January 2012 Group Break - 1997 Topps Stadium Club packs 9-12

Ready for some more TSC?!  Me too.  I should mention that we got shorted a pack here.  I re-counted and we only ended up with 11 packs instead of the advertised 12.  Bummer.

Pack 9:
#367 Tony Fossas (Cardinals)
#325 Rich Aurilia (Giants)
#236 Ray Lankford (Cardinals)
#227 Albert Belle (White Sox)
#261 Jay Bell (Royals)
#335 Orlando Miller (Tigers)
#277 Ruben Sierra (Reds)
#379 Albert Belle - Stadium Slugger (White Sox)
#312 John Burkett (Rangers)
#293 Ray Durham (White Sox)

#309 Jose Offerman (Royals)
#230 Jose Mesa (Indians)
#286 Jeff D'Amico (Brewers)
#247 Randy Johnson (Mariners)
#243 Geronimo Berroa (A's)

Does anyone still collect Albert Belle?

Pack 10:
#202 Trevor Hoffman (Padres)
#256 Turk Wendell (Cubs)
#360 Darrin Fletcher (Expos)
#201 Marquis Grissom (Braves)

#221 Vinny Castilla (Rockies)
#349 Rey Sanchez (Cubs)
#274 Tom Pagnozzi (Cardinals)
#390 Jay Buhner - Stadium Slugger (Mariners)

#249 Mark Wohlers - Matrix (Braves)
#344 Tony Batista (A's)
#231 David Cone (Yankees)
#197 Joe Carter (Blue Jays)
#299 Rocky Coppinger (Orioles)
#317 James Baldwin (White Sox)
#217 Wade Boggs (Yankees)

Haven't we already seen the majority of this pack?  The collation could be worse, but it could be a lot better too.

Pack 11:
#348 John Flaherty (Padres)
#276 Chad Mottola (Reds)
#373 John Franco (Mets)
#352 Mike Hampton (Astros)
#246 Denny Neagle (Braves)
#251 Larry Walker (Rockies)
#387 Juan Gonzalez - Stadium Slugger (Rangers)

#M29 Brooks Kieschnick - Millennium (Cubs)
#268 Roger Cedeno (Dodgers)
#292 Hal Morris (Reds)
#316 Al Martin (Pirates)
#355 Ricky Bottalico (Phillies)
#218 Carlos Baerga (Mets)
#341 Tom Candiotti (Dodgers)
#233 Edgar Martinez (Mariners)

The embossed hologram like Millennium cards are seeded 1:12 packs - too bad it couldn't have been of a better player (no offense Cubs fans!)

Pack 12:
shorted in the box?

That's it.  That box went pretty quick.  I enjoyed it so much look for a '97 TSC themed post soon.

January 2012 Group Break - 1997 Topps Stadium Club packs 6-8

I'm really enjoying this Stadium Club box and I hope you are too.  After these packs we should have one more round before finishing off the box.  One insert has been found thus far...are more to follow? 

Pack 6:
#370 Shawn Estes (Giants)

#212 Hideo Nomo (Dodgers)
#249 Mark Wohlers (Braves)
#326 Jeff King (Royals)
#343 Jimmy Key (Orioles)
#254 John Wetteland (Rangers)
#258 Jaime Navarro (White Sox)
#283 Shannon Stewart (Blue Jays)
#384 Mark McGwire - Stadium Slugger (A's)
#283 Shannon Stewart (Blue Jays)
#354 Heathcliff Slocumb (Red Sox)
#345 Paul Sorrento (Mariners)
#245 Travis Fryman (Tigers)
#284 Gerald Williams (Brewers)
#365 Dave Stevens (Twins)

Pack 7:
#199 Ellis Burks (Rockies)
#331 Luis Gonzalez (Astros)
#238 J.T. Snow (Giants)
#287 Walt Weiss (Rockies)
#321 Robb Nen (Marlins)
#214 Greg Vaughn (Padres)
#228 Alex Fernandez (Marlins)
#330 Chris Hoiles (Orioles)

#377 Mo Vaughn - Stadium Slugger (Red Sox)
#315 Todd Stottlemyre (Cardinals)
#198 Alex Ochoa (Mets)
#266 Tim Belcher (Royals)
#356 Marty Janzen (Blue Jays)
#274 Mike Sweeney (Royals)
#200 Ivan Rodriguez (Rangers)

Pack 8:
#239 Dennis Eckersley (Cardinals)

#223 David Justice (Braves)
#257 Jason Isringhausen (Mets)
#340 Matt Ruebel (Pirates)
#359 Amaury Telemaco (Cubs)
#311 Greg Gagne (Dodgers)
#323 Pete Schourek (Reds)
#308 Butch Huskey (Mets)

#383 Mike Piazza - Stadium Slugger (Dodgers)

#250 Ken Hill - Matrix (Rangers)
#252 Craig Biggio (Astros)
#366 Jay Powell (Marlins)
#342 Wally Joyner (Padres)
#324 Marcus Jensen (Giants)
#222 Lance Johnson (Mets)

The Matrix parallels are seeded 1:6 so we should see another one in the box.  These appear to be a forerunner to refractors - they feature a shiny rainbow look - only slightly different from the now common place refractor.  These are really nice looking in person.

