2010 Topps Heritage 2 Box Break Packs 14/15

Here we are on most of your Hump Days, but my Friday (I work Sun - Wed). So I am in a great mood - you - hopefully also great - A few more packs as now I am committed.

Jackie Robinson
Brett Cecil
Francisco Liriano - Looking super tough
Gavin Floyd
John Smoltz

In 2nd grade I had to write a paper on my hero. Of course this was really just a paragraph that you tried to fit onto a whole piece of paper. I decided to write about my hero Jackie Robinson for being the first black baseball player in the major leagues. The only thing is, the only thing I remember writing in the paper was that I wrote that REGGIE JACKSON was the first black player. Whoops.


2009 NL HR Leaders
Albert Pujols
Prince Fielder
Ryan Howard
Mark Reynolds

If I had to choose I think its an easy choice that I would want Albert on my team.

2009 NL ERA Leaders
Chris Carpenter
Tim Lincecum
Jair Jurrjiens
Adam Wainwright

I'd have to go with Lincy if starting a team here.

Tommy Manzella SP!

Tommy Manzella sounds the like the name of an ex boyfriend on a sit com.

Josh Johnson

Jeremy Bonderman

Bobby Cox

Blastings Thrillage

I remember when Lastings could have gotten us Manny Ramirez. ugh

Victor Martinez

Rick Porcello

Tobi Stoner

Wandy Rodriguez

V-Mart is on the dynasty fantasy team that I talk about - traded for him by sending Brian Wilson away this winter. Hope that works out for me. Tobi Stoner is a nice guy who spells his name like a girl. If by the slim chance he establishes himself as a regular his jersey sales will be out of this world.

See ya'll later!

2010 Topps Heritage 2 Box Break - Pack 13

Just gonna keep rolling on the Heritage Train

B.J. Upton

Torii Hunter

Jim Thome

Michael Cuddyer

Adrian Gonzalez

I've always wondered what they called blow jobs 25 years ago? Why would you give your kid that to deal with in high school? Adrian Gonzalez is going to get an incredible trade package for San Diego this season, he is too good and too cheap not too.

Breaking News - Ty Cobb is an Asshole!
Franciso Rodriguez SP

I still cannot decide if I LOVE these All-Star kids or think they are terrible - it's one or the other - what do you think?
Matt Cain Refractor 32/561

I like how some of the color actually came through on this scan. Good times. See you tomorrow or Thursday!

2010 Topps Heritage 2 Box Break - Pack 11/12

How was everyone's weekend? I had my Dynasty League draft on Saturday - I needed relief pitching (which was too expensive, so I didn't really get anything good there) and on offense I needed Steals and Average which led to really boring acquisitions of Todd Helton, Placido Polanco, Carlos Gomez, Scott Podsednik, and Nick Johnon. They all fit my needs and my budget, so hopefully last years 2nd place turn will be a first this year.

Oh thats right, you want to see cards.

Brandon Phillips

Manny Acta

Kosuke Fukudome

Andy Pettitte

Bob Geren

Emilio Bonifacio

New Age Performers Justin Upton

This was a guy I ended up in a bidding war for at least years draft but ran out of money - but I had Adrian Beltre! oh bother.

Adam Wainwright Chrome 1845/1961

I used to not really get into the chrome cards, but for some reason this season, I really like them - not sure why.

Shin-Soo Choo

Andrew Bailey

Kevin Millwood

Chad Billingsley

Which Billengsly are we going to see this year? The young ace or the kid who just can't put it all together? Or worse, will we end up with the same enigma we've had for the last few seasons where there is just no consistency.

JAMES Loney

Jeremy Guthrie

Orlando Cabrera

Nate McLouth

We all agree that James Loney's first name is James right?

Well Topps didn't get the memo - Jeff Loney just doesn't sound right.

