August 2011 Group Break - 1996 Fleer (Packs #1-10)

First off let me say how refreshing it was to open packs and NOT have the cards all stick together!  I wish Topps would for once drop the UV coating as these matte cards are super nice.  Yes - the gold foil is still prevalent, but I can handle it since I don't have the shiny finish on the rest of the card.

OK - now to the play by pack results!  Remember that each pack contains 11 cards including 1 Tiffany parallel and 1 out of 10 different inserts.  This is a hobby box and the Team Leader cards are hobby exclusive.  The only odds given are that the inserts range from 1:4 to 1:90 packs.

Pack 1:

#391 Joe Orsulak - Tiffany (Marlins)

#01 Yamil Benitez - Prospect (Expos)
#470 Tony Tarasco (Expos)
#164 Ron Coomer (Twins)
#124 Johnny Damon (Royals)
#081 Paul Assenmacher (Indians)
#041 Brian Anderson (A's)
#002 Brady Anderson (Orioles)
#181 David Cone (Yankees)
#142 Chuck Carr (Marlins)
#106 Joe Boever (Tigers)

Pack 2:

#200 Bob Wickman - Tiffany (Yankees) 

#01 Tom Glavine - Post Season Glory (Braves)
#554 Mark Petkovsek (Cardinals)
#526 Al Martin (Pirates)
#370 Steve Reed (Rockies)
#298 Javy Lopez (Braves)
#469 David Segui (Expos)
#165 Marty Cordova (Twins)
#125 Gary Gaetti (Royals)
#082 Carlos Baerga (Indians)
#042 Garret Anderson (Angels)

The Post Season Glory set is the smallest (5 cards) of all the inserts and from what I remember when I bought a lot of this in 1996 one of the more common inserts.

Pack 3:

#236 Alex Diaz - Tiffany (Mariners)

#06 Greg Maddux - Smoke 'n Heat (Braves)
#560 Brad Ausmus (Padres)
#515 Jacob Brumfield (Pirates)
#473 Tim Bogar (Mets)
#426 Mike Blowers (Dodgers)
#098 Jim Poole (Indians)
#190 Jack McDowell (Yankees)
#460 Tim Laker (Expos)
#079 Robin Ventura (White Sox)
#243 Alex Rodriguez (Mariners)




These Smoke 'n Heat cards look sharp!

Pack 4:
#522 Mark Johnson - Tiffany (Pirates)

#03 Orel Hershisher - Post Season Glory (Indians)
#539 Alan Benes (Cardinals)
#493 Ricky Bottalico (Phillies)
#452 Yamil Benitez (Expos)
#259 Roger Pavlik (Rangers)
#561 Willie Blair (Padres)
#516 Jason Christiansen (Pirates)
#474 Rico Brogna (Mets)
#427 Brett Butler (Dodgers)
#097 Eric Plunk (Indians)

Pack 5:

#463 Carlos Perez - Tiffany (Expos)

#05 Mike Piazza - Road Warriors (Dodgers)
#551 Jose Oquendo (Cardinals)
#529 Ramon Morel (Pirates)
#373 Bruce Ruffin (Rockies)
#301 Greg McMichael (Braves)
#466 Kirk Rueter (Expos)
#168 Pat Meares (Twins)
#128 Mark Gubicza (Royals)
#085 Alam Embree (Indians)
#045 Damion Easley (Angels)

I don't why, but I really like the Road Warriors a lot.  I wonder if Night Owl had this Piazza already?

Pack 6:

#278 Sandy Martinez - Tiffany (Blue Jays)

#15 Quilvio Veras - Rookie Sensation (Marlins)
#542 Tony Fossas (Cardinals)
#496 Jim Eisenreich (Phillies)
#455 Jeff Fassero (Expos)
#262 Jeff Russell (Rangers)
#564 Glenn Dishman (Padres)
#519 Angelo Encarnacion (Pirates)
#477 Carl Everett (Mets)
#430 John Cummings (Dodgers)
#094 Chad Ogea (Indians)

Lots and lots of holographic foil going on here!

Pack 7:
#490 Jose Vizcaino - Tiffany (Mets)

#06 Mark McGwire - Golden Memories (A's)
#368 Mike Munoz (Rockies)
#296 Ryan Klesko (Braves)
#471 Rondell White (Expos)
#163 Rich Becker (Twins)
#123 Kevin Appier (Royals)
#080 Sandy Alomar Jr. (Indians)
#040 Jim Abbott (Angels)
#001 Manny Alexander (Orioles)
#180 Wade Boggs (Yankees)

Hasn't there been several other sets called Golden Memories before?  These look pretty nice with the holographic foil used for the lettering.

Pack 8:
#589 Mark Leiter - Tiffany (Giants)

#06 Todd Greene - Prospect (Angels)
#450 Moises Alou (Expos)
#257 Mike Pagliarulo (Rangers)
#559 Andy Ashby (Padres)
#514 Jay Bell (Pirates)
#472 Edgardo Alfonzo (Mets)
#425 Billy Ashley (Dodgers)
#099 Manny Ramirez (Indians)
#191 Jeff Nelson (Yankees)
#461 Mike Lansing (Expos)

Pack 9:
#436 Carlos Hernandez - Tiffany (Dodgers)

#06 Chipper Jones - Tomorrow's Legends (Braves)

#05 Mike Piazza - Checklist (Dodgers)
#596 Steve Scarsone (Giants)
#420 Jeff Tabaka (Astros)
#377 Larry Walker (Rockies)
#158 Steve Sparks (Brewers)
#197 Mike Stanley (Yankees)
#487 Bill Pulsipher (Mets)
#220 Danny Tartabull (A's)
#534 Paul Wagner (Pirates)

Finally an insert set that "predicts the future" gets it right!  I do have to say Chipper looks a little hung over in this picture though.  When did Checklists become inserts?

Pack 10:

#599 William VanLandingham - Tiffany (Giants)

#06 Shawn Green - Rookie Sensation (Blue Jays)
#208 Jason Giambi (A's)
#017 Mike Mussina (Orioles)
#587 Shawn Estes (Giants)
#543 Bernard Gilkey (Cardinals)
#497 Sid Fernandez (Phillies)
#456 Darrin Fletcher (Expos)
#263 Mickey Tettleton (Rangers)
#565 Steve Finley (Padres)
#520 John Ericks (Pirates)

There you have the first 10 packs.  26 more to go.  We got a decent look at the insert selection, though there are a few different sets yet to be seen.  Once my fingers uncramp I'll be back with more pack results!