2014 Topps Series 2 Gold Label Inserts - Did Topps really listen to me?

I keep bring this up, but I swear to god I told Topps they should do this, really!  A while back Topps asked for suggestions and ideas for upcoming products. I tried, but couldn't find the post or my comments, but rest assured I am all for sending feed back to the only MLB baseball card producer.  One of my ideas was bring back some old goodies like Stadium Club, Topps Tek and Gold Label.  But I suggested that instead of putting out a full series of each that they should include them as inserts in upcoming sets.  Well we all know that Topps is going to bring back Tek and Stadium Club as their own releases, but to my surprise when I started looking through the listings and checklist of Series to I saw these pop up.

It kind of made me laugh that Topps would actually use one of my ideas.  And to be honest I'm sure I'm not the only one who suggested this, but still cool to see.  I haven't seen one in hand, but from what I have seen these look like the framed rookie card reprints from last series.  But the difference is there are no parallels to these cards.  Just one set numbered to 99.   The checklist has a nice mix of active and retired players.

GL-1 Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves
GL-2 Rickey Henderson - Oakland Athletics
GL-3 Albert Pujols - Angels
GL-4 Mike Schmidt - Philadelphia Phillies
GL-5 Joe Morgan - Cincinnati Reds
GL-6 Randy Johnson - Seattle Mariners
GL-7 Tom Seaver - New York Mets
GL-8 Steve Carlton - Philadelphia Phillies
GL-9 Johnny Bench - Cincinnati Reds
GL-10 George Brett - Kansas City Royals
GL-11 Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles
GL-12 Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
GL-13 Roberto Clemente - Pittsburgh Pirates
GL-14 Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
GL-15 Nolan Ryan - Houston Astros
GL-16 Mike Trout - Angels
GL-17 Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates
GL-18 Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
GL-19 Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
GL-20 Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
GL-21 Max Scherzer - Detroit Tigers
GL-22 Manny Machado - Baltimore Orioles
GL-23 Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
GL-24 Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox
GL-25 Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners

Luckily for me there are no players that I collect to chase down.

TTM Success - Jimmy Nelson

Just got back my other TTM I sent out before I left.  The Brewers #1 prospect Jimmy Nelson.  Jimmy got called up last year and pitched in 4 games for a total of 10 innings, but made his big league start earlier this year. He got called up for his first start on May 25th replacing an injured Yovani Gallardo.  And he won.  

He's currently on the inactive roster and back down in Nashville playing with the Sounds.

A great signature and quick return.

TTM Stats
Date Sent: 6/2/2014
Date Received: 6/16/14
Address used:
Nashville Sounds
534 Chestnut St
Nashville, TN 37203

On Tony Gwynn

There has been a lot said today on the passing of Tony Gwynn.  I probably won't add much to what could be said, but maybe I'll just add a personal note.  Back when I was starting to pay attention to baseball and started collecting baseball cards I use to put all the good players I'd pull into a binder.  Now you had to be special to get into the binder, not because I was particular on who I liked in baseball, but because back in the mid 80's 9 pocket pages were kind of pricey.  About a quarter a piece. You might pshaw that statement, but for a 12 year old with minimal funds and that fact that a cello pack cost about 10 cents more, those pocket pages were gold.

To get to the point a few years ago digging though my old cards I found a few of my old binders with the players I'd collected.  Besides my Brewers, I had a nice, and now mostly worthless, collection of Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, Nolan Ryan, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Rickey Henderson, etc, etc, and Tony Gwynn.

I also had a soft spot for Mr. Gwynn after his son played for the Brewers for a few years.  Tony was only 54. And it's only been 7 years since he was elected to the Hall of Fame. Tony passed away from a fight with cancer of the salivary gland, most likely caused from using chewing tobacco.  Another great player taken way too early.

TTM Success - Jason Rogers - Milwaukee Brewers prospect

I sent out a few TTM's right before I left for my first job out in the field this summer.  When I got back today I had  one of my return envelopes waiting for me.

I sent Jason Rogers two of his 2014 Bowman cards and got them back in about a week.
Jason is currently playing for the Milwaukee's Double A affiliate the Huntsville Stars.

 Here are the TTM stats
Date Sent 6/2/14
Date Received 6/11/14


Address used:
Huntsville Stars
3125 Leeman Ferry Road
Huntsville, AL 35801

A repacking farwell....for now

Well I'm about to start my busy field season. It usually lasts till the end of August and I'll be in and out for the next three months. That doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging as my past history has shown, but I'll try.

I also haven't been that interested in any of the new products as of late.  I am looking forward to Series 2, but not enough to rush out and buy a box.  Ginter might be another story.

Anywho...I had to pick a few things up before I leave town and stopped by Wally World and saw these repacked 3 pack packs and picked up a couple. So as a last post before my absence lets have a look at what's inside.
Each pack has 3 unopened packs.  Two you can see and a hidden pack. All for the low low price of 99 cents per pack.

The first repack had a 2007 Upper Deck Series 2 pack and Bowman Chrome showing. The hidden pack was a pack of 2005 UD Past Time Pennants. I opened a few boxes of the Past Time Pennants back in the day, but I don't remember opening any 2007 UD or 2008 Bowman Chrome

 Nothing special in the 3 card pack of Bowman Chrome. I was never a big fan of this year's design.

 The stand out card from the 2007 UD Series 2 pack is probably the A's Checklist card featuring Mike Piazza.   The Kameron Loe card is cool too, he would go on to pitch for the Brewers from 2010 - 2012

A nice grouping for the Past Time Pennants. Really a little something for everybody in this small pack.

Repack #2 had the 2008 UD First Edition and the 2007 Fleer Ultra showing and the mystery pack was a 2002 Donruss Originals.

 Upper Deck First Edition was the counterpart to Topps' Opening Day. A cheaper version of the flagship set this pack even had a Starquest insert.  This was definitely a Yankees pack with 4 total including the Jeter Starquest card.  It's an emerald version and the most common.

 I remember opening a few packs of 2007 Ultra years ago. I ended up pulling one of the Cal Ripken Jr insert set, Ultra Iron Man.

I don't remember ever even seeing this set back in 2002.  That doesn't surprise me, back in 2002 I was living out of suitcase working as a on board fisheries observer in the Bering Sea and logging a lot of sea days.  Combined with that the shear number of sets released around that time a few are bound to fall through the cracks.  A nice grouping in this pack as well and I get a Frank Thomas to add to my PC.  The Ted Williams card is actually one of Donruss' famous decoys.

Well nothing to earth shattering, but for less than a buck a pack it was cool to rip a few packs I'd never ripped before.

Like I said I might find time to post here and there, but I have a feeling it'll be slim pickings here for a while.

See ya on the other side.

cb out