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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

First Bench Trade!



If you have not already done so, you simply must check out the site called “The Bench”. If you have any interest in trading, and would prefer to do so in a structured environment, this is the place for you. If you prefer not to have to register for a site, follow protocol, and be active on a message board, then it might not be the site for you. I actually prefer the organization and was impressed by their point system and trader ratings. The amount of members on-line was also impressive and I decided to jump right in and make a profile. While setting up my profile I was given the option to select players I collect as well as teams and sets. There was a message at the bottom saying that if you did not see your players on the players list a moderator would add them for you. Sure enough Cain and Lincecum were not on the list. I checked to see which moderator was on-line and sent an IM asking for the players to be added. No more then five minutes later I had a message saying they were added, and welcoming me to “The Bench”. Now that’s service.

Once my profile was set up, I posted a message in the introduction thread on the board. Very quickly responses started pilling up. Two or three pages of “welcome” responses told me this was a very active trading community. Public and Private messages told me people had cards I needed.

So I probably made a small trade

to break in right? Maybe some set fillers changing hands, or 08 Topps cards changing owners? What fun would that be?

Sending…..


































Receiving....

Book value wise, I make out a little ahead on this deal. Then again I am giving up some really sweet cards. The Maris was the highlight of my Sweet Spot tin, and the Marino and Dawson are both numbered to 250. I have two of that Marino though, and my trade partner agreed to the white patch instead of the teal, so that I don't mind to much. This is my first McCovey card, let alone game used or patch. It is also my first Manning jersey, which is numbered to 100. The Bonds card adds to my PC.

All in all "The Bench" is a ton of fun, and I look forward to more trades and seeing you all there!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Uzi Madness!!!


Who is Kazuo Uzuki?

I guess I will be joining the ranks of those wondering just who the heck this guy is. I agree with those who feel this is simply an add for the Topps make your own card promotion. What I don’t understand is why the effort in the description to make it seem so real? Why the part about being cut from the WBC? Why the part about lasting impressions. If some proud father wants to make a card about his son hitting 61 homers during the little league season, fine, I get it. Do we need a blurb about him impressing an aging Hank Aaron with his plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone? It is one thing to exaggerate to sell your product, it is another to lie and lie deceptively. If, in fact, this is a promo stunt, that is what I will be upset about. Not the part about a 16yo throwing 104mph heat. That part anyone can tell you is a lie. It will be the part that tries to make you believe the lie by adding something believable. That is the cruel part.

However, if it turns out Uzi is real, that is ok too.


Sunday, February 10, 2008

Topps 2008 Jumbos: Part 3

Next Up: My favorite insert set so far this year!!! (can't believe I am saying this, but it is 100% true) The Year in Review!!!























This will have to wait till tomorrow at work, but it and more are on the way.

2008 Topps Jumbos: Part 2

Ok, lets take a look at another of my favorite parts (this whole set is a favorite part) of Topps 2008 Series 1, the Trading Card History subset. I have exactly 20 of these cards, and I believe it is a 20 card set for series 1, so with some really good luck you could complete the set with two Jumbos. I did not, but I should have the doubles I need to trade for and complete the set. They were obviously seeded at 1 per jumbo pack.

The cards themselves feature both young and star players on classic baseball card designs from the past. Yeah not exactly ground breaking with all the heritage sets that are out there, and really there are not any twists. There are no blurbs on the back talking about the historic cards, and some of the cards can't even say what the emulate due to copy write rules. Most just say what set they represent and then have a standard blurb about the player. The major difference from the heritage sets out there are some of the off the wall designs these cards chose to honor. The cards look great, even the ugly ones because they did it on purpose. They should have talked about the card sets instead of the players though.

