Topps Series 2 - Jackie Robinson Cereal Box

I've been having trouble tracking Jackie down, but my wife found him in Target. SInce this is my third box of Series two, I guess I'm now "officially" collecting the set. I'm still 2 short (229 Cesar Izturis, 305 Ivan Rodriguez) on the Series 1 base set. I'll lasso them up soon. (I hope). I'm also all about the inserts in this years Topps.....

Luke Scott from the "hey, what'cha doin' down there" subset

Andy Pettitte

Troy Glaus

Pat Neshek

Billy Butler

Shaun Marcum, two goofy poses in one box. Wheeee.

Luke Hochevar

Robinson Cano

Chris Perez

Ted Lilly

Carlos Lee, wants to be on a Wheaties box

Bengie Molina

Steve Pearce

Jeremy Bonderman

Brandon Phillips

Joel Pinero

BJ Ryan, Yeah!

Ryan Howard

Freddy Sanchez

Chris Iannetta

Johnny Damon

Carlos Beltran, Finally a Met card. Great Action!

Yovani Gallardo

Chris Young

Adam Jones, 1160/2009 Gold Variation

Scott Baker

Kevin Millwood

Matt Harrison

Tony LaRussa

Chris Carpenter

Dustin Pedroia, Another good action shot

Placido Polanco

Chris Davis

Braden Looper

Derek Lowe

David Patton, Rookie

Randy Wolf

Khalil Green

Paul Konerko, part of the White Sox synchronized fielding team. (I give them an 8.7 for the artistic portion, but a 5.5 for degree of difficulty :)

Adam Jones (again, but no gold border)

Trevor Cahill, Rookie

Donald Veal, Rookie

Edwin Morneo, Rookie

Kenshin Kawakami, Rookie

Coco Crisp

Brian Anderson

Milton Bradley

Miguel Olivo

Bob Melvin

Nick Johnson

Eugenio Velez

Ron Washington

And Now the Inserts:

It's hard for me to believe that guys that I grew up watching (Sandberg and Carlton) are now considered "Legends." I don't feel that old. It doesn't seem that it was that long ago.

Friday night at "The Joe"

Here are some pics from my Friday night at Joe Riley stadium. The Riverdogs hosted the Sand Gnats and I can't say I was disappointed in the results. I love the Riverdogs, but seeing so many future Mets play and hit so well...It was enough to reinvigorate me as a Mets fan. Sand Gnats over the R'dogs....10-5. Lots of HR's (in fact I can't remember that many HR's in a single Riverdogs game, but my memory may be fuzzy. Man they have cold beer).

50% off Topps 2008 Series 1

Picked up a box of 2008 Series 1 from Wal-Mart. I went in looking for 2009 Topps Series 2 cereal boxes (Jackie R.). They had none. Anyway, I walked away with a consolation prize. Half price Topps Series 1...If your want list is in need of any of these, e-mail me.

Here are the numbers:

21,24,28,31,38,43,45,46,150,52,58,61,65,66,75,83,99

105,114,117,118,122,124,134,135,139,144,181

207,211,217,219,222,236,239,240,244,256,258,259,262,292,299

301,306,310,312

Highlights

Longevity

Last week I bought a cereal box of 2009 Topps Series 2. I opened it and sorted it and realized that there wasn't one NY Met in the whole lot. What are the odds? I don't know.

Today on the way home from work I went by Wal-Mart and picked up another cereal box. Would this one be loaded with Mets? Nope. One. One lonely NY Met. Francisco Rodriguez. That brings my collection of Mets from '09 Topps Series 2 to a grand total of 2. Ollie and K-Rod. (I picked up Ollie in a stray pack).

But, if we were to base Series 2 on the box cover, longevity would be the theme.

First up,

Ryan Braun, the Hebrew Hammer. Turkey Red. What a coincidence. In the last cereal box I bought I received a Turkey Red Prince Fielder. If I was a Brewer fan I would be in heaven. As far as longevity give this guy some time. I think he has it in him.

Next, Mel Ott. As a Met fan I appreciate the connection with the NY Giants. Ott played 22 seasons with the Giants. Pretty solid.

World Baseball Classic. Fu-Te Ni, Chinese Taipei. In the description they say Fu-Te "paced his old circuit in strikeouts in '08, after being his nation's workhorse in the previous year's Baseball World Cup".

Next insert, Larry Jones, Legends of the Game. You may not know this guy by that name, but I'm a Met fan. This guy has been killing the Mets, (and a lot of the NL teams) for some time now. 15 years is long enough. If he goes much more, his next kid will be named "Citi".

