My Only 2016 Topps Chrome Pack Purchases

I really haven't had that huge itch to bust packs, at least packs of new releases.  I shared my National Baseball Day card purchases a few days back which included 2 packs of 2016 Topps Chrome.  I was at Target a couple days ago and 3 hangers of Chrome were staring me in the eye and I had to pick them up.  It was fun but in the end I was bummed I spent $30 on these when I could have picked up some Giants needs or vintage set needs (or heck maybe even a T206 card - a little foreshadowing) for that price or less.

I have a lot of catching up to on the blog but want to mix in some of my newer stuff as well so I figured why not show off the goods:

Hanger 1

 2 Dodgers, 2 Blue Jays, 2 Mets and Zero Giants... Bummer.

 I have to say the inserts look pretty darn nice.  I like the stained glass look of the Future Stars and the Perspectives cards look amazing in Chrome.  I think I may try to put together the insert set of Perspective cards.

The reason the hangers call out to me is the 5-pack of pink parallels.  A few good players but no Giants.

Hanger 2

2 Cubs, 2 Rangers, Zero Giants... Bummer

 Some more awesome looking inserts and a refractor of one of the more over-hyped players this year.

 Some more solid players of the Pink variety but still nothing of the good guys in Orange and Black.

Hanger 3

 Yeah!  My final hanger produces my one and only Giant!

 Double the pleasure with 2 Perspectives cards in this hanger and speaking of pleasure, Nina Agdal is not hard on the eyes at all.

 More pink card and again no Giants. I was hoping for at least one but as a consolation prize, the last hanger spit out this:

Not my favorite player but an nice looking on card auto /25 from a hanger.  A pretty awesome hit and most likely the end of my Chrome pack purchases for the year.

Outside of the Samardzija and the Perspectives cards these are all up for trade.  If you see something you want, drop me a note.

10 Pack 2014 Donruss Retail Break

I vividly remember when Donruss debuted in 1981.  For some reason by buddies and I called in Dornuss for quite a while until probably 1982 or 83.  I typically have no problem with reading but for whatever reason we just had it wrong and it stuck.

I actually have every Donruss flagship set in my collection and even put together the "2000" set that was inserted in 2001.  There is a 1999 set done similarly that I never put together but who knows maybe some day.  So when I heard there would be a set in 2014, the first since 2005, I was kind of excited.  I was looking forward to seeing the cards and maybe building the set.  When I went to my LCS, they were out of the cards and I started questioning if I was going to go after the set.

Yesterday I went into Target to see if Heritage had made a surprise appearance and while there was no Heritage, there were 2 retail boxes of Donruss.  I quickly scooped up 10 packs without thinking and thought I would share the contents with you.

The first pack starts off pretty strong with 2 inserts including the Nolan Ryan No-Nos insert.  I like both of these insert sets, they remind me of early 90s Donruss.

Pack number 2 yields my first Giant and a player I collect, Rickey Henderson.  The Breakout Hitters insert set doesn't excite me too much.

This pack has a second The Rookies insert.  I am really liking that George Brett card, unique angle and no need for air brushing. 

A sunset card for Todd Helton and several cards here feature photos that hide the logos without any airbrushing.  Smart move by Panini.

The Press Proof parallel is the gold variety numbered /99.  Odd that Kennedy is in his D-back uniform but the team is shown as San Diego.

My first two doubles (out of only 4 in the 10 packs) so I decided to show the backs.  Very Donruss including the players full name including middle.  My first and only Diamond King towards the set which leads me to believe this will be a tough one to put together.  The Studio insert does take you right back to the Studio cards produced back in the day.

A solid pack, getting Kung Fu Panda, Nolan Ryan and a new insert type with the Josh Hamilton Power Plus. I like how the card features 2 different uniforms, wonder if that will continue throughout the insert set.

Not really digging the Hall Worthy inserts, they are kind of boring.  Not much in this pack that excites me.

Great bounce back pack.  Another great looking Studio insert, a base card of the Freak and my first Dominator card. They are serial numbered to 999 and look great!

My second Ichiro insert card, interesting that he is Seattle's Team MVP, I would have thought that would be King Felix.  The Diamond King is a Press Proof /199, odd but I would prefer the base card towards my set.

Yes I have decided to go after the base set and knowing me I will probably chase the inserts as well. I suspect I will pick up a Hobby Box sometime soon and see how close I can get.  Then I will post a want list and be on the prowl.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

2013 Topps Chrome Update - 4 Pack Break

Topps has done a few funky things over the last couple years. Of the top of my head I can think of:

1. Topps Mini cards being only sold through Topps.com for the last couple years
2. Last year's update to Topps Heritage being sold as a factory set only on Topps.com
3. 2011 Ginter Glossy cards serial numbered to 999 sold only in factory sets on Topps.com
4. The hidden cards in the actual box in this years Ginter

I am sure I am missing a few of the gimmicks but recently another one came out with the release of 2013 Topps Chrome Update.  Today I picked up 2 boxes of cards at Target priced at $14.98 each that included 5 packs of Topps Update and 2 packs of Chrome Update.  I completed my base set of Update with a Jumbo box purchase but was able to pick up a couple needed inserts and a couple nice other cards in that break.