TCH1 - Need
TCH2 - Need
TCH3 - Daisuke Matsuzaka T-206



















TCH4 - Prince Fielder 1934 Baseball Card



















TCH5 Clay Buchholz 1956 Topps














TCH6 Alex Rodriguez T-205



















TCH7 Mickey Mantle 1912 C-46



















TCH8 Ryan Braun 1960 Topps














TCH9 Albert Pujols 1916 Zeenuts (I pulled 2)



















TCH10 Joe Mauer 1941 Baseball Card (I pulled 2)



















TCH11 Jose Reyes 1954 Topps (I pulled 2)



















TCH12 Joey Votto 1887 Allen & Ginter (I pulled 2)



















TCH13 Johan Santana 1933 DeLong



















TCH14 Hunter Pence 1922 W573



















TCH15 Hideki Okajima 1965 Topps



















TCH16 Cameron Maybin 1992 Bowman



















TCH17 - Need
TCH18 - Tim Lincecum (bought off e-bay)












TCH19 Mark Teixeira & Jeff Francoeur 1941 Baseball Card



















TCH20 Justin Upton 1962 Topps



















Great looking cards, tons of fun, just should have talked about the cards instead of the players!

Still an A+ overall compared to last year.

2008 Topps Jumbos

Well I didn't expect to buy a lot of this product, but after heading down and getting a box of UD and a Jumbo of Topps, I headed down and picked up another Topps Jumbo as I FAR preferred the Topps product, as did my Wife. I will do break downs of both products, but I will start with the Topps. The packs are busted, and the boxes are sorted, but I can still give you a good idea of what to expect out of Topps 2008.

Regular boxes of Topps had no guarantees of any hits, and being an unapologetic relic and autograph lover, I opted for the Jumbos for $30 more then the $55 price tag for the standard box. So you are not quite paying double, but you are supposedly guaranteed of pulling two hits from the box, and about 1 1/2 times as many cards. I have also found that I usually pull better inserts from Jumbos, which I have heard rumors about around hobby shops, so what the heck. True to their word Topps provided at least the guaranteed number of hits from the boxes. In fact there was a bonus auto, so there were in fact 5 hits from the two boxes. More on those later.

For the first time I can remember though, the true stars of these boxes were the insert sets instead of the relics and autos. What a HUGE step up from Generation Now and the horrible mirror sets in the past. Some of the mirrors are still there, but Topps definitely did well with the new sets and designs and with the Hobby picking up steam each year, this could be a banner year for the Topps product. Topps has inspired me this year to go for a master set, so lets take a look at some of the insert sets, and what I still need to complete them.

50th Anniversary Topps All-Star Rookie Team
AR1 - Need
AR2 - Need
AR3 - Need
AR4 - Melky Cabrera














AR-5 - Gary Carter














AR6 - Lou Piniella














AR7 - Need
AR8 - Andre Dawson














AR9 - Need
AR10 - Need
AR11 - Jermaine Dye














AR12 - Dan Johnson














AR13 - Alfonso Soriano














AR14 - Need
AR15 - Need
AR16 - Need
AR17 - Need
AR18 - Need
AR19 - Need
AR20 - Need
AR21 - Need
AR22 - Need
AR23 - Need
AR24 - Need
AR25 - Dan Uggla














AR26 - Ozzie Smith














AR27 - Andruw Jones














AR28 - Need
AR29 - Need
AR30 - Need
AR31 - Need
AR32 - Garrett Atkins














AR33 - Need
AR34 - Chipper Jones














AR35 - Roger McDowell














AR36 - Need
AR37 - Need
AR38 - Ron Swoboda














AR39 - Need
AR40 - Mike Piazza














AR41 - Albert Pujols














AR42 - Need
AR43 - Need
AR44 - Need
AR45 - Need
AR46 - Derek Jeter














AR47 - Shawn Green














AR48 - Need
AR49 - Need
AR50 - Need
AR51 - Need
AR52 - Need
AR53 - Need
AR54 - Joe Mauer














AR55 - Magglio Ordonez














So that is 20 cards with no doubles out of two jumbo boxes. That works out to one in each of the 10 jumbo packs per box. With 35 cards still to go, this will not be the easiest set to complete. Value wise I doubt it would be hard to purchase, but needing to purchase at least 4 jumbos and having some incredibly good luck, you better be a member of a good trade site like The Bench if you want to complete it. Up next we will look at the awesome Trading Card History set, but for now I need a break, lol.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Mickey Mantle 2008 Topps NO NAME NO FOIL ERROR 1/1?



