2016 Topps Allen & Ginter Retail

Repack box pack time.

Let's tear in.
Top to Bottom:
141 Colin Rea

144 Matt Holliday
BL-11 Ted Williams Baseball Legends

142 Jake Arrieta Mini

310 Patrick Corbin (SP)

196 Josh Reddick

A short print, a full-size insert, and a mini. Not bad for my first pack of this stuff from last year.

2009 Allen & Ginter

Has everyone abandoned this blog for the newer one? Apparently so. Well, I'm still here and I want to make a post. I'm shocked that no one has bombarded this site, like every other one, with 2009 Allen & Ginter. I guess I'll have to be the first.

I stopped by my favorite shop on Tuesday, for the first time in about two months. I soon came to realize that the previous owner sold the store one month ago. He wanted to spend some more time with his family. I can't say that I blame him. He was the only employee.

The new owners are a family and are long time customers of the previous owner. The family was actually looking into opening a shop in 1994, but the previous owner beat them to it. It's a natural fit and I'm still satisfied with the place.

I picked up two packs of 2009 Allen & Ginter to ease my craving for new product pack opening. The other pack was nice. I laughed out loud when I found the Hoaxes mini card of the collapse of the Wisconsin capitol building in 1933. This pack was more catered to my taste, so I'll show that one.

Let's begin.
138 - Garrett Atkins

I believe he was in the first ever Allen & Ginter pack I opened in 2007. In fact, I'm sure of it! Look at those squinty eyes. It's as if Garrett is thinking, "Not this guy again". Yes, Garrett, this guy. Again. The feeling is mutual.

7 - John Smoltz

I'm going to get a lot of flack for this, but I really like this card. The splashes of red in the uniform really pop against the green. It doesn't hurt that green is my favorite color and this particular shade is pretty darn close to my favorite shade. I look into Smoltz' eyes and I see a man who can't believe he's that close to Delaware either.

116 - Charles Darwin

The well informed know this guy. The less informed seem to favor torches and pitchforks, right out of a Simpsons episode and of course from the Mary Shelley classic, History of a Six Weeks' Tour through a part of France, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland; with Letters Descriptive of a Sail Round the Lake of Geneva and of the Glaciers of Chamouni.

Why, what were you thinking? Look into his eyes and you could almost make out Roddy McDowell's Cornelius.

176 - Ramiro Pena

Wow! He's got some talented people blocking him. Does he become the next Jeter or the next Stankiewicz?

112 - Millito Navarro

The first Puerto Rican to play in the Negro Leagues and the oldest living Negro League player at 103!

295 - Brett Gardner

Another Yankee. Another generic Ruthian pose. Yawn. But wait. What's going on with those eyes? Spooky.

200 - Carlos Quentin (Mini A&G back)

Sweet! My first White Sox Allen & Ginter for 2009 and it's a mini! There is celebration in the streets!

NP60 - Stephen Drew

An American. I was hoping for a cool foreign flag, but this is cool too.

All in all, not a bad pack. I love the Quentin mini and the Darwin card. There's something mesmerizing about the Smoltz card. I was hoping for a Negro League player and I got one. I was secretly hoping that it would be a player from the Chicago American Giants. You can't have everything. Maybe next time.

2007 Allen & Ginter retail

Here's a late night quickie of something we pretty much all love on this site. '07 Allen & Ginter. I have the whole set so basically I bought the pack just for the mini card and the joy of opening a pack of A&G. Let's see what resides within.

104 Jeff Kent
328 Jason Jennings
308 Mark Zupan SP
129 Craig Monroe A&G mini
185 Troy Glaus
260 Andruw Jones

Not bad. I got an interesting short print of the Murderball guy and a bunch of minor stars. Well, Andruw's stock is pretty low right now, and I haven't kept up with Jennings since he left Colorado, but it's not terrible. I think I have the Monroe mini already, but not the A&G version. Like it really matters.

