2013 Topps Heritage baseball

I have been a little negligent of this blog in the past 6 months or so. There are just so many other superior blogs popping up across the interwebs that it is difficult to keep up. One thing is still certain- I still collect baseball cards and still enjoy trading.

The set I  looked forward to most in 2013, was Topps Heritage. The majority of the posts in 2013 have been about Heritage and the Pursuit to collect the 425 base set. With another blaster under the belt and a chunk of cards from e-bay there are only a 146 cards left to collect.

Follow my Pursuit of 2013 Heritage. 

Despite not being as squashed as the last blaster, here are the 8 packs of 2013 Heritage goodness. There is meant to be either an insert or short printed card in each 9 card pack

Pack 1:

#25 Andrew Cashner Padres

#92 Chris Young Athletics

#93 Christian Friedrich Rockies 

#193 Garrett Jones Pirates

#208 Huston Street Padres

#303 Grant Balfour Athletics

#322 Scott Baker Cubs

#393 Pat Neshek Athletics

#BF-WM Willie Mays Giants

 

Pack 2:

#38 J.D. Martinez Astros

#42 Tommy Milone Athletics

#106 Mike Leake Reds

#138 2012 World Series game 3

#194 Mike Moustakas Royals

#262 2013 Cardinal Rookie Stars

#276 Nick Swisher Indians

#314 Shane Victorino Red Sox

#343 Daniel Nava Red Sox

 

Pack 3:

#13 Adam LaRoche Nationals

#22 Andrelton Simmons Braves

#60 Will Middlebrooks Red Sox

#78 Mike Napoli Rangers

#214 Jean Segura Brewers

#216 Brandon Beachy Braves

#239 Joel Hanrahan Red Sox

#319 Jason Isringhausen Angels

#450 Matt Kemp Dodgers 

 

Pack 4:

#91 Chris Nelson Rockies

#201 Orioles Rookie Stars

#330 Johnny Cueto Reds

#340 Paul Konerko White Sox

#355 Chris Tillman Orioles

#401 Alex Presley Pirates

#419 Joe Saunders Orioles

#423 Giants Tops in NL

#MM-FH Felix Hernandez Mariners

 

Pack 5:

#94 Reds Rookie Stars

#100 Robinson Cano Yankees

#204 Gregor Blanco Giants

#244 Jon Jay Cardinals

#249 Josh Thole Blue Jays

#359 Wilton Lopez Rockies

#402 Will Venable Padres

#406 Jaime Garcia Cardinals

#482 Nelson Cruz Rangers 

 

Pack 6:

#87 Bruce Bochy Giants Mng

#95 B.J.Upton Giants

#176 Ervin Santana Royals

#203 Alcides Escobar Royals

#216 Jason Kipnis Indians

#298 Buck Showalter Orioles Mng

#366 Ryan Dempster Red Sox

#391 Andy Pettitte Yankees

#NAP-FH Felix Hernandez Mariners

 

Pack 7:

#3 NL Pitching Leaders

#187 Tyler Clippard Nationals

#223 James Loney Bay Rays

#266 Lucas Duda Mets

#273 Matt Moore Bay Rays

#362 Ezequiel Carrera Indians

#364 Russell Martin Pirates

#383 Mike Scioscia Angles Mng

#HC66 Roy Halladay Phillies 964/999 

 

Pack 8:

#56 Ross Detwiler Nationals

#160 David Freese Cardinals

#252 Yonder Alonso Padres

#264 Vernon Wells Angels

#272 Matt Joyce Bay Rays

#347 Carlos Marmol Cubs

#392 Mike Baxter Mets

#397 Clint Barmes Pirates

#440 Jered Weaver Angles

 

Not as impressive as the last blaster, although the Heritage Chrome is a lovely card. Maybe I was incorrect about an insert or short print per pack. I swear I heard it somewhere.

No variations, errors or Venezuelan backs present in this blaster.   

2012 Goodwin Champions Blaster

 

When the Upper Deck version of Goodwin Champions first appeared in 2009 with the inclusion of  butterflies and insects, bits of coal from the Titanic and thoroughbred horse hair. It looked like a pretty exciting product. The base cards looked nice too, so I decided to collect the whole set. Who knows I might even snag a horse DNA card and create my own horse...in the future.

I looked forward to 2010, but had to wait until 2011 for the next helping. Some unique cards again became accessible. Fancy a piece of Abe Lincoln's desk, a piece of White House wood (no pun intended), Nelson's Battle Flag or even some of Edward the 8th's snot? 

