Putting my order in order

 

My first sportlots order of the year has been sitting on my rolltop desk waiting for me to brag about it.

 

It's not bragging material, really. There were a lot of upgrades that I don't need to show, but I sure did enjoy getting that 1977 Topps Joel Youngblood to replace the creased one in the set binder that I didn't even know was creased until a rare day of sunshine came through the card room (who knows how many creased cards are hiding in the Northeastern darkness of my home).

 

Some stuff has been put away already and others have been sitting in a stack waiting until the one last pokey sportlots seller finally snapped out his stupor and shipped the last card (this always happens). 

 

I've determined what my 10 favorite arrivals are -- but there are more than 10 cards. Per usual, these are interesting mostly to me and could very well bore you to tears. 

 

 

10. Gavin Lux, 2020 Topps Chrome

 

The last card needed for the team set. Can you believe in all of the piles and piles of Gavin Lux cards Johnny has sent me I've never pulled a Lux Chrome rookie from heap? This guy's played on two teams since he was with the Dodgers and still it took me six years to get this buddy. Rookie collectors are weird.

 

 

9. Roki Sasaki, Hyseong Kim, Blake Snell, 2025 Topps Chrome

 

This was my attempt to complete the 2025 Chrome team set. I almost did. The Shohei Ohtani card that Fanatics turned into a lottery contest is still out there. I tried to add it separately off ebay but it takes a little bit of vigilance that doesn't match with my hectic life. But I'll get it.

 

 

8. 2026 Topps flagship Dodgers

 

I did finish the 2026 flagship team set though, these were the final guys. Normally I try to find someone selling the team set close to the start of the year but this might have been cheaper this time around. The Dodgers are currently filled with players that sellers/buyers like to hoard.

 

 

And the two leaders cards that I needed. I don't think I've mentioned this but I like that Topps is including each player's stat on the front of the card. That began in 2024 in this current iteration and it does make these at least a little more interesting.

 

 

7. Fernando Valenzuela, 1986 Jiffy Pop disc

 

All right, enough of that modern stuff (for now), time for something more friendly. I grabbed this item after writing one of my Elusive '80s cards posts -- those posts really help me uncover some cool stuff. This was an easy one. It doesn't take much to confuse all the discs that were issued in the mid-1980s but they don't cost much.

 

 

6. Fred Lynn, Carlton Fisk, Harmon Killebrew, 2024 Topps Heritage Baseball Flashbacks

 

OK, more modern stuff, but at least they're retired players! I tried halfheartedly to wrap up this Baseball Flashbacks set as it's one of the few remaining items I want for my 2024 Heritage binder. Unsurprisingly both the Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan were snapped out of my cart and I didn't care enough to add them back again. These are the ones I really wanted.

 

 

5. Mike Piazza, 1997 Ultra Top 30 insert

 

What? A '90s card on my top 10? Yessir. Ultra's '90s sets may make me sleepy for the most part, but their mid-1990s inserts are excellent. This was the last of the Dodgers I needed for the 1997 Top 30 insert.

 

Recently I discovered the Todd Hollandsworth insert in my dupes box but it wasn't in my binder. I had a little party right there in the card room. I might have sent out invitations. Did you get one?

 

 

4. Fernando Valenzuela, 1989 Sportflics; Andy Pafko, 1989 Swell

 

What are the chances I still needed Dodgers from 1989 decades into this collecting journey? Pretty damn good actually! Each of these cards completed team sets.

 

 

3. Fernando Valenzuela and Pedro Guerrero, 1985 Topps Super

 

I've recently been focusing on getting these mid-1980s Super cards of my Dodgers. These two guys completed the '85 set (the Alejandro Pena has been in my collection since the '80s). I think all I need is an '86 Guerrero now.

 

Also, here's a pic to show off their bigness:

  

And props to the seller who sent them from Canada.

 

 

2. Eight guys from the 1985 Donruss set

 

After completing 1983 Donruss it was time for me to get serious about 1985 Donruss, but not THAT serious. There is no Clemens or Gooden here. But I'm now down to the final seven cards needed. We'll see how quickly I get that done. My brain is still throwing a fit about how much I'll potentially have to pay for a mid-1980s card.

 

 

1. Joe Ferguson, 1976 Topps football

 

Maybe a left field pick as it's a football card. But it's also the only '70s card I added in this order, which automatically makes it the greatest.

 

The '76 Ferguson card is one I remember from childhood so it's good to finally add it, especially since I just acquired the Joe DeLamielleure from the same set at the last monthly show.

 

And that's it for the first sportlots order of 2026. Nothing that will wow, but believe me, I'll be excited adding these to the various binders in the coming days and weeks.