PACK FIGHT - A&G vs. Goudey

Here it is, for the Heavyweight Champeenship of the blog. A one pack match up of the two packs that make all the bloggers swoon. Tonight only, in Madison Round Garden:

Current Champion: Goudey
vs.
Challenger : Allen & Ginter

Goudey knocked out Turkey Red last year in a heated battle to take the title. Turkey Red retired after his defeat and now Allen & Ginter steps up to regain Topps' honor. We have two box fresh Hobby packs squaring off today. We'll have ten rounds of action, one for the wrappers, six for the base cards, one for the junk, one for the minis and one for the insert/short print cards. I'll be using Olympic scoring rules rather than standard ten point scoring system because Olympic scoring is easier to rig. A&G is in the white trunks, Goudey is in red. The two fighters meet at the center of the ring and tap gloves. Michael Buffer stands at the middle of the ring ready to introduce the match and OH! A tragedy! Someone just just threw a folding chair at him! The restless crowd drags him off the canvas and someone who wasn't me - you can't prove anything - throws a turnbuckle at him. No worries, Joe Lewis didn't need some fool to bellow a trademarked catchphrase before his fights. Let's let the immortal Bert Sugar kick off this heavyweight match:

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES!!!

Close enough.

ROUND 1 - The Wrappers

Allen & Ginter comes out of the corner strong with a reproduction of 19th century baseball art. A strong jab with the artwork is followed up with an uppercut for the erection inducing Heritage-style wrapper. Goudey regains his bearings and lands a blow to the body with strong, bright reds, blues and greens and an art-deco line drawing. The paper wrapper recalls the wonderful old foil paper wrappers Upper Deck used in the late '80s and early '90s and has a tactile sensation just as pleasing as the Heritage wrappers. Goudey lands a solid right hook, but leaves himself wide open. A&G pops Derek Jeter right on his smarmy mush right before the bell.

Goudey 2 - A&G 3

ROUND 2

N0. 73 Jack Morris - 211 Josh Hamilton

Both fighters are quick out of the corner to exchange shots. Morris gets in a barrage of jabs - four time World Series champ - 1991 World Series MVP - five time all star. Hamilton blocks and gets in a solid shot with Rule V draft pick turned MVP Candidate. Fazed by the blow, Jack, 8th all time on the wild pitch list, whiffs a left hook and opens him self up for some more shots by Hamilton. League lead in RBI, 31 homers. Look into Jack's eyes, you can see he's dazed. Josh takes advantage and nails him with a solid right hook for that Home Run Derby performance. Jack somehow stays on his feet and lasts to fight another round.

Goudey 5 - A&G 8

ROUND 3

N0. 21 Nick Markakis - 161 Randy Winn

Goudey realizes this ain't no tomato can he's fighting and lays back for a little rope a dope. Winn continues the fevered attack but can't get through Nick's defenses. One all star appearance, best hitter on a lousy team, traded for Lou Piniella, nothing gets through. After getting locked in a clinch Nick pops Randy with a .402 on base percentage jab before clamming up in a defensive posture again.

Goudey 6 - A&G 8

ROUND 4

N0. 151 Bill Mazeroski - 91 Scott Rolen

A&G comes out punching once again, but Goudey's defensive posture frustrates him. Scott's 5 all star appearences is doubled by Maz, who lands a jab. Seven Gold Gloves for Rolen, is blocked by Bill's 8. 1997 Rookie of the year? How about1960 MLB player of the year. Rolen gets careless in his frustration and WHAM! a 2001 Hall of Fame induction left hook is followed with an uppercut combo that shocks Scott just as badly as Yogi Berra in left field of Forbes field on October 13, 1960. Scott reels, stumbles and is DOWN! Rolen is down! He's hearing the boos of Philadelphia fans in his head, but he manages to get up before the count reaches ten. A&G backs off on the attack and makes it to the bell.

Goudey 10 - A&G 8

ROUND 5

N0. 156 Trevor Hoffman - 163 Jeremy Hermida

A&G knows they need to change tactics after that round. So Jeremy Hermida comes out swinging. A bat. Clocks Trevor right upside the head. Jeremy is warned by the ref, but they give him a point for having such a sweet follow through. Goudey takes the blow in stride as he now knows that he's in A&G's head. Trevor goes out there and just taunts Hermida. See this ball? You want this ball. But you can't have this ball. I'm the closer, I get the ball. Jeremy knows better than to tangle with a dude who had 550 saves, and tries to get Trevor in the clinch. Hoffman still gets in a few jabs - six time all star, two time Rolaids Relief Man award winner, All time saves leader. Mindful that he's losing the round, Jeremy unleases a vicious uppercut - 2007 One Game Playoff! - and connects! Stunned, Hoffman regroups and sends a shot of his own. "Oh yeah, buster? Which one of us will be in the Hall of Fame ten years from now?" OUCH. Low blow, but the Roumanian judge allows it. The two exchange some ineffective jabs before the ref breaks them up and the round ends. Both fighters go to their corners bloody and bruised.

Goudey 14 - A&G 10

ROUND 6

N0. 52 Brandon Phillips - 291 Rich Thompson

Both fighters are winded after that last round. Goudey steps up with a speedy second baseman, A&G a rookie pitcher who has logged two games in the bigs. Brandon just smiles. Rich stares blankly.
Brandon smiles.
Rich stares.
Brandon smiles.
Rich stares.
Brandon smiles.
Rich falls down.
Brandon steps on Rich as he goes to a neutral corner. Rich fell down with 9 seconds left in the round so A&G is saved by the bell.

Goudey 16 - A&G 10

ROUND 7

N0. 158 Adrian Gonzalez - 290 Ken Griffey Jr.

Upper Deck is feeling pretty slick right now. They've got a big lead in the late rounds, all they need to do is not make any mistakes and maintain the lead and they retain their belt. Goudey feels confident sending out a number one overall pick who pops 30 homers a year. Adrian leaps out, takes a swing and Junior literally grabs his glove in mid punch with his own gloved hand, twists Adrian's arm behind his back and head butts him across the ring. The next 1:39 of action is not suitable for a family audience. Gonzalez manages to stay on his feet until the bell only because Griffey won't let him fall.

Goudey 16 - A&G 17

ROUND 8 - The Junk

Upper Deck 20th Anniversary promo card - Absolutely nothing

Allen & Ginter doesn't even bother sending out a fighter this round. No Topps of the Class card, no Old Planter ad, not even a checklist. The super thick Upper Deck promo ad that wiped out half a forest to make stumbles confused around the ring for a minute and a half before punching itself in the face. This will not be known as one of the finer rounds of boxing.

Goudey 16 - A&G 18

ROUND 9 - The Minis

N0. 180 Akinori Iwamura - 113 Curt Schilling

Sensing that time is short and the match is close the two fighters immediately mix it up. Shilling delivers a solid body blow with 216 wins. Akinori counters with the fact that he's actually played in a game this year. Curt lands a right hook with his three championship rings. Iwamura jabs back with "Oh yeah, who's in first place right now, old man?" and follows that up with a tougher pull ratio. After some intense close up fighting, Akinori accidentally steps on Curt's ankle. The two look down to see a bloody sock. Akinori profusely apologises. Curt pops him right in the jaw and then writes about it on his blog. It's tough to type in boxing gloves so Iwamura gets in a couple of parting shots before the bell.

Goudey 21 - A&G 21

ROUND 10 - The Inserts

All tied up going into the final round! Which one will take the belt?

US36 Matt Holliday Oklahoma flag

No 277 Bill Russell Sport Royalty

Allen & Ginter's white shorts are now yellow. Matt bravely comes out of the corner attacking knowing this round is for all the marbles. Holliday gets in a few jabs - Oklahoma's got a cool looking flag, 2007 NL Batting title, that orange background looks terrible with Celtic green - but Russell shrugs them off. Holliday foolishly stays on the offensive and leaves an opening for Russell.

Eleven NBA Titles - pow!
Five time NBA MVP - socko!
Olympic Gold medalist - wham!
Twelve time NBA All Star - splat!
First black head coach in the NBA - kapow!

Holliday is barely on his feet at this point. Russell waits for his guard to drop and throws this last crusing uppercut:

You ever heard of Wilt Chamberlain? The most dominating player in NBA history? The guy who scored 100 points in one game?

