2009 Topps Chrome: The Review!

Ooh! Shiny!
(…didja miss me?)

Man, how long’s it been? Like… a week? Yeah, it’s been a crazy one. So crazy that when I found this blaster box last Tuesday, I still didn’t have time until today to say anything about it. Well, that’s how life goes, right? One day you’ve got a woodpecker drilling a hole into your soffit, the next day you’re "forced" to go buy a 42" 720p flat screen teevee. What’s a boy to do? I know! He can let a pen slip into the dryer! How fun!!

Aside from that, it’s cards as usual for this broke chap. I got a whole bunch of packages in the mail–all in the same day, too. I’ve been hunting cards down on eBay (something I’d rather not do). I’ve been binderizing, collating, sorting, logging, and phlogging. Actually, no, the other Chris has been doing the phlogging, not me. I’ve found a small bit of time for my hobby, but hardly any for the blog. Fear not, faithful followers! I’ve got a whole slew of teeny tiny posts for you to enjoy. Granted, they’re pretty much all dedicated to the aforementioned mega mail day, but I’ll keep it spicy.

PURCHASE TYPE: 1 Target Blaster ($19.99 – 32 Cards)

BASE

First of all, I have to apologize for wimping out and not spending the time to make these photos all fancy looking like I normally do, but these shiny cards just don’t scan too well. So, it’s photos for ye! Secondly, there really isn’t all that much to say about a product I’ve reviewed twice already, save for the additional layer of chrome-y coolness. I will say this, though. When I said that this design would look amazing in chrome, I was right. Although it suffers from the curling effect of the weighty top chrome layer, everything else about the near-perfect flagship design is accented greatly by the human bugzapper shininess. I’d love to spend a day in the printing plant that manufactures these to see exactly how this technology is implemented. Foil stamping is one thing. Xfractor-ing? A modern mystery, if you ask me. I’m as stumped as a felled tree! Hoo-haw!

REFRACTORS

I’m normally not a fan of parallels, but if you’re gonna do ‘em, you can’t go wrong with a good ol’ rainbow-y refractor. As if the chrome cards weren’t attractive enough, now you’ve gotta throw a cool layer of light reactive awesomeness in there. Every card looks better when refracted, even Nate McLouth! The Refractors are seeded 1:3 packs. They also come in a variety of colors–Blue (#/199), Gold (#/50), and Red (#/25). I only got the regular refractors. That sort of thing happens when buying retail.

XFRACTORS

I’ve never… NEVER… liked the XFractor parallels. I’ve never understood the point other than to give player and team collectors one more parallel to chase. However, this year there’s just something a bit cooler about the ol’ XFracs. It seems like the refractive areas react with a bit more strength, a bit more panache, a bit more umph if you will, than those in past Chrome-type releases. That’s not to say that I’m now a fan, but this year I’ll be happy to take every single Twins XFrac off of your hands! These also come seeded at 1:3 packs. Watch out for its mutant cousin, the Super-Fractor, a hobby exclusive 1 of 1 parallel. I’ve never seen one of these in person. Someone, please tell me… are they as gaudy as I think?

INSERTS – WBC

And the World Baseball Classic cards continue to flood Topps products like a much less appreciated version of Yankee Stadium Legacy. It’s too bad that these cards aren’t more popular. A lot of these guys will never have baseball cards in the states again. I got two in my blaster, and was quite surprised that I pulled an American.

INTERESTING TID-BITS:
Total Cards Pulled: 32 + 1 Checklist
Boston Red Sox: 3
Minnesota Twins: 0
Dupes: 2 (both of which are Parallel dupes)
RC: 7 (0 parallels)
Average Cost Per Card: $0.63

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Topps Chrome is one of the few sets that I look forward to every year, even with last year’s Wonder Bread set. I can’t help myself, I’m a sucker for shiny. Aren’t you? I think it was a smart idea to use new photography in last year’s chrome set, but this year it appears that Topps either couldn’t pony up the cash for new pix, didn’t have time to swap out photos in the existing flagship layouts, or got bit by the lazy bug. To me, not using unique photography to further separate itself from flagship as its own product is one of the few flaws in this set. Other than that, the design is, of course, aces, and they’re super uber duper shiny. How can you lose with that combination? YOU CAN’T, E. HONDA!

GOT TWINS?
As you can see, I pulled ZERO TWINS cards. I did receive one recently in a trade, but that still leaves about seven to go. All of the Chrome I’ve busted from this box is for trade. These are the base cards I’m after.

22, 27, 41, 78, 94, 189, WBC49
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Project: 8/17/09 Update

"S" Words
(…well, "S" Names, actually…)

The reality is that I received two bubblers in the mail today stuffed with 2009 Allen & Ginter Project needs from two different people whose names each begin with the letter "S." The hilarity of it is somehow it made me think of this classic SNL sketch.

The first trade comes from Crackin Wax reader, Sarah. It was just supposed to go down as a simple 1-for-1 trade. I’d send her one National Pride card that she needed, she’d send me one National Pride card that I needed. As you can see, however, she didn’t hold up her end of the deal.

She sent two more National Prides off of my list! Sneaky little devil. Factoring in current pending trades, this now leaves me with just one more National Pride card to chase!

I SENT:
2009 Allen & Ginter: NP22

I RECEIVED:
2009 Allen & Ginter: NP61, NP62, NP67

The next envelope was sent in from Shawn of Pack War. I got to knock off one more Code card, another National Pride (which I didn’t realize I already had), and a Creature mini.

And, guess what. All I had to give in return was… NOTHING. What? Exactly. You people are too freakin awesome. I’m getting all verklempt over here! Oh, and the best part? I got yet ANOTHER bonus…

A Twins card freebie for a die-hard Twins fan! Definitely can’t complain about that! Man, I forgot all about Crain and his ‘05/’06 Van Dyke.

I SENT
Nothing (Yet)

I RECEIVED
2009 Allen & Ginter:
CODE: 1
NATIONAL PRIDE: 73
CREATURE MINI: 15
2006 Upper Deck:
DIAMOND COLLECTION: DC-JC

Thanks for helping out a fellow collector, Shawn. I hope to be able to find some Griffey goodness for you!

And now, the obligatory update…

NEEDS:
Code: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 52, 62, 63, 73, 77, 91, 94, 100, 103, 110, 113, 118, 121, 127, 129, 131, 134, 138, 141, 147, 150, 159, 166, 170, 175, 179, 180, 182, 184, 187, 193, 196, 198, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 215, 217, 222, 223, 229, 230, 233, 236, 245, 254, 256, 262, 268, 271, 274, 275, 281, 283, 286, 293, 296, 300

Baseball Heroes: AGHS12, AGHS14, AGHS15, AGHS16, AGHS19, AGHS24

National Pride: NP49, NP60, NP69, NP71, NP72

Creatures Minis: LMT3, LMT4, LMT5, LMT6, LMT7, LMT8, LMT9, LMT10, LMT11, LMT12, LMT16, LMT17, LMT18, LMT19, LMT20

Hoaxes Minis: HHB2, HHB9, HHB10, HHB13, HHB15, HHB16

National Heroes Minis: NH1, NH2, NH3, NH4, NH5, NH6, NH7, NH8, NH10, NH11, NH12, NH15, NH16, NH20, NH24, NH25, NH26, NH29, NH30, NH31, NH32, NH33, NH34, NH35, NH36, NH40

Extinct Minis: EA1, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5

Future Inventions Minis: FI1, FI2, FI3, FI4, FI5

DOUBLES:
Base: 23, 34, 54, 84, 120, 188, 195, 206, 234, 240, 288

National Pride: NP8, NP11, NP12, NP14, NP15, NP16, NP17, NP18, NP19, NP20, NP21, NP73

Hoaxes Minis: HHB5, HHB12

Cards in italics are pending trades

Only ONE MORE National Pride card to go!! Only 5 more Highlights Sketch cards and 6 more Hoaxes Minis left, too! I’m really feeling like this goal is attainable. I just need some more help. If any of you out there are willing and able to help out, please contact me here or e-mail me at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

Thanks again to Sarah and Shawn for the awesome cards, and thank you everyone here for your support!

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Project: Trading with Rockhound

And There They Saw a Rock
(…it wasn’t a rock, it was a rock-hound-ster…)

Okay, so the title may be reaching a bit, but this is all I can think of when I see the name Rockhound. Sorry, buddy, but it’s true! I think his Fred Schneider could have been a little better, but I’ll forgive him… just this once.

This trade came, once again, via Pat Neshek’s message board. Anybody looking for a good place to set up some trades, get yourself known there and watch the cards flood in. Rockhound took out another good chunk of Code Cards for me, and got me a little bit closer to finishing up the National Pride subset.

The best part about this trade? I got 9 inserts for just one jersey relic card! I am still amazed at how generous the collecting community is.

