2007 Topps Updates and Highlights baseball

When I purchased the 2007 Updates and Highlights blaster there was some method to my madness. Among my collecting goals is the 'Pursuit of Jacoby Ellsbury'. I understand that there is a very rare Jacoby Card (#100b) available in this particular set. Due to its short print nature, hinted at being 1 in 20 cases, the card goes for big money on E-bay. So when this blaster became available I leapt at the possibility of collecting a unique Jacoby Ellsbury card. Now the odds are stacked against me: the entire time I have collected Jacoby cards I have managed to pull 4 from packs, the rest coming from trades, e-bay and sheer generosity. I have about 40 cards, so that is 1:10 I have pulled myself. Hmmm. Although the hope is there, the odds are not good.
For the record:
There are 330 cards in the base set.
There are inserts: Generation Now, Mickey Mantle Home Run History and The Mickey Mantle Story. There are also 25 more cards for the A-Rod Road to 500, Barry Bonds Home Run History also a special Barry Bonds Home Run King,World Series Watch cards.
There are parallels for all the base cards in Gold (numbered to 2007), Copper (#'d to 56), First Edition (one per box) and Platinum (1-of-1).
The relic cards include: All-Star Stitches, 2007 Highlights Autographs and Generation Now Autographs.

The packs:

Pack 1:
#128 Brad Thomson Cardinals
#140 Ryan Spilborghs Rockies
#161 Brandon Wood Angels

#167 Zach McClellan Rockies

#260 Matt Holliday Rockies

#266 Justin Morneau Twins

Pack 2:

#39 Wilfredo Ledezma Braves

#181 Nathan Haynes Angels

#187 Kevin Melillo A's

#253 Derrek Lee Cubs

#267 Brain Roberts Orioles

#297 J.P.Howell Bay Rays

Checklist 2/3

Pack 3:

#58 David Weathers Reds

#101 Jayson Werth Phillies

#174 Curtis Thigpen Blue Jays

#200 Brad Salmon Reds

#264 Victor Martinez Indians

#GN459 Kenji Johjima Mariners

Pack 4:

#132 Scot Shields Angels

#138 Sean Marshall Cubs

#244 Brad Penny Dodgers

#251 Chris Young Padres

#257 J.J.Hardy Brewers

#318 Scott Proctor Dodgers

Pack 5:

#5 Steve Trachsel Orioles

#35 Hiram Bocachica Padres

#225 Chase Utley Phillies

#233 J.J.Putz Mariners

#238 Francisco Cordero Brewers

#742 Barry Bonds Home Run History

Pack 6:

#2 Shannon Stewart A's

#8 Trot Nixon Indians

#78 Tony Pena Royals
#155 Carlos Gomez Mets

#226 Jose Rayes Mets

#GN407 Prince Fielder Brewers

Pack 7:

#1 Tony Aramas Jr Pirates

#10 Mark Loretta Astros

#61 Shawn Chacon Pirates

#97 Shawn Hill Nationals

#232 Jonathan Papelbon Red Sox

#291 Magglio Ordonez Tigers

Pack 8:

#50 Jason Smith D-backs

#92 Brendan Harris Bay Rays

#218 Derek Jeter Yankees

#240 Cole Hamels Phillies

#259 Freddy Sanchez Pirates gold 0555/2007

Checklist 3/3

Pack 9:

#75 Marcus Thames Tigers

#217 Placido Polanco Tigers

#304 D'Angelo Jimenez Nationals

#316 Brandon Watson Nationals

#GN460 Kenji Johjima Mariners

#ARHR389 Alex Rodriguez

Pack 10:

#23 Tadahito Iguchi Phillies

#48 Chad Durbin Tigers

#221 Magglio Ordonez Tigers

#290 Ryan Howard Phillies

#323 Jorge Cantu Reds

#MHR449 Mickey Mantle Yankees

So there was no Jacoby card in this blaster box and only one other Red Sox card. I did pick up many of the insert cards and a 'Gold' card so overall not bad for the price.

