Calico Joe

I'm going to take a quick time out from our baseball cards to talk books.

I am extremely excited to read the upcoming book by John Grisham titled Calico Joe. This is his first baseball themed book!! Book is due to release on April 10, 2012.

2012 Topps

Picked up my first 3 packs of the year yesterday.  Visited Les's Sports Cards for them.  Nice new design on the cards this year.

Pack 1 - Stephen Drew, Edwin Jackson, Trevor Cahill, Dee Gordon, Josh Reddick, Rick Porcello, Denard Span, Jamie Garcia, John Buck, Frank Thomas Golden Moments insert

Pack 2 - Juan Nicasio, Jhonny Peralta, Matt Dominguez RC, Colby Lewis, John Lackey, Chris Getz, Adron Chambers, Ben Revere, Jered Weaver Golden Moments insert, J.P. Arencibia Gold Futures insert

Pack 3 - Craig Kimbrel, Vernon Wells, Jim Thome, Doug Fister, Orlando Hudson, Phil Hughes, Jayson Werth, Javy Guerra, Willie Mays Golden Greats insert, Golden Giveaway code card

Pack Stats
1. Price - $6.36
2. Rookies - 1
3. Inserts - 5

2010 Bowman Platinum

Purchased this box a while ago from Meijer.  Just now getting around to posting it.  Hoping to get closer to a complete set.

Pack 1 - Jon Lester, Chipper Jones, Hunter Pence (base cards)
               Brett Jackson (prospect card)
Pack 2 - Troy Tulowitzki, Madison Bumgarner RC, Shin-Soo Choo (base cards)
               Zach Britton (prospect card)
Pack 3 - Gordon Beckam, Buster Posey RC, Robinson Cano (base cards)
               Scott McGough (prospect card)
Pack 4 - Ike Davis RC, Felix Doubront RC, Adrian Gonzalez (base cards)
               Freddie Freeman (prospect cards)
Pack 5 - Dustin Pedroia, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez (base cards)
               Gerrit Cole
Pack 6 - Logan Morrison RC, Evan Longoria, Justin Upton (base cards)
               Hak-Ju Lee (prospect card)
Pack 7 - Billy Butler, Andrew McCutchen, Matt Cain (base cards)
               Mike Minor (prospect card)
Pack 8 - Jered Weaver, Roy Oswalt, Joey Votto (base cards)
               Mike Moustakas (prospect card)
Pack Stats
1. Price - $13.99
2. Prospects- 8
3. Parallels - 0
4. Rookies - 5
5. Xfractors - 0
6. Duplicates - 0

2011 Bowman Platinum

Grabbed a couple more of these packs at Target.  I like the look of them again this year!

Pack 1 - Matt Holliday, Joe Mauer, Josh Rodriguez RC (base cards)
              Tony Wolters Xfractor (prospect card)
Pack 2 - Ubaldo Jimenez, Daniel Descalso RC gold parallel, Clay Buchholz (base cards)
               Sean Coyle (prospect card)

Pack Stats
1. Price - $5.98
2. Inserts - 0
3. Parallels - 1
4. Rookies - 2
5. Xfractors - 1
6. Duplicates - 0

2009 O-Pee-Chee

Got this box a few months ago during a 30% off sale.  I never got any of these in '09 when they came out.

Pack 1 - Ben Zobrist, Ervin Santana, Kevin Youkilis, Joes Mauer Moments, Jimmy Rollins Black parallel, Adrian Beltre The Award Show insert
Pack 2 - Aaron Rowand, Wandy Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera, Pat Burrell, A.L. Home Run Leaders, Pittsburgh Pirates Black parallel
Pack 3 - Phil Hughes, Evan Longoria, Chris Jakubauskas RC, Hideki Matsui, Casey Kotchman, Jason Giambi Black parallel
Pack 4 - Jose Reyes, Edwin Encarnacion, Todd Wellemeyer, Felipe Lopez, San Diego Padres, Kurt Suzuki Black parallel
Pack 5 - Adam Laroche, Kevin Slowey, Donald Veal RC, Ian Snell, Nick Markakis Black parallel, Jay Bruce All-Rookie Team insert
Pack 6 - Ichiro, Derek Jeter, Mark Buehrle, Xavier Nady, Oakland Athletics, Bengie Molina Black parallel
Pack 7 - Justin Morneau, Jermaine Dye, Adam Lind, Bob Howry, Johan Santana Moments, Mike Gonzalez Black parallel
Pack 8 - Chris Davis, Colby Rasmus RC, Craig Counsell, Mariano Rivera, Josh Geer Black parallel RC, Chan Ho Park Black Mini
Pack 9 - Gary Sheffield, Ian Kinsler, Oliver Perez, N.L. Win Leaders, Gabe Kapler, Johnny Damon Walk-Off Winners
Pack 10 - Brian Wilson,Victor Martinez, Lance Berkman, Ryan Perry RC, Jason Bartlett, Placido Polanco Black parallel
Pack 11 - George Sherrill, Hank Blalock, Minnesota Twins, Scott Hairston Black parallel, Joba Chambelain New York New York insert
Pack 12 - Ross Ohlendorf, Brad Nelson RC, Paul Konerko, Torii Hunter, Jamie Moyer Black parallel, Tiger Woods 20th Anniversary Retrospective insert
Pack 13 - Nick Blackburn, Jonathan Broxton, Luis Vizcaino, Lance Berkman Moments, Chris Young Black parallel, Evan Longoria Face of the Franchise insert
Pack 14 - Jonathan Sanchez, Joel Hanrahan, Dustin McGowan, Jake Peavy, Seattle Mariners, N.L. Home Run Leaders Black parallel
Pack 15 - Ryan Spilborghs, Kevin Millwood, Jesse Carlson, Chad Billingsley, Brett Anderson RC, Mike Hampton Black parallel

