Thank You, eBay

Before the New Year even began, I had already become dedicated to selling certain cards on eBay and using the profits to pay for various Baseball card purchases online. Now, almost 2 months into the year, I'm beginning to reap the benefits of listing these items.

Originally, I intended to save the money I earned for a case of 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter, but I soon realized that I would be unsuccessful in this endeavor. Sales began to gradually decline towards the beginning of February, and the eBay seller's fees affected the profits that I was making. 

Ultimately, I talked myself out of saving for an A&G case and instead, decided to spend the available money one of the craziest and most entertaining sets I've ever opened before in my life. Consisting of over 15 different products all rolled up into 1, I'm talking about 2018 Panini Chronicles.

Back when the product was first released, I opened a couple of blaster boxes that I was fortunate to find at my local Target, and it immediately captured my attention. Some packs consisted of all rookies, others delivered fantastic parallels. 

For likely the first time ever, I was unphased by the logoless cards across the entire set. I thoroughly enjoyed almost every product within the Chronicles set, and my interest in the product was revived after I opened a few hobby packs at Monday's trip to the Baseball card show. 

After my success with those 3 hobby packs, I made a decision regarding what to do with the money I earned on eBay. Instead of dedicating all the funds to one cause, I discovered it would be better to spend as I please on both supplies and cards. 

Therefore, the first of these purchases with the money I earned off of eBay would be a hobby box of 2018 Panini Chronicles.

In addition to a plethora of other products, the Chronicles set, oddly enough, also consists of a 60-card subset featuring the Chronicles base design. Like all the other insert sets, the Chronicles cards include a ton of different parallels, including, but not limited to, the teal parallel of Red Sox ace Chris Sale above, numbered out of 199.

From what I know, the products featured in Chronicles, besides Donruss and Optic, include sets that Panini produces for Football and Basketball, but not Baseball. Included in this discussion are highly-desired products like Prizm and Select, both of which are sought after by NBA and NFL fans alike. 

In the case of many of the designs, especially Status (top right), there's too much going on for me to truly notice the fact that no team logos are present.

But don't worry, there's far more where this came from.

The 9 sets I've shown so far are only about half of what Panini Chronicles has to offer, but that doesn't make the creative Crusade product or the elegant Studio set any bit less impressive. 

Even though some of the subsets seem to feature almost an almost identical selection of players, the vastly different styles of cards and the wide variety of parallels are what make Panini Chronicles the incredible product that it is.

Now that I've given somewhat of an overview, let's move on to the cards I was able to pull from my hobby box of this stellar product. 

Each hobby box promises 3 autographs and 1 memorabilia card per box on average along with 2 hobby-exclusive Spectra cards. Out of all 18 or so products within this larger set (if that makes any sense), the Spectra cards have the largest checklist at 100 cards. 

Given that they fall at only 2 per hobby box and have parallels, it's a safe bet that it's nearly impossible to complete the entire Chronicles set with every single subset included.

The Spectra cards, although unnecessarily thick, are one of my favorite sets within the Chronicles product. The larger checklist actually works towards Panini's favor as it allows them to feature a wider variety of players and even different uniforms. 

Pulling a Rhys Hoskins is already a plus, but the powder blue Phillies uniform elevates this card to another level.

This is what I meant when I previously mentioned Spectra parallels. Seriously, this product is insane, and I cannot fathom how anyone, given the checklist and all the big-name rookies, would be able to complete the entire 545-card Chronicles product. 

My 2nd and final Spectra base card of the pack was a neon blue parallel of (likely) future Hall of Famer, Max Scherzer, numbered to 99 on the back. The parallel looks just as crazy in-person as it does when scanned, and after pulling this card as well as the Hoskins, I'm dying to see what Rhys' Spectra card would look like as a neon blue parallel.

And as long as I'm talking about parallels, it's a good idea for me to show a couple of the many, many different colored parallels across the Chronicles product. Whether the cards are on paper or chrome cardstock, every different insert set features at least 5 different parallels, almost all of which are serial numbered.

One of the chrome stock sets, Phoenix, features a different selection of parallels than Crusade, another shiny subset. The Alex Verdugo card is a red parallel, serial numbered out of 99. 

On the other hand, the Dominic Smith card features a parallel, hyper (numbered out of 299), that can be found across numerous Chronicles subsets, including Contenders Optic and Prizm.

