Upcoming Allen and Ginter Charity Break!

Hey, everyone! I will be hosting an Allen and Ginter charity break in conjunction with CrackinWax's charity break! There is a poll on the right side of the Tribecards main page asking if you would participate in a CASE break or a BOX break. Let me know your thoughts!

Pricing will be determined after the checklist is available and will be modeled after the pricing schedule that CrackinWax uses.

Gint-A-Cuffs V: Break out the gloves, it's on!

Thanks to Mark, Gint-A-Cuffs is on again this year. It's been several years since I've participated, but through a special deal, 12 lucky folks get a special discount on Hobby Boxes provided by Dave and Adam's Card World. If there are slots still available, you can ask for one at gintacuffs.blogspot.com.  Of course, even if the discount is over, you can still participate if you like. Get the details at the gintacuffs site.

The last time I played, I scored roughly 156 points. That was in 2010, Gint-A-Cuffs II. Last year, the winner had 207 points. We'll see how things go, I guess.

I would like to do a special group break for this Hobby Box, but I'll have to figure out just how to set that up. The potential for some great cards is there, but so is the chance of getting very little on a buy-in for one box. Well, no, not really. Covering a whole box, just about any buy-in would be worth it. There are many variables, though: rip cards, box toppers, non-baseball, double-autos, etc.  That's going to take some thought and planning.

In any case, once the 2013 A&G ships around August 7, I'll have the box soon afterward!

So, you wanna win a box of Ginter?

There's a contest going on over HERE, and all ya gotta do is come up with FIVE cards you'd like to see in the 2011 Allen & Ginter set.  Here are my picks:

Joe Walsh – Musician – Auto – Because he still rocks

Tomb of Unknown Soldier – Honor the fallen

Steve Jobs iPhone antenna relic – Since they don’t work anyway.

Ben Henry auto – The Godfather of card blogging

Betty White hair sample – Hey, if Facebook can get her on SNL, why cant we get her on A&G?

Pop over there and give it your best shot.  After all, it could net you a box of A&G!

Gint-A-Cuffs II: The (almost) Final Point Tally

I had a lot of fun opening my box of 2010 Allen & Ginter for Gint-A-Cuffs II!  In retrospect, I should have combined it with a group box break so other folks could have benefited from the break.  Ah, well, maybe next time.

I owe some of you cards from recent trades, so hopefully there are some cards in here that will help me return the favor!  I've read that Nick Jacoby wants his cards sent to him in exchange for other goodies (evidently, he is trying to amass the largest collection of himself - pretty cool goal in my book!).

And if all of this weren't enough, I received my INDIANS FAN PACK today!  I'll save *that* for another post (I haven't even opened it yet).

Without further ado, the list of Gint-A-Cuffs scoring cards:

N43 Boxloader BJ Upton (Rays) 5 points
Carlos Zambrano (Cubs) -1 point (penalty)
Derek Jeter Mini Celestial Stars (Yankees) +5, +CS? -1 Yankee
**No official scoring for Celestial Stars at time of this post
Justin Morneau Day in History (Twins) 1 point
Roy Oswalt (Astros) 2 points (short print)
Alex Gordon (Royals) Mini A&G Ad 2 points
Yovani Gallardo TDiH (Brewers) 1 points
Nick Jacoby (2009 code champ) 1 point
Gordon Beckham (White Sox) Mini Black Border 3 points
Brandon Phillips (Reds) TDiH 1 points
SUBTOTAL: 17*

Area 51 (Secret Base) 1 point (bonus)
Milton Bradley (Mariners) -1 point (penalty)
Dan Uggla (Marlins) Mini Black Border 3 points
Ichiro (Mariners) TDiH 1 points
Francisco Liriano (Twins) 2 points (short print)
Alpaca (Peru) Mini 2 points (National Animal)
Ryan Braun (Brewers) TDiH 2 points (fp), 1 point TDiH
Johannes Gutenberg (Movable Type) 1 point (bonus)
Stag (Ireland) Mini 2 points (National Animal)
Dan Haren (Diamondbacks) TDiH 1 points
SUBTOTAL: 15

David Wright (Mets) 2 points (other fp)
Trevor Cahill (A's) 2 points (short print)
Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) TDiH -1 (Yankee) +1 (TDiH) points
Marcus Aurelius (Wordsmiths) Mini 4 points (wordsmiths) ?points MINI?
Mark Teixeira (Yankees) TDiH -1 (yankee) +1 (THiD) points
Ken Griffey Jr (Mariners) 2 points (other fp)
Joe Mauer (Twins) 2 points (other fp)
Placido Polanco (Phillies) 2 points (short print)
Chase Headley (Padres) Mini Black 3 points
Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) TDiH 1 point
SUBTOTAL: 18

Carcharodontosaurus (Monsters of Mesozoic) Mini 3 points
Jimmy Rollins (Phillies) TDiH 1 point
Robert Scott (Negro Leagues) 2 points
Matt LaPorta (Indians) 1 point (my fp)
Carlos Zambrano (Cubs) RIP CARD 75/99 -1 (penalty) +20 RIP card
RIPPED Adam Dunn Mini (Nationals) 2 points (short print) 2 points (other fp)
**No official scoring for mini inside RIP card at time of this post
Andre Ethier (Dodgers) TDiH 1 point
Ponce De Leon (Sailors of the Seven Seas) 4 points
Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) TDiH 2 points (other fp) 1 point (TDiH)
Persephone (Lords of Olympus) 3 points
SUBTOTAL: 41*

Aaron Hill (Blue Jays) TDiH 1 point
Evan Longoria (Rays) 2 points (other fp)
Daniel Murphy (Mets) AG Sketch Card 3 points
Dionysus (Lords of Olympus) 3 points
Robinson Cano (Yankees) TDiH -1 Yankees +1 TDiH
Ankylosaurus (Monsters of Mesozoic) 3 points
Justin Upton (Diamondbacks) TDiH 1 point (TDiH)
Carl Crawford (Rays) 2 points (other fp)
Ryan Theriot (Cubs) 2 points (short print)
BJ Upton (Rays) TDiH 1 point
SUBTOTAL: 18

Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox) 2 points (other fp)
Nick Swisher (Yankees) -1 point
Kelly Johnson (Diamondbacks) 2 points (short print)
Stephen Drew (Diamondbacks) TDiH 1 point
Andy Pettitte (Yankees) -1 point
Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox) 2 points (other fp)
Ichiro (Mariners) Sketch Card 3 points
Madison Bumgarner (Giants) Mini AG ad 2 points
Carlos Gonzales (Rockies) TDiH 1 point
Jason Heyward (Braves) 2 points (other fp)
SUBTOTAL: 13

Joba Chamberlain (Yankees) -1 point
Ryan Doumit (Pirates) 2 points (short print)
Chris Young (Padres) AG ad 2 points
Jay Bruce (Reds) TDiH 1 point
Mariano Rivera (Yankees) -1 point
AJ Pierzynski (White Sox) -1 point (penalty)
Koi (Japan) National Animal 2 points
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) TDiH 1 point
Robinson Cano (Yankees) -1 point
Ricky Nolasco (Marlins) 2 points (short print)
SUBTOTAL: 6

Jason Heyward (Braves) TDiH 1 point (TDiH) 2 points (other fp)
Ron Teasley (Negro Leagues) 2 points
Michael Brantley (Indians) 1 point (fav team)
Brett Gerdner (Yankees) -1 point +2 points (short print)
Denard Span (Twins) Mini AG ad 2 points
Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals) TDiH 1 point
Andre Ethier (Dodgers) JERSEY RELIC 8 points
Drew Stubbs (Reds) Mini AG Ad 2 points
Gordon Beckham (White Sox) TDiH 1 point
Todd Helton (Rockies) JERSEY RELIC 8 points
Curtis Granderson (Yankees) TDiH -1 Yankees +1 TDiH
SUBTOTAL: 28

BOX TOTAL: 156*

*Score will be adjusted by the powers that be, but this will give other participants something to shoot for.

Gint-A-Cuffs II, Packs 17-24

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and girls of all ages! Welcome to the last of he packs from the 2010 Allen and Ginter stacks!  These cards will amaze you, astound you, and make you want to slap your grandma!  Well, maybe not astound you...

PACK 17
Francisco Rodriguez (Mets) 0 points
Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox) 2 points (other fp)
--I enjoy getting other people's cards. It makes me feel all fuzzy. Wait, that's the webcam.

Chad Billingsley (Dodgers) 0 points
Jorge Cantu (Marilns) 0 points

Nick Swisher (Yankees) -1 point
--And here come the Yankees to pull down my score...
Kelly Johnson (Diamondbacks) 2 points (short print)

Carlos Gomez (Brewers) Mini 0 points
Stephen Drew (Diamondbacks) TDiH 1 point
--Drew had the highest-priced card on eTopps at one point. I suspect that has changed a bit recently.

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PACK 18
Matt Carson (A's) 0 points
Randy Wolf (Brewers) 0 points

Andy Pettitte (Yankees) -1 point
--AW, C'Mon, man! Is this "A Yankee in every pack day!?"
Josh Hamilton (Rangers) 0 points

Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox) 2 points (other fp)
--Your favorite = my points!

Ichiro (Mariners) Sketch Card 3 points
--Hey, if I gotta get another Ichiro, at least it's a sketch card.
Madison Bumgarner (Giants) Mini AG ad 2 points
--With his name, I think his parents had dreams of law school. Of course, then he wouldn't have ended up a mini AG with an AG ad on the back.

Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies) TDiH 1 point

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PACK 19
Ben Zobrist (Rays) 0 points
Jules Verne (Author) 0 points

Jason Heyward (Braves) 2 points (other fp)
--We had a great time in Atlanta watching him play! 
Jason Kubel (Twins) 0 points

Joba Chamberlain (Yankees) -1 point
--Ya gotta be kiddin' me!?

Ryan Doumit (Pirates) 2 points (short print)
Chris Young (Padres) AG ad 2 points

Jay Bruce (Reds) TDiH 1 point
--I'm sending this one to Sandra Bullock...

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PACK 20
Ian Desmond (Nationals) 0 points
Jason Bay (Mets) 0 points
Yadier Molina (Cardinals) 0 points

Mariano Rivera (Yankees) -1 point
--A heavy sigh followed by a look of utter discontent and disbelief. ANOTHER Yankee.  If the Yanks were my favorite team, I'd have racked up.

AJ Pierzynski (White Sox) -1 point (penalty)
--(music) "And then it was 'Oh, no, what have I pulled?' And I can't even spell HIS laaaaaaasst name..."(music)

Huston Street (Rockies) 0 points
Koi (Japan) National Animal 2 points
--Something fishy going on here...

Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) TDiH 1 point

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PACK 21
Regis Philbin (TV Host) 0 points
Manny Ramirez (Dodgers) 0 points

Robinson Cano (Yankees) -1 point
--This is an outrage!! I demand a new box!

BJ Upton (Rays) 0 points
Scott Baker (Twins) 0 points

Ricky Nolasco (Marlins) 2 points (short print)
Felix Hernandez (Mariners) 0 points

Jason Heyward (Braves) TDiH 1 point (TDiH) 2 points (other fp)

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PACK 22

Ron Teasley (Negro Leagues) 2 points
--It's nice too what a tribute the Negro Leagues have seen recently. In Atlanta, Negro League apparel was EVERYWHERE!

Wandy Rodriguez (Astros) 0 points
Craig Gentry (Rangers) 0 points

Michael Brantley (Indians) 1 point (fav team)
--Hey! Hey! Pulled a Triber here folks!
Felix Hernandez (Mariners) 0 points

Brett Gardner (Yankees) -1 point +2 points (short print)
--This is getting old. Really, really, old.  At least this has no bearing on Tribe-or-no-Tribe...
Denard Span (Twins) Mini AG ad 2 points

Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals) TDiH 1 point

Crack the Code ad card

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PACK 23

Lucy (bones) 0 points
--Hold the phone! This is not the LUCY we all know and love over at Dinged Corners! I think she should get this card.  Then again, that might a little freaky. 
Wade Davis (Rays) 0 points
Martin Prado (Braves) 0 points
Andre Ethier (Dodgers) 0 points

Andre Ethier (Dodgers) JERSEY RELIC 8 points
--Nice Jersey relic card! Is it coincidence that I pull a base version immediately before pulling the jersey of the same player? Hmmm...

Drew Stubbs (Reds) Mini AG Ad 2 points

Gordon Beckham (White Sox) TDiH 1 point

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PACK 24
Preston Pittman (Turkey-calling champ) 0 points
Kanekoa Texeira (Mariners) 0 points
David Price (Rays) 0 points
Aaron Hill (Blue Jays) 0 points

Todd Helton (Rockies) JERSEY RELIC 8 points
--A 2nd Jersey Relic card in the box.  Not a bad day at all, if it weren't for those meddling Yankees cards...

Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies) 0 points

Curtis Granderson (Yankees) TDiH -1 Yankees +1 TDiH

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And there you have it folks!  Those are the last of the packs from my 2010 AG Gint-a-cuffs break.  I'll post the point breakdown cards next time with the unofficial final tally.  We'll see how I did.  Of course, I don't have any other scores to compare it to, but I have seen some "hot" box breaks online and this would pale by comparison.  No matter what happens, it was a lot of fun to break this open!

Gint-A-Cuffs II, Packs 09-16

Here are the results from opening packs 09 through 16 in my hobby box for the Gint-A-Cuffs contest:

PACK 09
Geovany Soto (Cubs) 0 points

Ken Griffey Jr (Mariners) 2 points (other fp)
--Pulled a Junior!

