Capturing The Flag(ship) Via Trade - Chapter 1

I do most of my trading on the TCDB.  I have several sets that are in progress that I don't list on this website because they're easier to trade for than to list for buying at shows or shops.  Not to say that someone out here wouldn't have any available, but most of these sets are easy enough that I'd probably finish them before I could keep the listing current. 

Thought it might be interesting to see how long it takes for me to completely trade for a set.  And I have the perfect one.  2026 Topps Flagship football has been on my radar since it came out.  I already finished my Commanders team set and two PC guys, (and Angela's fantasy lineup), so I just need a complete base set and the inserts that catch my fancy.  It's still relatively new and active among traders.  I'm sure there are parts that they did for the baseball, but I've ignored that, so I'm unaware.

I'll do the Greatest Hits (or runs, or catches, or passes).  Have three in the initial batch plus this one in the team set - will need another.

Probably won't do the Big Ticket Players.  Standard Topps star insert.  Though half of Angela's team is among these.

  

Same for the NFL Stars and Pressure Cookers.  Suddenly Toppanatics likes white block text on everything...

Hard pass on the peacock tails of Struttin'.  Nice try - sort of original.

I did opt in for the PROfiles.  Hope Kyle has some interesting things to say about the same list of stars.

Will also try for these Greats of the Game.  Hey, any time they're putting out retired players, I'm interested.  Though these remind me of 2021 Topps baseball with the diagonal theme and unreadable text.

There are a couple of curious inserts that could be products of their own, or parallels.  The Flagship Collection is the stars in a different design.   Usually, I'd scoff, but these look nice and I know the players in this sport.

There are also a small group of "Companion Cards".  Which seem to be image variations.  In this particular case, it's an upgrade.  Love's regular card is an ugly throwback uni picture: 

Another short list is the five HOF electees.  Hope these short groups aren't super rare like Downtowns or something.

Same with these All Kings.  Jeanty is the only image so far on the database, but these are cool from this at least.

And finally, these might be scarce too, I have no idea.  Hope not, they're pretty nice and the checklist is interesting enough.  You might think "bulletin board material" would have come first and be about smack talk.

So anyway, that was more of an insert review than I anticipated.  But here's where I am Day One.

That's 87 base cards including the extra Commanders.  Add in three Greatest Hits, and that's all.  This is just the first trade.  Let's see how quick I can fill the rest of them out.   

2026 Allen & Ginter Part 2: Ghosts of Products Past

To answer a comment from Part 1 - No, I did not get Steve Burns #58 from either box.  

Don't be sad, Blue, I'll get him soon.

But the upside is, I've got another box to show you!  Let's dive in.... 

This guy showed up again as the Foil Filigree.  At least the regular one...

Silver portraits.  I've sent Kershaw to Night Owl.  I think I got that Anthony guy in several different forms if anyone is a fan.

Full-shiny Chromes.  Marsee is the Refractor.

N43s of the big guns.  Again, if I liked current guys, I'd finish these.  

OK, time for the first hit.  These framed mini hits are the one thing that hasn't diminished in this set over the years.  These just get better looking all the time.  My Michigan friends might want this one.

Speaking of fancy minis.  Another one of the N34s or whatever number these are.  Sorry Jose, you guys got one step away again.  But hopefully next year another first win team will make the Series.  I probably won't watch that one either, though.

Regular minis.  Some good Yankees here.  I love the inclusion of Satchel Paige.  And there's that Anthony guy again.

All the A&G backs together this time.  Yankee strong again.  Not sure how that happens.

Black borders and Rookie Previous Design.  They should call those A&G Archives, since they're recycling designs already.  I probably sent Kim to NO too.

And the Chromey one was Juan Soto.  He'll always just be a National playoff hero to me.  

Second hit - Masyn Wynn autograph /99 for the Cardinals fans.  And the bonus almost-hit is a citrusy flavored Filigree of the Royals' Caglianone.  He's in the N43's too.  That one is 20/25.

