Sunday, February 28, 2010

In the Mail (Weekend Edition)

I got more swag in the mail this weekend than I had time to scan! So I grabbed some of my favorites and slapped them on the scanner.



Tom Glavine 07 Upper Deck Divisional Artifacts jersey (159/199), Andruw Jones 98 Pinnacle Epix, 03 Topps Tribute (015/225), Chipper Jones 98 Pinnacle Epix, 01 Upper Deck Championship Caliber, David Justice 98 Pacific Paramount Special Delivery, Greg Maddux 09 Upper Deck 20th Anniversary, Fred McGriff 95 Score Rules, Mark Teixeira 07 Bowman Sterling bat



Mike Gonzalez 10 Topps Gold (1630/2010), Tommy Hanson 09 Tristar Obak, Tim Hudson 10 Topps Peak Performance jersey, Brian McCann 08 Upper Deck Game Materials jersey, 08 Upper Deck Documentary, Albert Pujols 04 Studio Stars, Cal Ripken Jr. 98 Pinnacle Epix



08-09 Topps Signature Gerald Wallace autograph #d 0001/1499. I only paid $2 for this card and I had no idea until I received it that it was numbered let alone that it was #1! At least the sticker Topps used was semi-clear so it blends in with the white background.


Successful Trade!

Over the weekend I completed my first "blog trade" since starting my card blog last month. I saw that Daniel (Pack Addict) had pulled a Carolina Panthers player from a pack of Topps Platinum he recently bought so I took a look at his want list and made him an offer. A few short days later the deal was completed. Not only did he send me the card we agreed to trade for, but he sent me a few extra 2009 Topps baseball cards from my want list. If the rest of the trading card blog community is as great as Daniel then I'm sure my enjoyment of collecting cards will only continue.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

2010 Topps Million Card Giveaway Results

Picked up a cereal box today @ Target and among the inserts I got another Million Card Giveaway code card, Gary Carter #TMC-2. Popped the code into the website and ended up with a 1980 Mike Tyson. Ok...


2010 Topps Opening Day Impressions

I had to run to Target this afternoon for some work errands so I made sure to stop by the card section to see if there was anything new. I read on another trading card blog that Topps released their Opening Day set so I had to pick up a few packs. While 7 cards per pack seems kinda of lacking, I really can't complain too much since the 99 cent price tag is very appealing...esp. to a new dad like myself.

The card design is the same as the regular 2010 Topps with 2 small exceptions. The obvious is the inclusion of the Opening Day logo to the upper left hand corner underneath the Topps logo. The other is the absence of the silver foil Topps logo and outline around the player's name. This I like. I thought the foil took away.

When I flipped over the pack to see if any inserts were included I was surprised to see so many different insert sets. While the odds on a patch card were fairly high there were several sets including a blue border parallel there had much better odds. Of the 2 packs I bought I only pulled on insert - CC Sabathia Topps Attax. The rainbow like sheen on the card is beautiful, almost Refractor like. Not liking the Yankees though makes this card expendable though! I also got a Mascot card of Paws (Detroit Tigers) #M9. I'm not sure if this is an insert set or simply a subset of base set, but I personally like these.

Getting kids into the hobby is the sustaining lifeblood we need so I am always pleased to see stuff like Opening Day. I'm not sure how many more packs I'll bust, but I will be hunting down the blue parallels of the Atlanta Braves players.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Want List

UPDATED 01/25/2011

Lance Berkman:
97 Bowman Chrome International #298

97 Topps Stars RC #125
02 Topps Pristine Personal Endorsement autograph
02 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Signatures autograph
03 Topps Pristine Bomb Squad bat
03 Upper Deck Vintage All Caps #AC-LB
06 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Super Sweet Swatch bat
 
07 Upper Deck Black auto/base/dual jersey /75
10 Topps Allen & Ginter mini #363
10 Topps Opening Day Blue #104
10 Topps Opening Day Attax Foil #ODTA13



