2016 Topps Now: Chase d'Arnaud #257 (180 print run)

As bad of a season as the Braves are having, I am surprised that this makes the 4th player to receive a card in Topps Now (5th for the team if you count the card for the game played at Fort Bragg earlier in July). Having cards of Freddie or Julio weren't all that surprising I guess, but the latest player to get the Topps Now treatment. I never would have seen this one coming.

After a home game on July 16th, Chase d'Arnaud took the stage at Turner Field and "sung" with his band in a post-game concert. I watched the game on the 16th and left the television on so I saw some of Chase's performance. Well let's just say I'm glad he gets a decent paycheck as a baseball player because his music career probably won't be going anywhere soon!

The next day, July 17th, the Braves hosted the Colorado Rockies again at home. I watched the entire game and the innings went by quickly as neither team could muster any real offensive attack. In the bottom of the 9th however, Chase hit a single to left centerfield and Ender Inciarte made home for the game winning run. It was great seeing this utility guy get the game winning hit and to see him mobbed by his teammates on the base paths. 

When I checked Topps' site the next day sure enough he had a card and I plopped down the $10 to add it to my Braves collection. Once the initial 24 hour window had closed, only 180 cards were printed. As of today, 07/27/16, this card still has the lowest print run of all 287 cards that have been made thus far. I don't know if it'll end up having the lowest print run by the end of the season, but none the less I'm glad to have another great Braves Topps Now card to add to my team collection.

Box Break: 2016 Topps Stadium Club (Part 1)

It's been awhile since I've shared a box break on my blog. Heck, it's been a long time since I've opened a full fledged hobby box period! 2015 Stadium Club had me hooked again with the brand's signature photography and basic, clean design. When I saw the preview images for 2016 I decided I would build the set again so I sought out the best deal on a box. After a short delay, the box has arrived and it's time for me to get some packs ripped.

This year's release (at least the Hobby variety) has an insert or parallel falling one per pack, with a total of 8 cards per pack. Parallels include Gold Foil (1:3), Black Foil (1:8) and Black & White Orange Foil (1:48). Rainbow Foil are serially numbered (1:70), First Day Issue & Members Only parallels return, also serially numbered. Base card variations (1:123) feature alternate pictures such as Clayton Kershaw batting. Inserts include Beam Team: (1:16), Gold versions (1:256), Autographs (1:10,984); Trimvirates: Luminous (1:16), Luminescent (1:64), Illuminator (1:256); Legends return from 2015 and feature a die-cut design (1:16), Gold (1:2,078); Instavision (1:256), Gold (1:966); Contact Sheet is another carry over from 2015 (1:8), White Foil (1:638), Gold Foil (1:1,261), Orange Foil (1:1,684); ISOMetrics (1:8). Gold (1:256); Autographed (on card) base cards (1:10); Autograph parallels: Black Foil (1:72), Gold Foil (1:148), Orange Foil (1:3,662). Lone Star Signatures (1:2,262); Lone Star Signatures parallels: Gold (1:5,626), Orange (1:46,132). Co-Signers: (1:10,984); Autographed 1993 Buyback (1:4,708); Buyback cards (1:126)

I'm going to break this up into two (or more) parts, mainly because time isn't something I have a lot of right now. When I'm done, I plan to put together a want list with the hope I can find some trading partners. Until then, enjoy the pack by pack break down.

Pack 1

#114 David Ortiz

#007 Edwin Encarnacion

#259 Aroldis Chapman

#017 Raul Mondesi RC

#295 Aaron Nola RC

#227 Robin Yount

#263 J.D. Martinez

#CS-3 Josh Donaldson - Contact Sheet

Pack 2

#198 Roberto Osuna

#211 Didi Gregorius

#108 Omar Vizquel

#254 Dustin Pedroia

#066 Catfish Hunter

#140 Gio Gonzalez

#098 Ian Kinsler

#LDC-1 Robin Yount - Legends

Pack 3

#074 Maikel Franco

#202 Daniel Murphy

#026 Steven Matz

#192 Delino DeShields

#002 Garrett Richards

#031 Brett Gardner

#213 Fernando Valenzuela

#CS-8 Buster Posey - Contact Sheet

Pack 4

#112 Curt Schilling

#179 Lou Brock

#134 Adrian Gonzalez

#165 Zach Lee

#242 Collin McHugh

#079 Marquis Grissom

#283 Rougned Odor

#BT-24 Giancarlo Stanton - Beam Team

Pack 5

#151 Stephen Piscotty

#224 David Wright

#068 Raisel Iglesias

#279 Joe Panik

#200 Jose Fernandez

#040 Kyle Waldrop

#166 Freddy Galvis

#019 Marco Estrada - Gold Foil parallel

Pack 6

#219 Kevin Plawecki

#268 Jordan Zimmermann

#090 Jason Kipnis

#139 Matt Harvey

#064 Lucas Duda

#239 Shelby Miller

#SCA-KS Kyle Schwarber RC - Autograph

#032 Bob Feller - Black Foil parallel

Pack 7

#037 Yadier Molina

#187 Johnny Cueto

#015 Ozzie Smith

#092 Max Scherzer

#132 Carlos Correa

#246 Josh Donaldson

#255 Wade Davis

#073 Chris Tillman - Gold parallel

Pack 8

#067 Yu Darvish

#039 Michael Brantley

#190 Erasmo Ramirez

#257 Joe Morgan

#056 Yordano Ventura

#206 Josh Hamilton

#050 Whitey Ford

#I-02 Mike Trout - ISOMetrics

So far I'm liking what I've seen of the photography, the inserts and my first of two autos ain't half bad either. However I'm going to call it quits here. I've got to get my bags ready for a long weekend at the beach. I'll continue this the first of next week. Thanks for dropping by!

P.S. - Yes, that Kyle Schwarber RC auto will be up for grabs.

2016 Topps Now: Julio Teheran #163 (291 print run)

Wow, with the season the Atlanta Braves are having who would've thought they would already have their 2nd player represented in 2016 Topps Now? This Braves fan didn't think it would happen! I felt it appropriate to share this card today since it was announced last night that Julio Teheran would be chosen for the 2016 All-Star game this weekend. While his W-L record may not be the best, he's had a low ERA for most of the season. The problem for Teheran and other Braves pitchers is the lack of run support. This team just can't score runs on a consistent basis and that is hurting the chances of so many of their pitchers.

However on June 19th, Father's Day and my 39th birthday, Julio pitched a fantastic game against the Mets. He went the stretch for the complete game and limited the Mets to just one hit in a shut out. All this on a road game too.

I'm really enjoying this new program by Topps and I've already got my 3rd Braves Topps Now card (another Freddie Freemen), but I am bummed I forgot to check over the 4th weekend to grab the card of the Braves/Marlins game played at Fort Bragg...even if the actual performance of the Braves in that game was lackluster. If anyone bought multiples of that card and can hook me up please let me know!