact that the Mets made It to the World Series.We lost,yeah,but had an epic postseason run.Hell It was an epic run period,since day one of the 2015 season.I'm so fucking proud of our pitching staff. I've never seen a crop of young players/pitchers be so damn fearless on the mound.I mean Matz had all but 6 major league starts before falling right in the thick of a pennant race.And he answered the call like a seasoned veteran ,while most 24 year old rookie hurlers would have folded under the pressure. I also got to watch the fall classic with my dad and  football fanatic nephew,who because of this years Mets team has a new found  love for the game of baseball.Lastly,the fire I saw In my daughters eyes during game four made It all worth It.She loves the fact that Matz Is a hometown kid who still lives with his parents and makes the short commute daily to the ball park.She loves the fact that Syndergaards nickname Is Thor.She loves the fact that Flores cried on the diamond because of how much he loved being a Met.She hates the fact that Royals fans refer to  Jacob Degrom as Caitlin Jenner.And I love the fact that my 8 year old daughter Is beginning to fall In love with the NY Mets. And just as she did that summer on the log ride ,she'll be there to hold my hand through what  will hopefully be more gut wrenching ,exciting yet fear inducing  Mets National League championships and World Series appearances!Can I get a -  LETS GO METS!LETS GO METS!