Blog Bat Around - My Turn

This year's Blog Bat Around is hosted by This Card is Cool - My Life in Baseball Cards.  The topic:

The 2011 baseball card collecting season is finally over - other than Bowman Sterling (coming out December 21st). What set or release stands out as your favorite from the year? What set or release brings your lunch back up to your throat?

I was really looking forward to the 2011 line up of baseball cards.  It would mark my 2nd year of collecting cards again and the release calendar was full of great product.  Trying to name one set as my favorite of the year is card so I'll go with my top three.

1) 2011 Topps.  Since I decided to go back to 2008 and start building the flagship base set of Topps I've enjoyed what each set has brought to the table.  I loved the early pictures I saw of the 2011 design and knew this would be a fun set to build.  The one thing about the base set each year is the focus on the cards and inserts (to some degree) and you don't have to worry about the hits.  While Topps has gotten better in my opinion with their autos and relics in the base set most collectors would agree that is not the reason you buy the base set.   

 

At least by the time the Update set rolled around at least there was something outside of manufactured patches of a Braves player I wanted to chase (see above).  I now have a new view of collecting parallels going forward, but the 2011 set was not short on offering up many different types of parallels.  My favorite (as a Braves collector) are the red boarded factory set exclusives.  On the insert side I was immediately sucked into the small Kimball Champions.  I guess blame my love of A&G on that.

      

2) 2011 Topps Finest.  I've never been able to afford the mid-level stuff outside of a few base cards I've been able to pick up here.  When the chance to jump in a group break of Finest was presented I didn't want to hesitate.  Thanks to the guys over at Community Gum and their purchase of a case from Turner Field (not really) I was able to land several fantastic Braves cards.  The base design was great looking for starters and the insert/auto/relic checklist was loaded with Braves talent.

  

     

It helped that the Braves had a lot of great rookies on the roster during the 2011 season and Topps did a great job at including most of these great young players into the Finest set.  If it hadn't been for the group break opportunity I probably would've missed out on this great set.

 

3) 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen.  I can't put my finger on it, but there was a lot of buzz in the hobby over the new GQ set and I was eagerly awaiting my chance to bust open a few packs.  Being on a tight budget and not having a very good card shop locally I have to rely on retail to get my pack fix.  I bought several rack packs and blasters early on and continued to one not only be impressed with the card set itself but two with the number of relics and autos I pulled.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the GQ set the first to utilize on card autos in 2011?  With the set coming out earlier in the season I was excited about getting some of my first Dan Uggla cards as a Brave and I was fortunate enough to land this mini bat relic of his right out of the gate.  I'm still working on finishing the set, but I was thrilled to hear that it's coming back for it's sophomore season in 2012.

Honorable Mention:

2011 Topps Marquee and 2011 Topps Lineage.

  

Marquee was my first ever high end product that I got to open myself.  Granted it was part of a group break I hosted earlier this year, but the level of anticipation and excitement I had around the release of this product was so high.  While the set was the home run I think a lot of collectors were hoping that it would be I was happy with many of the cards I ended up with.

The one thing about Marquee that intrigued me the most was the Museum Collection auto cards.  The cards are printed on metal with shiny gold trim.  The front of the card is a refractor like sheen with the on card auto being done in silver ink.  The cards are heavy and super super nice.  I count this Tim Hudson card #04/10 as being the single best card acquisition of 2011 if not of all time for me.

  

Another set that had some people licking their chops was 2011 Topps Lineage.  I know a lot of collectors were thrilled to see the inclusion of the 1975 minis.  I wasn't alive in 1975 so I can't say that I was all that impressed with the early images, but after buying a blaster with a guaranteed relic I immediately saw the appeal.  The guys at Community Gum hosted a case break of Lineage several months ago and I too was fortunate enough to beat out my fellow Braves bloggers and claim the team.  They didn't disappoint me either as they pulled not only one but two great on card autos.

  

I'm still trying to figure out the overall purpose of the Lineage set. If you know what it is please share with me!  While the base card design was lacking (don't get me started about the horrible card backs) I was more than pleased with the parallels, on card autos and the 1975 minis.

The topic also asked about our least favorite set of the year.  For me that would be 2011 Bowman Platinum.  While the 2011 effort was far better than 2010's I just didn't feel the need for this set.  I bought exactly one pack - a rack pack at that.  One may have though that with Freddie Freeman being on the pack I would've bought more - nope.  One pack was enough - although I wouldn't mind having a empty blaster to cut up.

I guess my love for all things Bowman has continued to wane as this set didn't do anything for me.  When it was first released I made some effort to obtain a few of the red parallels of Braves players, but that effort quickly evaporated.

So there you have it.  My take of Blog Bat Around.  Thanks for reading.

I hit the jackpot and I didn't even go to Vegas...thanks to Community Gum!

I've gotten some pretty nice cards of my Atlanta Braves in the group breaks I host here on a regular basis, but rarely do I get anything good if I'm lucky enough to snag the Braves in someone else's group break.  That changed however when I signed up for the bravos in Community Gum's most recent case break of 2011 Topps Lineage.

