I first would like to apologize for the lack of images. I know I promised that I would post some pictures, but I can't seem to get any good pictures with my camera. So until I decide to get a scanner, I am just going to post images from what I find on Google.

This set was my favorite of all time. It was the first set I ever completed. I wheeled and dealed with just about every kid in my neighborhood to complete this set. Now I have the chance to reminisce about those good old days, and I can sub out any cards that may have obtained some damage over the years with one that might be in a better condition. Seven hundred ninety-two cards, and Topps made over one eighth of the set available in just a single buy. This jumbo pack has so many chances to be great, I couldn’t wait to rip this bad boy open.










The pack also comes with a piece of gum (that will not be chewed) in the right side. By looking through the cellophane, I can already see the gum is broken. That appears to be a good thing, because the gum is not stuck to the top card. Since broken gum not sticking to the cards is always a good sign, lets save that one for last. On to the left pack:

79 Frank Thomas
572 Dave Anderson
474 Phil Plantier
467 Dennis Cook
620 Ozzie Guillen
403 Bobby Bonilla All Star
246 Kevin Wickander
303 Mick Boddicker
196 Jim Vatcher
87 Tracy Jones

493 Jose Rijo
780 Randy Myers
117 Dion James
34 Atlee Hammaker
605 Jeff Reardon
636 Geronimo Pena
685 Doug Drabek
380 Willie McGee
289 Tim Birtsas
49 Pat Borders

161 Tim Leary
46 Tim Drummond
182 Junior Noboa
604 Billy Hatcher
697 Shawn Abner
540 George Brett
503 Roy Smith
124 Randy Bush
449 Juan Berenguer
640 Andre Dawson

557 Wally Whitehurst
649 Bill Sampen
412 Dave Bergman
517 Joe Oliver
634 Henry Cotto

140 Fred McGriff
520 Mark Grace
514 Mike Stanton
262 Tim Jones
307 Andy Benes

141 Nick Leyva (Manager)
729 Don Zimmer (Manager)
485 Terry Pendleton
245 Kal Daniels
21 Joe Morgan (Manager)
452 Bill Schroeder
282 Don Carman
582 Marty Clary
432 Delino DeShields (All Star rookie cup)
163 Dave Johnson

Wow. All I have to say is wow. It starts out with a future HoFer and a member of the not so exclusive 500 homer club and it just keeps coming. A Hofer, a World Series winning manager, 2 MVPs, a Cy Young, and the guy traded from the Orioles to the Red Sox for Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling. Now lets see if the gum side can top that.

393 Carlton Fisk All Star
273 Johnny Ray
486 Tommy Greene
733 Kelly Downs
407 John Franco All Star
594 Rick Garces Future Star (El Guapo)

113 Carl Everett #1 Draft Pick
506 Darnell Coles
359 Mike Marshall
555 Turner Ward

628 Greg Litton
406 Frank Viola All Star
239 Darren Lewis
723 Candy Maldonado

180 Tony Gwynn (The best hitter since Ted Williams. And I don’t want to hear any arguments about it.)
.510 John Franco
339 Larry Walker (All Star rookie cup)
26 Luis Sojo
477 Mike Fetters
260 Harold Reynolds

602 Casey Candaele
410 Dave Righetti
691 Mike Blowers
58 Mel Stottlemyre
254 Shawn Boskie
487 Rafael Belliard
618 Sil Campusano
230 Sid Fernandez
281 Larry Sheets
172 Pete Incaviglia

666 Danny Darwin
331 Eric Anthony
501 Mike Bielecki
318 Rick Aguilera
687 John Cerutti
112 Frank DiPino
132 Jamie Quirk
720 Cecil Fielder
505 Chuck Finley
162 Ozzie Canseco

655 Erik Hanson
532 Kirk McCaskill
192 Rob Deer
237 Rick Cerone
413 Terry Mulholland
709 Matt Sinatro
193 Filex Ferrmin
622 Jack Daugherty
544 Alejandro Pena
717 Phil Bradley

After all of the hype for the right pack, it came away lacking in the star power of the first pack. Don’t get me wrong, a Fisk, two Francos, a Viola, and a Gwynn is good for a 50 card pack. But it just doesn’t compare to the first 50.

