1990 Hoops Basketball

Inspired by my friend Mike over at Bad Wax, I bring you this. 1990 Hoops Basketball Series I.
In 1990, Hoops was the basketball card of choice, unless you preferred the computer generated backgrounds of upstart Skybox. But for genuine action photos... Hoops was it.

First, the pack for posterity.... (that's geniune plastic folks... no wax here)

Lakers Coach and Coach of the Year, Pat Riley....

Orlando Magic guard Scot Skiles. Did I scan Scott's card because he holds the NBA record for assists in one game with 30? No. Was it because this was the year he won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award? No. Was it that he went on to be a head coach with Chicago, Phoenix, and currently Milwaukee? No. It is because at 6' 1" he is the shortest player in the pack.

Mitch Richmond - Golden State

Alvin Robertson - Milwaukee

Joe Klein - Boston

Ken Norman - Clippers

Mel Turpin - Washington

Why is every other card upside down in these packs? Annoying.

Seattle Supersonics Olden Polynice. Seattle does not have a team anymore. What does Martin Crane think of this?

Olden is also one of three 7' players in the pack...

Armon Gilliam - Hornets

Roy Hinson - New Jersey

Mark McNamara - Lakers

Ron Anderson - 76'ers

Jerome Kersey - Trail Blazers

Dave Hoppen - Hornets

and the best card in the pack........... A James Worthy All Star insert!!!! Wow! An insert from 1990!!! (okay, they were one per pack, and part of the base set.) Still, it's Worthy.

I must confess... I have an ulterior motive for posting this pack. I was digging through my garage (I recently moved) and found a box with 6 sealed boxes of this stuff. 3 of each series. I don't collect basketball, but I know a lot of you do. So here it is...

Most of you know I'm a big Braves fan (and Adam LaRoche), so..... send me any Braves cards. Anything. Regional cards, oddballs, stickers...Heck, I'll even expand it to include Blue Jays cards (my father in law loves 'em) Send me whatever, and a pack or two... or three will be on their way to you. And I'll probably find some other goodies to send along...

Want some old basketball wax? It's just that easy. Send me an email, and I'll give you my address, then soon, Bird, Magic, MJ, and Olden Polynice may be showing up on your doorstep.

For those of you who already have sent trades to me, or are in the process... relax. Don't stress. Hoops wax is a comin'!

'08 Allen & Ginter box break- Part Deux

For those of you who do not remember Part One, click on the link and review. When you come back, read on for the second box break review.

A much better box "hit wise" than the last one. And unlike the first box, no duplicates of any kind. I've heard of bad distribution in this set, so I purchased box #2 from a completely different seller in a different part of the U.S.

It didn't work. In total with the two boxes, out of 288 base cards, I ended up with 87 duplicates. Including 6 out of 24 SP's.

The hits for box 2?


Carl Crawford - Rays : game used bat

Chase Utley Phillies: game used jersey

Lance Berkman Astros: game used jersey

Ervin Santana Angels: Autograph

Two rather grumpy looking gentlemen out of the World Leaders subset...

Gilgamesh!!!!! Sweet. And some make believe dude from Team Orange. (no 'stache)

Jackie Freakin' Robinson. Bask in that glow for a moment.

But I'm still short a bunch o' cards, not to mention at least the 3 Braves SP's... All of these cards pictured, and in Box One, are for trade...

There must be some Rays fans(Dave), Angels fans, Phillies fans who are willing to trade for these wonderful cards for some meaningless Braves cards they have kicking around... right?

Plus, anyone wanting to trade base cards to try and complete their set like me... send me your lists....

'08 Allen & Ginter box break

Relax. No worries. I will not subject you to 24 packs of A&G overdose. Pretty much everyone is busting these now while they're "hot".
What I will do is give you a breakdown of what I found in my box. Knowledge is power people.
For pretty pictures of the box, check out dayf at Cardboard Junkie. No point in repetition.

So after the cling wrap came off, my wife and I each reached in and took a pack. 8 cards per pack, including a one per pack "Flag" card, and a one per pack "mini version". The mini in my pack?

Randy Winn.

What did my wife find???


That's right. A mini Mako Shark. A one per CASE insert. This is my life friends. My wife, a super rare insert. Me, Randy freakin' Winn. 'nuff said.

Up later was a mini World Leaders card of Nguyen Tan Dung. I can't make up stuff like this. See for yourself. (Does the World Leader subset come full size? If it does, I didn't get any.)


Box "hits"

Stephen Drew Jersey (with a stripe!!! Possible 1 of 1!!!!!!).... whatever.

Bobby Crosby Jersey.

You get 12 SP's in each box. I am showing Jason Giambi because I only found two doubles in this box. This Jason Giambi SP is one of them.

The other double you ask? You're just dying to know? Joe Mauer Flag of Minnesota insert.

No base card doubles. Sweet.

Overall

131 / 300 cards ( no SP's included)

142 / 350 cards ( SP's included)

1 black border mini ( Rich Thompson)

6 A&G back mini's

1 SP double

1 Flag double

22 Flags. (wait a minute... I know you're scoring at home... 22 Flags plus 1 double equals 23 Falgs in a 24 pack box. Shenanigans! 1 pack in the box had 6 cards, not 8. Missing a mini and a Flag. I got jobbed.)

Now. Why did I post these particular cards? A post without Braves? Well it's because all of these are now official trade bait.

Let me know people... my second box is almost here via sled dog....