Pack Break: 2014 Topps Opening Day

So I finally opened the three packs of 2014 Topps Opening Day that I picked up at last week’s card show.  Without further ado, here are the results.

The first pack is a good one.  There is a Jeter base card, a blue Jordan Zimmermann card, and a Giancarlo Stanton insert that reminds me of the old Sportflics cards from the 1980s.

The second pack was even better.  That is an Opening Day Autograph of Andrew Lambo.  The odds run at 1 in 278 packs.  Not bad for a buck.  That’s the first time I have ever pulled an autograph out of a loose pack.  If you are anything like me, you have no idea who this guy is.  Lambo got a cup of coffee last year, but he will start this season at Triple A.  He hit .095 in spring training, so he is not Albert Pujols. 

The final pack was also decent with a base Puig card and a blue Everth Cabrera card.  I also got a card of the Rangers Mascot which is some kind of moose apparently.  That's a pretty good haul for three bucks though. 

First Pack of 2014 Topps

Here is my first pack of 2014 Topps Series 1.  I paid a couple of bucks for the pack at a card show this past weekend.  So my first card of 2014 Topps is …

Jake Peavy.  There’s nowhere to go but up.  The rest of the pack was pretty decent though.  Here it is.

Bryce Harper

Chad Bettis

Nate Schierholtz

Kurt Suzuki

Vernon Wells (Red Parallel)

David DeJesus

John Mayberry

Corey Kluber

 Rajai Davis

White Plains Card Show Recap

I attended the White Plains Card Show yesterday.  It was a lot more crowded than usual.  I assume this was because Mariano Rivera was signing autographs.  For a mere $299.00, you could have your item signed by Rivera.  I love Mo, but I had to pass.  That’s a lot of money.  It was another $99.00 if you wanted an inscription.  He signed autographs for about 3 hours.  On the plus side, I received a free Rivera custom card upon entering the show.  

 

I spent a good deal of time searching the dime boxes of various dealers.  I finished the day with about 50 dime cards. 

I also paid 50 cents each for a pair of 2013 Bowman Reprint cards of Albert Pujols.  Apparently, these are called blue sapphire cards.  I saw shiny and I pulled the trigger. 

Overall, I purchased 8 autographs from two different dealers at $2.00 each.  I was surprised at how many dealers were selling low priced game used and autograph cards.  I bought the two Josh Thole autographs from the same dealer.  I guess he is less popular since leaving the Mets.  Also included were autographs of Noah Lowry, Tyler Pastornicky, Luke Hochevar, Daniel Hudson, Cole DeVries, and Joe Benson.

Ruben Sierra was the free autograph signing at 1PM.  The line was huge.  I guess everybody who showed up to get Mariano’s signature stuck around for Sierra.  I waited on this line for about an hour and twenty minutes.  The signature looks terrific in blue Sharpie.  But, here’s the funny part.  Once I got up to Sierra’s table, he didn’t look at me, talk to me, shake my hand, or acknowledge my existence in any way.  Why?  Because he was talking to someone on his smartphone in a language that I believe was Spanish.  I am not exaggerating at all. 

Following the autograph signing, I had a quick lunch and continued through the show floor.  I only bought one game-used card.  This Joba Chamberlain card comes from 2011 Topps and cost $2.00.  I was tempted to buy a Phil Hughes game-used card from the same dealer for $2.50 but I passed.  Both pitchers caused heartburn on multiple occasions for Yankee fans before leaving town. 

Finally, I picked up a handful of 2014 packs for a total of $5.00.  I will show the contents in another post.  I had a great time as always.  And I think I picked up a few good deals.  And catching a brief glimpse of Mariano made the day a little more exciting. 

2013 Bowman Pack Break

I opened a pack of 2013 Bowman recently.  It was fairly uneventful.  The highlight of the pack was the Justin Upton Gold card.  Otherwise, it was a typical Bowman pack where I have heard of some of the players and the other players are stuck in the minors somewhere.  Anyway, here is a list of the spoils.  


-Michael Reed
-Ben Rowen
-Jose Altuve
-Aroldis Chapman
-Justin Upton (Gold)
-Kevin Medrano
-Zach Bird
-Alex Rios
-Cliff Lee

Mets Gypsy Queen Lot

I picked up 3 Gypsy Queen cards of Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, and Jonathon Niese on eBay.  The whole lot cost me 14 cents shipped.  Go figure.  All three are current Mets.  I am never sure whether Gypsy Queen cards feature photos, drawings, or both.  Whatever the image on the front is, it’s very well done.  Niese and Murphy should be OK this season if they stay healthy.  The Mets are going to have a problem at first base.  It’s basically a tossup between Ike Davis and Lucas Duda.  Neither is a great option.  Both are banged up at the moment.  I would throw Josh Satin out at first base.  He couldn’t do any worse. 

Gold Parallels!!!!

I picked up a lot of 3 2013 Bowman Gold cards on eBay recently.  I paid 50 cents for the lot.  I honestly don’t remember bidding that much for these cards, but it’s still a good deal for some nice cards.  The cards feature three big name pitchers: Dan Haren, Barry Zito, and Josh Johnson.  Perhaps, they are a little past their prime, but they are all pretty accomplished.  Overall, it’s a pretty decent lot. 

Jason Kubel Lot

I picked up a pretty nifty Jason Kubel lot on Listia recently.  It contained 5 autographs, 3 game-used cards, a 2013 Topps Cracked Ice parallel and a base card from 2013 Pinnacle.  This was a fairly large purchase for me at roughly 7,500 credits.  Kubel is a former and current Twin.  He also spent some time in Arizona.  I threw a few of these on eBay just to get some cash out of this deal.  But the rest will be added to my collection.