All the different subsets and parallels throughout Panini Chronicles can become somewhat baffling so it can be nice to take a step back to something that's, by this sets' standards, a bit more simple. Even with the 4 hits that I pulled, the Contenders Optic green parallel above of Ronald Acuña Jr could possibly be the highlight of the box. 

On the left, there's the base version which I also pulled in this hobby box, but the card on the right is serial numbered out of 50 and despite my best efforts, I haven't spotted another one of these Acuna cards online, so I'm unsure of the true value of this card.

Going into this box break, I repeatedly convinced myself that this was about more than just the hits as is shown through the serial numbered Acuña. With that being said, it doesn't make it any more enjoyable to pull 2 rather uninspiring autographs that make up half of the box's hits. 

In addition to neither one of them being rookie autographs, both cards feature sticker autos, both of which are noticeable in-person and when scanned. The Chris Flexen autograph, at the very least, is serial numbered out of 99, making it slightly more appealing towards potential buyers.

As for the Chad Pinder Chronicles autograph, the whopping $1.92 that it's currently going for on eBay is all that really needs to be said.

While I didn't expect the relic card to be better than 2 of the 3 autographs that I pulled, I was pleased when this Ryan McMahon Spectra Triple Threat Materials neon blue relic card (that's a mouthful), came out of one of the final packs of the box. 

Even though he's still not a huge name, the card is pretty gorgeous, and 2018 was McMahon's rookie season as well. Like the Scherzer neon blue, it's numbered out of 99 on the back. 

Besides, if I'm going to pull a card of a lesser name for one of my hits, I'm at least pleased that the card is a low-numbered parallel as stunning as this McMahon relic.

I've saved the best hit for last and unsurprisingly, it's another Spectra card, this time a neon pink rookie jersey autograph of Amed Rosario, featuring an awesome tri-color patch and the only on-card autograph of the entire box. 

Admittedly, Rosario is far from the best name I could land, especially given the surplus of rookies in this Spectra autograph relic subset. Still, this card provides me with my very first look at the neon pink parallels. 

The regular Spectra parallels are numbered out of 75, but because this one's an autograph relic, it's out of 49 instead, making this Rosario card, by far, the best hit of the entire box.

It's pretty difficult to be disappointed in a box of Panini Chronicles. I mean, what other product will deliver 10 serial numbered cards in a 48-card box? Plus, like I mentioned earlier, with a set like Chronicles, the hits don't matter quite as much as the endless parallels you can pull.

Sure, the 2 Spectra hits were pretty awesome, but it's hard to beat that Acuña card. That card alone could go for over half of what I paid for this box in the first place.

Coins & Chronicles; Card Show Recap #18 Part 2

After spending the first 45 minutes or so of Monday's card show finding cards from 1976 Topps, I knew it was necessary for me to look around and see what other vendors had to offer. 

Ultimately, this search brought me back to the same dealer that I purchased the vintage dime cards from. Amongst a stack of junk wax packs, I spotted a bunch of 1989 Topps Baseball Coins for only 25 cents a pack.

In what eventually became the easiest decision I made all day, I grabbed 8 packs for a mere $2 with each pack promising 3 coins. Oh, and a 30-year old stick of bubble gum as well.

Before I found these bargain packs at Monday's card show, I had only opened 1 pack of coin cards in my life, and the pack was from the mid-1980s. The 1989 Topps Baseball coins also inspired the blaster-exclusive coins from 2018 Topps Archives with both products utilizing the same design. 

Though I ended up with a few duplicate coins, I have zero room to complain at 25 cents a pack, especially since I ended up with an Eddie Murray coin on the LA Dodgers since he was one of the 3 players I pulled in my previous coin pack.

Even though this set was released just before the 90s officially began, the design still looks reminiscent of the late 70s and early 80s, featuring stars and bright colors. While the silver coins use a light green "wave," the gold coins' design features warmer colors like orange and yellow that, like the silver coins, change shades from beginning to end. 

The gold coins were where I had the must duplicate cards and the least amount of luck, yet even my dislike of steroid user Mark McGwire can't interfere with how well-made and sharp his '89 Topps coin appears.

After opening all 8 packs, I ended up with 2 All-Star coins that consist of much more colorful borders and a star-filled background. Walt Weiss isn't a player I'm super familiar with, but Tony Gwynn is a player that I collect, and his blue-bordered coin is instantly eye-catching.

