Cards from Too Many Verlanders!

I received a nice package in the mail a few weeks ago from Too Many Verlanders! He knows what I collect and always does a nice job on sending some interesting things. Hopefully Verlander will recover from his injuries this past year and go back to being a dominant pitcher. Always enjoyed watching him.

 

Nothing like a reprint of Ryan Howard (I am currently wearing a Ryan Howard shirt) so good timing. I have the original of course but the blue tint adds a little something to the card. This is my first and only auto of Kyle Drabek. I had one in a Toronto Uniform in 2011 but I traded it. He was the centerpiece of the Roy Halladay deal. Unfortunately, he had Tommy John surgery and hasn't been the same pitcher since. Halladay had an amazing run with the Phillies and was a joy to watch. Nothing like going to 3 straight games and seeing Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay pitch. Mets fans enjoy it while you have it. Syndergaard, Harvey and DeGrom are going to be tough to beat for a few years. 

Always appreciate getting those retail only patch cards. I hate spending money on them so trading is way better. The Bourn card is super thick with that helmet. It's pretty cool. He's put together a decent career for himself.

He also sent this..

Full disclosure.. I took the pic off of google images, but yes I now have a Frank Thomas can! Love all the odd ball stuff that exists. The 90s were a great time to be growing up in. Y2K and all! 

Thanks for reading!

Some more Chrome!

Hope everyone enjoyed my Gint A Cuffs winner's box. The Baez was pretty cool to hit. It's definitely my current largest autographed card. I know there was a comment asking for the JP Morgan Mini and for the McCutchen Printing plate. I'm sorry I have not responded specifically been behind on all things blog related. They are both set aside so we can trade or blind trade or whatever.

On another note I was able to get my 2nd Printing plate of this year's Chrome!

 Magenta! Looks pretty good!

Also Pink...

I've been haphazardly going after this rainbow as well. The lowest parallel besides the Printing Plates I've been able to acquire is the Orange out of 25. Still missing quite a few others though including the tough Red (out of 5) and of course the Superfractor. Which is always satisfying if it ever shows up. The hot stove is heating up. I think the Phillies will let Howard play out his contract but probably as a part time player. No one will take the contract and the Phillies are in re building mode and really have no young first base talent at the moment. I wonder if Howard has one more Topps Chrome in him.

Unrelated note, what a game last night! How about them Eagles! Jordan Mathews looked like a guy who can catch and catch well. Everything near him he was able to snag. Hopefully that bye week got his head on straight and its a sign of things to come!

Thanks for reading!

Gint A Cuffs Winners Box Final Part!

Only 6 Packs to go!

Currently sitting at 144.2

Pack 19:

Madison Bumgarner -- +2
David Cross
Marcel Ozuna
Josh Donaldson
Jacoby Ellsbury -- -1
Jonathan Singleton
Starting Points Jose Altuve -- +2
Magna Carta Mini -- +2

Pack Total: +5
Running Total: +149.2

Pack 20:

Juan Lagares
Justin Morneau
Glen Perkins
Appomattox Court House
Starting Points Jimmy Rollins -- +2
Victor Martinez No Number 10th anniversary Framed mini -- +4
Dee Gordon Regular Mini

Pack Total: +6
Running Total: +155.2

Pack 21:

Prince Fielder -- +2 FP
Daniel Norris
Steve Cishek
Kelia Moniz
Menagerie of the Mind Griffen -- +2
Aroldis Chapman Full Sized Relic -- +6
Jason Kipnis Regular Mini -- +3 FP

Pack Total: +13
Running Total: +168.2

Pack 22:

Devin Mesoraco
Brandon Belt -- +2 FP
Jonathan Schoop
Evan Longoria
Brett Gardner -- -1
Jeremy Roenick
Ancient Armory Quarterstaff -- +2
Alex Cobb Black Mini -- +3

Pack Total: +6
Running Total: +174.2

Pack 23:

Megan Kalmoe -- +2 FP
Kole Calhoun
Jorge Soler -- +1 FT
Hunter Strickland
Brody Stevens
Chris Tillman
Starting Points Chris Davis -- +2
Joe Nathan Regular Mini

Pack Total: +5
Running Total: +179.2

Final Pack!

