Dispersing The Hoard #2 - Common Ingredients

Before I start breaking down each box, each year, and each set contained within, I thought I'd present the big name players that keep showing up in quantity across the board, and the level of star power, insert and rookie content, and occasional serial numbered stuff that appears in the average batch.

Now not every single group from every product is going to have the same number of cards in general, nor are all of them going to be composed of just stars, inserts, and rookies.  I have integrated my existing dupes into the first few years (2000 - 2004) of this "collection", so there are some pockets of commons mixed in.  But the typical philosophy of the new stuff is to grab the stars, inserts and at least hot rookies from the boxes or packs that were opened.

So for those that are star player collectors during the 2000s, you'll want to see if your guy is here (and he probably is in at least some of this stuff) and send me your want list.  I would say that the majority of the star cards are regular base cards usually in multiples, plus some inserts here and there, so please limit your lists to that.  Ask Gavin from BBCard Breakdown - I sent him about 100 Pedro Martinez cards (and still have a decent number left available).

Team collectors who are missing a lot of the stars and rookies from various sets will be interested too.  Link me your list site and I can fill 'em out for you.

And later, in successive posts, I'll be breaking down each year into which products are available, and then showing what kind of selection there is in most of the significant stacks.  I'll give approximate counts, but I'm trying to avoid exactly counting six entire monster boxes and listing every name of every card in a whole row or more at one time. I'm just trying to generate trades, not become an unpaid data entry clerk.

So here are the major names I keep seeing in all this stuff:

Ken Griffey, Jr.
Greg Maddux - probably the most common pitcher.  Glavine & Smoltz tag along often too.
Randy Johnson

Roger Clemens - he probably has the most total cards of all the big stars except maybe Vlad.
Chipper Jones
Vladimir Guerrero - there are a lot of rookie Vladdy's in his initial year.

Frank Thomas
Manny Ramirez
Pedro Martinez - depleted compared to the rest, but still a bunch in there.

Rickey Henderson in his last couple years of journeyman status.  I think he switches from active player to join the ranks of the all-time greats somewhere around 2004 or so.

One guy that was done before the 2003 season, but can be found in the earlier years - Tony Gwynn.

Jason Giambi
Barry Zito

And I'm sure I will want to append this list later, with guys like Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman, Alfonso Soriano, Edgar Martinez, Jim Thome, Mike Mussina, Larry Walker, Tim Raines, and Mike Piazza.  So ask me about them too.

So now let's look at a couple batches of particular sets.

This is 2002 Fleer Focus.  It's a small stack, but you can see it breaks down into base stars, rookies, and inserts.  There are dupes of each kind.  Can't help you with commons, but here's a nice selection of the good stuff.

And here is a bigger batch of 2000 Skybox.  Again, nothing but stars, rookie prospects, inserts, and in this case, a few parallels too.

Looking closer, there are the same names in the base - mostly Hall Of Famers.  And a couple red parallels.

Tons of prospects.  Some nice names in there too.  Lugo, Wells, Gagne, and duplicates as well.

 Star inserts, some more plentiful than others.  A few dupes to spread around.

Here you can see a couple parallel prospects and an insert, plus a parallel insert that I missed in Gavin's batch.  (Sorry dude).

And finally, these are from 2002 Best Of Donruss Fan Club, which I've determined is a complete parallel set to a separate product.  I'll do a complete tour of this batch later, but I just wanted to show the rookie and star card serial numbered inserts.  This is one of the largest lots of s/n cards in the batch.  If there was a more complete starter of the base set (or someone has one to trade me) I'd build these myself, just because they are there. But they probably make better trade bait since this would still most likely prove to be a "list camper" for a long time.

I hope this has once again whetted your appetite for trade bait.  Stay tuned for the breakdowns of the first half row of the first box - cards from 2000.

Hail To The Chiefs!

As you know, I'm partial to the "other" red indian team, but I'm glad the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.  And not just because I win the pick'em league that I took over running this season.

Glad for Andy Reid finally winning one, and not for those green guys in the NFC East.

Glad for Mahomes, Kelce, and Tyrann Mathieu, who was supposed to be a trouble maker when he was first drafted, but has become a quality player and kept himself straight ever since.

Glad the halftime show had artists I actually know.  Though I had no clue who those rapper dudes were.  But I wasn't looking at them much anyhow.

And I thought it was cool that the Chiefs final score was the number of my favorite Kansas City player.

Penny Sleeves To The Extreme

Got an unexpected package from Jon at Penny Sleeve For Your Thoughts on Thursday.

As you can see, this is a return package from when I sent him a few things.

A really nice selection of '68s from all over the set.  Two-digit card numbers all the way up to the very end of the set.

The photos are typical of this time period.  Jackets under jerseys, blacked out "KC" hats on the newly relocated Athletics.

The "other" Tonly Gonzalez, a well disguised former Pirate, managers, and old school Sox unis.  And that funky coarse burlap pattern on just a few...

The bulk of them are miscellaneous common guys.  These are the more interesting shots.

