2013 Topps Heritage Blaster

My second selection among the prize pool for my Fantasy Blaster/Blogger League was 2013 Topps Heritage.

As with the Gypsy Queen from earlier in the week, I realize doing a break is about 6 months too late so I'm only showing the non base cards. Everything is up for grabs so let me know if you need/want something or want me to take a look at your want list for the base cards.

Since this year's Heritage set mimicks the 1964 Topps set, the Flashback inserts pull topics from 1964 headlines. I pulled two, presidential election coverage and one that talks about Juan Marichal pitching back to back shutouts.

This Then & Now card lets you know (on the back) that Whitey Ford and Felix Hernandez are comparable in Shutouts. Felix Hernandez leds the Majors with 5 in 2012 and Whitey Ford Dean Chance led with 11 in 1964. Whitey Ford had 8. Guess Topps was short on Yankees inserts...

I don't know what a New Age Performer is. Isn't that like crystals and horoscopes and tarot cards and stuff like that?

I did pull four Cubs out of the box, something that would have made this box a success earlier in the year. But unlike Qypsy Queen where I didn't buy any, I actually already picked up a Cubs team set when this was released.

And last, and certainly least, the blue Wal-mart parallel that I was supposed to get. I don't think I could have gotten a worse card from the set. Not only is he a NL Central rival, but arguably one of the top 3 hated players in baseball right now.

This probably would have been a decent pull at the beginning of the season and gone for a couple of bucks towards recouping the blaster cost, but without looking, I'd say it'll cost more to ship than I'd get for it.

I haven't seen what the others have pulled yet and for all I know, they struck gold. But after two fairly disappointing blasters myself, I'm rethinking the Fantasy League for next year. Six-plus months is a long time to wait for something bound to lose value the further from the release date it gets (unless of course you get the one on a million blaster). I'd love to hear any opinions from those who participated on how to change things a little. And even from those who didn't but followed along. What would make you join next year?

2013 Gypsy Queen Blaster

I know I'm about six months late breaking one of these open but its been sitting in my house just as long because it was one of the prizes in my Fantasy Baseball Blaster League. Everybody should have their prizes by now so I thought I'd go ahead and post one of mine.

Before this blaster, I opened exactly zero Gypsy Queen this year. I barely even remembered the inserts from blog posts all those months ago. And after double checking, I didn't even pick up a Cubs team set this year. I have a couple through trades but I'm going to have to find the checklist to see who I'm missing.

Anyway, I didn't scan the base cards because you've probably seen them all. If you want me to check out your want lists, let me know. I won't be collecting this set aside from Cubbies so I don't need them. But I will show the inserts because I don't need these either. Some may be earmarked for some of my regular trade partners but by now, they may already have picked them up. So if you want them, let me know.

First up, we have the minis. These were one per pack. A couple big names.

Overall, I probably would have been much more impressed with this box back in April or whenever it came out. Now, at the end of the season, when the Cubs have long been eliminated and MLB is about to show reruns of the 2007 World Series, I might just be ready for winter. How long until pitchers and catchers report?

Almost for got the highlights from the box, the Cubbies!

I don't think Brett Jackson would have made the cut for set inclusion in hindsight but still two nice additions to the collection. I still have another blaster to open and post about as part of my winnings. Here's hoping the other winners had a little better luck.

I caved...2013 Topps Box Break Part 2

If you missed my earlier post about how I came into this box and a small feature on two of the non-Cubs base cards, check it out here.

Ok, on to the inserts. I did pretty well with the odds, getting everything I should have and even doing a little bit better on some. No relics or autographs though, because they are one in a bajillion packs. Everything below is available for trade except the one Cubs player, though some may already be earmarked for trades I'm working out. Feel free to claim anything, just in case.

Carlos Gonzalez

The Cut to the Chase Die Cuts were 1:14 packs. Should have got at least one and did.

Justin Verlander, Cal Ripken Jr, RA Dickey, Roberto Clemente, Dan Uggla, Willie Mays

The 1972 minis were 1:4. Should have gotten 6 and I did.

Avisail Garcia, Trevor Rosenthal, Andy Pettitte, LJ Hoes

Like most of the reviews on these so far, I'm really digging these Emerald parallels. They come 1:6 packs. Should have got 4 and I did.

Albert Pujols, Kevin Youkilis, Aroldis Chapman

Calling Cards were 1:8 packs and I got the 3 I was supposed to get.

Brett Lawrie, Bryan Shaw, Robert Andino, Alex Gordon, Rafael Furcal, AJ Burnett

I thought the blue Wal-Mart exclusive parallels were a little more plentiful in years past but maybe thats because the blasters had a pack or two of just those. These came 1:4 packs and I got 6.

I'm still not sure why some of the Chasing History cards are vertical and some are horizontal. These were 1:4 and I got 6. The Kerry Wood was the only Cubs insert I pulled. And the Don Mattingly is named weird. It says he is chasing Yankees Career Hits but the back of the cars talks about the Yankees all-time single season record, not career.

Mike Trout, Casey Kelly, Jarrod Parker, Will Middlebrooks

 The Chasing the Dream inserts feature some young studs. These were 1:6 and I got 4.

David Hernandez, Michael Young

On to the bonus pulls. These gold parallels are number out of 2013 and are 1:14 packs. I should have gotten at least 1, pretty close to 2 which is what I got. I like the Rangers throwback jersey.

Desmond Jennings Camo 26/99

I guess this was the big hit out of the box. These Desert Camo cards are pretty neat and the odds were 1:238 packs. That's only one of these for every 10 boxes likes this I find. I'm not partial to Jennings or the Rays so if I don't get any nibbles through here, I'll probably put it up on ebay over the weekend. I'm not sure if I've even come across any Ray blogs to trade with.

