Stickers for 29,000

As I was entering new cards into my TCDB collection last night, I noticed I passed a milestone in my Cardinals collection.  Last week I passed 29,000 cards in my collection.  I am certain that number is not 100% accurate, but it is nice to a good estimate.  I do have some Topps buybacks and a few other oddball cards not listed in the database, while there may be a few duplicates in that total.  That ranks me third among Cardinals collectors on the site.  A couple of years ago I was first.  Guess I need to pick things back up.  

A trade package from member frohny pushed me past that milestone.

The database lists this 1995 Panini sticker as a Cardinals card, so that is what I am going with.  I tend to agree, as I always go with the logo on the card versus the picture.  I guess Panini was too lazy to do a photoshop image.

Moving on to the Topps Stickers, here is a three pack from 2012.

Moving up a year to a lone 2013 sticker.

Finishing up with 4 from 2014.  Gotta love the mascot sticker.

I would love to get to 30,000 by the end of 2026, but doubt that will happen.  My daughter's wedding in June will take a big chunk of my card budget for a few months.  

  

TCDB 2 for Tuesday #132

Big news out of St. Louis today is the Cardinals finally traded Nolan Arenado.  They basically had to pay Arizona to take him, but he is now a Diamondback.  Thanks for 5 mostly good years.  You can never say he did not give it his all.  Getting on to today's trades, first up is a 4 pack of Cardinals from member OwenJes7.

With Arenado gone now, Walker is the only Cardinals left from these 2024 Cosmic Chrome cards.  Check back in a year if that is still the case.

The second 4 pack of Cardinals came from member alburke111.

If I ever get bored, I will go through all my Musial cards and see how many times Topps used the photo on this 2025 Allen & Ginter card.  I am pretty sure the Ozzie Smith photo is on several cards also.

I guarantee Topps has not used this photo before.  At least they try to keep Stadium Club cards fresh and unique.

My 2025 Bowman team set is now complete.  The Cardinals sent Lin to the Arizona Fall League this year with mixed results.  He has big strikeout numbers, but big walk numbers to go with them.  He will most likely start in Double A Springfield this year.  If the control comes, maybe you will see him in St. Louis next year.

  

I70 Trade

2025 marked the 40th anniversary of the I70 World Series between the Cardinals and Royals.  1985 was one of the first years I remember listening to a lot of games.  The "Running Redbirds" played a fast style of baseball that most likely will never be seen again.  You will likely never see another team make it to the World Series by hitting 87 home runs in the regular season.   Most fans know of the Game 6 blown call, so I will not get into that.  Despite that, the 1985 team is still one of my favorites.

I always think of 1985 when I see a Royals card.  I try to get rid of them ASAP.  Good thing there are a few team collectors on TCDB.  Just before Christmas I sent a few Royals to member royals ( not hard to tell what he collects) in exchange for a few Cardinals.

Any trade that includes Molina cards is a good trade.

I saw a few 2025 Cosmic Chrome cards at the cards show on Saturday.  I know it is a new release, but it was crazy to see some of the prices for base cards.  I will stick to trading for them, like this 2024 Goldschmidt.

Only 2 Panini cards in the trade, including one of 1985 Rookie of the Year Vince Coleman.  

The Perez was the last card included in the original trade, but the trader was nice enough to throw in a couple of other cards from my wantlist.  Maybe he was feeling guilty about 1985.  

  

TCDB 2 for Tuesday #131

It is only January 6 and this is already my third post of 2026.  I will not be able to keep up this rate, but it is fun to have some cards to show off.  Today's first batch of cards came from member ILLRIMESAYA'

It is shocking how hard it is to trade for MLB Showdown cards.  I guess collectors who played the game held onto the cards.  These are from the 2000 1st Edition set.  

You know this is an early Molina card due to the absence of his neck tattoo.  This one is a 2006 Bowman Heritage silver foil parallel.

The second trade package came from member PIANELLI.

It is nice to get 1/3 of the 2025 Prizm team set in one trade.  Only another 1/3 to go.

The trade brought me 2 Saggese and Hence cards.  Despite the lack of logos, I like the Panini Crusade set.  Reminds me of the great 1998 Donruss set.  