Sean Casey:
96 Topps Power Boosters #25

00 Pacific Paramount Fielder's Choice #7
00 Pacific Vanguard #60
04 Topps Heritage #464
05 Upper Deck Etchings bat

Julio Franco:
83 Donruss #525
84 Donruss #216
84 Fleer #542
84 Topps #48
87 Topps #187

89 Score Rookie/Traded #35T
89 Topps Traded #34T
89 Upper Deck #793
91 Topps Stadium Club #173
92 Bowman #206
92 Fleer All-Star #18
92 Pinnacle #150
93 Topps Finest #161
93 Topps Finest Refractor #161
94 Bowman #399
94 Donruss #481
94 Fleer Ultra #335
94 Pacific #615
94 Topps Traded #25T
94 Upper Deck Collector's Choice #415
95 Donruss #328
95 Pacific #87
95 Score #70
95 Score Gold Rush #70
96 Fleer Update #U31
96 Skybox Emotion-XL #47
96 Topps Finest #314
97 Fleer #77
97 Fleer Circa #101
97 Pacific #68
97 Score #193
97 Topps #241
97 Topps Chrome #85
97 Topps Chrome Refractor #85
97 Topps Finest #291
97 Upper Deck #51
02 Topps #424
03 Topps #409
03 Topps Gold #409
03 Upper Deck #391
04 Donruss Timeless Tributes #76
04 Topps Hit Parade #HP23
05 Fleer Tradition #85
05 Topps Rookie Cup #52
06 Pinnacle Aficionado #60
06 Topps #431
06 Upper Deck #45
06 Upper Deck #710
07 Fleer #139
07 Topps #531
07 Topps Hit Parade #HP23
08 Topps Year In Review #YR34

Freddie Freeman: 

09 Bowman Chrome autograph 

Rafael Furcal:
03 Upper Deck Vintage All Caps #AC-RF

Jeff Francoeur:

10 Topps Opening Day Blue #82
 

Troy Glaus:
10 Topps Allen & Ginter A&G back mini #329
10 Topps Allen & Ginter Black Bordered mini #329
10 Topps Allen & Ginter Rip

Tom Glavine:

01 Fleer Genuine Material Issue jersey
01 Stadium Club World Champions jersey
01 Topps Fusion Double Feature dual bat #DF2
01 Upper Deck Ovation bat #TG
01 Upper Deck SP Piece of the Game bat #TGL
02 Leaf Shirt Off My Back
02 Upper Deck 40 Man Looming Large jersey
02 Upper Deck SPx #173
07 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Signatures glove autograph
08 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Signatures autograph

Tony Gwynn:

83 Donruss RC #598
83 Fleer RC #360
83 Topps RC #482
96 Upper Deck Diamond Destiny #DD32
99 Pacific Fielder's Choice #16
 

Josh Hamilton:
08 Topps Stadium Club Beam Team auto #BTA-JH
09 Topps All-Star jersey
09 Topps Unique Solo Shots jersey #SSRJH
10 Topps Red #175 
10 Topps Tales of the Game #24
10 Topps Allen & Ginter jersey

10 Topps Chrome Blue Refractor #57
10 Topps National Chicle bat
10 Topps National Chicle jersey
10 Topps 206 Dual Relic (jersey/bat)
10 Topps Update All-Star jersey #AS-JH 

Tommy Hanson:
09 Topps Red Hot Rookie

09 Topps Chrome autograph
10 Topps Hat Logo
10 Topps Peak Performance autograph
10 Topps Peak Performance jersey
10 Topps Walmart Black #20
10 Topps Allen & Ginter mini #383

Jason Heyward
10 Bowman
#200
10 Bowman Chrome #200
10 Bowman Gold #200
10 Bowman Top 100 #TP3
10 Topps Gold #353
10 Topps Target Retro #353
10 Topps Walmart Black #353
10 Topps Allen & Ginter #53
10 Topps Allen & Ginter mini #53
10 Topps Allen & Ginter A&G back mini #53
10 Topps Allen & Ginter Black Border mini #53
10 Topps Allen & Ginter Framed autograph


