2013 Panini NFL Sticker Collection Album Preview

Thank goodness the 2013 NFL season is almost here, because for the first time in a few years I'm a little burnt out on baseball cards.  While I don't plan on buying up lots of football cards this season, I am happy for a little diversion - that being Panini's latest NFL sticker album.

I dropped into Target a few days ago to check on something and I decided to check over at the trading card section for the first time in a month or so.  I saw the prominently displayed new gravity feeder w/ the sticker album and packets and proceeded to flip though the album.  The first thing I noticed was one of the included stickers was missing from the wax paper insert.  I thought that was dumb that someone would steal one sticker.  I grabbed another album and flipped through to find the same thing - another sticker missing - the same one actually.  Then I turned the sheet over to see what number it was to figure out the player.  Wouldn't you know, it's none other than the Patriot's Aaron Hernandez!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Panini has thus removed Hernandez from all future products.  Wonder if they'll reprint these sticker albums or issue a sticker to cover up his name/spot?

I really like this year's layout for each team much better than in past years.  Most teams have their QB featured with the team's leaders printed on foil stickers.  9 additional players get regular stickers w/ last year's stats listed underneath.

Did you think I wouldn't share my team's page?

The regular stickers have a nice, clean design.  The team logo stickers feature the prismatic foil while the rookies use the same 2013 Score design.  Team leaders again feature a different design and are printed on silver foil.  New this year are NFL Rush Zone mascot stickers.  There is also two Rush Zone themed pages in the back of the album, one for players and one for characters from the related cartoon.  Also new this year in each pack is a redemption sticker so you can also start a digital sticker collection.  Unfortunately this feature doesn't go live until sometime in September.

The first of the special pages you'll find after the teams is a two parter.  The left highlights the Class of 2013 inducted into Canton, Ohio while the right page gives tribute to Super Bowl XLVII.

Panini has again teamed up w/ Pop Warner and features some exclusive stickers along w/ some concussion health tips.

Since I have two daughters in the house the only cartoons I see on TV regularly are along the likes of Dora the Explorer, Max & Ruby and Mickey Mouse Playhouse.  That said I'm not familiar with this new NFL Rush Zone cartoon that will be appearing on Nick Toons.

All in all this looks to be a fun album this year and with 488 stickers I'm sure I'll be working on filling this up for awhile.  I will probably end up w/ duplicates at some point so if you want to trade just let me know!

Sunday Verse

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So another week is in the books and we're facing a new week.  As soon as things die down a bit for me I promise to get back to more "meaty" blog posts.  I'm also going to try and sneak in a few trade posts as I've been contacted about making a few trades lately and I've picked up some very nice things.  Some of the cards were just surprise packages in the mail so I want to make sure to give those bloggers their proper credit as well.  Until then have a great Sunday everyone.

Video Pack Break - 2013 Topps Series 2 Jumbo

Been really busy lately with some extra responsibility put on me at work + working on my assignments for next month's local Transformers convention, Charticon, that a group of guys and myself are hosting.  That said I've got some great trades to show off when I find the time.  While we wait here is a quick pack rip video...

Sunday Verse

Matthew 16:25

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

I know these words may not make sense for everyone, but it speaks volumes to me.  What Jesus meant was that to have everlasting life you must give up your own life and follow Him.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Box Break (Birthday Edition) - 2013 Topps Series 2 Hanger Box

Last week I turned 36.  Gettin' old am I.  I got the usual gifts from my family (gift cards), but my aunt of all people went the extra mile and searched out something else.  I recently scrapped and started a new Facebook page for the blog and while setting it up I like the "Like" button a few times.  One of those was for Topps.  So as a late gift I received a two 2013 Topps Hanger Boxes as a gift.  One for Series 1 and one for Series 2.  While my grandmother just rolled her eyes, I made sure to give my aunt a big thank you.

The timing of this gift was uncanny as I had bought myself a hanger box just the day before.  I was hoping to find some on my trip to Turner Field recently, but the one Target we hit while in Atlanta was fairly barren.

To sum it up the box was pretty good for this Braves fan.  The Beachy and Smoltz in particular were nice finds since I collect these guys regarding the team that they play for.

I knew my aunt picked up this box at Walmart since it included 5 exclusive blue bordered parallels.

So there are 3 different versions of these Chasing History cards, am I right?  I think the gold holographic foil come in the hanger boxes, while the silver holographic foil are found in the rack packs and the regular versions in single retail packs.  

Glad to see the Cut to the Chase inserts were carried over to Series 2.  Making Their Mark is new to Series 2 and showcases a particular accomplishment for that player.  I need to see more of these before I decide if they go on the Trade List or the Want List.  Chase It Down features some great action photography and a design I'd expect to see on a Stadium Club card.  Like.

