Friday, November 20, 2009

1983 Mother's Cookies Giants


Ok.... Here's how this worked. Fans who attended the August 7, 1983 Giants versus Astros game received a small box containing 15 Mother's Cookies San Francisco Giants cards. Unfortunately, a complete set consists of 20 cards. Not to fear, though, 'cause each box contained a redemption card that could be mailed away, and a few weeks later, five more cards would arrive at your very doorstep.

Problem solved, right?

Well, not quite.

You see, each Mother's box was missing five random cards. And when you mailed in your redemption card, you received five more random cards. What are the odds that you'd get the five cards you actually needed to complete the set? (any math geeks out there?) Why the heck was such a scheme tolerated by masses of poor, already-suffering Giants fans?

Who knows.

I've heard that the point of all this was to encourage good old-fashioned trading amongst card collectors, which makes sense I guess. But in reality, it sounds to me like a royal pain in the ass. Regardless, I was strolling through the local monthly flea market in Medford, Oregon this past weekend and noticed a box of these very cards. One minute (and one dollar) later, I was walking out the door with my new prize. Here are the 15 cards I got out of the possible 20:

1. Frank Robinson (Manager). Woo-hoo, the biggest name in the set!
















2. Jack Clark. Wow, another bigger name from the team... Looking good so far!
















3. Chili Davis. Fans of '80s baseball remember Chili. Dollar well spent!
















4. Johnnie LeMaster.
5. Greg Minton (the pitcher who took the 2-1 loss that day against Nolan Ryan).
6. Bob Brenly. Hey, we all know this guy!
















7. Fred Breining.
8. Jeff Leonard.
















9. Darrell Evans. Great player in the 70s and 80s. Glad to have 'em.
10. Tom O'Malley.
12. Mike Krukow.
17. Joel Youngblood. The only player in history to get hits for two different teams in two different cities on the same day.
















18. Dave Bergman.
19. Mike Vail.
20. Andy McGaffigan.

As any Giants fan will tell you, I'm missing Duane Kuiper, Atlee Hammaker, Gary Lavelle, Bill Laskey and Max Venable to complete this sucka. Until one day, when computers across the globe connect to virtual auctions in far-away places (like San Francisco), I vow to complete this set. Let's just hope that prices stay reasonable and Atlee Hammaker doesn't have the awesome Hall of Fame career I think he will.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

2005 Upper Deck

Here's my first 2005 Upper Deck pack, purchased as part of a repack box sometime in the past couple of months. Some of the less interesting stuff that I open tends to sit around for awhile, and I'd probably say that this fits. The design is full-bleed like many Upper Deck sets, but is also fairly forgettable at the same time.

354 - Angel Berroa

315 - David Ortiz (It's hard for me to totally hate David Ortiz, even though he plays for the Red Sox and was a PED user. I'm not sure why that is. It's so much easier to hate Manny Ramirez for whatever reason.)
376 - Jaret Wright
337 - Jake Westbrook
- Upper Deck Rewards ad

344 - Carlos Pena (Pena has turned into a premier slugger.)

493 - Jake Peavy Team Checklist (I have a strange feeling that Peavy will struggle with the White Sox in the long run.)

480 - Todd Helton Team Checklist
450 - Tony Blanco Star Rookies (According to the back of the card, this guy was the heir apparent at 3B to Vinny Castilla. I had no idea Castilla was still around in 2005.)

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom 14-card pack

2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom 14-card pack [$4.99 each / one pack]
182 Gordon Beckham
114 Bronson Arroyo
153 Troy Glaus
170 Russell Martin
81 Joey Votto
29 Francisco Liriano
193 Robinson Cano
37 Kenji Johjima - deckle edges
116 Jorge Posada
147 Hanley Ramirez
35 Felix Hernandez
99 Paul Maholm
80 Scott Rolen
8 Justin Morneau

I wouldn't normally touch this stuff, but was looking for a card fix at a local Target and through the somewhat see-through cello wrapper - I could make out the letters of Chicago White Sox star rookie Gordon Beckham's name, so I bought the pack.

Monday, November 02, 2009

2008 Topps Opening Day

Keeping this blog alive with another freebie insert I got with a trade. Can't complain about the star content of this pack. Gold foil lettering scans as black. These are very red....

Wrapped in this...

First up, Mr. No-Hitter...


Then Dice K. The red works OK for this one...

Next up, Johan Santana. Three horizontals in a row!..


Now Michael Young. He seems to be the guy I get in every couple packs...


Home town hero Brian Roberts...


And last, former Yankee, now Angel watching from home, Bobby Abreu...


Not a bad lineup even if this set is just the big names. They could package M&Ms on the team letters, like poke through pill packaging.

These are still very red....