2013 Topps Hobby Box

Ok, so everyone does a post on the new cards that come out.  I guess you could say this is my post.  I decided this year to purchase a hobby box, instead of buying hanger boxes and rack packs from the local chain stores.  Overall, I'm happy with my box.  I am about 36 cards short of the whole set (including having dupes for my player sets).  I'm trying to decide if I want to have the whole set, or break it up between player sets, TTM cards, and trade bait.  I love the design Topps chose this year.  In my opinion, it's the best design since the 2009 & 2010 sets.  So, what did I get?  Here we go:

First up, Eric Hosmer player collection:

More for my player collection:

 

I love the green/emerald cards!  I have several of them from the 2012 Bowman Platinum set, and I love that Topps included them into their 2013 set!  I think it's funny that I got all green cards that were sideways.  I wish I would have gotten someone from my player collections, but I would have to say the Kirk Nieuwenhuis is my favorite out of the bunch.

Gold Cards.  Nothing too exciting here.

Chasing history:  Yeah Kerry Wood and George Brett!!

For those of you that love MINIS.  I personally liked the 1987 Topps Mini's from last year.

Cut to the Chase cards.  Again, nothing that really excites me here.  I like the design, but wished I would have gotten a player that I need/want.

The Greats.  I know several Zistle trade partners that will probably want that Musial!

Calling card.  Again, nothing too exciting here for me.  I don't really care for the design.  Bland.  Blah.

Chasing the dream.  I like this set.  The design is much better than last year's Golden Futures set.  Plus, I got a Rizzo!!!

 

Last, but not least, since it was a hobby box, I was going to get either a autographed card or a relic card.  I like what I got.  It's a relic card (which I think I like better than the autographed cards), and he's a catcher.  That works for me!

A late return from the AFL

I received my 2010 Topps Pro Debut back from Max Stassi this week.  I chose to send him mail last fall during the Arizona Fall League when he was playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.  I currently have only 1 TTM still out from my AFL mail last fall.  Max was recently traded from the A's to the Astros in the Jed Lowrie deal.  Good luck in Houston, Max!

Max Stassi
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Phoenix Desert Dogs
114 days

Next up, mail back from Dave Schmidt, former Oriole. 

Dave Schmidt
Signed 4/4
Sent c/o Home address
137 days

First trip to my LCS

Kansas City does not have many LCS.  In fact, it has one that I know of.  It is called The Baseball Card Store.  I had never been here before today, and I'm glad we stopped in.  I was hesitant to buy anything, and was more curious to walk around and check it out.  My past experiences with LCS is that things are overpriced and they try to rip you off.

Much to my surprise, I found a hand full of goodies, and got a great deal.  I will visit again when I am in the the area.  Great thing for my checkbook is that I live over 30 minutes away from it!

First, I got several cards for my player collections:

Ryne Sandberg:

      











The two older Sandberg's are from Topps' 2010 Cards Your Mom Threw Out, not the originals, unfortunately.

Starlin Castro:

David Wright:

  This is the second card I have of these two; one for each player     collection!







Ike Davis:

Billy Butler:

 

A couple of cards to help me get closer to completing my 2012 Bowman Platinum and 2011 Heritage collections:

The final thing I purchased, which I couldn't pass up for some reason, was old packs of cards at $0.50 each.  The bin consisted of mainly packs from the early 1990's, but I thought it was the safe way to get out of the LCS with buying something that wasn't going to cost me an arm and a leg.  I found this bin first before making the deal for the cards for my player and set collections.  Here is how I fared on my packs (the good stuff):

1992 Ultra:

 Craig Biggio

 Rey Sanchez (one for my Cubs players set)

John Olerud











1992 Leaf:

 Carlos Baerga

 Mike Macfarlane (one for my Royals player set)

 Don Mattingly

Doug Dascenzo (one for my Cubs players set)








1992 Studio:

 First appearance by Wade Boggs today

 Second appearance by Craig Biggio

 OMG!  A card I needed for my Ryne Sandberg player set!!!  YES!!!











1991 Leaf:

 Roberto Alomar

 Heath Slocumb (one for my Cubs players set)

 Danny Jackson (one for my Cubs players set)

Second appearance by Wade Boggs today












This trip to the LCS cost me $8.18 (tax included).  A pretty good day, in my book.

Trade with zac247s on Zistle

I know that I haven't posted lately, but not many TTMs have come in.  However, I have been completing some trades via Zistle to help with my player collections and my sets I'm trying to complete.  This was my second trade with zac247s, and it was a HUGE trade - 56 cards!!  Here are some of the highlights:

Gary Carter player collection:

George Brett player collection:

and finally, my David Wright player collection got a HUGE boost:

 

I love the Starquest card!!

Rookie card!!  And an awesome action shot from Topps!

I like these Upper Deck First Edition cards.  Not much gloss, easy for TTMs!

Post Christmas TTM

I think everyone must be getting to their TTM mail, because I FINALLY got a few back this week.  I was getting worried that I was going through a big no TTM phase. 

Darrin Fletcher is part of my collection of getting an autographed card of catchers in catching gear for every team.  After I got these cards back, I'm at 15 of 30 clubs!

Darrin Fletcher
Signed 4/4
Sent c/o Home address
19 days

Cris Carpenter helped me add a few more TTM cards to my Marlins page.  I know that the initial uniforms for the Marlins were not popular, but I liked them!

Cris Carpenter
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
81 days

Finally, one I had written off last year!  I am really excited about getting this one back from Andre Ethier.  Just short of 500 days!

Andre Ethier
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Los Angels Dodgers
496 days