Closer....closer... sooo close.....

Today was a day of highs and lows. First, the lows. A trip to the dentist. I'll spare you the details. We've all been there. On the way home, some highs. First, the sun was shining and it got up to 10 degrees today. A beautiful start to Spring. Next, a stop at the mailbox. I love the mailbox. Today brought me three packages. I'll talk about two of them here.

My good friend Suzy from A Cardboard Problem sent me some Braves. Not just any Braves, but new Braves. Braves I don't have, or will ever have the chance to buy, as living in Canada is the same as living in a vacuum sometimes. (Still no new baseball here.)
These are the new fangled Topps Black cards all the kids are talking about.

Bobby!
Kelly!

Huddy!

these black cards teach me, if nothing else, that my scanner bed needs cleaning.

Jeffrey!

and Jo-Jo!

Sooz also sent a super ultra rare serial numbered Gold bordered Bobby Cox. #1237/2009!!!

okay. not that rare. but is it odd that I now have the gold #'d parallel and the exclusive black version of this before I have ever even seen a regular 2009 Topps card???

note: Both versions of Bobby were the only ones encased in top loaders. Even a Yankee fan gives Bobby the respect he deserves.

Also, some '09 Upper Deck. The Braves Team Leaders card;

I LOVE these team leader cards.... love 'em! They remind me of the OPeeChee hockey league leaders in the mid-late '70's. Beautiful.

Chipper!!!!

this one obviously was spared by the chipper.

Thom Glavine. I mean, Tom Glavine. This is Upper Deck, not Topps.

Jeffrey!

and finally, a puzzling one. I guess maybe Suzy is tired of our little blog war. She's decided to make peace. The final card she sent is of her favourite player, Derek Jeter, shown here in all full bleed colour, striking out against Anaheim.

A nice gesture Suzy. Thank you.

Which brings me to the second package. And the title of today's entry. Scott from Hand Collated
sent me this little gem.

One more elusive card, and this set is history! Thanks Scott.

Feeling lucky?

If you are... head over to I Am Joe Collector and sign up for his latest case break. A really good price and you are guarranteed to get cards.... Go. Now.

1992 Action Packed Football box break Packs 1-6

You all know why I've brought you here.... a little Action Packed! Action Packed did football cards in the early '90's. But not just any football cards. 3D relief textured super touchyfeely football cards.
Upon opening the box, I find this!
An order form for super cool Action Packed stuff! If anyone has one of those leather jackets in a 52 Extra Tall, let me know.

The wrapper.

For the '91 set, the wrapper was black. In '92, it's white. Now you know.

Pack One

John Elway QB Broncos (it's going to be a good box)

Eric Kramer QB Lions

Nick Bell RB Raiders
Terry Allen RB Vikings

Mark Ingram WR Giants (Boo!)

Rickey Reynolds CB Bucs (love those old school jerseys)

Pack Two

Dave Meggett KR Giants

Chris Spielman LB Lions

Tim Brown KR/WR Raiders

Marv Cook TE Patriots

Broderick Thomas LB Bucs

Tommy Kane WR Seahawks

Keith McCants DE Bucs

Pack Three

Keith Byers RB Eagles (Boo!)

Brian Blades WR Seahawks

Louis Lipps WR Steelers

Pepper Johnson LB Giants

(The backs have another photo of the player, as well as a spot on the bottom where you were supposed to get their autograph. Blue backs and fronts for the NFC, Red backs and fronts for the AFC)

Ernest Givins WR Oilers (Love the powder blue!)

Pack Four

John Offerdahl LB Dolphins

Mark Jackson WR Broncos

Jay Higenberg C Bears

Chris Miller QB Falcons (This one's for you dayf)

Leonard Russell RD Patriots (this set is full of the old jerseys... this was back when the Patriots still sucked)

Pat Swilling LB Saints

Pack Five

William Fuller DE Oilers

Louis Oliver S Dolphins

Greg Kragen NT Broncos

Aeneas Williams CB Cardinals

Andre Rison WR Falcons (before his girlfriend burnt his house down)

Tom Waddle WR Bears

Pack Six

Neal Anderson RB Bears

Vincent Brown LB Patriots

Rich Gannon QB Vikings

Shane Conlin LB Bills

Jeff Herrod LB Colts

Tony Tolbert DE Cowboys (How 'bout dem Cowboys!)

Not too bad..... packs 7-12 tomorrow...

I'm gonna rip it!

Lookee at what I got on the 'bay for $1.75! A whole factory sealed box of 1992 Action Packed Football!
$1.75! Madness!
I loved this stuff when it came out in '91. I collected the set, bought the update set, got the All Madden set, then bought the factory set. ( The factory set is absolutely gorgeous for those of you who have never seen one.)
Now, I get to re-live that, a year later. (well, 17 years later... but you know what I mean)

And remember kids!!!!
Alright! Action Packed with the clean teen message!

Scans to come. After dinner sometime. And all of these will be put on Zistle if you want to see the whole thing.

Braves make cuts...

The Atlanta Braves cut their roster down to 44 players today by sending eight players back down to the minors.

