2013 Topps Update

2013 is the year my interest in cards started to wane a little.  Or perhaps it was because my hobby funds in 2013 started to dwindle.  For whatever reason I didn't buy one single pack of 2013 Topps Update.  I only recently went back and grabbed a Braves team set for a buck twenty nine.  Of course it was a worthy purchase for a few of the rookies alone.

Terdoslavich, Gattis and Wood lead the way in the RC department, got the nifty All-Star logo on the Kimbrel card.  Topps even through in some players that often get overlooked.  In this case we get another Reed Johnson and Luis Avilan!  And the image on Jordan Schafer's card is great.

2014 Topps Heritage

So Topps Heritage has been released upon the masses already.  It quitely snuck in under my radar.  While I did grab a rack pack from Walmart to appease my pack ripping addiction, I had decided going into 2014 that I wasn't going to build (many) sets this year.  While I like the look of Heritage more this year than in years past, I figured it would be easier to acquire the cards I wanted versus buying packs.  Cue the Braves team set...well minus the stupid SPs.

Starting off with the 2014 Rookie Stars card, Christian Bethancourt is the guy that essentially made Brian McCann expendable.  My guess is that if Evan Gattis continues to excel, then Gerald Laird's time backing up Gattis will be coming to a close with Bethancourt stepping up.  David Hale looks like a promising young arm as he had a chance to show off his stuff in the majors on a late call up last year.

I'm glad to see players included in the set that usually are skipped over such as Venters and Pastornicky.  We also get our first Braves card of former Twins player Ryan Doumit.  Not sure what to expect of him this season, but surely he'll be a better outfielder than Gattis was!  With Medlen and Beachy already undergone Tommy John surgery, I have high hopes that Alex Wood can step in and light up the opposing batters.

Just a few days left before Opening Day is finally among us!  I can't wait!

Card Show Pick-Ups

I haven't been to a card show in ages.  A few weeks ago I was set up as a toy dealer at a hybrid sports cards/toys/comics show in Charlotte, NC.  While I wanted to browse the huge area of card dealers and thumb through the "el cheapo" boxes, I just didn't have time.  My wife only helped me out one day (Saturday) so Sunday I was chained to my table.  Well not literally, but you get the idea.

I did find a quick moment to run over to a table a few aisles over from me that had a big yellow banner hung advertising his huge dime box assortment.  Surprisingly he had all of the cards either in order by set for older commons or in order by team or player.  I quickly ran through the Braves of course and a few other players I collect on and off again.  While time wasn't on my side I had to hurry through, but walked away with these:

I probably already have both the Sheffields in the top row, but I love Finest and the early Upper Deck SP cards were nice.  The Ripken appears to be from some big set (or subset) by Pinnacle.

Clayton Kershaw pissed me off during the Playoffs last season, but the more I find out about the player removed from the field the more I like him.  I can acknowledge his pitching excellence as well, I just wish he would have faltered a little bit last season against my Braves!  Gwynn is a HOF I respect greatly.  His patience at the plate was something to marvel at.  I particular love the Duracell odd ball card.

I have to walk away with at least a few Braves cards.  Found a Tristar minor league of Craig Kimbrell, a subset card of Chipper and a sparkly insert of Glavine.  Was even happier when I got home and checked my list to see that I had the regular version of the Star Power insert of Glavine, but not the thick sparkly version!

I had grabbed one other Chipper insert that I ended up having, but all in all I was happy w/ the dollar I spent.

Panini delivers Lemke ink!

I guess you could say I'm coming off a "Panini high" after hosting last month's Affordable Group break featuring Panini's newest baseball product, 2014 Donruss.  While I still wish Panini would be offered a full license so they could really go toe to toe with Topps, I appreciate most of their baseball efforts.

I recently stumbled across a checklist for last year's Hometown Heroes autograph set and was surprised to see a lot of the names included.  I always find it refreshing with you have players that have signed that aren't usually included in other sets.  Maybe that's why I loved the old Leaf Signatures set from the 90's.  After skimming the list I immediately stopped when I saw this card:

Mark freakin' Lemke!  This 2nd baseball of the Braves was all about hustle and grit.  Growing up watching the '91 Braves I loved watching Lemke sniff out ground balls and pull of double plays.  Sadly though I only have a handful of his cards...and none of them are autographs...until now!  I've managed to get several nice Braves auto in my collecting time, but there is nothing better than getting your first auto of one of your favorite players.

On a somewhat releated note, I filled out my online redemption quest for my first Evan Gattis auto as well from 2014 Donruss.  Too bad I won't be enjoying my first auto of Evan anytime soon. ) =

February 2014 Affordable Group Break - 2014 Donruss Box 2

I got home late from work on Saturday and I just didn't have the energy to sit down in front of the computer to open the last box.  My wife offered to help so we each took 12 packs and got to rippin'.  Bad news that our streak of good luck ended with the 1st box.  While Panini advertises 2 autos and 1 mem in each hobby box...this one fell a little short.  I've already filled out the form w/ Panini online and I'm mailing in the box top tomorrow so hopefully soon we'll get our missing auto and mem.  So until that happens the total card counts will be a little off.  For now enjoy the pictures of the inserts and the one lone hit the box did yield.

148/389

239/390

040/199

696/999

525/999

Box Topper

Card Counts for both boxes

Legend:  Base cards | Inserts | Hits

Cardboard Collections:  Braves / Pirates - 25 | 3 | 0
CaptKirk24:  Nationals / Orioles - 35 | 3 | 0
Matt Pederson:  Cubs / White Sox - 15 | 3 | 0
Roy-Z:  Blue Jays / Brewers - 25 | 2 | 0
buckstorecards:  Mets / Cardinals - 29 | 3 | 0
arpsmith:  Giants / Rockies - 20 | 2 | 0
daddyohoho:  Phillies / Indians - 20 | 1 | 0
Jeff:  Angels / Padres - 13 | 5 | 0
The Dutch Card Guy:  Dodgers / Athletics - 27 | 5 | 0
Play at the Plate:  Rangers / Astros - 17 | 4 | 2
The Lost Collector:  Yankees / Rays - 31 | 7 | 1
Josh D.:  Royals / Reds - 24 | 7 | 0
The Junior Junkie:  Mariners / Marlins - 18 | 1 | 1
Jeff S.:  Twins / Red Sox - 18 | 1 | 1
Cool Breeze:  Tigers / Diamondbacks - 24 | 3 | 0

In addition to waiting for our missing hits, I'm mailing in the 48 wrappers for the two mail in packs.  The players in the packs will go to the people that picked those teams.  Just seems appropriate.

I'm going to do my best to get these cards in the mail tomorrow, but it may be Tuesday depending on my work schedule.  A big thanks to everyone that participated.  I'm not quite ready to return to hosting a group break every month, but I may pick another upcoming product in the coming months.  If you have any suggestions of what to break, shoot me an e-mail with your suggestions.