cool cards from Rod (and a couple from Nick)

Rod from the Padrographs blog (and fellow NE Portland resident) has been spreading more cardboard cheer lately and I was lucky enough to be a recipient of his generosity yet again. Last weekend he swung by with a pair of full 660-count boxes. Then just yesterday, before I could get a post out on them, he stopped by again with another box. Always a joy to thumb through the cards and see what jumps out. Here are a few highlights I set aside from the first 2 boxes.

Kinda neat to see the 1975 Topps design with the color drained out of it. I had just snagged a similar Spencer Strider on COMC prior to coincidentally finding his teammate among the haul from Rod. And here with a similar batting stance is a wonderfully gaudy Luis Robert, Jr. gold refractor insert numbered out of 50.

I had been wanting to check out the revamped All-Etch inserts put out in 2024-- and in another COMC coincidence had recently secured the logofractor version of that Austin Riley-- so it was nice to see them in hand a little earlier than anticipated. Sharp looking cards.

And the All-Etch Rookie Rush design, too, paired here with a logofractor Future Star. 

I get a kick out of these inserts that call to mind Lisa Frank stickers that were popular with the girls back in the day.

A couple interesting vintage cards sneaking in among the modern stuff. These are my first 1952 Topps Look 'n See cards.

A Skenes RC and snazzy Ripken insert were a couple of the other cards that warranted a happy verbal reaction when I came across them.

I feel like I've built up a solid little Elly De La Cruz PC thanks to Rod. Fun player.

 -   - -o

Thanks a ton, Rod!

I'll plan to make another post for the 3rd box since I haven't gotten around to taking any pics of those cards yet. But for an addition to this post-- ironically the only Padre cards today [Rod's 3rd box was more Friar focused]-- here's a recent PWE from Nick/n j w v that he originally attempted to send me a year ago.

Better late than never, and I'm very glad Nick hooked me up with this fun pair of customs. These are part of a brilliant series of his with the 1981 Topps design reimagined with various celebratory headwear.

Had to show the full backs, even though my photo turned out blurry. Incredible work all around! Thanks again, Nick!

Have a great week, everybody.