New Blog Alert and A Mini Contest...You could win free cards from me!

I just noticed a new blog and it's run by Brian (greatest name ever!).  It's called Highly Subjective and Completely Arbitrary (also a great name).

Go check it out and follow him. Welcome him to the community.  And follow him.

Follow him.

Everyone that follows him by Tuesday morning will go into a randomizer for a free 2015 Topps rack pack.  From me.  Just leave a comment here after you've followed him so I'll know.

Just do it.

Go...follow him.

I just want to give him a boost.  Good luck and thanks.

Wasting away

I'm bored and wasting the latter stages of my Saturday at Jiffy Lube getting the oil changed and state inspection for my car. I was scrolling through my phone pics and found the results of an insane Topps Tek purchase I made. We'll just consider this a teaser.

Enjoy the Super Big Game that I can't mention by name without getting an injunction notice from the No Fun League.

USA! USA! USA!

I've fallen head over heels in serious like with anything and everything related to Team USA.  Over the years, I've enjoyed watching the Olympics, both Summer and Winter.  I just didn't really give Team USA much thought outside of Olympic years.

Well, guess what.  Team USA athletes are training, sweating, bleeding and busting their humps around the clock, week in and week out, somewhere in the world, at a variety of sports, every single day of the year.  I'm not just talking about track or basketball or hockey or gymnastics.  I'm talking about skeleton, bobsled, luge, curling and don't forget about a whole bunch of paralympic sports as well.  I love it all and my oldest son who did collect USA baseball stuff has given way to my youngest son who likes the Olympic sports.  I've pretty much devoted my first Twitter account, @bsnider_22 to all things Team USA.  If that's not your cup of tea, it won't offend me if you're following that one and switch over to my more baseball centric @patpdude account.

I've debated starting a blog that focuses on Team USA, but I barely have time to post here, so I don't want to short-change either thing.  Soooo, you might see a Team USA post here from time to time.

Even Wallet Elvis loves Team USA.  I have the pic to prove it.

Wallet Elvis helped me open a couple of packages that came in the mail today.

Here we have Cody Buckel, a Rangers prospect who appeared in the 2009 USA Baseball set.  I love that it's an on-card auto.

Elana Meyers is one of the great Team USA members to follow on Twitter.  She is very responsive and loves her fans.  She is currently sliding as part of a four man (yes, I said man) crew.  She won bronze in 2010 and silver in 2014 so she will be gunning for gold in 2018.

I need to check to see how many of the autos we've picked up from the 2014 set, but the latest is this Torin Yater-Wallace auto.  Torin has won gold twice in the X-Games.  He will be one to watch in 2018.

This is a silver auto of Jazmine Fenlator, #8/30.  Jazmine was one of three pilots for the Women's Bobsled in Sochi and has great potential for success in the 2018 Games.  She's also on Twitter and is a good follow.

I've picked up a bunch of other Team USA cards and am always looking for more so let me know if you have any for trade.

The Moment You've All Been Waiting For--Contest Winner Announced

How did you like that title?

I was going to go with "The Moment You've All Been Waiting All Year For Because There Aren't Any New Cards Out Yet--Contest Winner Announced Before You All Unfollow Me and Never Enter Another Contest On the Interwebs Again!"

I thought that would be a little much so I edited it.  You're welcome.

Wallet Elvis got tired of typing all the entries in for Random.org.  55 people had a total of 476 entries.  25 of those people answered all eleven questions so they earned two bonus entries for a total of 13 each.

I randomized the list 3 times and...

Richard Nebe Jr. is the winner of the 2015 Topps Blaster!  Congrats Richard.

Thanks so much to everyone for participating.

2015 Topps Blaster Contest Update--Speak now or forever hold your peace

I've tallied all the comments for the 2015 Topps Blaster contest.  I know, it took awhile.  I'm in the middle of an office renovation and it's been hectic.  That's my problem, not yours so we'll just skip it.

Here is a look at the spreadsheet showing all the comments for each question.  It's alphabetical so please let me know if it looks like I missed any of your entries.  I double and triple checked, but I don't want to short anyone an entry, especially if it means you get the bonus entries for responding to all the questions.  Check your name on the list and get back to me.  The winner will be announced tomorrow!