The Braves sent right-handers Steve Marek, James Parr, Todd Redmond and Luis Valdez to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Also, Left-handers Francisley Bueno and Mariano Gomez and catchers Phillip Britton and Matt Kennelly were reassigned to the Braves’ minor league camp.

Of those, only James Parr had a shot at the club, and only a slim one. He's only 23, and should be up and down all year filling in for injuries etc... looks like a good one though.
Bobby never likes to rush the youngin's....

C'mon... a little effort people...

You're a photographer working for Topps in the mid '70's... and get a primo assignment. Get your ass to San Diego and get some shots of the Padres! Alright! San Diego! Party Town!

Crap. Now it's early on the "morning after", and you need to get the job done. Okay. Let's get this over with.
All of you Padre relievers.... stand on the white line and pretend to do a windup, that way I don't have to move. Or think.

Oh c'mon!!!! At least give the last guy a ball! Sweet Jesus. Have some pride man.

it's that special time....

If anyone needs me... I'll be on the couch in front of the bigscreen.
It's tradition... sue me.

Contest Winner!

Ross from Sports Card Info , who is sponsored by Press Pass, held a little contest a couple of weeks back.
Press Pass sent Ross a box of 2009 Press Pass Element Racing. (to read his review, go here.)
The pull of the box was this.
Jimmie Johnson 3x Champion Race Used Tire.
Unbelievably sweet.
Thanks Ross! Go check out his blog, and check out Press Pass too.... their new football stuff is looking awesome!

So close.....

The Calgary Flames lost 3-2 tonight against the New Jersey Devils.

If Calgary had won, it would've been Coach Mike Keenan's 666th career win.

His 666th win.... against the Devils.

Awesome.

so close.........

My Precious....

A bubble mailer arrived today from reader Kevin. In exchange for a stack of 2007 Topps off of his wantlist, I received 4 beautiful 1976 Topps cards I needed.

First, a checklist... a pink checklist...
next, #413 Pete Varney. Rockin' the red WhiteSox jerseys.... that makes sense, right?

#588 Kevin Kobel. Hey Kevin! Over here!

#642 Dennis Blair. That looks like old Jarry Park in the background. Sweet!

I love this set. I've been trying to complete it FOREVER! And I only have around 150 cards. Finding these in my area of the world is impossible. And ebayers always want $3.50 shipping and handling, etc....

But I'm four cards closer today!

A Yankee Problem

This just in...

March 7/09

Atlanta Braves 3
NY Yankees 1

booyeah!

Your opinion please...

My latest contributions to the 2009 Goose Joak baseball card set.

First up, BMac...
Next, a choice. Your choice. Which Chipper Jones card should be submitted?

A) It's wabbit season...

or B) Sweetswing in motion?

You decide. Post your fave in the comments please.

Group Case Break Results!!!

Saints of the Cheap Seats had a group case break going on last month. For the results, please click here to see the scans of all the really cool cards that were pulled. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Back? Good. Pretty cool stuff, eh? Well, although I was a fully paid participant in the break, I didn't get any of what you saw. Nothing. I got this.

This card is so bad, Dan didn't even scan it to show off what was pulled. And I needn't remind you of how we feel about John Smoltz, do I? You're looking at a plain white swatch of John Smoltz' pants that I ended up paying $22 for.

Crap.

Dan felt so bad, he sent along some goodies to ease the pain.

An '04 auto of Alec Zumwalt,
and two cards from 2008 Upper Deck A Piece of History.

Brandon Jones and Josh Anderson. Can someone tell me why they are different colours?

and a couple of shiny '99 Topps Gold Label former Braves.

Andres Galarraga,

and Brian Jordan.

Through no effort of my own, I have become a Brian Jordan Super Collector. Everyone who sends me Braves, sends me tonnes of Brian Jordan. I had no idea he had so many cards....

crap.

this one is a little close to home.
and not nearly so funny anymore.

Reader Mail

Reader Karen emailed me awhile ago about some 2008 A&G doubles I had that she needed. Unfortunately, she didn't have any that I needed. No matter, I sent them off to a new home anyway.
This is what I received today in the mail from her....
Awesome.

The best overall player in the league!

Jarome Iginla became the Flames franchise all time leading scorer tonight. He potted two goals and three assists for a career total of 834 points, surpassing Theo Fleury's 830 points.
Iggy's first goal was also the 400th of his career. At only 31 years of age, the best two way player in hockey will no doubt get 600 before he's done.

A lock Hall of Famer.... Jarome has a sense of humour as well. I was at the game on Friday to watch him break the record.
Nothing.
Tonight when I'm at home watching on TV?
5 points.
Nice.
Thanks Jarome. The only reason I'm in a forgiving mood is that you were my 1st round pick in this year's hockey pool.

Wrong, terribly wrong...

I'm not that familiar with Vasquez yet, but I can tell you that ain't Peter Moylan and that certainly isn't Tom Glavine.
The dirty bastard Mets have sent infiltrating imposters to sabotage the Brave's pitching staff!

It's revenge for the Rick Roll!!!!!!