Epic Fail: The Great '09 Topps Hunt

So, spurred on by nasty blogosphere rumors that Topps '09 is, in fact, live, several days ahead of time, I got out of bed early after a late night, chugged some coffee, braved 10 degree cold and drove the couple minutes it takes to get me to get to the WalMart and Target right down the road with the intent of scooping the internet's first '09 Topps video break for my blog. This was going to be Card Junkie's finest hour. What did I find? Lots of Steeler merchandise. And lots of "Super Bowl-type food products" such as chips, frozen pizza, appetizers, soda, and all the usual stuff prominently displayed with big signs. But after bobbing and weaving my way like Fast Willie Parker through all the Super Bowl "stuff" and cashiers sporting pink Polamalu jerseys, the only thing I was able to push across the goal line to paydirt at the checkstand was this.*sigh* You got it. No '09 Topps to be found. Kinda disappointing. But at least I'm not the only one who lives near a Target that is actually following the street dates. So I figured I might as well try to finish off my U&H. I should have a vid of this pack up by tonight and if I feel froggy I may continue the great '09 Topps safari tomorrow. Or I might just say screw it, bask in the glow of my Steelers all day long and wait 'till '09 Topps actually drops. At my Target. And by the way, '09 Topps is live in certain areas, here's proof and more proof.

Coming Soon: 1980 Topps Football

Just won an eBay auction for three packs of '80 Topps football. I got these for $8.90 delivered which is a pretty good deal. Possibilities include a fifteen buck Walton Payton, a twelve dollar Phil Simms rookie and a five buck Otis Anderson rookie. I should have these by early next week and I'll post the best pack on APAD.

Coming Soon: 1987 Topps Football

Just won an eBay auction for this '87 Topps football cello pack for $6.50 delivered. It has a Jerry Rice second year card which books for 12 bucks in Tuff Stuff showing on the bottom so this pack is already a winner plus there are a lot of other good money cards in this classic set so this will be really fun to bust for APAD.

2008 Goudey Baseball

Still biding my time until the '09's come out so I picked up this pack to keep me occupied in the meantime.

Mail Day: 1/24/09

Here's a mailday from reader Duane in Ohio and also my contest winnings from Patricia and Lucy from Dinged Corners. I just got some new video editing software and couldn't wait to try it out. The result is sort of an homage to

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Series 1

Here's another pack of UD series 1.

Goose Joak Originals

I made some Pirates cards for the Goose Joak Originals set.



You like?? In case you haven't heard, us bloggers are making our own cards using a design template created by Dave @ Goose Joak. To join in on the fun or make suggestions or if you just want to check out some of the awesome cards other bloggers have made so far click here. Here's some more...











Pretty cool, huh?

Set Complete! 1990 Fleer Baseball

Thanks to reader Duane I've just completed my 1990 Fleer baseball set! The last two cards I needed, numbers 243 and 636, are on the way. To celebrate I'm going to take a crack at doing an "ongoing-every-card-from-the-set-shown-in-loving-detail-style" blog like Andy's 88 Topps and 78 Topps were. Wish me luck. Feel free to hit me up with any ideas.

2009 Goose Joak Baseball

Goose Joak, who creates some of the best looking photoshopped fantasy cards is making an entire set for 2009 that you can print out on your computer. Check it out, it's insanely awesome.

My YouTube Channel

Here's a quick place to check out ALL of my videos.

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Series 1

Here's another pack of UD series 1.

Here We Go Pittsburgh's Going to the Super Bowl!

Wish we could have played Philly but who cares!

1990 Leaf Baseball Series 2

The seven packs of '90 Leaf arrived. Let's see if there's any mojo...


eBay seller id: arichesin0131

Coming Soon: 1990 Leaf Baseball Series 2

Just won an auction on eBay for seven packs of '90 Leaf series 2 for $8.74 delivered. Leaf was the best and most limited set produced in 1990 and these normally go for $2.50 a pack so it's a pretty good deal. In series 2 I have a chance of pulling a 20 dollar Frank Thomas rookie, an eight dollar Larry Walker rookie, a two dollar Dave Justice rookie and a two dollar Nolan Ryan card. It's rare that I get to rip something other than junk wax so I'm pretty stoked for this one. I should have these by the end of the week.

Coming Soon: 1989 Topps Baseball

So I just won a contest over at Dinged Corners! My prize: a Jumbo Pak of '89 Topps! How cool is that? I used to love Topps Jumbo Paks when I was a kid. What kid wouldn't want 100 Topps cards and a piece of gum for two bucks? I completed many a set that way. Ah, memories. After staring at my computer screen for a few minutes I was able to discern the four cards that are showing: Cecil Fielder, Denny Walling, Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grant. 96 cards to go. Could there be some Sheff-Jo or Big Unit-Jo lurking inside? You'll have to stayed tuned to find out.

