2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #69

I didn't realize there would be so many guys in this set that were really good in 2005-06 only to suck for the rest of their careers. Appropriate for card #69, though, I suppose...

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #68

I seem to remember talk about Rickie Weeks looking to turn the corner this year.  Looks like he turned the wrong way.

Sunday Sketch #17 of 30

Man, this guys needs to get healthy and stay healthy.

2012 Allen & Ginter Box 2 Part 3

The first 2 hits of the box were player relics.  Here's hoping for an auto or better...

Pack 17:
123 Adam Lind
45 Ewa Mataya
172 Chris Perez
213 Joe Nathan
154 Bob Hurley Sr.
NNO Bruce Klugman Murder in Willow Cove
115 Carlos Santana Mini
331 Carl Crawford Short Print

>>> Keeping with my anagram theory, Bruce Klugman becomes Bung Ream Luck.  I'm starting to question my theory.

Pack 18:
163 Tom Seaver
221 Carlos Marmol
66 Yadier Molina
170 Don Mattingly
25 Shin-Soo Choo
203 Ian Kinsler
130 Madison Bumgarner Mini A&G Back
WIN63 Rodney Cline Carew What's in a Name

>>> "and I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew" - Beastie Boys.  Can't get enough of Ill Communication right now.

Pack 19:
181 Joe DiMaggio
76 Michael Bourn
52 Cameron Maybin
196 Lou Gehrig
20 Miguel Montero
WTB7 Chrysler Building World's Tallest Buildings
149 Wilson Ramos Mini Black Border
344 Matt Dominguez Short Print

Pack 20:
74 Johnny Cueto
49 Jeremy Hellickson
79 Yoenis Cespedes
200 Matt Kemp
AGA-CG Craig Gentry Framed Autograph
GD-14 Bottlenose Whale Giants of the Deep
WIN24 Ian Michael Kinsler What's in a Name

>>> Definitely a pack Play at the Plate would appreciate...you know, because he looks like a bottlenose whale! oohhh, burn!  An auto is typically nice, but this isn't the kaboom I was hoping for.

Pack 21:
193 Jackie Joyner-Kersee
235 Victor Martinez
108 J.P. Arencibia
81 Jerry Bailey
106 Bud Norris
BH-4 Ryne Sandberg Baseball Highlight Sketch
299 Jeff Niemann
341 Colby Lewis Short Print

Pack 22:
160 Shane Victorino
21 Matt Moore
296 Mark Trumbo
274 Derek Jeter
144 Joe Benson
63 Zach Britton
237 Al Unser Sr. Mini
WIN11 Torii Kedar Hunter What's in a Name

Pack 23:
74 Johnny Cueto
49 Jeremy Hellickson
79 Yoenis Cespedes
200 Matt Kemp
9 Yonder Alonso
HTP15 The First Flight at Kitty Hawk Historical Turning Points
300 Roberto Clemente Mini A&G Back
334 Adrian Beltre Short Print

>>> I absolutely love the First Flight card.  I may need to get a second copy to put on my desk at work.  I would love for A&G to put together an insert set of the greatest airplanes.  A set, similar to the Floating Fortresses of 2011, of planes such as the F-22, Concorde, SR-71, B-2, and especially X-43, would be incredible.

Pack 24:

59 Johnny Damon
16 Rulon Gardner
101 James Loney
272 Jose Tabata
58 Ryan Braun
164 Ike Davis
309 Bela Karolyi Mini SP
WIN75 Colbert Michael Hamels What's in a Name

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #67

Wagner is really an interesting case when it comes to his Hall of Fame chances.  He's easily one of the top closers in the history of the game, but is #3 when you consider the modern 1-inning closers Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman.  Certainly Wagner's ERA numbers are excellent, but it all comes down to how the voters view the closer niche.  With Rivera being an absolute inductee and Hoffman being close behind based on career totals, I think Wagner has a shot. 

I view him kind of like Devin Hester for football.  Hester deserves to be in the HOF, when his career ends, for his kick return abilities.  It's a small niche, but when you dominate that niche, it's definitely worthy of discussion. 

2012 Allen & Ginter Box 2 Part 2

Part 1 yielded a no-number mini and a Torii Hunter relic.  On to part 2:

Pack 9:
95 Felix Hernandez
176 Babe Ruth
100 Troy Tulowitzki
103 Alexi Ogando
55 Colin Montgomerie
NNO Jake Perry Murder in Willow Cove
MBF-15 Cocker Spaniel Man's Best Friend
326 Logan Morrison Short Print

>>> So, A&G inserts "What's in a Name" cards, which leads me to believe the names of the Willow Cove folks are relevant.  Perhaps they are anagrams.  Jake Perry anagrams to Rapey Jerk and Pear Jerky.  You're welcome.