Managed to pull two different ones out of the 50 Ways than the others I traded for.  And that's Aarite with me!

Two of the Hello's means only one Musical Method.  Throwback to the 70's with the 8-track player.  How many of you had to ask what that was?

The second half of my Career 250 haul.  No dupes makes it nice, though that doesn't help my trade partners.  Have to rely on the minis some more.  Already have a trade going with Nachos Grande.

Same deal with the Wicked Powahs.  Sheffield sighting!  Big Papi and Manny in the group is wicked cool for Sawx fans.

So that's it for Box #2.  Recapping the hits above.  Not bad for a fan of the current league.  (I am not one).  

And as promised - the reveal of the contents of the Double Rip card.

I don't ever use the tabs to destroy the faces on these.  Put it flat on the desk and find a dummy card that is a bit thicker than normal to rest your razor blade on.  Start slicing in the corner and hold down the blade while moving the card upward.  When you have one side and one end cut, you can see the inside card and adjust your depth.  Don't cut too deep, you might hit the mini inside.  Ask me how I know. 

So with the doubles, you end up with two slices.  Keep the middle thicker than the surface layers.  

I got two of the "exclusive" series (301-350) minis.  Clemente is a great pull.  And there's that Caglionone guy again.  Jac C. Hot Box!

Contents released, and both front and back surfaces preserved!

Thanks for coming by!   

2026 Allen & Ginter: Skeletons Are Timely Around Halloween

Did ya miss me again?  I managed to go through the entire month of September only starting one post and that wasn't until the 21st.  I didn't finish it.  Then the next time I came back in to write was exactly a month after that - yesterday.  I guess the upside is, I have two or three posts in the works now. 

Anyway, I got two boxes of the current flavor of Allen & Ginter from eBay a couple weeks ago.  I usually order from Charm City Cards, but he and all of the dealers at that time were asking around $225 per box.  eBay prices were under $200 each.  I put an offer in for less than $19o, but was rejected.  That listing sold out, so I jumped on a couple for just over 190.  

For the sake of comparison, here are the current rates for A&G boxes on Blowout, and the basic contents.  Every year, a box is 24 packs of eight cards, and the hits are auto's, relics, rip cards, etc.  350 card base set with 50 short(ish) prints.  (2020 was sold out.  Avg. eBay price listed).

2020  $349.95  3 hits   6 insert sets / 6 minis / Boxloaders & N43s
2021   319.95    3 hits   7 insert sets / 6 minis / Boxloaders & N43s
2022  269.95   3 hits   6 insert sets / 6 minis / Boxloaders & N43s
2023  294.95   3 hits   4 inserts, action var.'s / 6 minis / Boxloaders & N43s
2024  ($300 avg.)  3 hits   4 insert sets / 5 minis / Boxloaders
2025  229.95   2 hits   2 insert sets / 4 minis / no Boxloaders or N43s
2026  199.95  2 hits   3 insert sets (incl. N43) / 2 minis + N34s

Each set also had regular, A&G back, black, and shiny minis, along with Rookie [previous] Design variations, and starting in 2023, a low numbered Uniform Countdown series.

So you can see the decreasing amount of hits, inserts, etc. over the years.  I'm not sure if the price difference for the last couple years is from Topps & Co. lowering the price of the new boxes, or if the older ones are selling for more because they're old now. 

I don't really buy Ginter for the hits, but I do look forward to the inserts, which are typically far more creative than in flagship or any other set really.  Less insert sets means less non-current baseball player content, which drives me away.  I know they repeat topics - I have a whole chart of the entire insert history of A&G - but they're still consistently better, even when it's a group of just baseball players.  

A&G is the one case where I don't mind the short prints.  They're only like 1:3 packs, so you get a bunch in a box, and can generally trade for the rest. And they're cheaper than Heritage SP's.  Well, this year they don't exist.  They cut them out.  I'm shocked Topps/Fanatics did that! 