Pack Stats
1. Price - $5.99
2. Parallels - 16
3. Inserts - 6
4. Rookies - 6
5. Duplicates - 0

2009 Topps Chrome

Another pack from Meijer. 

Pack 1 - Kazuo Matsui, Conor Jackson, Jim Thome, Max Scherzer Blue Refractor
Pack 2 - Erick Aybar, Ryan Perry RC, George Sherrill, Adam Dunn Xfractor
Pack 3 - Carlos Zambrano, Andy Sonnastine, Daniel Murphy, Jeremy Sowers Refractor
Pack 4 - Josh Whitesell RC, Johnny Damon, Grady Sizemore, Jimmy Rollins Refractor
Pack 5 - Troy Tulowitzki, CC Sabathia, Jeremy Bonderman, Jay Bruce Xfractor
Pack 6 - Roy Halladay, Carlos Pena, Jorge Posada, Greg alman World Baseball Classic insert
Pack 7 - Javier Vazquez, Koji Uehara RC, Brian Duensing RC, Shunsuke Watanabe World Baseball Classic insert
Pack 8 - Pat Burrell, Howie Kendrick, Geoff Jenkins, Bobby Abreu Xfractor

Pack Stats
1. Price - $11.99
2. Inserts - 2
3. Parallels - 6
4. Refractors - 3
5. Xfractors - 3
6. Rookies - 4
7. Duplicates - 0

2008 Upper Deck X





Finally getting around to posting one of the boxes I got for my birthday.  This is one of my favorite sets from 2008.

Pack 1 - Derek Jeter, Chase Utley, Josh Beckett, Garrett Atkins, Eric Chavez parallel, John Smoltz Xponetial insert

Pack 2 - Albert Pujols, Chipper Jones, Kosuke Fukudome, Corey Hart parallel, Carlos Beltran Xponential 2 insert, Rod Guidry Yankee Stadium Legacy insert

Pack 3 - Jake Peavy, Pedro Martinez parallel, Josh Barfield Memorabilia insert

Pack 4 - Magglio Ordonez, Adam Dunn, Haney Ramirez, Jason Bay parallel, Pedro Martinez gold parallel, Torii Hunter Xponential insert

Pack 5 - Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rios, Nate McClouth, Johan Santana, Brandon Phillips parallel, Chase Utley Xponential 2 insert

Pack 6 - Jonathon Papelbon, Howie Kendrick, Aaron Rowand, Lastings Milledge parallel, David Ortiz Xponential insert, Don Mattingly Yankee Stadium Legacy insert

Pack 7 - Zach Greinke, Ryan Braun, Randy Johnson, B.J. Upton, Clay Buchholz parallel, Ken Griffey Jr. Xponential 3 insert

Pack 8 - Alfonso Soriano, Grady Sizemore, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Tim Lincecum parallel, Carl Crawford Xponential insert

Pack 9 - Aramis Ramirez, Russel Martin, Travis Hafner, Jimmy Rollins, Conor Jackson parallel, Hanley Ramirez Xponential 2 insert

Pack 10 - Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Quentin, Michael Young, Matt Holliday parallel, Albert Pujols Xponential 4 insert, Don Mattingly Yankee Stadium Legacy insert

Not too bad of a box.  I don't really care for the Yankee Stadium inserts.  The last pack saved the box.  The Pujols insert is a $12-13 card.  I also like the Griffey insert ($6).

Pack Stats
1. Price - Free
2. Rookies - 3
3. Inserts - 13
4. Parallels - 11
5. Duplicates - 0

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter

Not my favorite set, but another Power Pak purchase from Target.

