2008 Sweet Spot blaster break

This blaster box was VERY disappointing...

2008 Topps Series 1

Just busted 2 boxes of 2008 Topps Series 1 hobby boxes. Since I'm still new and getting back into the game, I've not yet opened any Topps Series 1 from 2008, so this was fun, and I was suprised by the reasonably good pulls I received. Let's get to the results:

Box 1:
Really like finding the Campaign 08 Barack Obama and Mike Fontenot Black 5/57

Other good pulls:
Gold parallels: Bud Black, Victor Martinez, Jacque Jones, AL Leaders Saves (Borowski, Jenks, Putz)
Campaign 08: Kucinich, McCain, Paul
Gold Foil parallels: 167, 289, 185, 302, 88, 129, 6, 134, 321, 260, 105, 223, 217, 145, 65, 254, 17, 207
Notable Commons: Mickey Mantle #7, Future Stars FS1 Kazuo Uzuki
Also got 6 year in review cards, 7 50th Anniversary All Star cards, 6 own the game cards, 6 Mickey Mantle cards, 6 Trading Card History cards, as well as commons of ARod, Ichiro, and DiceK.




Box 2:
Couple nice cards in a Tom Gorzelanny highlights auto, and Curt Schilling world series patch relic card 359/499.

Other good pulls:
Gold parallels: David Murphy, Robinson Tejeda, Willie Harris, and Dustin McGowan
Campaign 08: Romney, Biden, Thompson, and Clinton
Gold Foil parallels: 83, 292, 240, 75, 21, 236, 46, 118, 52, 122, 31, 43, 66, 170, 114, 239, 280, 270
Notable Commons: Mickey Mantle #7, Future Stars FS1 Kazuo Uzuki
Also got 6 year in review cards, 7 50th Anniversary All Star cards, 6 own the game cards, 6 Mickey Mantle cards, 6 Trading Card History cards, as well as commons of ARod, Ichiro, and DiceK.

2008 Tristar Projections High Numbers

So the mayhem continues, the 2008 Tristar Projections High Numbers are about as impressive as the previous two packs. Nobody I know, well maybe I've heard of Sean Rodriquez, but for only 5 cards in a pack, that's still pretty lame...

2008 Tristar Projections

Got another pack of 2008 Tristar Projections... Again, who are these kids?!

2008 Tristar Projections

Got a pack of 2008 Tristar Projections... I must say this is the damn-dest bunch of no-names I've ever witnessed. Seriously, you could introduce me to them in person and I still wouldn't believe these are baseball players. Who are these people?!

1990 Upper Deck Wax Pack

Got a pack of 1990 Upper Deck... Probably only decent card I'd be interested in from this pack would be a Sammy Sosa rookie card. I opened the pack, and actually got a pretty good pair in a Steve Avery rookie and Kevin Mass rookie. Back in the day this would have been pretty good. Nowadays, I can use them as kindling for a fire. Also notable is the Stan Javier uni-brow, and his matching uni-stache.

1988 Fleer Wax Pack

Got a pack of 1988 Fleer... In general, there are some reasonably decent cards that could be had from this set, such as the Edgar Martinez, Ken Caminiti, Tom Glavine, or Mark Grace rookies... I got absolutely no good cards from the pack, but would like to say that I think Atlee Hammaker is probably the most over produced guy on a baseball card during the late 80's! Seems like he's in every pack...

So I bought one of those boxes of cards that contain a bunch of random packs from different years, you know, just to see what I get. The first pack is a 1992 Stadium Club. Not much to look for here, as the best card you can possibly pull would be a Nolan Ryan. Unfortunately, the best (and only decent) card in the pack is a Roger Clemens...

Mail Day

Got mail today, 2008 Topps Heritage #650 Evan Longoria. Why is it so hard for Topps/Bowman to create a well centered card? I mean, I just bought a blaster of Upper Deck Masterpieces, and I was struck by how perfectly centered they were, I was impressed by this, and it shouldn't be impressive for a card to be centered, that should just be a given...