10 Topps Update Rookie Patch #MLB-JH


Tim Hudson:
99 Pacific Omega RC #171

05 Topps Signature Moves auto #SM-TH /275
10 Topps Walmart Black #142
10 Topps Allen & Ginter Rip

10 Topps Chrome Blue Refractor
10 Topps Opening Day Blue #65

10 Topps Update All-Star jersey/autograph

Omar Infante:

10 Topps Update Gold All-Star jersey

Andruw Jones:
97 Select Rookie Autographs
00 Fleer Fresh Ink autograph
00 Upper Deck HoloGrFX A Piece of the World Series base #PS6
01 Donruss Classics Benchmarks #BM25
01 Donruss Signature Series Team Trademarks autograph
01 Fleer Showcase Sweet Sigs Lumber Edition autograph

Chipper Jones:

96 Upper Deck Diamond Destiny #DD?

99 Pacific Revolution Foul Pole Net Fusions #1
99 Topps Stadium Club Triumverate Illuminator
00 Pacific Revolution Foul Pole Net Fusions #1

00 Upper Deck HoloGrFX 1999 World Series Base #PS2
03 Fleer Platinum Name Plates #N-CJ

04 Fleer Platinum Name Plates
09 Topps Unique Red #15
10 Topps Hat Logo
10 Topps Opening Day Bazooka Joe #8

10 Topps Update Bat Barrel

Jair Jurrjens:
09 Topps Allen & Ginter National Pride #NP50

10 Topps Silk Collection

David Justice:
94 Score the Cycle #TC19

98 Donruss Crusade #21 (Purple)
98 Donruss Crusade #21 (Red)

Adam LaRoche:
09 Topps Unique Red #116
10 Topps Walmart Black #304
10 Topps Opening Day Blue

Greg Maddux:
98 Pacific Paramount Fielder's Choice #2

00 Upper Deck HoloGrFX A Piece of the World Series base

Brian McCann:

09 Topps Unique Red #119
10 Topps Allen & Ginter Rip

10 Topps Update All-Star jersey

Kris Medlen:
06 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects #DP58
09 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection #80

Kevin Millwood:

98 Donruss Crusade /250


Mike Minor:
08 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Signatures glove #USA-MM
10 Topps Chrome Refractor #CHR-58
10 Topps Pro Debut Futures Game jersey


Dale Murphy:
10 Topps Update SP #532
10 Topps Update Cards Your Mom Threw Out #CMT144
10 Tristar Obak Mini #11 
 


David Murphy:
03 Topps RC #303 
04 Topps Pristine #143
05 Topps Total #701
07 Topps '52 #84
07 Topps '52 Chrome #84
08 Upper Deck TImeline #109
08 Upper Deck Timeline auto


Otis Nixon:
93 Topps Finest #181
93 Topps Finest Refractor #181


Rey Ordonez:

95 Classic Five-Sport autograph
95 Upper Deck Minor League Future Stock #110
96 All-Sport PPF Gold #60
96 Bowman's Best Atomic Refractor #17
96 Bowman's Best Refractor #17
96 Circa Rave #161
96 Collector's Choice Gold Signature #429
96 Finest Refractor Gold #G338
96 Fleer Update Tiffany #U248
96 Leaf Limited Limited Rookies Gold #9
96 Leaf Preferred Press Proofs #117
96 Leaf Signature Autographs Gold #173
96 Pinnacle Artist's Proof #380
96 Pinnacle Foil #380
96 Pinnacle Starburst #380

