My other hobby volume I

This is a card of 2013 Panini Momentum of rookie Stephan Taylor.  It includes a autograph as well as a game worn jersey.  In 2013, there wasn't a crazed draft class like 2012.  But I was still hooked in collecting football cards.  So I changed my attitude and instead of chasing key rookie players and obtaining a hit with some type of financial compensation, I collected football cards and treated it like a hobby.  To just collect cards that were beautifully rendered and had curb appeal.

The second card is also a 2013 Panini Momentum rookie card of QB Tyler Wilson.  It's what's called a patch card due to the fact that a game worn jersey is included with the card, in this case it's a large piece of jersey hence the term patch.

The third and final card is a 2013 Panini Momentum Rookie Autograph Card of Knile Davis.  All cards pictured below are numbered and limited.

Endly, I realized just like a hobby in collecting coins, stamps, and styrene kits, it didn't matter what the end result would be.  As long as I enjoyed life and my hobby without hurting anyone and doing the hobby in a responsible financially effective way, it was all good!

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This card is of a rookie draftee that was drafted by the Saint Louis Rams.  It's a 2014 Topps Prime Rookie card of Michael Sam.  You ask, what's so special about Michael Sam?  He is the very first player to come out of the closet and inform everyone on national TV that he was a gay athlete.

At the draft, they even broadcasted a first.  When Michael Sam got the call as a drafted agent for the Saint Louis Rams, they showed him and his partner celebrate with the first gay kiss on the NFL Draft.  

Personally, I really don't care what you do behind closed doors, just be a really good human being and take care of your fellow humans and try to be positive and a leader by guiding the next generation with knowledge and commonsense.  

You can't ask for more.  I know of people that are straight that are totally negative and want to physically as well as mentally harm your fellow human beings.  We need to all live together in peace and harmony.

Michael Sam never made the final 52 man roster and was cut from the team but at the very least he was just a honest individual that wanted a chance in life to get ahead.

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These are modern players that are really good and have play making abilities.  I also more importantly extremely love the quality, design, and the attraction of these cards.  I'm more than happy to include these cards in my collection and understanding that there's no value what so ever in these cards.  It's just a pure hobby stand point!

The last 2 cards are of legendary players Doug Williams and Bo Jackson.

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These are cards of superstar veterans.  From Steve Largent, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and Ray Lewis.

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The next 3 cards represent a 2012 rookie QB.  He was taken in the 6th round and was not considered a playmaker.  That year in 2012, there were several Quarter Backs in the first and second round.  It was called the year of quarterbacks draft.  

Andrew Luck, RG III, Nick Foles, just to name a few were drafted that year. That's the year I started to collect football cards.  Out of the draft class of 2012, only one QB made it to the Super Bowl and won, became a MVP, and to this day he's still a starter for his team!  

That would be Russell Wilson the so called underdog.  I was very fortunate enough to collect rookie cards of his as well as a redemption card from 2012 Panini Totally Certified Hobby Box Rookie Card with his autograph and a piece of his game worn jersey.  All purchased at a very inexpensive price point due to his 6th round draft pick.

Most of the time, you just never know the worth of the players cards until years later just like Tom Brady whom was the 199 draft pick choice and sat as a bench warmer for the New England Patriots.  

Currently, Tom Brady's cards sell from $2000.00 and up to $40,000.00.  Depending on amount of cards produced and most importantly of all condition.  As for condition, the best way to authenticate the condition is to submit your card to a grading service in this case Beckett or PSA.  This is also a standard for coins and stamp certification.  Only then can the hobby items command an extremely high premium.  

Just like a 1966 Cobra Shelby 289 Hi-Po with a complete matching original serial number from the Shelby registry.  A car like this of which I would just love to own goes for auction in the $250,000.00 range.  All because it's been certified and authenticated.

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Another Walmart blaster box purchase.  I expected nothing at all except 20-50 base cards.  Base cards are simple cards of NFL players with their photo on the front and stats on the back of the card.

You can bet I was pleasantly surprised as I recieved a redemption card for a 2012 Die Cut Limited Edition Eli Manning QB for the New York Giants.  He's Peyton Manning's younger brother.  I went online to the Topps site to enter my code and address so that Topps could send me my redemption card.