Player Want List

1941-99 Street and Smith Baseball Yearbook #2005 Casey Blake
1997 Dunedin Blue Jays Team Issue #3 Casey Blake
1998 Dunedin Blue Jays Team Issue #5 Casey Blake
1998 Dunedin Blue Jays Stickers Team Issue #6 Casey Blake
1999 Just Autographs #19 Casey Blake ST

1999 Syracuse Skychiefs Blueline #16 Casey Blake
1999 Just Autographs Die Cuts #13 Casey Blake ST Print Run 200
2000 Pacific Gold #436 Casey Blake Print Run 199
2000 Metal #211 Casey Blake PROS
2000 Salt Lake Buzz Multi-Ad #3 Casey Blake
2000 Just Autographs #BA35 Casey Blake
2000 Pacific #436 Casey Blake
2000 Syracuse Skychiefs Grandstand #6 Casey Blake
2000 Just Gold #111 Casey Blake
2000 Just #111 Casey Blake
2000 Pacific Platinum Blue #436 Casey Blake Print Run 75
2000 SkyBox Dominion #284 P.Munro/ C.Blake
2000 Pacific Premiere Date #436 Casey Blake Print Run 37
2000 Just Autographs Gold #BA35 Casey Blake JG Print Run 1
2000 Pacific Copper #436 Casey Blake Print Run 99
2000 Metal Emerald #211 Casey Blake PROS
2000 Just Autographs Black #BA35 Casey Blake JG Print Run 50
2000 Pacific Emerald Green #436 Casey Blake Print Run 99
2000 Fleer Tradition #403 C.Blake/ V.Wells
2000 Pacific Ruby #436 Casey Blake
2000 Fleer Tradition Glossy Hawaii #403 C.Blake/ V.Wells Print Run 1
2000 Fleer Tradition Glossy #403 C.Blake/ V.Wells Print Run 10000
2000 Just Black #111 Casey Blake
2001 Edmonton Trappers Team Issue #4 Casey Blake
2002 Edmonton Trappers Multi-Ad #2 Casey Blake
2003 Fleer Tradition Update Glossy #37 Casey Blake Print Run 100
2003 Indians Postcards #47 Casey Blake
2003 Upper Deck 40-Man Rainbow #118 Casey Blake Print Run 40
2003 MLB Showdown Pennant Run #37 Casey Blake
2003 Fleer Tradition Update #37 Casey Blake
2003 Upper Deck 40-Man #118 Casey Blake
2004 Bowman Chrome X-Fractors #51 Casey Blake Print Run 172
2004 Donruss Team Heroes Showdown Bronze #128 Casey Blake Print Run 150
2004 Playoff Prestige Xtra Bases Green #59 Casey Blake Print Run 150
2004 Topps Total Press Plates Yellow #21 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2004 Bowman Chrome #51 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Cracker Jack Mini Stickers #170 Casey Blake
2004 Fleer Tradition #110 Casey Blake
2004 Playoff Prestige Xtra Bases Red #59 Casey Blake Print Run 25
2004 Bazooka #169 Casey Blake
2004 MLB Sportsclix Extra Bases #20 Casey Blake U
2004 Topps Total Press Plates Black #21 Casey Blake Print Run 1

2004 Topps Total Press Plates Cyan #21 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2004 Topps Gold #577 Casey Blake Print Run 2004
2004 Topps 1st Edition #577 Casey Blake
2004 MLB Showdown #99 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Cracker Jack Mini #170 Casey Blake
2004 Bowman Uncirculated Silver #51 Casey Blake Print Run 245
2004 eTopps #4 Casey Blake/ 1420 Print Run 1420
2004 Fleer Patchworks Star Ruby #32 Casey Blake Print Run 50
2004 Ultra Platinum Medallion #60 Casey Blake Print Run 66
2004 Indians Gravity Games Upper Deck #3 Casey Blake
2004 USA Baseball 25th Anniversary Signatures Blue Ink #BLA Casey Blake/ 60 Print Run 60
2004 Topps Cracker Jack Mini Blue #170 Casey Blake
2004 USA Baseball 25th Anniversary Signatures Black Ink #BLA Casey Blake/ 180 Print Run 180
2004 Indians Team Issue #4 Casey Blake
2004 Playoff Prestige #59 Casey Blake
2004 Playoff Prestige Xtra Bases Black #59 Casey Blake Print Run 75
2004 Topps Cracker Jack #170 Casey Blake
2004 USA Baseball 25th Anniversary #17 Casey Blake
2004 USA Baseball 25th Anniversary Signatures Red Ink #BLA Casey Blake/ 10 Print Run 10


2004 Playoff Prestige Xtra Bases Purple #59 Casey Blake Print Run 150
2004 Ultra Gold Medallion #60 Casey Blake
2004 Donruss Team Heroes Showdown Gold #128 Casey Blake Print Run 10

2004 Topps Cracker Jack Mini White #170 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2004 Ultra #60 Casey Blake
2004 Bazooka Minis #169 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Total Press Plates Magenta #21 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2004 Donruss Team Heroes #128 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Chrome Gold Refractors #320 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Chrome #320 Casey Blake
2004 Bazooka Red Chunks #169 Casey Blake
2004 Fleer Patchworks #32 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Chrome Refractors #320 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Chrome Red X-Fractors #320 Casey Blake Print Run 61

2004 Bowman 1st Edition #51 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Total Silver #21 Casey Blake
2004 Topps Black #577 Casey Blake Print Run 53
2004 Topps Chrome Black Refractors #320 Casey Blake
2004 Donruss Team Heroes Showdown Silver #128 Casey Blake Print Run 50

2004 Bowman Gold #51 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Total Press Plates Cyan Back #128 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Total Press Plates Cyan Front #128 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Printing Plates Black #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Upper Deck American Flag Lasting Impressions Plates Black #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Upper Deck Lasting Impressions Plates Cyan #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1

2005 Bazooka 4 on 1 Stickers #22 Blake/ Freel/ Boone/ Javy
2005 Donruss Team Heroes #95 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Chrome Refractors #135 Casey Blake
2005 Donruss Team Heroes Showdown Blue #95 Casey Blake
2005 Upper Deck Retro #59 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Turkey Red Gold #171 Casey Blake Print Run 50
2005 Topps Total Press Plates Magenta Front #128 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Chrome Gold Super-Fractors #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Total Press Plates Yellow Front #128 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Total Press Plates Black Front #128 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Upper Deck American Flag #59 Casey Blake Print Run 15
2005 Upper Deck American Flag Lasting Impressions Plates Magenta #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Total Press Plates Black Back #128 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Chrome Black Refractors #135 Casey Blake Print Run 225
2005 Bazooka #130 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Black #135 Casey Blake Print Run 54
2005 Donruss Team Heroes Showdown Red #95 Casey Blake
2005 Upper Deck Retro Lasting Impressions Plates Cyan #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Magenta #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Turkey Red Red #171 Casey Blake
2005 Fleer Authentix #29 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Heritage White Backs #152 Casey Blake
2005 Upper Deck Retro Lasting Impressions Plates Black #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Total Press Plates Yellow Back #128 Casey Blake Print Run 1

2005 Bazooka Gold Chunks #130 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Pack Wars Foil #62 Casey Blake Print Run 56

2005 Donruss Team Heroes Showdown Silver #95 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Printing Plates Magenta #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Printing Plates Yellow #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Upper Deck Retro Lasting Impressions Plates Magenta #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Fleer Authentix Standing Room Only #29 Casey Blake Print Run 10
2005 Upper Deck Lasting Impressions Plates Black #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Upper Deck Retro Lasting Impressions Plates Yellow #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Fleer Authentix Club Box #29 Casey Blake Print Run 50

2005 Indians Team Issue #21 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Turkey Red Black #171 Casey Blake Print Run 142
2005 Upper Deck First Pitch #59 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Yellow #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Total Press Plates Magenta Back #128 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Turkey Red #171 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Printing Plates Cyan #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Bazooka Minis #130 Casey Blake
2005 Upper Deck #59 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Turkey Red White #171 Casey Blake
2005 Donruss Team Heroes Showdown Bronze #95 Casey Blake Print Run 100
2005 Upper Deck American Flag Lasting Impressions Plates Yellow #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Upper Deck Lasting Impressions Plates Magenta #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Black #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Upper Deck American Flag Lasting Impressions Plates Cyan #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Cyan #135 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Topps Chrome #135 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Chrome Red X-Fractors #135 Casey Blake Print Run 25
2005 Topps Pack Wars #62 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Gold #135 Casey Blake Print Run 2005
2005 Fleer Authentix General Admission #29 Casey Blake Print Run 100
2005 MLB Showdown #93 Casey Blake
2005 Topps Turkey Red Suede #171 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2005 Donruss Team Heroes Showdown Gold #95 Casey Blake Print Run 10
2005 Fleer Authentix Mezzanine #29 Casey Blake Print Run 75
2005 Topps 1st Edition #135 Casey Blake
2005 Upper Deck Lasting Impressions Plates Yellow #59 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Epic Printing Plates Cyan #74 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Epic Printing Plates Black #74 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Special F/ X Red #141 Casey Blake Print Run 50
2006 Upper Deck Epic Printing Plates Yellow #74 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Turkey Red Framed Printing Plates Black #484 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Turkey Red Black #484 Casey Blake
2006 Topps Turkey Red Framed Printing Plates Yellow #484 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Special F/ X #141 Casey Blake
2006 Topps Chrome X-Fractors #197 Casey Blake
2006 Bowman Heritage Printing Plates Magenta #54 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Special F/ X Purple #141 Casey Blake Print Run 150
2006 Bowman Heritage Black #54 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Turkey Red Gold #484 Casey Blake
2006 Topps Printing Plates Cyan #391 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Chrome Blue Refractors #197 Casey Blake
2006 Bowman Heritage #54 Casey Blake
2006 Fleer Glossy Gold #167 Casey Blake
2006 Topps Heritage #442 Casey Blake
2006 Topps #391 Casey Blake
2006 Bowman Heritage Chrome #54 Casey Blake
2006 Bowman Heritage Printing Plates Black #54 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Epic #74 Casey Blake Print Run 450
2006 Topps Platinum #391 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Turkey Red Suede #484 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Gold #141 Casey Blake Print Run 299
2006 Topps Printing Plates Magenta #391 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Black #391 Casey Blake Print Run 55
2006 Topps Turkey Red #484 Casey Blake
2006 Upper Deck Special F/ X Blue #141 Casey Blake
2006 Fleer Glossy Silver #167 Casey Blake
2006 Upper Deck Epic Printing Plates Magenta #74 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Magenta #197 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Cyan #197 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Chrome Refractors #197 Casey Blake
2006 Topps Chrome Gold Super-Fractors #197 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Turkey Red Red #484 Casey Blake
2006 Topps Chrome #197 Casey Blake
2006 Bowman Heritage Printing Plates Cyan #54 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Special F/ X Green #141 Casey Blake Print Run 99
2006 Topps Chrome Black Refractors #197 Casey Blake Print Run 549

2006 Upper Deck #141 Casey Blake
2006 Bowman Heritage Printing Plates Yellow #54 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Printing Plates Black #391 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Bowman Heritage White #54 Casey Blake
2006 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Yellow #197 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Turkey Red Framed Printing Plates Cyan #484 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Black #197 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Upper Deck Silver Spectrum #141 Casey Blake Print Run 25
2006 Topps Gold #391 Casey Blake Print Run 2006
2006 Topps Turkey Red Framed Printing Plates Magenta #484 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Topps Chrome Red Refractors #197 Casey Blake Print Run 90
2006 Topps Printing Plates Yellow #391 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2006 Indians Topps #CLE5 Casey Blake
2006 Bowman Heritage Mini #54 Casey Blake
2006 Topps Turkey Red White #484 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Printing Plates Cyan #84 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Cyan #161 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini #84 Casey Blake
2007 Upper Deck Predictor Blue #98 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Chrome White Refractors #161 Casey Blake Print Run 660
2007 Topps Co-Signers Silver Blue #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 150
2007 Topps Chrome Blue Refractors #161 Casey Blake
2007 Upper Deck Predictor Green #98 Casey Blake
2007 Upper Deck First Edition Printing Plates Cyan #79 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Wood #84 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Co-Signers Silver Gold #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 125
2007 Topps #403 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Black #84 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Co-Signers Hyper Silver Blue #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 15
2007 Topps Co-Signers Hyper Silver Bronze #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 50
2007 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Magenta #161 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Upper Deck First Edition Printing Plates Black #79 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Heritage #232 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini No Card Number #84 Casey Blake Print Run 50
2007 Topps Co-Signers Blue #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 250
2007 Upper Deck Gold #98 Casey Blake Print Run 75
2007 Topps Co-Signers Silver Red #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 199
2007 Topps Printing Plates Black #403 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Co-Signers Hyper Silver Gold #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 5
2007 Topps Co-Signers Bronze #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 275
2007 Topps Chrome Red Refractors #161 Casey Blake Print Run 99
2007 Upper Deck First Edition Printing Plates Yellow #79 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Printing Plates Magenta #84 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Upper Deck First Edition Printing Plates Magenta #79 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Co-Signers Silver Bronze #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 175
2007 Upper Deck #98 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Gold #403 Casey Blake Print Run 2007
2007 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Black #161 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Chrome Refractors #161 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Platinum #403 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Red Back #403 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Bazooka #84 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Chrome #161 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Copper #403 Casey Blake Print Run 56
2007 Topps Co-Signers Hyper Plaid Silver #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini A and G Back #84 Casey Blake
2007 Upper Deck Printing Plates Black #98 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Printing Plates Yellow #84 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Upper Deck Predictor Purple #98 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Co-Signers Red #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 299
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter #84 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Chrome Printing Plates Yellow #161 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Upper Deck First Edition #79 Casey Blake
2007 Upper Deck Printing Plates Yellow #98 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Black No Number #84 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Printing Plates Black #84 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Chrome SuperFractors #161 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Co-Signers Gold #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 225
2007 Indians Topps #CLE5 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Printing Plates Yellow #403 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Upper Deck Printing Plates Magenta #98 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Printing Plates Cyan #403 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Upper Deck Printing Plates Cyan #98 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2007 Topps Printing Plates Magenta #403 Casey Blake Print Run 1