I've read a lot of negative things about Lineage and granted it may not be the best set Topps puts out this year there are some redeeming qualities.  While the base design is just OK, I liked the checklist and inserts enough to give it a try.  Let me just say really quick I'm oh so happy I did.  Community Gum's case I believe was sent direct from Turner Field.  Don't believe me?  Then just scroll down!

These oversized Jason Heyward card comes one per box.  It's a little wider than your traditional card so I'm not sure how to display it.  I'll have to see if my LCS has some sort of page to accommodate it.

I wasn't surprised that I got all 10 Braves from the base set and I was happy to get several of the Diamond Anniversary parallels.  Surprised though that Freeman was the only Platinum Diamond Brave in the case.  Or did I just get those two parallel sets backwards?

I love the cloth stickers.  My first exposure to something like this was the mini team logo cloth stickers from Panini's NBA sticker collection.  I don't really care for the Venezuelan parallels.  The Stand-Ups are pretty cool...though I think I'll keep mine flat.

First starting collecting in 1990 I acquired a lot of these late 80's Commemorative Set style cards.  I was just thrilled Topps included Craig Kimbrel in the set!  If any other Braves fans need any of these doubles let me know.

I wasn't even born in 1975 (I came 3 years later) so I wasn't around to enjoy this funkadelic awesome design.  I'm really digging in these minis.  So much that I might take a stab at building the set.  Not sure yet.  I am happy that the case yielded these 3 Braves.

Before I realized these 1975 mini relics were so "common place" I was super excited to get this Jason Heyward relic.  Shoot, who am I kidding?  I'm still super excited!  I wish it was a Sunday red jersey swatch though.

Even if I stopped here I would be happy w/ my winnings of sort...but I'm not done yet!

On card auto of John Antonelli.  I can honestly say that I didn't know who that was so I had to refer to Google for some more info.  Thanks to Wikipedia I found out some really cool stuff about John.  I've trimmed my Braves collection to players I watch/watched so I'm on the fence what to do w/ this card at the moment.

One more card to share in my awesome Topps Lineage haul...and I save the best for last.

Your NL Rookie of the Year - Freddie Freeman!  Sure it's a sticker auto, but that doesn't bother me the least bit.  I'm just thrilled to add this awesome card to my Braves collection.  I only wish I had been able to see the card pulled from the pack.  The guys from Community Gum did the break live, but my daddy duties called and I was upstairs reading my little girl a bedtime story and tucking her in for the night.

Well that's it.  Now can you see why I was so happy that I signed up for the case break?  It'll probably be awhile before I have this sort of luck again so I'm going to soak this one up a bit longer.  Thanks to Jon and Andy @ Community Gum for hosting yet another great group break!

In the Mail 10/9/10

I've gotten way too used to dropping in on eBay to "take a peek" at what Braves deals I can find that I need to stop...because every time I look I find something that I place a bid on.  Here lately I'm winning most of these auctions too.  Yes, I have gotten some very nice cards and reasonable prices (or downright steals), but the amount I've paid in shipping when I spread out my purchases could make a grown man cry.  I know because I've cried a little!  Seriously though I got some nice swag in the mail the last 2 days so let's take a quick look.

2005 Topps Cracker Jack #TO-BC

This is easily my favorite card of the bunch.  The timing of my running across this card is also excellent what with this being Cox's final season managing the Braves.  I never bought much of the Topps Cracker Jack product, but what I do have is all very nice.  This not quite regular size card features authentic game-worn uniform.  I wonder if Bobby was ejected from a game in this uniform?!

2002 Topps #HRR-RF

I always enjoyed watching Rafael Furcal play the field when he was a Brave.  I have to admit though the black composition notebook look doesn't make out for a very appealing ball card though, jersey piece or not.

2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces #SG-KJ

Ever since I saw the discounted blaster boxes of Masterpieces @ Walmart I've been tempted at buying a few since I seem to marvel at the few individual cards I currently own.  I have resisted thus far from buying much of this product, but how could I pass up placing a last minute bid of $.50 for this card?!  Sure, Kelly isn't a Brave anymore, but that doesn't take anything away from this being a beautiful card.

2005 Topps Blue #65 (13/50)

Let's see - what was I doing in 2005 when this set came out?  That's right - graduating from college.  That's way I never saw or bought any of this...I was busy & broke!  I ended up buying a mess of these cards of different Braves players in a variety of colors for cheap.  I'm still trying to find out how many dang color variations there are, but this Gant card is the lowest serially numbered.  The others I bought include David Justice, Javy Lopez, Jermaine Dye and non Braves player Tim Salmon.

2010 Topps Pro Debut #243 Blue (040/369)

Starting first baseman for the Braves in 2011...or at least that is what a lot of people are saying at this point.  I wasn't surprised to see that Freedie wasn't included on this year's post season roster, but it's OK as I see a bright future ahead of him with the Braves organization.

2010 Topps Pro Debut #TT17

The same seller that had the blue parallel also had this card in the same lot.  I probably wouldn't have bothered with this card if it was sold on it's own as I don't like the fact the same image was used as was used on the base card.  However the back of the card has a interesting quote from Baseball America stating "because of his defense, comparisons of Freeman to Keith Hernandez and Mark Grace (w/ more power) have become commonplace."