I then checked eBay for sales on these type of card(s), these cards sold for over $20.00 depending on whom the athlete was.  In my case a 2012 Topps Die Cut Eli Manning Redemption card was sold for $25.00.  A complete set was going for $125.00.  

When my card was finally delivered by USPS, I immediately called my daughter and her boyfriend Brett to come over and see this unique card.  I still remember the day as Mrs. Toshi, my daughter Allana, Brett, and I were around the dinning table with oohs and aahs!

This next card was a hobby box purchase from Collectors Palace sports card shop here in Streetsboro, Ohio.  Mrs. Toshi purchased the hobby box for me and as usual she pulled a nice hit.  It's a 2012 Panini Certified Rookie Auto Threads Card.  What's cool is that the Doug Martin RB card has a die cut game worn jersey that's spells out his teams name.  Buccaneers.

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Another way of obtaining a football card is by initiating a trade on a sports card forum.  I had several doubles of Brett Favre rookie cards as it was an inexpensive purchase as he was not retired and was not inducted to the football Hall of Fame.  A fellow sports card member requested a trade for a Brett Favre rookie card.  I told that member just "Give me your address and I'll send you the Brett Favre rookie card without trading cards".  

On my end, it would only cost a minimal USPS postage.  I felt that that's justified.  Who knows, maybe one day I'll be requesting for a trade and someone will be nice enough to just send me the card with no strings attached.  Now that's what I call paying it forward!

To my amazement, this individual sent me out of his generosity this card you see below of DeAngelo Williams autograph card from 2012 Panini Limted Hobby Box series with a very low distribution and production of the card 04/15.  I actually truly enjoyed receiving this card as this player for the Carolina Panthers was on a hot streak that year plus the Panthers had a newly acquired rookie QB in Cam Newton.

I also did a purchase of a DeAngelo Williams card from eBay.  I've taken this opportunity to share them with you here.  The final card that's a captain's patch card was a Walmart blaster box purchase.  It's a Steve Smith 2012 Topps Captain's Patch.

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In 2012, when my hobby of collecting football cards started, I used to go to Walmart on a weekly basis to see what type of cards were available.  That year Topps had a special offer, if you buy what's called a blaster box, in certain blaster boxes contained a Captain's patch.  

First off, a blaster box is the retail chagrin of what a hobby box is.  A blaster box will generally sell from $10.00 to $20.00.  But no more than $20.00.  That's so the kids that are interested in collecting cards can afford to pick one up at their local shopping stores. A hobby box is strictly for serious collectors that are sold only at card shops or can be purchased from the secondary market like Amazon or eBay.  

If your willing to drop several hundred dollars for a sports card that has not been over produced and contains a hit which is either a card that contains an autograph, game worn jersey, or a 1/1.  Than hobby boxes is the direction one goes to.  

Blaster boxes will and can contain in general anywhere from 50 to a hundred cards.  However hobby boxes will and or contain anywhere from just 1 card or an average of 20 cards.  This way a hobby box that's released will contain a limited series of cards that make a hit very profitable.

Blaster boxes have hits too.  But they tend to be on the lower end of the spectrum.  Although every now and then, the card company can and will put in a mega-hit that can be a find of a lifetime especially for a young and or old collector.  Keep in mind that purchasing blaster boxes and or hobby boxes are exactly like gambling.  You just never know what to expect.  But that what's make collecting sports cards so exciting.  

The not knowing of what might be a rare card or not.  Below is a photo of the 2012 Topps special of which was a football players captains patch card.  My hit was a Drew Brees QB of the New Orleans Saints.

When I went on eBay to see if there were other 2012 Topps Captain's Patch card of Drew Brees available, there were several selling between $10.00 to $15.00.  When I searched for a 2012 Topps Captain's Patch Complete set, a seller had placed a complete set of 50 Captain's Patch cards for over $150.00.  

That's one way to collect a complete set.  Of course it's cheaper to buy a complete set in this way than it is to purchase a blaster box at Walmart for $20.00.  You'll be going crazy trying to chase down every single Captain's Patch.  Even if you had the money to buy 50 blaster boxes your odds are not that good as you'll end up with doubles.  
 