2009 Topps Baseball Series 1 Walmart Black blaster

You have to love the summer holidays. No school, long days, relaxing and people going on trips abroad to places like Spain, Greece, Italy, the Caribbean and the USA. The teacher that I work closely with at school, Vicki, had a friend who went on holidays to the US, Florida to be exact. I keep my ear pretty close to the ground and the mere mention of the US, I am asking if the person could purchase baseball related items for me. I didn't hear a whisper about this, so was pleasantly surprised to receive a 2009 Topps Blaster from Vicki. Are they OK? she asked. Bloody fantastic was my reply. To add to my delight, it appears that these are the Walmart 'Black' variation.
The 2009 Topps set has a 330 base set.
The parallels: are gold(#'d to 2009), black?(#'d to 58) and framed sile (#'d to 50)
The inserts include: Turkey Reds, Legends of the Game, Ticket to ToppsTown and Sketchcards (1 of 1)
The auto/relics include: Career Best, In the Name, Mickey Mantle Reprint Relics and Ring of Honor autos.

The packs:

Pack 1:

#LPR-24 Roberto Clemente Historical Commemorative Patch

Pack 2:

#173 Manny Delcarmen Red Sox

#222 Mark Sweeney Dodgers

#225 Aaron Cook Rockies

#269 Chris Burke D-backs

#283 John Baker Marlins

#320 Miguel Cabrera Tigers

#TTT23 Josh Hamilton Rangers
#LG8 George Sisler

Pack 3:

#9 Dallas McPherson Marlins
#18 George Sherril Orioles

#54 Dusty Baker Reds

#208 James McDonald Dodgers

#264 Dave Bush Brewers

#323 Vicente Padilla Rangers

#330 Daisuke Matsuzaka Red Sox

#TTT4 Brandon Webb D-backs

Pack 4:

#88 Fredi Gonzalez Marlins

#138 Ubaldo Jimenez Rockies

#177 Eric Hinske Bay Rays
#195 Tim Lincecum Giants

#267 Michael Bowden Red Sox

#312 Ryan Sweeney A's

#314 Matt Treanor Marlins

#TTT7 Hanley Ramirez Marlins

Pack 5:

#5 John Lackey Angels

#133 Brandon Jones Braves

#137 Angel Salome Brewers gold 1942/2009

#160 Evan Longoria Bay Rays
#168 Mark DeRosa Cubs

#231 Xavier Nady Yankees

#251 Greg Smith A's

#TTT2 Roy Halladay Blue Jays

Pack 6:

#36 Kevin Slowey Twins

#135 Carlos Delgardo Mets

#187 Jon Garland Angels

#197 Ronnie Belliard Nationals

#271 Cliff Lee Indians

#315 Hiroki Kuroda Dodgers

#TTT14 CC Sabathia Brewers

#TR27 Aubrey Huit Orioles

Pack 7:

#31 Ian Stewart Rockies

#84 Rod Barajas Blue Jays

#112 Hideki Okajima Red Sox

#126 Orlando Hudson D-backs

#131 Joe Torre Dodgers

#202 Gaby Sanchez Marlins

#209 Alfredo Amezaga Marlins

#TTT5 Evan Longoria Bay Rays

Pack 8:

#7 Mickey Mantle Yankees

#59 Eric Gagne Brewers

#91 Cody Ross Marlins

#134 Evan Longoria Bay Rays

#301 Clint Barmes Rockies

#305 Ivan Rodriguez Yankees

#324 Mark Reynolds D-backs

#TTT8 Alex Gordon Royals

Pack 9:

#45 Aubrey Huff Orioles

#83 Ryan Garko Indians

#96 Dexter Fowler Rockies

#104 Brandon Moss Pirates

#115 Kevin Youkilis Red Sox

#275 Alex Rios Blue Jays

#289 Josh Banks Padres

#TTT6 Johan Santana Mets

Pack 10:

#28 Mike Lowell Red Sox

#82 Miguel Cairo Mariners

#185 Randy Johnson D-backs

#240 Ryan Braun Brewers

#248 Scott Lewis Indians

#269 Hunter Pence Astros

#TTT1 Alex Rodriguez Yankees

#TR42 Geovany Soto Cubs

Pack 11:

#39 Stephen Drew D-backs

#41 Mike Mussina Yankees

#100 David Wright Mets

#148 Ty Wigginton Astros

#200 Chase Utley Phillies

#217 Albert Pujols Cardinals

#TTT3 Grady Sizemore Indians

#LG2 Honus Wagner

The black variation of these cards is pretty cool. The scanner doesn't do them any justice whatsoever. I was able to locate 6 Red Sox from these packs, which is a fair percentage. It would have been nice to pull a Red Sox historic patch though.