2007 Topps 1st Edition #403 Casey Blake
2007 Topps Co-Signers Hyper Silver Red #59B Grady Sizemore w/ Casey Blake Print Run 75
2008 Topps Heritage #381 Casey Blake SP
2008 Topps Black #231 Casey Blake Print Run 57
2008 Topps Opening Day #106 Casey Blake
2008 Topps Gold Border #231 Casey Blake Print Run 2008
2008 Topps Allen and Ginter United States #US15 Casey Blake
2008 Topps Printing Plates Black #231 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Indians Topps #CLE5 Casey Blake
2008 Topps Printing Plates Magenta #231 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Upper Deck #473 Casey Blake
2008 Topps Printing Plates Yellow #231 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Update Printing Plates Cyan #UH257 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Opening Day Gold #106 Casey Blake Print Run 2199
2008 Topps Gold Foil #231 Casey Blake

2008 Topps Update Gold Foil #UH257 Casey Blake
2008 Upper Deck Gold #473 Casey Blake Print Run 99
2008 Topps Update Printing Plates Black #UH257 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Opening Day Printing Plates Yellow #106 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Update Gold Border #UH257 Casey Blake Print Run 2008
2008 Topps Update Printing Plates Magenta #UH257 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Update Platinum #UH257 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Update Printing Plates Yellow #UH257 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Printing Plates Cyan #231 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Update Black #UH257 Casey Blake Print Run 57
2008 Topps Platinum #231 Casey Blake Print Run 1

2008 Topps Opening Day Printing Plates Black #106 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Opening Day Printing Plates Magenta #106 Casey Blake Print Run 1
2008 Topps Opening Day Printing Plates Cyan #106 Casey Blake

Mail Day

Got mail today, a few cards to add to the Longoria collection.
2006 Bowman Heritage mini (BHP76)
2008 Topps Update (UH172)
2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces (7)



Also, just added the Casey Blake 1999 Fleer Tradition into the collection...

2008 Stadium Club

I just happened to be at Target, and the itch to buy a box of cards consumed me. (I swear this relapse has been 10-15 years in the making so I'm making up for lost time). Anyway, I picked up a blaster of 2008 Stadium Club, and pulled an Evan Longoria Auto!!! Sweet!!!! (disclaimer: I've never had a good pull from a blaster box until now.)

2008 Sweet Spot (good and bad)

I was just looking at some of the 2008 sweet spot and thinking that the base cards are far better than the sweet swatch card. Taking away the potential value of the actual game used "piece" of fabric, the sweet swatches are by in large unartistic and less impressive visually than the base set. The base cards include the embossing of the baseballs seam, while the sweet swatches do not. The base cards fill the entire card with colorful pictures, while the sweet swatches fill only half the card with an uninspired player picture. In reality, shouldn't the quality behind the sweet swatch be better than the base set, so as to provide added emphasis, making the sweet swatch a card not only to be desired for it's potential monetary value, but also for the unique and attractive design.

Base card...




Sweet Swatch...

2008 ALLEN AND GINTER

Just took my first video of opening a box, since there was really nothing in the box that excited me, I just put everything double speed and added music... sorry for the poor video editing but I'll get better.