Has anyone else seen this yet. Is this another error chase card? Or just another screw up by Topps. I will say I have searched high and low and can't find any mention of anything like it on any message boards, blogs, or news sites. Just one listing on e-bay.

2008 Topps

Well I am not cool enough to have a box break, or even a pack break or anything like that. But I can put up my most recent .99 cent e-bay victory. I also have a bid in for the team set for .99 cents, which I hope to take with me to Spring Training and get each card signed. We shall see.


Thursday, February 7, 2008

Football Cards

At the moment I am trying to get organized when it comes to my collection. Today I have been working on listing my significant Football cards (those of the game used, autographed, insert, or rookie kind) and assigning the Beckett book value to each (to the best of my abilities) for trade purposes. I have not posted much about Football cards here up to this point, but I am definitely just as big a Football fan, as I am a Baseball Fan. What follows is a listing broken down by set, the file names all pertain to digital files I have stored as jpgs.

The majority of my collection is available for viewing at...

http://s243.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/fsarra12/Autos%20Gamers/


Bowman Sterling Football
Aaron Ross - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Black Refractor $ 16.00
Aaron Ross - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Gold Refractor $ 10.00
Adalius Thomas - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran (1) $ 8.00
Adalius Thomas - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Rel $ 8.00
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie (1) $ 50.00
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Rel$ 50.00
Adrian Wilson - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Reli $ 8.00
Andre Johnson - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Reli $ 12.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic J $ 25.00
Brandon Jackson - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Gold Refra $ 50.00
Brandon Jackson - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Rel $ 10.00
Braylon Edwards - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Refractor $ 12.00
Brett Favre - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Relic $ 25.00
Brian Leonard - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie R (1) $ 12.00
Brian Leonard - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic $ 6.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Reli $ 25.00
Chris Davis - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Auto - Rookie $ 6.00
Chris Henry - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic J $ 6.00
Darius Walker - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Auto - Rooki $ 6.00
DeAngelo Hall - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Reli $ 8.00
Drew Stanton - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic $ 10.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Bowman Sterling - Rookie Relic Refractor $ 22.50
Dwayne Jarrett - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Reli $ 10.00
Garrett Wolfe - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic Auto $ 12.00
Garrett Wolfe - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic $ 6.00
Gary Russell - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Auto - Rookie $ 6.00
Jared Zabransky - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Aut $ 6.00
Jared Zabransky - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football Refractor $ 8.00
Jeff Rowe - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Autograph $ 6.00
John Beck - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Gold Refractor A $ 40.00
Johnnie Lee Higgins - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Jordan Palmer - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Auto - Rooki $ 6.00
Justise Hairston - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Au $ 6.00
Kenny Irons - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Gold Refractor $ 25.00
Kenny Irons - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic J $ 6.00
Kevin Boss - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie - 43.JPG $ 4.00
Kolby Smith - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Auto $ 20.00
Lawrence Timmons - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Gold Refr $ 10.00
Marc Bulger - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Relic $ 10.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Reli $ 15.00
Matt Hasselbeck - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Re $ 12.00
Michael Bush - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Re (1) $ 20.00
Michael Bush - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic $ 10.00
Michael Strahan - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Re $ 12.00
Patrick Willis - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie (1) $ 15.00
Patrick Willis - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie (2) $ 30.00
Patrick Willis - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie (2) $ 50.00
Patrick Willis - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Reli $ 15.00
Paul Posluszny - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Auto $ 15.00
Paul Williams - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic $ 12.00
Plaxico Burress - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Re $ 12.00
Reggie Brown - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Relic $ 8.00
Steve Smith - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic J $ 8.00
Steven Jackson - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Rel $ 12.00
TJ Houshmandzadeh - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Vete (1) $ 10.00
TJ Houshmandzadeh - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran $ 12.00
Trent Edwards - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic $ 15.00
Will Smith - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Relic J $ 8.00
Willie Parker - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Reli $ 10.00
Yamon Figurs - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Relic $ 6.00
Zac Taylor - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Rookie Autograp $ 6.00
Zach Thomas - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Veteran Relic $ 8.00
Zak DeOssie - 2007 Bowman Sterling Football - Gold Refractor $ 10.00


Topps Finest Football
Adrian Peterson - (Lynch) - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Auto Refractor $ 500.00
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie $ 25.00
Adrian Peterson - Topps Finest Football - Rookie - 112 $ 25.00
Amobi Okoye - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie - Auto $ 20.00
Anthony Gonzalez - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Blue Refract $ 9.00
Anthony Gonzalez - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie - 102 $ 15.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie $ 15.00
David Clowney - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie - Auto $ 12.00
Drew Tate - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie - Auto $ 12.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie $ 8.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie $ 8.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie $ 8.00
Dwayne Jarrett - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Auto - Rookie $ 25.00
Dwayne Jarrett - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Black Refracto $ 12.50
JaMarcus Russell - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Rookie $ 10.00
Michael Bush - 2007 Topps Finest Football - Gold Refractor $ 12.00

Donruss Classics Football
Anquan Boldin - 2007 Donruss Classics - Significant Signatur $ 40.00
Barry Sanders - 2007 Donruss Classics - Classic Singles Jers $ 75.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Donruss Classics 031_599 - Rookie - Be $ 40.00
Dan Marino - 2007 Donruss Classics - Classic Singles Jer $ 40.00
Dan Marino - 2007 Donruss Classics - Classic Singles Jersey $ 40.00
Dan Marino (Duper) - 2007 Donruss Classics - Classic Combos $ 40.00
David Ball - 2007 Donruss Classics Football - Rookie Auto $ 8.00
Dwayne Jarrett - 2007 Donruss Classics Football - Rookie 100 $ 12.00
Jamarcus Russell - 2007 Donruss Classics - School Colors $ 25.00
Jeff Rowe - 2007 Donruss Classics Football - Rookie Auto 0 $ 8.00
Joe Namath - 2007 Donruss Classics - Legendary Players Jerse $ 20.00
Johnny Unitas (Moore Berry) - 2007 Donruss Classics - Classi $ 50.00
LaRon Landry - 2007 Donruss Classics Football - School Color $ 12.00
Len Dawson (Stenerud) - 2007 Donruss Classics Football - Cla $ 15.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Donruss Classics Football - Rookie $ 20.00
Michael Okwo - 2007 Donruss Classics Football - Rookie Auto $ 8.00
Troy Smith - 2007 Donruss Classics Football - Rookie $ 8.00
Walter Payton (McMahon Sayers Singletary) - 2007 Donruss Cla $ 120.00

Donruss Threads Football
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Donruss Threads - Rookie Collection $ 50.00
Barry Sanders (Tomlinson) - 2007 Donruss Threads - Generatio $ 25.00
Bernard Berrian - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Material C $ 6.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Donruss Threads - College Gridiron Kings $ 40.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - College Gridir $ 8.00
Brady Quinn (Thomas) - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Rooki $ 30.00
Brandon Siler - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Rookie Auto $ 8.00
Dan Hampton - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Century Collec $ 10.00
Donte Stallworth - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Material $ 6.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Donruss Threads - Rookie Collection Mater $ 12.00
Dwayne Jarrett - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - College Gri $ 5.00
Dwayne Jarrett (Meachem Smith) - 2007 Donruss Threads Footba $ 20.00
Eli Manning - 2007 Donruss Threads - Pro Gridiron Kings Jers $ 20.00
Ikaika Alama Francis - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Rooki $ 8.00
Jason Hill - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Rookie Collecti $ 8.00
Jemalle Cornelius - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Rookie A $ 8.00
John Beck - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Rookie Collectio $ 10.00
Jordan Palmer - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - College Grid $ 8.00
Ray Lewis - 2007 Donruss Threads Jersey $ 10.00
Tim Shaw - 2007 Donruss Threads Football - Rookie Auto $ 8.00

Bowman Football
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 15.00
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 15.00
Adrian Peterson (Quinn) - 2007 Bowman Football - Fabric $ 60.00
Ahmad Bradshaw - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 1.25
AJ Hawk - 2006 Bowman Football - Gold - Rookie $ 4.50
Anthony Gonzalez - 2007 Bowman Football - Gold $ 3.25
Anthony Gonzalez - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 2.50
Brady Quinn - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Chris Leak - 2007 Bowman Football - Signs of the Future $ 12.00
Dave Thomas - 2006 Bowman Football - Signs of the Future $ 8.00
DeAngelo Williams - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 4.00
Devin Hester - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Bowman Football - Fabric of the Future Go$ 18.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Dwayne Wright - 2007 Bowman Football - Signs of the Future $ 10.00
Greg Jennings - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 2.50
Jamarcus Russell - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 4.00
Jamarcus Russell - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 4.00
Jay Cutler - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Jeff Rowe - 2007 Bowman Football - Signs of the Future $ 10.00
Jerious Norwood - 2006 Bowman Football - Blue - Rookie $ 5.00
Jerious Norwood - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 2.50
Joseph Addai - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 5.00
Kellen Clemens - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 2.50
Laurence Maroney - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 4.00
Lendale White - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Matt Leinart - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Maurice Jones Drew - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie $ 4.00
Sinorice Moss - 2006 Bowman Football - Rookie Rewind Jersey $ 5.00
Tony Hunt - 2007 Bowman Football - Fabric of the Future $ 8.00
Vernon Davis - 2006 Bowman Football - Gold - Rookie $ 3.00
Zach Miller - 2007 Bowman Football - Signs of the Future $ 12.00

Topps Chrome Football
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Topps Chrome - White Refractor $ 100.00
Ahmad Bradshaw - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Rookie $ 5.00
Ahmad Bradshaw - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Rookie $ 5.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Rookie $ 20.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Red Refractor $ 100.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Rookie $ 20.00
Darius Walker - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - White Refractor $ 10.00
David Irons - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Auto - Rookie $ 12.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps Chrome - Auto - Rookie $ 50.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Rookie $ 10.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Rookie $ 10.00
Dwayne Jarrett - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - White $ 15.00
Dwayne Jarrett - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Xfractor $ 15.00
Isaiah Stanback - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Refractor Auto $ 12.00
JaMarcus Russell - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Rookie $ 12.00
Joe Thomas - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Red Refractor $ 12.00
Lorenzo Booker - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Auto - Rookie $ 12.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Refractor $ 15.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Xfractor $ 25.00
Paul Posluszny - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Auto - Rookie $ 25.00
Peyton Manning - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - League Leaders $ 8.00
Peyton Manning - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Ring of Honor $ 5.00
Selvin Young - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Red Refractor $ 24.00
Selvin Young - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Steve Smith - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Refractor $ 6.00
Thomas Clayton - 2007 Topps Chrome Football - Auto - Rookie $ 12.00

Topps Football
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Topps Football - Rookie $ 10.00
AJ Hawk - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Topps Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Brodie Croyle - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 4.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Topps Football - Rookie $ 6.00
DeAngelo Williams - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 4.00
Devin Hester - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Greg Jennings - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Jay Cutler - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Jerious Norwood - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 2.50
Jerious Norwood - 2006 Topps Football - Special Edition $ 7.50
Joseph Addai - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 5.00
Kellen Clemens - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 2.50
Laurence Maroney - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 4.00
LenDale White - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Topps Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Matt Leinart - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Maurice Jones Drew - 2006 Topps Football $ 4.00
Reggie Bush - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 8.00
Santonio Holmes - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Tarvaris Jackson - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 2.50
Vernon Davis - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Vince Young - 2006 Topps Football - Rookie $ 6.00

UD SP Rookie Threads
Adrian Peterson - 2007 UD SP Rookie Threads - Rookie Threads $ 40.00
Adrian Peterson (Lynch) - 2007 UD SP Rookie Threads - Dual R $ 25.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 UD SP Rookie Threads - Rookie Threads Pat $ 30.00
Calvin Johnson (Stanton) - 2007 UD SP Rookie Threads - Dual $ 20.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 UD SP Rookie Threads - Rookie Threads Jer $ 15.00
Dwayne Bowe (Meachem) - 2007 UD SP Rookie Threads - Dual $ 8.00
Dwayne Bowe (Russell) - 2007 UD SP Rookie Threads - Dual $ 15.00