I was fortunate enough to get a Desert Camo parallel #d to 99.  At least it's a Yankee which means it should be easy to flip or trade.  The 1972 Minis are also a carry over from Series 1 and while cool, I'm not chasing these.  Oh yeah, almost forgot about this year's Million Dollar Chase contest...

I'll be working to put together both my Trade List of doubles and unwanted inserts as well as a new Series 2 Want List.  Those links can be found in the upper left corner of the blog.

** UPDATE **

As I was collating the cards I ran across #228 Adrian Gonzalez.  Sure enough, this is one of those photo variations.  Now, is there a Dodgers fan out there that wants this?

Sunday Verse

Isaiah 40: 6-8

“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”

Have a great day everyone!

Taking in Turner Field (Braves vs. Giants)

Last weekend my wife took me to Atlanta to catch a Braves game as a combination Father's Day / Birthday gift...and what a great time it was.  We headed out from the upstate of South Carolina Saturday morning and drove down to the Doraville area just outside the city limits.  Now that I've been down there several times I'm starting to figure out the MARTA system and such.  We arrived with nearly 3 hours before the 4:05 pm first pitch, so we took our time getting to the stadium.  We passed through Underground Atlanta, but you know that place just doesn't do anything for me.  So we hopped on the bus bound for Turner Field.

Living in a NFL and NBA city, it felt really nice standing outside a baseball stadium and just taking in the sight.  I wouldn't want to live in Atlanta, but I sure do love going there from time to time.

In years past I've always been in a hurry to find my seat so I haven't had the chance to walk around the stadium like I would like to.  This time we got there with enough time to walk around, but I left the camera in the car back at the MARTA station and my cell phone's battery was on it's last leg!  So unfortunately I didn't get to take near as many pictures as I would have wanted.

Outside the stadium there are several great photo opportunities, but with the crowds the Braves draw it can be difficult snapping a pic without a ton of strangers in the frame.  Scattered out in front were little number monuments and plaques of great Braves players.

Greg Maddux

Tom Glavine

Bobby Cox

John Smoltz's number was out there, but I couldn't get a pic with all the people hanging all over his number.  I'm sure Chipper Jones will have his number out there very soon.

What stadium is complete without bronze statues out front?  Warren Spahn's statue was busy with out picture takers, so I asked Hank if he'd mind posing for a picture.  That fat guy in the orange Charlotte O's t-shirt is the same fat guy sitting here at the keyboard.  The Braves were playing the defending World Series Champion San Francisco Giants.  Wrong color t-shirt to wear that day!  I would've worn my Braves shirt, but the print on the back of the shirt is heavy and with an afternoon game in the middle of June in Atlanta I thought it may be a wee hot.

We had great seats in the outfield.  First row actually.  It's been a very long time since I've sat in the outfield. A first for me actually at Turner Field.  Last time I sat in seats similar to these, it was at the old Fulton County Stadium with my late dad and grandfather.  I couldn't have been more than 13 or 14 years old.  The seats my wife bought included access to the 755 Club upstairs.  That's the snazzy part of the park where you can walk around in the air condition and eat non-traditional ballpark food like fajitas, pasta and sushi.  There were lots of things I wanted to take pictures of, but again my phone was nearly dead by this point.

This was part of a larger two part image on the concourse wall upstairs commemorating the 1995 World Series Braves.  Love that photo of the players celebrating in a large pile!

When we walked out from the air conditioned concourse we were back around to the outfield.  I looked down over the railing and there was the Braves bullpen.  Our seats were actually one section to the right of the bullpen.

If you look down on the warning track you can see all the fathers and their kids walking around the field.  Cool Father's Day nod by the Braves.

View point from our seats.  That's B.J. Upton there in center field.  And no I didn't shave...it was the weekend.

Jason Heyward was right there in front of us.  He could hear the fans' cheers and he would turn around and acknowledge them from time to time.  When the Giants took the field Hunter Pence was in right field.  He too could hear the fan's cheers heckles, especially this guy behind us that hated Pence from his days with the Phillies.

B.J. Upton hit two home runs during the game, one of which was just a few sections over to our right.  The ball actually just cleared the top of the wall and landed in the area behind the wall and seats.  We saw the security guy go pick up the ball, but he wouldn't toss it to any of the fans.  Bummer.

Just above our section was the FOX Sports post game booth.  As we were leaving hosts Jerome Jurenovich and former Braves player, Brian Jordan were getting ready for their show.

I gotta hand it to my wife, she hit a home run with this gift (pun intended).  I missed not taking my daughters with us, but it was a blast and I'm already counting the days until I get to attend my next game.  Perhaps one day I'll get to visit another MLB ballpark.