2009 Tristar Obak Hobby Version

Before I get to the cards, I've got to say that Obak wins for Wrapper of the Year. The cards in this particular pack didn't have the picture pixel-ization problems that Wax Heaven wrote about in his review of a box of Obak.

The card stock is a bit thin and those huge green fields in the background of most of these cards gets distracting but overall I really enjoy these cards and I think I am going to give this set a go. It is mainly because I enjoy pulling cards of old time players and minor leaguers who have unique stories of their own. It's clear from these that Tristar put a lot of research into the product and what the set lacks in card quality it more than makes up for in card content.

#104 Stan Musial and Daryl Jones
Team: Springfield/St. Louis Cardinals


#18 Brett Wallace Mini
Team: Sacramento River Cats

#1 Pedro Alvarez
Team: Lynchburg Hillcats


#99 William Howard Taft

President Taft was included here because he was Commander in Chief in 1909 when the first Obak set came out.


Here is what the reverse looks like:

#76 Mike Coolbaugh
Team: Columbus Clippers

This card was very surprising to me. When was the last time you were surprised by a card? Mike was the player that was killed by a line drive while coaching on first base. That incident let to the rule change that coaches on the field have to wear batting helmets.

#15 Neftali Feliz
Team: Oklahoma City Redhawks