2010/2011 Match Attax Football

They're back. Slightly different but still collectable.
This year there are 465 cards to collect. Thankfully for those of us who like cards in a nice tidy order, Topps chose to number the cards - in the top right hand corner.
Of the 465 there are 360 team base cards, that is 16 base cards and 2 foil cards for each of the 20 Premiership teams. Plus 20 manager cards and 1 referee card!
Topps introduced a further 'chase' card set called Showboat foils. There are 20 Showboat to add to the 60 Man of the Match rainbow foils and 4 100 club rainbow foils.
There are 5 limited edition cards scattered around 1 per in collectors tin, collectors magazine, starter packs , 'Lucky Packs?' and an edition of Match magazine.
Some retailers have Club Crest foil cards in special 7 card packs.
There is also a 100 signed silver foil Rio Ferdinand cards and 1 signed gold card. Good Luck finding those!
I purchased 6 of the retail card packs, which contain 6 cards and a foil team crest.

Pack 1:

#68 Brett Emerton Blackburn Rovers

#102 Ricardo Gardner Bolton Wanderers

#321 Frederic Piquionne West Ham

#324 Carlton Cole West Ham

#369 Damien Duff Fulham Showboat

#447 Alex McLeish Birmingham City manager

#R9 Fulham Crest

Pack 2:

#19 Brad Friedel Aston Villa

#66 Keith Andrews Blackburn Rovers

#207 Ji-Sung Park Manchester United

#213 Javier Hernandez Manchester United foil

#295 Pablo Ibanez West Bromwich Albion
#352 Greg Halford Wolverhampton Wanderers

#R1 Arsenal crest

Pack 3:

#20 Carlos Cuellar Aston Villa

#49 Keith Fahey Birmingham City

#58 Gael Givet Blackburn Rovers

#81 Stephen Husband Blackpool

#194 Yaya Toure Manchester City

#457 Chirs Houghton Newcastle manager
#R11 Manchester City crest

Pack 4:

#10 Jack Wilshere Arsenal

#271 Heurelho Gomes Tottenham Hotspur

#269 Frazier Campbell Sunderland

#312 Daniel Gabbidon West Ham
#360 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Wolverhampton Wanderers
#365 Charlie Adam Blackpool showboat

#R17 West Bromwich Albion crest

Pack 5:

#65 David Dunn Blackburn Rovers

#164 Paul Konchesky Liverpool
#177 Ryan Babel Liverpool

#199 Edwin Van Der Sar Manchester United

#335 Hendry Thomas Wigan

#355 Matthew Jarvis Wolverhampton

#R8 Everton crest

Pack 6:

#134 Jack Rodwell Everton

#145 Mark Schwarzer Fulham

#246 Rory Delap Stoke

#332 Ben Watson Wigan

#410 Fernando Torrez Liverpool Man of the Match foil

#454 Roy Hodgson Liverpool manager

#R13 Newcastle crest

I have no affiliation to any premiership team, so for the fourth year running I will collect the whole base set.

Through the contacts I have made in the USA, Fulham appears to be the most popular team amongst American collectors followed by Everton. Wondering whether Liverpool will rise in popularity if the Boston Red Sox owners planned purchase of the club goes through.

2010 Allen and Ginter baseball

I seriously contemplated using these gifted packs as my first 'video break'. Made an introduction with background music, etc and waited until my friend Dion returned from the US with packs he e-mailed to say he had obtained. He searched the San Francisco area and eventually found some in a comic shop, overpriced and undoubtedly searched- but Packs of A+G none the less.
I sat down to record the pack opening, in what started as a very quiet house. As soon as I began to talk, the interruptions followed.
'Dad who are you talking to?',
'What are you doing?'
'Can I help read the names...?'
'Would you like a cup of tea?'
I could edit the interruptions but the chuckles of my wife in the background became too unbearable. I tried to involve her in the process, I had seen this done to great success with another pack break, but she was having none of it.
What began as a carefully thought video break descended into farce, so I thought Sod it!
So the nine packs obtained from Cards and Comics Central 5425 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco will be opened the old fashioned way...
My friend Tony, who writes the blog 'Collector from Across the Pond' and I endeavouring to collect the whole 2010 Allen and Ginter base set of 350 cards. He is also going for the mini parallel version as well, while I have opted for the 'Monster of the Mesozoic' mini parallel. Just love the dinosaurs.

Pack 1:

#119 Dan Uggla Marlins

#167 Dan Harden D-backs

#244 Aaron Cook Rockies

#272 David Blaine Magician

#295 Josh Thole Mets

#337 Joe Nathan Twins

#TDH28 Jose Reyes Mets

#121 Francisco Rodriguez Mets black border mini Pack 2:
#22 Lucy skeleton
#65 Andre Ethier Dodgers
#138 Javier Vazquez Yankees
#182 Chris carpenter Cardinals
#198 A.J.Pierzynski White Sox
#312 Carlos Ruiz Phillies
#TDH52 Justin Upton D-backs
#337 Joe Nathan Twins miniPack 3:
#179 Jorge Posada Yankees
#179 Ben Zorbist Bay Rays
#223 Jason Kubel Twins
#240 Aaron Hill Blue Jays
#242 Jules Verne Author
#292 Chris Pettit Angels
#TDH65 Zack Greinke Royals
#SSS4 Vasco Nunez De Balboa mini
Pack 4:
#90 Kevin Kouzmanoff Athletics
#186 Jose Reyes Mets
#196 Scott Baker Twins
#231 Travis Snider Blue Jays
#262 Zack Greinke Royals
#322 Gary Matthews Mets
#TDH4 Lance Berkman Astros
#274 Nick Markakis Orioles mini A+G back
Pack 5:
#3 Ryan Braun Brewers
#184 Jake Peavy White Sox
#185 X-Rays more bones
#234 Nick Johnson Yankees
#249 Alfonso Soriano Cubs
#261 Adam Jones Orioles
#TDH38 Jim Thome Twins
#298 Jorge Cantu Marlins mini
Pack 6:
#63 Matt Carson Athletics
#73 Avery Jenkins Disk Golf
#157 Kevin Youkilis Red Sox (finally)
#175 Tim Lincecum Giants
#178 Josh Hamilton Rangers
#326 Aaron Rowand Giants
#TDH18 Felix Hernandez Mariners
#NA1 Cougar Argentina mini
Pack 7:
#30 Rafael Furcal Dodgers
#100 Matt LaPorta Indians
#107 Adam Dunn Nationals
#144 Stuart Scott Sportscaster
#149 Ichiro Mariners
#301 Gaby Sanchez Marlins
#TDH14 Justin Verlander Tigers
#NA26 Gray Wolf Turkey mini
Pack 8:
#8 Miguel Tejada Orioles
#14 Shane Victorino Phillies
#85 Yunel Escobar Braves
#131 Tyler Flowers White Sox
#226 Brian McCann Braves
#AGHS5 Ichiro Mariners
#TDH22 Grady Sizemore Indians
#LO16 Persephone mini
Pack 9:
#87 Alexei Ramirez White Sox
#132 David Price Bay Rays
#176 Preston Pittman Turkey Caller
#210 Chris Johnson Astros
#217 James Shields Bay Rays
#350 Alcides Escobar Brewers
#TDH68 Brian McCann Braves
#38 Tiago Della Vega Guitar Player mini black border

A nice start to a very interesting set. Who cannot like a card set that includes a Turkey Caller!

I know I called the Monsters mini set but I really liked the 'Sailors of the Seven Seas' parallel set too. Plenty of mini's Tony, they will be on their way shortly.

BLASTER 2010 Heritage Loose Packs vs Blaster

A quick recap:
I was gifted a blaster and 9 loose packs of 2010 Topps Heritage and saw that the packs appeared different which made me think...
So yesterday I decided to test the hypothesis-

The loose packs, being retail and possibly searched, will be inferior to the blaster packs.