January 2012 Group Break - 1997 Topps Stadium Club packs 3-5

Sorry for the slight delay - I've had a pretty big project going on the side that I'll reveal more about later.  Now let's get back to some more pack ripping.  I will add that any imperfections you see in the scans are just that - a problem w/ the scan and NOT the card.  Not sure why my scanner is acting up now.

Pack 3:
#350 John Vander Wal (Rockies)
#237 Karim Garcia (Dodgers)
#296 Jose Paniagua (Expos)

#279 Scott Servais (Cubs)
#273 Dave Burba (Reds)
#314 Alvaro Espinoza (Mets)
#307 Jose Herrera (A's)
 
#380 Andres Galarraga - Stadium Slugger (Rockies)
#369 Mark Loretta (Brewers)
#334 Mark Langston (Angels)
#357 Orel Hershiser (Indians)
#336 Jason Giambi (A's)
#304 Bob Wells (Mariners)
#330 Chris Hoiles (Orioles)
#307 Jose Herrera (A's)

Top notch photography represented in this pack as well.  Just look at the collision caught on film on the Servais card.  I also believe the Mark Langston card represents the first Angels card thus far.

Pack 4:
#360 Darrin Fletcher (Expos)
#201 Marquis Grissom (Braves)
#349 Rey Sanchez (Cubs)
#221 Vinny Castilla (Rockies)
#274 Tom Pagnozzi (Cardinals)
#294 Andy Ashby (Padres)
#313 Mark Thompson (Rockies)
#301 John Olerud (Mets)
 
#376 Chipper Jones - Stadium Slugger (Braves)
#317 James Baldwin (White Sox)
#204 Carlos Delgado (Blue Jays)
#217 Wade Boggs (Yankees)
#282 Rich Becker (Twins)

#333 Johnny Damon (Royals)
#263 Tony Clark (Tigers)

If any Braves fans are reading this I already have this Chipper so it's available!

Pack 5:
#209 Roger Clemens (Blue Jays)
#363 Allen Watson (Angels)
#338 David Wells (Yankees)
#234 Jose Canseco (A's)
#353 Greg Colbrunn (Twins)
#240 Roberto Alomar (Orioles)
#354 Heathcliff Slocumb (Red Sox)

#386 Barry Bonds - Stadium Slugger (Giants)
#346 Ron Karkovice (White Sox)
#278 Norm Charlton (Mariners)
#272 Randy Myers (Orioles)
#269 Tim Naehring (Red Sox)
#250 Ken Hill (Rangers)
#302 Paul Shuey (Indians)
#327 Scott Stahoviak (Twins)

I know a certain somebody will be happy w/ this Bonds SP.

Pack 6:
#206 Chuck Knoblauch (Twins)
#248 Darin Erstad (Angels)
#232 Troy Percival (Angels)
#298 Joe Girardi (Yankees)
#297 Mickey Tettleton (Rangers)
#241 John Valentin (Red Sox)
#226 Jim Edmonds (Angels)
#389 Ken Caminiti - Stadium Slugger (Padres)

#PG20 Andres Galarraga - Pure Gold (Rockies)
#264 Tim Wakefield (Red Sox)
#339 Bip Roberts (Royals)
#318 Cal Eldred (Brewers)
#260 Albie Lopez (Indians)
#368 Bob Wolcott (Mariners)
#310 Rick Aguilera (Twins)

The embossed Pure Gold inserts are seeded 1:36 packs so this was a pretty good hit.  I'm sure hiflew will be glad to add this cool insert of the Big Cat to his Rockies collection.

January 2012 Group Break - 1997 Topps Stadium Club

We'll get this started with a few hobby jumbo packs of 1997 TSC.  I had a few of these cards back when they were new, but I couldn't afford to buy many due to their "premium" price tag so this ought to be fun.  Each jumb pack contains 15 cards.

Pack 1:
#224 Rondell White (Expos)
#287 Walt Weiss (Rockies)
#319 Sid Fernandez (Astros)
#270 Kevin Tapani (Cubs)
#271 Joe Randa (Pirates)
#199 Ellis Burks (Rockies)
#331 Luis Gonzalez (Astros)
#358 Rex Hudler (Phillies)

#388 Brady Anderson - Stadium Slugger SP (Orioles)
#216 Raul Mondesi (Dodgers)
#242 Ron Gant (Cardinals)
#219 Tony Gwynn (Padres)
#315 Todd Stottlemyre (Cardinals)
#198 Alex Ochoa (Mets)
#266 Tim Belcher (Royals)

The Stadium Slugger SPs are inserted one per pack.

