Box Two

As noted in my earlier post, my player is Dustin Pedroia, my team is the Red Sox. I have not had a chance to scan anything from Box Two, and won’t get to it until Friday. Cracking, writing and scoring these boxes is a two-hour affair, no joke. Add another for scanning and uploading.

All of my 2009 A&G images will be housed here.

Box Loader: WBC Netherland Upsets Dominican Republic (8)

Pack 1: Brad Lidge (0), Donald Veal (0), Randy Johnson (0), Adam LaRoche (2), Nick Swisher SP (5-1=4), Brian Kong Sketch Manny Ramirez (3+1 = 4), Mini Kevin Youkils (1), National Pride Shin-Soo Choo (0) Pack Score 10

Pack 2: JD Drew (1), Manny Parra (0), Pedro Feliz (0), Jacoby Ellsbury (1), Framed Relic Nate McLouth (8), Mini Brad Lidge (0), National Pride Hideki Matsui (-1)  Pack Score: 9

Pack 3: James Loney (0), Jeff Suppan (0), Aaron Rowand (0), Shin-Soo Choo (0), Eric Chavez (0), Cliff Lee SP (5), Mini AG Back Jon Lester (3), National Pride Raul Ibanez (0),  Code info  Pack Score: 8

Pack 4: Jim Thome (0), John Lannan (0), Clyde Parris (0), Evereth Cabrera (0), Manny Ramirez (0), Mini National Heroes Scotland (5), National Pride Edgar Renteria (0), Pack Score: 5

Pack 5: Andy Pettitte (-1), Kax Matsui (0), Grady Sizemore (2), Geronimo (0), Jon Papelbon (1), Delmon Young SP (5), Mini Sigmund Freud (0), National Pride Jose Lopez (0)  Pack Score: 7

Pack 6: Mark Teahen (0), Alex Gordon (0), Connor Jackson (0), Carlos Beltran (0), Willie Williams (0), Stephanie Brown Trafton (0), Mini Daisuke Matsuzaka (1), National Pride Tuniesky Betancourt (0) Pack Score: 1

Pack 7: Alex Rios (0), Electron (-1), Mickey Mantle (-1), Mariano Rivera (1), Sitting Bull SP (5), Briank Kong Sketch Derek Jeter (3-1=2), Mini A&G Back Jose Reyes (2), National Pride Evan Longoria (4) Pack Score: 12

Pack 8: Jose Lopez (0), Matt Cain (0), Chone Figgins (0), Burke Kenny BREADED MAN! (2), Scott Lewis (0), Code Matt Cain (?), Mini Black Border Johan Santana (3), National Pride Carlos Ruiz (0) Pack Score: 5?

Pack 9: Ian Kinsler (0), Jorge Cantu (0), Jhonny Peralta (0), James McDonald (0), Geovany Soto (2), Dioneer Navarro SP (5), Mini Jimmy Rollins SP (7), National Pride Ryan Howard (0), Code info Pack Score: 14

Pack 10: David Ortiz (1), Dan Uggla (0), Ryan Howard (0), Joe Martinez (0), Framed Relic Miguel Cabrera (8), Mini Hoaxes Cold Fusion (5), National Pride Jorge Cantu (0) Pack Score: 14

Pack 11: Barry Zito (0), Casey Kotchman (0), BJ Upton (0), Hanley Ramirez (2), Josh Beckett (1), Gavin Floyd SP (5), Mini Kenshin Kawakami (0), National Pride Max Scherzer (0) Pack Score: 8

Pack 12: Carlos Zambrano (0), Mike Jacobs (0), Nick Markakis (2), Shairon Martis (0), Daisuke Matsuzaka (1), Napoleon Bonaparte (0), Mini Paul Maholm (0), National Pride Jair Jurrjens (0), Pack Score: 3

Pack 13: Gil Meche (0), Heinrich Hertz (0), Aramis Ramirez (0), Oliver Perez (0), Wladimir Balentin SP (5), Briank Kong Frank Thomas (3), Mini A&G Back Kaz Matsui (2), National Pride Albert Pujols (0) Pack Score: 10

