2010 Topps National Chicle

Way back in May 2010, Cardboard Junkie showed some of the portraits from this set, sorted by artist. I was determined to my hands on some. It has taken a while but finally here is a blaster of an interesting set. This is definitely a love them/hate them sort of set. There is an excellent preview of this set at Sports Card Radio.
There are 330 cards in the base set consisting of : 205 baseball vets (#1-205), 50 retired players (#206-255), 20 rookies (#256- 275), 25 retired stars SP (#276-300), 10 vintage veterans SP(#301- 310), and 20 rookie renditions SP(#311- 330).

There are a number of parallel back variations consisting of Bazooka, National Chicle and Umbrella backs. There are Artist proofs and simulated cowhide variations as well.

There are 19 Red Sox available:
4 Daisuke Matsuzaka
22 Tim Wakefield
27 Jacoby Ellsbury
46 Kevin Youkilis
50 David Ortiz
53 Marco Scutaro
76 Victor Martinez
82 Josh Beckett
112 Dustin Pedroia
128 Michael Bowden
147 Jon Lester
162 Jonathan Papelbon
165 Jed Lowrie
171 Mike Cameron
192 J.D. Drew
218 Carlton Fisk
221 Dennis Eckersley
223 Carl Yastrzemski
308 Dustin Pedroia

There are 6 cards per pack and 8 packs in the blaster.

Pack 1:

#14 Mariano Rivera Yankees

#17 Ken Griffey Jr. Mariners

#40 Johnny Damon Tigers

#62 Chad Billingsley Dodgers

#69 Jose Reyes Mets

#267 Tobi Stoner Mets

Pack 2:

#20 David DeJesus Royals Topps back 12/25

#145 Kurt Suzuki Athletics

#192 J.D.Drew Boston Red Sox

#222 Lou Brock Cardinals

#244 Eddie Mathews Braves

#274 Ian Desmond Nationals

Pack 3:

#11 CC Sabathia Yankees Bazooka back

#127 Kyle Blanks Padres

#144 Jhoulys Chacin Rockies

#167 Ryan Ludwick Cardinals

#174 Marlon Byrd Cubs

#240 CY Young Cleveland Spiders

Pack 4:

#42 Robinson Cano Yankees

#50 David Ortiz Boston Red Sox

#162 Jonathan Papelbon Boston Red Sox

#179 Carlos Quentin White Sox

#202 Ian Stewart Rockies

#224 Al Kaline Tigers

Pack 5:

#15 Brad Hawpe Rockies

#52 Nick Swisher Yankees

#59 Wandy Rodriguez Astros

#82 Josh Beckett Boston Red Sox

#134 Felix Pie Orioles

#154 Derek Lowe Braves Chicle back

Pack 6:

#67 Mark Buehrle White Sox

#197 Dan Harden D-backs

#209 Juan Marichal Giants

#259 Henry Rodriguez Athletics

#265 Neil Walker Pirates

#325 Tommy Manzella Astros

Pack 7:

#53 Marco Scutaro Boston Red Sox

#72 Jorge Posada Yankees

#117 Jason Marquis Nationals

#130 Elvis Andrus Rangers

#249 Nolan Ryan Mets

#323 Tobi Stoner Mets

Pack 8:

#44 Jason Bay Mets

#75 Kendry Morales Angels

#102 Adam Wainwright Cardinals

#124 Carlos Zambrano Cubs

#156 Luke Scott Orioles Chicle back

#157 Jimmy Rollins Phillies

5 Red Sox is pretty good going, a numbered umbrella parallel, 2 short prints and a few back variations. No autographs or relics, pity the relics look very nice.

2010 Allen and Ginter Blaster

A blaster is not the best way to try and complete a 350 cards set, however it will further the cause a little.
Just to remind- I am attempting to collect the base set of 2010 Allen +Ginter. I have 292 cards left to go, laugh if you like, but I will conquer it eventually.
8 packs containing 6 cards- 5 if a relic is enclosed.

Pack 1:

#69 Clay Buchholz Boston Red Sox

#131 Tyler Flowers White Sox

#267 Martin Prado Braves

#350 Alcides Escobar Brewers

#TDH28 Jose Reyes Mets

#51 Matt Holiday Cardinals mini A+G back

Pack 2:

#50 Jason Bay Mets

#122 Yadier Molina Cardinals

#164 Kyle Blanks Padres

#272 David Blaine Celebrity Weirdo

#TDH38 Jim Thome Twins

#MM1 Tyrannosaurus mini

Pack 3:

#3 Ryan Braun Brewers

#178 Josh Hamilton Rangers

#230 Brian Roberts Orioles

#308 Adrian Beltre Boston Red Sox

#TDH135 Josh Johnson Marlins

#125 Hideki Matsui Angels mini A+G back

Pack 4:

#94 Luke Hochevar Royals

#113 Billy Butler Royals

#185 X-Rays

#198 A.J.Pierzynski White Sox

#TDH60 Roy Halladay Phillies

#NA39 New Zealand Sheep (snigger, snigger)

Pack 5:

#37 Daniel McCutchen Pirates

#65 Andre Ethier Dodgers

#135 Ken Blackburn paper aeroplane record holder

#322 Gary Matthews Mets

#TDH73 Ian Kinsler Rangers

#43 Yovani Gallardo Brewers mini

Pack 6:

#1 Adam Lind Blue Jays

#30 Rafael Furcal Dodgers

#173 Jimmy Rollins Phillies

#AGH57 Carl Crawford Bay Rays

#TDH6 Brian Roberts Orioles

#LO15 Demeter mini Pack 7:
#118 Eric Young Jr Rockies
#144 Stuart Scott Sportscaster
#281 Kurt Suzuki Athletics
#319 Austin Jackson Tigers
#TDH14 Justin Verlander Tigers
#125 Hideki Matsui Angels mini black border
Checklist 1/4
Pack 8:
#8 Miguel Tejada Orioles
#296 Barry Zito Giants
#TDH22 Grady Sizemore Indians
#330 Jonathan Papelbon Boston Red Sox mini
#AGR-ML Mat Latos Padres Relic
Three Red Sox-nice one! A monster card- nice one! A relic card -nice one. A New Zealand sheep, a paper aeroplane champion and a guy who suspends himself in a box above the Thames. Nice one Topps.

1996 Pinnacle Series 2- hobby

This is a moment of caveat emptor- "Let the buyer Beware". An e-bay lesson harshly learnt. Packs being a rare commodity in the UK, any packs of baseball cards and I will throw in a bid. Seeing the listing for two 1996 Pinnacle packs my brain inserted the words unopened and so a bid followed. I didn't check the description or the postage. No other bids and I became suspicious, they were in fact opened packs, the seller kindly listed all the cards and the postage was £3.00. They could take a holiday in the Maldives and return tanned and relaxed for that price. Lesson learnt.
All was not lost, I still need a few Red Sox from this set:
#28 Mike Greenwall
#78 Mo Vaughn
#141 Mo Vaughn
#247 Roger Clemens
#290 Dwayne Hosey
#303 Mike Greenwell
#330 Tom Gordon
#366 Mike Stanley

Pack 1:

#211 Craig Biggio Astros

#244 Derek Bell Astros

#262 Albert Belle Indians

#228 Jim Abbott Angels

#275 Alex Rodriguez Mariners

#296 Ismael Valdes Dodgers

#311 Erik Hanson Blue Jays

#315 John Smoltz Braves

#344 Andy Benes Cardinals

#383 Wilton Guerrero Dodgers

Pack2:
#201 Frank Thomas White Sox
#211 Craig Biggio Astros (what are the chances?)
#244 Derek Bell Astros (mental note -read descriptions)
#262 Albert Belle Indians (carefully!)
#308 Hal Morris Reds
#335 Paul Molitor Twins
#347 Julio Franco Indians
#378 Jason Kendall Pirates
#382 Osvaldo Fernandez Giants
#399 Chase checklist

So no Red Sox and three doubles in two packs. A quick check could have saved me the embarrasment.

2010 Topps Series 1 and 2

A couple of solitary packs of Topps Series 1 and 2. These came from a parent at school and I didn't even have to ask for them, they remembered I collected baseball cards. That is a result.
There are no Red Sox cards I need from the Series 1.

The pack:

#28 Jonathan Sanchez Giants

#43 Marco Scutaro Blue Jays

#126 John Smoltz Cardinals

#213 Ricky Nolasco Marlins

#221 Russell Branyan Mariners

#225 David Price Bay Rays

#250 Mark Teixeira Yankees

#305 Juan Francisco Reds

#236 Andrew Bailey Athletics

#HOTG1 Baseball Invented

#TTT20 Adam Jones Orioles

#WTWY-SO Scott Olsen Nationals

And a pack of Series 2. I have yet to open any of these packs and yet to collect any of the Red Sox.
The base Red Sox from Series 2 are:
#369 David Ortiz
#380 J.D. Drew
#473 Jason Varitek
#480 Boston Red Sox - Franchise History
#483 Daisuke Matsuzaka
#499 Michael Bowden
#534 Hideki Okajima
#569 Jacoby Ellsbury
#572 Clay Buchholz
#595 Mike Lowell
#627 Jeremy Hermida
#633 Daniel Bard
#650 Dustin Pedroia
#656 Jon Lester

The Pack:
#343 Brain Bruney Nationals
#474 Kyle Kendrick Phillies
#480 Boston Red Sox
#486 Raul Ibanez Phillies
#541 Jason Motte Cardinals
#549 Derek Jeter Yankees
#575 Ryan Perry Tigers
#580 Ian Snell Mariners
#617 Luis Valbuena Indians
#621 Aaron Cook Rockies gold 0122/2010
#T4 David Price Bay Rays
Topps Attax Chase Utley Phillies

So a solo Red Sox from the series 2 which is fortunate and the 2020 3D cards are right up collecting alley. There were definitely three inserts per pack. Previous 2010 packs have had only 2 inserts, which a reader commented was unusual.