2012 Topps Allen & Ginter Want List Updated

I've been doing a lot of "catch up" work lately and this includes finally getting some older A&G and GQ sets in pages/binders. While working on this I realized that my 2012 A&G Want List, while featured all the inserts and minis I was looking, the base cards I had never listed.

I grabbed a few things from Check Out My Cards this evening, but my base set is still lacking several cards. I'm hoping some of you guys still have some base cards lying around and don't mind trading for them. I updated my Trade List today after making a few trades and listing some new 2015 Topps inserts and parallels. I've got lots of A&G and GQ minis that I'm hoping someone will take off my hands too.

If you're interested please drop me a line.

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Packs 21-24

I'm down to my last 4 packs and there should be another hit roaming inside.  Will I hit the 200 mark?


Pack 21:
#188 Tom Milone
#048 Jordan Walden
#186 Jemile Weeks
#260 Alex Liddi
#107 C.J. Wilson
Scrap of Paper - Murder in Willow Cove (+3)
#MM-3 Ludwig Van Beethoven - Musical Masters (+3)
#315 Dellin Betances - SP (+2) + (-1 Yankees) = (+1)

Pack total = 7

Running total = 157

Pack 22:
#088 Stan Musial
#139 Tim Hudson (+1 Favorite Team)
#130 Madison Bumgarner
#300 Roberto Clemente
#156 Trevor Cahill
#128 Andrew McCutchen
#055 Colin Montomerie - Mini
#WIN94 Reginald Martinez Jackson - What's in a Name (+2) + (-1 Yankee) = (+1)

I chose Hudson as my Favorite Player last year.  Only one two more packs to pull my FP this year (Kimbrel).

Pack total = 2

Running total = 159

Pack 23:
#261 Michael Taylor
#224 Adam Jones (+2 other FP)
#268 Angel Pagan
#210 Willie Mays
#AGA-JT Jose Tabata - Auto (+10)
#034 Alex Gordan - Mini A&G Back (+2)
#WIN43 Justin Verlander - What's in a Name (+2) + (+2 other FP) = (+4)

Man, I should've chosen Verlander as my Favorite Player!  Combined w/ the last hit that was an excellent pack.

Pack total = 18

Running total =  177

Pack 24:

#093 Jose Bautista (+2 other FP)
#283 Dale Webster (-1 surfer)
#035 David Ortiz
#044 Brandon League
#254 Rickey Henderson
#BH-22 Joe DiMaggio - Baseball Highlight Sketches (+3) + (-1 Yankees) = (+2)
#200 Matt Kemp - Black Bordered Mini (+3) + (+2 other FP) = (+5)
#343 Zack Greinke - SP (+2)

Pack total = 10

Final total = 187

OK.  OK.  187 total points.  Not bad.  I was hoping to at least get to 200, but I'll take it.  I think that's better than what I scored last year.  Now just gotta play the waiting game...

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Packs 17-20

Getting closer to the bottom of the box.  Let's see how many more points I can score w/ these 4 packs.


Pack 17:
#029 Hanley Ramirez
#037 James McDonald
#027 Ricky Nolasco
#114 Johan Santana
#187 John Axford
#BH-6 Frank Thomas - Baseball Highlight Sketches (+3)
#287 Hiroki Kuroda - A&G Mini (+2) + (-1 Yankees) = (+1)
#334 Adrian Beltre - SP (+2)

Pack total = 6

Running total = 135

Pack 18:
#162 Jeff Francoeur
#089 Edwin Jackson
#111 Wandy Rodriguez
#104 Ian Desmond
#051 Don Denkinger (+1)
#289 Brandon Phillips
#GH-5 The Pith Helmet - Guys in Hats (+4)
#WIN86 Daniel John Haren (+2)

Aren't these Guys in Hats minis roughly seeded one per case?  Only worth +4 points?  Guess I should've bribed the Commish...

Pack total = 7

Running total = 142

Pack 19:
#259 Wade Davis
#231 Todd Helton
#123 Adam Lind
#045 Ewa Mataya
#172 Chris Perez
#WTB8 40 Wall Street - World's Tallest Buildings (+3)
#209 Coco Crisp - Mini
#329 Billy Butler - SP (+2)

Pack total = 5

Running total = 147

Pack 20:
#090 Roy Halladay
#056 Jordan Pacheco
#215 Dan Haren
#279 Brett Gardner (-1)
#094 Geovany Soto
#BH-14 Mickey Mantle - Baseball Highlight Sketches (+3) + (-1 Yankee) = (+2)
#198 Phil Pfister - Mini
#349 Danny Espinosa - SP (+2)

Yankees killed me on this pack...

Pack total = 3

Running total = 150

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Packs 13-16

Shall we resume this contest now?  I saw a few scores already posted.  I've got my work cut out for me if I'm gonna win!

Pack 13:
#248 Jed Lowrie
#169 Mark Teixeira (-1)
#183 Darwin Barney
#064 Mat Latos
#032 Ben Zobrist
#053 Hisashi Iwakuma
#309 Bela Karolyi - Mini Black Border (+14)
#WIN100 Donald Zackary Greinke - What's in a Name (+2)

Ooh, a SP Black Border Mini!!

