2009 UD Goodwin's Champions Pack Rip

Now there have been a few times where I mentioned how stoked I was for this product, unfortunately now that it is out - I'm way broke. I was able to grab a few packs which I will be showing off over the next few posts. I may be getting a box next week, we will see how the cash flows.

While I am not as impressed by these cards in person, I still really like them, they remind me of a bad blow j - it can't REALLY be bad - so thats what these are, not the best I've had, but you will never find me complaining.

Roy White and Todd Helton - Yesterday I mentioned about Pujols and the decade triple crown - for Helton to meet him in batting average he would have to go 30/60 in his next at bats and Pujols would have to go 10/60 - yeah - not happening - good on you though Todd

Now the minis - Bailey black border Gypsey Queen back - cool I guess and Ryan Ludwick

I'm just not a mini guy - don't really know why - I am going to eventually collect the whole set of this that is normal size - no interest in the minis - that makes the minis available for any of you who are working on them - let me know

Thats that - more tomorrow

A 2nd Retail Pack Of UD Icons

Here is the last pack of 2009 UD Icons that I will probably ever be purchasing - making this almost an important mile stone in my life, but not at all really. In this pack we have a lot people who are better at baseball than I am (better than you too probably).

Roy Oswalt - Dude got a bulldozer as part of his contract - thats a manly fucking gift. Speaking of manly - anyone here see the newest Rambo that came out a few years ago? the first 20 minutes is him just doing to manliest shit you've ever seen. Catching snakes barehanded, fishing with a bow and arrow, blacksmithing, I bet the dude just builds traintracks for leisure.

Maggio Ordonez - I would kill for this haircut for just one week. Or one of his paychecks

Jon Lester - the reason you cannot read this card is that its all extra chromey/shiny - is this an insert or parallel? There are no other markings or indications that this is anything special - but I think it just might be.

John Lackey - Memo to NY Mets - Please do not sign an injury prone ace. Ie... John Lackey

The best hitter in the American League, Ichiro.

Speaking of best hitters - did anyone else see the article on ESPN showing that Pujols is about to win the decade triple crown? Yeah, first guy since TED WILLIAMS! We truly are blessed to be able to witness what he is doing. Don't take it for granted.

Another Pack of 2009 UDX Retail

So yeah, I grabbed 2 packs of these - I know what they are and cannot really stand by my decision - if I saw a cheap set put together I might pick it up just to have the set, but really - meh - trade bait and team fodder really.

Miguel Cabrera - Even with the train wreck that is Dontrelle Willis these days, so far Detroit has totally raped on that deal that got Miggy on board.

Prince Fielder die Cut - Favorite non Mets players - Prince and Chase Utley - I know, I'm a bad Mets fan - throw Chad Billingsley in there too.

Dice K - I wasted 6 million bucks on you in March - dickhole

Paul Konerko - I find it hard not to root for this dude - Just seems like he's always there. Thats an underrated feature of a player being noted by many Mets fans this year.

Chase Utley X-Ponential - Chase and Big Prince in 1 pack - I'm pleased

Josh Hamilton - I wish he still did drugs, then I'd really be impressed

So that is that - nothing really too great about this set - I guess it has a few pluses, but really not enough to consider this for anything more than a random Target pickup

So, after more than a month away I bring you...

A retail pack of 2009 Upper Deck X...

But first an explanation of my absence.

I'm not sure I care anymore - Lately, I have just found myself wanting to play the guitar, go on walks, read, really do anything but this - I've bought a few packs here and there - but my motivation is waning - I may get re inspired and post regularly, or I may just use this as a glorified want list/ trading page - we will see. More on that as I know it.

Onto the cards

King Felix - Can you image this dudes numbers if he were on a good team, or Jesus, the National League? Unreal

Derek Holland - He's had his struggles this year, but he won't be 23 until October 9 - so there is still plenty of time to get it together - the Rangers have a real nice set of young arms and bats - they may be contenders for years to come if they keep making the right moves.

Francisco Rodriguez - I think I hate him. Really - He's just not that great and you don't realize it unless you watch him everyday - maybe the Mets just suck so bad I'm clouded

Jimmy Rollins die cut - Yup, it's shaped an X - fucking incredible.

Carlos Zambrano X-Potential - I always kinda dug these cards last year - really the best thing that this set has to offer - That said, there have been a lot of Mets/Cubs rumors lately involving some bad contracts ala Luis Castillo/Oliver Perez and Zambrano/Bradley - let's hope that we don't match up anywhere - I'd rather lose with the assholes I've grown to love - not the ones who may be better players that I already hate.