I'll probably send out some in future team collectors packages, but 25 cents a pack is a heck of a deal for these sweet looking coins. However, the '89 Topps Baseball coins weren't the only packs that I opened at Monday's show.

Despite being unlicensed, 2018 Panini Chronicles will go down as one of my favorite Baseball card sets in recent memory, and I felt lucky to have picked up 3 blasters of the product at my local Target. 

I stayed away from hobby boxes and even hobby packs of the set due to the high prices, but I wasn't feeling incredibly inspired at the Mansfield show to search through dime boxes or Red Sox bins. 

After spending almost an hour looking for '76 and '79 Topps set needs, I didn't want to spend much more time looking through boxes. Because of that, I tested my luck with a single hobby pack of the Chronicles set and later returned to the same dealer for her final 2 packs from the product.

Among the dozen or more Panini products included in 2018 Panini Chronicles, there's Spectra, cards that fall at 2 per hobby box and feature numbered parallels and even autographs and relics. 

While my card isn't numbered, landing a card of Gleyber Torres, one of the top 5 rookies of 2018, demonstrates that you get a ton of bang for your buck when buying Panini Chronicles. Certainly, this is helped by the sheer strength of the 2018 MLB rookie class.

While I pulled either 3 or 4 numbered cards per blaster of 2018 Panini Chronicles, each hobby pack delivers a similar number, usually around 2 per pack. After all, with 15 or so products and 25 or more players per set, there's bound to be a surplus of numbered cards, especially when it comes to rookies. 

As far as the design goes, Crusade is easily one of the more creative products within the Chronicles set, a unique style that is aided by the untraditional choices for parallels. 

Numbered out of 199 copies, this ruby wave Rafael Devers rookie parallel is my 2nd serial numbered Devers card out of this product, the 1st of which being a blue cracked ice card from Contenders Optic.

While they don't have the licensing rights and won't until at least 2025, in the case of Chronicles, Panini more than makes up for it with unorthodox parallels, unique set designs, and one of the most creative products I have ever seen in my life.

While the "purple' parallel is only evident through the changing of the word Classics to purple, the card is nevertheless a serial numbered parallel. Better yet, it's numbered 10/10, tying it with a few other cards for one of the lowest serial numbered cards in my entire collection.

I don't know all that much about Mets shortstop Amed Rosario, but if I remember correctly, he was a high-ranked prospect before his rookie season in 2018. If he makes it big, I'll have a valuable card on my hands, and even if he doesn't, it's pretty cool to have a card that's numbered out of only 10 copies.

With hits falling at 4 hobby packs per 6-pack box, I was guaranteed at least 1 relic or autograph after purchasing 3 total packs, and it was the thinnest pack of the bunch that landed me an autograph card. 

This is the Panini Phoenix set design, one of a couple chrome stock card sets within Panini Chronicles. I'm not incredibly upset that I didn't land a huge name. Instead, I wish the autograph was on-card since a chrome set like Phoenix is basically perfect for on-card autos.

I happen to have 1 more hit to display to wrap up this post, but I felt it was necessary to show this card as well, the highlight of the 3 packs when it comes to parallels that I pulled. I couldn't care less about Panini not having the licensing rights, especially when I pulled this card. 

After all, it's a Shohei Ohtani pink parallel, numbered 8/25. Given what other copies of this same card appear to be going for on eBay, it looks as if I could pay for all 3 packs that I opened solely from this card. Because it's a rookie card, however, I'll likely be hanging on to this one.

As for the 2nd hit, it's hard to find a more beautiful card than this, and it's of a well-respected rookie from 2018 as well, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Jack Flaherty, from the hobby-exclusive Cornerstones set.

I can count on 1 hand how many autographed relic cards I have in my collection, nevermind an on-card auto with 4 relics, 2 of which are patches. Better yet, it's a rookie auto and a granite parallel as well, numbered 22/25 on the back which just so happens to be Flaherty's jersey number. 

With all the different elements of this card, you don't even notice the fact that it's unlicensed right away, and that's the sign of an excellent Panini Baseball card. All around, it's truly a fantastic card, and along with the Ohtani, was the highlight of this 3 hobby pack break.

After all, when you have a set as creative and loaded with as many top tier rookies as Panini Chronicles is, it's difficult, for me, to care all that much about there being no logos or team names.