Pack total = 15

Running total = 116

Pack 14:
#102 Huston Street
#099 Sandy Koufax
#219 Ian Kennedy
#179 Cole Hamels
#039 Brad Peacock
#124 Jered Weaver
#291 Chase Utley - Mini
#WIN78 Jose Bernabe Reyes - What's in a Name (+2)

Well that was a dud of a pack...

Pack total = 2

Running total = 118

Pack 15:
#292 Greg Gumbel (-1)
#250 Brennan Boesch
#171 Stephen Strasburg
#198 Phil Pfister
#298 Dee Gordon
#HTP2 The Battle of Waterloo - Historical Turning Points (+3)
#262 Justin Verlander - Mini A&G Back (+2) + (+3) = (+5)
#308 Paul Konerko - SP (+2)

Thank you to whom ever chose Verlander as your Favorite Player!

Pack total = 9

Running total = 127

Pack 16:
#207 Cory Luebke
#273 Gaby Sanchez
#191 Jason Bay
#243 Aramis Ramirez
#175 Luke Hochevar
#062 Michael Cuddyer
#240 Steve Lombardozzi - Mini
#WIN23 Giancarlo Cruz-Michael Stanton (+2)

My lucky number 16 wasn't s lucky...only 2 points?!

Pack total = 2

Running total = 129

+28 points in 4 packs and none of those contained a "hit".  Still should be one left in my box.  Feeling a little bit better about my chances...but I ain't counting my chicks just yet.

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Packs 9-12

This has been pretty fun thus far.  It's so much fun I want to rip 4 more packs and see what kind of score I'll end up with!

Pack 9:
#009 Yonder Alonso
#222 Yovani Gallardo
#147 Tsuyoshi Nishioka
#121 David Wright (+2)
#255 Dayan Viciedo
Sheriff Dave Kring - Murder in Willow Cove (+3)
#182 Colby Rasmus - Mini A&G Back (+2)
#347 Matt Garza - SP (+2)

Pack total = 9

Running total =71

Pack 10:
#132 Daniel Hudson
#026 Hunter Pence
#192 Brett Pill
#127 Erick Aybar
#117 Nick Swisher (-1)
#WTB3 Petronas Towers - World's Tallest Buildings (+3)
#ML-11 Leonidas - World's Greatest Military Leaders (+3)
#337 Matt Holliday - SP (+2)

Pack total = 7

Running total = 78

Pack 11:
#213 Joe Nathan
#154 Bob Hurley Sr.
#074 Johnny Cueto
#049 Jeremy Hellickson
#079 Yoenis Cespedes
#200 Matt Kemp (+2)
#GD-15 Bryde's Whale - Giants of the Deep (+3)
#WIN56 Albertin Aroldis De La Cruz Chapman - What's in a Name (+2)

Pack total = 7

Running total = 85

Pack 12:
#227 Michael Young
#184 Ara Parseghian (-1)
#003 Miguel Cabrera
#214 Yunel Escobar
#AGR-MPR Martin Prado - Relic (+10) + (x1.2 FT) = (+12)
#PB-1 David - People of the Bible (+3)
#WIN60 Jay Allen Bruce - What's in a Name (+2)

 

Pack total = 16

Running total = 101

101 points in the first half of the box.  2 hits down and 1 more to go.  I'm not liking my odds at winning...

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Packs 5-8

Let's see what the next 4 packs will yield and how many points I can add to my GAC total...


Pack 5:
#206 Joey Votto
#005 David Price (+2)
#004 Yu Darvish
#082 Giancarlo Stanton
#266 Carlos Ruiz
#072 Joakim Soria
#246 Torii Hunter - Mini
#WIN42 Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. - What's In A Name (+2)

Pack total = 4

Running total = 38

Pack 6:
#278 James Shields
#252 Tsuyoshi Wada
#148 Carlos Gonzalez
#008 Mitch Moreland
#085 Curly Neal
Guttman's Gutters - Murder in Willow Cove (+3)
#330 Mike Napoli - Mini SP (+3)
#310 Russell Martin (-1)

Pack total = 5

Running total = 43

Pack 7:
#248 Torii Hunter
#209 Coco Crisp
#240 Steve Lombardozzi
#077 Chris Young
#AGR-FF Freddie Freeman - Relic (+10) + (x1.2 FT) = (+12)
#122 Brett Lawrie - Mini
#WIN67 Wilver Dornell Stargell - What's In A Name (+2)

Pack total = 14

Running total = 57

Now we're talking!  Screw the point value (although +12 is great when you're competing against others) I'm happy to pull a jersey relic of Freeman!

Pack 8:
#242 Alfonso Soriano
#263 Jason Motte
#137 George Brett
#014 Nick Markakis
#158 Melky Cabrera
#WTB2 Taipei 101 - World's Tallest Buildings (+3)
#009 Yonder Alonso - Mini Black parallel (+3)
#303 Ivan Nova (-1)

Pack total = 5

Running total = 62

Stupid Yankees cards.  Not only do I loathe the Yankees, but they are costing me points!!

