1990 Leaf Baseball Series 2

Here's a pack of '90 Leaf baseball series 2. Leaf was probably the best set to buy that year. Not quite the quality of Upper Deck but much more limited production and a better rookie card selection. I remember as a kid when this set came out you couldn't find it anywhere and when you did it was like five bucks a pack so I never bought any but always wanted to. Thanks to the internet and a depressed economy I was able to score seven packs of the stuff for less than nine bucks delivered. Bonus. Here's the first one I opened. Could there be a 20 dollar Frank Thomas rookie lurking inside? Only one way to find out...

For a video of this pack break click here.

The pack is actually made of real aluminum foil. Nifty, you don't see that anymore.

Yogi Berra Foil Puzzle Pieces 52,53,54
Looks like one of his shin pads.
466 - Glenn Braggs
Any card with double knit unis is officially vintage.

525 - Dana Kiecker
Like Bowman, this set is loaded with prospects with no major league experience. It makes for some great rookie cards but also colossal misses, such as this guy.
519 - Shawn Boskie
I kinda like the design. Clean and simple.

513 - Chris Hoiles
I learn on the back of his card he was traded from Detroit to Baltimore for Fred Lynn. Interesting.

507 - Joe Hesketh
I forgot he once played for the Braves.

501 - Duane Ward
The Braves flipped this guy for Doyle Alexander. Then they flipped Alexander for John Smoltz. Not bad.

495 - Brad Arnsberg

489 - Trevor Wilson
483 - Randy Johnson
I like the Big Unit's blue glove on this one. It matches well with his sleeves and cap.

477 - Gene Nelson

471 - Dennis Rasmussen
465 - Jim Leyritz

524 - Lee Smith

518 - Fred Manrique
512 - Scott Ruskin

Well not much in that pack but I did much better in the other six packs. Click here if you want to check it out.

1983 Fleer Baseball

Nothing is quite as fun for a collector as opening a real vintage pack. I'd say '83 Fleer qualifies. I got this for $2.99 delivered on eBay. Could there be a Boggs, Gwynn or Ryno lurking inside? Only one way to find out...

For a video of this pack break click here.

The pack is like crazy glued. I don't know if that's good or bad.

California Angels team logo sticker.
This was back when they were simply the California Angels. Not the ridiculous Los Angeles convoluted Angels of Anaheim sponsored by Pep Boys.
184 - Rich Gedman
Love the glasses.
130 - Bruce Benedict
Benedict has a look on his face like oh god not another crappy 80's Braves pitcher. I'm surprised, after all Atlanta did win the NL West in '82.
169 - Ron Reed
This is perhaps one of the coolest cards I've ever seen. For whatever reason, Reed is shown holding his Rolaids relief man award plaque. I don't want to know why he had it handy.

396 - Andre Robertson

387 - Lee Mazzilli
70 - Cal Ripken, Jr.
Are you serious!? A second year Cal!!??

'83 FLEER VINTAGE WAX CAL-MOJO!

This books for six bucks in Tuff Stuff. Well, five cards in and the pack has already paid for itself. Ten cards left to go too!

442 - Willie Upshaw

321 - Manny Sarmiento
98 - Ed Ott
The back of his card says "Has shortest name in majors." That might also be the shortest Did you Know? in Fleer history.

617 - Randy Johnson
Not the Big Unit.

268 - Milt May

579 - Bill Stein

540 - Carlos Diaz
His Did You Know? has nothing to do with this bummy Mets pitcher. They talk about some random hits record Robin Yount and Paul Molitor set in game one of the '82 World Series. It's pretty sad when Fleer can think of NOTHING to say about you.
109 - Bill Castro
126 - John Wathan
With a nice wax stain and bits of the wrapper on the back.

Opening really old packs like this is always fun and pulling a Cal made it that much sweeter.

1992 Topps Baseball

Here's a rack pack of one of my favorite sets, '92 Topps. It was definitely a turning point for The Real One. No more gray cardboard. No more gum. Full color backs. Also in '92, Topps unleashed a plague upon the hobby now known as parallel gold foil stamped cards. Thanks for that by the way, Topps. I agree with Mario @ Wax Heaven. Parallel cards are duplicates for dummies. Anyway, here we go, 45 cards... will we get a Manny rookie? Only one way to find out...

For a video of this pack break click here.

479 - Chito Martinez
We're off to an auspicious start.
500 - Vince Coleman
Vince looks like he already knows his career is over. Topps gives him a super star card number on reputation only.
203 - Greg Myers
230 - Dick Schofield
Why Topps would give this all-field, no-hit shortstop a star card number is beyond me.
649 - Norm Charlton
Remember the Nasty Boys? Charlton, Randy Myers and Rob Dibble. Back when the Reds were good. Those were more innocent times.
109 - Roger Craig Manager
Craig and the Giants are rocking some sweet throwback threads on this one.
223 - Mel Hall

602 - Mike Fetters
242 - Mike Mussina
Rookie card. Sadly the closest thing to a decent pull in this pack. Maybe if he makes the Hall this card will be worth something but I think he's a long shot at best.
491 - Jeff Brantley
297 - Kevin Brown
305 - Tom Glavine
Now this guy is a lock for the Hall of Fame. But it's his fifth year card.
508 - Bill Gullickson
Coming off the year when he won 20 games with a 3.90 ERA.
250 - Ken Griffey
Senior. Junior's dad. D'oh!
539 - Thomas Howard
153 - Ron Karkovice
159 - Darrin Fletcher
I love sideways action shots and you can see Fletcher tagging out Bobby Bonilla on this one.
758 - Tim Naehring
Remember when the Red Sox sucked and they had bummy prospects like Naehring?
662 - Juan Guzman
Went 10-3 as a rookie for Toronto and was never heard from again. I always used to get this guy and Jose Guzman from the Rangers confused.
229 - Shawn Boskie
546 - Paul Sorrento
Is it me or is his helmet pulled down over his eyes here?
689 - Mark Lemke
486 - Bob Walk
84 - Leo Gomez
Any card with a Topps All Star Rookie Cup on it is cool.
555 - Frank Thomas
This was when Topps started using leftover Stadium Club pics in its base set.

214 - Andy Mota
678 - Joe Klink
506 - Todd Benzinger

675 - Bobby Witt
A card I happily mailed off to Chris @ Stale Gum for his set.
749 - Jerald Clark

179 - Top Prospects 2nd Basemen: Caesar Bernhardt, Bobby DeJardin, Armando Moreno, Andy Stankiewicz

588 - Russ Swan
246 - Jason Pruitt Draft Pick
I love the high school senior pictures Topps used for this subset.
495 - Carney Lansford

58 - Top Prospects Catchers: Brad Ausmus, Jim Campanis, Dave Nilsson, Doug Robbins
185 - Benny Santiago
Never understood why Topps stubbornly called him Benny instead of Benito. Kinda like their "Bob" Clemente cards.
96 - Tom McKinnon Draft Pick
35 - Dave Righetti
474 - Mike Rossiter Draft Pick
Nice shirt.
711 - Ricky Bones
Pronounced "bonus."
306 - Al Shirley Draft Pick
At least they got a shot of him in his high school baseball uniform instead of some circa 1991 Ocean Pacific shirt.
107 - Dan Pasqua
Says on the back that he hit a 484-foot homer against the Yanks in '91. Dan Pasqua? Seriously?
394 - Denny Martinez All Star339 - Tom Browning
405 - Roger Clemens All Star
I can't look at Clemens cards the same way anymore.

Well, not much in the pack but still fun. This was a nice looking set.