As for the individual seller on eBay that's offering a 2012 Topps Captain's Patch Complete set 1-50, I have absolutely no idea how they were able to complete such a set.  I can only assume that the aforementioned seller went to Walmart and purchased blaster boxes in a frenzy to be able to achieve a complete 50 card captain's patch set.

Your friend's, Toshi & Ezra

 P.S.  The way this works for the card company in profits and how a very young collector can profit from a purchase is if the card company can or will create a special hit.  To entice more purchases, as an example, the Captain's patch card will have a complete set of 1-50 or so amount of cards so that a young collector will continue to purchase blaster boxes to create a complete set.

As for the young collector, it's not only the sheer fun and the collecting of sports cards but the idea of creating a complete set from A to Z can make a blaster box purchase a profitable expenditur.  

Personally, I have a Queen Midas aka: Mrs. Toshi that turns a blaster box purchase into a rare hit.  And for good measure a hobby box hit!  Lol!

This is one of the most elegant looking set of cards I've ever seen.  The artistry and detail are outstanding.  It's a hobby box set from 2012 Topps Supreme.  The hobby box only has these 4 cards per box.

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2012 Panini Black hobby box break.  These cards were purchased by my family as a gift for me on Father's Day in 2013.  Here are the entire contents of the box.  Just a quick note.  This is a high end side of football cards and the cost was $100.00.  The break in a financial situation did not make a potential high payback.  But, I still enjoyed this gift as it's just simply put, a hobby.  

The cards are gorgeous and look beautiful.  They are a limited amount of cards distributed in the football card world.  I totally take the set out every now and then just to view and admire the cards.  Mrs. Toshi said that I'm like a little giddy kid.  You know what?  She's absolutely correct!  Lol!

Your friend's, Toshi & Ezra

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Here are three cards of some of my favorite type of hobby box cards from the 2012 Panini Momentum set.  These cards look absolutely gorgeous. They are all numbered and have a piece of game worn jersey imbedded in the card.  

The first card is of Alshon Jeffery of the Chicago Bears, it's called a patch card due to it's very unique nature depicting a piece of a 5 colored patch or uniform.  The card is numbered 22/49.

The second card is of the legendary Ed "Too Tall" Jones.  Also a jersey card numbered 028/199.

The last card is of a Definately first ballot NFL Hall of Fame Inductee Russell Wilson.  017/375.

I have a card numbered 12/21 with a autograph of Leon Sandcastle.  It's a 2013 Panini Prestige card that I purchased at a card shop.  I took a chance and just bought one pack that cost me $2.75.  I even had to call Mrs. Toshi prior to the purchase of the pack to make sure she wouldn't get upset with me for spending $2.75 on a pack of cards.  

You see, at that time, I was uncontrollable, all I wanted to do was buy as many football cards as I could get my hands on.  Well when I got home, I was blown away with the purchase as I pulled a hit card of none other than Leon Sandcastle with his autograph and being numbered 12/21 this makes this a very rare card and is very coveted with serious collectors of football cards.  

Who is the 2013 rookie Leon Sandcastle you ask?  Well he's none other than Dieon Sanders.  Lol!!  Originally drafted as a Atlanta Falcon then traded to the Dallas Cowboys, he was a prolific wide receiver and his antics was out of this world.  He was ahead of his time!

Nick Named; "Prime Time" he was hilarious.  He now has a program on the NFL Network called Prime Time as a football analyst.  In 2013 he did a spoof of himself in which he did commercials as a very incredibly silly rookie known as Leon Sandcastle.  

Even the NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell was in on it.  In the commercials Rodger Goodell would announce the first round first pick like he actually does in a real life situation in which he announces Leon Sandcastle as the first round first pick of the 2013 NFL draft and out walked into the stage setting (Where he hugs and shakes Rodger Goodells hand and Rodger Goodell takes a photo with Leon Sandcastle while holding up a NFL Jersey that had a design of the Kansas City Chiefs) was Deion Sanders as Leon Sandcastle all the while with a fake Afro wig and fake mustache.  

The commercial in 2013 got so many positive rave reviews in that Panini card company released a rookie card of Sandcastle.  The autograph card is now owned by my daughters boyfriend.  He really wanted that card.  