Stadium Club 2008 - Complete Set

Well, sometime last year I bought a box of Stadium Club. Before I knew it I was collecting baseball cards. The blogs are full of stories about guys who started collecting when they were kids, then dropped it, only to pick it up again as an adult. I am not one of those guys. I never collected cards as a kids. I didn't have the focus. I started and stopped hobbies like most people change clothes. I get distracted eas...

oh look shiny!


Get the point. So, it gives me great pleasure to say that, not only have I stuck with collecting, I've managed to finish a set! Hooray, me. Here is the card that finished the 2008 Stadium Club. Carlos Lee, OF, Houston Astros.

I do NOT have a complete set of First Day's or Photographer's Proofs, or whatever. I do have a complete base set that includes, 1st Days, Photographers Proofs, Autos, etc. I don't think I'll ever be that kind of collector. Also, (and I'm learning about collecting as I move along) I'm a "retail" guy. The card shops scare me. I will talk to the nice people at flea markets and garage sells. I buy a lot of "junk wax". Most Goudey cards look creepy to me. I don't know how to pronounce "Goudey". I do like Turkey Red cards & the chrome inserts in the 2009 Topps series. I stick to Topps for the most part but I do like any brand that has a NY Mets player on it.

Oh, look.....shiny Upper Deck.

Charleston Riverdogs

Here are few photos from Sunday's game at Joe Riley Stadium to see the Charleston Riverdogs vs the Rome Braves. The weather was warm but great. The beer was cold. To top it off I had a great seat right behind the visitor's dugout.

Riverdogs pitcher, Manuel Banuelos, pitched a good game. He scattered 6 hits and struck out 4 over 5.2 innings. The Riverdogs won 4-1.

Check out all the photos here:

2007 Topps Series one, Box 3

Pack 1:

Huston Street, A's

Cincinnati Reds, Team Card

Anibel Sanchez, Marlins

Rich Hill. Cubs

Checklist

Robinson Cano, Yankees

Royce Clayton, Jays

Pack 2:

JD Drew, Dodgers

Classic Combo, Tigers, Ordonez & Rodriguez

Alex Cintron, White Sox

Chad Tracy, D-Backs

Stephen Drew, D-Backs

Ritchie Sexson, D-Backs

Pack 3:

Derek Jeter, Yankees

Phil Garner, Mgr, Astros

Barry Zito, Giants, Gold

Justin Morneau, Twins, Own the Game

Chase Utley, Generation Now, 34 Game hit Streak

Students: Work Hard, Get Cards

Ramon Ortiz, Nats

Pack 4:

Geoff Jenkins, Brewers

Philip Humber, Mets (Rookie)

Mike Piazza, A's

Bob Feller, Indians, Distinguished Service

Chris Snyder, D-Backs

Prince Fielder, Brewers

Pack 5:

Jason Grilli, Tigers

Hanley Ramirez, Marlins, NL ROY

David Ross, Reds

Frank Thomas, Jays

Checklist

Orlando Hudson, D-Backs, NL Gold Glove Award

Pat Neshek, Twins

Pack 6:

Jeff Kent, Dodgers

Houston Astros Team Card

Hank Blalock, Rangers

Brad Lidge, Astros

Ryan Howard, NL MVP

Orlando Hernandez, Mets

Pack 7:

Joe Crede, White Sox

Mark Ellis, A's

Josh Bard, Padres

Justin Morneau, Twins, Generation Now 28

Students: Work Hard, Get Cards

Scott Kazmir, D-Rays

Tim Wakefield, Red Sox

Pack 8:

Kendry Morales, Angels

Jack Wilson, Pirates

John Lackey, Angels

Justin Verlander, AL ROY

Josh Gibson, HR 600, Home Run History

Shane Youman, Pirates (Rookie)

Pack 9:

Justin Morneau, Twins, AL MVP

Jamey Carroll, Rockies

Andrew Miller, Tigers (Rookie)

Mickey Mantle, HR#259

Jim Thome, White Sox, Own the Game

Checklist

Shannon Stewart, Twins

Bonus Pack: Same Three as Last Box (Odds?)

