2011 Topps Garbage Pail Kids Flashback Series 2

I was rejoicing in the card aisle the other day when I saw a brand new untouched gravity feeder @ Target full of Garbage Pail Kids Flashback Series 2 packs!  Didn't we all as kids have these stickers stuck all over our school folders and binders?!

Packs featured Adam Bomb on the front.  Several parallels and inserts can be found this time 'round including Gross Green, Punk Pink, Silver and Gold parallels.  Adam Mania stickers, green, pink, silver and gold parallels.  3-D cards, Adam Bomb 3-D, even Printing Plates & Sketch cards.

 

#56a Ortho Donny

Backs contain a myriad different things such as giant puzzle pieces

 

#78a Barfin Barbra - Where Are They Now?

I love these update cards featuring old characters done in the new style.

#19a Eeric Eric

A lot of the backs include these corny Facebook parodies that I could do without.

#18a Beaky Becky

#14b Michelle Muck

Gross Green parallel

#7b Tommy Tomb

 

#80b Glandular Angela - Where Are They Now?

#62b Semi Colin

Topps has done a great job with GPK cards.  I was a huge fan of series 1 so I was elated when I found out that they were releasing a series 2.  Buy a couple of packs - you won't be disappointed.  By the way, pick up a rack pack as it's a better deal.

2011 Topps Baseball Throwback Patch Blaster Pack

Here we are. Last of the blaster packs. The main event. Patchin' it up!

One mystery card per pack. It's so much of a mystery that Topps decided to not include a checklist on the side this year. It could literally be anyone! I could even be on this with a little manufactured gum pile patch to represent the blog. You never know. So who'd I really get?

I know this post is going to be short, so I had to stretch it out a little bit. So we know it's a Red, thanks to Mr. Red here. And it says 1954. Hmmm....any guesses? A google search of the Reds roster from 1954 gives me no indication. The closest person I can find that Topps might consider using on their cards is Joe Nuxhall, but if he's making an appearance, then this checklist must be huge.

OF COURSE! Joey Votto! Why wouldn't it be? But hey, if there's any current Red it could be, at least it's my most hated Red. Sigh.

Oh, and the card number on the back is TLMP-JV. So, yeah. No idea how many different patches they made for this series based on that. Last year had 50 each series, I believe. Since they seemed to double everything else, production wise, I wouldn't be shocked to see 100 names total. And probably Joe Nuxhall's name.

2011 Topps Baseball Wal-Mart Black Background Blaster Pack

I warned you this was coming. Come with me as I enter the void that is the Wal-Mart Black Background parallel pack.

Packs look the same. Still only 8 cards. How many will actually be the exclusive parallels that's used as a selling point?

#31 - Erick Aybar - Here's Erick reaching out for help, but finding nothing in the great unknown that is space.

#302 - Adrian Beltre - Cool shot of him swinging from his knees. I believe this is a home run, but I can't be sure, since now no one can see where it lands.

#303 - Emilio Bonifacio - back to back card numbers..interesting. I really like the sand kicking up into his face. Even though it would take a boatload of time, it would have been even better if they could have isolated that against the black background as well.

#124 - CC Sabathia/Jon Lester/David Price - League Leaders - Not really anything in this triple threat of a card to take out. Plus the foil's not so much all there. I'm not feeling it.

#326 - Ozzie Martinez - Platinum Diamond Anniversary - More parallels. I guess if there has to be an insert in this pack (and there really doesn't!!), at least it's another parallel. I'd rather have another black background.

#TT-36 - Robinson Cano - ToppsTown - Blah. Good for him for making a name for himself with the Yankees with all the other names they have over there, but blah. Stay out of THIS pack.

#86 - Carlos Silva - Oh fer cryin' out loud... I currently collect 2 different Cubs pitchers (3 if you count Kerry Wood, who appears as a Yankee in the set). Why couldn't it have been one of them? Why did it have to be Venezuelan Fats here?

#229 - Jonathan Sanchez - Have I mentioned before that my fiance saw his no hitter in person? I'm sure I have. His cards are starting to follow me ever since. I'm trying to marry the girl just to get it to stop.

Between the Wal-Mart and Topps exclusives, I prefer the Wal-Mart. They add something instantly recognizable and makes some of the pictures look even more bad-ass than usual. Maybe not so much this pack's cards, but some of them. I don't understand why the packs can't be 8 Wal-Mart cards and nothing else. It's annoying to see multiple inserts in such a small pack, when what you're after is the exclusive mentioned on the box. Well, if anyone has the Dempster, Marmol or Wood black that they want to trade for any of these guys, let me know.

2011 Topps Baseball Blaster Pack

Now that I've actually finally found 2011 Topps, I've been buying up a ton of the stuff. And I feel like inundating you all with images. For instance, I recently bought a blaster at Wal-Mart

These packs come with fewer cards than in the normal retail looseys, so obviously this version of the product deserves its own post. Oh, and don't think I've forgotten about the black background pack or the commemorative patch. Those are coming soon. Chagrin away!

But for now, here's our "fun size" pack.

#25 - Carl Crawford - Here we see the outdated Rays version of the card. Obviously, it needs the photoshop treatment and needs to be inserted SP style. It would be stupid not to do that. Maybe they can photoshop his tongue back into his mouth, too.

#141 - Ubaldo Jimenez - Checklist - It was almost inevitable that his ERA would rise back to normal levels in the second half, but I was rooting for the guy.

#175 - Brennan Boesch - Very cool horizontal picture. And a card where you can play "Name that Molina."

#TDG6 - Roy Halladay - Diamond Giveaway Code Card - I haven't entered any codes on the site yet. It's a tough call between selling them for a couple bucks or digging my way to the anniversary set. Also hoping there will be times when they only spit out pre-1980s like last year. Thoughts?

#T60-27 - David Wright - Topps 60 - These replace Peak Performance and the concept is good enough. The achievement at the top of Most career total bases by a Met sound solid. Until you turn it over and see that Ed Kranepool and Darryl Strawberry are still ahead of Wright. Why not feature them? Why's it always gotta be about the new guy? Can't Eddie or Straw get no love no more?

#TT-30 - Ryan Braun - ToppsTown - Someone I work with recently called him Gonzo. You know, on account of the eyes. Can't say I disagree.

#119 - Jason Bay - Injuries hampered this guy and he hasn't really been the same since leaving the Pirates. Let's hope he can bounce back, for the Mets' sake. Angel Pagan can't do everything.

#220 - Todd Helton - Since he's on the Rockies and not a slugger, it's easy to underestimate Helton's talent. But take a look at the back of his card sometime (not now, because I like the picture enough to not show the back). He had a couple off years, but when he's playing full seasons, he's really good.

Short and sweet - and half inserts. Blaster packs shouldn't be allowed to have ToppsTown cards. And they should have a maximum of one insert card per pack UNLESS you get the full 12 cards in each blaster pack (with the same number of packs). I'm not going to stop buying blasters until they change, but I'm still mostly going to feel ripped off.

2011 Topps Baseball Retail (Wal-Mart)

Hey, did you hear? Topps 2011 is live! I bet you haven't seen any of it yet, since it hasn't been posted on this blog so far. (Except for the pack posted yesterday.)

Well, today's your lucky day, because I happened to go to Wal-Mart and found myself one of their special exclusive, members only jackets, er...I mean, packs!


Thanks pack wrapper, I think I WILL look for exclusive blue diamond insert cards. That's exactly what I'm going to do. And you're going to watch me do it. And you're going to like it.

#18 - Kevin Millwood - He lead the league in losses last year. It kind of looks like it from the picture, too. The back says card 18 belonged to Don Drysdale in 1957. You, sir, are no Don Drysdale.

#108 - Zack Greinke - I'm so glad the Cubs didn't sign Greinke. I have a hunch that he's not going to be anything spectacular for the Brewers. In fact, I fully expect him to outright suck.

#178 - Heath Bell - Nice shot here. It's always fun to see passion. And it's fun when you can pinpoint the moment. The cap tells me this was most likely a July 4th game.

#328 - David Price - Checklist - Price perpetuates the pitching parade. I hope the trend of using season achievements as checklist cards instead of "classic combos" continues throughout the next two series.

#96 - Zach Duke - It's a regular Zach/k Attack pack. All I need now is a Mark-Paul Gosselaar card to complete the trifecta.

#183 - Stephen Strasburg - Rookie Cup - Gold Parallel #1476/2011 - Hooooo, buddy! Just you wait. This card is gonna be worth hunn'erds once Strasmaster 5000 comes back next year. Also, probably the only Topps card to feature the phrase "I spent a lot of time puking." No joke.

#13 - Billy Wagner - Platinum Diamond Anniversary Parallel - I feel like I'm practically the only blogger out there not collecting this set. You know what that means....

#BDW15 - Roy Halladay - Blue Diamond Wal-Mart Exclusive - Look and ye shall find! All my searching was not in vein. These inserts look nice, but I think the Target red versions are a little sharper.

#TT-50 - Albert Pujols - ToppsTown - Hey, what's a non-pitcher doing in this pack? Get outta here, Pujols. Nobody wants you! Not the Cardinals, not nobody! P.S. Please sign with the Cubs next year. Thank you.