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Packs 1-4

I've been delaying this long enough due to my busy schedule, but I might as well finish opening the packs in my box provided by Community Gum and see where my score will end up!

I chose Craig Kimbrel as my Favorite Player and the Atlanta Braves as my Favorite Team

Box Topper:

#N43-8 Joe Mauer - N43 Boxloader (+5) (+2)

Pack total =7
Running total = 7

Pack 1:
#120 Mariano Rivera (-1)
#295 Drew Pomeranz
#168 Jason Kipnis
#028 Dustin Ackley
#264 Brian McCann (+1)
#HTP12 The Renaissance - Historical Turning Points (+3)
#077 Chris Young - Mini
#350 Howie Kendrick - SP (+2)

Pack total = 5

Running total = 12

Pack 2:
#244 Brett Anderson
#146 Josh Beckett
#189 Lance Berkman
#118 Carl Yastzemski
#194 J.J. Hardy
#HTP19 Sputnik I - Historical Turning Points (+3)
#CC10 Muktuk - Culinary Curiousities (+3)
#326 Logan Morrison - SP (+2)

Pack total = 8

Running total = 20

Pack 3:
#152 Ryan Vogelsong
#031 Jackie Robinson
#116 Brandon Beachy (+1)
#281 Matt Cain
#060 Reggie Jackson (-1)
#140 Mike Trout
#081 Jerry Bailey - Mini A&G Back (+2) (+1)
#WIN81 Covelli Loyce Crisp - What's In A Name (+2)

Pack total = 5

Running total = 25

Pack 4:
#033 Chipper Jones (+1) (+2)
#047 Buster Posey
#247 Hank Aaron
#257 Dan Uggla (+1)
#284 Pedro Alvarez
#159 Devin Mesoraco
#348 Chase Headley - Mini SP (+3)
#WIN68 Prince Semien Fielder (+2)

Pack total = 9

Running total = 34

Is it just me or does it take more time this year to score your own cards?  I think I've scored this right thus far.  34 points doesn't seem like a lot to start off, but we'll see how the rest of the packs go.  No matter what happens I'm happy to pull a few Braves early on!

4 retail '12 A&G hits and counting!

wait for it...

wait...

How's that for 2 days worth of rack pack and loosey purchases?  Now I just gotta remember which box at the Target and Walmart stores I got these packs from so I choose future packs from the other box!

'12 A&G Culinary Curiosities - Haggis

I love these crazy mini cards from Topps' latest Allen & Ginter effort, however this card made me nearly toss my cookies.  Keep in mind that I just finished eating lunch before ripping a few packs.

Haggis.  Never heard of them.  Apparently it's a type of food popular in the United Kingdom.  Here's how the back of the card reads:

" A recipe of sheep heart, lungs and liver that is hashed with suet, oatmeal, onion, spices and a liquid stock results in a tasty (to some) limp called Haggis.  Variations of it have been around since the ninth century, but today it's most popular in Scotland. "

Now who wants one of these delicacies?

Despite my now queasy stomach I plan on building this set too as I'm very curious to see what else is in the set.

Best '12 A&G card thus far!

Who needs hobby packs when retail keeps yielding great results?!  Seeded at 1:296 packs I pulled this fantastic Baseball Bat Ad Back card earlier today.

#23/25

I'm still in awe that 1) I pulled the card and 2) it's of a player (Jeff Francoeur) that I collect.  I don't care what this card may sell for on eBay right this minute...this is a keeper!!

My first A&G retail hit

That didn't take long.  In my 3rd retail pack I came across my first black framed mini relic...

Surely some Angels can will be interested in swapping?  I gotta say these black frames are very sharp looking.  Can't wait to track down the various Braves in this set.

Hank and a lot of other cards are available in my Trade Bait photo album.  Let me know if you want to work out a trade.

Pack Break - 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter (retail)

Why do I feel like today is Christmas?  Oh yeah, this is why...

I document this landmark day in the life of this collector I've decided to share the contents of the first pack of many that I'll be ripping.  Drum roll please...

#287 Hiroki Kuroda

I hate the Yankees.  Why did my first 2012 A&G card have to be a Yankee?!  Next!

#061 Richard Petty

Hailing from NASCAR country (Charlotte, NC) I know a lot of people that would like this card.  Now I'm not a fan of NASCAR in general, but my father was so by default that makes this card GREAT!

#142 Jose Reyes

Former Met, now a fish.

Murder in Willow Cove Price Laughton

I didn't scan the back since I think that is part of the Ginter Code this year.  Feels like this card came right out of a box of the board game CLUE.  May chase this set...still undecided.

#148 Carlos Gonzalez - A&G Mini

Minis are cool.  Period.  I like these A&G backs better than last year.

#WIN56 Aroldis Chapman

Great idea for a set.  Even though it's a big set it should be somewhat easy to collect.

One loosey down, two more to go... plus a blaster and 3 rack packs!

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter Retail Excitement

I made two quick pit stops on the way to work this morning - Walmart and Target.  Both stores had already put out their assortment of '12 A&G and I went a little crazy.  Between my two stops I picked up one blaster, 3 rack packs and 3 looseys.  Contents coming soon!