2019 Topps Series 1 Retail

Greetings...

Aside from a quick Topps Fire pack a month ago, it's been pre-Turkey Day since I posted a sports pack here on the site.  I've just been cleaning out my Scan folder due to the funk I've been in.  It's time to get back in the swing of things; here's a pack of 2019 Topps Series 1!

The package on the right contains 3 packs of Topps Series 1 plus an exclusive green parallel Topps card.  The green is on the borders; it's hard to tell from the pic since Ichiro has the green padding behind him and the green grass in front of him.

Anyway, I turned the back of the package over to see if there are general odds for finding a green parallel in a pack:

If you look closely, you will not only see the odds for Legends In The Making, but for the 1983 Tribute set.  Topps used last year's packaging!  No wonder it says "Topps Salute" at the top of the package's front.  Thumbs down for outdated info, Topps.

Anyway, here's what I got in one of the packs:

#343 - Sal Romano
#16 - Charlie Blackmon

If you're wondering why I opted for the 3 pack for my foray into Series 1, it's because of the price (although the sweet Ichiro was a bonus).  As most of you have realized, Topps has upped the number of cards in packs.  For years, retail releases have had 12 cards in a pack and now it's 16.  It's also a buck more per pack; to me shelling out 3 bucks for a pack seems not as easy as 2 bucks.  It's like I can find pocket change for a pack if it was 2 bucks, but it seems more work for 3 bucks.  First world problems, I know.

Anyway, the 3 packs are selling for 8 bucks.  I ain't good with numbers, but 8 bucks for 3 packs saves me a dollar, plus you get a green parallel of unknown odds.

#311 - Jake Bauers (RC)
#315 - Duane Underwood Jr. (RC)

However, more than one blogger has commented on the collation this year; that it seems to be worse this year than past years.  I've seen it too, as I've purchased another 3 pack, as well as a couple of rack packs (foreshadowing), and I've got a not-so-impressive stack of doubles already.  Is it because there are more cards per pack, or less inserts, or neither one, collation sucks?  The collation issue is preventing me from picking up more 3 packs, and again, I'm not good with numbers so I don't know if I'm saving more in the long run (probably not).

#191 - Dansby Swanson
#46 - Jose Abreu

Bloggers generally are positive to this year's release, and I am too.  I like the return of borders and the return of full stats on the back.  Picture selection is noticeably better this year as well; some shots are Stadium Club worthy, and there is enough variety to balance out the pitchers pitching and the batters swinging (how about sprinkling in some old fashioned portrait shots going forward?).

#258 - Eddie Rosario
#CLL-1 - Ernie Banks (Cactus League Legends)

I apologize for the some of the pics I took with my camera; looks like the angle and the light in the room makes the card appear faded.  I know Eddie's on "Tatooine," but he's not stuck in a sandstorm, either.

Cactus League Legends is the first insert, seeded 1 in 4 packs.

#SSB-31 - Shohei Ohtani (Stars of the Game)
#90 - Javier Baez (League Leaders)

Folks have teased Topps for the shiny Stars of the Game insert and right they should.  SSB doesn't stand for Stars of the Game.  I didn't see the odds for the insert set on the back of the pack, but each pack in the two 3 packs I bought had one in them.

#214 - Colin Moran
#238 - Whit Merrifield

There's 350 cards in Series 1, along with parallels and short prints (duh).  Head here for the checklist.

#229 - Shane Greene
#115 - Tyler Glasnow

Bloggers have also commented on the last name being on top and much bigger than the first name.  I assume if they put the last name of the bottom it could run into the team name, however, I think baseball card buyers will know which team the player is representing based on just the team logo.

#252 - Jakob Junis
#212 - Brian Anderson

I do like the Future Stars logo and that Topps allows the picture selection to break the border.

Here are the backs because the return of full stats and smaller social media fonts:

Anyway, that's the pack.  More later eventually.  Have a good weekend and thanks for reading!

2018 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball

Spring training just started and let's go with last year's pack of Topps Heritage Minor League cards.

111 - Yordan Alvarez - one of Astros top prospects. He split time between Double A and Triple A last year; made All-Star Futures team in 2017 and 2018. Got invited for Astros spring training as non-roster member.

134 - Mike Baumann - spent last year in Single A

151 - Nick Gordon - split between Double A and Triple A. Currently in Twins spring training.

82 - Luis Garcia - spent last year in Single A; played in the All-Star Futures game

211 - Sixto Sanchez - spent last year in Single A. Part of JT Realmuto trade sending him to the Marlins organization

31 - Shed Long - spent last year in Double A. Part of three way trade sending him to Mariners organization,

149 - Evan Steele - did not pitch last year

52 - Spencer Howard - spent last year in Single A

Got two players currently in spring training right now. Who's ready for baseball?

2017 Pokemon TCG Sun & Moon: Crimson Invasion

Greetings...

Back on Monday my youngest complained to The Wifey that his tummy hurt.  Since he didn't have a fever, we sent him to school.  By Monday evening, he was getting prepped for surgery to get his appendix removed.

They caught the infection early enough so there was no risk of the appendix bursting.  The docs also took a picture of the organ so the youngest has a cool momento from his ordeal.  He got discharged Tuesday afternoon and was told no school the rest of the week as well as no gym for at least 3 weeks. Since being released he's been pretty happy with TV, Netflix, Nintendo Switch (with new games because appendix), no school, etc.

The Wifey's sister also gave birth to a baby boy yesterday evening, so it's been pretty eventful around here.  Too bad I can't add new job to the list of events.  Anyway, here's a quick post for the youngest, a Pokémon pack!