Topps DPP Football
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Topps DPP - Rookie $ 15.00
Amobi Okoye - 2007 Topps DPP Football - Senior Standouts Jer $ 8.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Topps DPP Football - Rookie $ 10.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Topps DPP Football - Rookie $ 10.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps DPP - Senior Standouts $ 37.50
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Topps DPP Football - White Chrome $ 15.00
HB Blades - 2007 Topps DPP Football - Senior Standouts Jer $ 8.00
JaMarcus Russell - 2007 Topps DPP Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Jordan Palmer - 2007 Topps DPP Football - Class Marks Auto $ 20.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Topps DPP Football - Black Chrome $ 7.50
Steve Smith - 2007 Topps DPP Football - Black Chrome $ 2.00

Bowman Chrome Football
Ahmad Bradshaw - 2007 Bowman Chrome Football - Refractor $ 6.00
DeAngelo Williams - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Rookie $ 10.00
Greg Jennings - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Jason Avant - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Auto - Rookie $ 6.00
Jerious Norwood - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Refractor $ 12.00
Kellen Clemens - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Rookie $ 6.00
Laurence Maroney - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Rookie $ 10.00
LenDale White - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Rookie $ 8.00
Marques Colston - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Rookie $ 8.00
Maurice Jones Drew - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Rookie $ 10.00
Mike Bell - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Auto - Rookie $ 6.00
Reggie Bush - 2006 Bowman Chrome - Rookie $ 25.00
Vernon Davis - 2006 Bowman Chrome Football - Rookie $ 8.00

Score Football
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Score Football - Hot Rookie - Rookie $ 10.00
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Score Football - Hot Rookie Glossy $ 15.00
Adrian Peterson - 2007 Score Football - Rookie - 341 $ 8.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Score Football - Gold Zone 149_600 $ 15.00
Brady Quinn - 2007 Score Football - Rookie $ 5.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Score Football - Hot Rookie - Rookie $ 6.00
Calvin Johnson - 2007 Score Football - Rookie $ 5.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Score Football - Rookie $ 2.50
JaMarcus Russell - 2007 Score Football - Rookie $ 3.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Score Football - Hot Rookie - Rookie $ 3.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Score Football - Rookie $ 2.50

Score Select Football
Aaron Ross - 2007 Score Select Football - Rookie - 108_599 $ 4.00
Dwayne Bowe - 2007 Score Select Football - Rookie 207_599 $ 12.00
Marshawn Lynch - 2007 Score Select Football - Hot Rookie $ 12.00
Steve Smith - 2007 Score Select Football - Rookie - 317_599 $ 4.00

Misc.
Brett Favre - 1991 Topps Stadium Club - Rookie $ 50.00
Dan Marino - 1984 Topps Football - Rookie $ 80.00
Emmitt Smith - 1990 Score Supplemental - Rookie $ 60.00
Jim Brown - 1960 Topps Football - 23 $ 100.00
Jon Cornish - 2007 Donruss Elite Football - Rookie Auto $ 8.00
LaDaninian Tomlinson - 2007 Donruss Elite - Chain Reaction $ 15.00
Legedu Naanee - 2007 UD SPX Football - SPX Endorsements Auto $ 10.00
Peyton Manning - 1998 Press Pass Football - Triple Threat Die Cut ?
Thurman Thomas - 1989 Score Football - Rookie - 211 $ 8.00
Tim Brown - 1989 Score Footall - Rookie - 86 $ 10.00

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Three New Box Breaks!!!

It’s time again for a new Box Break, so why not make it three? Ok so mainly I just got suckered into picking up a couple close-out boxes from my local shop, but what the heck, 2006 can still be exciting right?

On tap we have 1 box of 2007 SP Legendary Cuts (yes I am still chasing my first cut auto despite my good fortune with the Ruth card) and 2 boxes of Fleer Greats of the Game (Damn you Ken Burns you have made me too nostalgic). Being a newly reborn collector I have missed out on any previous issues containing retired jerseys. In fact my first jersey card period was out of this year’s Allen & Ginter, so any chance I have to build my collection is welcome. This is what attracted me to the Greats of the Game product (besides the close out price) as they offer 4 hits per box on average. The actual claim is 2 autos and 2 game used per box, which I proved wrong but that is for later.