I OWNED HIM.

Holliday is down. The ref counts to ten. Goudey retains its championship with a 10th round knockout of A&G.

Winner and still Champion: GOUDEY

Dissertation: Topps Allen & Ginter

I've decided to pull the lever for "nay" when it comes to Topps Allen and Ginter this year. That's not to say that I have any disagreeable feelings about the set, but it makes more financial sense to skip a year right now.
That being said, I've gone on to realize the criminality of withholding my visionary commentary from the world for so long, so I picked up a couple of packs. Hopefully, this will go better than the alcoholic who claims he can "stop after two beers tonight."
Upon opening the packs, one tendency really came to light. This third go-round with the A&G format has revealed that the genre of the throwback card has become solidified. We've come to expect certain themes in the set, the same way one might expect Danny Tanner and Uncle Jessie to react a certain way to a predictable situation, say, if someone were to drive a car into their San Francisco row house. We have come to depend upon things like stealth shark inserts and geographical odes. The "I can't believe they made a card of that guy " factor comes into play again, complete with more inanimate objects. With Topps dipping into genre territory, they've come to depend upon an arsenal of stock characters to further their plot. This first pack is full of them.

Let's tear in.

Top to Bottom:
131 Todd Helton
Mountain Man

Todd's thick winter fur suggests an ability to survive alone in the wilderness than few possess. Think Robert Redford in Jeremiah Johnson.

A loner, Helton is as comfortable in the enveloping folds of beaver pelts as he is in the high thread count sheets of a road series hotel. Sheathed knives that end up in the Rockies bat racks contributed to Helton's legend. Why else do you think he plays for the team most remote from all others?

44 Adam Wainwright
The Everyman
Adam has truly flourished after being thrust into extraordinary situations, most notably his relief pitching performance in the 2006 playoffs. He has stepped into every role where he was needed since then with gusto.

Mini BI10 Ty Cobb
The Unpleasant Man
When there are accounts of you stabbing an elevator operator for "acting uppity," this is the title you are saddled with. Cobb's stock history goes back as far as 319 BC, when Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, outlined his 30 basic character types. Cobb may also have fit into the Repulsive Man or the Offensive Man character types as well.
(Editor's Note: About two weeks ago I tried to watch the Tommy Lee Jones biopic Cobb. When I put the library VHS cassette into the machine, the static overlying the picture made the film unwatchable. Another attempt to screen the film will be made at a later date.)

313 Harriet Beecher Stowe
Hooker with a Heart of Gold (see also, Tart with a Heart)
At first look, Suffragette or Female Abolitionist come to minds of the uninitiated. Heck, it even says Author/Abolitionist on the back. Such labels further prove my genre theory, but Topps got this one wrong. Faulty is the assumption that Stowe was giving it away for free. According to legend, Abraham Lincoln, when meeting Stowe, said, "So you're that little woman who wrote the book (Uncle Tom's Cabin) that made this great war!" Dig a little deeper, and you find that Lincoln later privately remarked, "That Harriet is the best little f--- machine you'll find north of the Mason-Dixon line."

US17 Brandon Webb - Kentucky
The Nice Jock
This stock character is probably typified by Scooby-Doo's Fred. Athletic, nice, and perhaps not too bright. Let's see how well Webb fits these traits.
Athletic: Owns the best sinker in the majors.
Nice: Established the Brandon Webb K Foundation, benefitting at-risk children and their families.
Dumb: Maybe...He is from Kentucky, but this is all conjecture.

128 Golden Gate Bridge
Overzealous Fake Tanner
Not known to most, the GGB was supposed to be a nice, deep, even brown. Then they applied some of what must have been an off-brand bronzer, and...well...you can see how things turned out.

147 James Fenimore Cooper
The Show-Off
Follow me on this one. Don't you have to be a little bit of a braggart to write a 480-page novel like The Last of the Mohicans? "Stay alive, no matter what occurs. I will find you." Roll credits. Done.

There you have it, folks.
Thorzul Will Rule