2007 Topps Series one, Box 2

Pack 1:

Adam Loewen, Orioles

Barry Zito, Giants

Brian Burres, Orioles

Andruw Jones, Braves, Own the Game

Checklist

Aubrey Huff, Orioles

Alfredo Amezaga, Marlins

Pack 2:

Andre Ethier, Dodgers, Gold Cup

Carl Crawford, D-Rays

James Loney, Dodgers

Matt Capps, Pirates

Bobby Kielty, A's

Bob Wickman, Braves

Pack 3:

Austin Kearns, Nats

Red Sox, Team Card

Jim Edmonds, Cards

Carlos Beltran, Mets, NL Gold Glove Award

Ryan Howard, Phillies, Generarion Now HR#19

Students: Work Hard, Get Cards

Classic Combo, NL All-Stars, Soriano and Beltran

Pack 4:

BJ Ryan, Jays

Chris Gomez, O's

Kenny Rogers, Tigers, AL Gold Glove Award

Jason Marquis, Cards, Gold Card

Brandon Inge, Tigers

Brad Penny, Dodgers

Pack 5:

BJ Upton, D-Rays

Billy Wagner, Mets

Nick Punto, Twins

Ervin Santana, Angels

Checklist

Emil Brown, Royals

Eric Byrnes, D-Backs

Pack 6:

Elizardo Ramirez, Reds

David Wright, Mets

Scott Rolen, Cards

Josh Gibson, HR #4

Curt Schilling, Red Sox

Dontrelle Willis, Marlins

Pack 7:

Bronson Arroyo, Reds

Atlanta Braves Team Card

Cla Meredith, Padres

Unlock the Mick MLB 2K7 Video Game Cheats

Chester Nimitz, Distinguished Service

Clay Hensley, Padres

Pack 8:

Edwin Encarnacion, Reds

Greg Maddux, Dodgers, NL Gold Glove Award

Tom Gordon, Phillies

Mickey Mantle, MMS11

Checklist

Chris Duncan, Cards

Chuck James, Braves

Pack 9:

Edgar Renteria, Braves

Alert Pujols, Cards

Aaron Rowand, Phillies

Alex Rogriguez, Seattle, Road to 500, 18th HR

Eduardo Perez, M's

Chone Figgans, A's

Pack 10:

Drew Anderson, Brewers, (Rookie)

Albert Pujols, Cards, NL Gold Glove Award Winner

Brandon Webb, D-Backs, NL Cy Young Award Winner

Jim Tracy, Mgr, Pirates

Justin Morneau, Twins, Generation Now HR 11

Students: Work Hard, Get Cards

Classic Combo, Delgado and Wright, NY Mets

Bonus Pack:

2007 Topps Series one, Box 1

Pack 1:

Jeff Kent, Dodgers

Carl Crawford, Devil Rays

Chris Gomes, Orioles

Josh Gibson, Homerun History 2

Aramis Ramirez, Cubs

Ben Sheets, Brewers

Pack 2:

Jason Grilli, Tigers

Kenny Rogers, Tigers, AL Gold Glove Award

Jim Edmonds, Cards

Chris Carpenter, Own the Game

Checklist

Bengie Molina, Giants

Bill Hall, Brewers

Pack 3:

Geoff Jenkins, Brewers

Casey Fossum, Devil Rays

Carlos Beltran, Mets, NL Gold Glove Award

James Loney, Dodgers

Mickey Mantle, MMS14

Bob Melvin, Mgr, D-Backs

Pack 4:

JD Drew, Dodgers

Matt Capps, Pirates

Barry Zito, Giants

Mike Napoli, Generation Now, HR #6

Students: Work Hard, Get Cards

Shawn Riggans, D-Rays (Rookie)

Ryan Feierabend, Mariners (Rookie)

Pack 5:

Magglio Ordonez and Ivan Roriguez, Classic Combo, Tigers

Chicago White Sox, Team Card

Brian Burres, Orioles

Rich Aurilia, Giants

Rod Barajas, Phillies

Mark Buehrle, White Sox

Pack 6:

Huston Street, A's

Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies

Grady Sizemore, Indians

Dan Uggla, Marlins

Checklist

Rafael Soriano, Braves

Phil Nevin, Twins

Pack 7:

Jason Jennings, Astros

Matt Murton, Cubs

Scott Moore, Cubs (Rookie)

Elmer Valo, Distinguished Service, Philadelphia A's

Oswaldo Navarro, Mariners (Rookie)

Jason Marquis, Cards

Pack 8:

Glen Perkins, Twins (Rookie)

Travis Hafner, Indians

Carlos Beltran, Mets

Alfonso Soriano, Nationals, Own the Game

Ryan Howard, Generation Now, HR #14

Students: Work Hard, Get Cards

Mike Scioscia, Mgr, Angels

Pack 9:

Francisco Cordero, Brewers

Carlos Silva, Twins

Jimmy Gobble, Royals

CC Sabathia, Indians

Mike Redmond, Twins

(Almost the all-pitcher pack. Since someone has to catch, that's Redmond job).

Jeff Francis, Rockies

Pack 10:

Chipper Jones, Braves

Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Team Card

Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers

Jason Varitek, Red Sox

Mickey Mantle, HR #269

Checklist

Johan Santana, Twins, AL Cy Young Award Winner

Bonus Pack: