2012 Topps Archives Case Break Box 03

High Numbered Short Prints (1:4 packs):

Vida Blue (A's), Dave Righetti (Yankees), Terry Pendleton (Braves)

John Olerud (Blue Jays), George Bell (Blue Jays), Oscar Gamble (Yankees)

Deckled Edge (1:12 packs)

Gold Parallel (1:12 packs)

Roberto Clemente (Pirates), Mike Napoli (Rangers)

Paul Goldschmidt (D-Backs), Johnny Cueto (Reds)

1977 Topps Cloth (1:6 packs)

Eric Hosmer (Royals), George Brett (Royals)

Reggie Jackson (Yankees), Roy Halladay (Phillies)

1968 Topps 3D (1:8 packs)

1967 Topps Stickers (1:8 packs)

Robinson Cano (Yankeess), Matt Kemp (Dodgers), CC Sabathia (Yankees)

Mark Teixeira, (Yankees), Ryan Braun (Brewers), Roy Halladay (Phillies)

Reprints (1:4 packs)

Jim Palmer (Orioles), Harmon Killebrew, Ralph Kiner (Pirates)

Gary Carter (Expos), Fergie Jenkins (Cubs), Jim Hunter (A's)

Bonus Jersey Card

Autographs (2 per box)

Yovani Gallardo (Brewers)

Bobby Grich (Angels), Mike Scott (Astros)

2012 Topps Archives Case Break Box 02

High Numbered Short Prints (1:4 packs):

Bill Buckner (Cubs), Dave Kingman (Mets), Mitch Williams (Phillies)

John Kruk (Phillies), Ron Gant (Braves), Jose Oquendo (Cardinals)

Deckled Edge (1:12 packs)

Gold Parallel (1:12 packs)

David Freese (Cardinals), Willie Mays (Giants)

Geovany Soto (Cubs), Gio Gonzalez (Nats)

1977 Topps Cloth (1:6 packs)

Johnny Bench (Reds), Jacoby Ellsbury (Red Sox)

Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins), Willie Stargell (Pirates)

1968 Topps 3D (1:8 packs)

1967 Topps Stickers (1:8 packs)

Nelson Cruz (Rangers), Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), Joey Votto (Reds)

Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), Roger Maris (Cardinals)

Reprints (1:4 packs)

Harmon Killebrew (Twins), Darryl Strawberry (Mets), Joe Morgan (Reds)

Tom Seaver (Mets), Wade Boggs (Red Sox), Nolan Ryan (Mets)

Autographs (2 per box)

Frank Howard (Senators-Rangers), Al Oliver (Pirates)

2012 Topps Archives Case Break Box 01

Box 01 provided everything it said it would.

High Numbered Short Prints (1:4 packs):

Don Mattingly (Yankees), Ken Singleton (Orioles), Frank Howard (Senators-Rangers)

Wally Joyner (Angels), Luis Tiant (Red Sox), Jack Clark (Cardinals)

Deckled Edge (1:12 packs)

Gold Parallel (1:12 packs)

Joe Morgan (Astros), Roy Halladay (Phillies)

Nick Swisher (Yankees), Derek Holland (Rangers)

1977 Topps Cloth (1:6 packs)

Cliff Lee (Phillies), Derek Lee (Yankees)

Justin Verlander (Tigers), Ryan Braun (Brewers)

1968 Topps 3D (1:8 packs)

1967 Topps Stickers (1:8 packs)

Al Kaline (Tigers), Mickey Mantle (Yankees), Chase Utley (Phillies)

Carlos Gonzalez, (Rockies), Ryan Howard (Phillies), Tom Seaver (Mets)

Reprints (1:4 packs)

Don Mattingly (Yankees), Brooks Robinson (Orioles), Johnny Bench (Reds)

Yogi Berra (Yankees), Willie McCovey (Giants), Robin Yount (Brewers)

Autographs (2 per box)

Lance Parrish (Tigers), Steve Balboni (Royals)



Spoiler Free Archives Recap

The break is now complete! It took me just under 3 hours to do the break and over the next several hours, I will be posting scans of the inserts from each box while the videos are uploading. Hopefully, the videos will be viewable by this evening. There are 10 total, one for each box, ranging from about 10-15 minutes in length.

I haven't gone through everything with a fine tooth comb yet but I believe I got everything I was supposed to get according to the average collation with a couple of bonuses along the way. Unfortunately, I did not pull any of the Topps Vault stuff or need to use the randomizer for anything but I did get a jersey card (box 3, I think) and a 1/1 Printing Plate (box 10) that were not part of the guaranteed per box/case allotment. I did pull 20 autograph cards although one participant really cleaned up here by pulling 5 autographs between his 2 teams. And it surprisingly didn't involve the Yankees (although they did ok for themselves, which should be expected from a set like Archives).

Give me some time to start scanning in the cards and uploading them to a post. I will try to post every hour, on the hour until all the boxes are done and I'll let everyone know when the videos are up and ready.

