2013 Topps Archives 2 Box Break - Plus a Want List

The new Archives brand that has been released over the past 2 years seems to get mixed reviews.  Some don't like the thin card stock (I tend to agree) and the reuse of old designs (I personally like this).  Most seem to like the inserts and I definitely agree, the inserts generally arrive one per pack and that always seems to be the highlight of the pack.  I also like the autograph checklist, the players are typically superstars and don't have a ton of resale value but I like seeing some of the semi stars get some hobby love.

Over the past week I have picked up 2 hobby boxes at 2 different hobby shops - 1 near my current (and soon to be former house) and 1 near my new house.  I also bought 2 loose packs at the first hobby store.  I am not going to try to do a full review of the product as it has been out and covered on a ton of blogs, however I thought I would share my inserts, SPs and hits here on the blog.  I also know I am getting 2 blasters for Father's Day and am in a 3 box break with the Giants on the Nachos Grande blog.  I will share my want lists for the set, the Giants and my player collections at the end of this post but I am still hoping to fill some Giants gaps via the box break.

First up are the SPs I scored.

I got 5 unique SPs in each box and scored the Durham duplicate in one of the 2 loose packs.  I really enjoy seeing these SPs with different pictures on the original design.  My favorite here is the Dave Parker, loving the All Star shield, yellow jersey and the awesome hat.  I am not sure if I have officially "announced" it on the blog but I have started a Parker collection, only when he is suited in a Pirates uni.  However, this one stays with the base set - the set collector has gotten the best of me.

Next up, the most plentiful insert:

The top 3 go straight into the Winfield player collection and the Giants team binder.  I picked up the Buster duplicate in the other loose pack along with another awesome insert that is coming up.  The Trout dups came from the same box that also had quite a few base duplicates within.

Next are the mini Tall Boys:

This is a pretty cool insert set and the player selection is nice.  Great to see players like Dewey Evans, Dave Stewart and Rob Dibble.  I also scored 2 Giants for the team set.  I have decided with this set that the base goes to the set and the inserts go to the other collections, even when I am going after the insert set.  Not sure if there is logic here but that is the way I am going.

It may be a little hard to tell but these are 4-in-1 stickers:

 There seem to be themes on these with the top left being guys with no-hitters, top middle are 1986 Mets, top right are Triple Crown winners, bottom left great, fast all around players?, middle bottom great catchers and bottom right stud outfielders. The bottom row goes right into collections while the top 3 start the quest for the insert set.

 These are modeled after the 1972 Basketball set:

 These typically come 1 per box and I was lucky to get 2 in 1 box but unlucky to get a duplicate.  The Winfield will go into the player collection and I have already reached out to 30-Year Cardboard to see if he wants the Stanton dup.  There is a Willie McCovey in this set and a REALLY want to get it, it looks awesome.

This is my least favorite insert set.

Another 1/box insert, it is the Triumvirate based on an old Stadium club design. The idea is that 3 of this fit together into one large connected card.  I happened to get 2 that fit together.  I may not go after this insert set, just not a huge fan.  Maybe I would like it a little better if the Giants had a trio.

I saved the best insert set for last:

 The stained glass Gallery of Heroes cards look amazing. This Buster came from the same loose pack that produced the Buster All Star - what a pack!

This year the set has gold parallels again, this year they are numbered to 199.

 I got 3 in 2 boxes and was happy that 1 was a Giant.  I won't be going after more than the Giants team set for this parallel set.

Finally my 4 autos, 2/box. The top 2 came from the first box and I was quite disappointed.  I don't like the idea of getting a Rock "Star" auto in the baseball product.  If it was Slash or Axl Rose, maybe I wouldn't complain (actually I wouldn't because I would flip in on eBay for $300).  I was much happier with the bottom 2 in Box #2, especially with the Crime Dog.  Outside of the 2 Giants, this was probably my most desired Fan Favorite Auto.