Here's a look at the actual relic cards...

2008 Sweet Spot - Want List

UPDATED: The base set has been completed. 2/25/09

Here's the list of 2008 Sweet Spot cards I need... I figure I could spend the 80+ for a hobby box, and risk not getting them all, or just buy/trade to get them individually and save at least $60.

Got a great purchase in the mail today, figured if I'm going to start collecting Evan Longoria cards, I may as well get one of the high end autos to kick things into gear, so here it is, the bowman sterling auto...




Was just looking through my books from 15 years ago, seeing what all I have and verifying that they all are (for the most part), still worthless. This page was a small surprise, a few Manny rookies, probably worth all of $10 now, but they are all in nearly perfect condition.



As further evidence I had a decent start on a Ken Griffey collection before I went the way of the dinosaurs and fell off the face of the earth. Here's a look at what probably a million other kids had back in the early 90's...

2008 Bowman Chrome box break

Just busted a box of 2008 Bowman Chrome, and the hits (more or less) were an Evan Longoria base, Matt Latos auto, Esmailyn Gonzalez xfractor. I did get an Ichiro, Arod, Griffy and about 6 refractors.

And here's where I get pissed, the 6 refractors, were all POORLY cut!!!!!! Not a single one was well centered, and the Pedro Martinez even contains a slight bit of color from the card that was above it on the sheet!!!! Seriously, how hard is it to cut sheets straight?! I feel like I got a raw deal on this because these cards have little value, would not rate well. It's like buying an expensive shirt and finding out the arm lengths are different, buying a new car and the window shatters as you leave the lot!

Here's the Pedro!





Here's a pic of all the refractors, what a rip off...

My Best Pull So FAR (this year)...

So, to start off this blog, I thought I'd post a pic of the first big hit I've gotten of the year. I decided to pick up a hobby box of 2008 Sweet Spot, the one with 6 packs. It was a little hard to justify the $100 price tag at the local hobby shop, but I sucked it up. The first four packs provided little in terms of value, but the fifth pack I hit a great card, the Sweet Spot Bat Barrel Auto (in black) of Tony Gwynn.

Since I'm not a Tony Gwynn collector, I've already sold the card to another collector, so it's gone, but I do enjoy having the pic and knowing that I pulled this great card.

My Relapse Back Into Wax Packs

Ok, so I'm starting this blog because I've recently relapsed and have become slightly addicted to collecting cards once again. I kid, I was never really ever addicted, and am not currently addicted, but I do enjoy the excitement of finding a great hit in a pack of random cards. (On the other hand, I greatly despise opening a box and getting nothing but useless inserts of no value either book or on the secondary market.)

The background, I started collecting right around 1985, just in time for the rapid expansion of card production and the intro to cards with little value. I continued collecting through high school (ie. into the early 90's). I have quite a few cards and used to collect Ken Griffey Jr., McGwire, and a few others. I actually have quite a few cards from the mediocre stars of that time period, and I think I probably bought the most cards during 1987.

So here I am now, all grown up, and as I was shopping for Christmas presents this year, I happened to pick up a blaster box from Toys R Us, and opened it. It was a box of Upper Deck Series 2, which contained a game used card. Granted I've been out of touch with the hobby for over 10 years, so seeing this got me excited and I started reading up on everything! I started buying hobby boxes, selling cards I didn't want on ebay (both from my original collection as well as new pulls). The itch needless to say is back, and I'm getting back in. I forgot how much I enjoyed being a kid, and of all the things I choose to be in my life, I choose to always have a bit of kid in me, and returning to this hobby is a great way to maintain some of the kid in me.

So where do I go from here? Well, simple, I plan to buy cards again (when it fits within the budget - as if I have a budget), post box break videos when I think of it, post pics of some of my hits (one of which I will post here shortly), buy missing cards for my collection when finding the card I want is not reasonable to do via box breaks. I've decided to start focusing on Casey Blake cards (since we went to the same school growing up), and I've already scored a 1999 Fleer Update. I'm also building a pretty good starter collection of Evan Longoria and Kosuke Fukudome (the name always makes me giggle a little inside). In addition, I enjoy the higher end insert autos and I may break some of those boxes every once in a while as well.

So there it is, my relapse back into card collecting... be easy on me, I feel like a newbie all over again!