2010 Topps Pro Debut Series 2 Box Break With Max

Max and I have wated to bust something together for a while. We last busted a box of Topps finest and went halves on a box of 2010 Allen and Ginter. We couldn't decide, for the longest time, on what to bust. Finally, I saw the checklist for Pro Debut Series 2 and we settled on that. So, we each got a box and commenced to busting.

Each box was to feature 2 autographs, and one Futures Game relic, so we figured we'd be able to get some sweet hits, at a cheap price. We also liked that a lot of the players on the checklist were ones that we had seen this year at all the minor league games that we went to.

I ended up pulling this cut auto of Cameron Rupp. Not a bad card, I really like this cut auto, and I'm curious as to what card it was cut from...?

Speaking of players that I saw in person. Michael Montgomery = WOW. I saw him pitch for Wilmington against Kinston this year where he carried a no hitter into the 7th and struck out 17 batters. He's really good.

I pulled this awesome printing plate, too. Look, it still has ink on it! It has been a while since Ive pulled a plate. I'm probably going to hang onto this for a while.

I like the Futures Game relics in that they're so huge! I think all relic cards should be this big. Those little specks of bat or jersey just don't do it for me anymore.

I got another auto! Shane Peterson. Never hard of him, but thats the point of this set.

Wow, a 3rd auto! Haven't heard of Steve Garrison either, but I'm ok with it. Not too bad, right?

So, I ended up with: 3 autos, a gold Mike Montgomery, a relic and a printing plate. I also got a couple blue variations, but they weren't anyone spectacular. All in all, though, Max and I had a blast opening these boxes. I really like having these minor league cards and may take some with me to games next year for autos... not a bad idea.

1992 Topps Box Break With Max

I was in Raleigh on Friday to take (and bomb) the second half of the ASBOG exam (the professional geologist exam). After I fried my brain for 4 hours, I met up with Max and we went to Cardiac Cards in nearby Cary to wind down and relax.
After a little bit of debate about what we wanted to do, we decided to spend a little money on a box of 'junk wax.'

We picked 1992 Topps because we had the potential to pull the Manny Ramirez RC. I like how packs cost $0.55, when base packs range from $2.00 to $3.00. I really liked the photography in this set. It looks like Topps brought their A game to this set with some of the photos. See the above George Brett, and the Stan Javier and you'll see what I mean.

Here is an example of a player playing for a team toward the end of their career that doesn't seem to fit (Willie Mays as a Met, Hank Aaron as a Brewer?). I had no idea that Gibson played for Kansas City. Wow. Was a nice surprise, though. I like cards like this.

We did get the Manny RC, so we acheived our goal. I doubt what we ended up with paid for the box, but Max and I had a good time opening it. That was worth it, in my opinion.

1955 Topps #3 - Art Fowler

We are moving right along. Here is former pitcher and pitching coach, Art Fowler.

I have to be honest, I have never heard of Fowler. I was able to find some information, though. He was born in 1922 and died in 2007 and played from 1954-1957, 1959 and 1961-1964 for the Reds, Dodgers and Angels. He retired with a record of 54-51 and a career ERA of 4.03.

Something cool about this card, if you didn't notice already, the team name is depicted as 'The Redlegs.' McCarthyism, anyone? I think it is pretty interesting that a part of US history is inadvertently depicted on this card. For those of you who don't get the reference, the anti-communism movement of the 1950s (Red Scare) was at its height when this set was released. In order to circumvent any possible negativity, the Reds were called the Redlegs. Interesting, indeed.

DECEASED (3)

1955 Topps #2 - Ted Williams

Our first Hall of Famer! The Splendid Splinter, Mr. Theodore Williams!!!!

Isn't it amazing (just a bit) that Williams only had 1,937 hits and 366 home runs as of the time this card was printed? Williams is one of the biggest names in the set.

The reason the set is only 206 cards (and there are several notable onmissions) is because of the competition at the time between Bowman and Topps. Missing from the set are: Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Stan Musial, Bob Feller, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe.

Ted Williams (born 1918 - died 2002) is regarded as one of (if not THE) greatest hitters of all time. He finished his career with 2,654 hits, 521 home runs and a .344 career batting average. All of this while missing time while fighting in two different wars! He also served as a manager (our first future MLB manager!) for the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers from 1969-1972.

