2010 Topps Heritage Blaster Box

And, my entry into the Junkie's Fantasy contest. I had decided that any non-Tigers would be either a) traded or b) submitted as prizes. Anyone wanting to trade non-Tiger for Tiger is welcome to contact me. I will be attempting the Tiger team set. All remaining cards will be submitted as the prize for the winner. Scans will follow when I can get my scanner working again.

Pack 1:

Willy Taveras - OF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Jason Bartlett, SS
Neil Walker, 3B (Who?)
Luis Durango, SS (Who?)
Craig Stammen, P (Who?)
Josh Thole, P (Who?)
Miguel Tejada, 2002 MVP

Total by Pos:

C - 0
1B - 0
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 2
OF - 1
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 2

Off to a good start here, but I have no idea who 4 of these players are. Hopefully they will not have to be put on the team.

Pack 2:

Travis Snider - OF
Joe Mauer - C
Derek Jeter - SS
Michael Dunn - P
Dan Haren - P
Whitey Ford - Flashback
Torii Hunter - OF
Dusty Baker - Mgr.

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 0
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 3
OF - 3
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 4

Who-ho Mauer. Jeter is my favorite Yankee, and Haren is a K artist.

Pack 3:

Adam Jones - OF
Nelson Cruz - OF
Lou Gehrig - Baseball Thrill
Albert Pujols - New Age Performers
Aaron Harang - P
Jeff Francoeur - OF
Nick Swisher - OF
B.J. UPton - OF

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 0
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 3
OF - 5
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 5

Meh. Looks like a lot of P and OF. Hopefully I get a 1B soon, and another C.

Pack 4:

Chase Headley - OF
James Shields - P
Brett Myers - P
Tyler Colvin - OF
Raul Ibanez - OF
Stephen Drew - SS (Chrome)
Chris Carpenter - P
Jason Bay - OF

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 0
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 4
OF - 6
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 8

Not bad. I might have to move some people around. LIke the Drew chrome.


Pack 5:

Vernon Wells - OF
Joakim Soria - P
Tim Hudson - P
John Danks - P
Adrian Gonzalez - 1B
Vin Mazzaro - P
Derek Lowe - P
Ryan Braun - All Star

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 1
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 4
OF - 7
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 13

Finally a closer, so I wont get shutout in saves, and a 1B. All I need is a second C, can Wells catch?

Pack 6:

Skip Schumaker - 2B
Franklin Gutierrez - OF
Aramis Ramirez - 3B
Ross Ohlendorf - P
Clay Buckholz - P
Jon Niese - P
Zach Duke - P
Mark Buehrle - P

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 1
2B - 2
3B - 2
SS - 4
OF - 8
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 18

What is it with the pitchers in this box?

Pack 7:

Brian Roberts - 2B
John Russell - Mgr
Gavi Floyd - P
2009 NL ERA Leaders
2009 World Series - Game 4
5th Series Checklist
Brian McCann - C
Tommy Manzella - SS

Total by Pos:

C - 2
1B - 1
2B - 3
3B - 2
SS - 4
OF - 8
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 19

Yeah, I can fill out a team.

Pack 8:
Scott Rolen - 3B
Jerry Hairston Jr - IF/OF
Manny RAmierez - OF
Troy Tulowitzki - SS
Magglio Ordonez - OF
Manlle/Gonzo then and now
Jhoulys Chacin - P (Who?)
Akinori Iwamura - 2B

Total by Pos:

C - 2
1B - 1
2B - 3
3B - 3
SS - 5
OF - 10
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 20

Ok I am finished. I will put together this awsome team in the next post.

Million Card Giveaway

I am late in posting this, but when the code redemtions went live I could not wait to redeem my one and only code. I got caught up in the excitement and just had to type in my code on day two of the "contest". What did I get for my troubles, well lets just say it was vintage junk:



I am in the process of trying to trade this thing for a Tiger card, hopefully I can work my way back to a card from the early to mid 70s that I don't have. But, nobody seems to want this guy, even though I remember him as a pretty good player.

Mail Day

Yesterday was a huge mailday. I had a package from Sportlots, which allowed me to finish one set, come within a card on another, and a huge supply of Cain's disks. I will save those for the future.

I also received an envelope from Detroit. Last week I requested a fan pack. Expecting only a pocket schedule, they sent a small B & W photo of Verlander. The photo would make a great autograph piece. But, I was more than thrilled to receive a pocket sched. Last year Topps baseball cards were used as the photos for the schedule and this year's schedule photo(s) were also influenced by Topps.