Pack 10:
222 Yovani Gallardo
147 Tsuyoshi Nishioka
121 David Wright
255 Dayan Viciedo
246 Torii Hunter
209 Coco Crisp
199 Ricky Romero Mini
WIN27 Starlin DeJesus Castro What's in a Name

Pack 11:
233 Shaun Marcum
228 Dexter Fowler
13 Drew Stubbs
251 B.J. Upton
150 Norichika Aoki
WTB2 Taipei 101 World's Tallest Buildings
195 Jhoulys Chacin Mini
310 Russell Martin Short Print

>>> Taipei 101...I don't remember that class.

Pack 12:
165 Alex Avila
73 Jordan Zimmermann
113 Meadowlark Lemon
41 Clayton Kershaw
AGR-AA Alex Avila Framed Relic
156 Trevor Cahill Mini A&G Back
WIN57 Joshua Patrick Beckett What's in a Name

>>> Remember when Avila was really good last year?  Good times.  I'll trade you this card with last year's value...

Pack 13:
240 Steve Lombardozzi
77 Chris Young
291 Chase Utley
122 Brett Lawrie
22 Jair Jurrjens
BH-9 Ryan Braun Baseball Highlight Sketch
51 Don Denkinger Mini Black Border
303 Ivan Nova Short Print

>>> Does anyone call him Brauntosaurus?  Seems like a decent name.  Or O Tainted Braun?

Pack 14:
96 Gavin Floyd
230 Evan Longoria
131 Jim Palmer
271 Mark Reynolds
280 Brandon Belt
80 Brooks Robinson
ML-16 Frederick the Great World's Greatest Military Leaders
WIN71 Joseph Patrick Mauer What's in a Name

Pack 15:
12 Bryce Harper
125 Ben Revere
65 Alex Rios
86 Nyjer Morgan
253 Jorge De La Rosa
HTP8 Allied Victory in World War II Historical Turning Points
45 Ewa Mataya Mini
349 Danny Espinosa Short Print

>>> More important turning point: Allied Victory in World War II or Bryce Harper making his MLB debut?  Trick question. it's realizing that Ewa Mataya is only hot when she has a pool stick in her hands.

Pack 16:
38 Pablo Sandoval
6 Johnny Bench
50 Clay Buchholz
112 Chris Carpenter
54 Al Kaline
174 Ubaldo Jimenez
86 Nyjer Morgan Mini
WIN66 George Lee Anderson What's in a Name

>>> Having Nyjer Morgan and Rickie Weeks on the same team seems redundant, and I don't know why.  Oh yeah, that's right, they were both supposed to be really good this year and aren't.

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #66

There aren't many cases of a worse ball player being remembered for something as great as Dan Johnson.  His two-out, two-strike pinch hit homerun tied the Rays with the Yankees, and the Rays went on to win the game.  That game, along with a Red Sox loss, clinched the wild card for the Rays.

 

2012 Allen & Ginter Box 2 Part 1

I know that the Gint-A-Cuffs rules have been posted.  I made my videos a couple weeks ago, I just haven't gotten around to scoring the box.  For now, box 2 will have to suffice:

Boxloader:
BH-5 Jeremy Hellickson/Craig Kimbrel Baseball Highlight Cabinet

Pack 1:
201 Tommy Hanson
282 Carlos Quentin
225 Roger Maris
167 J.J. Putz
40 Jimmy Rollins
NNO Guttman's Gutters Murder in Willow Cove
128 Andrew McCutchen
308 Paul Konerko Short Print

>>> I haven't been bowling in years.  My balls are getting dusty.  Those two statements may or may not be related.

Pack 2:
42 Justin Upton
293 Cliff Lee
265 Chris Parmelee
24 Paul Goldschmidt
141 Vance Worley
277 Jesus Montero
143 Nick Hagadone Mini No Number
WIN97 Justin Irvin Upton What's in a Name

>>> Justin Upton hot pack!!! Woohoo!!! Hey, there's a no-number mini in there, too!  Awesome pack.  Wait a sec, who the hell is Nick Hagadone?  

Pack 3:
98 Nelson Cruz
278 Fatal1ty 
262 Justin Verlander
182 Colby Rasmus
220 James Brown
WTB8 40 Wall Street World's Tallest Buildings
PB-8 Peter People of the Bible
315 Dellin Betances Short Print

>>> Totally getting an IP auto when I get to the pearly gates...

Pack 4:
190 Addison Reed
166 Ervin Santana
249 Phil Hughes
239 Liam Hendriks
AGR-TH Torii Hunter Framed Relic
97 Max Scherzer Mini
WIN44 James Calvin Rollins What's in a Name

>>> Have I mentioned lately that the black frames on these are gorgeous?