Williams' death was also quite controversial. I was vacationing in Catalina (trust me, I was lucky to be able to go on that trip) when I heard about his passing. Apparently, during his last few moments alive, he signed on a napkin that he wished to have his head cryogenically frozen upon his death. There was a huge issue between his children after his death due to the questionable nature of his 'final wishes.' Since then, it has been reported that his head was mishandled at the facility which housed it. Wow. I have nothing to add to that.

HALL OF FAME (1)

MANAGER (1)

DECEASED (2)

1955 Topps #1 - Dusty Rhodes

For anyone expecting this to be a card of 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes, you'll be sadly disappointed.

All 1955 Topps cards are horizontal, with vivid coloration. A head shot of the player is featured, along with an 'action' shot. All backs of the cards are also horizontal, depicting stats from the 1954 season, as well as a line for lifetime statistics. Each card has a little bio on the player, and a cartoon with a question and answer.

Dusty Rhodes (born 1927 - died 2009) played from 1952-1957 and 1959 for the New York and San Francisco Giants. He was primarily used as a pinch hitter late in games for Monte Irvin.

After his playing career was over, he helped his friend operate a tugboat for 25 years.

DECEASED (1)

Post #300! Tike to Kick Something Off!

I have finally reached post #300. It took almost 2 years, but I made it. I struggled for a few days trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do in celebration, and then it occurred to me... Why don't I do what I've been talking about doing for a year, now; blog my entire 1955 Topps set, card for card.

Here is a quick breakdown of what you can look forward to in the set:

• 206 cards
• Rookie cards of Sandy Koufax, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente, Don Zimmer and Ken Boyer
• Lots and lots and lots of Hall of Famers

I really hope that you all are interested in seeing this set on here, card for card. I had a really fun (and expensive) time putting it together over the course of something like 2 years.

It all started with a Christmas present from my mom and ended with a trip to the card show in Raleigh. In between there were ebay purchases. One of them a drunken ebay purchase (Rizzuto). Only a select few people have seen the set in person and an even fewer have held the Clemente RC without it being in a top loader.

I saw the other day that I lost a reader. I also recognize that my blog isn't the best blog out there, so it is my goal to try a little harder in bringing some interesting topics to the table. I would definitely appreciate feedback on the set and posts. Have any thoughts on how you would like me to lay it out? Any facts you want me to include? I will start the posting tomorrow. I really want to make sure I don't rip off the guy who blogged the entire 1988 Topps set, but I liked a few of the little things he included (a running tab of hall of famers, also a running tab of deceased players, future managers, etc). I'm going to try my best to include information that everyone can find as useful.

Thanks for checking out my blog, please come back again and again!

Went Racing Again This Weekend

My dad decided to go racing again this weekend, and I was able to take off from the card shop so I could help out. My wife was also afforded a rare weekend off, so we were able to make a family deal out of it. Dad decided to race both his Pro Modified (the Yellow car) and his 'Classic Gear Jammer' (a Red 1967 Corvette). Because of the task of managing both cars, I decided to help out with the Gear Jammer.

Here we are pushing Dad along the staging lanes for his practice run in the car. We have his crew man Paul checking tire pressure, my brother Andy in the orange t-shirt, me with my handy dandy Lookouts hat and my brother Kenny by the door.

I had never seen dad race this car before, but I realized this weekend that I really enjoyed watching it. The car is LOUD and pops wheelies as it launches, which is really cool and brings back memories of how things used to be way back when.

Dad lost in the second round of eliminations in the red car and made it to the semi-final round with the yellow one. Both cars ran very consistently all day long. My aunt and grandma also made the trip, here is a picture of my grandma watching the action with my son, Christopher.

Here is a cool picture of Dad prepping for a run in the red car (I should have taken one of him in the yellow car too, but didn't think of it at the time).



I did shoot a video, however. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Not to be forgotten, my brother, Kenny, raced his dragster. My wife took this picture, which I thought turned out pretty well. Kenny lost in the first round, bought back in and lost in the second as well. He ran well, it just wasn't his night.

We were at Farmington Dragway for their Chick-Fil-A Family Fun Day, and one of the promotions was for a couple exhibition runs of a Top Fuel dragster. It had been 12 years since I have seen a top fueler in person. It was pretty bad ass. My wife and son had never seen one, and the look on their faces after the run was priceless.

It ended up raining once the semi-final round of Pro Modified was completed, so we didn't get to see the conclusion of the race, or another pass by the Top Fueler.