Speaking of Giants, here is my current want list for the Giants:
2013 Topps Archives #89 Barry Zito
2013 Topps Archives #109 Sergio Romo
2013 Topps Archives #223 Matt Williams SP
2013 Topps Archives #242 Kevin Mitchell SP
2013 Topps Archives 1972 Basketball Design #WM Willie McCovey
2013 Topps Archives All-Stars Autographs #BP Buster Posey
2013 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs #KML Kevin Mitchell
2013 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs #MWI Matt Williams
2013 Topps Archives Four-In-One #MCWP Willie McCovey/Will Clark/Matt Williams/Buster Posey
2013 Topps Archives Four-In-One #PDCP Buster Posey/R.A. Dickey/Miguel Cabrera/David Price
2013 Topps Archives Framed Mini Autographs #JM Juan Marichal
2013 Topps Archives Framed Mini Autographs #WC Will Clark
2013 Topps Archives Gallery Of Heroes #WM Willie Mays
2013 Topps Archives Gold #4 Marco Scutaro
2013 Topps Archives Gold #29 Angel Pagan
2013 Topps Archives Gold #89 Barry Zito
2013 Topps Archives Gold #90 Matt Cain
2013 Topps Archives Gold #106 Tim Lincecum
2013 Topps Archives Gold #109 Sergio Romo
2013 Topps Archives Gold #118 Brandon Belt
2013 Topps Archives Gold #166 Ryan Vogelsong
2013 Topps Archives Gold #168 Pablo Sandoval
2013 Topps Archives Gold #180 Buster Posey
2013 Topps Archives Gold #223 Matt Williams
2013 Topps Archives Gold #242 Kevin Mitchell
2013 Topps Archives Greatest Moments Box Topper Autographs #JM Juan Marichal
2013 Topps Archives Greatest Moments Box Toppers #3 Juan Marichal
2013 Topps Archives Greatest Moments Box Toppers #13 Will Clark
2013 Topps Archives Mini Tall Boys #BP Buster Posey2013 Topps Archives Mini Tall Boys #MW Matt Williams
2013 Topps Archives Mini Tall Boys Autographs #MW Matt Williams
2013 Topps Archives Mini Tall Boys Autographs #WC Will Clark
2013 Topps Archives Relics #MB Madison Bumgarner
2013 Topps Archives Relics #MC Matt Cain
2013 Topps Archives Triple Autographs #CMW Will Clark/Kevin Mitchell/Matt Williams

I already have pulled the Romo and Zito base in the box break.

Here are my player collection needs:
2013 Topps Archives 1972 Basketball Design #WM Willie McCovey
2013 Topps Archives Four-In-One #MCWP Willie McCovey/Will Clark/Matt Williams/Buster Posey

2013 Topps Archives Gold #195 Dave Winfield

2013 Topps Archives All-Stars #RH Rickey Henderson
2013 Topps Archives All-Stars Autographs #RH Rickey Henderson
2013 Topps Archives Four-In-One #CHNL Vince Coleman/Rickey Henderson/Otis Nixon/Kenny Lofton

2013 Topps Archives #239 Dave Parker SP
2013 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs #DP Dave Parker
2013 Topps Archives Gold #239 Dave Parker
2013 Topps Archives Mini Tall Boys #DP Dave Parker

2013 Topps Archives 1972 Basketball Design #RJ Reggie Jackson
2013 Topps Archives Four-In-One #RGBJ Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig/Yogi Berra/Reggie Jackson
2013 Topps Archives Four-In-One #RJMJ Babe Ruth/Reggie Jackson/Don Mattingly/Derek Jeter
2013 Topps Archives Framed Mini Autographs #RJ Reggie Jackson
2013 Topps Archives Gold #95 Reggie Jackson

Finally by base set (with SPs) want list.  I was lucky enough to get all but 7 base cards but still need tons of SPs:
2013 Topps Archives #201 John Mayberry SP
2013 Topps Archives #202 Mike Greenwell SP
2013 Topps Archives #205 Ruben Sierra SP
2013 Topps Archives #207 Lee May SP
2013 Topps Archives #208 Keith Miller SP
2013 Topps Archives #210 Bob Tewksbury SP
2013 Topps Archives #212 Otis Nixon SP
2013 Topps Archives #213 Juan Samuel SP
2013 Topps Archives #216 Jesse Barfield SP
2013 Topps Archives #217 Mookie Wilson SP
2013 Topps Archives #219 Dave Lopes SP
2013 Topps Archives #220 Ellis Burks SP
2013 Topps Archives #221 Hal Morris SP
2013 Topps Archives #222 Howard Johnson SP
2013 Topps Archives #223 Matt Williams SP
2013 Topps Archives #225 Kent Hrbek SP
2013 Topps Archives #226 Larry Bowa SP
2013 Topps Archives #227 Mickey Rivers SP
2013 Topps Archives #228 Delino DeShields SP
2013 Topps Archives #229 Hubie Brooks SP
2013 Topps Archives #230 Ray Knight SP
2013 Topps Archives #231 Kevin McReynolds SP
2013 Topps Archives #232 Travis Fryman SP
2013 Topps Archives #233 Vince Coleman SP
2013 Topps Archives #234 Don Baylor SP
2013 Topps Archives #235 Gregg Jefferies SP
2013 Topps Archives #236 Jesse Orosco SP
2013 Topps Archives #237 Sid Fernandez SP
2013 Topps Archives #238 Frank White SP
2013 Topps Archives #240 Darren Daulton SP
2013 Topps Archives #241 Fred Lynn SP
2013 Topps Archives #242 Kevin Mitchell SP
2013 Topps Archives #244 Eric Davis SP

I am hoping to pull my base needs and some additional inserts (my insert want list will be posted to my Set Wants tab) with my blaster breaks but if you have some stuff I need, feel free to reach out for a trade.  Since I am only home on the weekends, I may be slow to respond but would enjoy making some progress on this set!