I SENT
2009 Allen & Ginter:  AGR-CQ (Jersey)

I RECEIVED
2009 Allen & Ginter:
CODE: 84, 169, 221, 242, 267, 288
NATIONAL PRIDE: 50, 56, 73

That’s one more successful trade with a member of Pat Neshek’s Message Board in the books, and 9 more cards in the giant binder! Better get the Project List updated…

NEEDS:
Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 52, 62, 63, 73, 77, 91, 94, 100, 103, 110, 113, 118, 121, 127, 129, 131, 134, 138, 141, 147, 150, 159, 166, 170, 175, 179, 180, 182, 184, 187, 193, 196, 198, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 215, 217, 222, 223, 229, 230, 233, 236, 245, 254, 256, 262, 268, 271, 274, 275, 281, 283, 286, 293, 296, 300

Baseball Heroes: AGHS12, AGHS14, AGHS15, AGHS16, AGHS19, AGHS24

National Pride: NP49, NP60, NP61, NP62, NP67, NP69, NP71, NP72

Creatures Minis: LMT3, LMT4, LMT5, LMT6, LMT7, LMT8, LMT9, LMT10, LMT11, LMT12, LMT15, LMT16, LMT17, LMT18, LMT19, LMT20

Hoaxes Minis: HHB2, HHB9, HHB10, HHB13, HHB15, HHB16

National Heroes Minis: NH1, NH2, NH3, NH4, NH5, NH6, NH7, NH8, NH10, NH11, NH12, NH15, NH16, NH20, NH24, NH25, NH26, NH29, NH30, NH31, NH32, NH33, NH34, NH35, NH36, NH40

Extinct Minis: EA1, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5

Future Inventions Minis: FI1, FI2, FI3, FI4, FI5

DOUBLES:
Base: 23, 34, 54, 84, 120, 188, 195, 206, 234, 240, 288

National Pride: NP8, NP11, NP12, NP14, NP15, NP16, NP17, NP18, NP19, NP20, NP21, NP22

Hoaxes Minis: HHB5, HHB12

Cards in italics are pending trades

I’m getting close to finishing out some of these subsets. Only 6 more Baseball Heroes sketch cards, 7 more National Prides, and 6 more Hoaxes Minis to go! Looks like the Code Cards and National Heroes are going to take a bit more work. I have still yet to get my hands on any Extinct Creatures or Future Inventions Minis. If anyone can help out, please either comment here or e-mail me at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

THANK YOU ALL!!

Night Moves: Trade with Night Owl Cards

That’s Right
(I still collect Twins cards)

Very recently, Greg over at Night Owl Cards taunted me from across the internet with his two fancy black bordered Joe Mauer cards. He, knowing of my love and affection for baseball cards of the Minnesota Twins persuasion (especially those of one Joe Mauer), asked of only one small task. Upon completion, a trade was struck that would bring two Joe Mauer cards home to me, and would in return send off two new Dodgers cards to our Cardboard Crusader. Today, I received my package in quick fashion.

Ah, yes. Here you can see the contact half of the M’n'M boys striking a modified Mark McGwire pose backdropped by a bed sheet. I hadn’t noticed before just how large Joe’s nose is. Next features Joe in the classic "boy howdy!" leaning-on-a-bat pose. Greg, I love these cards. Absolutely love ‘em!

So here’s how this trade went down…

I SENT
09 UD O-PEE-CHEE Black Bordered Blake DeWitt
09 UD X James McDonald RC

I RECEIVED
09 UD O-PEE-CHEE Black Bordered Joe Mauer
09 A&G Black Bordered Mini Joe Mauer

OH! But that’s not all. That sneaky little nocturnal collector slipped another fine piece of Twins material that FAR exceeds anything that he got in return.

Are you freaking serious?! This is the coolest freebie I’ve ever gotten in EVER! Don’t you worry, though, Greg. I won’t be treating this as a freebie. I’ll get you back, sir. Oh, I’ll get you back! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!

Which brings me to this… yeah, I know I’ve been going full bore on my 09 Allen & Ginter Project, but I’m a Twins collector first. I’ve been kind of slacking off on hunting down Twins cards, and I haven’t bought any Twins team sets on the bay in, like… ever. I figure it’s about time I update my Twins Priority List to see if maybe I can sneak a few cards out of you fine folks.

2009 Bowman Base: 228; Prospects: BP-98; Bowman Chrome Prospects: BCP-98
2009 Topps Series 1 Base: 43; Throwback (Target): 43
2009 Topps Attax Base: Brendan Harris, Carlos Gomez, Denard Span
2009 Topps Finest Base: 60
2009 Topps Heritage Base: 430, 432, 442, 450, 476, 495
2009 Upper Deck Icons Base: 57, 66
2009 Upper Deck Series 1 1975 O-Pee-Chee: OPC-28
2009 Upper Deck O-Pee-Chee Base: 95, 129, 153, 271, 328, 337, 350, 388, 411, 455, 458, 531, 535, 554
2009 Upper Deck X Base: 51, 52, 53
Current roster Minnesota Twins RC cert AUs
Johan Santana Minnesota Twins cert AUs
2007 SP Authentic Joe Mauer By The Letter Signatures "M" "A" "E" and "R"

If anyone is willing and able to help out, please give me a shout! You can either get in touch with me here or toss over an e-mail at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

THANK YOU!