Thanks so much to everybody who participated!

It's Going to be an Archives Weekend!

I didn't get a chance to finish up a new card for First Pitch Friday this week so I'm going to talk a little about the Archives case I'll be breaking this weekend. It was waiting for me when I came home from work on Thursday. Even though they aren't all mine, this is my largest purchase of cards (dollar wise) so bear with me while I bask in its glory. Kind of plain from the outside, no logos or branding anywhere on the box. This is the most informative side:

Unfortunately, due to a Little League game Thursday evening, work Friday and another Little League game Friday night, I won't be able to actually open anything until Saturday morning. That's right, all these unopened baseball cards just sitting there waiting for me. Going to make for a loooong day at work.

I did open the case and snap a few pictures of the boxes from different angles.

Top:

Front:

Side:

The case contains 10 hobby boxes. Each hobby box contains 24 packs with 8 cards in each pack. These packs, with average collation, should yield 20 Fan Favorites Autographs, 30 1967 Topps Stickers, 30 1968 Topps 3D cards, 20 Deckle Edge cards, 40 Topps Cloth cards and 60 Topps Reprint cards. There is also the possibility of pulling some 1/1 printing plates and various prizes from the Topps Vault.

Good luck to everybody participating! Check back on Saturday (probably several updates over the course of the day) for video links to the break and scans of the hits! Check back on Sunday for a statistical analysis of the collation as I compare what I actually pull to the average collation listed above. My regularly scheduled weekend posts (First Pitch Friday, Signature Saturday and Sandberg Sunday) will return next weekend. Thanks for indulging me!



Trade List Thursday - Archives

Sorry for the delay, forgot to "publish" the post!

As some of you may know, I'll be doing a case break of 2012 Topps Archives this weekend. It is scheduled to be delivered by the end of the day Thursday (today). As with the Gypsy Queen, I sold almost all of the teams, with someone buying a handful of the remaining teams as trade bait (or maybe just a better shot at winning the randomizer if I'm lucky enough to pull one of the 1/1 non-team associated hits). The only teams not eligible to win with the randomizer will be the Cubs (my team), the Nats (my son's team) and the Padres. After looking over the checklist, the Padres were the only team I did not sell. Their checklist consists of two base cards, no inserts. And their base cards? Heath Bell and Mat Latos, neither of whom are even with the team anymore! Ouch!

Anyway, in anticipation of the break I picked up 2 blasters of Archives to familiarize myself with the product. I wanted to make sure I knew what I was pulling during the actual break because I'm still embarassed I didn't realize I pulled a 1/1 printing plate in the GQ break last month. I've looked over the checklist and looked at my cards so I'm fairly confident I won't do that again. Unless I get one of those unassociated hits and then who knows what will happen!

The blaster yielded me 89/200 base cards plus 20 dupes. I figure I may as well collect this one too. The dupes are listed on the trade page and I'll get my needs page up this weekend once I add in my Cubs and Nats pulls from the case break. I did pull 4 high number SPs that I will be keeping as well but the inserts below are available:

Cloth Stickers: Carew, Jeter, Verlander, Morgan

1968 Sticker Sandoval & Lincecum, Gold Parallels Andrus & Lind

Classic Combos - Lincecum & Mays

1968 Topps 3D - Clemente & Kemp (the white spot to the right of his right hand is a ding in the 3d-ness)

I'm almost kind of glad nothing in these blasters blew me away. I was on a little bit of a hot streak with 3 autographs in my last four blasters so hopefully this "cool streak" bodes well for the case break!

Today's ATCRCS card of the day over on Facebook:

Joe Garagiola

Wantlist Wednesday - Now with more Wants!

With all the readers Dimwit sent my way this past weekend, a few new trading partners emerged as well. The initial burst was a little overwhelming with making sure I still had what I said I did and needing what I still said I needed but I think I have responded to everyone. I have piles of cards that I'll package up tonight and mail out Thursday morning. Thanks for your patience.

As promised yesterday, I have added my Bowman needs to my Want List. Also looking for any extra Cubs from the set, parallels and all. I made a strikethrough notation for any cards I have made arrangements for and deleted any cards that have arrived from trades. After posting my Kerry Wood McFarlane figure last Saturday, I decided I'd like to add the rest of the Cubs McFarlanes (unsigned) to the collection. If you have any, loose or packaged, let me know. I would prefer loose but in good condition to reduce shipping costs since I'm going to open them anyway. I do have all three variations of the Ryne Sandberg as well as the regular Kerry Wood.

I also scanned in a couple of the Tony Campana cards and posted them in the TCPC tab. Nothing you haven't seen before, just the base, diamond anniversary and cognac from the 2011 Topps Update set. More scans to follow as I continue my quest to be organized. Since I don't have any other photos today, and to save you a click, here they are:

Today's ATCRCS card of the day over on Facebook:

Doug Dascenzo