Third Blog Bat Around from Fielder's Choice

I didn't participate in the first two Blog Bat Arounds hosted by Sports Cards Uncensored but today I saw Fielder's Choice came up with great questions for the third Blog Bat Around and couldn't resist joining in the fun. If you would like to participate or want to know what the heck I'm talking about, click here. Here's are the questions Fielder's Choice has asked:

What type of sets would you like to see produced in 2009 and beyond? How could existing brands be improved and what new types of card sets would you like to see created? Should new sets be geared more toward set collectors, or should the number of hits (autographs and game-used relics) be increased? What about short prints? Parallels? Inserts? Gimmicks? What do you love about current cards, what do you hate, and where should the card companies go from here?

Ever since I got back in the hobby last year I have been impressed with all the new products that are available but I can't help but be wistful for the days of the old style Topps sets. Considering that Topps and Upper Deck are producing something like 17 sets a year now, how hard would it be for Topps to make one of them a 792 card set, all one series, gray cardboard, bubble gum, wax wrappers, no parallels, no gimmicks, no relics or autos and a low price point maybe 99 cents? And if they wanted, they could still make a high end 990 card base set like they've been doing, I mean we're talking 17 different products right? I know they make Heritage. And I like Heritage. But I'm talking about doing this as a new product without all the gimmicks and gamers and short prints. I think it would be a HUGE success. And while we're at it, why can't Upper Deck do the same thing make a back to basics set that is more reminiscent of their early 90's cards. Again, I think this could be a runaway hit. Again we're only talking about one of 17 products. I don't see why they don't at least try it.

What sets from 2008 and past years do you want to see return, and which brands would you like to see killed off?

Sadly we already know Masterpieces is being killed off. But obviously we would all like the see Heritage, Goudey and Allen & Ginter continue. I think Upper Deck was guilty of making a bunch of products in '08 that were unessesary and would not be missed if they were to disappear. I'm talking about Timelines, Spectrum, X and Documentary. Oh and I hope they don't make another 6,000 card plus insert set like Yankee Tedium Lunacy again. On the other hand I don't know why Upper Deck wouldn't replace some of these lame products with a faithful Fleer and Fleer Ultra revival. Again I think bringing Fleer back like it used to be is a no-brainer. It's a shame they hold the rights to a great piece of collecting history yet they do nothing with it. Anyway these are just a few ideas I have. Let me know what you think.

Mail Day: 1/9/09

Made a trade w/dayf @ Cardboard Junkie.


Here's my want list for 1992 Fleer baseball:
1,4,5,8,10,12,15,18,20,22,27,29,36,37,40,41,42,
44,51,53,72,79,80,81,86,90,92,96,98,111,115,
119,125,128,133,136,138,140,143,145,189,194,
217,224,228,236,238,239,240,242,243,246,251,
257,283,319,330,349,355,362,373,386,408,411,
416,418,421,425,433,436,446,498,501,509,516,
518,519,520,521,524,527,528,531,533,538,539,
546,549,581,585,588,590,597,602,613,625,626,
635,636,643,645,651,655,656,665,689,692,701,
704,717

email: jeffwolfe2001@yahoo.com

1988 Fleer Baseball

Here's the eight packs of '88 Fleer I got off eBay. Let's see if I get any I need. I apologize for the feedback noise on the sound.


eBay seller id: culpy4me

Guess the Cards

It seems like with the New Year, every card blog on the internet, in addition to year end best of lists, has a new masthead. While I didn't feel like doing another year end best of list as it looks like that's been done to death, I thought a new header might be nice. I decided to include the ten best cards I acquired during 2008. See if you can guess all ten cards. Some are easier to see than others.

Coming Soon: 1988 Fleer Baseball

I have 8 more packs of our old friend '88 Fleer on the way. Got these for $2.52 delivered on eBay, a real steal. I only need 41 more cards for the set so I'm hoping I can knock some of those out. I'm also still looking for the elusive Glavine rookie. I should have a vid of these packs by early next week.

Special Thanks to Saints of the Cheap Seats

I just wanted to take time out here to say thanks to Dan @ Saints of the Cheap Seats. You see, he sent me what were probably the two best mail days since I started this blog. Ironically, both times I tried to record videos of these, my webcam messed up and I was unable to give him the plug he deserved. Anyway, he has sent me well over 300 cards I needed for my '88 and '92 Fleer and '08 Topps U&H sets. In return I was able to help him with his '87 Donruss set, which he has just put up a nice post about. So check out his excellent blog, and tell him I sent you. And if you're reading this Dan, thanks.

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Series 1

Picked up a pack of UD series 1.

Mail Day: 1/3/09

Got a couple packages. One is from a trade with Marie @ A Cardboard Problem. The other is courtesy of Thoughts and Sox.

1983 Fleer Baseball

Here's the '83 Fleer wax pack!

eBay seller id: steelers1979

2008 Topps Baseball Series 2

Picked up another cello pack of Topps series 2.