2010 Topps National Chicle

Visited 2 hobby stores today and found this box for sale at $95 & $50.  I chose the $50 box from Les's Sports Cards in Birch Run, MI.  This set has been my favorite set from 2010.  After opening up the box I found:

This is the box topper card.  Inside there is a possibility of 25 players.  The card I found:

A Mantle Cabinet Artists Signature card!  It has the autograph of the artist (Jason Davies) across the front.  This card is numbered 12/50.  Beckett lists it at $60. 

The box contains 24 packs with 8 cards per pack.  Total of 192 cards.  Guaranteed 2 Autographs and 1 Game-Used relics per box.  For stats information, I'm opening the packs from left to right, top to bottom.

Pack 1 - Mantle Base card.
Pack 2 - Evan Longoria, Walter Johnson SP
Pack 3 - Strike
Pack 4 - Ozzie Smith, Aaron Hill National Chicle back
Pack 5 - Stan Musial, A.J. Burnett Bazooka back
Pack 6 - Rogers Hornsby SP
Pack 7 - Madison Bumgarner RC, Luis Durango Auto
Pack 8 - Ryan Sandberg, Carlton Fisk National Chicle back

Pack 9 - Rick Porcello (Tigers)
Pack 10 - Drew Stubbs SP
Pack 11 - Christy Mathewson Artist's Proof Signature 10/10
Pack 12 - Sandberg National Chicle back
Pack 13 - Eric Young Jr. Bazooka back
Pack 14 - David Wright, Christy Mathewson SP
Pack 15 - Lou Gehrig
Pack 16 - Victor Martinez National Chicle back

Pack 17 - Tim Lincecum, Justin Verlander, Carlos Beltran Relics Bazooka back 58/99
Pack 18 - Albert Pujols, Thurman Munson SP
Pack 19 - Brent Dlugach Auto
Pack 20 - Mike Schmidt, Kevin Richardson Bazooka back
Pack 21 - George Sisler SP
Pack 22 - Ichiro
Pack 23 - Mel Ott National Chicle back, Hank Greenburg (Tigers)
Pack 24 - A-Rod, Pujols National Chicle back

Aside from the Mantle box topper, I would say that the card of the box is the Mathewson Artist's Proof Signature.  It is numbered 10 of 10 and is not priced in Beckett due to scarcity.  Great Card!

Box Stats
1.  SP - 6
2.  Beckett Listed - 14
3.  Rookies - 11
4.  National Chicle Backs - 6
5.  Bazooka Backs - 3
6.  Autos - 4 (including box topper)
7.  Game-Used - 1
8.  Duplicates - 0

2005 Just Autographs

Took a trip to Les's Sports Cards today in Birch Run, MI.  I have never been there before, but I will be definitely be a return customer.  Purchased this Joel Zumaya card out of the case for $2.  It is a non serial numbered card that has a print run of 5,000. 

Also purchased on this trip was:  (2) 3 row shoe boxes for $2 each & a 2010 Topps National Chicle Box for $50.

2010 Topps Chrome

One last box at 20% off.  I snagged this blaster box at Meijer for $15.99.  There are 8 packs inside with 4 cards per pack.  This is a yearly favorite of mine, but this year the warp on the cards have been pretty bad.  This box was no exception.

Pack 1 - Strike 1 (I did get a checklist. Yippee)
Pack 2 - Strike 2
Pack 3 - A-rod
Pack 4 - Heyward (RC), Cliff Lee (purple refractor), Utley, Cano
Pack 5 - Greinke (refractor)
Pack 6 - Miguel Cabrera (refractor), Ordonez
Pack 7 - Strike 3 (Got the other checklist)
Pack 8 - Griffey Jr.

Box Stats
1.  Refractors - 6 (1 purple)
2.  Rookies - 6
3.  Duplicates - 0

2009 UD A Piece of History

Today I found these packs at Kmart.  2 packs inside each package.  They were priced for $1.69 but rang up for $1.52 (must have been on sale).  Each pack has 5 cards in it.  Total of 40 cards. 

Package 1
 Pack 1 - Derek Jeter
 Pack 2 - Strike 1
Package 2
 Pack 3 - Strike 2
 Pack 4 - David Wright
Package 3
 Pack 5 - Michael Jordan 20th Anniversary insert
 Pack 6 - Derek Jeter, Evan Longoria (red parallel)
Package 4
 Pack 7 - Strike 3
 Pack 8 - Strike 4

7 of the 8 packs had a red parallel in it.  Each pack had at least 1 Historical Moments card in it.  I think these cards are a waste of cardboard, but they are a part of the set.  Not the best cards, but not bad for $ .75/pack.

Pack Stats
1.  Beckett Listed - 4
2.  Inserts - 1
3.  Parallels - 7
4.  Rookies - 9
5.  Duplicates - 3

2007 Topps Series 2

Another 20% off box from Meijer.  Final price was $3.99.  11 packs with 6 cards per pack.

This box was a pretty big disappointment.  Cards of note were of A-rod and Clemens along with a Griffey Jr. Hit Parade insert.  The card of the box was a Paul Lo Duca base card missing the signature.  The no signature cards book for $5.

Box Stats
1.  Beckett Listed - 4
2.  Inserts - 10
3.  Rookies - 7
4.  Duplicates - 0

2009 Topps Heritage

Meijer has all sports cards 20% off through Christmas Eve.  I picked up this blaster box yesterday for $9.59 (regular price is $11.99).  This box contains 8 packs with 8 cards per pack (plus that valuable stick of bubble gum).  64 Total cards.  Let's see what was inside.

Pack 1 - The Cardinals coaches card SP ($6).  Not much else to speak of...
Pack 2 - Strike 1.
Pack 3 - Not too much.  Carlos Pena, Matt Joyce, Corey Hart.
Pack 4 - The pack of the box.  Derek Jeter, Evan Longoria all-star rookie, CC Sabathia SP ($8), Mark Teixeira New Age Performers Insert.  Tigers - Gerald Laird, Phil Coke rookie.
Pack 5 - Geovany Soto SP ($8).
Pack 6 - Strike 2.  Tigers - Miguel Cabrera, Jim Leyland.
Pack 7 - Foul Ball.  Bobby Richardson Baseball Flashback insert.
Pack 8 - Ryan Howard, Bob Friend/Cliff Lee Then and Now insert.

Box Stats
1.  SP - 3
2.  Becket Listed - 3
3.  Inserts - 3
4.  Rookies - 6
5.  Duplicates - 0

My Hobby

This blog will be a diary of my baseball card and baseball card related purchases. 

I don't have the pleasure of having a hobby shop in town, but I do have access to cards through local retail stores.  I also make purchases online, at card shows and at hobby shops when my travels take me there. 

I am a huge Detroit Tigers fan and currently collect the following players:  Alan Trammell, Brandon Inge, Joel Zumaya, Mike Maroth and Bobby Higginson.

Recent sets that I have enjoyed collecting are:
2010 - Topps, Topps Chrome, Topps National Chicle
2009 - Topps, Topps Chrome, Upper Deck Icons
2008 - Topps, Topps Chrome, UD Masterpieces, Upper Deck X
2007 - Topps, Topps Chrome, Topps Turkey Red, UD Masterpieces, Upper Deck Goudey