Definitely NOT Pikachu

Crimson Invasion is the fourth expansion of the Sun & Moon series.  It was released in the United States back in November 2017.  10 cards in a pack, here's what he got:

#46 - Salandit
#44 - Pumpkaboo

The Pumpkaboo is a pumpkin with a spirit trapped within it.  Yeah, OK.

#24 - Corphish
#81 - Starly

The checklists online say there are over 110 cards in the set (it does say 111 on the lower left corner).  I don't know why an exact number can't be given.

#10 - Skiddo
#53 - Regirock

Regirock is the rare card of the pack.  I think it was shiny too.  The cards before Regirock were commons.

#70 - Kartana GX
No # - Energy

The checklist says Kartana GX is an Ultra-Rare Rare card...wait, what?  That's a thing?  I need to find that card and sleeve it.

#35 - Emolga
#95 - Gladion
#82 - Staravia

These 3 cards are Uncommon cards.  Emolga's face kinda looks like 8-bit Mega Man's.

Anyway, that's the pack.  I'll get back to sports eventually.  Thanks for reading!

1978 Fleer Jet Set Stickers

I have no idea how I happen to own a pack of 1978 Fleer Jet Set Stickers, other than to say this was in a box of other unopened packs of cards that I believe were sent to me by one of my Tribecards readers. So, to whomever sent this: Thank You!

There are supposedly 79 full-color stickers (according to the wrapper), which is a bit odd considering each card back has TWO stickers... Maybe one repeats or something.  The stickers themselves are SHINY foil and are presented as two per card, as mentioned a moment ago.

The top portion of each card features a slogan or saying, presumably related to the other sticker. The smaller sticker at the top measures roughly 1" x 2.5." The larger sticker shows a country's flag and measures about 2.5" x 2.5" square.

In addition to the stickers, this pack also includes a "Fleer Funny Post Card." The one here makes "Dad jokes" at the expense of the Eiffel Tower... Go figure.

I guess these types of puns were funnier back then. Or maybe I've just been cracking Dad jokes so long myself, this one seems old hat... You see what I did there, right?

Oh, there was still gum in pack as well. It was shattered into a bunch of pieces. Kinda scary to think that there is gum from the 50's, 60's, 70's and later still floating around out there in unopened packs of cards and stickers.

Anyway, here is something of a checklist:
https://www.beckett.com/non-sports/1978/jet-set-stickers

2017 Funko Beauty and the Beast Mystery Minis

Greetings!

Hope everyone is doing well.  Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, but since I'll be busy with job hunting and kids and Valentine's Day things with the Wifey, I'll just put this up now and clear out more space in my Scan folder...it's a 2017 Funko Beauty and the Beast Mystery Mini!

Because you all don't need to see more 2019 Topps Series 1 right now, right?

The Wifey found the last box of this on clearance during a Meijer run a while ago.  I had no idea she had any interest in these things, but she's a huge fan of the movie so I guess anything goes.

Here's the back of the mystery box.  No rares or specials or glow-in-the-dark roses here, you have an equal chance of getting one of the figures.

So she got Belle in...I don't know, a party dress?  Nightgown?  Not sure.  It's currently sitting on a shelf at The Wifey's cubicle.

I guess there are exclusives for the ones sent to Walmart and Hot Topic.  Go here if you really want to see them.

Anyway, that's it for now.  More eventually.  Happy Valentine's Day and thanks for reading!

1996-97 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Series Two

Let's check out an old bargain pack of hoopster stars (hoopstars?) of yesteryear. I picked this up at a card show awhile back for a bit of fun.

M142 - Kevin Edwards
M141 - Doug West
M92 - Ken Norman

Two of the cards in each pack are three-player "minis". It just so happens that the minis were the first two cards of this particular pack. A number of sets over the years have tried to recapture the magic of that 1980-81 Topps set, with varying levels of success. At least Upper Deck remembered the perforation here. That was a nice touch.

M180 - Gheorghe Muresan
M120 - Hakeem Olajuwon
M125 - Rik Smits

This one does a little better with the star power, with professional super large man (and movie star?!) Muresan joining one of the best big men of all-time (Olajuwon) and star of every NBA pack I open, Rik Smits.

263 - Malik Sealy - Back to your regularly scheduled program (Collector's Choice) with Malik Sealy, who died in a car wreck at the peak of his career.

208 - Todd Day - I always appreciate a player who wears #13.

261 - Charles Outlaw - Better known as Bo.

243 - Andrew DeClercq

329 - David Robinson - Here's a Hall of Famer. This would be the season that Robinson basically missed, allowing them to fall to the bottom of the league so they could draft Tim Duncan. They were the original tankers.

272 - P.J. Brown - Brown was a defensive stalwart who played for a long time.

397 - Checklist - Wow, I'm not sure about Doctor Basketball's rating system here. There's a lot going on with this card.

391 - Sonics Playbook - This one features Shawn Kemp, of course.

2019 Topps S1 Patch & Pack 14 cards

I purchased a box today that contained 7 - 14 card packs and a pack that contains a 150 Years of Professional Baseball Commemorative Patch.   Here is what the box, and the packs look like.

2019 Topps S1 Box

2019 Topps S1 Pack

2019 Topps Patch Pack

I'm not a big fan of the Manu-patches and was hoping to get a Trout but no luck there. But a Rickey Henderson I guess I could have done worse, See the card below front and back.

Here are the cards from one of the 14 card packs with the best insert as for the rest of the cards nothing great could all be had in dime boxes at the next show I go to, I like the design and the photography is great a lot of nice in action stuff.

2019 Topps S1 Fronts

2019 Topps S1 Backs