My Top 5 Star Wars Card Trader 2024 Base Cards

Those base cards of a set are the cards that start to pile up after purchasing multiple packs.  In my non-expert/fan of years opinion, to make a good base card, the boarder should be interesting and draw your eye to the subject of the card.  Speaking of the subject of the card, I feel like the base cards should focus on unique images of not only characters, but in the galaxy of Star Wars, have ships, creatures and maybe even locations.  

I think you will see the qualities of a good base card show up here in my Top 5 Star Wars Card Trader 2024 Base Cards:  

5.  Grogu, 2024 - Series 1 - Tier 1 - White

Okay, I'm a sucker for the cute factor.  Who doesn't want the most popular character in Star Wars at the moment on a base card?  I am glad they didn't try to do too much with the card and just gave us...well, Grogu!  

4.  Shin Hati, 2024 - Series 2 - Tier 1 - White

Something that brings a base card set to life is introducing new characters.  I think this is a solid card that gives us a good look at Shin Hati.  She moves fast and furious in the Ahsoka series, so it is nice to get a good look at this new character in the base.  

3.  Dume, 2024 - Series 2 - Tier 1 - White 

I love the creature cards.  I especially like the creature cards of creatures that make a major difference in the story like the Loth Wolf.  Now with the Rebels 10th anniversary set, we get a few new Loth Wolf cards, but before that the Loth Wolf cards were just a handful.  

2.  N-1 Starfighter, 2024 - Series 3 - Tier 1 - White

The starships in Star Wars are part of what bring the cool factor.  To see the Falcon blast out of Mos Eisley, watch a Star Destroyer come out of hyperspace is just awesome.  Base cards that include the ships of Star Wars really make a set interesting.  What cooler than the sleek N-1 Starfighter from The Phantom Menace?  This ship was brought back to prominence and "cool factor" when the Mandalorian rebuild one after he loses the Razor Crest.  

1.  Ezra Bridger, 2024 Series 3 - Tier 1 - White

I love the look of this card.  First, it is a new shot of the new Ezra from the Ahsoka series.  It is great to see his lightsaber and a moment from the show rather than a posed shot.  This is my top card from SWCT 2024 Base set.  

A note about the card design that I really like and appreciate.  The character name is clearly stated at the bottom of the card, and the show/movie the image/subject is found is appreciated.  There are many characters who appear in multiple stories, but the image may not clearly state what story the image is from.  In addition, the base set has several important minor characters who we know but may not remember where they are from.  Several of the Andor characters are that way for me.  

My Top 5 Topps Bunt 2024 Base Cards

Ah, collecting the classic Topps baseball cards as a kid in the 1980's.  That was me.  Coming home from the drug store with 3-4 packs in my pocket.  I was looking for Chicago  Cubs players: Ryne Sandberg, Ron Cey, Leon Durham, and others.  My friends and I would trade, but we would always end up with doubles of players we didn't know or care about.  So, we would slap a clothespin on the back forks of our bike, slide that baseball card double in the clip and stick it through the spokes.  We would cruise up and down the street with our bike-cycle buzzing.  Base cards of a set are like that; you end up with a whole bunch.  But they are a great way to get a good look at who these players are.  Some card pictures are staged and profile-like.  Some cards are position players up to bat, and the pitchers often get a mid- throw shot.  All of them are pretty cool when flipping through the cards and checking career stats on the back of the card. 

In Topps Bunt digital card trading app, there are 450 series 1 base cards, and while I haven't checked recently, I would bet I have dupes of most of them if not all.  The other day I decided to flip through the base cards, since I don't really take a good look at them after the initial release.  Who are the names?  Who has had a good season?  Are there any rookie sensation base cards?  It is fun; it's why we collect.  

Here are my Top 5 Bunt 2024 Base Cards with a comment about the style of each one:  

5.  Brandon Lowe, 2024 Bunt Base Series - White

Classic shot of the backswing of a hitter while catching most of his face so fans can recognize him.  Also does a nice job of showing the "battle worn" helmet.  Super cool.  

4.  Andrew Abbott, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

If I were a pitcher, this mid-pitch action shot is definitely what I would want on my base card!  

3.  Ezequiel Tovar, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

The action shots get my attention, and what better way to capture a short stop than on a throw over to first base.  This is a great mid-motion shot for Tovar.  

2.  Kyle Hendricks, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

I love this "in the stretch" position for a pitcher's card.  This card also gives a good sense of background.  A good card will also place you in the game like you are there watching.  This card, blurred, has lots of fan space.  That is a good quality for a card.  

1.  Francisco Alvarez, 2024 BUNT Base Series 1 - White

I love this in-game action of Alvarez lifting his mask and his colorful chest pad popping on this card.  It also has the background factor too.  

I want to take a second to discuss the boarder features.  The boarder has a modern look all the way around with the right side multilayered.  Pretty coo.  I like the team logo in the bottom right.  It is clear, but it doesn't dominate the picture/card.  The name of the players is clearly found at the bottom of the card.  The only criticism is the that the player's position does blend in at the bottom.  I don't mind the placement, but maybe a bit larger font.  Still, I really liked this set.  How about a bonus card?  

Bonus: Austin Gomber, 2024 BUNT Base Series 1 - White

What's up the the bonus?  It is my list and I couldn't leave this one off.  As the top 5, this card has good action in mid pitch, but what I really like about this card is it shows rain falling.  The drops are all around him.  Once again, anything that makes me, the collector, feel like I was there to take the picture myself is awesome.    

Topps Bunt Community - Paying It Forward

The first week of October when the Major League Baseball playoffs began an unusual thing happened on my Topps Bunt app.  See, my profile picture on the app is the Detroit Tigers "Old English D."  I am supporting my second favorite team, but my favorite in the playoffs.  Suddenly, I started getting unbalanced trades by 4 or 5 different people on the opening day of the Wildcard games.  When I say unbalanced, I mean unbalanced in my favor.  These people started sending me Tigers cards out of the blue with "Go Tigers!"  messages.  They weren't sending base cards; they were sending common and uncommon cards.  How fun!  It really made my day.  

I don't know.  I thought this was an amazing little trend, so I paid it forward and a sent whole bunch of my Tigers doubles to those who have the "Old English D" on their profile.  As the games continue through the playoffs, I plan to do this with fans of other teams.

Let's take this random act and pass it on in the other card apps.  Take a look at someone's profile and ship off unwanted dupes that match team or character of their profile.  This, by the way, isn't a trade you send to get something, just ask for a random base card.  Let that person know that you are celebrating their team or character.  

New Logo!!

A benefit to working at a high school is that I work with a lot of talented people.  In this case, I am referring to the students I work with.  One of our advanced art classes does a unit on graphic design for business, and I asked the teacher if one of the students could help me with a logo for my blog.  

After emailing back and forth with the student a few times for her to get a feel for what my blog discusses, she sent me the first draft.  I liked it!  She nailed the "feel" for my writing, but I wanted a bit more visual.  I replied what I loved and asked for something that includes the feel of "galaxy" and "searching."  That is what I got!  What do you think?  I love it!

The positive that I want to share here is there is so much promise in our youth.  I know they get a bad rap about being constantly connected to their devices, and they catch a lot of heat for laziness or an "I don't care" attitude.  Let's remember that our youth learn by watching adults, and maybe we all could have a bit of a new look at our behaviors as well.  But don't fret, our youth bring talent to the table as they grow and mature, just like the generations before them.  I see it every day in their creativity, discussion, athleticism, drive, and positivity.

So, thank you to Heidi, for her hard work, creativity, and excellent listening to what I was looking for.  Seeking Positivity in the Galaxy now has a logo!