 

 

Most of the rest are the "hatless generic shots from the year before in case they get traded" pictures.  Some of these guys look happy to be there and others appear a little confused.

And one rookie, because it's all about rookies these days.  Whatever.  Nice card though.

And this rare find ~ a Series 2 ProSet MusiCard!  I'm actually only filling out the hard rock bands in this set.

Thanks a lot Jon!  Now I can send you more stuff!

A Preview Of 2020 Products

Was perusing the listings for new products the other day, and went through most of the major products to see what I might be motivated to get into this year.  This might actually be a heavy year for me and new products.  I'll show you what I mean.

When I look at the list of products scheduled to appear in 2020, I can eliminate several immediately, just because I know they don't coincide with what I like to collect.  Right off the bat, I can strike down pretty much anything Bowman, since I have no attraction to prospect cards, any of those non-licensed Leaf and TriStar things that are also rookie-centric, and most of the high end mojo-only type of products, since I'm sure I'd pull hits from the no-name rookies from the Diamondbacks, Rays, Padres, and Rockies.  (Nothing wrong with those teams at all, but they're just not in my collecting wheelhouse.)

So we're left with this list:

Flagship Topps (& Update)
Heritage
Donruss
Opening Day
Gypsy Queen
Panini Diamond Kings
Big League
Finest
Stadium Club
Allen & Ginter
Chrome
Archives

Which ones will I Collect, Which ones lead me to Reflect and decide later, and which ones will I ultimately Reject?  Let's find out....

Flagship Topps

Mostly doing flagship so I can end on an even year.  Design is decent enough, and some of the Decade's... inserts may be interesting, at least the smaller (20-30 card) sets.  There are THREE insert sets that are 100 cards for series 1, and will probably be 250+ by the Update series.  I will not be bothering with the 1985s or Turkey Reds.  The Decade's Best may be too big to tackle too.  Just depends on how I buy this stuff.  Verdict: Collect

Topps Heritage

I'm almost disappointed that Heritage had to hit 1971 this year.  Though I've been jumping on A&G and Stadium Club the last few years pretty consistently, it'll be a nice diversion to hit Heritage for once.  Although I'm not sure how far I'll delve into it since the inserts will be exactly the same as they always are.  Then & Now, New Age Performers, News & BB flashbacks, and the Willie Mays 20 seasons.  Might be OK.  But I can't see not going for the '71 tribute.
Verdict: Collect

Panini Donruss

 

Hmmph.  Sorry Donruss.  If you can't even show me a base card in the sell sheet, I'm not interested.  I'm pretty sure they will be putting base cards in the packs, they just are too parallel-crazy and Rated Rookie Relentless that there just isn't any reason to show the crappy plain old base card.  They'll probably look like a mishmash of late 80's designs anyway.  Gotta push Rookies, Rookies, Rookies, and eyeball parallels.  Child please.  Verdict: Reject

Topps Opening Day

Normally, I'd only do Opening Day if there was a feature of it unique to the flagship set (omission of stupid foil, or a better version of the design, etc.).  Or that I've rejected the lame flagship inserts and only got the base set (like in 2018).  This year, that is not really the case.  The one motivation that I might have is some of the insert concepts.  Walk This Way!'s showing walkoffs (much better than those monstrosities in 2012), Mascots are always fun, Spring (Training) Has Sprung - an original way of showing pre-season shots, and The Lighter Side of Baseball - which should be cool, but are "limited print", so they won't be obtainable.  Verdict: Reflect

Gypsy Queen

Ever since GQ went to the pastel greens and blues (and every other clashing color) scheme a few years ago, I've been put off by it.  The 2020 version looks like they're coming back around to a classier and more refined (formal?) design theme.  I'm encouraged, but it doesn't quite draw me back in yet, especially since I think I'm doing so much otherwise already.  Keep going in this direction GQ crew, and I may be back soon.  Verdict: Reject

Panini Diamond Kings

Another one that I'm waiting to hit just the right intersection of enticing design and lack of competition.  Even though it's logoless, I've kept an eye on DK for a few seasons, but haven't pulled the trigger so far.  Will keep this on the "hopeful" list for the future.  Verdict: Reject

Topps Big League

I dove into Big League last year and liked it a lot.  Still finishing up the last few inserts and a whole bunch of the base cards.  The next incarnation has gone to a 2009 Upper Deck O-Pee-Chee looking graphic scheme that is nice and straightforward compared to 2019's crooked stack of photos base cards, but it's lost its luster.  The other inserts contain a lot of white frames and space, and fall short of the visual richness of the other two Big League products.
Verdict: Reject

Topps Finest

The example photo was a quick "photoshop" hacking of the closest image that appears in the sell sheets for finest.  Topps did a Donruss in that they never show a base card in the promo sheet, but instead thought a Gold Refractor parallel was a more worthy illustration.  So I removed the gold color.  Finest is another product I've never bought at the box level, but have monitored for cool designs for several years.  Have yet to jump on it, and it's not happening this time either.  Verdict: Reject

