Brighter than the sun!!

First off I will admit I am more of a rock kind of guy. It doesn't make if it's rock from the 60's all the way to a lot of modern rock. I do like that song by Colbie Caillat, and she's easy on the eyes too. I know how does her and the song relate to cards?? Follow my lead and you will see...

Not too long ago, I hooked up with Ryan of Building a Better Collection about working a deal. I sent him some Braves and some other random football stuff for some Mariners he had laying around. The first thing of beauty was my first 2013 Topps card of flamethrower Carter Capps.

There were some colorful shiny cards of parallels from the last few years, but the blinding need that was in there starts with these cards that are now 25 years old!! That's right folks, 1988 Score Rookie&Traded is 25!!

Also not to be out done on the brightness scale was the last needs to a very cheery set in the 1991 Fleer updates. These four guys found their place to the Super Set, and I continue to chip away at whats left  of the less than 200 cards I need to finish it. Maybe you have some I need, or I might hit Sportlots one day.

A big thanks again goes out to Ryan, and hit him up if you have Braves, or Redskins laying around and want to hook up a trade!!

Finest Fleer 2001-2007

Here we are in the new year, so it's time to finish a project started last year. Here are my picks for the last years of Fleer's production of baseball cards.

2001 Tradition Team Leaders

Floating heads, and names with no heads. Where did the missing heads go?

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

2002 Luis Ugueto

I can't figure out if that's the beginning of a slide or what.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

2002 Safeco Field Checklist

It's not normal for me to have a tie, but I love the photo from the All Star game, and the work done on the infield dirt.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

2003 Tradition Chris Snelling

That face and that arm looks like it hurts. No wonder he has had so many shoulder problems.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

2003 Tradition Update Aaron Looper

Here kid, put on this jersey so we can take your picture for a baseball card.

2004 Tradition Randy Winn

Randy looks like there is going to be a major collision at the plate....

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

2005 Tradition Rivera/Baek/Lopez

I really like these cards. Tell me they don't look like the old Topps Future Stars cards. I miss those.

I own this, I'm too lazy to scan it.

2006 Jaime Bubela

A September call-up from AA that saw 11 games in the majors in 2005, and was gone from baseball.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

2007 Travis Chick

Does Travis not look like he is about 12 years old? Where did that hat come from, or is it an airbrush job?

There you go boys and girls, the cards of Fleer that I like. Next round will be a short one, with only a few years of Score cards to go through. I hope everyone enjoys their New Year's day, and watch some college football.

Finest Fleer 1996-2000

Here we go again. More years, more Fleer. Their design quality started to really fall off in these five years. I did like the feel of the Tradition cards later on, but still fairly simple.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1996 Luis Sojo

The hero for the Mariners in the one game playoff with the Angels to get to the Yankees.

1996 Update Sterling Hitchcock

Could it be that Alfred's grandson pitches for the Mariners? He should be with "The Birds."

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1997 Update Raul Ibanez

Yes, he actually started as a catcher. I don't know about Philly, but we spell his name with eight U's.

1997 Update Jeff Fassero

It's always cool to see a card with a pitcher batting. Especially with the double flap helmet.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1998 Tradition Heathcliff Slocumb

OK, we see you can jump, but can you pitch. I guess not, thanks alot Red Sox. This trade still haunts me.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1998 Tradition Update Carlos Guillen

One of the pieces in the Randy Johnson deal. Thanks front office for thinking Randy's back was shot.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1999 Tradition Carlos Guillen

Fleer, you're getting lazy. That looks like the next picture in the sequence from the last card...

1999 Tradition Update Damaso Marte

Sitting on top of the bench, tennis shoes not spikes, but has his glove on. I can't figure out if he's ready to pitch or go home.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

2000 Tradition Jose Mesa

Hey Joe Table, how old are you really? Or do you even know for sure??

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

2000 Tradition Update Kevin Hodges

Nine years in the minors, 7 games in the Majors, then off to Japan. But some how you get a card, Fleer must have just needed fill the set I guess.

There it is for this time. We only have seven more years of Fleer to look at, before they would become like Donruss and ride off into the baseball card sunset.