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Project: Phase 1 = COMPLETE!

I Have Found the Holy Grail
(…to finish off my Base Set, anyway…)

I have just experienced a feeling that I’ve imagined but have never personally felt–not once, not ever, not in my entire life… until today. I slipped that final base card into its empty slot in my ‘09 A&G binder.

The base set is complete. I’ve never purposely gone out and finished a base set before. I’m experiencing a sense of accomplishment coupled with a slight hint of sorrow in that I won’t be chasing any more base cards. That means that Phase 1 is finally and ACTUALLY complete.

Phase 2 has been in full force for a few weeks, and I still have a ways to go, but the same person that sent off my final base card also was able to hook me up with a nice chunk of Phase 2 cards.

Let’s take a look…

Chris from Nachos Grande sent over a Muy Grande stash of inserts that keeps me well under way in completing the second phase of my 09 A&G Project. The haul includes 9 Code cards, 5 National Prides, 1 Baseball Highlights Sketch card, 1 National Heroes Mini, and 2 Hoaxes Minis (one of which is now a double since I had accidentally asked for the same card in a previous trade). The trade between Chris and I breaks down like this…

I SENT
1991 Topps: 366
2008 Topps Heritage High: 651 Black back
2008 UD Spectrum: 47, 51, 77, 99, 100
2009 Topps Series 2:  342, 392, 411, 429, 435, 446, 454, 458, 485, 512
2009 Goudey:  101, 126, 162, 185
2009 Allen & Ginter:  341, 348, AGR-RL (Jersey)

I RECEIVED
2009 Allen & Ginter:
BASE 331
CODE: 8, 67, 69, 70, 122, 135, 154, 174, 167
NATIONAL PRIDE: 25, 26, 37, 38, 39
BASEBALL HIGHLIGHTS: 13
NATIONAL HEROES MINIS: 22
HOAXES MINIS: 5, 11

I’ve traded with Chris before, and he’s always been an excellent, fair, speedy trader and highly recommend working something out with him. Thanks tons of bunches, Chris!

Now that another big ol’ chunk has been eliminated, I’ve gotta get my Project List updated! Let’s take a look…

NEEDS:
Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 52, 62, 63, 73, 77, 84, 91, 94, 100, 103, 110, 113, 118, 121, 127, 129, 131, 134, 138, 141, 147, 150, 159, 166, 169, 170, 175, 179, 180, 182, 184, 187, 193, 196, 198, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 215, 217, 221, 222, 223, 229, 230, 233, 236, 242, 245, 254, 256, 262, 267, 268, 271, 274, 275, 281, 283, 286, 288, 293, 296, 300

Baseball Heroes: AGHS12, AGHS14, AGHS15, AGHS16, AGHS19, AGHS24

National Pride: NP49, NP50, NP56, NP60, NP61, NP62, NP67, NP69, NP71, NP72, NP73

Creatures Minis: LMT3, LMT4, LMT5, LMT6, LMT7, LMT8, LMT9, LMT10, LMT11, LMT12, LMT15, LMT16, LMT17, LMT18, LMT19, LMT20

Hoaxes Minis: HHB2, HHB9, HHB10, HHB13, HHB15, HHB16

National Heroes Minis: NH1, NH2, NH3, NH4, NH5, NH6, NH7, NH8, NH10, NH11, NH12, NH15, NH16, NH20, NH24, NH25, NH26, NH29, NH30, NH31, NH32, NH33, NH34, NH35, NH36, NH40

Extinct Minis: EA1, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5

Future Inventions Minis: FI1, FI2, FI3, FI4, FI5

DOUBLES:
Base: 23, 34, 54, 84, 120, 188, 195, 206, 234, 240, 288

National Pride: NP8, NP11, NP12, NP14, NP15, NP16, NP17, NP18, NP19, NP20, NP21, NP22

Hoaxes Minis: HHB5, HHB12

Cards in italics are pending trades

As you can see, I have ZERO trades pending right now. I’d like to change that. While I’ve still got a ways to go with the Code Cards, National Heroes, and Creatures, the rest is still within reach. Anyone who can help, please either leave a comment here, or you can reach me at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!