  

2026 Card Show #1

I knew after work Friday that I was going to a card show this past weekend.  I just did not know which one.  One was about an hour and a half away in Newburgh, IN on Saturday with 50-60 tables.  The other was about two and a half hours away close to St. Louis on Sunday with 140 tables.  Knowing I was going alone to either show, I picked the closer one on Saturday.  

This is the second time I attended a show at this venue.  The first was a week before COVID hit in 2020.  I remember the show well, as I was hunting for cards to take along to be autographed.  This time I was hunting for dime or quarter boxes, along with some hits to my 1960s Cardinals team sets.  

Only one dealer had dime boxes.  I pulled 20 cards, most of them for trade bait.  I did find 5 Cardinals I needed along with an upgrade to my 1997 Pinnacle Certified Ray Lankford.  My other copy has the peel removed.  I had never seen the 2004 Retired Signature Keith Hernandez card.

A nice older gentleman had a binder full of 1960s commons for $1 each.  I did not need any of these, but 2 will be upgrades, while the other 3 will be trade bait.

My last purchase was from a dealer with 3 showcases of vintage cards.  I was little hesitant to stop because none of the cards had prices, and some of the cards were in old screw down holders.  After spending 1.5 hours at the show and only spending $7, I decided to ask.  The dealer allowed me to take the cards out of the top loaders and one screw down.  I was surprised he had a small screw driver.  It was a relief to see prices on the back.  I settled on 4 cards that were marked for $105 total.  He offered them to me for $70, which I gladly paid.

1962 Tim McCarver rookie card, 1963 Ken Boyer, and 1965 Curt Flood.  The Flood is very close to mint, while the other 2 have a couple of soft corners.  My scanner makes the top cards look more off centered than what they are.  

This 1964 Topps Gibson is from the 6th series, make it one of the more difficult card to find.  It is off centered left to right and top to bottom, but otherwise is in great shape.  Glad to knock this tough one off my list.

  

    

Happy 1/1 Day!

My family and I rang in the new year with a few friends and family.  We watched some football and played cards until 1:00 this morning.  Not sure this old man can take too many night staying up that late.  Instead of showing off a few new cards, I thought I would show a few 1/1 from my Lankford collection.

My first 1/1 was this 1998 Score Showcase Series Artist Proof.  

1998 Pinnacle Press Plates

1998 Stadium Club Press Plate

1998 Topps Gold Label Class 3 Red

1999 Stadium Club Printing Plates

1999 Topps Gold Label Class 3

2000 Fleer Mystique Masterpiece

2000 Stadium Club Printing Plate

2023 Panini Flawless Signature Platinum

It would be awesome to add another one to the collection this year, but I am not banking on it.  Hope you all have a great collecting year in 2026.

  

Big Bench Trade

Before the holiday rush set in, I was able to complete a large trade on The Bench with member Brad M.  I sent him 3 insert sets from 2002 Studio in exchange for a little cash and a large Cardinals lot.  I reduced some clutter, made a little spending money, and adding some great Cardinals to my collection.  

Who does not love oddball discs?  Ozzie is a 1988 Fantastic Sam's disc, while Coleman is from the 1991 Cadaco board game.  I count the Coleman as a Cardinal because he is pictured as one, although the back lists him as a Met.  

Another oddball Ozzie, this one from 1994 Churchs Hometown Stars.  Ozzie turns 71 today.  Clayton is a silver parallel from 1998 Pacific, while the bottom 2 are 1999 Fleer Tradition warning track parallels.  

The last 2 base cards are from 2002 Topps Super Teams and 1999 Just.  I love the Super Teams set, wish Topps would bring that brand back.

The Panini portion featured mostly colored parallels.  The pink ice Molina and blue ice Smith from 2024 Prizm are very sharp.

The was a nice variety of Topps inserts, ranging from 2005-2025.

Chrome cards were also well represented.

Two minis from 2023 Allen & Ginter.

Two more Pujols inserts. The card on the left is a 2005 Topps Rookie Cup reprint.

I added to my game used collection with this 2007 Bowman Heritage card.

My son also added a game used card to his Altuve collection, along with a Prism refractor.

My favorite card of the trade is this 2025 Topps Black parallel numbered to 74.  2026 will most likely be a make or break year for Walker.  Fingers crossed he breaks through.