Recently, I won my first contest on Instagram. Topps' Instagram account was giving away three boxes of 2015 Strata to folks that other Instagram users nominated. A lot of my Instagram friends nominated me, and I ended up being one of the names that was drawn. I had never won a contest like that before, and I was so very flattered that it came by way of others feeling like I deserved something nice.
The box itself was ok, I got a nice Rick Porcello relic/auto and a Yan Gomes auto. The setup is one pack per box, two cards per pack. So, I can't be all that disappointed, since I didn't pay for the box. I can sell the cards I pulled at my next show, and just pick up a couple Strata here and there to make up for the ones the I sell.
I was really disappointed that Chris Davis wasn't on the checklist for Strata, otherwise I would be buying a bunch of his cards from there. Instead, I went toward another PC player, Sonny Gray. I got the same kind of card that the Porcello is, and am really happy with what I got.
This card is not numbered, but that doesn't matter to me. The signature is on card, and the piece of jersey came from a game that Gray pitched (May 8, 2015). He struck out 9 in 6 innings, but the A's would go on to lose due to a walkoff in extras.
I really like the Strata product, but am very disappointed that the cards don't really hold a lot of value. Sure, I was happy to be able to get this Sonny Gray for my collection at only $10, but with 2 cards per ~$75 box, you would think the individual cards themselves would carry a much higher price-point. I don't blame the actual cards themselves, because they are very high quality. However, I think the checklist might be to blame. I think that is the case all around the hobby when it comes to relics and autos, though. I mean, Porcello, con't get me wrong, but I think bigger names should be what is in stuff like this, especially if folks are expected to pay $75 for a pack. I guess I would have felt a little differently had I pulled a Bryce Harper, Manny Machado or Kris Bryant. Cal and Manny are the only Orioles I have seen in the product.
Oh well, I'm happy with this Gray, and I am sure someone will be happy with the Porcello. I know the person getting the Gomes will be happy, since it is going to a friend of mine.
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