96 Select Certified Mirror Blue #112
96 Select Certified Mirror Gold #112
96 Studio Press Proof Bronze #14
96 Studio Press Proof Silver #14
96 Summit Artist's Proof #162
96 Upper Deck Diamond Destiny Gold #DD29
96 Upper Deck Diamond Destiny Silver #DD29
97 Donruss Press Proof Silver #232
97 Donruss Limited #10
97 Donruss Limited Exposure Non-Glossy #10
97 Flair Showcase Row 0 #50
97 Flair Showcase Row 1 #50
97 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 0 #50
97 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 1 #50
97 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 2 #50
97 Flair Showcase Masterpiece #50A-C (/1)
97 Pacific Light Blue #372
97 Pacific Silver #372
97 Pacific Invincible Platinum Blue #127
97 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Black #32
97 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Gold #32
97 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Red #32
97 Pinnacle Inside Diamond Edition #133
97 Pinnacle Totally Certified Platinum Gold #32
97 Pinnacle X-Press Melting Pot #20
97 Select Tools of the Trade Mirror Blue #24
97 Score Artist’s Proof #100
97 Score Artist’s Proof White Border #100
97 Score Showcase #543
97 Score Showcase Artist’s Proof #100
97 Score Showcase Artist’s Proof #543
97 Select Tools of the Trade Mirror Blue #24
97 SP Vintage Autographs #23
97 Stadium Club Co-Signers #CO8
97 Studio Press Proof Silver #92
97 Ultra #245
97 Ultra Platinum Medallion #245
98 Bowman Chrome International Refractor #230
98 Circa Thunder Super Rave #54
98 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 1 #54
98 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 2 #54
98 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 3 #54
98 Flair Showcase Row 0 #54
98 Flair Showcase Row 1 #54
98 Fleer Tradition Classic Vintage '63 #106
98 Fleer Dugout Axcess Inside Axcess #32
98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems #105
98 Pacific Platinum Blue #374 (/67)
98 Pacific Red #374
98 Pacific Aurora Copper #167
98 Pacific Aurora Platinum Blue #167
98 Pacific Aurora Silver #167
98 Pacific Invincible Silver #122
98 Pacific On-Line #486

98 Pacific On-Line Red #486
98 Pacific On-Line Winner #486
98 Pacific Paramount Gold #209
98 Pinnacle #32
98 Pinnacle Museum Collection #32
98 Score Rookie Traded Artist Proof #83
98 Score Rookie Traded Showcase #83
98 Sports Illustrated Then & Now #149
98 Sports Illustrated For Kids #??
98 Stadium Club First Day Issue #87
98 Topps Chrome Refractor #103
98 Topps Gallery #62
98 Topps Stars Gold Rainbow #32
98 Ultra Gold Medallion #84
99 Finest Refractor #199
99 Fleer Starting 9 #224
99 Pacific Platinum Blue #285 (/67)
99 Pacific Aurora Opening Day #122 (/31)
99 Pacific Aurora Red #122
99 Pacific Invincible Platinum Blue #96 (/67)
99 Pacific Omega Copper #155 (/99)
99 Pacific Omega Platinum Blue #155 (/75)
99 Pacific Omega Premiere Date #155 (/50)
99 Pacific Paramount Holo-Gold #154 (/199)
99 Pacific Paramount Opening Day #154 (/74)
99 Pacific Paramount Platinum Blue #154
99 Pacific Prism Holographic Blue #95 (/80)
99 Pacific Prism Red #95
99 Skybox Thunder Super Rave #111
99 Topps #194
99 Topps MVP Promotion #194
99 Topps Chrome Refractor #194
99 UD Choice Prime Choice #114
99 UD Choice Prime Choice Reserve #114
99 Upper Deck Century Legends MVPs #C60
99 Upper Deck Exclusives 2 #150
99 Upper Deck MVP Gold Script #132
00 Bowman Golden Anniversary #39 (/99)
00 Bowman Chrome Retro/Future Refractor #39
00 Finest Gold Refractor #69
00 Finest Gold Refractor #135
00 Finest Refractor #135
00 MLB Showdown Unlimited #229
00 Pacific Copper #283 (/99)
00 Pacific Gold #283 (/199)
00 Pacific Platinum Blue #283 (/75)
00 Pacific Premiere Date #283 (/37)
00 Pacific Ruby #283
00 Pacific Crown Collection Latinos Major League parallel #20
00 Pacific Crown Collection Platinum Blue #181 (/67)
00 Pacific Crown Collection Premiere Date #181 (/27)
00 Pacific Crown Royale Limited #90 (/144)
00 Pacific Invincible #95
00 Pacific Paramount Gold #152
00 Pacific Paramount Green #152
00 Pacific Paramount Holographic Silver #152 (/99)
00 Pacific Paramount Platinum Blue #152 (/67)
00 Pacific Paramount Premiere Date #152 (/50)
00 Pacific Prism Holographic Blue #94 (/80)
00 Pacific Prism Rapture Silver #94 (/916)
00 Pacific Prism Sheen Silver #94
00 Pacific Prism Texture Silver #94 (/448)
00 Pacific Prism Woodgrain Silver #94 (/331)
00 Pacific Vanguard #82
00 Pacific Vanguard Holographic Purple #82 (/10)
00 Pacific Vanguard Proofs #82 (/1)
00 Stadium Club Co-Signers #CO3
00 Stadium Club Co-Signers #CO4
00 Stadium Club Co-Signers #CO6
00 Stadium Club First Day Issue #145 (/150)
00 Stadium Club One of A Kind #145 (/150)
00 Stadium Club Chrome First Day Issue #145
00 Stadium Club Chrome First Day Issue Refractor #145
00 Topps Autographs #TA6
00 Topps Home Team Advantage #37
00 Topps MVP Promotion #37
00 Topps Gallery #37
00 Ultra Masterpiece #154 (/1)
00 Ultra Platinum Medallion #154 (/25)
00 Upper Deck Exclusives Gold #441 (/1)
01 Pacific Extreme Limited #274 (/45)
01 Pacific Hobby Limited #274
01 Pacific Premiere Date #274
01 Pacific Private Stock Game Gear Jersey Grey #114
01 Pacific Private Stock Game Gear Jersey Patch #114
01 Pacific Private Stock Game Gear Jersey Patch #115
01 Pacific Private Stock Game Gear Jersey Patch #116
01 Topps Employee Issue #452
02 Topps Chrome #166
03 Donruss Elite Status #164
03 Topps Black #240 (/52)
03 Topps Traded #T44
03 Upper Deck Standing “O” #S-77
04 Topps #426
04 Topps Black #429 (/53)