I pulled 4 of the 6 Cubs cards and the League Leader card with Alfonso Soriano on it. I didn't pull Darwin Barney or Anthony Rizzo. I have a Cubs team set on the way courtesy of ebay for my Cubs collection but I still need them for my Topps set. I'll put up the rest of the 80 cards I need by the weekend for those with extras and willing to help.

I caved...2013 Topps Box Break

A week ago, I said right here, on this very blog, that I was going to hold out on piecing my 2013 Topps set together. Prices will drop, blah blah blah. Well, like the title says, I caved. I broke. I folded. I am a weak, weak, little man.

But not without good reason. You see, I won a fundraiser raffle at work last week in which my prize was a choice of gift certificates. I went with Wal-Mart since the others stores and restaurants weren't to my liking. I had no intention of spending it when I went into Wal-Mart Tuesday night to pick up some bread. It wasn't exactly burning a hole in my pocket, but as I usually do, I moseyed past the card aisle just to see what was up. When I had gone last week, they had some blasters and jumbo packs but none of the smaller packs. I'll admit, if they had any, I probably would have picked up one or two.

On Tuesday, there was still the same selection although heavily picked over and considerably less quantities. This time though, hanging out with the blasters was this one slightly bigger box:

If not for the large, bright stickers, I would have assumed it was just a blaster. Upon closer inspection, it was a full box of the smaller packs I was looking for, but meant to be sold whole. This wasn't a hobby box because it had 24 packs of 12 cards, not 36 packs of 10 cards. There was no guaranteed hit. And as luck would have it, my gift certificate was for $50. As you can see by the sticker on the box, even with tax, I had enough to cover it, plus the bread!

Obviously, I bought it so I'm sure you want to see the hits. As if you haven't been inundated with 2013 Topps enough already. But I'm going to break this post up into 2 seperate ones because first I want to show two cards that caught my eye that I haven't yet seen on the other blogs. Then I'll do a followup post with the inserts.

Eury Perez was a late season callup for the Washington Nationals in 2012. He was mostly used as a pinchrunner. But what makes this card special is that some of my first customs were of this guy. My son and I used to talk to him quite a bit before and after Potomac Nationals games in 2011.  At the time, he had a Pro Debut card and a Heritage Minors card but it's nice to see him get an honest to goodness MLB card. I was actually surprised when I saw it because I hadn't really looked over the checklist other than to look for Cubs, so I had no idea it was in the set. Congrats, Eury!

And he reminds a lot of Tony Campana the way he plays and was used. Pinchrunner, bunting for sacrifices and/or hits but was pretty decent at the minor league level. And like Campana, with a Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth and now Denard Span in the outfield for the Nationals, Perez will have a tough time cracking the starting lineup on a regular basis. 

Hopefully, Paul from over at Wrigley Wax sees this card. That's Darwin Barney breaking up the double play under Didi Gregorius. I did a post last year about my Ryne Sandberg cameo cards and think this card deserves a spot in Paul's very nice Barney PC, because he did, in fact, break up the double play.

No shame in being the force out, especially since according to the boxscore, Barney followed up a single by David DeJesus with a single of his own. Anthony Rizzo grounded to second forcing Barney out but allowing DeJesus to score. The Cubs were still down by two, but now the tying run was coming to the plate with one out instead of nobody on and two outs. Not that they capitalized on it or anything, because hey, they're the Cubs. But not the fault of Barney!

As for the base cards in general, I pulled 250 of the 331 in the set with no duplicates. Not to shabby. 

Check back in a little while to see the inserts that will be available for trade!

2012 Topps Pro Debut Breakdown

Hobby Box 2012 Topps Pro Debut

I discovered Pro Debut last year when I was looking for some cards of players on our local minor league team, the Potomac Nationals. There weren't many considering they're a Single A team but I had run across a few in Bowman, Pro Debut and Heritage Minors (which came out too late to get any autographed last year). I picked up a few Carolina League player lots on ebay and a card show. I ended up with about 15-20 different cards signed from the set by the end of the season.

When I pre-ordered the Topps Series 2 boxes a couple of weeks ago I thought about doing a group break for Pro Debut as well but figured it would be a big hassle trying to figure out all the affiliations. I picked up 2 hobby boxes hoping to get a complete set.

Bryce Harper Base Card

I did end up getting a complete set, plus 126/220 towards a second set. No triplicates between the boxes. I'm not sure what I'm doing with the extras yet, whether I'll send them out TTM to get signed or trade them.

There are numbered-to-50 Gold Parallel cards that have about a 1:20 packs ratio and I pulled one in each box.

Brennan May, Dayton Dragons

Tyler Collins, Connecticut Tigers

There is also a 50 card All-Star insert set that have a 1:3 packs ratio. I pulled the 16 I was supposed to get with no duplicates.

 Each box also was supposed to have 2 autographs and 2 relics and I did get 4 of each.

Zach Cone, Spokane Indians

Charlie Tilson, Johnson City Cardinals

Matt Lipka, Rome Braves

Kevin Mattison, Jacksonville Suns

Grant Green, Midland Rockhounds

You may have noticed that I missed a few pictures with my inserts. I didn't, I was just saving them. I've never heard of this guy, but after these boxes, I'm hoping he hits it big! Here is my instant Joe Panik collection:

Base card, All-Star Insert and Autograph

Jersey card, Manufactured Hat Logo card (1:90) 

After a little research, it appears Joe was the San Francisco Giants' 1st Round Draft pick in 2011, 29th overall. These cards feature him with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes although he has since moved up to the San Jose Giants. Although I don't necessarily have a new favorite player, I do have somebody new to keep an eye on. Good luck Joe!

I did pull a few future Cubs base cards but didn't see any inserts. Once I find a good checklist, I'll do a followup post featuring these guys.