If you've survived this far, let's dive into the first box.  I'll put the second one in the next post with a reveal on one of the hits you'll see.

Thankfully, still 24 packs of 8.  I kept seeing ads that said there were only 144 regular size cards in a box.  I guess they just meant base cards, not inserts.
 

First card was this guy from a band called the Maine.  Like many current players, I don't know who it is.  There are members of Linkin Park in the checklist, though.

Technically, the first card I saw was the Career 250 of Greg Maddux.  He has a few in this set.

First complete pack.  Nobody notable to me besides the Maddux.  Silver portrait of another music dude.

I think this was the first hit.  Pinstripe adorned swatch of Captain Cheeseburger.  I've already put all my hits, minis, and tradeable stuff on the TCDB, so they probably won't last.  Carlton Fisk is my only PC guy this year ~ usually I have around five guys to chase parallels etc.  Another reduction of the things I like about A&G...

The rest of the silvers that I pulled from this box.  I won't bore you with pack-by-pack commentary.  See which one looks familiar in the other shiny flavors....

Yep, got ol' Hank in both shiny varieties.  I put the rainbow in my TCDB wants.  We'll see if I get any of the others at all.  The Reggie is the coolest retired player card in the set this year.  And I think Griffin is the Refractor.  My Pirate collector guy stopped in 2025, so Griffin's available too.

The Chromes and Silvers are a bit difficult to tell apart unless you hold them side by side.  I tried to take a picture showing the difference, but none of them came out.  The way I explain it is that Chromes are shiny all over, out to the border.  The silvers seem to be shiny in the background, but the border and elements are duller than the background. 

Single Filigree was The Other Bo.

My regular minis.  Reggie again, Yogi, CC, the Linkin Park singer, Nelly, Lindor and the rest.

A&G back minis - Nellie Fox, two Tigers, and a Mariner.  Not big on the back logo

Black borders look great with the "book and ribbon".  If it wasn't so hard, and I liked current players, I might go after a set of these.  Maybe I'll find a starter lot for cheap...

And they call these "Mini N34s".  Not bad, but now you're going to confuse them with the N43's which I'll show in a minute...  I'll keep Gunnar with my set.

Chrome minis look pretty good too.  Wouldn't try for a set though.  Give me five per box, maybe. 

N43's used to be oversized box toppers.  Now they're a regular insert.  Again, cutbacks.  I've sent Skenes away already.  There are only 30, so these are doable, but no retired guys, so I'll pass.

Second hit to keep your attention.  I pull a lot of Cubs and Red Sox it seems.  Wasn't he a Brave a couple years ago?  Anyway... 

Missed these two guys when I took the pics of everything.  Tris is an A&G back....?

All my Career 250's.  Not sure why they called them 250 except of course - 'Murica.  These are nice looking.  This is the big insert set, but it's only 50 total.  Some of the previous sets used to go to 100.  But 50 is good.

Follow up to last year's set that was apparently designed by a Boston native, Wicked Power compliments Wicked Curves with the same design.  I predict Wicked Speed for next year.  "Wicked Powah" would have been awkward...

A big plus on the regular inserts - I didn't get any duplicates across both boxes.  A little less trade bait, but a little more progress.  Most of the time, I'll buy the last several needs anyway.

50 ways to say "Hello".  Might need 50 boxes to pull them all.  Luckily, I've already traded for three more.  Was hoping I wouldn't pull those three from my boxes.

And rounding out the inserts for 2026, Musical Methods.  There isn't any blurb on the back about how the "methods" work.  It just says "Musical Methods card from A&G".  Kind of a one note tune.  Cutbacks....

             front                                           back         

And now, the Bonus Hit.  
A Double Braves Double Rip card.  
And yes, I will get what's inside.  But it won't damage the front or back surface.  
Stay tuned....

So that's if for Box #1.  The bones are still there, but they've been stripped of a lot of the body that made A&G fun.  Maybe that's why they issued it in October and not December like before.