Pack 14: Vernon Wells (0), Jorge Posada (-1), Brad Penny (1), Freddy Sanchez (0), Adam Jones (0), Robinson Cano (-1), Mini Nate McLouth (0), National Pride Daisuke Matsuzaka (2) Pack Score: 1

Pack 15:  Adam Eaton (0), Scott Olsen (-1), Koji Uehara (0), Kristin Armstrong (0),  Mark Buehrle (0), Jeff Francis SP (5), Mini General Custer (0), National Pride Vlad Guerrero (0)Code info Pack Score: 4

Pack 16: Dontrelle Willis (0), Corey Hart (0), General Custer (0), Bobby Crosby (-1), Wyatt Earp (0), Edwin Moreno (0), National Heroes Algeria (5), National Pride Carlos Zambrano (0) Pack Score: 4

Pack 17: Jake Peavy (0), Adam Miller (0), Steve Wiebe (0), Josh Outman (0), Chris Davis (0), Jason Wong SP (5), Mini A&G Back Loren Opstedahl (2), National Pride Kosuke Fukudome (4) Pack Score: 11

Pack 18: Brandon Morrow (0), Florence Nightingale (0), Josh Whitesell (0), Herb Simpson (?), Framed Auto Art Pennington (15), Mini Black Border Travis Snider (3), National Pride Edinson Volquez (0) Pack Score: 18?

Pack 19: Hiroki Kuroda (0), Jarrod Saltamacchia (0), Cole Hamels (0), Jeff Clement (-1), Ryan Ludwick SP (5), Brain Kong Sketch Jim Thome (3), Mini Felix Hernandez (0), National Pride Victor Martinez (0) Pack Score: 7

Pack 20: John Danks (0), Ricky Romero (0), Edinson Volquez (0), Walton Glenn Eller (0), Troy Tulowitzki (0), Code Ian Kinsler (?), Mini Bobby Parnell (0), National Pride Derek Jeter (1) Pack Score: 1?

Pack 21: Bobby Abreu (0), Matt Garza 90), Trevor Cahill (0), Will Simpson/Archie Bunker (0), Brian McCann (0), Jimmy Rollins SP (5), Mini Rocco Baldelli SP (8), National Pride Miguel Cabrera (0), Code info

Pack 22: Raul Ivanez (0), Jed Lowrie (1), Art Pennington (?), Elvis Andrus (0), David Freese (0), Millito Navarro (?), Mini Hoaxes The Turk (5), National Pride Stephen Drew (0) Pack Score: 6?

Pack 23: Coco Crisp (0), Mark Ellis (0), Dexter Fowler (0), Brett Gardner (-1), Aaron Cook (0), Pat Burrell (2), Mini Brett Myers (2), National Pride Matk Teahen (0) Pack Score: 3

Pack 24: Joey Votto (2), Ian Snell (0), Felix Hernandez (0), Yadier Molina (0), Johnny Cueto (0), Jason Bay (1), Mini A&G Back Edgar Gonzalez (9), National Pride Ryan Braun (4) Pack Score: 16

Official Scoring and scans to come later

I’m one of the 24 contestants in the first annual Gint-A-Cuff’s challenge, which you can read about here. Here is the first of three boxes of this hot new product. Gint-A-Cuff points are in parenthesis. My Team is the Red Sox, My Player is Dustin Pedroia.

UPDATE: Images from the this Box Break can be seen HERE.

Box Loader: Japan Advances to (WBC) Final, Matsuzaka and Aoki are pictured. (8) Score 8

Pack 1: Chase Utley (2), Scott Rolen (0), Albert Pujols (0), Mark Teixeira (-1), Justin Morneau (0), Kerry Wood (0), mini Andrew Bailey (0), National Pride Edgar Renteria (0) Pack Score: 1

Pack 2: Kevin Youkilis (1), Charles Darwin (0), Mariel Zagunis (0), David Patton (0), AJ Burnett SP (5-1=4),  Brian King Sketch Derek Jeter (3-1=2?), Mini A&G Back Johnny Damon (-1), National Pride Jose Lopez (0) Pack Score: 6?

Pack 3: Magglio Ordonez (0), Jered Weaver (0), Jeff Francouer (0), Michael Young (0), Framed Autograph Ryan Church (15), Black Border Mini Rick Ankiel (3), National Pride Yuniesky Betancourt (0) Pack Score 18

Pack 4: Aaron Hill (0), Francisco Liriano (0), Ramiro Pena (-1), David Wright (2), Clayton Kershaw (2), Justin Duchsherer SP (5), Mini National Heroes Turkey (5), Mini Jeff Samardzija SP A&G Back (9), National Pride Evan Longoria (4), Ginter Code info card Pack Score: 26

Pack 5: Chris B. Young Ariz (0), Johan Santana (0), Chipper Jones (2), Ryan Zimmerman (0), Mike Pelfrey (0), Alex Rodriguez (-1), National Pride Carlos Ruiz (0) Pack Score: 1

Pack 6: Ryan Theriot (0), Paul Maholm (0), Carlos Lee (0), Anna Tunnicliffe (0), Tim Lincecum (2), Andy LaRoche SP (5), Mini Hiroki Kuroda (0), National Pride Ryan Howard (0) Pack Score: 7

Pack 7: Ryan Church (0), Rafael Furcal (0), Michael Cuddyer (0), Derek Lowe (0), Brandon Phillips (0), Kolan McConiughey (0), Mini Manny Parra (0), National Pride Jorge Cantu (0) Pack Score: 0

Pack 8: Jaime Moyer (0), Colby Rasmus (0), Ubaldo Jimenez (0), Alfred Nobel (0), Old Faithful SP (5-1=4?), Brian Kong Frank Thomas (3), Mini Alex Rios (0), National Pride Max Scherzer (0) Pack Score 7?

Pack 9: Mike Aviles (0), Kevin Kouzmanoff (0), Jeremy Bonderman (0), Jordan Zimmermann (0), Fausto Carmona SP (5), Brian Kong Jim Thome (3), Mini Khalil Greene (0), National Pride Kosuke Fukudome (4) Pack Score: 12

Pack 10: Luke Hochevar (0), John Lackey (0), James Shields (0), Alamo (0), Brett Anderson (0), Troy Glaus (0), Mini Stephanie Brown Trafton (0), National Pride Edinson Volquez (0) Pack Score: 0

Pack 11: Brett Myers (0), Nelson Cruz (0), Lashawn Merritt (0), Suez Canal (-1), Todd Wellemeyer (0), Crack the Code Brad Lidge (?), Mini Millitto Navarro (0), National Pride Jair Jurrjens (0) Pack Score?

Pack 12: Jack Cust (0), Dustin Pedroia (4), Hideki Matsui (-1), Trevor Crowe (0), Jayson Werth (0), Christian Guzman SP (5), Mini Christian Guzman SP (7), National Pride Albert Pujols (0), Ginter Code info Pack Score: 15

Pack 13: Chris Duncan (0), Zack Greinke (0), Lastings Milledge (0), George Kattaras (1), Framed Relic Billy The Marlin (12), Mini Hoaxes, Hoodwinks Bamboozles Cottingley Fairies (5), National Pride Daisuke Matsuzaka (2) Pack Score: 20

Pack 14: Melvin Mora (0), Brandon Webb (0), Bryan Berg (0), Kenshin Kawakami (0), Rich Harden (0), Javier Vazquez SP (5), Mini A&G Back David Patton (2), National Pride Vladimir Guerrero (0) Pack Score: 7

Pack 15: Khalil Greene (0), Alfonso Soriano (0), Daniel Murphy (0), Ludwig Van Beethoven (0), Joba Chamberlain (-1), Chris Carpenter (0), Mini Black Border JJ Hardy (3), National Pride Carlos Zambrano (0) Pack Score: 2

Pack 16: Akinori Iwamura (0), Todd Helton (0), Scott Kazmir (0), Cat Osterman (0), Kevin Millwood (0), Matt LaPorta SP (5), Mini Torii Hunter (0), National Pride Victor Martinez (0), Code info card Pack Score: 5

Pack 17: Rickie Weeks (0), Matt Kemp (0), Eric Bedard (0), CC Sabathia (-1), Red Moore (0), Tim Hudson (0), Mini National Heroes Ukraine (5), National Pride Derek Jeter (-1-1= -2) Pack Score: 2

Pack 18: Russell Martin (0), Vlad Guerrero (0), Johnny Damon (-1), Justin Verlander (0), Brigham Young (0), Kenji Johjima SP (5-1=4), Mini  A&G Back Ryan Zimmerman (2), National Pride (0) Pack Score: 5

Pack 19: Jermaine Dye (0), Loren Opstedahl (0), David Price (0), Bobby Parnell (0), Framed Relic BJ Upton (8), Mini Ryan Howard (0), National Pride Stephen Drew (0) Pack Score: 8

Pack 20: Josh Hamilton (2), Francisco Rodriguez (0), Brad Nelson (0), Matt Tuiasosopo (0), Yunel Escobar SP (5), Brian Kong Francisco Rodriguez (3), Mini Charles Darwin (0), National Pride Mark Teahen (0) Pack Score:  10

Pack 21: Brian Giles (0), Frank Evans (0), Brian Roberts (2), Milky Way (-1), Ryan Dempter (0), Crack the Code JD Drew (?), Mini A&G Back Louis Braille (2), National Pride Ryan Braun (4) Pack Score: 7?

Pack 22: Casey Blake (0), Jose Reyes (0), Blake DeWitt (0), Nate McLouth (0), Adrian Gonzalez (2), Dominique Wilkins  SP (5), Mini Black Border Russell Martin (3), National Pride Carlos Beltran (0), Code info card

Pack 23: John Maine (0), Jay Bruce (2), Roy Oswalt (0), Jason Motte (0), Carlos Guillen (0), Travis Hafner (0), Mini Hoxes Hoodwinks The Piltdown Man (5), National Pride Francisco Liriano (0) Pack Score: 7

Pack 24: Edgar Renteria (0), Torii Hunter (0), Michael Phelps (0), Matt Holiday (0), David DeJesus (0), Stephen Drew SP (5), Mini Dan Haren (0), National Pride Carlos Delgado (0) Pack Score: 5

Un-Official G-A-C Score to come. Scans also to come.

Review/Commentary: I dig the three hits per box now. One thing that I love about Allen & Ginter is when you open a pack and see a Framed card, you kind of slow down and peak at it hoping there is something extra special inside. That said, my hits here were interesting. The Ryan Church auto is blah, and the BJ Upton gamer is pretty bland, even more since it’s a single-color swatch. But the Billy The Marlin gamer card (it’s got a pinstripe!) is pretty interesting, even if only because the picture of a big fish wearing a jersey is amusing. Also, this is a Group A short print relic, which means for the next five days or so I can get about $20 for it, after that it is anyone’s guess. Whee!

The Crack the Code cards are different this year, and I kind of dig it. The fact that they look like parallels make them appealing to player and team collectors, which is neat. The Brian Kong sketch cards look awesome, and I like that the National Pride inserts are not super thick.

The minis I pulled were not extremely special, nothing serial numbered. But a mini of Charles Darwin and Thomas Braille in the same box is pretty fun.

Target got a new shipment of “Power Packs” this week, among them were these four 2007 Goudey. Priced at $1.59 a pack, I figured it was worth the “plunge” even though the miniature nature of this set leave me with mixed emotions. Is Anyone still working on this set?

Pack One:

Joe Mauer, 62

Derek Jeter, 34

David Wright, 136

Chone Figgins, 192

Eric Chavez, 38

Andy Pettitte, 10

Scott Kazmir, 142

Melvin Mora, 166

Pack Two:

Ivan Rodriguez, 7

Nomar Garciaparra, 159

Kevin Kouzmanoff, 183

Joe Mauer “Heads Up”, 247

Carlos Zambrano, 24

Grady Sizemore, 43

Felipe Lopez, 198

Ray Durham, 110

Pack Three:

Jacque Jones, 48

Corey Patterson, 115

Brandon Phillips, 139

Ken Griffey Jr “Heads Up”, 265

Jake Peavy, 49

Johan Santana, 63

Delmon Young, 197

Mark Teahen, 124

Pack Four:

Scott Rolen, 91

Gary Sheffield, 42

Ryan Howard, 102

Carlos Guillen, 126

Miguel Tejada, 78

John Smoltz, 64

Michael Cuddyer, 134

Mike Jacobs, 158

For a year now I’ve been looking for my copy of the 1991 Score USA Flag card, the same one Night Owl has posted today, the same card I ALWAYS think of on the Fourth of July. Anyhow, this 1991 Fleer Pro-Vision Mark McGwire is the second card I always think about on this holiday. Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July.

Oh, and for the record, this is easily one of the Top Three Metallica songs I’ve ever heard. Kinda fitting (in a dark way) for today.

Metallica — One (video)

Lyrics

I’m going to go on record again and state that Night Owl cards has been by favorite blog since I discovered it last year. Is it the best and most informative blog? No. But is it entertaining, one that always keeps my attention? Absolutely. In addition to all of this, Greg — the author of NightOwl — and I have managed to become pretty good trading partners. He wants Dodgers, I want Red Sox; we agree to swap whenever possible. As he noted on his blog earlier this week I sent him a package last week consisting of some vintage Dodgers and a  pair of through the mail autographs (Andre Ethier and Brett Butler) f0r this 2009 SPX  Red Sox Triple Relic.

But as many people in the Blogospehere know, there are many generous card bloggers, and Greg is one of them. He also sent along this care package of Red Sox cards — all of which I needed for  my growing Boston collection.

We’ll start with some of these 2009 Topps Retro cards available only through I’d intended to write something mildly entertaining about each card, but the package contained 24 total cards. I think the images might just speak for themselves.

And now the highlights:

A sorta random 2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Preview Michael Jordan — I love this card…

2009 Upper Deck Starquest (Emerald — Super Rare) Kevin Youkilis

2008 Topps Heritage Chrome David Ortiz #221/1959

2008 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractor Jacoby Ellsbury

I woke up one year ago today, July 3, thinking it was time to start my blog.

For months, I’d contemplated writing something baseball card related. I’d already been blogging about fantasy baseball for more than a year, but if there was one thing I felt I was an “expert” at, it was baseball cards.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to proclaim I am the end-all when it comes to card knowledge. Hell, I’ve learned a lot in the last year, stuff I hadn’t even begun to think about.

But having been a collector for more than two decades, I felt that if I could write about one thing authoritatively, it was this hobby.

I had aspirations about writing a book, but who wants to read some bounded ramblings of some collector? I felt a blog would be the next best thing as it would be cathartic, and give me an opportunity to enhance my collection by figuring out why certain cards were in my collection.

What happened over the next year was totally unexpected.

For about two months, I provided daily content to whomever would read it — pretty much just me — about certain cards. Then in October, Mario at Wax Heaven found my blog interesting enough to add me to his “Heavenly Seven.” It still surprises me that I’d made it there; and it amazes me how many of you followed his link back to my blog — I’m approaching 50,000 page views, the overwhelming majority of which were directed from Wax Heaven.

It really wasn’t one of my goals to get recognized by Mario. Hell, when I got into card blogging, I barely knew what the hell Wax Heaven was. I just remembered seeing the banner in someone’s Beckett Message Board signature. I digress.

I’m still a bit shocked that Mario found my blog that interesting. I think it may have had to do with a post I wrote about this 1997 Bowman Chrome promotional piece; Mario seems to have an affinity to all cards created that year.

Anyhow, when he linked to this blog, everything changed. Suddenly I was not the only one reading my stuff, but hundreds of you guys were as well. This changed my mentality a bit; I strove to write something entertaining or informative as often as possible. And for months I continued down that path.

