Monday, June 29, 2009

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.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

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

Monday, June 15, 2009

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".

Friday, June 12, 2009

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.


Tuesday, June 9, 2009

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:


Sunday, June 7, 2009

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: