Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Hail to the King, Baby!

While I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the "final" chapter from the guy who made the title of this post famous, the "King" to which I make reference here is none other than TheDiamondKing!  And, I, for one, have to say: It's about time, man!

TheDiamondKing has been hanging around card blogs probably as long as card blogs have been around, but he has only been reading and responding and participating in the occasional contest and giveaways often found on said sites. That has all changed.  The KING of all things Diamond King has launched a blog! And, HE is holding his own contest! How sweet is that!?

Ya gotta go here: http://thediamondking.blogspot.com/ - Excuse his dust as he is still playing with layouts and CSS and XML and a myriad of other acronyms.

Thoughts and Sox Breaks a Box

Er, okay, so I don't know (red, remember) if this was from an actual BOX break or not, but it rhymes, so I'm going with it.  Regardless, I received a bubbleope from Adam containing my haul from the '87 O-Pee-Chee and '87 Leaf breaks.

First up, Adam so "kindly" included the wrapper from a 1987 O-Pee-Chee pack, and even left the gum in it - or pieces of the gum anyway:


I tried to fit Humpty Dumpty back together, but things just didn't work out too well there.  As you can see, the gum is nasty. Very nasty.  Of course, any food still hanging around since I graduated high school would tend to have that characteristic.  Wow, what a scary thought - this pack is from the year I graduated high school. 

I scanned in only one of each of the cards I received from the pack, but let me assure you that there were more cards than those shown - nearly every card has at least one double in my take from the break!



My brother and I called these "The Wooden Kind" when we were collecting back in the day. I always loved the little notes OPC included on the cards, like in Dennis Lamp's - "Now with Indians."  If OPC was able to license the photos and the design from Topps back in '87, I wonder if there is some sort of provision for something like that now... If I, for example, wished to license the design and photos from the Topps set in order to make my own set, would they let me do that for a fee?  Perhaps I could come up with my own set(s) featuring players from a certain region or that only batted left-handed or something.  I'll have to write and ask.  I'll keep you posted.

In addition to the '87 OPC cards, I also received a slew of 1987 Leaf cards:


Like the OPC cards, nearly each one of these cards has at least double to go with it.  Great stuff!  Not only that, but look at the Tribers pulled here: Carter, Niekro, Jacoby, Butler, Franco... This is a who's who of 80's Indians.  Awesomeness!

There was also a "bonus" card included:


This is an Upper Deck Masterpieces card featuring Asdrubal Cabrera's unassisted triple play in 2008 - the 14th of such plays in the history of major league baseball.  Pretty danged sweet if you ask me.  As an aside, I don't understand why so many people have such a hard time saying his name: Az-Drew-Bull (though I have also heard it as "Az-Drew-Ball" and "Az-Drew-Bowl" - subtle differences, I know).

In any case, a BIG Tribecards THANKS goes out to Adam at Thoughts and Sox for the break!!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Buck-A-Box Group Break - You want in?

I have a handful of teams still available for the Buck-A-Box group break:
Reds - JoeC
Tigers - JoeC
Brewers,
Pirates - JoeC
Padres,
Blue Jays

- There are five (5) boxes of cards being busted for the group break, and you get more info from the main post here: http://www.tribecards.net/2011/05/how-about-tribecards-group-break-buck.html

 - Come on and join the fun!  Break will happen around June 4th or 5th (or sooner if the spots fill up before then)!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

How about a Tribecards Group Break!? Buck-A-Box!


Just  to clarify: these are boxes of cards, not cases.  There are 36 packs of Sportflics, 8 packs of A&G, 16 (total) packs of Bowman, and 24 packs of Heads-Up.  I apologize for any confusion.


Update #2 - Change of plans for non-sport/no-team cards: I have an offer from Mark A regarding non-sports and non-current teams.  I have accepted the offer, so he will receive the non-team cards from this break (basically, this applies to the A&G break).

If you have PAID and you do not wish to participate because of this change, please let me know and I will take you out of the break. Thanks!


I am ready to bust open some wax! How about you!?  Here is what I'm offering up here: A Buck-A-Box group break.  I recently won/bought five (5) unopened boxes of baseball cards.  Here's the rundown:

One (1) 1988 Sportflics Box
One (1) 1990 Topps Heads-Up Box
One (1) 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Box
Two (2) 2011 Bowman Boxes

I am offering a buck-a-box group break. Here's how it works: You send a gift through PayPal to davidinark over at yahoo with a dot and a com.  How much of a gift?  Well, that depends on which team(s) you pick!  If you pick a team that did not exist in 88 or 90, then you play for just $3.  If you pick a team that appears in all five boxes, then it's $5.  That's it, too.  That includes all shipping, packaging, etc.  I'm basically doing my version of an "El Cheapo" group break!  You get ALL the cards for your team - base, serial, game-used, autos, doubles, whatever!

Actually, let me list the break gift by each team:
  • $3 - Arizona Diamondbacks - Greg Z (PAID)
  • $4 - Atlanta Braves - Capt Canuck (PAID)
  • $5 - Baltimore Orioles - Kevin (PAID)
  • $4 - Boston Red Sox - JackPlumstead (PAID)
  • $4 - Chicago White Sox - Jeff L (PAID)
  • $5 - Chicago Cubs - Matt P (PAID)
  • $5 - Cincinnati Reds - JoeC
  • $3 - Cleveland Indians - Hiflew (PAID)
  • $3 - Colorado Rockies - Hiflew (PAID)
  • $4 - Detroit Tigers - JoeC
  • $3 - Florida Marlins - Matt P (PAID)
  • $5 - Houston Astros - Dimwit (PAID)
  • $5 - Kansas City Royals - Matt F (PAID)
  • $5 - Los Angeles/Anaheim/California Angels
  • $4 - Los Angeles Dodgers - Greg Z (PAID)
  • $5 - Milwaukee Brewers
  • $5 - Minnesota Twins - Matt F (PAID)
  • $5 - New York Mets - Paul H (PAID)
  • $5 - New York Yankees - Kevin M (PAID)
  • $5 - Oakland Athletics - Nathan (PAID)
  • $4 - Philadelphia Phillies - Dan (PAID)
  • $4 - Pittsburgh Pirates - JoeC
  • $5 - San Diego Padres
  • $5 - San Francisco Giants - Matt R (PAID)
  • $5 - Seattle Mariners - Ryan C. (PAID)
  • $4 - St. Louis Cardinals - Alec (PAID)
  • $3 - Tampa Bay Rays - Greg Z (PAID)
  • $5 - Texas Rangers - Matt J (PAID)
  • $4 - Toronto Blue Jays
  • $4 - Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos - Ryan C. (PAID)
  • $3 - Non-team cards/non-current team cards (negro leagues, hoaxes, etc) - Mark A (PAID)
Notes: not all teams appear in the 1990 Heads-Up set, so I deducted a buck from the teams not appearing.  If a card features more than one team and every team on the card is taken, I'll flip a coin - winner gets the card.  Any unclaimed teams will be put into a pile and randomly distributed among the group break participants (excluding myself).  Other "rules" (such as they are) may be drawn up if/when needed.

Why $3 for the Indians?  Because if you choose the Indians, you and I are splitting the bounty!  I will put all the Indians that I do not already own into a list and Random.org will decide who gets what.  The only time I will interfere is if it chooses to give one person doubles.  At that point, I'll use a highly scientific method to determine what happens (that usually involves a coin).  Plus, if I already own a pulled Indians card, you get it. Period. Merry Christmas!

What ya gotta do: send the gift to me (davidinark@yahoo.com) and be sure to tell me your address and which team(s) you want.  Teams will be handed out first paid, first dibs. If you want more than one of the bulleted teams above, please make sure your gift covers all the teams you want.  You can also leave a comment on this post to let me know if you intend to participate. I will put your name by your team(s) but everything is fair game until I receive payment.  If two people pay at the same time for the same team before I can update the list, only the first person to pay will count, and I will refund the other's money or give them a chance to pick another team or teams.
 Come on down for the Buck-a-Box Group Break!!  The break should happen on or around June 4th!


*and if you've learned anything by reading about my previous breaks/giveaways, you know there are bonus items of some sort.

    Wednesday, May 18, 2011

    The best team in baseball. Period.

    My wife said I should take a picture of the standings, since the Indians are currently the best team in all of baseball right now.  I thought it was a good idea:


    Monday, May 16, 2011

    The secret formula


    When added together, the figures picture above equaled one thing: Len Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981.  He was the first Indians pitcher to snag such a feat since Addie Joss in 1908!  It's hard to believe 30 years have passed since Barker's perfect game.  I didn't get to see the game, but hope to catch a replay of it someday on either ESPN or MLB.  I'm sure it was replayed this past Sunday, but I was too pooped to pop after coming back from a three-day technology integration program (I was one of the presenters).  Living in Pittsburgh in the 80's as a kid, I missed out a lot on the Tribe's happenings.  Though in most cases, that's a good thing. Here, it is one of the times I wish I could have witnessed it live.  Regardless, congratulations to Mr. Barker on his 30-year old achievement and his place in baseball history!

    Saturday, May 14, 2011

    That Thorzul sure is a cheap one...

    Bill, aka Thorzul, held his "Return of El Cheapo" card break.  There were several packs involved and I put my bid in for the Indians.  I knew there was a chance I would pull a goose egg, but that's the chance one takes with a break like this.  I did not, however, pull a zero out of the hat!  In fact, it seems I managed to a handful of "hits" (such as they are often referred).  Digression: I am an avid Indians card collector - ANY Tribe cards I get are HITS in my book!

    Let's see what I came away with here...

    How about a Dennis Martinez SP Legendary Cuts Glory Days (036/399) and an Exponential^2 CC Sabathia!


    Not enough of the Denny for you?  Well how about *TWO* SP Legendary Cuts Classic Careers?  Yes, BOTH are Denny Martinez (54/399 and 45/399).  They are not only serially palindromes, but are also just nine cards apart!  That is the equivalent of getting doubles and yet not getting doubles at the same time:


    We're done done with the serially numbered inserts, either!  How about Al Lopez UD Hall of Fame (507/550)!?  Awesome!  That's followed up by a Topps Peak Performance Cy Young and an A&G National Pride V-Mart:

    And, as if a handful of some very cool cards wasn't enough, the cardboard gods (er, sorry, that's a different blog) tossed in a Topps Moments & Milestones Jeremy Sowers autographed card for good measure:


    Holy Smokin Stack of Cheapo, Batman!  You will get no complaints from the peanut gallery (er, yet still a different card blog) here, folks!  These are great and well worth the price of admission!

    Thanks to Thorzul, who really does rule!  Or does he SET the rules?  You know, it just occurred to me that the proper inflection dictates whether he is the ruler ot if he has his own set of rules (Thorzul Rules).  I digress (often).

    Tuesday, May 10, 2011

    Blog Bat-Around: My one MLB appearance



    The crowd at The Jake falls into a deafening silence. It pushes against my ears like two massive headphones from the seventies. The PA announcer breaks in, "Now batting for the Indians, Number 4, David Henderson. This is his Major League Debut."

    A murmur begins behind home plate, a few random fans around the stadium clap slowly, as if unsure as to whether or not they should be clapping. Soon, a polite round of applause makes its way throughout the venue. It is as though I were Jack Nicklaus making a putt for par when I could have had an eagle. A breeze sweeps across the infield from third to second, kicking up swirls of dust. The fielders seem indifferent to my appearance at the plate.

    I make my way from the on-deck circle to the plate without tripping over my own feet or, more likely, a blade of grass. I'm facing Cliff Lee or C.C. Sabathia or one of the myriad other former Tribers playing against the Indians this game. A smirk forms on the pitcher's mouth and he shakes his head, rolls his eyes, and gives a sigh. I adjust my helmet and put the bat back over my shoulder like I've been telling my own children to do for years. The pitcher winds up and I see his arm come over the top.

    "STREEEEE-IIIIIKE!" the umpire yells from behind me. I can only assume from the sound of the catcher's glove that the ball actually left the pitcher's hand and traveled the distance to the glove behind and below me. I never saw it, that's for sure. I adjust my helmet again and take a few practice swings, as though showing the pitcher where I'd "like" the ball would make a hill of beans difference.

    The pitcher winds and tosses another ball at me. I see this one, but the time my eyes tell my brain to tell my arms to swing, the ball is already on its way back from the catcher to the pitcher, the ump yelling out another, "STREEEE-IIIKE TWO!"

    I take a step back out of the box, and tap the dirt from my cleats. Because even without moving an inch, I've managed to get dirt in the spikes. I think it's from trying to dig my own grave in the batter's box. I look at the pitcher as I get back in to the box and shrug my shoulders, hoping he understands that I'm just here to fulfill a dream of playing once, just once in the Bigs. He smiles and nods. I swing the bat to show him where I think I would like hit the ball. He nods again. Was that at me or the catcher? I don't know. The crowd behind me is booing and yelling things like, "What a bum! Get him outta there! Who is this guy anyway!?" There other things being yelled at me, too, but I'm not putting those down here.

    All I ever wanted was to stand right where I'm standing, bat in hand, facing a professional ballplayer. I've made it, and no matter what anyone yells or says changes that now. I am the one at the plate, not them. I am the one blessed to be wearing the red, white and blue of an Indians uniform. I am the one whose name just boomed over the loudspeaker. I am the one hoping the pitcher doesn't suddenly decide I'd look better with one less head on my shoulders.

    The pitcher shows me the ball, as if to say, "You see this? Watch it. Just keep your eye on it." He raises his eyebrows, asking if I understand. I smile and nod. I put the bat over my shoulder, bend my knees ever so slightly, point my toes at the plate, and dip my shoulder. He winds and comes over the top with what must be the slowest pitch ever thrown in MLB history, and I see it clearly. I raise my forward leg, step slightly toward the mound, and swing.

    (Note: The above is fiction. It is my dream. And, what happens next makes no difference in my world. I've already had the best game of my life.)

    1989 Major League Movie Cards - Another Update

    Many of you that follow along regularly know that one of the hardest sets to come by in the Indians world is the 1989 Major League movie cards.  At this point, I know of THREE people that own the set of eleven cards.   I posted my first known evidence of the set back in January of 2010: http://www.tribecards.net/2010/01/major-league-movie-cards-found.html
     
    One question I get about the set most often: What are they worth?
    Well, the only time I have ever seen the set listed in a copy of 2003 Beckett Baseball Almanac:

    Complete set (11 cards) - $15 (all prices are for Mint)
    1 - Tom Berenger - 2.00
    2 - Corbin Bernsen - 2.50
    3 - James Gammon - 1.00
    4 - Dennis Haysbert - 1.00
    5 - Andy Romano - 1.00
    6 - Chelcie Ross - 1.00
    7 - Charlie Sheen - 2.50
    8 - Wesley Snipes - 4.00
    9 - Steve Yeager - 1.50
    10 - Charlie Sheen, Haysbert, Berenger, Snipes - 2.00
    11 - Romano, Gannon, Yeager - 1.00

    As always, the listed "book value" has little to no bearing on actual value.  In the world of collectibles, something is always worth what someone else is willing to pay.

    There have been several requests from folks that want to buy the set.  I am at the top of the list!  If you own the set (or happen to have multiple sets and are willing to part with one or more), feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email (davidinark/yahoo).  I'd love to talk about buying a set from you!

    *Note: The values listed above are just from that Almanac and have no bearing on what I (or others) are willing to pay, so don't let those numbers hold you back.  In fact, we might be able to work out a Tribecards-Exclusive auction/bidding war!  Now, that would be fun!

    Monday, May 9, 2011

    Gypsy Queen Break Haul

    Chris, over at FanOfReds, held a group break recently with a bunch of 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen packs.  Since the Indians were already spoken for, I chose the Twins, hoping to score a Thome.  I did!  And that's not all!

    First up, we have a mini leather (07/10) Delmon Young.  This is one sweet card!  I love the leather feel to the card.  Are they really printed on leather? I have no idea, but it looks and feels cool.


    Next up: The man: Jim Thome!  The back of his card reads, "Thome, Barry Bonds, Mickey Mantle, Mel Ott, Babe Ruth, Mike Schmidt and Ted Williams are the only hitters with 500 HRs plus 1500 runs, RBI and walks apiece."  That is some seriously good company to keep.  The other card is Denard Span.  Sorry, Twins fans, I don't know much about him.


    The next three cards are Jason Kubel, Carl Pavano, and Joe Mauer.  I like the vintage look of these cards.  very cool treatment!


    The last three are minis: Mauer, Pavano, and Span.

    
    There were a couple doubles (a Thome and a Kubel) plus a few extra "buffer cards" for protection: 2000 Stadium Club Scott Williamson, 1991 Topps Charlie Hayes, and a 2008 "Work Hard, Get Cards" David Wright card.  The David Wright has one of those square security stickers covering much of the side with Wright on it.  Topps lost their message on that one!

    I'm glad I decided at the last minute to jump into this break.  Though I could not choose the Tribe, I am very glad to have scored TWO Thome cards (though one will go in the giveaway box) and the leather mini. 

    Thanks, Chris, for holding the break and busting some cool cards for me!

    Saturday, May 7, 2011

    Your Once in a Lifetime Appearance?

    I feel like starting up another blog bat-around!  I don't know if one is currently in place or not, so forgive me if I am stepping on toes.

    This round is entitled, "My Once in Lifetime" and what I'd like to hear is your dream MLB appearance.  Let's pretend that for one game, maybe even for one at-bat and one fielding turn, YOU got to be in the majors, the Big Show, the Bigs.  What team's uniform would you like to wear? What number would you want? What position would you play? Who would you like to face (both at the plate and in the field against you)?  What do you think would *really* happen during your one shot?  What would you *like* to happen during your one shot?

    As always, leave a comment on this post and I'll keep a running tab to everyone's posts at the end of this one.  Here is your chance to make, break, change, or be history!

    Oh, and if you aren't a blogger, feel free to leave your "Once in a Lifetime" in the comments here!

    Current entries:
    Steve at White Sox Cards
    Nathan at Canadian Cardboard
    Paul's Random Stuff
    (thanks for the heads-up on Steve's link, BTW!)

    Tuesday, May 3, 2011

    2011 Topps Value Box (Target Version)

    Included in the Value Box from Target are five (5) packs of 2011 Topps Series One cards, two (2) packs of 2011 Topps Heritage Hobby packs, two (2) Diamond Giveaway code cards, a special Chrome Refractor made just for the value boxes, and a 2011 MLB Collector's Guide (with Target branding).

    The Diamond Giveaway cards feature Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols (one player on each card).  I am sending the Jeter to Sooz over at Card Bandits and Pujols to Erin.  I am not putting in the codes, either.  I'll let the women do that, and if they come up big winners, then all the better!



    The Collector's Guide shows off one card from each year Topps has been making cards.  Most of the cards are (or seem to be in my estimation) rookie cards of the various players.  In 60 years of Topps, they couldn't include ONE Indians player's card? Gimme a break. Surely, they could have included a card from each team.  Oh well, can't please everyone, I guess.  After all, we're not talking Diamond Kings of the 80's, are we?  I digress (often, but you learn to live with it or walk away). 

    The booklet also contains team schedules, which is kinda cool in a retro "pocket guide" kind of way.  Throughout the Guide, coupons for various products abound: One-A-Day for us aging collectors, $10 off MLB2K11, Scott's Turf Builder (for those of us wishing to build our own "Field of Dreams," I suppose), and others.  Of course, using the coupons means tearing them out of the guide.  And, thus Topps presents the very dilemma that drives many of its target audience (only slight pun intended) batty: keep the collectible, or collect the "prize?"  Dang it.


    The "Special Chrome Refractor" was of Jackie Robinson:



    I mentioned earlier that I would probably do a "Tribe or No Tribe" game with the packs, and so we begin!

    The rules:
    Trap cards = Reds (the *other* Ohio team) and the Braves (the *other* Native American-themed team)


    +1/2 point is awarded for each card in the pack, unless card fits into the following:

    +2 points are awarded for each serial, relic or autographed card.
    +1 point is awarded for any Thome card in a non-Indians uniform.
    +2 points are given for each Indians card.

    -1 point from the score for each trap card (even if serial/auto/relic).
    -1/2 point is deducted for each card featuring more than one team or no team at all



    Pack #1 is 2011 Topps Series One:
    (12 cards per pack, avg score would be 6.0 at 0.5 per card)

    Aaron Hill (Blue Jays):  +0.5
    Ted Lilly (Dodgers): +0.5, total = 1.0 (night card?)
    Julio Borbon (Rangers): +0.5, total = 1.5
    Emilio Bonifacio (Marlins): +0.5, total = 2.0
    Chicago White Sox Team card: +0.5, total = 2.5 (definitely night card)

    David Ortiz (Red Sox): +0.5, total = 3.0
    Armando Galarraga (Tigers) Refractor: +0.5, total = 3.5 (yes, he got ripped off last year against the Tribe. we know)
    60YOT 1998 All-Topps Catchers (Piazza, IRod, Kendall): -0.5, total = 3.0

    Roy Halladay (Phillies) ToppsTown: +0.5, total = 3.5
    Freddy Garcia (White Sox): +0.5, total = 4.0
    Joey Votto (Reds - TRAP!): -1.0, total = 3.0
    Jose Guillen (Giants): +0.5, total = 3.5

    First pack scores 3.5, which is not good, especially with a trap and a multi-team in there. 



    Pack #2 is 2011 Topps Series One (since there are FIVE of these):
    (12 cards per pack, avg score would be 6.0 at 0.5 per card)



    Kyle Davies (Royals): +0.5
    Josh Tomlin (Indians, TRIBER!): +2, total = 2.5
    Jason Kubel (Twins): +0.5, total = 3.0
    Luke Scott (Oriols): +0.5, total = 3.5

    Ubaldo Jimenez (Rockies): +0.5, total = 4.0
    Nelson Cruz (Rangers): +0.5, total = 4.5
    Diamond Giveaway (Halladay, Phillies): +0.5, total = 5.0
    T60 Ryan Howard (Phillies): +0.5, total = 5.5

    Ubaldo Jimenez (Rockies) ToppsTown: +0.5, total = 6.0
    Todd Helton (Rockies): +0.5, total = 6.5
    Neil Walker (Pirates): +0.5, total = 7.0
    Trevor Hoffman (Brewers): +0.5, total = 7.5

    Nice!  No traps and scored a Triber to boot! Wahoo!  Total for this pack is a nice 7.5!



    Pack #3 is 2011 Topps Series One:
    (12 cards per pack, avg score would be 6.0 at 0.5 per card)


    Russell Branyan (Mariners): +0.5
    Alex Rodriguez (Yankees): +0.5, total = 1.0
    Jose Bautista (Blue Jays): +0.5, total = 1.5
    Chris Sale (White Sox): +0.5, total = 2.0
    Mark Trumbo (Angels): +0.5, total = 2.5
    Pedro Ciriaco (Pirates): +0.5, total = 3.0
    Ryan Dempster (Cubs): +0.5, total = 3.5
    Jeff Keppinger (Astros): +0.5, total = 4.0
    Diamond Duo (Utley/Rollins, Phillies): +0.5, total = 4.5
    60YOT Whitey Ford (Yankees): +0.5, total = 5.0

    Robinson Cano (Yankees) ToppsTown: +0.5, total = 5.5
    Evan Meek (Pirates): +0.5, total = 6.0
    Chris Narveson (Brewers): +0.5, total = 6.5

    Well, this pack had 13 cards and scored 6.5.  It managed to walk the line - no Tribers and no traps.  The Duo card counts as a Phillies card because it features multiple players from the same team, in case you were wondering (and I know you were!).



    Pack #4 is 2011 Topps Heritage Hobby:
    (9 cards per pack, avg score would be 4.5 at 0.5 per card)

    Mike Stanton (Marlins): +0.5

    Angel Pagan (Mets): +0.5, total = 1.0
    Washington Nationals Team card: +0.5, total = 1.5
    Barry Zito (Giants): +0.5, total = 2.0
    Stephen Drew (Diamondbacks): +0.5, total = 2.5

    JJ Hardy (Orioles): +0.5, total = 3.0
    Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals): +0.5, total = 3.5
    Andrew Romine (Angels): +0.5, total = 4.0
    Marco Scutaro (Red Sox): +0.5, total = 4.5

    Another perfectly par pack - 4.5 points on 9 cards.  We ran into no Indians and no traps.  We did manage to find a few well-knowns, though. That's always cool to the collector-kid in me.  i also like the "pitching vs other teams" stats on the back of the team card.  Nice touch.



    Pack #5 is 2011 Topps Series One:
    (12 cards per pack, avg score would be 6.0 at 0.5 per card)


    CJ Wilson (Rangers): +0.5
    John Danks (White Sox): +0.5, total = 1.0
    Pablo Sandoval (Giants): +0.5, total = 1.5
    Chicago Cubs Team card: +0.5, total = 2.0

    Zach Duke (Pirates): +0.5, total = 2.5
    CC Sabathia (Yankees) Mini Champions card: +0.5, total = 3.0
    60YOT Mike Piazza (Dodgers): +0.5, total = 3.5

    Ryan Howard (Phillies) ToppsTown: +0.5, total = 4.0
    Melvin Mora (Rockies): +0.5, total = 4.5

    Jon Niese (Mets): +0.5, total = 5.0
    Ian Desmond (Nationals): +0.5, total = 5.5
    Barry Zito (Giants): +0.5, total = 6.0

    Despite a couple of cool cards (Sabathia, Piazza), this pack eeks out an average score of 6.0.  I am certainly seeing a pattern here.  Luckily, that pattern has managed to avoid traps for the most part!  Now, if it would just pony up on some Tribers.  That would be nice.  (For the record, I am recording these "live" as it were, so I have no idea what's in the remaining packs, should I suddenly be blessed with Indians cards galore.  I just want it to be known.)



    Okay, pack #6 is a 2011 Topps Heritgae Hobby
    (9 cards per pack, avg score would be 4.5 at 0.5 per card)


    Joe Nathan (Twins): +0.5
    Andrew McCutchen (Pirates): +0.5, total = 1.0
    Chris Perez (Indians - TRIBE!): +2.0, total = 3.0 (Wahoo! Let the disclaimer rule!)

    Brewers Team card: +0.5, total = 3.5
    Boston Red Sox Heritage Chrome 57/62 (Ortiz/Perez): +2.0, total = 5.5 (that is one SWEET-looking card!)
    Andre Ethier (Dodgers): +0.5, total = 6.0
    Jonathon Niese (Mets): +0.5, total = 6.5
    Joel Pineiro (Angels): +0.5, total = 7.0
    Manny Acta (Indians - TRIBE!): +2.0, total = 9.0

    So, I just happen to make my disclaimer just before opening a killer pack.  Well, I can only say that is how the wheels of justice work sometimes.  Now, I am no "name-it/claim-it" kind of person (or else I would have won the lottery and PCH already)!  I am pretty excited about this whole pack, really!  Well, okay, about a third of it, anyway.  Seriously, though, that Heritgae Chrome is a nice, thick card with a cool black border treatment.  I may hang on to that one for my non-Tribe collection.... Nah, have you ever known me to do that?  Well, not often anyway.

    The grand total for pack #6 is 9.0 points!  That's a pretty sweet haul.


    The last pack in the Value Box is a 2011 Topps Series One:
    (12 cards per pack, avg score would be 6.0 at 0.5 per card)

    Carlos Carrasco (Indians - TRIBE!): +2.0 (Are you kidding me!? Awesome!)
    Neftali Feliz (Rangers): +0.5, total = 2.5
    Travis Hafner (Indians - TRIBE!): +2.0, total = 4.5 (Now, I am just laughing out loud. Really. I am!)

    Pedro Alvarez (Pirates): +0.5, total = 5.0
    Darren Ford (Giants): +0.5, total = 5.5
    Ichiro (Mariners): +0.5, total = 6.0
    Daniel Descalso (Cardinals): +0.5, total = 6.5
    T60 Ryan Braun (Brewers): +0.5, total = 7.0
    History of Topps (Shorin Family): -0.5, total = 6.5


    Buster Posey (Giants) ToppsTown: +0.5, total = 7.0
    Arthur Rhodes (Reds - TRAP!): -1.0, total = 6.0 (AUGH! Got me!)
    Jay Bruce (Reds - TRAP!): -1.0, total = 5.0 (AUGH! Got me again!) (Well, I'm not laughing anymore)


    I was on quite a roll there!  Then, once I was built up, I needed to be knocked back down again, I suppose.  Two Tribers and two traps in the same pack.  Well, as the old song goes, "You take the good.  You take the bad. You take them both, and there you have... a Topps pack break."  Okay, well, I derailed the train there at the end - in the song and in the pack.  Thanks to the traps and the non-team card, the total for the last pack is a below par 5.0 (and this is not golf, so below par = bad).

    My overall opinion of the $14.99 box of cards?  Pretty favorable, actually.  Yes, getting more than a handful of Indians helps there, but the packs had a nice variety of players and inserts.  Not a bad deal.  Especially since the boss paid for it!