A Cardboard Problem

Hobby Box Break and Review: 2011 Bowman Sterling

2012-01-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

As most of you know my interest in cards has more or less vanished recently for various reasons mentioned in a previous post. When I saw the box from Topps, that little feeling of excitement came back.... It was nice to know that it was still in there somewhere.This year 2011 Bowman Sterling looked a little sharper out of the pack with the stealth stickers instead of those terrible silver ones,

Random card that isn't that random...

2012-01-15T15:41:00.000-05:00

Well, it was random a few months ago. At the national I wanted to get my mitts on a 2011 Topps Heritage Dustin Ackley NSCC exclusive RC. As it turns out, I ended up with a Michael Pineda RC which disappointed me then and now I don't know how I feel about it.When I got the card, I admit I didn't care much for it and really didn't give Pineda a second thought. I actually had planned on selling

Hobby Box Break and Review: 2011 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects

2012-01-03T00:56:00.000-05:00

I know, I know... You have all already opened this and seen it. However, it took me forever to get to writing this review and to be able to scan anything to do so. My apologies. I will make this one short and sweet.Getting right down to business, here are the goods that were in the box:I skipped scanning the base cards because they are the same as the rest of the Bowman releases from this year

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T18:58:00.000-05:00

Well, it sure has been a while since we last posted something around here.I can only speak for myself as for the reason we kind of fell off the map for a little while here. For me the lack of interesting products or any sort of variety of products, combined with the fact that I have no money to spend on any of it has helped to keep me from buying my usual random blasters that are "for the sake

Hobby Box Break and Review: 2011 Topps Tier One

2011-12-02T10:17:00.000-05:00

When 2011 Topps Tier One was first introduced into the product line I thought it sounded exciting. It appeared to mirror some of the designs of products that are no longer being produced by other companies but were popular amongst collectors. Then when the product finally hit the streets it seemed to anger and disappoint many collectors. I must admit that made me all the more curious to see

I suck at blogging.

2011-11-16T21:37:00.000-05:00

In light of the ridiculous amount of time that has lapsed between recent posts, I thought I would share a story about a redemption card that took a LONG time to surface.November 13, 2010 posted a 2010-2011 Panini Limited box break. I redeemed the card later that evening and waited... and waited... and waited...Then somewhere around November 8, 2011 the card finally arrived. Considering the NBA

I'm an eskimo.

2011-11-03T12:29:00.000-04:00

I think once you have no power in the cold weather for more than 5 days you are officially a member of some sort of eskimo club. Since the random snowstorm on Oct. 29th we have been without power in my neighborhood. They are supposed to have it back on tonight by 11pm, though yesterday they said it would be back on by noon yesterday.... They estimated that 90% of people would be back on today,

2 Reasons I'm Over Parallels

2011-10-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

I posted a blog a couple of days ago about not bothering with inserts and parallels until I'm at a show or I already found a way to get all the better/harder to find later cards. I thought I would share a couple of my mail days to show you why I stopped bothering.Mail Day #12011 Topps Finest Robinson Cano Finest Moments Auto /274Mail Day #22011 Topps Finest Robinson Cano Finest Moments Auto /

Mail Day from Topps....

2011-10-28T10:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the doorbell rings and I see the mail truck outside. Naturally I am suspicious of this considering the mailbox is outside. I open the door and the mailman tells me that I need to sign for a certified and registered letter. I ask where it is from before signing because who knows what the hell I could be signing for, and he tells me, "Tri-Star Fulfillment". Oh, that's oddly

Spot the Error

2011-10-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

While putting some of my Bowman prospect cards in order I stumbled across something interesting. There is an error on this card. You figure it out.Anyone else find other errors in the 2011 Bowman Chrome?

Dear idiot eBay sellers...

2011-10-25T16:47:00.000-04:00

Why do you list OBVIOUS fake "patch" cards online that no one believes are real? Actually, one person did believe that they were real because they were dumb enough to spend $66.00 hard earned dollars on the most insanely fake card.See the $66 stupidity by clicking here. Let's call that Dumb Ass #1.The next card I discovered last night while doing my usual search. It is /740 yet contains the

Discussion: Have parallels/inserts changed your habits?

