2/14 Goodies via Michigan

 A week out from actual 2/14, here's some new entries into that collection.

Here's someone that might be joining my list of 2/14 folks with Superbowl rings. At least it gives me somewhat of a rooting interest in the game with the Bills long gone.

I'm not too sure why 2024-25 Optic felt the need to flash back to 2014 Donruss for an insert set, but seeing as this particular one was filled with rookies from the current year and 2014 ones. I guess with Clowney still in the league, it made sense to include him.

Naturally, there were some new Jim Kelly content in the mix. The unlicensed opener is a Teal parallel, numbered /250. The one in the middle looks pretty sketch as well, but it is a licensed Skybox entry from 1994. The finale is also has a little oddball quality to it - it is a promotional entry from the 1993 National.

Drew Bledsoe gets him a scanner bed worth of new entries. It may not be the most fondly remembered set in the Upper Deeck brand, but I have to vote the Ionix one in the top corner as my favourite design in the bunch. Maybe its just a 90s interpretation of mid 80s Topps designs.

Just based on the volume of rookie cards issued of him, I can see Mercedes eventually taking over the top spot in the top spot in the baseball portion of the collection. Mind you, Jim Kelly is really close to the 300 plateau in the collection, and no baseball player his approached the triple-digit mark yet - the only one of the big 4 North American team sports not to have anyone in that volume.

Finally the hit parade! The big winner here is the middle McNair, which manages to combine an interesting photo with a jersey swatch. And I will be forever thankful for Christian Hackenberg's lack of success, since it allows me to get some really nice looking cards of his for pennies compared to what the box must have cost some unfortunate breaker.

And there you have it!