What the hell is John McEnroe doing anyways?

I don't hate redemptions. At least not like I hate Mondays and Nazis, but really the world would be a much better place without them.  

See this card I should be holding this card right now, but....

A few days ago I got the usual email I've come to expect from Topps:

Dear Consumer. 

This email is to inform you that the Topps Company is currently beyond the 15 week processing time allocated for the following redemption card:

PIN #: Product: Card/Player Name

AGB19KZUCA Topps Allen & Ginter John McEnroe - Framed Autograph

Our staff is working diligently to process and ship your redemption card as soon as possible. Please continue to check your Online Redemption account for updates regarding the status of your card. 

If you no longer wish to wait for the redemption card, please contact our Consumer Relations team in order to place a substitution request for a card of equal Beckett value. 

Do not hesitate to contact our Consumer Relations department via phone at 1-800-489-9149 or via email at support@etopps.com for assistance. A consumer relations representative will be available to assist you Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30 pm (ET).

Sincerely, 

Consumer Relations

The Topps Company, Inc.

I knew it was coming.  I don't think I've had a Topps redemption ever make it to me on time. It's the only redemption I've redeemed in the last year and  I was super excited when I pulled the card.  Ginter was really good to me this year.  But it begs the question, what the hell is McEnroe doing that he can't sign his damn cards?  And more importantly if he doesn't sign what are they going to send me in replacement?  I shudder to think.  I mean I would gladly take a Jake LaMotta, but I could do with out a Guy Fieri.  

Ah Topps just a couple more years and we can hope you get some competition again in the Baseball card market.  

And one last question, did Topps fire their entire online team?  I mean they put together a blog and never update it, they have a website that's a year behind and a joke, and I get these messages like this one for redemptions they've already shipped.  Topps are you even trying anymore?

I'm still looking forward to eventually getting this card in hand, even if I have to wait till 2012 Allen and Ginter comes out.

And since I'm on my soap box and it's getting close to Christmas, Topps how about next year you stop putting out this half-assed high end stuff and put out a nice mid-range set again based off one of your best products ever.  I'm asking you to bring back STADIUM CLUB!!!(and I wouldn't even mind if you did a Chrome version of it.) 

OK I'm done.

Cynicalbuddha's Top 100 #14 and another contest rememinder

Just a reminder to get your entries in to Almost the easiest World Series contest on the Web and check out A Cardboard Problems much harder contest.

Now back to you're regularly scheduled post.

I know, I know I posted this card of pure awesomeness not too long ago.  And I have to say every box of Ginter I bought this year I hit something worth the price of the box.  I swore I would only buy one box and ended up buying three.  My last box, which I never blogged about I ended up pulling a Hunter Pence Rip card and it payed for the box.  I have to say I was late to the A & G party but I really do like the set.  Some great inserts this year and some great autos. 

I almost plozted when I pulled this one out of the pack.  This box also had a Jose Reyes silk card #d to 10 as well.  Lets just say it was a good box.  I was talking to some collectors at a trade night not too long ago about what we got out of Ginter and I mentioned I pulled a Stan Lee Red auto.  Half of them were like "Who's Stan Lee?"  Really?  I realize there is some cross collecting between card collectors and comic book collectors, but even if you don't collect comics I would think you would know who freaking Stan Lee is.  And these weren't young kids either these were guys older than me. 

Any who if I had a Top Ten pulls list of all time this one would be near the top most definitely. 

#14 on the Top 100, which remember is in no particular order....

2011 Allen and Ginter Framed Stan Lee Red Autograph numbered 04/10.

cb out

2011 Allen and Ginter Floating Fortresses Set

My last set I picked up was the 2011 Allen and Ginter Floating Fortress set.  Being a big history buff I knew I was going to go after this one as well.  My only complaint was that there weren't any warships from WWII like the Iowa class battleships or the more modern ships like the Nimitz aircraft carriers.  But it's a very interesting mix of old warships from all over the world.  So here we go all 20 Floating Fortress cards fronts and backs. 

2011 Allen and Ginter Uninvited Guests Set

Here we have the second set I purchased, the Uninvited Guests mini set.  Only 10 little mini's in this set.  Being a fan of the Ghost Hunters, even though they never seem to find anything and I've even put up with Ghost Adventures who seem to think that flexing your biceps and yelling at ghosts is a productive way to lead a paranormal investigation and some of those other ghost shows, I was always planning on trying to put this set together.   I'm a little disappointed that this set wasn't larger, as I know that there are literally thousands of locales that Topps could have chosen for these cards.  Anyway, here are all 10 front and back.

Bachelor's Grove is said to be the most haunted cemetery in the world.  It even has it's own website.

Learn more about the White House ghosts here.

It seems that any good haunted place has a website.  You can even schedule your own ghost adventure here.  I'm pretty sure that both TAPS and the Ghost Adventures have been here.

Once again another haunted house another website, check out more here.  For 400 bucks you and 5 of your friends can spend the night.  Spooky!!

I find it funny that nobody has set this house up as a Ghostly B & B, it is however for sale again, at least it was last month for 1.35 million.  Time did a story about it too.

The Lemp Mansion is now an Inn and Restaurant, you can check it out here.

Alcatraz is now a National Park.  You can check out the NPS site here.

 I remember watching a special on this house when I was younger. It was either an Unsolved Mystery or most likely on an episode of Ripley's Believe it or Not. They too have their own website complete with hot models trying to sell t-shirts.

Like the back of the card says the Queen Mary is now a hotel in Long Beach.  You can check out their website here.

Check out the Lizzie Borden B & B if you dare.http://www.lizzie-borden.com/

There you go all ten and links to more info if you want. 

Next up Floating Fortressi

CB out