The loose packs were my control group so I move onto the second half of this not too scientific experiment. Eight packs from a sealed 2010 Topps Heritage Blaster purchased from Walmart in Florida. The loose packs I assure you were purchased by my friend in 'a' Cracker Barrel in Orlando (not 'the' Cracker Barrel as I previously thought), a restaurant which they apparently frequent.

Blaster Pack 1:

#7 Chicago White Sox 2009

#114 Buster Posey Giants

#146 Josh Willingham Nationals

#206 Lance Berkman Astros

#274 Stephen Drew D-backs

#340 Magglio Ordonez Tigers

#351 Bobby Crosby Pirates

#436 Miguel Tejada Astros SP

Blaster pack 2:

#17 Checklist 1st Series

#90 Gavin Floyd White Sox

#160 Andy Pettitte Yankees

#200 Javier Vazquez Yankees

#262 Andrew McCutchen Pirates

#280 Tobi Stoner Mets

#325 Brett Gardner Yankees

#460 Bobby Abreu Angels SP

Blaster Pack 3:

#6 Ronald Belisario Dodgers

#15 Grady Sizemore Indians

#205 Edwin Jackson D-backs

#279 Erick Aybar Angels

#322 Michael Dunn Braves

#378 Francisco Liriano Twins

#361 Checklist 5th Series

#BF5 Whitey Ford Yankees

Blaster Pack 4:

#13 Ramon Santiago Tigers

#19 Alex Rodriguez Yankees

#50 AL Strikeout leaders

#270 Vin Mazzaro Athletics

#338 Ryan Zimmerman Nationals

#376 Marco Scutaro Red Sox

#C62 Derek Jeter Yankees #60/61

#NT4 Venera 1

Blaster Pack 5:

#89 Martin Prado Braves

#168 Chris Coghlan Marlins

#169 Ted Lilly Cubs

#180 Robinson Cano Yankees

#201 Beasts of the East

#246 Johnny Damon Yankees

#381 Mike Lowell Red Sox

#308 Game 3 - 2009 World Series

Blaster Pack 6:

#9 Aaron Harang Reds

#59 Neil Walker Pirates

#102 Nolan Reimold Orioles

#111 Brett Myers Astros

#159 Baltimore Orioles 2009

#353 Brett Cecil Blue Jays

#380 Jeff Francoeur Mets

#399 Jason Bartlett Bay Rays

Blaster Pack 7:

#1 Albert Pujols Cardinals

#12 Geovany Soto Cubs

#65 Paul Konerko White Sox

#140 Jarrod Saltalamacchia Rangers

#316 Kevin Youkilis Red Sox

#347 St.Louis Cardinals 2009

#364 Todd Helton Rockies

#488 Raul Ibanez Phillies

Blaster Packs 8:

#86 Los Angeles Dodgers 2009

#215 Derek Jeter Yankees

#309 Game 4 -2009 World Series

#334 Wandy Rodriguez Astros

#379 Randy Wells Cubs

#404 Hornsby Tops NL

#405 Gehrig Benched after 2,130

#424 Chien-Ming Wang Yankees

From the 8 Blaster packs:
58 base cards (13.6% of 425 base)
3 Short prints 436, 460, 488
2 Inserts NT4, BF5
1 Heritage Chrome C62 (#60/61)
0 Relics
It's absolutely the same. As far as experiments go I think that we can call that inconclusive...I need more packs.

10 Yankees from 64 cards. 16% of this blaster were Yankees!

LOOSE PACKS 2010 Heritage Blaster vs Loose Packs

I was fortunate to have been gifted some 2010 Topps Heritage packs. Although they were from the same friend who recently gifted a large selection of cards, this time it wasn't through volcanic delayed guilt.
The packs came in the form of a blaster of 8 packs from Walmart and 9 loose packs from Crackerbarrel. (Whatever that might be!) The packs look obviously different, the blaster packs contain gum for a start. But is this the only difference? In the name of baseball science and card collecting curiosity, I will conduct an experiment to see if there is a difference in the number of short prints, inserts and hits.
I will open the loose packs first, and throw out this hypothesis -
The loose packs, being retail and possibly searched, will be inferior to the blaster packs.
To keep it above board and in the true sense a scientific endeavour, I will open each pack, list and scan.As an aside there are still about 14 Red Sox I need to complete the team set, but that is for another blog.