I was looking at the up coming packs from my variety pack and I felt I needed a double post. The 2005 Donruss Diamond Kings deserve their own post, but I wouldn't even bother posting unless I had a whole box of the next pack, 2003 Upper Deck Victory. The Diamond Kings have a timelessness to them. As for the Victory, they remind me way too much of the UD Collectors Choice You Make the Play. They even have the same rounded corners. As for the poo-poo platter, the contents were

61 Nick Johnson
19 Nomar Garciaparra
71 Jim Thome
50 Jose Vidro
144 Pedro Martinez Clutch Player
41 Shawn Green

And now for tonight's main event

230 Michael Young
171 Jim Thome
88 Vinny Castilla
257 Scott Proctor (Red Frame)
152 Derek Jeter
227 Scott Kazmir

Of all the cards in the Diamond Kings set, I had to get Scott Proctor. The main reason I made posted two packs was so I could open the 1991 Topps jumbo pack next. I know I have been lacking images of my cards, so I will break out the digital camera for the extraordinary event.

After starting the variety pack from Monday it's time to open up the next pack. Well all know that Topps' Opening Day series is a way for them to squeeze those extra bucks out of the hardcore collector. The first difference you notice between the original series and the OD series is the cards of the OG are black and the OD are white. On to the contents (as always, from top to bottom).

14 Mike Lowell
24 Nick Markakis (AS Rookie) I absolutely love this card. I am one of the biggest Orioles fans out there.
213 Lou Seal (Giants' Mascot)





















19 Matt Holliday
46 Derek Jeter
OD Puzzle 9 (From looking at the complete picture on the back, it appears that I have Pujols' front foot and Webb's groin)

I would grade the pack a solid B. I'm not too familiar with the Opening Day series, so I'm sure the reason I got nothing but 2 World Series MVP (including the one for that respective season), the NL MVP of that respective season, a mascot and the face of a franchise turning things around into the right direction.

Hello readers. I have been collecting cards for a while, and have been reading this blog for a few months now. I wanted to see what damage I could do so I walked to the Walmart Neighborhood Market (which is a grocery store with Walmart prices) and bought a variety pack that had 16 packs and promised a free bonus item all for 19ドル.97. The variety pack included, in chronological order:

2 2007 Topps series 1
1 2007 Topps Opening Day
1 2005 Diamond Kings
1 2003 UD Victory
1 1991 Topps Jumbo pack (basically a rack pack with two sections of 50 cards each, counting each section as a pack
3 1990 Fleer
1 1990 Donruss
3 1989 Topps (My absolute favorite set of all time)
2 1988 Topps

My bonus prize is a 2000 Royal Rookies auto of Adam Melhuse (3593 of 4950) that was just thrown into the box like it was its own pack.

As for today's pack(s), it will be the two 2007 Topps series 1 with good ol' Ryan Howard on the package.

Pack #1:
302 Scott Rolen Gold Glove
34 Paul Konerko
97 Dave Bush
179 Joe Nathan
JG69 Josh Gibson Home Run #540
143 Vicente Padilla

Pack #2:
91 Carlos Silva
90 Chipper Jones
105 Travis Hafner
59 Brent Clevlen
128 Damian Miller
5 Bobby Abreu
MHR216 Mickey Mantle Home Run History
OTG17 Jermaine Dye Own the Game
WM 18 Vladimir Guerrero Topps Baseball Stamp
74 Jose Valverde
292 Josh Fields RC
140 Freddy Sanchez

Not a bad haul with only 6 bases being doubles. Not a bad pull on the inserts either. My apologies if this post ran long. I will learn as I go. Please be gentle until I find a rhythm.