Respondent	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Bonus
Adam Kaningher	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Al Kawamoto	x										x
Alex Markle	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
arpsmith	x		x	x	x	x	x				x
Billy Kingsley											x
Brady Umfleet								x
Bru											x
Caitlin Jennings	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	x
Commishbob	x				x			x	x	x	x
Dan	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Daniel Wilson	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
defgav	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Dion's IP Autos only	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
GCRL	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Greg Zakwin	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Hackenbush	x	x	x	x	x	x
hiflew	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
irondeqouit36	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
J. Meeks	x	x		x			x		x		x
JediJeff						x		x
Jeff Laws	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
John Hazen										x
Jordan	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Josh D.	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x
Jupiterhill	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Kevin Papoy	x		x	x	x		x	x	x	x
Laurens					x
Lonestarr	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Marcus	x	x	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
Mark Hoyle	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Matthew Scott	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Mets Cardboard	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Nachos Grande	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Need more Cardboard											x
Nick	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Night Owl	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
P-Town Tom	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
RAZ	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Red Cardboard	x
Richard Nebe Jr.	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Robert	x
Rosenort	x		x	x
Ryan G	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Spankee	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Stealing Home	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Superduperman99	x	x						x		x	x
The Angels in Order	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
The Dutch Card Guy	x		x		x		x	x	x		x
The Junior Junkie	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
The Lost Collector	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Tony L.	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Wilson	x							x	x		x
Zippy Zappy			x	x	x	x	x	x		x
zman40	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x

I can Plank, can you?

Sometimes, a package of cards will show up that just knocks you off your feet.  Maybe it's a boatload of vintage, maybe it's a ton of cards off your wantlists.  Or maybe, just maybe, it's a bunch of hits you weren't expecting.

Enter Bob Walk the Plank, better known as Matthew Scott.

Let's just get down to the pics so I can get on with thanking Mr. Scott.

Go mini or go home I always say.  Or never say.  Whatever.  The first hit up is a 2013 Topps Mini Elvis Andrus jersey.  I know it's just a white swatch and I know we're all over the "hits", but dammit, I'm a team collector, more than a little OCD and a completist.  I need them all!  Next to Elvis, who is definitely related to Wallet Elvis, is a 2007 Fleer Swing Kings Mark Teixeira jersey card.  Mark is one of the players that makes me rue the day I became a team collector, but that's a different post. One you'll be seeing soon.

The next row has my favorite All-Time Ranger, Michael Young.  Michael appears courtesy of the Greatness that is 2007 Masterpieces.  Next to Michael is former Ranger slugger and World Series goat, Nelson Cruz.  Nelson signed this lovely 2011 Allen and Ginter mini in blue.  That's swell.

Our last pairing of the evening is former Ranger Ian Kinsler in spectacular F/X glory and the amazingly low numbered, 20/25, Mitch Moreland Tier 1 auto.  That is awesome!!!

Mark, thanks so much for the unexpected goodies.  I don't know that I can repay that yet, but I'll be looking for you!

Catchin' up with Wallet Elvis

For those of you not following the adventures of Wallet Elvis on Twitter @patpdude, I thought I'd give you a little update on what you've missed the past few days.

Saturday, we went to see American Sniper.  I've heard some detractors talk about Chris Kyle, saying he lied about some things after he was out of the Navy.  It all boils down to that guy was a bad ass American hero who prevented a lot of our boys from getting killed or wounded.  It was a great movie and don't tell anyone, but I snuck Elvis in without a ticket of his own.

Later we bought some gas and we are both really digging these prices.

Sunday, Elvis and I stocked up on goodies for the Cowboys-Packers playoff game.

After the game, I caught Elvis in the office tearing up Packers cards.  He was really pissed about that reversed call.  I mean really pissed.

Elvis was so pissed, he conned me into buying a football repack to find more Packers cards to tear up. Imagine his fury when we didn't find a single Packers card in the box.  I had to leave him alone for a while to cool off.

Earlier this week, Elvis found my stash of mailing envelopes.  These are all the ones I've received that are waiting to be recycled with outbound cards.

Finally, on Wednesday Elvis and I had a lunch meeting high above Dallas.  69 floors high to be exact.  The crazy thing is that I worked on this building back in the summer of 1984 with my dad.  He was in construction for over 45 years and it was two weeks of unloading and hanging sheetrock that led me to the understanding that I was not following in his footsteps.

Elvis is itching (that sounds gross) to get out and have some more adventures.  Check back to see what he does next.

I should have some follow up posts regarding the recent contest I held starting next week and I'll announce a winner on Friday.  Have a great weekend!

Unopened greatness

Like many of you, I was the recipient of some cardboard goodies from Mr. Mark Hoyle.  It seems Mark made quite the little post office run and I for one, am glad he did.

Everything is bigger in Texas.  I have a big ol' 1986 Donruss Gary Ward to prove it.  He's overshadowing a 2010 Topps National Chicle back Scott Feldman.