Loose Pack 1:

#15 Grady Sizemore Indians

#22 Ross Ohlendorf Pirates

#34 Fausto Carmona Indians

#88 Alfonso Soriano Cubs

#105 Tim Hudson Braves

#320 Pittsburgh Pirates 2009

#378 Francisco Liriano Twins

#NF1 Peace Corps

Loose Pack 2:

#45 National League ERA leaders

#113 Jonathan Papelbon Red Sox

#200 Javier Vazquez Yankees

#216 Carlos Pena Bay Rays

#248 Kevin Millwood Orioles

#310 Game 5 2009 World Series

#354 Minnesota Twins 2009

#475 Justin Morneau Twins SP

Loose Pack 3:

#70 Lastings Milledge Pirates

#137 Bobby Cox Braves
#198 Chris Iannetta Rockies
#214 Tyler Colvin Cubs
#265 Dexter Fowler Rockies
#321 Aramis Ramirez Cubs
#379 Randy Wells Cubs
#424 Chien-Ming Wang Yankees

Loose Pack 4:

#71 Robert Andino Orioles

#185 John Danks White Sox

#260 Manny Ramirez Dodgers

#276 Tyler Flowers White Sox

#297 Oakland Athletics 2009

#353 Brett Cecil Blue Jays

#403 Robinson Breaks Color Barrier

#426 David Price Bay Rays SP

Loose Pack 5:

#43 NL Home Run Leaders
#61 Ryan Church Pirates
#90 Gavin Floyd White Sox
#122 Chicago Cubs 2009
#249 Cincinnati Reds 2009
#267 Michael Young Rangers
#272 Roy Oswalt Astros
#327 Henry Rodriguez Athletics

Loose Pack 6:
#41 NL Batting Average Leaders

#89 Martin Prado Braves

#101 Jhonny Peralta Indians

#169 Ted Lilly Cubs

#186 Denard Span Twins

#212 Omir Santos Mets

#268 Chris Young Padres

#318 Aubrey Huff Giants

Loose Pack 7:

#107 Rich Harden Rangers

#124 Daniel Hudson White Sox

#173 Boston Speed Party

#322 Michael Dunn Braves

#348 Julio Borbon Rangers

#399 Jason Bartlett Bay Rays
#402 Sisler Collects 257 Hits

#BF8 Luis Aparicio White Sox

Loose Pack 8:

#24 Andrew Bailey Athletics

#190 Chad Billingsley Dodgers

#215 Derek Jeter Yankees

#294 Josh Hamilton Rangers

#323 Shin-Soo Choo Indians

#423 Checklist 6th Series

#489 Josh Hamilton Rangers SP

#NAP8 Derek Jeter Yankees

Loose Pack 9:

(since there are 8 packs in the blaster this will not be included in the experiment, whatever it reveals)

#59 Neil Walker Pirates

#111 Brett Myers Astros

#187 Nyjer Morgan Nationals

#204 Brandon Phillips Reds

#240 Elvis Andrus Rangers

#262 Andrew McCutchen Pirates

#366 CC. Sabathia Yankees

#405 Gehrig Benched after 2,130

So from the 8 loose packs there was:

58 base cards (13.6% of 425 base)
3 Short Prints 426, 475, 489
3 Inserts BF8, NAP8, NT1
0 Heritage Chrome
0 Relics

Tomorrow the blaster...

2010 Topps Attax Starter Box

Match Attax -The card game that puts you in charge of the action!

Aimed at children? Obviously. Collected by grown-ups? Possibly. Nice looking cards? Definitely.

There should be two code cards plus 4 foil cards including an exclusive 'Legends' sepia foil card.

There are 21 cards in the starter box.