I needed $200.00 and he was willing to purchase the card for that price.  I was fine with that as it was a moment that benefited the both of us and the card would stay in the family.  The other day my daughters boyfriend said that if I wanted the card back, let him know as he would just give me the card back.  In his big and generous heart, he knew how much of a sentimental value that the card had of me!  I do love the both of them as young as they are, their always thinking of how they can help out the next person or as I mentioned earlier; "Paying it forward"!

I said no as they just purchased their first home in Kent, Ohio.  The home is being refurnished by them.  This is the give and take situation that benifits all involved and is what I call the human touch.

So I know they need the money especially now so we both agreed that I would buy back the card eventually in the very near future.  The cards street value was $350.00.  The beckett catalog listed the card for $800.00.  Wow!  How crazy is that scenario.  A fake player played by a Hall of Famer.  Lol!!!  Below is another card of Deion Sanders as Leon Sandcastle on a 2013 (Actual rookie card) Panini Score Card.  This card below has sold in the past for over $50.00.  That's how rare it is.  I can't even find this card anymore.

From this simple silly and funny card, what I got out of it is a lesson in the long road of life, always try to have as much fun in life and be merry and laugh at yourself.  It's contagious, before you know it the whole world will be laughing along!  That's the true meaning of life.

These next 2 cards are of players in the NFL.  They are not legends or a potential Hall of Fame inductee.  I purchased these cards not because of value, but because it represents my love and joy of the hobby of collecting football cards.  These cards if you look at them carefully are just beautifully designed.  Both cards includes a piece of their game worn jersey.

It's a 2012 Panini Momentum Rookie Team Threads that is numbered to 193/199 for the Rueben Randall card of the New York Giants and the other card is of Isaiah Pead of the Saint Louis Rams a card that's numbered 133/199.

These are cards that represent 2013 Upper Deck SPX.  These cards depict Hall of Famers in their collegiate alumni uniforms.

The first card is of Ken Stabler.  It's a foil enhanced die cut card.

The second card is of Bart Starr.  A amazing QB for the legendary Green Bay Packers under Coach Vince Lombardi of whom the Super Bowl trophy is so named as the Lombardi Trophy.

The final card depicts John Elway whom now is the Vice President of the Denver Broncos.  Not only did he deliver Super Bowl wins for the Denver Broncos he as an example has been a leader and had signed Peyton Manning of which Manning won a Super Bowl title and retired as a legend!

I'd like to share another complete set that I totally forgot about.  It was a simple and very cheap purchase.  I got this at the now defunct Kmart.  It was on the discounted aisle.  This is a set called 2006 Upper Deck Legends of Football.  

I figured nobody in Streetsboro, Ohio thought that this set was worth it.  Personally, all I wanted was to collect as many cards as possible at a very reasonable price point.  My interest in football although late in life in my mid-forties was late, I felt I needed to do just a little catch up!

The photos of the cards are of Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders, John Elway, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Steve Young, Franco Harris, Gale Sayers, Fran Tarkenton, Ben Roethlisberger, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning.  There are a total of 200 cards in this set.  I just took photos of well known legends.  The info is available on The Trading Card Data Base.  That's my go to site for a complete list of information.

On this very thread I described several ways of collecting cards.  You can either purchase cards by buying a box set and hope to get a autograph card or a game worn jersey card.  Purchase individual cards from a card shop.  Or visit an online site and make purchases that way ie: eBay.  

I tried all ways in collecting cards, like life, one must gain experience by executing and be diversified with decisions.  That's the only way one learns lessons in life.  

I was so enamored by this football card hobby just like the hobby FSM Forum Members share, the building of kits in that I jumped into the football card collecting hobby 100%!  

I couldn't understand the issue of not wanting to own a complete set.  To me, a complete set signifies that you have all your cards from A to Z.  Cards really don't take up that much room like some hobbies can.  A lot of card collectors only want the main cards and are willing to pay the premium.

In my humble opinion is that if I can get a complete set, in this case 500 cards at a bargain than there's no question that I would not want to make such a purchase.  It's like a BOGO.  