This card dropped out and I thought...hmmm, that's Barry Larkin.  Ok...then I flipped it over.

And Ruben Sierra is on the back.  I flipped it back and forth about 10 times.  Very interesting.

This is sweet.  It's a 1989 Topps Baseball Talk Collection Will Clark.  It's extra tall and I've never seen these before.

This is the back.  It looks like a little plastic record on the back.  I love it!

Last, but not least, was a sweet unopened rack pack of 1988 Topps with Will Clark on top!  Mark, you really know how to send a package!  Thanks and I'll be looking for some more goodies for you.

Elvis Has Not Left The Building

Happy belated 80th birthday if you were still alive to Elvis Presley.

The other, not quite as well known, Wallet Elvis, has made a couple more appearances.  Well, three if you count the fact that he's now on the header.

Last night on Twitter, Wallet Elvis showed he's cool under pressure.

He helped with dinner in my new pressure cooker.

Today, he proved useful by checking the mail.

It was a pretty good mail day which we'll show off later.

Wallet Elvis is starting to get a little curve on him and has two Dinged Corners.  I don't about him, but I'm enjoying the ride.

Repack War Time!

I'm going to use copious amounts of exclamation points in this post because the excitement is overwhelming!!!  You won't believe what I got in this repack!!!  When the final card is revealed, you'll be left with one question!!!  Why was he using so many exclamation points!?!?

Seriously, the repack wasn't technically a repack in my opinion.  It was a Fairfield box, but it was just 10 various packs of cards, not a bunch of random cards pulled from little Timmy's storage chest in the basement.  I will say I was fairly impressed that it wasn't two good packs on the front followed up by 8 packs of 1988 Donruss.  Well, there was that one pack of 1988 Donruss, but I'll let that slide.

Here are the combatants in today's Repack War!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The lovely box.

In this corner, we have the Left Side of the Box.  Weighing in at 5 packs, you get the following packs.  1988 Donruss, 2014 Opening Day, 2014 Update, 2014 Heritage and 2013 Allen and Ginter.

In this corner, we have the Right Side of the Box.  He's a deceptive competitor as he showed a 2004 Upper Deck Series 2 Pack on the front, but followed up with 4 Topps packs from 2014.  Two 2014 Series 2 packs, a pack of 2014 Series 1 and the crown jewel, 1 pack of 2014 Allen and Ginter.

Let's have a clean fight with no low blows (that's directed at you 2004 Upper Deck pack).

Round 1

Left Side Pack 1 2013 Allen and Ginter

Left Side comes out swinging with a "hit" right off the bat (or a jersey, such as it is).  Sure, it's only J.J. Hardy, but in a Repack War, a hit's a hit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or something like that.

Right Side Pack 1 2004 Upper Deck Series 2

Right Side does a nice job of defending with a 2004 UD Famous Quotes Ted Williams.  No way a week Hardy relic is taking down a Naval Aviator who served in WWII and Korea.

Round 1 to Right Side.

Round 2

2014 Topps Heritage

Oh my!!!   Left side doesn't want to go another round!!  He comes out with a player collection favorite, Johnny Bench.  This may not last much longer!!!!  (Simulated excitement is sooo much fun. *Where is the sarcasm font*)


Right Side Pack 2 2014 Allen and Ginter

OMG!!!  (I'm not proud of that.)  Right side has knocked Left Side down with seconds to go in round 2!  A Jackie regular and a Clayton mini have double-teamed the Left Side to the floor!!  What is this, the WWF (it was WWF the last time I watched)!!??

Round 2 to Right Side.

Round 3

2014 Topps Update

Left Side was not happy with the double team from Right Side and led off Round 3 in similar fashion!  This stunning horizontal Yu Darvish was an uppercut followed up by this...

a round house to the brain pan in the form of a Yangervis Solarte image variation!!!  Boom!!!  (Just so you know, it's not THAT big a deal.  I mean, I'm super excited!!!)  By the way, no one will ever start a Yangervis Solarte-centric blog  because no one wants to try to type his name that much.


Right Side Pack 3 2014 Topps Series 1

Right Side didn't anticipate the double team payback and sent an unprepared 2014 Adam 1989 Mini to his near death.

Round 3 to Left Side.

Round 4

Left Side Pack 4 2014 Topps Opening Day

Left Side responds to winning Round 3 by limping out in Round 4. He doesn't even seem to be paying attention with this effort.  Holy cow, two of the three players on this card aren't even on the A's anymore!!