Joe Mauer (Twins) 2 points (other fp)
--Other people's Picks are netting me some needed points!

Mark DeRosa (Giants) 0 points
Nelson Cruz (Rangers) 0 points

Placido Polanco (Phillies) 2 points (short print)

Chase Headley (Padres) Mini Black 3 points
--This one turned a weird blue color when I took a picture. Hmmm....

Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) TDiH 1 point

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PACK 10
Brandon Allen (Diamondbacks) 0 points
Anthony Gatto (Juggling Champ) 0 points
Billy Butler (Royals) 0 points
Daniel McCutchen (Pirates) 0 points
David DeJesus (Royals) 0 points
Jim Thome (Twins) 0 points

Carcharodontosaurus (Monsters of Mesozoic) Mini 3 points
--I have to say, these dino cards are fantastic!

Jimmy Rollins (Phillies) TDiH 1 point

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PACK 11

Robert Scott (Negro Leagues) 2 points
--The Negro League cards a very nicely done.

Matt LaPorta (Indians) 1 point (my ft)
--Alright! Score a Triber for me!

Ichiro (Mariners) 0 points
Albert Pujols (Cardinals) 0 points

Carlos Zambrano (Cubs) RIP CARD 75/99 -1 (penalty) +20 RIP card
--The RIP cards a very cool!  Nice stock, serial number, and a little tab of temptation!

RIPPED Adam Dunn Mini (Nationals) 2 points (short print) 2 points (other fp)
--Oh, heck yeah I ripped it. What did I get? Rip short print card. Bummer. I wanted an original AG.

Prince Fielder (Brewers) Mini 0 points
Andre Ethier (Dodgers) TDiH 1 point

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PACK 12
Brandon Webb (Diamondbacks) 0 points
Tom Knapp (Target Champ) 0 points
Bobby Jenks (White Sox) 0 points
Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) 0 points
Matt Cain (Giants) 0 points
Victor Martinez (Red Sox) 0 points

Ponce De Leon (Sailors of the Seven Seas) 4 points
--These SoSS cards look great! Nice colors, fun artwork. Nice!

Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) TDiH 2 points (other fp) 1 point (TDiH)

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PACK 13
Travis Snider (Blue Jays) 0 points
Gary Stewart (Pogo Stick Champ) 0 points
Chris Tillman (Orioles) 0 points
Carlos Beltran (Mets) 0 points
Jose Reyes (Mets) 0 points
Edwin Jackson (Diamondbacks) 0 points

Persephone (Lords of Olympus) 3 points
--I have to say, the mini inserts have a varied and unique look to them.  Cool!

Aaron Hill (Blue Jays) TDiH 1 point

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PACK 14
Tyler Bradt (Waterfall Kayaking Champ) 0 points
Cameron Maybin (Marlins) 0 points

Evan Longoria (Rays) 2 points (other fp)
Tyson Ross (A's) 0 points
Ricky Romero (Blue Jays) 0 points

Daniel Murphy (Mets) AG Sketch Card 3 points
--Oh, man! Gotta love the sketch cards!  Neat stuff here, Topps!

Dionysus (Lords of Olympus) 3 points
--Another LoO card! Party time!

Robinson Cano (Yankees) TDiH -1 Yankees +1 TDiH

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PACK 15
Kosuke Fukudome (Cubs) 0 points
Machiavelli (Philosopher/Writer) 0 points
Paul Konerko (White Sox) 0 points
Daniel Murphy (Mets) 0 points
Todd Helton (Rockies) 0 points
Hunter Pence (Astros) 0 points

Ankylosaurus (Monsters of Mesozoic) 3 points
-- Have I mentioned how neat these dino cards are!?

Justin Upton (Diamondbacks) TDiH 1 point (TDiH)

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PACK 16
Ervin Santana (Angels) 0 points
Wawra (Fire Eating Champ) 0 points

Carl Crawford (Rays) 2 points (other fp)
--I know someone that might like to have this one.
Daniel Runzler (Giants) 0 points
Tommy Hanson (Braves) 0 points

Ryan Theriot (Cubs) 2 points (short print)
Yovani Gallardo (Brewers) Mini 0 points

BJ Upton (Rays) TDiH 1 point

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 A lot of neat pulls in the group. Of course, the Zambrano was *the* pull here.  Do I wish I had left it unRIPped?  Nah.  But I do want to know the odds of pulling certain special rip-only players.  Are the actual rip minis have lower odds than the rip cards that house them? You would think they'd have to have lower odds of popping up.

I will post a single post with all scored finds with a final tally.  That post will appear after my next one: Packs 17-24...