A Blaster of 2013 Topps Archives

I caved. 

I know I swore off buying packs, but there's just so much cool stuff to be had in this set.  I've seen a lot of blasters that produced relics and autographs since Archives came out, and this blaster did not disappoint.  I have the Griffey from the original Gallery of Heroes insert, so I know how awesome they look.  I'm curious about the day-glow orange and the triumverate cards, too.  The basketball and football designed inserts, the return of the '90 Topps design, the fan favorite SP's - all that sold me.

Here's what I got:





Let's start with an insert.  Of all the guys on this checklist, I wanted the Will Clark the most, and here it is!  Maybe I'll get the autographed version next time.....

A cool George Brett throwback with a great picture.  It seems like 90% of Lincecum cards have the same image: hair flopping about in a windup.  Or is that Topps recycling one picture?

My only fan favorite SP.  I'm more aware of Sid than familiar with him.  I did a little reading before this post and apparently he was a native Hawaiian with a unique pitching style.    It seems he's more popular in Hawaii and around Shea stadium.  This card should not have ended up in New Orleans.

I like the A's color scheme here.  It's very different.  The Mathews, Reggie, and Ozzie cards all came out great.  Look how ready Ozzie is - he could spring in any direction at any moment.

Molly and the Kid, both respected Hall of Famers.  Paul Molitor always looked like a hockey guy to me.  Not necessarily a player, but one of those "hockey guys," you know.  Just a dude who's way into hockey.

I've started getting excited when I pull Rangers cards as a friend of mine who doesn't collect cards but loves the Rangers has asked me to put together a Rangers team set.  I'm thinking this may be the stepping stone to making a full-fledged collector out of him.  I'm going to help as much as I can because no one else I know collects cards.  No one.  Or if they do they keep it a secret.

A sticker card of all the popular modern-day sluggers.  I don't collect any of these dudes, but I kind of want to keep this card just because it's an awesome lineup.  Naaah, it's up for trade.

Is Mike Trout ever not smiling?  Life is hell, Mike.  Hasn't anyone told you?  Someone burn his popcorn or something.

They did a great job recreating the 1990 set here.  It's fun seeing modern names on this 23-year-old design.  I'm still a sucker for reprints from the overproduction era.

This is my hit.  It's a great-looking card, too.  I've already got plans for this one, but most of the cards in this post are available for trade.  Hit me up if anything screams at you.

So no Griffeys.  :-(  Just an excuse to buy more packs.  Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

A Sunburn and a New Puppy: a Trade Post

So I was gone for a week or so there.  Did you miss me?  I missed you.

I was aboard this floating monument to excess:

In my entire tenure there (outside of the Mississippi River delta, at least) I was without phone and Internet - it was wonderful. 

We had some fun, got into a little trouble, and tore the roof off the sucker in general.  Two of my friends got married (to each other), and I lost a little money in poker but made it all back at the craps table.



My one good hand all week



We stopped off in Progreso and Cozumel, and we drank lots and lots of rum.

I mean lots.

Nearly there.....

Close enough.


But now I'm back on dry land.  The sunburn I picked up at Playa Mia lingers in that stage of healing between itching and peeling; my keys and cell phone once again weigh down my pockets; and I find myself having to occassionally drive a car, prepare my own food, and face the world with steadfast sobriety.

Before I left I pre-wrote five posts to be published in my absence.  All were on cards from 1991.  I wrote them, set the little date dealy on the right side toolbar, and left it.  When I got home I noticed none of them published.  Clearly I missed something.  Anyway, I started publishing those one at a time since my return to civilized society.  Now I'm fully back and raring to write snarky stuff about Griffeys again.


While I was gone I received two trade packages from a couple of Dodgers fans/all-star baseball card bloggers. 

The first is from Jim at GCRL.  The star of his package was this oversized Rusty Staub postcard:

Rusty went to my high school in New Orleans and once signed an autograph for my Dad when he was 10 (my Dad, that is).  My Staub collection is a bit rusty (humor joke!), but thanks to Jim I have this great new addition as well as these:



The technical name for a group of Kittles is a "bench."  A bench of Kittles.



I feel like Chuck Finley cards are incomplete without his trademark Chuckstache
 even though 98% of Chuck's cards are from the post-Chuckstache era.



I believe this is an Angels team set which means Chuck
is in there somewhere.  I'm no seal-breaker, though....




I love Cal Ripken - he's one of my favorite players to collect, and everybody loves the guy.  I find that sending someone Cal Ripken cards is a lot like giving someone a bag of Skittles.  Regardless of whether the recipient actively likes Skittles or not, you know they're going to eat those things at some point.  Skittles are good.



Maddux is more like Mike & Ikes.



I don't know what it is, but I really like mascot cards now.  I've been setting them aside ever since I pulled my first one from a pack of 2012 Topps.  They're all so....furry.




Just a sweet mullet.





I also collect Griffeys.  Were you aware?

Many thanks, Jim.  Everybody should go send him their double-play cards and whatever Dodgers he needs.....