At a higher price point, but still much cheaper then the $110 I was paying for them earlier in the year, is the SP Legendary Cuts. For the most part every single one of these boxes I have gotten have been a complete bust, save for the miraculous pulling of the Ruth film card. I can see why the price has dropped given the amount of big hits already pulled from the product. Still, I was willing to try my hand at the elusive cut signature cards.

First up; the 2007 Legendary Cuts. There are supposed to be Two hits per box, but they can be most anything, and I have pulled three a couple times now.

Common Cards: This small set has been deceptively difficult to complete. I still think I am a few cards short of the set as I still can’t remember pulling Josh Gibson.

But…here is Satchel.



The basic card design is good. The quality control has been pretty solid throughout as well. I can’t remember really damaged or off cut cards in any of my boxes. The red background works better on the black and white cards then the color pictures though. I think all the cards end up looking much too similar in that too much of the cards are devoted to design rather then player. If it were not for the big hits, the looks of these cards would not have drawn me to this product.

Hits: Well I have a knack for pulling Dwight Evans cards apparently. If I was looking to build up my collection of decent Red Sox players, I have done very well recently. I would be thrilled if some of these could end up being Giants, but they don’t make many sets.


Oh look, I guess I am a Paul Molitor pulling fool as well! This is my first autograph out of this product, and it is a HoFer numbered to 100, so this can’t be too bad right? It looks like another rough break overall though. Lets hope the Greats of the Game Turn out better.
With two boxes of Greats of the Game we should be looking at 8 different hits to add to my collection. That’s a pretty big draw when you are building up from scratch. Ultimately I want to be able to look at my collection and see a reflection of myself as a sports fan. Not to many other products out there are going to give you four chances a box at history, for a reduced price tag of about $70. So with that said, I have my expectations tempered, and my hopes high.

Commons: These are nice looking cards. Being Fleer I expect a somewhat cheaper looking product, and they are. They remind me of a Star set of some sort from the 80’s but with the pictures of old ball players it contrasts less then a more modern looking card would. The real highlights to me are the backs which provide nice blurbs about the players and complete careers statistics. They also put the Baseball Hall of Fame logo on each member’s card. This is a handy tool when looking back at some much older players, and also great when looking at the cards with someone new to the history of Baseball. For me this is my Wife who was excited to sort through the cards and separate out the HoFers to see how many we got in comparison to non-members. This same quality would go over well with children who would be able to compare the stats of the members to the non-members. Two thumbs way up from us on this feature, it made the break much more fun.

Inserts: Bring on the Color! I am a conservative person. I don’t like things that are loud or obnoxious or cheesy. But not everything needs to be BLACK. There are way to many black bordered cards out there, and far too much use of black within card designs. Baseball Jerseys have color, the game has color, life has color. I loved these inserts. They really lit up the packs, and overall look great. The backs look great as well.

Decade Greats

Nickname Greats

Cardinal Greats

Cubs Greats

Red Sox Greats

Reds Greats

Tiger Greats

Yankees Clippings

Dodger Greats YUCK!

Hits: The hits out of this product will either be game used or autographed versions of the inserts, or autograph versions of the commons.
Hall of Fame bat piece of a 1930’s Hall of Famer? I’ll take it. Three Autos of decent players, I guess I will take it. Nolan Ryan Jersey card? Hell Yeah! Nice add to the collection. Big Red Machine, Donnie Baseball, Bill Madlock? Check, check, check. Glad to have you boys welcome to the collection. Dodger Cards? I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. As you can see, I did not get 4 autos, but I did get 5 gamers, giving me a grand total of 9 hits so I won’t complain.

Overall, three pretty tough breaks. Nolan highlights the group, but overall pretty rough. These are names I grew up with though, so as for making my collection a better reflection of myself? Mission Accomplished. Now somebody take these Dodger Cards from me before I puke.