Pack 2:
#277 Ruben Sierra (Reds)
#306 Shawon Dunston (Cubs)
#351 Brant Brown (Cubs)
#358 Rex Hudler (Phillies)
#364 Mike Lieberthal (Phillies)

#229 Ryne Sandberg (Cubs)
#351 Brant Brown (Cubs)

#385 Ken Griffey Jr. - Stadium Slugger SP (Mariners)
#372 Wendell Magee Jr. (Phillies)
#210 Vladimir Guerrero (Expos)
#300 Bob Abreu (Astros)
#255 Andruw Jones (Braves)
#290 F.P. Santangelo (Expos)
#322 Mark Lemke (Braves)
#295 Darryl Kile (Astros)

A few collation problems early on - let's hope this isn't a problem the further we go.

These cards feature the standard beautiful photography that the TSC brand is known for.  I like the full bleed design.  If I didn't already collect so much I might go after this set.  I'm starting to see why Community Gum is so crazy over Stadium Club!

I should mention that all of these cards have a slight "Pringles" curl, but nothing like 2010 Topps Chrome!  The cards should easily flatten out in a top loader or under a stack of cards.

January 2012 Affordable Group Break - Sign Up Now!

I know it isn't quite 2012 yet, but I wanted to give people a chance to spend some of that Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket!  Once the new year is finally upon us what does that mean for Cardboard Collections?  Another year of Affordable Group Breaks!  We'll start off the year with a few boxes from the good people @ The Baseball Card Exchange.

 1997 Topps Stadium Club Series 2 Jumbo (Hobby)

12 packs per box, 15 cards per pack

Possible RCs: Lance Berkman, Adrian Beltre, Kerry Wood

- Stadium Sluggers SPs (1:2)

- Matrix parallels (1:12)

- Co-Signers dual autos (1:168)

- Instavision (1:22)

- Millenium (1:24)

- Pure Gold (1:72)

 1998 Pinnacle Performers

24 packs per box, 8 cards per pack

- Swing for the Fences 1:2

- Peak Performers 1:7

- Launching Pad 1:9

- Power Trip 1:21 (serially #d)

- Big Bang 1:45 (serially #)

- Big Bang Seasonal Outbust 1:45 (serially #d)

1999 Skybox E-X Century (Hobby)

18 packs per box, 3 cards per pack

Possible RCs: Pat Burrell

- Essentials Now (serially #d)

- Essentials Future (serially #d)

- Prospects 1:2

- E-XQuisite 1:18

- Favorites for Fenway '99 1:36

- Authen-Kicks game-worn shoe (serially #d)

- Milestones of the Century (serially #d)

I'm really looking forward to the box of Skybox E-X.  Those Authen-Kicks game-worn shoe cards are very intriguing!  Hopefully this break will appease everyone as there is a good mixture of regular cards & obtainable inserts plus the chance at a dual auto in the box of TSC.

In an effort to make sure the entire break is filled up we'll be going with the format of choose 1 team and have a 2nd team randomly assigned.  Of course you are welcome to trade teams after all the teams have been assigned.  Just make sure that you let me know so you get the correct cards.  Each slot will be $9 shipped.  After all 15 slots are filled the unclaimed teams will then be randomized and assigned to each participant.

The faster you pay the quicker I can have the boxes ordered and we can start the break.  To claim your team please leave a comment with your requested team(s) and then please submit your gift payment via PayPal to cardboardcollections at yahoo.com.  Due to PayPal cracking down on gift payments PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN THE SUBJECT LINE OR COMMENT BOX!  Please e-mail me your full mailing address and the team you claimed after payment is sent.

01) Atlanta Braves (Cardboard Collections) (PAID)

02) Scott Crawford (Expos) (PAID)

03) daddyohoho (Phillies) (PAID)

04) NY Hitman 23 (Yankees) (PAID)

05) D a V e (Blue Jays) (PAID)

06) Jason (Indians) (PAID)

07) Josh D. (Royals) (PAID)

08) arpsmith (Giants) (PAID)

09) Spiegel83 (Dodgers) (PAID)

10) Kyle4KC (Mariners) (PAID)

11) daily dimwit (Astros) (PAID)

12) hiflew (Rockies) (PAID)

13) Matt Perry (Red Sox) (PAID)

14) cynicalbuddha (Brewers) (PAID)

15) cardanathema (Cubs) (PAID)