Weird-Oh Wednesday #27a

Can you name the Allen & Ginter elite eight?

2013 Topps Allen & Ginter releases next week as the 8th installment in the series. 

After the 2011 set, 64 players had appeared in all 6.

After last year's set, 51 players had appeared in all 7.

This year, a whopping 19 players dropped off that list.  Only 32 players have appeared in every Allen & Ginter set.

Can you name them?

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #209

Vizquel got his first hit on April 6, 1989.   8,581 days later, he got his last hit on October 3, 2012. 

Football Contest: The Leftovers

Here are the cards from the eliminated teams, in no particular order, that I pulled from these three blasters:

 

Red Parallel

This is the second Taylor Price relic I've pulled.  The first one came in Week 10.

The first Taylor Price came in an Epix blaster.  This Reggie Bush (#/95) also came from an Epix blaster.  Not too shabby. I really like the black swatch, especially since he's pictured in black.

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #208

Morris was actually the second "Matt Morris" that popped up in Google.  Apparently it's better to be a role player in the music business than the baseball business.

Football Contest: NFC Championship

The Broncos have punched their ticket to the Super Bowl, though it took overtime to get there.  Will the Giants or Rams be their opponent? 

Both teams drop 3 points in the first of the three blasters.  For the Giants, it was all O, while the Rams mixed in some D.

Another balanced Rams attack is answered by another smashmouth Giants offensive effort.

The story stays the same through the end of regulation. 

8-8

Overtime!

Same as the AFC Championship, I opened a 2013 Score pack.  First team to show up wins.

First 6 cards:

I bet the Ravens wish I had opened this pack for the last game.

Lucky number 7:

The Rams, who have had a very up and down season, pull of the clutch play to win the second Super Bowl slot.

Rams win!

Football Contest: AFC Championship

The Ravens destroyed the Dolphins and squeaked past the Texans to earn their spot here.  The Broncos tied for the leagues best record, but narrowly beat the upstart Jaguars to earn their spot.

First, let's see how the Epix blaster turned out.

The Ravens see Flacco connect with Boldin for the first two points.

The Broncos answer with a Kyle Orton toss to Moreno. 

But it's a reverse! Moreno hands off to former Hokie Eddie Royal to put the Broncos ahead 4-2.

Threads time.

The Ravens bounce back with a Threads trio to take a 5-4 lead.

Kyle Orton isn't giving up that easily, though. 5-5.

Flacco is flanked by Rice and Boldin, and it helps them take an 8-5 lead.

Again, we find Orton, but can he do it all by himself?

Nope, Eddie Royal bails him out at the end of regulation to tie the game.

8-8

 

OVERTIME!

You know the drill.  2013 Score pack.  First team to get a card wins.  Sudden death, baby.

First card:

Nope.

Second card:

Von Miller comes through in the clutch giving the Broncos the OT win.

 

Broncos win!

So, the Broncos will cap their excellent season with a trip to the Super Bowl. Who will they face when they get there? Find out tomorrow at 5:01 PM ET.

Football Contest: Loser's Bracket

Only four teams remain. The Raiders have to be the overwhelming favorite here since they were at least four games worse in the regular season than each of the other remaining teams.

CHICAGO BEARS 8, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 8
>>>  Both teams pulled 8 base cards.  Loser's bracket tiebreaks are determined by regular season record.  The Bears (7-9) advance to the loser's final over the Seahawks (8-8).

OAKLAND RAIDERS 7, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
>>> The Raiders continue their awful run, advancing past the Colts and this nice insert:

 

So, the Loser Bowl matchup is set.

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #207

I would love to see the stat splits for Piazza with and without the moustache. 

 

BTW, Piazza is absolutely a HOFer. 

Football Contest: Playoff Schedule

We're down to the final four:

Here is the schedule:

Friday, July 26 - 5:01 PM ET - Losers Bracket
Saturday, July 27 - 5:01 PM ET - Ravens at Broncos
Sunday, July 28 - 5:01 PM ET - Rams at Giants
Monday, July 29 - 5:01 PM ET - Leftovers

As for the cards this week,

2010 Panini Epix Blaster (80 cards)
2010 Panini Threads Blaster (80)
2010 Absolute Memorabilia Blaster (80)

These blasters put the card total over 2,000 since I started this thing in March.

As in the past, I have packs of 2013 Score to settle ties.

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #206

This guy is a perfect example of what happens when you're stuck on the Royals for most of your career.  He was a solid contributor, but most people don't have a clue who he is.

Weird-Oh Wednesday #26b

Is his last name McCarver?

I hope this becomes a trend...

I broke my own promise.  In my defense, A&G should be here by now.  I had to go to the LCS today to grab some boxes for an eBay sale, and I couldn't resist some packs.  Strangely, the thing that appealed to me was the new box of 2013 Goodwin Champions.   I grabbed two packs.

Here are the regular base cards I got:

Standard GC fare.  The design is a little nicer this year.

I got one SP:

I also got one SSP:

I also got one SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSP:

This is my second Jordan relic this year, though this one is significantly better than the first.  I hope this becomes a trend...