Martin Prado:

05 Bowman Chrome #237
05 Topps Chrome Red Xfractor
05 Topps Total #727
05 Topps Update & Highlights #UH245
06 Bowman Heritage #226
06 Topps Update autograph
07 Topps Moments & Milestones autograph
09 Topps Heritage #417

10 Topps Update Bat Barrel #MBB-71

10 Topps Update Gold All-Star jersey

Kirby Puckett:

85 Donruss RC #438
85 Fleer RC #286
85 O-Pee-Chee RC #10
96 Upper Deck Diamond Destiny #DD24


Albert Pujols:
01 Bowman RC #264

01 Donruss RC #
01 Fleer Platinum Team Leaders #435
01 Fleer Tradition RC #451
01 Topps Stadium Club RC #5
01 Topps Stars #198 RC
01 Upper Deck RC #295
02 Skybox EX Hit & Run base

Cal Ripken Jr.:82 Donruss RC #405

82 Fleer RC #176
82 Topps RC #21
82 Topps Traded RC #98T
84 Topps #490
96 Studio Stained Glass Stars #1
96 Upper Deck Diamond Destiny #DD6
99 Pacific Paramount Fielder's Choice
99 Pacific Paramount Special Delivery #3
99 Pacific Revolution Foul Pole Net Fusions #3
00 Pacific Revolution Foul Pole Net Fusions


Jordan Schafer:
09 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection #94

John Smoltz:

98 Donruss Crusade /250
just about any jersey/bat or auto card


Mike Sweeney:
01 Fleer Platinum Lumberjacks auto

02 Topps Certified Autograph
03 Fleer Platinum Name Plates #N-MS
10 Topps Gold #157
10 Topps Walmart Black #157 


John Wetteland:
93 Finest #129

08 Tristar Signa Cuts /25

Sunday, February 21, 2010

2010 Topps Million Card Giveaway Results

Before today I've only redeemed one code for Topps new Million Card Giveaway. First code resulted in a 2005 Cory Lidle. Yeah. Today's result was at least a little more exciting. 1973 Jim "Catfish" Hunter. I didn't know they did the whole boyhood pictures back then. I like how you can flip the card over on the website. After reading the card I realized that Jim was from my home state of North Carolina. Since he played well before my time I had no idea where his nickname came from let alone where he hailed from. Nice.



