Monthly Wrap - Feb 2025
Hey y’all! As we continue to work on building out this blog - something Matt and I decided we wanted to do was give a monthly recap of of the cards we acquired. Instead of trying to showcase every card we picked up, we’re gonna experiment with 5 categories:
Note: Ben’s Additions are on the left, Matt’s are on the right!
Exciting Addition
2003 Donruss team heroes Ichiro #460 statline /51
Any early MLB career Ichiro numbered to his jersey number is going to be an exciting pickup. This is one is particularly fun because his RBIs happened to match his Jersey number, so it’s a fun cross over addition!
2021-22 Upper Deck The Cup Limited Logos /50 John Gibson
Now that I am learning how to play goaltender, one goalie has stood out as someone who I can learn something from other than my hero, Marc-Andre Fleury. John Gibson plays an hour from where I live, and is essentially the same build as me minus being in much better playing shape. I wanted to add a few essentials to my collection of him, and this card continued to catch my eye. I can’t think of a much better patch to own than this!
Long Awaited Addition
2001 eTopps Albert Pujols RC #143
This is a pickup that is readily available on eBay. In fact so readily available that’s the reason it qualifies as my ‘long awaited’ addition - I just put off picking up a copy for sooooo long. I ended up picking this copy up from the one of the new owners of the hobby shop where I had my first job - so it's got a extra special place in the PC.
2021-22 Fleer Ultra Medallions Sapphire /25 Marc-Andre Fleury
This set has been out for nearly two years, and I’ve owned all of the medallions minus the 1/1 for over a year! I’ve been waiting and waiting for a copy of this to pop up and low and behold, one showed up on eBay for so cheap that I mashed the bin! So happy to have the full rainbow minus the 1/1 now! Mission accomplished!
Captivating Addition
1996 Select Certified certified red Barry Bonds #31
The first 1996 select certified I’ve ever owned. Even the lowest tier parallel if this card is pretty. It feels ‘luxe’, like a truly expensive card regardless of the rarity. Am I tempted to go for the full run? Absolutely. but maybe just getting all of the non-mirror parallels would be enough for me after seeing this one in person.
2024-25 O-Pee-Chee Premier Diamond /75 Marc-Andre Fleury
Cards don’t need to be expensive to be beautiful and fun to collect! This beauty came from one of our first 2024-25 products and while it’s a rare parallel /75, it came with a $15 price tag…hard to beat when it looks as amazing as it does, especially with movement in the light!
‘Overpaid but stoked’ Addition
2005 Fleer Ultra platinum medallion /50 Ichiro
I can’t even say I really overpaid for this card since they so rarely surface. That being said, it’s not an inexpensive card so it warrants existing in this category. I’ve always loved this iteration of the platinum medallion design (obviously doesn’t hold a candle to ‘98) but it’s one of the best from the early 00’s
2024 Upper Deck PWHL First Edition Ann-Renee Desbeins Young Guns Exclusives /100
The only reason this card makes the list is because someone listed one for cheaper right after I purchased this lol. Right now I am chasing each of the PWHL goaltenders exclusives /100 cards. I am only two away and Ann-Renee was the only rookie card I needed. She’s been the best goaltender in the league this season and I truly feel this will not be an overpay in the near future!
‘Cheap but fun’ Addition
2005 Bowman Chrome Ichiro refractor #95
Picked up for $4 - and I already have the x-fractor version so a really fun addition to that little run. It’s also one of those ‘picture day’ style photos that makes me laugh.
2022-23 SP Authentic Sign of the Times Black Gold Ink Elvis Merzlikins Auto
Now that I’ve devoted my resources to only goalies, I’ve been looking to add certain cards of the league’s top tendys, and I came across this beauty for $10…I am still shocked. This card of Fleury, which is /15 and inscribed, sells for $3-450. Safe to say I am overjoyed to own such a beautiful copy of this card!
Month in Review
Matt: This month was actually a light month compared to what most months have been like since I moved here…but truth be told, I loved it! Each card that came in was very significant and gave me something to look forward to being that the mail was so infrequent. I have really cut back on my spending within the hobby thanks to our goals we set in January. The John Gibson additions set me back a bit but without those this would have been a very successful “don’t spend!” month! As I dive deeper into my goal of learning how to be a successful goaltender, focusing on goalie cards again has been a pleasant surprise, but one I know has the most staying power compared to me other former side quests.
Ben: kind of a surprising month, ended up with some bigger pick ups I didn’t expect, and found a new collector/friend in Karl (agriffeyaday365). I’m feeling that keeping blinders on and sticking to my goals is paying off. While Bonds and Ichiro will continue to be the majority of my pickups, after reviewing everything I got in this month, I’d like to make a concerted effort to get some more active players’ cards I know I’ve been looking for in recent products in March.
