2005 Upper Deck MVP

There were a couple sports card tables set up at the local mall today. I picked through a stack of 1975 Topps, choosing 25 gloriously colorful cards for $8. I also picked up a Harold Baines relic card, because as some people will tell you, you can't go wrong with ol' Number Three...But I just couldn't walk out without picking up a few packs to rip for your edification. Thoughtful, huh?

Pack 1

82 Steve Finley - Cool, I didn't have any cards of him with the Angels.

37 Jason Bay - Oh, Jason, you were pretty awesome. Why did you have to go to Boston?

40 Jeff Bagwell - Apparently he's the only first baseman in MLB history with 400+ home runs and 200+ steals. How 'bout that.

47 Johnny Damon - Pre-conformist haircut.

15 Carlos Delgado - Dude's been out of his mind for the past few months.

BU-37 Tom Seaver Batter Up! - This is a pretty neat insert series with retired players. Best of all, full stats on the back!

Pack 2

17 Chipper Jones - I think Atlanta kept the right Jones.

31 Hank Blalock - Always liked him. I hope he can get untracked after a couple years full o' injuries.

76 Roger Clemens - Not pictured: Abcessed buttocks. Eww.

32 Hideki Matsui - Thankfully not a closeup.

26 Eric Gagne - Stop weeping, Thorzul! It will all be over soon, I promise.

BU-32 Ralph Kiner Batter Up! - Sweet card, especially with the 1947 Pirates uniform. It looks a lot like the current Padres' threads.

So overall, not a bad way to spend four bucks. Classy, 1950's hot rod design, some big names, and a great one-per-pack insert. Kid-tested, Kevin-approved.

Friday 2-fer-1 Special 06 Topps U&H and 05 UD MVP

Ok, fun time's over. Back to the repack box. These are two of the more blah packs in the box so I'll knock em both out at once.

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights
UH146 Willy Aybar
UH64 Todd Walker
UH223 Ivan Rodriguez All-Star
UH285 Gold parallel Miguel Cabrera Home Run Derby #0660/2006
UH264 Mariano Rivera All-Star
UH319 Texas Rangers Team Leaders

Well, a Miguel Cabrera numbered parallel is better than a kick in the junk. Got a Brave in the pack too, even if it is Willy Aybar. Todd Walker has a cool cartoon about Double Duty Radcliffe on the back of his card. A couple of All-Stars and a team leaders card round out the pack.

2005 Upper Deck MVP
8 Barry Zito
67 Mike Sweeney
56 Livan Hernandez
27 Frank Thomas
7 Aubrey Huff
BU-11 Batter Up! Eddie Mathews

The Eddie Mathews card literally makes the box for me. I can chuck the rest, I gots Eddie. I hated MVP when it came out (6 cards for $2 and this is your low end product??) but the Batter Up cards of old timers are fantastic. Barry Zito is Exhibit A of why collectors are skittish about pitchers. It makes no sense how badly he's fallen after his first couple years in the league. Big Hurt is another fine pick up from this pack.