When I found out through reasearch that the most popular Brett Favre rookie card was included in the 1991 Stadium Club set, I went on eBay to see the differences in the purchasing power.  A complete 1991 Stadium Club set of 500 cards could be purchased (At least in my case in 2012) for a sum of $12.00 including shipping and handling.

A single Brett Favre 1991 Stadium Club card #94 sold at that time in 2012 for $17.00 to $20.00.  So I went in with both feet and made a double purchase of the 1991 Stadium Club complete set.  All of a sudden, I had 1000 cards.  It was not a waste of money nor time.  

I also realized that within this set there were other key cards that would make this a great way of collecting cards in my lifetime and for the next generation.  The other key cards besides the Brett Favre card were card number 2 Emitt Smith, card number 60 Ricky Waters, card number 94 Brett Favre, card number 361 Barry Sanders, and card number 327 Joe Montana.

I purchased this next set of cards for Ezra as a teaching tool.  It's called 2012 Panini Americana Heroes and Legends.  There are cards of Presidents of the USA, Sports and Olympic Athletes, Astronaut, and a Tuskegee Airman.  I thought that this was such a unusual and cool set just to have in my collection.

I wanted to share this information with FSM Forum Members.  This card depicts Kurt Warner.  What's so substantial about Kurt Warner is that he tried to be drafted in the NFL, instead he had to depend on Canadian football to acquire a living by playing football.  Talk about the USA for neglecting a Hall of Fame QB.  He then went to arena football which is basically indoor football on a shortened field.  

In my humble opinion, arena football is a joke as the scores of games end in as an example, 100-99.  Of where NFL scores are represented usually in the twenty or thirty range, of course depending on the team and players, it can even be a much smaller amount.  

Kurt Warner couldn't even make a practice team on a NFL roster.  So to make a living, he was a bag boy at a grocery store.  Absolutely unbelievable!!!  Talk about neglect.  He finally got an offer and he took the Rams to a Super Bowl win.  

At one point in his NFL career, he was traded to the Arizona, Cardinals where they made him a back up QB behind a rookie named Matt Lienart.  When Matt Lienart could not produce, the Arizona Cardinals went to the veteran Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner.  That year he took the Cardinals to the Super Bowl.  With all these issues in his NFL career he was a humble and honorable athlete.  He adopted several needy children to help them get a good start in life and now he's on ESPN as a very good commentator and critic.  

What inspires me about his life is, in all those issues, he worked hard and continued to move forward with his life for his family.  He's also a very religious individual and continuously praises the lord for the blessings that came his way. It's individuals like Kurt Warner that we need more of.

I pulled cards out of the complete set that are of Hall of famers and most notable football athletes.  Thank you for allowing me to share my football card collection.  The very last photo consists of the 108 Pacific Crown Royale base cards.

As many of you know by now, no matter the hobby, I truly enjoy the collecting of unique items.  Here is one example.  A complete set of 2000 Pacific Crown Royale Base Cards.  What attracts me to this set is the way the die cut of the cards have been done.  In my humble opinion, the cards look like a 3D Card. 

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Tosh,  just a few of the first day covers from the country I grew up in.  I have a bunch of them.  I am biased, but I think they are the best In the world.  

 

Your friend's, Toshi and Ezra

Here is how I archive and organize my football card collection.  I always have how many cards are available, in this case 700.  And I also always have my purchase price printed.  That way anyone as an example Ezra inherits these cards, he'll know what it's worth is.  And that is very important in any hobby especially the sentimental values.  Again, in this case $1.26.  

Was it worth my time, yes!  Most Definately.  Because as they say; "Time is money, Money is time"!  In this case, I purchased 700 cards which is a 1991 Complete Set of Upper Deck Cards for $1.26.  Including S&H.   There are only 3 cards in this set that are worth anyting.  

That would be Brett Favres Rookie cards.  The 3 rookie cards in this set of Brett Favre sells on eBay for an average of $20.00.  

So my total pay out was only $1.26.  Subtract that and I gained $18.74 plus if I sold the 3 Brett Favre cards for $20.00 on eBay, I would have a profit of $38.74.  Although as I mentioned in previous threads in that I don't collect cards for profit, it's always a matter of urgency that you know your cost and outlay of your items in any hobby!  You don't want to go broke for a bunch of cheap paper cardboard with photos of athletes on it.  Lol!  Let alone anything important for that matter.  Especially in the hobby of coins and stamps!