#13 - Billy Wagner - Get outta here, Billy Wagner! Nobody wants ---what's that? Oh, you already retired? Come back, Billy Wagner! Shoot for 500 saves!

#276 - Miguel Olivo - The card backs are quite solid this year. If you squint, the white part kind of looks like the Parthenon or the Lincoln Memorial or some such building. Big card number good. Tiny recycled picture from front unnecessary.

#56 - Johan Santana - And of course we end with a pitcher. Injury aside, Johan doesn't feel like the elite starter he once was, but I think that's more the Mets' fault as a whole. The guy still had an ERA under 3 and a WHIP of 1.18 last year. I don't know.

So there you have it. Your very first look at 2011 Topps ever. Quite the loaded pack, especially since Golds come in 1:5682 packs this year. AND the Blue Diamond. AND the Shiny parallel. If only every pack could look this good.

2011 Topps Baseball Hobby Pack

Welcome to "I Can't Believe It's Not Posted" - the show where people who are late to the party still get to share in the fun. Today, we'll be showing a 2011 Topps Baseball hobby pack, something that, incredibly, hasn't been featured yet on APTBNL. I guess everybody was too busy posting on their own blogs. No matter, that's what I'm here for.

Today's pack comes courtesy of Orange County Sports Cards, who threw bonus packs in to my package as part of their Super Bowl special deal. Since they're two loose packs, I'm not holding my breath, but I have gotten hits out of loose bonus packs before, so we'll see what's in store today, all on...I CAN'T BELEIVE IT'S NOT POSTED!

Opening the pack, I can see that the card on the bottom is the ToppsTown card, and it’s of Joey Votto. I really, really hate the ToppsTown cards. It’s a large part of the reason why I got a jumbo box of 2011 Topps instead of a hobby box – only ten TT cards instead of 36. If I have to get one (and I do), at least it’s Votto’s card. Best to get this out of the way early.

First real card – Shin-Soo Choo (#35). This looks to be a follow through after a throw to the infield. Didn’t somebody else get Choo with his first card in 2011? I think so. If you’re that person, hit me up in the comments.
In 1978, card #35 was Sparky Lyle

 Freddy Sanchez (#260). Nice dirt stain, Freddy.

In 1977, card #260 was J.R. Richard

2010 NL RBI Leaders (#138). Albert Pujols, Carlos Gonzalez and Joey Votto. It’s a Joey Votto hot pack! Well, not really. One and a third cards of a person does not a hot pack make.

In 1957, card #138 was Minnie Minoso

Rick Ankiel (#34). A lot has been said already about this card being one of the best in the series. After seeing it in person, I have to agree. The slide, the tag, the third-base coach doing push-ups, the look of determination on Ankiel’s face, the third baseman’s big ol’ butt, the little bit of dirt kicked up around the bag – all combine to make it a great picture. Okay, maybe not the third baseman’s butt.

In 1954, card #34 was Jim Rivera

Colorado Rockies (#283). Eh, a fairly blase photo for a team card. The first real clunker in the bunch, unless you count the league leaders card. And I don’t, because when you have to squeeze three photos onto one card, the odds are stacked against you from the beginning.

In 1990, card #283 was Joey Albert Belle

Kyle Drabek (#70) Gold Parallel (75/2011). This card couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m currently in the middle of a trade with a Blue Jays fan and I’m having trouble rounding up stuff for him. Duane of Democratic Roadkill, this is for you. Hope you enjoy it – it’s a nice low number, too.

In 1988, card #70 was Roger Clemens (boo!)

Mickey Mantle Diamond Giveaway card (#TDG-1). Awesome, my first card. Last year, it took me 11 packs before I got my first Million Card Giveaway card. And I let about fifteen codes expire because I couldn’t find the box the movers had packed them in until it was too late. There’s a moral in there, somewhere, I just can’t find it. Probably something about the randomness of the universe.

In 1964, card #TDG-1 was Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown (as far as you know)

Roger Bernadina (#84). Look at the back of this card. For a guy with a combined one year of major league experience spread out over three years, his stat lines are crammed full of minor league stats dating back to 2002. It looks like the back of Jamie Moyer’s card over here. They even included his injury rehab stint with the GCL Nationals in 2008.

In 1998, card #84 was Charles Nagy

Brian Wilson (#210). The hardest-working beard in baseball rounds out this pack. Steve Bedrosian wishes Brian Wilson all the best, and thanks him for making people remember who Steve Bedrosian was again.

In 1983, card #210 was Jack Clark

So there you have it. No insert cards, unless you count the Diamond Giveaway card. And those are the best kind of insert cards. Why can’t we have them one in every pack and the ToppsTown cards 1 in 12?

Coming soon, my break of a jumbo pack from 2011 Topps Series 1.