2nd code of the day resulted in a 1973 Carl Morton. Who is that?



3rd code for the day resulted in a 1975 Don Gullett. Another player I've never heard of, but getting a card that is older than me is kinda cool. I wonder if the actual card I'll get (assuming I keep it) will be as off centered as the image below?




Friday, February 19, 2010

In the mail 2/19/10

2 autographs today! I normally don't go after autographs, but I got these two for cheap and I couldn't resist.



2010 Upper Deck Yunel Escobar Signature Sensations #SS-YE. Paid $2.50. The whole debate of sticker autographs I don't partake in...though I do prefer Upper Deck's transparent sticker they use for autographs over the silver foil stickers Topps uses. At least it looks like Escobar signed the card directly. I was amused late last season when Bobby Cox benched Escobar due to his behavior/attitude. I hope he continues to grow up because he has a lot of potential on the field.



2009-2010 Panini Limited Dell Curry Decade Dominance Autograph #d 32/49. Paid $.99. I don't buy a lot of basketball cards anymore because I have a harder time following the NBA than I did growing up. When my dad would take me to the "Hive" to watch a Charlotte Hornets game it was a fantastic experience. The whole city was pumped to have the NBA in town. To this day I still don't know what the Time Warner Cable Arena looks like full for a Charlotte Bobcats game. The NBA just isn't the same anymore.

I guess that is why I love this card so much. 1) It reminds me of the 'good old days' of basketball in Charlotte, 2) Dell Curry was so much fun to watch play and 3) Autographed cards of Dell aren't that plentiful since he played in a time when the trading card market wasn't as complex as it is now.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

In the mail 2/13/10

Not much in Saturday's mail. 2010 Topps Ryan Church #223 black parallel #45/59. In my attempt to complete a gold parallel Braves set I figured I'd go after the black parallels as well. This one cost me $2.75...not bad, but the other Braves players are starting to demand more coin than I'm willing to spend at the moment. So this may be the only 2010 black parallel I'll own (unless someone out there is willing to trade).


Friday, February 12, 2010

2009 Triple-A All-Star Brooks Conrad #24

During my wife's pregnancy last fall she watched a lot of Braves baseball. At some point during the season she became a fan of Brooks Conrad during his late season call up to the Majors. I was reminded of her "crush" a few weeks ago when the Braves Caravan strolled into Charlotte. Brooks was one of the players in attendance at the Wild Wing Cafe. I've looked and looked for a card of Brooks in a Braves uniform, but none of the major card companies depicted him as a Brave...but I was able to find this minor league card. So if you are reading this honey, act surprised when you open this envelope!

Photobucket Photobucket


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

In the mail 2/9/10

2009 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Signatures, Nate McLouth #d 203/300. Here is one of my favorite cards I've added to the collection in awhile. The high price tag of the product usually scares me away from taking a chance on buying a box or even packs. So I just went the eBay route for this card. I like the red ink version better so I'm sure I'll track that down eventually.



2009 Upper Deck A Piece of History Stadium Scenes, Jeff Francoeur #d 033/180. Yeah it's a jersey card, but I love the stadium shot on the card. The fact I got it for less than $1.00 was pretty cool too.



2009 Bowman Sterling RC #125 autograph, Mike Goodson. This was one of those autograph redemption cards I had to wait 12 weeks or so for...and I'm very pleased with the card. I never bothered to see what other autograph rookies from this set looked like so it made opening the envelope that much more fun. I wished we would have seen Goodson on the field a little more this season, but when he did get some playtime I liked what I saw. Well worth the $3.00 I paid.








Monday, February 8, 2010

2010 Topps First Impressions


2010 Topps Baseball, Series One
First Impressions

My first experience with baseball cards dates back 20 years to 1990. A friend of mine got me into baseball cards on the way home from a vacation in the mountains. We stopped at a rather large roadside flea market of sorts and I walked away with a large stack of 1990 Topps and Donruss baseball card packs. I guess as they say the rest is history.