These are the 4 biggest highlights in the update packs minus the Puig rookie (didn't feel like scanning it):

 The Scherzer is an SP, I got a couple decent Emerald parallels and a really nice Gold parallel.  All these are for trade if you are interested.

Now on to the packs of Chrome, the real draw to the product for me:

 The first pack was kind of exciting to me as when I opened it up I saw the back of the Posey Postseason Heroes insert.  Posey is the only Giant in the update base set and this is the only Giants insert so pack 1, 1 Giant down, 1 to go. The Myers RC was also a nice score.

 Pack 2 was heaving on the Dodgers but it contained 1 of 2 Puig rookies.  I am guessing this is a pretty good score.  The Puig I pulled in the Update pack has the same photo as this chrome card.

 Pack 3 produced 3 great rookie cards (including the other Puig) along with an insert of last year's Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera.  Very good pack and one to go.

The 4th and final pack was probably the least exciting but I did score a black parallel of Alfonso Soriano numbered 87/99.

Overall I got great value out of these boxes.  The set builder in me is a little torn. I would love to put the entire 55 card Chrome Update set together.  On the plus side I knocked off most of the high value cards which helps.  On the minus side I spent $30 and am only 24% of the way to the set (13/55).  I would have to buy 7 more boxes with perfect collation to get the set that way and that isn't going to happen. I think I will make a want list, see if Sportlots gets some cheap commons up that I can jump and try to trade with anyone who may pick up a box or two.

Speaking of trades, the Soriano and Cabrera are up for trade. Also if you need some 2013 Topps Update drop me a note. I have tons of extra base and a few inserts I could trade your way.

Topps Screwed Up Big Time - And It Benefited Me!!!

Most everyone has heard of the Topps Silver Slate Redemption program this year.  Basically you send in a bunch of wrappers and you get a pack of 5 blue cards back while supplies last.  This year I bought my usually Jumbo Series 1 box from my LCS and fairly quickly bundled up my 10 empty Jumbo packs and sent them to Topps.  You can imagine my frustration when 4 or 5 days later I get my envelope back from the Post Office for insufficient postage.

I considered not even mailing them in thinking that I would be too late but ultimately decided to slap on some additional postage and give it a try.  Boy am I glad that I did!  My 10 Jumbo packs were supposed to net me 1 pack of 5 cards.  Well I didn't get 1 pack, I didn't get 2 packs, I didn't get 5 packs, nope I got 10 packs of cards back from Topps!!!

I scanned them by pack and thought I would share all 50 cards with you:

My favorite card is probably the Moustakas from this group - he is my 3B in my fantasy league

2 Phillies but for me a pretty boring pack

That's more like it - 2 Giants and a Yu with the Rookie Cup

Another Giant and a parallel Jimmy Rollins 07/10.  The parallels are really nice cards with frames reminiscent of UD Masterpieces parallels

Way too my New York!

A sweet throwback, a rookie cup (also a member of my fantasy team), a hot rookie, a parallel 06/10 and a cheater.  Pretty exciting pack.

Loving the sweet Padres throwbacks and way too many Dodgers

An Auto!!!  These really aren't the nicest design, wish they had incorporated the blue or silver somehow.  It is serial numbered 072/114.

My third parallel, this time 02/10 and a nice Buster league leaders card.

And the final back with a nice Ryan Howard and a couple of sliding player

So what do you think?  I was pretty happy with the haul.  I doubt I will be able to complete a Giants team set but getting 4 of them was pretty nice.  I am not sure what I am going to do with the rest of these, I may end up selling them on eBay or Sportlots to recoup some of the cash layout so far this year on Series 1 and Heritage.  I may also be persuaded to enter into a trade or two.

I don't have the opportunity to do this much but Thank You Topps!!!

Pack Breaks - 2 Packs of 2013 Topps Spring Fever

I was able to get 2 packs of these from two different card shops so I thought I would share the good with you with a quick post tonight.

These are pretty sharp looking cards.  This is a 50 card set with a mix of retired players, veterans and young players.  Giants in the set include Orlando Cepeda, Will Clark, and Buster Posey. Rickey Henderson also has a card I need to chase for my player collection.   Cepeda, Clark and Henderson are also supposed to have autos in the set.

First pack -

 Pretty happy to score one of my 4 needs in this pack, otherwise not the greatest mix of players.  The Perez is already accounted for, going to Josh at Royals and Randoms in a trade.  The other 3 are up for trade.

Second pack -

Didn't hit any of my needs but a little better selection of players.  The Kemp is on hold for Night Owl if he wants it, let me know Greg. The others are up for trade.

Pretty cool promotion if you have a hobby shop near by. Unfortunately my closest shop indicated they have had a lot of redemptions because I am usually on the short list to score any extras they may end up with.

PS. When looking on line to see if Will Clark was in a Giants uniform I found a seller who had all 3 of my other needs for under $6 delivered so I jumped on them.