This is the one they sent me.


This is the Topps Porcello for comparisons.

The design is very similar. For those that collect these things, I figure that there is a Verlander, Inge, and Miggy. I might just be able to pick another one up next time I am in Michigan.

Baseball is here

With spring training for Detroit officially starting today (pitchers and catchers report), hope is springing eternal for Tiger fans. Hope that this year will be better than last year. Hope that the best case scenario happens. Hope that this team does not implode. Most every year starts the same, from the late 70s hope that the team will finish above 5th place to the late 90s early 00s that the team will finish above .500. We have hope that our heroes will make us feel proud to be a Tiger fan this summer.

But, around here baseball has already started. The local college has been playing for two weeks and is off to a great start. They are number 4 in the nation in a couple of polls, and if things keep going well we will host a Division II regional again this year.

SAU, and a couple of players were mentioned in the newest Baseball America this week, giving the program some national attention. Mentioned are Haydon Simpson, a local product, who is a Junior who was voted as an All-American last year. Simpson is the 8th ranked prospect in D-II and is a candidate for Pitcher of the Year.

Also getting some pub is second baseman Cannon Lester from nearby El Dorado. Cannon is a senior, and is also a returning All-American.

Here is a link to the press release.

The Joy of a Completed Set - I

While watching the snow fall last week I was happy to receive multiple packages in the mail. The first one was from a trade of my Factory Set inserts for some 97 and 98 Topps to help get me started on those sets. The second was from Baseball Cards Come to Life, who helped me fill some holes in my sets in exchange for some of my extra 81 Fleer and 92 Pinnacle. There was one card that really made me happy.



Yes, Ron Jones may be nothing but a common to most of you, but to me he was the missing piece in my 89 Score set. After 21 years, and by not buying a single pack, I have managed to complete this set through trades and minimal purchase. I estimate that I spent about $11 - $15 out of pocket to complete this set through individual card purchases, this is about double what the set is "worth" but the enjoyment of the hunt was well worth it.

Winter Watch 2010 - and a Contest

As we are preparing for snow in the next two days, a whole 2-4 inches are forcast (don't laugh, the town will probably be paralyzed by tomorrow afternoon), I can't help but think about what would better for getting me in the Olympic spirit. Some snow, and of course a contest. I am not running a contest, but JD is here, so feel free to enter.

Theyr'e Here

Finally, 2010 Topps has made it's way to South Arkansas. This morning while going after dog food at Wal Mart I wandered over to the card isle and there was a display of rack packs, gravity feed boxes, and blasters of Topps daring me to purchase. They also had Upper Deck, but I left those alone at 2.98 per pack. I purchased a rack, and here are the contents. A one pack review.

35 Rick Porcello (Tiger first card of the year)
128 Garrett Mock
277 Jarrod Washburn (2 Tigers in the first 3 cards)
202 SF Giants Franchise History
162 Wade Davis
172 Joe Mauer - AL MVP
261 Matt Carson
300 Chase Utley
198 Florida Marlins Franchise History
288 Boston Red Sox Franchise History
8 AL Batting Leaders
264 Arizona Diamondbacks Franchise HIstory - Gold
MIllion Card Giveaway'
ToppsTown Miguel Tejada
71 Mike Hampton
244 Barry Zito
312 Tyler Flowers
36 Tobi Stoner
219 Kevin Hart
13 Melvin Mora
81 Ryan Theriot
176 Yovani Gallardo
267 Toronto Blue Jays Franchise History
314 Angel Pagan
65 Nick Swisher
10 Clayton Kershaw
167 San Diego Padres Team
Cards Your Mom Threw Out - 86 Tony gwynn
Turkey Red Josh Beckett
Legenday Linage - Mike Schmidt/Evan Longoria
Peek Performance - Reggie Jackson
WTWY - Ricky Nolasco
225 David Price
77 Kenshin Kawakami
123 Jeff Smardzija
297 Ben Zobrist

28 Base Cards

Summary. I like the way these cards look. The photos are great, but I could do without the inserts. The CYMTO is a nice idea, but they probably should have stuck with the retro cards. 86 Gwynn was just a way to get an 86 card in this set, but surely they could have come up with a better example from that year, maybe a Gary Carter or Dale Murphy.

I give this set a B, it would be an A if they would cut out the large number of insets.