David Freese
Jenry Mejia
Adam Lind
Brandon Finnegan
Yimi Garcia
Kendall Graveman
Ancient Armory Katana -- +2
Regular Mini Jered Weaver

Not an exciting last pack.

Pack Total: +2
Running Total: +181.2

Very solid box again! Very happy with my 2 foray's into Allen and Ginter this year. Definitely quitting while I'm ahead!

If this was my contest box I would've been in 3rd place behind myself and one other person. So technically second? Pretty good, either way!

Thanks for reading!

Gint A Cuffs Winner's Box Part 3

Currently sitting at 120.2 points. 2 Hits are gone, 1 to go!

Onto the packs!

Pack 13:

Paul Scheer -- -1
Marlon Byrd
Craig Kimbrel -- +2 FP
Sam Tuivailala
Manny Machado
Mookie Betts
Menagerie of the Mind Leprechaun -- +2
Magnates Barons and Tycoons JP Morgan -- +2

Pack Total: +5
Running Total: +125.2

Pack 14:

Lakey Peterson
Yasiel Puig
Mike Mills
Dallas Keuchel
Thunderlips
Cliff Lee
What Once was Believed Open Polar Sea -- +2
Mike Morse A&G Back -- +2

Pack Total: +4
Running Total: +129.2

Pack 15:

Andrelton Simmons
Carlos Beltran -- -1
Kenley Jansen
Angel Pagan
Grant Balfour
Yasmany Tomas
What Once Would Be Giant Airlines -- +2

Pack Total: +1
Running Total: +130.2

Pack 16:

Daniel Murphy
Kyle Lohse
Xander Bogearts
Troy Tulowitzki
Neftali Feliz
Kolten Wong
Starting Points Matt Kemp -- +2
Craig Kimbrel A&G Back -- +2 +2 FP

Pack Total: +6
Running Total: +136.2

Pack 17:

Ike Davis
Jung Ho Kang
Mitch Moreland
Buster Posey
Howie Kendrick
Starting Points Matt Adam -- +2
What's in a Name Willie Stargell 10th Anniversary Issue -- +2
Jon Jay regular mini

Pack Total: +4
Running Total: +140.2

Pack 18:

Nolan Arenado
Ryan Braun
Matt Kemp
Carl Crawford
Grant Miller
Brian Quinn
Starting Points Giancarlo Stanton -- +2
Kennys Vargas A&G Back Mini -- +2

Pack Total: +4
Running Total: +144.2

Only 6 packs to go. Going to need something huge to break my winning box of 193.6!

Thanks for reading!

Gint A Cuffs Winner's Box Part 2

Real solid start!

Running total is currently sitting at 85.2.

Here we go!

Pack 7:

Jake Arrieta -- +1
Huston Street
Robb Wolf
Andrew McCutchen
Gregory Polanco
Jason Kipnis -- +2
Starting Points David Wright -- +2 +2 FP
James Mccann Regular Mini

Pack Total: +7
Running Total: +92.2

Pack 8:

Nick Tropeano
Ryan Zimmerman
Ichiro
Starlin Castro -- +1
Marcus Siemen
Rubby De La Rosa
Menagerie of the Mind Chimera -- +2
Chris Tillman Black Mini -- +3

Pack Total: +6
Running Total: +98.2

Pack 9:

Bernie Williams -- +1
Hanley Ramirez
Buck Farmer
Steven Moya
Masahiro Tanaka -- -1
Didi Gregorious -- -1
Ancient Armory Chu Ko Nu -- +2
Mythological Menaces Eris -- +2

Blah 2 Yankees in one pack!

Pack Total: +3
Running Total: +101.2

Pack 10:

 

Bryce Harper

Jonathan Lucroy

Jayson Werth

Addison Reed

Rusney Castillo

Apollo Creed

Starting Points Jacob DeGrom -- +2

Hoist the Black Flag Charles Vane -- +2 

Pack Total: +4

Running Total: +105.2

Pack 11:

Justin Upton

Travis Ishikawa

Zach Lowe

Miguel Cabrera

Chris Coghlan -- +1

Eric Hosmer

Starting Points Yu Darvish -- +2

Devin Mesoraco regular mini  

Pack Total: +3

Running Total: +108.2

A bit slower then the beginning.. the ups and down of GAC!