Pack 5:
17 Lonnie Chisenhall
290 Derek Holland
19 Bob Knight
258 Doug Fister
135 Michael Morse
BH-18 Ozzie Smith Baseball Highlight Sketch
346 Lefty Kreh Mini SP
329 Billy Butler Short Print

>>>  As much as I dig that Ozzie sketch, it would be so much more badass if he was mid-backflip.

Pack 6:
34 Alex Gordon
287 Hiroki Kuroda
61 Richard Petty
142 Jose Reyes
226 Jim Thome
78 Joe Mauer
188 Tom Milone Mini A&G Back
WIN84 Jose Alberto Pujols What's in a Name

Pack 7:
241 Andrew Bailey
133 Carlos Beltran
269 Mike Schmidt
115 Carlos Santana
299 Jeff Niemann
HTP3 The Fall of the Roman Empire Historical Turning Points
43 Josh Johnson Mini Black Border
343 Zack Greinke Short Print

Pack 8:
129 Michael Phelps
162 Jeff Francoeur
89 Edwin Jackson
111 Wandy Rodriguez
104 Ian Desmond
51 Don Denkinger
CC5 Rocky Mountain Oysters Culinary Curiosities
WIN85 Michael Anthony Napoli What's in a Name

>>> So, to recap, in this 1/3 of the box, I got a Peter and some balls.

Weird-Oh Wednesday #9a

Weird-Ohs #9

Not that any card in this set is a stellar commentary on human beings, but this one just really feels like a throw-away.

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #65

Every now and then, I'm completely stumped on what to write about someone.  I got nothing.  Cool card though, and a short print to boot.

2012 Allen & Ginter Box 1 Part 3

The last section of box 1:


Pack 17:
240 Steve Lombardozzi
77 Chris Young
291 Chase Utley
122 Brett Lawrie
22 Jair Jurrjens
NNO Cynthia Pritchard Murder in Willow Cove
277 Jesus Montero Mini Black Border
307 Jhonny Peralta Short Print

Pack 18:
251 B.J. Upton
150 Norichika Aoki
96 Gavin Floyd
230 Evan Longoria
131 Jim Palmer
271 Mark Reynolds
MBF-4 German Shepherd Man's Best Friend
WIN86 Daniel John Haren What's in a Name

>>> Mark Reynolds and BJ Upton in the same pack...not bad.

Pack 19:
165 Alex Avila
73 Jordan Zimmermann
113 Meadowlark Lemon
41 Clayton Kershaw
12 Bryce Harper
WTB10 MetLife Building World's Tallest Buildings
230 Evan Longoria Mini
342 Ryan Dempster Short Print

Pack 20:
38 Pablo Sandoval
6 Johnny Bench
50 Clay Buchholz
112 Chris Carpenter
AGR-ZG Zack Greinke Framed Relic
342 Ryan Dempster Mini SP
WIN100 Donald Zackary Greinke What's in a Name

>>> Greinke super hot pack!  ...plus, a Dempster SP in Pack 19 followed by a Dempster Mini SP in Pack 20...is it a sign for what's coming in Pack 21?

Pack 21:
280 Brandon Belt
80 Brooks Robinson
201 Tommy Hanson
282 Carlos Quentin
225 Roger Maris
BH-6 Frank Thomas Baseball Highlight Sketch
53 Hisashi Iwakuma Mini A&G Back
346 Lefty Kreh Short Print

>>>...um, no.

Pack 22:
125 Ben Revere
65 Alex Rios
86 Nyjer Morgan
253 Jorge De La Rosa
42 Justin Upton
293 Cliff Lee
96 Gavin Floyd Mini
WIN81 Covelli Loyce Crisp What's in a Name

>>> It was more fun not knowing where Coco Crisp came from.

Pack 23:
54 Al Kaline
174 Ubaldo Jimenez
98 Nelson Cruz
278 Fatal1ty
262 Justin Verlander
HTP18 On the Origin of Species  Historical Turning Points
MM-8 George Frideric Handel Musical Masters
332 Guy Bluford Short Print

>>> Hell yeah for the Bluford card.

Pack 24:
167 J.J. Putz
40 Jimmy Rollins
190 Addison Reed
166 Ervin Santana
249 Phil Hughes
239 Liam Hendriks
150 Norichika Aoki Mini
WIN60 Jay Allen Bruce What's in a Name

Well, box 1 hits were a Greinke relic (ok), a Burnett relic (eh, ok), and a Mike Trout Rip Card (woohoo!!!)

Not a bad start to tell the truth.