Finest Fleer 1991-1995

Here we are back for another look at Fleer. It will start BRIGHT and end like you are on drugs. Here what the first half of the 90's brought us:

1991 Ken Griffey/ Barry Bonds

I like how Fleer had the foresight to show two players that would turn out to be one clean, and one that's dirty.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1991 Update Tracy Jones

Is it just me or does it look like Tracy is making the catch with his eyes closed?

1992 Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken is starting to get good, and is so scary he carries two bats to the plate.

If anyone has any of these cards, I'm open to a trade.

1992 Update Cards 54-58

Bret Boone, Dave Fleming, Kevin Mitchell, Jeff Nelson, Shane Turner

I can't find any scans or pics on the net.

1993 Brian Fisher

Nice fundamentals of using two hands to field a ball.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1993 Update Mike Blowers

You're doing OK rookie, but put on this eye black and you will look cooler.

1994 Jay Buhner

Go ahead and flip that bat, because "The Bone" knows that ball is gone.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1994 Update Felix Fermin

I'm sure Felix is thinking, be careful with your head on this slide or it's going to hurt.

1995 Randy Johnson

How good or bad is it that you get not one, but two scary shots of the Big Unit on the front?

1995 Update Jeff Nelson

The picture of Nellie on the left side of the card looks like something hurt.

There you go kids, another round of Fleer fineness. I'll be back soon with some more for you.

Finest Fleer 1986-1990

Here we are back for another round of Fleer goodness. I'm sure you guys are getting tired of hearing me blab on about Mariners cards, but what else do you expect from me? Here is what you get this time around...

1986 Gorman Thomas

I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again. This has got to be on the all time Bad Ass list. Just look at that look, it doesn't get much better. Except for maybe the Mad Hungarian or George Scott back in the day( Go look them up, kids).

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1986 Update Pete Ladd

He looks like he is falling down, but they got him centered on the card.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1987 Mark Langston

I'm not used to seeing a pitcher in that low of a crouch during his motion.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1987 Update Bill Wilkinson

Is this a pitching motion, or a stretching maneuver?

1988 Ken Phelps

Doesn't he remind of that creepy teacher that you had in junior high? It reminds me of one I had.

1988 Update Henry Cotto

Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry...

1989 Mike Schooler

Mike is 26 years old in this picture, but he looks like he is fresh out of high school except for the moustache.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1989 Update Omar Vizquel

Is it just too strange to see Omar wearing 42?? I always think of him in #13, except with the White Sox.

1990 Jim Presley

There's that Edgar Martinez guy that's going to take my job and run me out of town. Act like he doesn't see me...

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.

1990 Update Tino Martinez

Just look at that fresh, young baby face. If only we could have kept him around after 1995.

There you go boys and girls another display of the finest that Fleer had to off in the late 80's. Join us again for more fun from Fleer.

Finest Fleer 1981-1985

Now that we have gotten through all the wonders of Donruss cards, now maybe it's time to take a look at our next manufacturer. Since we are going in alphabetical order that means Fleer would be next. The first few years for Fleer were pretty awful. Bad photography, numerous errors on cards, and poor design. In time, they would come to get better at making cards, only to fade away later down the road. Let's see what the first few years brought us, shall we?

1981 Joe Simpson
Honestly, they couldn't find a way to get the shot without the screen from the batting cage? Poor choice on the photographer's part.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.
1982 Dick Drago
I guess if you have a collar coming out of your shirt, and have finely trimmed beard it makes you more classy.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.
1983 Julio Cruz
I'm sorry, but what's with the bushes above the eyes, dude? Trim those things, they are scaring me.

1984 Bill Caudill
SAY CHEESE!! LOOK AT ME!!

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.
1984 Update Phil Bradley
I like the concentration by Phil to keep his eye on the ball.

If anyone has this card, I'm open to a trade.
1985 Dave Henderson
I think they could have done a better job of centering Dave on this card, but I like the action.

1985 Update Ivan Calderon
It's hot here in Tempe, and if you don't get the picture soon, I'm going to beat you with this bat.

There is the finest that Fleer had to offer in their first years. Soon to come another five years of Fleer cards.