Well 2011 Goodwin Champions made it possible, but you would have to be extremely lucky with stated odds of 1 in 54,000 packs for a piece of desk, but only 1 in 4,000 for a piece of Eddy's hanky. 

By the time 2012 Goodwin Champions, I had moved on and had pretty much lost interest in these rare relics. Even the tempting possibility of landing a space rock or collecting the card of a stellar sportsman like Kasey Keller didn't override my desire to pursue other cards.

However that doesn't mean I will turn away a free gift. 

The 2012 Goodwin Champions blaster contains 12 packs, each pack contains 4 cards.
There are 210 cards in the base set; 150 'regular cards', 40 short prints and 20 super short prints. In other words there are 150 base card and 60 cards you might get.

Pack 1:

#62 David Robinson basketball

#84 Don Mattingly baseball

#127 Dennis Eckersley baseball

#190 Sherry McGee baseball SP

Pack 2:

#44 Chris Paul basketball

#90 Clyde Drexler basketball

#113 Steve Carlton baseball mini

#130 Marques Colston football

Pack 3:

#93 Arnold Palmer golf

#105 Mike Bossy hockey

#120 Kawhi Leonard basketball

#153 Ross Youngs baseball SP

Pack 4:

#27 Mike Schmidt baseball lady luck mini

#91 Jonathan Huberdeau hockey

#102 Mike Tyson boxing

#147 Y.E.Yang golf

Pack 5:

#52 Robert Griffin III football

#64 Ned Crotty lacrosse

#115 Sarah Bernhardt actress

#207 Walter Travis golf SSP

Pack 6:

#66 Annika golf

#108 Nolan Ryan baseball

#136 Doug Flutie football

#MM17 USS Balaq

Pack 7:

#36 Eric Lindros hockey

#56 Bo Jackson football

#103 Bryan Clay track and field mini

#124 Brendan Shanahan hockey

 

Pack 8:

#70 Kent Desormeaux jockey

#80 Randy Couture MMA

#87 Jim Kelly football

#144 Adrian Peterson football

 

Pack 9:

#32 Wayne Gretzky hockey mini

#46 Zach Johnson golf

#88 Larry Bird basketball

#139 Shoeless Joe Jackson baseball

 

Pack 10:

#17 Grant Hill basketball

#28 Ron Francis hockey

#118 LeBron James basketball

#186 Camille Pissarro artist SP

 

Pack 11:

#11 Dawn Harper athletics

#21 Jozy Altidore soccer

#34 Troy Aikman football

#163 Pretty Boy Floyd gangster

 

Pack 12:

#38 Billy Hamilton baseball

#94 Adrian Dantley basketball mini

#103 Bryan Clay athletics

#142 Chantal Sutherland jockey 

Being predominately a baseball card collector, I think this sort of multi-sport set is wasted on me. Which is probably why I have only chosen to collect Allen+Ginter/Goodwin sets only once.
Although the black borders are very smart and it is pretty cool that the set contains cards of a gangster and an impressionist, it just isn't for me.

Blaster Break-down
7 basketball
7 baseball
7 football
5 hockey
5 golf
5 minis
2 jockey
2 track and field
1 MMA, soccer, boxing, lacrosse
1 actress, gangster, artist
1 insert
3 Short Prints
1 Super Short Print

2012 Topps Archives Blaster

If you have followed this blog at all in the past 4 years, you will know that one of my favourite baseball cards sets is the 1980 Topps. It's not the prettiest, there are no game used, autographs, short printed, shiny X fractors to find. Just a simple straight 726 cards to collect.

There are some challenges hidden amongst the checklist, everyone knows about the Rickey Henderson RC, but Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose, George Brett and Ozzie Smith are valued pretty high. Just don't tell COMC as there are about 70 Nolan Ryan's for sale, a $15.00 card can be bought for about $1.50, the O-Pee-Chee variation for about $5.00.

Topps used the 1980 design as part of the 2012 Archives and as I one of the card carrying members 1980 Topps Appreciation Society, I felt strongly compelled to collect all 50 cards in the 1980 design.

Follow my slow trawl.

In an effort to boost my fledgling collection, I purchased a blaster. I would buy a box but the postage costs are too high, etc, etc...I've said it all before.

The blaster contains 8 packs and each pack has 8 picture cards.