Pack 12: 

Corey Dickseron

Paul Goldschmidt

Buster Olney

Brian Dozier

Ancient Armory Atlatl -- +2

First Ladies Nancy Reagen -- +2

Charlie Blackmon Framed Mini Relic -- +8

Pack Total: +12

Running Total: +120.2

Solid end to this part. A nice framed mini relic of a decent player. He had a bunch of steals this year and really filled up the stat sheet. 

Thanks for reading!

Gint A Cuffs Winner's Box Part 1 (Take a look Cubs fans!)

For those that don't know I won GAC this year! It was my third year participating (part of the reason why I wanted a blog, I knew of the legend of GAC before Brad's Blog came into existence) I was incredibly lucky to hit the Mike Trout wood mini one of one. It's a pretty card, I still own it and haven't decided whether to sell or hold onto it (leaning towards holding onto it to the surprise of no one)

In true Gint A Cuffs fashion I decided to score this box the same way! I have already opened all the packs so I know I didn't get another wood mini one of one but that's ok!

Let's start it off with the box topper

For the purposes of this game my favorite team is the Cubs and Favorite Player is Ryan Howard.

Right off the bat.. here's the boxtopper.

I knew it was a good one when I could see the signature through the package. Apparently these are one every 220 boxes! Pretty rare. A on-card auto numbered 10 out of 15 of Javier Baez!

Point Total: +30 * 1.2 = 36

Solid start!

Pack 1:

Maikel Franco
Trevor May
Chris Sale -- +2 FP
Mike Olt -- +1 FT
Tarvis D'arnoud
Billy Hamilton
What Once would Be Automated Kitchen -- +2
Michelle Beadle A&G Back Mini -- +2

Pack Total: +7
Running total: +43

Pack 2:

Dee Gordon
Melky Cabrera
Chris Davis
Alcides Escobar
Nori Aoki
Wilmer Flores
Starting Points Cole Hamels -- +2 +2 FP
Aroldis Chapman SP Mini (325) -- +3

Pack Total: +7
Running Total: +50

Pack 3:

RA Dickey
Incredibeard -- +1
Jon Lester -- +1 FT
Aaron Sanchez
Corey Kluber
Michael Taylor
Starting Points Ian Desmond -- +2
Dallas Keuchel Black Short Print Mini (320) -- +7 (one in 130 packs nice card!)

Pack Total: +11
Running Total: +61

Really awesome start, we'll see how it goes!

Pack 4:

Jose Abreu
Curtis Granderson
Adeiny Hechaverria
Shin Soo Choo
CC Sabathia -- -1
Starting Points Miguel Cabrera -- +2
Kelvim Escobar 10th Anniversary Issue -- +2
Joaquin Benoit Mini Short Print (323) -- +3

Pack Total: +6
Running Total: +67

Pack 5:

Adrian Gonzalez
Lance Lynn
Malcolm Gladwell
Denard Span
Edwin Escobar
Andrew Heaney
Menagerie of the Mind Dragon -- +2
Wei Yin Chen A&G Back -- + 2

Pack Total: +4
Running Total: +71

Pack 6:

Matt Adams
Joe Gatto
Gus Malzahn
Starling Marte
Jose Bautista Full Size Relic -- +6 * 1.7 = +10.2
Ancient Armory Gauntlet -- +2
Hoist the Black Flag Capt William Kidd -- +2

Pack Total: +14.2
Running Total: +85.2

One guaranteed hit has been found in the box! Real solid total through these packs. Just to put it in perspective through the boxtopper and first 6 packs of my other box I was at +38. Obviously the big boxtopper hit was a big driver of this strong start.

Thanks for following along!

A Two Year Search -- Rainbow Completed!!!

I hinted at a big card coming in the mail in my last post. It has arrived!

Without much introduction.. *drops the mic and lets the card come on stage*

Superfractor!!!

I now have the Rainbow including Super's from 2012, 2013 and 2014! It popped up on ebay the day before I was set to leave the country for a week on my honeymoon. I was able to e-mail the seller and work out a deal quickly and he was nice enough to delay shipping it until I got back! Win-win!

Here's the rainbow... in order!

I was able to get 2 of the Printing plates but I was not actively searching for them. I wouldn't be opposed to getting the other 2 but it's not an obsessive search (like finding the Super was!)

Here they are all together

Thanks for reading!

Gint-A-Cuffs winner's box is next!