Pack 1 - Rocco Baldelli, Kevin Millwood, Evan Longoria, Bobby Abreu, Roy Oswalt mini, Yovani Gallardo National Pride insert

Pack 2 - John Danks, David Murphy, Troy Glaus, Brian McCann mini, Manny Ramirez National Pride insert

Pack Stats
1. Price - $3.18
2. Inserts - 2
3. Parallels - 2
4. Rookies - 0
5. Duplicates - 0
6. Non Baseball - 1

2009 Bowman

Target Power Paks again.  I always like to pick up Bowman when I see them.  50 cards.

Pack 1

Base Cards - Matt Kemp, Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Zambrano, Matt Holliday, Aaron Cunningham RC, Joe Saunders (gold)

Prospect Cards - Ryan Verdugo, Ryson Brummett, Miguel Fermin (chrome), Angel Morales (chrome)

Pack 2

Base Cards - David Wright, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, Carlos Delgado, Matt Antonelli RC, Ryan Ludwick (gold)

Prospect Cards - Jacob Goldberg, Matt Rigoli, Zach Moore (chrome), Stolmy Pimentel (chrome)

Pack 3

Base Cards - Jorge Cantu, Matt Cain, David Ortiz, Ryan Doumit, Luke Montz RC

Prospect Cards - Kenneth Gilbert, Seth Garrison, Miguel Flores (gold), Cheng-Min Peng (chrome), Michael Swinson (chrome)

Pack 4

Base Cards - Joe Mauer, Bobby Crosby, Ian Kinsler, Nate McLouth, Robinson Cano

Prospect Cards - Justin Greene, Joshua Collmenter, Nelson Perez (gold), Seth Garrison (chrome), Luis Sumoza (chrome)

Pack 5



Base Cards - Aaron Rowand, Brian Roberts, Ted Lilly, Greg Smith, J.D. Drew, Yunel Escobar (gold)

Prospect Cards - Adam Mills, Ben Lasater, Jordan Walden (chrome), Robert Brooks (chrome)

Good addition to my 2009 Bowman collection.  Nothing too special but a low cost addition of 50 more cards!

Pack Stats

1. Price - $7.95

2. Rookies - 3

3. Parallels - 5

4. Prospects - 22

5. Chrome - 10

6. Duplicates - 0

2011 Topps Lineage

Another pack that caught my attention.

Pack 1 - Chris Sale RC, Johan Santana, Kendrys Morales, Yovani Gallardo, Jake McGee RC, Justin Verlander, Frank Robinson, Miguel Tejada 1975 Mini
Pack 2 - Kyle Drabek RC, Ian Kinsler, Whitey Ford, Walter Johnson, Joe Morgan, Tom Seaver, Clay Buchholz Diamond Anniversary, Joey Votto Topps 3D

Pack Stats
1.  Price - $5.98
2.  Inserts - 2
3.  Parallels - 1
4.  Rookies - 3
5.  Duplicates - 0

2011 Bowman Platinum

I finally picked up a couple of packs of the new Platinum cards today at Target.  I've been waiting to see what they look like this year.

Pack 1 - Jon Lester, Josh Hamilton, Freddie Freeman RC (base cards)
               Brody Colvin (prospect)
Pack 2 - Dan Uggla, Ryan Braun gold parallel, Justin Upton (base cards)
               Yorman Rodriguez (prospect)

Pack Stats
1.  Price - $5.98
2.  Inserts - 0
3.  Parallels - 1
4.  Rookies - 1
5.  Duplicates - 0

2007 Upper Deck Spectrum

Ebay purchase.  2007 Upper Deck Spectrum Rookie Retrospectrum Signatures. 154/199.

Winning bid - $ .99
Shipping cost - $1.25

2009 Topps Chrome

I got two boxes when I was at Meijer.  8 more packs.

Pack 1 - George Kottaras RC, Matt Kemp, Cliff Lee, Randy Johnson Xfractor
Pack 2 - Bobby Parnell RC, Jay Bruce, David Wright, Travis Hafner Refractor
Pack 3 - Dustin Pedroia, Garret Anderson, Jason Bay, Francisco Liriano Refractor
Pack 4 - Jermaine Dye, Alfonso Soriano, Barry Zito, Jeff Francis Xfractor
Pack 5 - Travis Snider RC, Geovanny Soto, Scott Rolen, Mike Lowell Refractor
Pack 6 - Mickey Mantle, Derrek Lee, Walter Silva RC, Matt Holliday
Pack 7 - Josh Beckett, Rickie Weeks, Nick Swisher, Ichiro World Baseball Classic insert
Pack 8 - Max Scherzer, Magglio Ordonez, Orlando Hudson, Yuneski Maya World Baseball Classic insert

Pack Stats
1. Price - $11.99
2. Inserts - 2
3. Parallels - 6
4. Refractors - 3
5. Xfractors - 3
6. Rookies - 4
7. Duplicates - 0

2009 Topps Chrome

A Meijer purchase today.  8 Packs inside.