 

Pack 1:
#28 Melky Cabrera Giants
#44 Cal Ripkin Jr Orioles
#84 Nyjer Morgamn Brewers
#136 David Ortiz Red Sox
#139 Ivan Nova Yankees
#187 Nolan Ryan Astros
#190 Josh Hamilton Rangers
#683D-JV Joey Votto

Pack 2:
#34 Jaime Garcia Cardinals
#37 Jose Valverde Tigers
#80 Troy Tulowitzki Rockies
#87 Clay Buchholz Red Sox
#125 David Freese Cardinals
#154 Starlin Castro Cubs
#175 Justin Morneau Twins
#176 Wilie McCovey Giants gold stamp

Pack 3:
#17 Mat Latos Reds
#47 Drew Pomeranz Rockies
#69 Ryan Zimmerman Nationals
#98 Johan Santana Mets
#120 Tim Lincecum Giants
#148 R.A.Dickey Mets
#195 Brandon Morrow Blue Jays
#77C-EH Eric Hosmer

Pack 4:
#8 Matt Moore
#12 Pablo Sandoval Giants
#61 Brain McCann Braves
#65 Jordan Zimmermann Nationals
#105 Torii Hunter Angels
#171 Lucas Duda Mets
#151 Stephen Strasburg Nationals
#530 Dave Winfield Padres gold stamp

Pack 5:
#41 Corey Hart Brewers
#42 Aroldis Chapman Reds
#53 Adam Wainwright Cardinals
#67 Justin Verlander Tigers
#118 Desmond Jennings Bay Rays
#141 J.P.Arencibia Blue Jays
#169 Michael Morse Nationals
#67S-TL Tim Lincecum sticker

Pack 6:
#2 Nick Swisher Yankees
#40 Nelson Cruz Rangers
#58 Tommy Hanson Braves
#111 John Axford Brewers
#117 George Brett Royals
#162 Jayson Werth Nationals
#168 Carlos Santana Indians
#69DE-15 Joe Morgan deckle edge

Pack 7:
#78 Micuel Montero D-backs
#94 Anibal Sanchez Marlins
#130 Giancarlo Stanton Marlins
#145 Howie Kendrick Angels
#173 Daniel Hudson D-backs gold parallel
#192 Brad Peacock Athletics
#199 Mark Reynolds Orioles
#218 Dave Righetti Yankees SP

Pack 8:
#18 Tom Seaver Mets
#52 Geovany Soto Cubs
#57 Josh Beckett Red Sox
#102 Dee Gordon Dodgers
#109 Cliff Lee Phillies
#152 Johnny Cueto Reds
#159 David Price Bay Rays
#227 John Olerud Blue Jays SP

Blaster breakdown:
13 1954 Topps
14 1971 Topps
14 1980 Topps (9 needed)
14 1984 Topps
1 gold parallel
2 short prints
2 gold stamped reprints
1 1977 cloth insert
1 1967 sticker
1 1969 deckle edge
1 1968 3D

This is such a nice set.

2009 Topps Walmart 'Black' variation

I recently received a blaster of 2009 Topps and was surprised to find that it was a Walmart 'Black' variation blaster. Although I am not sure of the scarcity of these cards, I do know thanks to Things done to cards, way back in March 2009, that is was meant to be clandestine affair but Topps soon revealed that there was two variations on the 2009 Topps. The other being in Target stores and each had a different barcode...code. The person who bought these for me would have been unaware of this so I received these by dumb luck.

So what is the ratio difference between these black border variation and white bordered? Or they just as common?

2006 Fleer Tradition Baseball

I picked up some Fleer Tradition in trades and thought that this would be a decent set to collect. Recently I was able to get a blaster box from e-bayUS containing 11 packs.

There are 200 cards in the base set.
There are inserts: 100 Goudey Greats, 25 Blue Chip Prospects, 25 Diamond Tributes, 25 Grass Roots, 15 Triple Crown Contenders, a number of autographs and threads.
There are parallels: A Black+White set and a Sepia set.
There are 10 cards per pack

Pack 1:

#37 B.J. Ryan Blue Jays

#38 Bengie Molina Blue Jays

#79 Travis Hafner Indians

#80 Victor Martinez Indians

#114 Miguel Tejada Orioles

#119 Jay Gibbons Orioles

#156 Felipe Lopez Reds

#161 Garrett Atkins Rockies

#162 Matt Holliday Rockies

#173 Justin Verlander Tigers

Pack 2:

#16 Chone Foggins Angels

#24 Brad Lidge Astros

#58 Greg Maddux Cubs

#94 Dontrelle Willis Marlins

#105 Carlos Delgardo Mets

#128 Bobby Abreu Phillies

#136 Matt Capps Pirates

#146 Ian Kinsler Rangers

#176 Jeremy Bonderman Tigers

#GR1 Ken Griffey Jr. Reds Grass Roots

Pack 3:

#14 Vladimir Guerrero Angels

#49 Jim Edmonds Cardinals

#62 Jorge Cantu Bay Rays

#91 Jeff Harris Mariners

#129 Chase Utley Phillies

#140 Mark Teixeira Rangers

#152 Coco Crisp Red Sox

#191 A.J.Pierzynski White Sox

#194 Hideki Matsui Yankees

#DT-6 David Ortiz Red Sox Diamond Tribute

Pack 4:

#18 Francisco Rodriguez Angels

#88 Adrian Beltre Mariners

#96 Mike Jacobs Marlins

#112 Brandon Watson Nationals

#124 Trevor Hoffman Padres

#135 Oliver Perez Pirates

#166 Josh Wilson Rockies

#177 Magglio Ordonez Tigers

#183 Joe Mauer Twins

#TC-4 David Ortiz Red Sox Triple Crown

Pack 5:

#30 Huston Street A's

#40 Prince Fielder Brewers

#65 Julio Lugo Bay Rays Sepia

#66 Jeff Kent Dodgers

#100 Dan Uggla Marlins

#111 Matt Kemp Dodgers

#153 Jonathan Papelbon Red Sox

#170 Mark Grudzielanek Royals

#178 Carlos Guillen Tigers

#189 Scott Podsednik White Sox

Pack 6:

#10 Brandon Webb D-Backs

#50 Scott Rolen Cardinals

#52 David Eckstein Cardinals

#92 Taylor Buchholz Astros

#117 Melvin Mora Orioles

#134 Jason Bay Pirates

#147 David Ortiz Red Sox

#159 Chris Denorfia Reds

#165 Ryan Shealy Rockies

#188 Paul Konerko White Sox

Pack 7:

#13 Shawn Green D-Backs

#26 Roy Owalt Astros

#67 Nomar Garciaparra Dodgers

#68 Rafael Furcal Dodgers

#113 Ryan Zimmerman Nationals

#116 Brian Roberts Orioles

#155 Adam Dunn Reds

#158 Ryan Freel Reds

#164 Kendry Morales Angels

#197 Gary Sheffield Yankees

Pack 8:

#7 Chipper Jones Braves

#19 Casey Kotchman Angels

#25 Jered Weaver Angels

#44 Carlos Lee Brewers

#61 Scott Kazmir Bay Rays

#86 Ichiro Mariners

#122 Brian Giles Padres

#125 Josh Barfield Padres

#167 Reggie Sanders Royals

#198 Randy Johnson Yankees

Pack 9:

#1 Andruw Jones Braves

#8 Conor Jackson D-Backs

#43 Ben Sheets Brewers

#56 Aramis Ramirez Cubs

#85 Jeremy Sowers Indians

#98 Hanley Ramirez Marlins

#104 Carlos Beltran Mets

#123 Khalil Greene Padres

#171 Jeremy Affeldt Royals

#182 Joe Nathan Twins

Pack 10:

#7 Alay Soler Mets

#20 Lance Berkman Astros

#32 Nick Swisher A's

#55 Mark Prior Cubs

#74 Randy Winn Giants

#97 Josh Johnson Marlins

#107 Lastings Milledge Mets

#110 Livan Hernadez Nationals

#149 Jason Varitek Red Sox

#200 Derek Jeter Yankees

Pack 11:

#4 Tim Hudson Braves

#12 Orlando Hudson D-Backs

#46 Albert Pujols Cardinals

#54 Jon Lester Red Sox

#72 J.D.Drew Dodgers

#82 C.C.Sabathia Indians

#130 Pat Burrell Phillies

#141 Michael Young Rangers

#172 Steve Stemle Royals

#195 Wil Nieves Yankees

Wow this has to be the best for Red Sox pulls I have had so far. 7 Red Sox including the 2 Ortiz inserts. However there is something a little disappointing. On the bottom of the wrapper it says:

"..themed card, a Sepia Tone or Black and White in every
pack!"

I count only 4 packs out of 11 that contained an insert of any kind. I'm not complaining as it means more base cards, but doesn't this seem like a mistake? Or bad quality control ? These are retail packs so there must be a different ratio, but why put it on the packs -every pack!