2011-10-25T10:09:00.000-04:00

I sort of got into a discussion about this issue on Twitter and it's something I have been thinking about more lately just based on what I look for on eBay and at shows. I have made it known that I love blue refractors, so I can't say that I think all parallels and inserts are a waste.My collection in the last year or so has shifted focus and I may have mentioned that once before. I basically

Hobby Box Break and Review: 2011 Bowman Chrome

2011-10-24T14:48:00.000-04:00

2011 Bowman Chrome arrived with the usual hype however much less so than last year. When last year's Chrome got close to the release date the prices were soaring because of Stephen Strasburg, this year we have Bryce Harper to chase but it seems like people are paying the kid a little less attention. Maybe that's because everyone chased Strasburg and he ended up on the DL and no one can really

Sunday Question

2011-10-23T10:24:00.000-04:00

Since we don't have a case break already in the works we need to make that happen. I want to know what you guys think would be a good case break for the next one. I am anticipating doing one or two more this year but that's about it.Here are some suggestions:2011 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects2011 Bowman Chrome2011 Topps Chrome2011 Bowman PlatinumAnything you guys really want to do shout it out

Hobby Box Break and Review: 2011 Topps Finest

2011-10-21T22:55:00.000-04:00

After opening a case of 2011 Topps Finest Baseball, I feel like I can give this a better review based on a whole lot of packs and boxes vs. just one hobby box. The product featured one thing we are all always asking about and looking for- on card autographs. Not all of the autographs were on card, the dual relic autographs were clear stickers and the case hit Finest Moments (veteran autographs)

2011 Bowman Chrome Blaster

2011-10-20T13:10:00.000-04:00

I did it again. I seem to binge buy Bowman and Bowman Chrome in recent years and I honestly have no explanation as to why since I don't prospect and I don't have a big interest in amassing a huge collection of who "might be" when I collect 3 guys basically.I'm going to go with the excuse that I bought it for the sake of the blog since I have been using that one for years. I probably should have

Contest!! Win a Triple Threads card

2011-10-20T09:28:00.001-04:00

This is an unconventional contest for us to be a part of but it's for our friend's boyfriend so we'll help. My friend Lisa from Drugstore Divas boyfriend is close to first place in a recipe contest. They are rallying up giveaways and prizes to push him into first so I offered to lend a hand (card) to move it along.Please vote for Pete by going to their site and using their entry system, it

2 2011 Bowman Chrome Rack Packs

2011-10-19T22:00:00.000-04:00

I had to go to Shop Rite earlier to return Bad Teacher to the Red Box and since Target is across the street I figured why not go there and buy cards for no reason if they had them. Lucky me, they were fully stocked with 2011 Bowman Chrome and probably had them yesterday even by the looks of things.I walked around the store carrying blasters and rack packs while tweeting to see what everyone

CONTEST UPDATE: Results after League Championship Series

2011-10-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

These are the updated contest results for the Brandon Belt patch/auto after the league championship series ended. There is a good race at the top, however, no one had picked the St. Louis Cardinals to win. If the Rangers win, we probably have a clear-cut winner. But if the Cardinals win, it may going to the tie break. Good luck. Name STARTING POINTS ALCS NLCS POINTS TOTAL Kevin P 6

Hobby Box Break and Review: 2011 Topps Update Series

2011-10-17T10:15:00.000-04:00

You know we are approaching the end of the year when the 2011 Topps Update boxes are out. This is both happy and sad times because the season is almost over and then we are looking forward to 2012 products.While I understand what the purpose of this product is, I think there might be a "funner way" to do it.Before I show you what was in the box, you should let me explain. If Topps were to

Ichiro! Ichiro! Ichiro!

2011-10-14T11:27:00.003-04:00

Now is your time to finally get an autographed Ichiro card. Leaf Metal Draft released this week, which is essentially a prospect product. Collectors can expect these kinds of cards in there with players such as Manny Banuelos and Bubba Starling. However, international star Ichiro has his first autograph in years in the set - as a redemption. The first of these redemptions have popped

Case Break Results: 2011 Topps Finest

2011-10-13T12:28:00.002-04:00

Last night we opened a case of 2011 Topps Finest baseball and it was pretty fun. There were a good variety of team hits, with the Braves coming out with the most hits. Overall, I think the product had some good autographs in it. Check out the cards from the break below.Base card sample: Albert Pujols and Derek JeterRefractors /549 (Note: I missed a Tulo in the scan, but it is here)XFractors /

Topps Digs Up Old Stickers

2011-10-13T09:06:00.001-04:00

OK I already know I have a problem so we can skip that part.I was on eBay as usual, and found a card with a signature that I KNOW is from at least 2003/2004 yet it appears on a 2011 Topps Finest Cano autograph. Even the sticker on the this Finest card looks ancient.Here is another one. Unbelievable.Want proof of the difference in signatures? Sure, I got it.Now you want proof of the more recent

Urgent: 2011 Finest Case Break Time

2011-10-12T21:15:00.002-04:00

The case break will take place tonight, somewhere between 10-11pm, more than likely around 10:30pm. Please follow me on Twitter (@baseballzoch) for more accurate updates/information on the break as it gets closer and as it's happening.

2011 Finest baseball is live

2011-10-12T12:20:00.000-04:00

As we expect our case of 2011 Finest to arrive, let's take a look at some of the cards you might be able to get. 2011 Topps Finest baseball officially released today - although some of those sneaky folks put up auctions last night on eBay. Here is the base design. The rookie autographs cards also come in lots and lots of refractors such as this Brandon Belt purple, which is only numbered