Carlos Quentin - I really wonder if he's got it. I would like to see what he can do playing 150 games - how do you White Sox fans feel about him? Do you feel he's the answer to the middle of the lineup or is he more a 25 Hr guy, not the big time masher of 2008?

Well, that wasn't so bad, getting my feet back in the water a little bit - for, blogging is a go. Anything here is available if you want it except K Rod - on his way to the Mets box.

Music - Strokes - 12:51

1992 Upper Deck CHallenge - Who Are They?

So since there is nothing inherently exciting about ripping a pack of 1992 upper Deck High numbers I thought it would be fun to play a little game - there is no prize, but this will be good way to kill 5 minutes - I promise

So what i did is I went ahead and scanned each card missing something - the players names - so what I want you to do is too look thought and see if you can figure out who they all are! Just leave it in the comments - an no peeking - lets see what you ya'll can do on your own - I'll give the winner a little love and who knows, maybe I will throw something together for them - I didnt get enough sleep last night to be able to determine it all this morning.

Some will be very easy

Others - not so much -

So let's see what you've got!

Pack Break - 1988 Fleer - Pretty sweet pack

Reaching back into the repack case for a break of 1988 Fleer. I know that this set is ugly - but I love it - I can't explain why - but when I reached into the repack case (I had forgotten what packs were in there) and saw this I was very happy - and really, I can't imagine a much better players being pulled from any pack in 1988 - this one really was (is?) star studded

First of course - the sticker - I should put this on my lunch box

Get ready to see a star at every turn folks

Mike Maddux
Greg Gagne
Don Mattingly Headliners

the Mattingly was the first Headliner card from this set that I had ever pulled or owned - that was exciting on its own - so now in the first 3 cards we have a perennial All Star that all Yankee fans think is a HOFer - not really quite there, but a very nice player and card nonetheless


Tried and True Sluggers - Mike Schmidt and Gary Carter
Barry Larkin
Joe Carter

ok, 3 cards, 2 Hall of Famers , one of the 10 best shortstops of all time, and a feared slugger with a World Series walk off homer - not too shabby


Andre Dawson
Fred Manrique
Dave Meads

I think Andre is HOF bound next year - just a hunch


Dave Valle
Tom Glavine
Rob Deer

A nice everyday catcher - an all or nothing slugger - and a future first ballot HOF - again - not bad

Carlos Martinez
Kirk Gibson
Eddie Milner

its not too bad when out of every three cards pulled that the worst "best" card is of Kirk Gibson who was a great slugger in his era



See what I mean? Really from a pack from this era - this really was a great pack - I would have been thrilled to rip this when I was 7.

My Last Pack of 09 A & G (unless I come into money which is very unlikely)

2nd verse, worse than the first

So here are the results of the 2nd and from the title, last pack of 09 A & G I will be buying. Again, not quite sure if these are trade bait or not yet - I could always pursue them in the winter before the base sets for 2010 come out - we'll see.

James McDonald
James Loney
Manny Parra

I have McDonald in a long term keeper league - but I think he is going to lose his minor league eligibility so I don't know what do really do with him.

I had Loney in the same league but dealt him away in this deal

I get: Ryan Zimmerman, Lance Berkman
I Give up - James Loney, Phil Hughes, Matt LaPorta, Jake Fox, Scott Downs

I'm going for the win this year

Ervin Santana
The modern game of baseball inventor Cartwright
BJ Upton

Black border Mini of Cantu

National Pride El Caballo - Carlos Lee

I got a pretty sweet package in the mail yesterday too that will be coming up in the next few days.

The first of 2 Packs of 09 A& G

I Think that I mentioned it here before that I really don't have the money to collect any more than 1 more set this year (excluding Topps U & H). It was a toss up between A & G and the UD Goodwin's Champions set out in September. Since it's something new and the price point is more my speed, I am going to go with the Goodwin's, but that doesn't mean I can't pick up a few backs of the Ginter's to see what the fuss is all about.

Joe Saunders
Joakim Soria
Victor Martinez

So far, I like these better than the past few years. Bigger picture, more color - more .... better? Yes, more better

Prince Albert Pujols
Mark Teixeira

2 horizontal cards of 2 dudes who can really club it.

They are good hitters too, not just good dancers.

Randy Johnson who's age allowed Jonathan Sanchez to become a part of baseball history and the National Pride card of Yunel Escobar.

I scanned the mini bigger than any of the regular cards - not sure why, but here is the riot.

Ginter back!