2010 Upper Deck Box Break Pack 3

Today is my Dynasty league draft meaning that I have 15 guys on their way over to drink lots of beer so this will be brief - not much analysis - just scans of my favorite 4 cards of the pack.

Kevin Gregg

Chris Johnson

Fernando Perez

Ryan Spilbourghs

Fu-Te Ni

Brian Tallet

Ron Villone

Brian Fuentes

Todd Helton - biography

Josh willingham - Biography

Kazuo Matsui

Rick Romero

Jose Valverde

Curtis Granderson

Austin Kearns

Michael Wuertz

Nyjer Morgan

Yadier Molina

Coors Field

Rajai Davis

Wish me luck! I should have a draft recap up in a few days!

2010 Topps Heritage 2 Box Break - Pack 10

Keeping up with the Heritage - still got a ways to go - but at least for those of you who choose not to collect this set you are getting to see most of it!

Beast of the East - Josh Beckett and Johan Santana

Carl Crawford

Russel Martin

Between Beckett and Johan I think I would have to take Johan - of course I am skewed being a Mets fan and all, I have just never been a big Josh Beckett fan although he has done nothing to deserve that. Carl Crawford finally had that superstar season last year and there is lots of talk that the Mets are going to push real hard to get him on the team next year - a 1 2 of Reyes then Crawford would really be pretty insane. Finally we have Russel Martin who is looking to rebound from a lost season last year.

Derek Lowe

Mark Buerhle

Joe Saunders

Scott Podsednik

Man the Mets dodged a bullet in not signing Lowe last year. He went from ace to untradeable in about 6 months, thats pretty impressive. Mark Buerhle somehow keeps performing at all star levels.

Finally we have a card commemorizing Justin Morneau's 2006 MVP year - he helped me win my first ever fantasy baseball league that year, so I have always been greateful.

I think we will look at some more Upper Deck tomorrow.

2010 Topps Heritage 2 Box Break - Pack 9

Wow - I am going to breeze right though this pack because it is without a doubt the most boring back in the boxes to date.

Matt Carson - RC

Jed Lowrie

Nick Punto

Johnny Cueto

Next we have a few players in the new uniforms

Melky Cabrera

Mark DeRosa

Jake Peavy

Jim Riggleman

I really think that Peavy is going to be huge this year - He was super strong at the end of last year and I hope he puts it together, great pitcher, great teammate.

I will have what is hopefully a better pack up this afternoon

If Baseball Cards Were Women, This is Where Boners Would Go To Die

So while organizing my cards I cam across 5 cards that i never remember buying - because I never would have (with 1 exception). Here, I bring you the abomination that is 1996 Topps Laser.

I am all for a little die cut action but I don't think these cards could look any worse if they tried.

First up we have Mark Wohlers about to be hit by a baseball asteroid. If you look carefully you will see that not only is the flame die cut, but there are many holes inside the flame as well. I didn't scan the backs, but they do not have a stat listing for the players just a few highlights like "1.37 - ERA in last 57 appearances of 1995". Thrilling.

Next is the only card of the lot that I would have purchased, and the only card I have any intention of keeping - My favorite all time player, Robin Ventura. There is one problem with this card though - it's ugly like Helena Bonham Carter - I know that the mid 90's were a free for all with card design, but you really have to question the decision makers that green lit this product.

Here is John Smoltz and his own asteroid.

Finally, it's hard to make a card set like this boring, but somehow Topps managed to do so with the Ryne Sandberg and Brian McRae.

Anyone out there want any of this shit? I've got 2 of the Ventura card so all is available - just let me know!

2010 Upper Deck Box Break Pack 2

Here were on the pack 2 of the superior base product this year, Upper Deck!

I know all about the complaints that this is a "sideways" set, but so far I have not grown tired of looking at these cards at all. It's really like UD is broadcasting in HD while Topps is still going black and white.

No stars, but here are some of my favorites from this pack.

