Suprise Sox from Travis & Dan

The first trade package to see the light of day on the blog here in 2019 comes from my friend Travis, and his young collector son Dan!  They were kind enough to send me an unexpected and wonderful package around the holidays that contained no less than 14 new Red Sox cards for my ever-growing team collection.  Let's take a look...

It feels especially great when someone manages to plug holes in my Topps flagship Red Sox run, and Travis and Dan did exactly that with a handful of nice cards from the mid-'80s.  From the iconic 1983 set we have HOFer Jim Rice...

...and the Red Sox leaders card, also featuring Rice.

Then from the 1984 set we have catcher Rich Gedman...

...and once again, the great Jim Rice!  When a trade package starts with three cards of a HOFer from your favorite franchise of all-time it's already a winner regardless of what else is to be found inside.  Of course, there was more to be found inside though!

Some tremendous damage was done to my 2018 Bowman needs, with Rafael Devers' RC...

...and Chris Sale completing my Red Sox team set as far as the 100-card short set is concerned!

On top of that I got Prospects cards of pitcher Bryan Mata...

...and corner infielder Josh Ockimey, leaving me with just one remaining Prospects card to track down!  Not bad considering I've never even opened so much as a single pack of this stuff.  I enjoy the Prospects cards because it's fun to look back on them a few years down the line and see who made "The Show".

As if all of that weren't enough this package also provided me with my very first taste of 2018 Topps Chrome.  From the standard set, former closer Craig Kimbrel.

From the Chrome Update Series release (which I believe was distributed via those retail-exclusive Holiday Mega Boxes?) slugger J.D. Martinez...

...short-term Sox infielder Ian Kinsler, who I'm grateful got some cardboard representation with the team despite the brevity of his stint in Boston...

...your American League MVP Mookie Betts...

...and another great Chris Sale!  Awesome stuff here, and again, my first exposure to this product whatsoever.

Finally, Travis & Dan were also kind enough to include this "An International Affiar" insert, also from Chrome Update Series, of Rafael Devers.  This one looks sharp in the scan, but I assure you it looks even nicer in hand.

I really appreciate the solid injection of Sox cardboard, especially the great 2018 cards since I purchased so little new product last year.  Just the latest in a long line of examples proving that folks who enjoy this hobby of ours are beyond friendly!

Travis, I sent you an email a while back but I know the holidays are a busy time and I'm often terrible at replying myself when life gets busy.  Anyway, if you read this hit me back, would love to send you and/or your son some cards that fit your collections as a way to further convey my gratitude!