15 base cards

Francisco Rodriguez Mets

Cliff Lee Mariners

Scott Feldman Rangers

Brad Lidge Phillies

Nelson Cruz Rangers

Howie Kendick Angels

Carlos Lee Astros

Eric Byrnes D-backs

Adam Kennedy Athletics

B.J.Upton Bay Rays

Andrew McCutchen Pirates

David DeJesus Royals

Curtis Grandson Yankees

Jermaine Dye White Sox

Evan Longoria Bay Rays

2 code cards and 4 foils

Manny Ramirez Dodgers

Alex Rodriguez Yankees

Nolan Reimold Orioles Hot Streak
Aramis Ramirez Cubs Hot Streak

Justin Verlander Tigers Superstar

Mike Schmidt Phillies Legend

I know there isn't a great deal of love for the Match Attax cards amongst 'serious' collectors. They have no numbers or statistical information, no relic/auto 'hits' but it is helping to draw in the next generation of collectors. That cannot be a bad thing.

Topps have tried hard to make this collectable and achievable. The foil cards, although not to every collectors taste, are nice and shiny.

I also know a Mike Schmidt collector who would appreciate the sepia legend.

2010 Topps Attax Baseball

I watched two guys open a starter box of Topps Attax each on some obscure website called Beckett. They tried really hard to get excited about the cards but failed. One even said something like '... well you play a game. I don't think I will be playing it but I might collect the cards. They look pretty good.'
It was a little understated as the Attax brand is a huge money spinner for Topps, accounting for about a quarter (according to the Wall Street Journal) of their turn-over. The Match Attax football version has been huge in the UK and Europe. According to the experts the reason was that Topps combined the card collecting habit of old with the new fantasy role-play competitive game of trying to build a winning combination of cards to defeat an opponent.
I will throw my idea in too.
Being a primary school teacher I saw how popular the Attax were on the playground. Firstly they were affordable (8 good quality cards for 50p), secondly they looked good (bright colours, nice pictures) and thirdly there were special 'chase' cards. The children desired them and they traded like anything to get them, even purchasing the tin, book, folder and magazine to obtain the limited cards. They really only wanted to collect the base cards of the team they supported- Manchester United, Chelsea, West Ham United, etc. A few wanted the entire set, but all of them wanted to own some of the Shiny, Glittery Rainbow Foil cards. Very few, if any of the children I saw trading cards actually played the game.
However I'm not sure of the longevity of the product. Topps milked the product for what it worth this year with Match Attax Extra, Match Attax World Cup Edition, a supermarket Attax special pack and Slam Attax. Plus Panini leap on the band wagon with Adrenalyn XL , spreading the demand very thin while keeping supply super high. There are half full boxes in all stores around my way. So whether it is as popular next year we have to wait and see.
But the guys on Beckett were right.
They look pretty good.

I was gifted 9 packs of Topps Attax baseball which I will open in my ongoing search for Red Sox at 'Pursuit of Red Sox'

A big pile of baseball cards

I have mentioned on a number of occasions that I keep my ears open for people travelling to the USA. A polite enquiry as to whether they would mind obtaining some baseball cards is never turned down. When my friend, who happens to be the head of the school I work in, ventured another holiday to Florida I didn't even need to ask. 'Would you like me to get some baseball cards?' she questioned.

Let me think...

Yes please.

Unfortunately mid-way through the two week holiday, an Icelandic volcano erupted. What followed was airport closures and no air traffic in or out of Europe. Major disruption all over, with no foreseeable end. My friend and her family were 'stranded' by the turmoil, somewhere in Florida. The family's two week holiday grew to four. She returned to school today after landing late last night.

I'm pretty sure I know what I would be doing if I found myself on an extended holiday, far from home. My friend, however finding she had more time on her hands than normal, was called daily by the fiendish siren, that is Walmart. Her weakness was to my benefit. On every trip some baseball cards were purchased. My haul, and I do not use that term loosely, was ;

4 Jumbo packs of 2010 'Unauthorised' Upper Deck series 1,

9 Jumbo packs of 2010 Topps Heritage,

1 Topps Match Attax starter set,

9 packs of 2010 Topps Attax.

She is meant to return in June for a short break. Anyone know the chances of Volcanic eruptions around June 20th?