With the release of the 2010 Topps Baseball cards I've bought/collected baseball cards in some capacity now for 20 years. Just typing that makes me feel old! I thought it would be kinda neat (at least to me) to give my first impressions of the first baseball cards of the season since it's kind of a bench mark for me.

After reading some blogs and viewing some pictures of the 2010 Topps Baseball series 1 I decided to hit a few Target stores in my area to see what I could find. My first trip found one of those large gravity feeders of packs. I was particularly looking for the "blaster" boxes...but nothing could be found. A trip the following day to a different Target found me one lone box. I snatched it up with a little reservation. Since I'm not into set building I cringed a bit at the $19.99 price tag. Since it was the only box though I decided to go ahead with the purchase anyhow.

These "blaster" boxes give you 10 packs, each with 8 cards for a total of 80 cards. I guess the main draw of these boxes is that you get one exclusive patch card. I saw these with the 2009 cards so I knew what I was getting here. Nothing special since the patches are created just for these cards and not game used. The checklist for these patch cards is 50 cards long and features names such as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ryne Sandberg, Ichiro, Chase Utley & Albert Pujols. The other draw is that 2 of the packs are Throwback parallels. These cards are essentially the same as the base cards except they are printed on the old style brown cardboard. The Topps logo is also the old logo. I like these myself so the inclusion of these made the decision to buy the box a little easier.

So, what did I end up with you may wonder? For starters I got a Hank Greenberg (Detroit Tigers) 1935 World Series commemorative patch card. Nice looking, but I had rather have Chipper Jones or Pujols. Oh well. At least I got a Pujols from one of the Throwback packs.

As a Braves fan I was happy with some of the pulls. In the Throwback packs I got a Javier Vasquez. From the base set I got a few more Braves: Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson, Reid Gorecki and Javier Vasquez.

Also ended up w/ 2 of the Million Card Giveaway cards. This program really intrigues me, but I'll have to wait another week or so before the program goes live. Pulled a few of the Cards Your Mom Threw Out (even one of the original back versions), one When They Were Young (Johnny Damon) and a few of the other low odd inserts.

I love the basic and clean design of the base set. The team logos are large and colorful and the names are easy to read. I could have done without the silver foil, but I'm afraid that foil stamping and the glossy U/V coatings are here to stay on the regular Topps set. Backs of the cards have been improved over last year's set as well. Biggest change I noticed and I know a lot of others noticed is the card number in the upper right corner is MUCH easier to read. I've never been a set builder so the card #s have been irrelevant to me, but it's nice to see that Topps listened to the complaints and rectified the issue this time around.

All in all this set is a home run in my opinion. Great base design and pretty good inserts. Yeah so people may be sick of the gold parallels or the ToppsTown inserts, but they are OK additions in my book. Without new kids coming to the hobby it'll start to die off so if Topps has to use the ToppsTown program or something else to attract kids I'm fine with that. So, what are you waiting for? Head on down to your local hobby shop (if you're lucky to have one) or to your local Target store and pick up some packs. I think after you've busted a few packs you'll be glad you did.

In the mail 2/8/10

Mail man didn't bring me much today, but I did add 3 more nice Braves cards to the collection.

Up first is a card from 2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom. Derek Lowe #151. I'm not sure what this parallel is called as I couldn't really find any mention of it on the pack...so I'll call it the perforated parallel. Since this is the only pack I've bought I was pleased to pull a Braves player. Being a parallel made it that much sweeter.


Next card is from 2009 Topps Unique. Kenshin Kawakami #166 RC. This is some sort of parallel - mine's #'d 2520/2699. I literally know nothing about this set. I just learned of the set's existence a few days ago while browsing eBay.

Last card for the day is from 2010 Topps. Adam LaRoche #304 gold parallel #d 324/2010. It's kinda odd to hold this card knowing that he signed w/ Arizona, but seeing how he helped the Braves late last season w/ his bat I'll gladly add this into the fold.