Right Side Pack 4 2014 Topps Series 2

Right Side doesn't seem to have much fight left in him.  The fact that this is a quasi play "near" the plate earns him the round, but just barely.

Round 4 to Right Side.

Right Side is leading 3 rounds to 1 so Left Side needs a knockout in the final Round to pull off the win.

Round 5

Left Side Pack 5 1988 Donruss

It appears Left Side knew he was behind with little chance to win.  He put up a valiant effort with a great shot of Kirby Puckett, but needs a miracle to win.  I'm guessing if Donruss had decided to serial number every card in it's 1988 print run, this would have been #128,987,879/1,000,000,000.  I don't have anything else to say here, but I need some gratuitous exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right Side Pack 5 2014 Topps Series 2

Oh my!! With just 12 seconds to go in the 5th and final round, Right Side just gives up!!! He walks out of the ring, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!!!!  What a colossal give up by Right Side. (No card of Brian Wilson, regardless of uniform, will ever win a round of anything on this blog.)

A stunned crowd, golf claps as this Repack War comes to a close.  Left Side wins in an upset after Right Side quits.

Thanks for following along and I hope this was less confusing to read than it was to write.

Elvis the Businessman - Wallet Card

Elvis got up early and came with me to work (as my wallet generally does).

This was the view in downtown Dallas this morning.

That's Reunion Tower in the background.  You might have seen it on TV before.

Have a great day fellow wallet card participants!

Where do you go when the Chipz are down?

Target of course.  You know why?

You really want to know why?

That's the "card" aisle at my Walmart, that's why.  If you look closely, the ONLY thing remotely sports card related is the Andrew Luck Panini sign.  Oh sure, there are a few top loaders and 9 pocket pages, but those must be for all the Yu Gi Oh cards.  What a load of C.R.A.P!

So, I showed off what I bought at Target the other day and here is the super exciting reveal!!!!

I bought one pack of Chipz because, well, because I'm stupid.  Buying baseball cards is a gamble and buying retail is like playing the slots. So why not buy some baseball card like poker chips?

Well, I lost again.  Three of my least favorite teams and a mystery Joey Votto reds chip.  I got super excited (or not) when I saw the black chip, but it's something like 1:4 packs so no big deal really.  If no one wants any of these, they'll find their way into trade packages and you'll be stuck with them!!! Hahahahahahaha.

I also bought one of those so-called Mega Boxes, which contained 5 packs of 2014 Topps Update and 2 whole packs of 2014 Chrome Update.  I probably owe Topps a little apology because I only found 6 packs in the box when I opened it and sent them a "really?" tweet.  Turns out, one of the packs fell on the floor between the seats (just being honest, I opened these in the parking lot).

I'll just give a you the highlights, such as they were, from each pack.

Pack 1 blew my mind a little bit.  There was a regular Yoenis Cespedes (for Boston) and an All-Star Home Run Derby Yoenis Cespedes (for Oakland) in the same pack.  Freaky!

Pack 2 had an Oscar Taveras rookie debut card, but that just makes me sad and baseball cards aren't supposed to do that.  I picked this Rougned Odor as the card of the pack, partly because he's a Ranger and partly because who doesn't love typing Rougned Odor?

Pack 3 had a Max Scherzer Power Players insert and a George Springer The Future is Now insert, but I chose the Mike Trout All-Star card because I'm hoping he'll one day be a Ranger (just not when he's 38).

Pack 4 had a Robbie Ross Jr. (Rangers) card, but how can you not love the way this Andrew McCutchen card just pops.  The colors are great and I'm pretty much a sucker for any kind of mini, die cut or not.

Pack 5, the mysteriously disappearing/reappearing pack had an Andrew Romine (Tigers) gold parallel #1596/2014, but I like the George Brett World Series Heroes card better.  I do like this insert set and my son pulled the Duke Snider card from a pack he got in his stocking on Christmas.  My wife, who detests baseball cards, even laughed because our dog's name is Duke.

The first pack of Chrome Update was foretelling Pedro's induction into the Hall of Fame.  Congrats to Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Craig Biggio and that other guy...just kidding.  I know it's Randy Johnson.  

 I thought the last pack was nice to give me a Ranger (Nick Tepesch), a nice rookie (George Springer) and an even nicer rookie in this Masahiro Tanaka.  Unfortunately, this is a checklist.  Is that the only checklist to ever have a RC logo?  I'm sure someone out there will know.

That's it.  I'll share the contents of the Fairfield Repack box tomorrow.  I hope you'll come back to share in the excitement.  As much as you can get from a repack anyway.