I’m almost positive that I was the first blogger to write about the 2008 Stadium Club Manny Ramirez ‘Dodger” card. I give major credit to Chris Olds at Beckett (you all can keep that booing to yourselves, I’ve got no beef with Chris.) for linking back to this site.

I helped spread the news of the hobby’s oldest baseball card being found in Fresno, Calif. I owe another hat tip to my boy Mike, the reporter at the Fresno Bee who wrote that original story, which later led to that woman making an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

And, oddly enough, a post I wrote in November has recently become one of the most read posts I’ve ever written — this Thrift Treasures entry in which I discovered a box of Michael Jackson cards.

But in January, things got even better. In this piece, I announced that my wife and I were pretty much on our way to the hospital to welcome into the world our first child, our daughter Alexa. Since then, this blog has not been the same. I’ve gone on several hiatuses, and although I am writing a bit more frequently these days, I make no guarantees as to when I’ll get around to posting. And that’s OK. I’ve come to learn that is healthier for me and my family.

Over the last year I’ve also witnessed great acts of generosity. Mario has clearly been a big giver in terms of cards, as has been one of his most notorious assistants, Submarine Shane. And I’ve also come to know some wonderful people who have turned out to be great trading partners, like Greg at Night Owl Cards — which has been my favorite blog for almost eight months, Cardboard Junkie is my second; Jeffrey at Card Junkie, who also has been very helpful in completing sets, and Dave at the retired blog Fielder’s Choice.

Anyhow, as I celebrate this one-year anniversary, I also thank you for taking time to stop by. I wish I were in such a position to offer a prize in some sort of contest, but I’m not. I haven’t really thought that far ahead.  Maybe something will pop up in the next couple days that I’ll deem worthy of giving away.

Ben / Newspaperman

This Clayton Kershaw 2006 Bowman Chrome auto rookie here on the right is for trade, seeking offers of rookies something of similar quality. This card was pulled from a box last year and submitted to Beckett grading, which gave slabbed it a a Mint 9 (3×9; 1x 9.5) with a perfect signature. Serious offers only, please. Traders whom I have not dealt with before will ship their item first.

While working on my Red Sox Collection on Saturday night, I came across this 1998 Pacific Online Dennis Eckersley card. Is it me, or is this perhaps one of the worst sets ever created? This set featured 800 cards — 780 different players — each card featuring the Web site dedicated to that player. For Eckersley we’re talking about http://players.bigleaguers.com/Dennis_Eckersley.html. Don’t bother trying to visit that URL, I’ve already tried it … it no longer exists.

I guess in 1998, we as a nation were still learning about the World Wide Web. Hell, most of us were still using America On-Line, paying like $39.99 a month for slow-speed Internet and trading cards through the message boards there.

It should be noted that as I write this, I lugged out my Beckett Almanac to see if there are any parallels and there actually were … and this Eck card is one of them. There were versions with red foil, and then the “Web Cards,” which is what this card is. On the back of the card there is a serial number printed in the top right corner that could have been entered into some sort of search engine on Pacific’s Web site for a chance to win an “upgraded” version, according to Beckett. (Note: “web” cards have gold foil, where as regular cards have silver.) I wonder what those “Upgrade” cards looked like? There is no picture or listing for them in the Almanac.

In November I found this box of unopened Michael Jackson trading cards at a thrift store, and today with Michael’s passing, I almost gave into greed.

If you do a search on eBay right now for Michael Jackson items, you’ll see why I almost gave in. And truthfully, I did give in … for three whole minutes. Yes, I posted my box of cards for sale. But I quickly yanked the thing off eBay. Why? Because I felt like a fuckin’ asshole. It’s just not right to profit immediately on someone’s death like this.

I probably lost a good chunk of money by stopping my auction, but at least I feel better about myself. I’m not saying it’s wrong to sell items depicting someone whose died, but it’s defintely in poor taste to do so when his body is still warm.

Yes, this is a serious question. Over the last few weeks I’ve been working on getting my stuff organized in hopes of making some trades in the future. I’ve done some trading through this blog, and through Card Trading Fools, but it’s clear to me that I am not finding the majority of collectors. So I ask: Where do most of you trade cards?