Pack 1 - Jesse Chavez RC, Ichiro, Xavier Nady, Luis Durango World Baseball Classic Refractor insert
Pack 2 - Mariano Rivera, Jason Motte RC, Gordon Beckam RC, Gordon Beckam RC Refractor
Pack 3 - Josh Ourman RC, Fausto Carmona, John Maine, Jordan Schafer RC Xfractor
Pack 4 - Brian McCann, Gavin Floyd, Hunter Jones RC, Shuichi Murata World Baseball Classic insert
Pack 5 - Hanley Ramirez, Chad Billingsley, Dexter Fowler RC, Kangan Xia World Baseball Classic insert
Pack 6 - Carlos Quentin, Hunter Pence, Ricky Romero RC, Barry Zito Xfractor
Pack 7 - Colby Rasmus RC, Justin Masterson, Stephen Drew, Todd Helton Refractor
Pack 8 - Adam Dunn, Mariano Rivera, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Saunders Xfractor

Not a bad box.  Pack 2 had 2 Beckam's in it.  Regular card books for $12.  Refractor books for about $25.

Pack Stats
1. Price - $11.99
2. Inserts - 3
3. Parallels - 5
4. Refractors - 3
5. Xfractors - 3
6. Rookies - 10
7. Duplicates - 1

2011 Topps Allen & Ginter

I got some cards this week as gifts for my birthday.  The first is a pack of Topps Allen & Ginter.  6 cards in the pack.

Pack - Brett Sinkbeil RC, Dillon Gee RC, Lucas Duda RC, Brett Gardner, Ryan Howard mini, Jacoby Ellsbury Hometown Heroes insert

Pack Stats
1. Price - Free
2. Inserts - 1
3. Parallels - 1
4. Rookies - 3

2009 Topps Heritage

Target has gotten their Power Paks out again recently and this was pulled from a box that was half empty.

Pack - Luke Scott, David Price RC,Gil Meche, Curtis Granderson, Greg Golson RC, Billy Butler SP, Bruce Bochy, Reliable Closers Cueto & Bruce

Pack Stats
1. Price - $1.51
2. SP - 1
3. Rookies - 2
4. Duplicates - 0

2011 Topps Gypsy Queen

Hopefully these are like the last ones...just baseball.  Grabbed these this weekend from Target.

Pack 1 - Chipper Jones, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Bay, Carlos Zambrano, Brett Sinkbeil RC mini, Buster Posey Future Stars insert

Pack 2 - Tom Seaver, Stephen Strasburg, Tris Speaker, Daniel Bard mini, Roy Halladay mini, Matt Latos Future Stars insert

Still like the look of the cards.  Unfortunately I did get a gypsy card this time...however, there were 7 cards in that pack so I guess it doesn't matter.

Pack Stats
1. Price - $5.68
2. Inserts - 3
3. Rookies - 1
4. Variations - 1
5. Duplicates - 0
6. Non Baseball - 1

2010 Upper Deck

Target Power Pak.  Never bought this set.  This will be a new look for me.

Pack Highlights - Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Ernesto Frieri RC

Pack Stats
1.  Price - $1.59
2.  Inserts - 1
3.  Rookies - 1
4.  Duplicates - 0

2008 Upper Deck X

This set was one of my favorites of 2008.  Unless you get a auto/game used card, each pack has 2 inserts.  A die cut parallel and a XPonential insert. Picked it up from Target for a discount.

Pack - Randy Johnson, Aramis Ramirez, Russel Martin, B.J. Upton, Brandon Phillips parallel, Ichiro XPonential 3 insert

Pack Stats
1.  Price - $1.59
2.  Rookies - 0
3.  Inserts - 1
4.  Parallels - 1
5.  Duplicates - 0

2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions

Another Target Power Pak purchase. 8 total cards.

Pack 1 - Nolan Ryan, Dick Allen mini, Michael Jordan
Pack 2 - Prince Fielder, Cal Ripken Jr., Kosuke Fukudome mini,

I've listed the Jordan again since it's listed in Beckett.  I also got the Obama "night" card which list for $20...

Pack Stats
1.  Price - $2.38
2.  Minis - 2
3.  Rookies - 0
4.  SP - 1
5.  Duplicates - 0
6.  Non-Baseball - 3