I also got a trade package from Mr. Night Owl, standard-setter for card blogs everywhere.  I scoop up a fistful of '75 Topps minis for Greg at my local monthly card show whenever I can make it.  There's a kindly old gentleman there who has boxes and binders of the things and lets them go for pretty cheap (as far as I know), and you all know how much fun it is to help someone with their want list.

Anyway, here's a fun mix of cards from Night Owl:

I've been wanting one of these since I learned of their existence.  Bonkers card.

Cow, MooTown Snackers.  Coincidence?  That Flair card is sweet.

Chuck has a real "Do you think I'm sexy?" thing going on in that Triple Play card.



Classic Kittle.  This may be my Halloween costume this year.





A beautifully miscut '75 mini, and one of the silliest
names in baseball.  He coached Griffey from the bench
in Cincinnati for a short time.  Didn't do great.



In honor of Mr. Owl: Griffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeys!!!!

That mid-90's Bowman Chrome is a beaut, but the real star of the show is this guy:

This was one of the few base cards I don't have.  I learned this because I started writing the post for that Topps set before scanning.  Then while scanning I realized I had the Opening Day issue but not the flagship base card.  Derp.  Felt pretty dumb.

Plus that picture is sa-weeeeet........

Thanks, Greg!  Go update your '75 minis want list ASAP.  I think the next card show is right around the corner, and I'm just going to end up printing that thing up before I go. 

Everybody, go send Night Owl some Dodgers.  I would tell you to read his blog, but I bet dollars to donuts most of you already do.  Keep doing that.

Oh, and we totally did get a new puppy.  More on that later.....

$1600 to Spend on the 'Bay - What Would You Buy?

There's a fun post/contest over at Drop the Gloves! that asks what you would spend a hypothetical $1600 buying on eBay.  Believe it or not, it's not just Griffeys for me.  Here's my list:

#1: 1993 Finest Griffey Refractor – 524.95

#2: 1989 Topps Traded Tiffany Set - $150.00

#3: Griffey Sr/Jr Dual Autos - $125.00

#4: Four boxes of 1989 Upper Deck (strictly for the thrill of pulling a Griffey from a pack) - $200.00

#5: T.J. Oshie RC Auto/Patch (what can I say? - I'm a Blues fan) - $55.00

#6: 1954 Topps Ted Williams Graded - $247.50

#7: Will Clark Triple Threads Auto Relic  - $237.49

#8: 1984 Ron Kittle Donruss RC PSA 10 - $50.00

#9: Chuck Finley 283 card lot – 11.00 shipped

Let's see yours!

Assenmacher and Serpico: a Trade Post

I received a pair of trade packages in the mail this past week from a couple of baseball card blogging all-stars.  Take a gander:

This first one came from Jim over at gcrl.   He's crazy about the Dodgers and double-play cards (of which I have another stack saved up), and he seems to know what I like.



I've always been a Maddux fan ever since my lttle league team was the Braves.  That Cy Young Winner card on the top right has always been a favorite, as has the '89 Topps.



The Thrill - that Bowman card on th right is a new one on me.



A pitcher at the plate!  I normally send these to Dime Box Nick, but this one stays...





My favorite Upper Deck set and a numbered SPx - yes. 



That is some kind of hat/hockey hybrid Franken-mullet. 
This will fit nicely in my Bad Hair Day collection.  Great name, too.


Have I mentioned I also collect Griffeys?



This is the one-per-box 5" x 7" checklist.  That hologram is huge!




I've never see a Black & Gold redemption card before.  It's got a tiny little Griffey on it.  Part of me wants to cut it out, and if this were 20 years ago I probably would....



I have pulled these out of repack boxes before, and they look amazing.  I've never seen the Griffey before.  This was a very exciting find!

Thanks, Jim!  I've got a healthy stack of double-play cards I'm mailing to you Saturday.


If you read Nachos Grande you may have seen his series of Topps Heritage American Heroes.  It's a very cool set I'd like to pick up someday.  You may also know that Chris puts up growing trade stacks you can claim if you have cards to trade him.  Well, I'm sitting on a trove of Barry Larkins, and he posted this guy:

It was my buddy Jason's birthday Tuesday.  He and I pride ourselves on the wacky presents we get for each other (for Christmas I got him an autographed photo of Michael Dukakis).  Jason is positively obsessed with Serpico.  The man, the story, the Pacino movie - all that.  When Mr. Grande posted this card, I pounced.  I also nabbed a few others from the same stack including a Roger Clemens and a Vince Coleman among others, but the star of the show was Detective Frank Serpico. 

I was then inspired to hop on eBay and pick up this relic for pretty cheap:

It's gonna be fun to give these to Jason!  I appreciate the help, Chris.

Oh, Chris has stickers, too.  How cool is that?

Thanks again, Chris!  We should do a proper trade involving lots of cards.  I have stacks of Reds an no intention of hanging on to them.  I need to do a better job of shedding cardboard weight.  I think I'll work on a mass trade strategy today.

Happy hump day, everybody!