Stadium Club

I've enjoyed the last couple Stadium Club releases, and will probably do some more in the future years if they keep up the quality.  Think I'll pass this time though, since, like Heritage and a few others, the format is largely the same and the current design is OK but not earth-shattering.  Again too, if I wasn't adding a couple extra sets this year, I might jump in.  Verdict: Reluctantly Reject

Allen & Ginter

A&G is quickly becoming my favorite new product.  Well, let me rephrase that.  Since I got a big box of several base sets really cheap a few years ago, and then came into another monster box of A&G and GQ from various years for peanuts, I've loved adding several different A&G sets to my wants.  There have been a few aesthetic lows in the base designs, but overall, I like the general look of this set more than any other.  And whichever team comes up with the insert concepts should be promoted and take over the decision making for all Topps products.  I wasn't really planning on getting into A&G for a third consecutive year - I had generally been hitting the even numbered years between 2014 and 2019.  But I just saw the 2020 base design in researching this post, and I am actually impressed again.  It's a bit more squarish and sharp-edged compared to the schemes they've used since 2014, which had more frills and curves, but I still like it.  It's well balanced and fills the entire space.  And the inserts are phenomenal again.  9 Ways to First Base, plus catchers and various animal and city subjects.  While not quite as inspiring as the last two issues, these keep up the level of quality and variety.  I"ll just have to see how I feel about it when it comes out late in the calendar.  Verdict: Reflect

Topps Chrome

Chrome, like Opening Day, to me is a duplication of the flagship set, only shiny.  Shiny by itself, has never been a big draw for me personally.  Only an epic design that is improved by the "metalization" would attract my money.  If they make the side graphics in all silver, these might look good.  Hard to tell from the image.  But the biggest detractor of Chrome is the price point.  For what you pay per pack and only getting around four cards, I can't justifiy it.  I'd almost have to find it in bulk and just build the base set.  Unless the price goes way down (whick I doubt because that technology has to cost something), then I'll pass.  Verdict: Reject

Topps Archives

It's too early to know which vintagey designs Archives will be using this year.  It's the only product on the list that doesn't have presale sell sheets out yet.  Probably fine, though, I've felt like Archives is redundant now that there has been Heritage for so long along with the yearly "tribute" 250+ card inserts for the late 80's set that now clog up flagship.  When they made the shortprints unattainable back several years, that turned me off and I haven't looked back.  The Fan Favorite type player autos are nice, but that's the only real draw here for me.  Verdict: Reject

So I've culled the list down to Flagship (& Update), Heritage, and maybe Opening Day and A&G.  Collecting three current sets is actually on the heavy side for me.  Last year it was four - Flagship & Update, A&G, Stadium Club, and Big League, and I haven't completely finished any of them.  2018 was F&U, A&G, and Stadium Club.  2017 was much lighter than that.  So 2020 should be a collecting year that sees a bit of a diversion over to Heritage, and possibly the last flagship set I'll build.  A&G and SC will continue to be on my radar, but I'm thinking my older wants may take more of a focus after that.

Of course, should events take a major turn - like allowing other companies licenses - I may chuck all these plans and jump into a lot more current products in the coming years.  We'll see.

Which products do you plan on building this year?  Which ones do you look forward to every season?

I'm Smiling Behind The Mask

Contacted Robert of $30 A Week Habit blog about moving some vintage his way.  He responded with a very wide selection of great stuff in return, so we made the trade.  Check out what I got...

Robert is a major Maple Leafs fan, so hockey is a big part of his collection and apparently trade bait too.  Very nice to knock off some of these goalie inserts from the early 2000's.  I have a small collection of goalie GU and autos aside from my sets and Capitals.  They are the most interesting players in the sport just for their gear, not unlike catchers to a slightly lesser degree.

Robert said he would be fine with whatever portion of the stack of vintage I felt like sending.  I said it's all shipping since he included these two game used  jersey cards (and a big batch of Heritage SPs later).  I know these don't sell for more that a couple bucks, but it's still cool to get them, especially when they're from a defunct team and a former Caps goalie.

What's even more fun than gamers?  Minis!  This chap from the UK is part of the World Leaders inserts from '08 A&G.  He looks a bit worried, though.  Hope it wasn't anything more serious than Harry & Megan trouble back then....

RMitch also crossed off two more in my life quest to complete the 2012 GQ black minis...

...as well as the set copy of the latest A&G insert with Jim Palmer.  Completes the set/PC pair.

I was just browsing on COMC and SportLots while on phone duty at work (don't say nothin') for these Award Winners and the Storied World Series that have lingered on my lists from 2017.  Lo and behold, Perez showed up that same evening.  Love that.

Some real nice 1968 Topps to start off my set build after I officially published my list on the site just the other week.  The O's RS card is a much better upgrade to my original.

And as promised, a huge lot of 2011 (I always have to look - even though they're in a unique box) Heritage short prints.  This set has the "default" friendly configuration of all the SP's being at the end after #425.  I was able to convert my "Have" list of about twenty to a "Need" list of twenty three.  (Also need most of the Jackie Robinsont story variant SP's as well).

Big Thanks to Robert as I look forward to many more fantastic trades like this!