Kendry Morales

Neil Walker

Jose Lopez

Seth Smith

Angel Pagan - Looking forward to really seeing what we have while Beltran is hurt

Troy Tulowitzki

Chone Figgins

Jamie Moyer

I said in last UD post that the biography cards I think work really well as a "one a day" insert. It's able to capture the big moments from the season along with smaller stories you may have missed if you don't follow each team all year.

Finally we have a Nick Markakis Baseball heroes card. These cards are really nice I think and unlike like the biography cards (which # 200 I think) I hope to one day finish off this insert set - I think they will look pretty sweet in a page.

By the way, I have finally finished arranging and filing my collection - approx 25k cards all in number and set order - 3 months working on it - feels great to be done.

2010 Topps Heritage 2 Box Break - Pack 8

The one thing about set building is that it makes packs like this one fun - it's nice when David DeJesus can really serve a purpose for you is it not?

Glen Perkins

David DeJesus

Nick Markakis

Ozzie Guillen

Really, the Perkins and DeJesus cards are pretty boring - boring players looking bored. Wow! Markakis is at least a rising star and has a bitchin' beard and Guillen swears a lot when you can actually understand him.

Next up we have three pretty Young and somewhat exciting players.

Elvis Andrus

Asdrubal Cabrera

Jose Reyes

I think in looking at these players Jose Reyes is what Elvis Andrus dreams of being - an all time stolen base threat who is good with the glove - the one thing Jose has is more pop and a more dangerous all around game. Hopefully Jose can stay healthy for both the Mets and my Dynasty Team.

Wrapping things up is an SP of Carlos Gomez, the man partially responsible for bring Johan Santana to the Mets! So thank you Carlos for that. When he was dealt I was kinda sad to see him go as I had seen him play quite a bit while here in Binghamton and grown in to quite a fan - but when you can get the best pitcher in baseball - it makes it easy to say goodbye.

Something different tomorrow - see you then!

2010 Topps Heritage 2 Box Break - Pack 7

I am writing this in Saturday while the wife is a purse party -

Since MLB The Show comes out tomorrow - I realize I will need to get a few of these queued up so I can spend my time in front of the TV. Also have my first fantasy draft here at the house on Saturday (a live draft beats the shit out of computer). Now that I have my justification for not doing something social - here are some new cards made to look like old ones!

Ozzie's Aces - Mark Buerhle and Jake Peavy

Oakland A's Team Card

2009 AL Batting Champs - Mauer, Ichiro, Jeter, Cabrera

Steve over at White Sox Cards must be looking forward to having a rotation fronted by these 2 hurlers. I thought it was a classy move earlier in spring when Peavy said that Buerhle should be the opening day guy. It's that kind of selflessness than can make you a clubhouse hero. Onto the leaders card - can you imagine if the top four of your lineup went like so

1 - Ichiro

2 - Jeter

3 - Mauer

4- Cabrera

Wow - that lineup would easily the best top 4 ever put together - I know it would never happen, but still kinda neat to think about.

Next we have a 2 dudes and 2 cups - gold cups - and our first double - I've heard a lot of mix feelings about Nolan Reimold from some birds fans - some seem to think he's going to be a stalwart in the outfield while others seem to think he's really just a 4th outfielder at best - what do you O's fans out here think?

Josh Beckett

Tim Wakefield

Michael Brantley

It's safe to say the Red Sox have 3 aces in the form of Beckett, Lacey, Lester - a healthy Dice -K ain't so bad either. I wonder if Wakefield is going to be the long man this year since Bucholz seems to be ready to be a part of a MLB rotation.
Here is Curtis Granderson again, this time in the form of a Chrome Refractor #'d 104/561 - any one of you ever send out a chrome card for a TTM? How did they turn out? I know that Curtis is a pretty prolific TTM signer so I am tempted to try him out.

By the way - thanks to the Cardboard Junkie for the shout out on what may end up being the longest box break ever - We will see if I have the stamina to keep going pack by pack!