Even as a mostly vintage and junk wax collector, I can respect how attractive many ultra modern cards are. However, I am curious to get additional takes on pre-ultra modern cards you find creative that were…. wait for it…just paper cards.
I’ll start. 1990 Fleer Soaring Stars Ken Griffey Jr. These were only available in jumbo cello packs. This is Griffey meets Reading Rainbow. Love it.
Share others!

Just a quick pack opening on Thanksgiving day.

https://youtu.be/pvtLiOQtkS4?si=MkUOaEt19TGyvizc

As a kid, I wasn't that enthusiastic about sports. But I was one of the 900 million children who got a 1989 Topps Baseball Complete Set from a relative for my birthday. I even remember finding the Kirby card to hold up for the camera. A little collector was born.
1989 Topps Kirby Puckett #650
The photo on this one has a "vibe," as the kids say. It's just a shoulders-up candid, with a hint of a gold chain and a fitted sitting, which I would unknowingly emulate in 2004. The 1989 front design is close to perfection in my eyes. Bold lines, simple framing, and incredible typography work.

For me, I can still taste the sweetness of the gum and feel the sliminess of the texture (and I can confirm neither holds up 30 years later).

And I’m always reminded of summer, getting a few bucks for allowance and riding bikes with my brothers to a shop not far away that carried packs (wasn’t really a true card store).

Always looked for Dodgers players but for some reason the gum reminds me a lot of Mets Stars like Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden.

What about you?

I have a ton of 90s loose packs, so I figured I throw some more cards on everyone's timelines.

1995 SP - #1-27 all die-cut, SuperbaFoil parallels 1 per pack.
Full checklist: https://baseballcardpedia.nfshost.com/index.php/1995_SP