Another pack should find its way on here tomorrow.

I'm not sure if I will be pursuing this set or not yet... I do really like it - but I am poor. I think I will just stash these for the time being before throwing them out in trade bait.

2007 Topps Opening Day Pack Rip

Reaching deep into the repack box to give you something other than youtube videos - I bring you a fresh hot pack of 2007 Topps Opening Day. Now is there anyone else out there who really prefers the white design to the black that was the base set from this year? Really, when I look at baseball cards in the winter - I want sunny, bright - a reminder of whats to come and not whats happening (remember I am in upstate NY here). I really feel this set would have been better received all around if they had swapped the Opening Day color for the Base color. The design still isn't great, but the white just looks better I think. What do you think?

Onto the cards...

There were 7 cards in the pack, I've broken them up a bit. First up are the 2 rookies.

Drew Anderson
Fred Lewis

Now any pack with 2 rookies is pretty good. Drew Anderson hasn't done all too much at the big league level, but Fred Lewis has made himself into a nice major league ball player - I bet he would be a bigger name if he wasn't stuck making his name out in SF. Even if they are a playoff contender this year, I still don't think too many outside of California are paying attention.

Next up in the pack were 4 starting pitchers and this is how I would run them out there if they were my 4 man rotation.

1) CC Sabathia
2) Chad Billingsley
3) Francisco Liriano
4) Freddy Garcia

Honestly, I think Chad is the best of the bunch here, I think the Night Owl would be happy to know I do have a severe man crush on that dudes abilities. I would trade almost anyone in the Mets organization to get him. Captain Cheeseburger is a nice player, but I'm afraid that he just won't live up to the contract (who really could). Liriano needs to get and stay healthy and I bet he can regain a bit of his 2006 form. Finally Freddy Garcia sucks on choads.

Finally, scanned big for the Dayfs and Canucks of the world is Bian McCann. I want to hate him - I really do, but alas I don't. Here is is large and in charge.

All of these cards can be had, just let me know

A Much better Pack of 91 Donruss Series 2

So I made the decision this morning to allow 91 Donruss to redeem itself and reached back in the pile of repack packs and pulled out this pack, that really, was awesome. This is just about as good as you can hope to get with getting 10 (give or take) players that could have been considered stars in their time. Lets take a look

David Wells
Francisco Oliveras
Pete Incaviglia

Already we have a 239 game winner (and 3x AS), and a guy with 200 career homeruns. Sorry Frankie - You didn't really do all that much. But thanks for playing.

Dennis Rasmussen
Ken Griffy Sr
Terry Pendleton

Dennis stuck around for 12 seasons, Ken has some of the best sperm in baseball history, and Terry Pendleton might have won an MVP for one of those crappy Braves teams in the 90s.

Now it starts to get real good (if we don't count off the field issues)

Mel Hall

Barry Bonds

Kirby Puckett

Mel had a nice career, but also molests children. Barry had a great career but is a world class asshole and a cheater. Kirby once sawd through a door to hit his wife - but he is HOF anyway

And the hits keep coming

Dale Murphy

Greg Vaughn

Ron Darling

A Border Line HOF and NL MVP, a slugger who once belted 50 Jacks in a season, and a Met hurler who had a very nice career and is far more tolerable than Mex when calling games on SNY.

And the good mojo doesnt stop

Fred McGriff MVP

Danny Tartabull

Tim Raines

2 borderline HOF and Danny Tartabull? Great way to end the pack - I really dont think (w/o looking at the checklist anyway) that this pack cuold have gone much better.

So there we go - a redemption song if there ever was one

Another Crappy Pack Break staring 1991 Donruss

So this morning I dedicded to reach back into my repack box and pull out another crappy pack for you all to enjoy - and guess what? I found a doozy - here we go with 1991 Donruss Series 2. Are we all ready for some hot garbage? Here is the pack rip in order pulled.



Gleen Davis

Dave Parker MVP

Carlos Martinez




Luis Quinones

Bert Blyleven

Mike Harkey

Carlos Martinez

Luis Quinones

Bert Blyleven

.... wait...

did I just pull doubles of three dudes consecutively? oh yea - think I did

Mike Harkey

Fernando Valenzuela Highlight

Scott Cooper

Yup - another Harkey

Andres Thomas

Ben McDonald

Todd Burns

So yea - another shit stain of a pack of baseball cards.

Glenn Davis was a nice player in his time as was Valenzuela - Blyleven had a great career as did Dave Parker in his heyday - but none of these guys make this pack a success. Just awful