In my situation, of which I'll share with everyone here, I'm on a very limited fixed income.  My Workman's Compensation checks has temporarily stopped.  It has been almost one year in that I've not have any income except for SSDI.  And Mrs. Toshi's  SSDI.  If not for my son living with us, we would be in the streets.  

I do have an attorney that is handling my case.  And I was just informed that my checks will start again shortly.  Thank the lord for that!  With that in mind, everything else in the Toshi's household is budgeted to a T.  Including our hobby items.  As much enjoyment I get out of building kits, collecting stamps and coins, one must always be aware of expenditures.

I've gone through extreme trials financially in order to keep this household tight, I did go to my local card shop to sell my cards and other misc. items that the card shop owner could use.  What was nice and very kind of him was that I was allowed to buy back my items if I do choosed to do so at a very, very, small profit for the shop owner of which I agreed to as he's helping me and the family.  But it also benifits him that he has some type of compensation.  

Let me tell you my fellow FSM Forum Members, doing a trade this way is a lot cheaper than a loan from a bank.   Sometimes in life, a give and take situation is needed.  Not like the young generation that's me, me, me.  It's about creating friendships and lifetime bonds that let the mind, body, and spirit grow and to be positive as much as possible in any outcome.  Don't you all agree?

Everyone's situation is different.  But the bottom line is that for me, I to the best of my abilities try to look forward and grow and mature in a way that helps everyone around me to benifit.  I learned this and know I feel this from you all!  My FSM Forum Members whom are like my second family.  And I thank you all for that!  

I try to enjoy the companionship this forum gives.  In conclusion, with all this Covid19, Racial issues and misery that's happening in 2020, it's all about friend's, family, and the kindness and gratitude of human nature that makes the world go around.  I'm blessed that I have such a great family, great forum members that I can share things with and in the end to look back and enjoy the ride that life has given you with the grace of God!

Anyway, if I offended anyone in any way, please except my appolagies.  I am only here to share things with you all as much as I can and again, I thank you all for that.  Below, here is my 1991 Upper Deck Complete 700 card set that includes 3 cards of my all time favorite QB, Brett Favre.

Your friend's, Toshi & Ezra

Tosh,  just a few of the first day covers from the country I grew up in.  I have a bunch of them.  I am biased, but I think they are the best In the world.  

This has to be the biggest sports card in the world!  I purchased a picture frame in order to archive this card!  Yes, it's that big.  And yes, a sports forum member sent me this card.

On a sports card forum or website, someone once asked me who my favorite sports figure was.  With out any hesitation, I said Brett Favre.

Next thing I know, a few weeks later, I received all these cards of Brett Favre!  Wow!

This is another set of cards that was a gift.  Game of Thrones.  I never seen this show although I know for a fact that it's extremely popular with the public in general.  

Just to let FSM Forum members know, if any of you are interested in my hobby whether it be Kits, Stamps, Coins, or Sports cards if you want a specific item, let me know.  I'd be more than happy to send you the items.  I'll even take care of the postage!  Really!!!  

I believe in paying it forward!  Please note that with the exception of my Autograph, Game Worn Jersey, Brett Favre cards, I have no problem at all in gifting an item to FSM Forum Members.  Once again just the Autograph Cards, Game Worn Jersey Cards, all Brett Favre cards are in my collection and will be passed on to the next generation of the Toshi's as it has a sentimental value.  

Although I don't follow other sports, a fellow sports card collector sent these cards as a gift to me.  As always, I thank them and really appreciated the gesture.  I hope FSM Forum members know whom these athletes are.  I on the other hand am clueless.  Please let me know who these players of Baseball and Basketball players are.

Another great QB, Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons.

This next card comes from a Hobby Box of 2012 Panini Momentum Card series and depicts one of the greatest QB's to have ever played the game of football.  Tom Brady!  The only thing that bothers me now is that he's a Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB.  In my humble opinion, I feel he should have retired as he's now 43 and that's a old age in the game of football due to its physical nature.  Most players have an average career of 3-5 years.