2011 Topps Opening Day

Topps Opening Day card sets are like Marmite. you either like it or hate it.(For those unfamiliar with Marmite, it is a thick, black, runny yeast based product that you spread on toast, have in sandwiches or use a dip). There doesn't appear to be any middle ground., possibly because there is little or no chance of pulling a 'hit' from the packs. My interested is based on the inclusion of a Jacoby Ellsbury card.
There are 220 base cards, blue border parallel of the base cards and a number of interesting inserts. I have a blaster, containing 11 packs, that was given to me by the head of my school- purchased from Target.


Pack 1:
#1 Carlos Gonzalez Rockies
#81 Jay Bruce Reds
#104 Victor Martinez Tigers
#174 Buster Posey Giants
#187 Brandon Phillips Reds
#205 Carlos Quentin White Sox
#PFP Barack Obama

Pack 2:
#43 Jered Weaver Angels
#87 Zack Greinke Brewers
#120 Roy Halladay Phillies
#140 Derek Jeter Yankees
#153 Kendry Morales Angels
#190 Elvis Andrus Rangers
#TTOD9 Jered Weaver Angels

Pack 3:
#3 Jon Lester Red Sox
#84 Brian Matusz Orioles
#92 Nick Markakis Orioles
#137 Joel Pineiro Angels
#169 Felix Hernandez Mariners
#211 Ricky Nolasco Marlins
#PFP4 Ronald Reagan


Pack 4:
#56 Brain Bogusevic Astros
#114 Ervin Santana Angels
#129 Ike Davis Mets
#129 Ike Davis Mets blue border 1686/2011
#157 Adam Lind Blue jays
#162 Gordon Beckham White Sox
1/10 Mark Teixeira Spot the Error

Pack 5:
#11 Jaime Garcia Cardinals
#90 Chase Utley Phillies
#192 Dustin Pedroia Red Sox
#197 Kelly Johnson D-backs
#217 Andy Pettitte Yankees
#TTOD4 Jose Batista Blue Jays
#UL1 Joe Mauer Twins

Pack 6:
#21 Martin Prado Braves
#41 Aubrey Huff Giants
#98 Angel Pagan Mets
#165 Carlos Zambrano Cubs
#171 Yovani Gallardo Brewers
#182 Troy Tulowitzki Rockies
#SC22 Cliff Lee Rangers

Pack 7:
#54 Ian Stewart Rockies
#70 Freddie Freeman Braves
#126 Brian Duensing Twins
#154 Dan Harden Angels
#216 Jose Reyes Mets
#M18 Pirate Parrot !!!!
#ODS3 Alex Rodriguez Yankees
Pack 8:
#27 Andrew McCutchen Pirates
#45 Desmond Jennings Bay Rays
#103 Jose Bautista Blue Jays
#119 Alexei Ramirez White Sox
#163 Chad Billingsley Dodgers
#204 Carlos Beltran Mets
#SC6 Evan Longoria Bay Rays

Pack 9:
#46 Yadier Molina Cardinals
#91 Andres Torres Giants
#119 Alexei Ramirez White Sox blue border 1416/2011
#143 Jeremy Guthrie Orioles
#148 Kevin Youkilis Red Sox
#220 Alfonso Soriano Cubs
7/10 David Wright Spot the Error
Pack 10:
#13 Carl Crawford Red Sox
#35 Vladimir Guerrero Rangers
#92 Nick Markakis Orioles
#180 Colby Rasmus Cardinals
#188 Justin Verlander Tigers
#198 Adrian Gonzalez Red Sox
#SC14 David Wright Mets
Pack 11:
#64 Miguel Tejada Giants
#67 Johnny Cueto Reds
#78 Garrett Jones Pirates
#141 Brent Morel White Sox
#149 Tommy Hansen Braves
#183 Jacoby Ellsbury Red Sox
#M9 Paws
A late showing from the Red Sox. Two Red Sox newcomers in the second to last pack and a Jacoby Ellsbury, only the second time I have pulled him from a pack.
Overall 6 Red Sox, so not too bad.
For the record- I hate Marmite. Much prefer Vegemite, the Australian equivalent.

2008 Upper Deck Timeline

The head of my school has visited the USA again. I wasn't specific this time around about cards that I would like, although I did say anything with Allen+Ginter written on it would be fine. She was unable to find any A+G, but made some super choices. Purchased from a Dollar-Tree in a Florida Mall (would I love to spend a few hours looking around one of these places!) were 8 packs of 2008 Upper Deck Timelines. There was an interesting insert in the Timeline series, which were printed in the style of the 1994 UD All-Time Heroes. I made a half-hearted attempt to collect this black and white set, after picking up a large number on e-bay. It is a nice looking set, so I may go back to it.
There are a large number of Red Sox available in this set, plenty of rookies (6 Clay Buchholz's)and frustratingly, many short prints. They are:
#15 Jason Bay
#30 David Ortiz
#32 Daisuke Matsuzaka
#53 Clay Buchholz (RC)
#66 Jed Lowrie (RC)
#67 Justin Masterson RC
#72 Jonathan Van Every RC
#120 Jonathan Van Every 92 ML RC
#136 David Ortiz 94 ATH
#144 Josh Beckett 94 ATH
#168 Daisuke Matsuzaka 94 ATH
#176 Clay Buchholz 94 ATH
#186 Chris Smith 95 STP (RC)
#222 Jacoby Ellsbury 04 TT
#223 David Ortiz 04 TT
#225 Daisuke Matsuzaka 04 TT
#226 Clay Buchholz 04 TT (RC)
#227 Jed Lowrie 04 TT (RC)
#228 Justin Masterson 04 TT RC
#288 Jason Bay 04 TT
#315 Clay Buchholz 93 SP (RC)
#335 Jed Lowrie 93 SP (RC)
#340 Clay Buchholz 94 SP (RC)
#346 Justin Masterson 94 SP (RC)
#365 Clay Buchholz 95 SP (RC)
#385 Jonathan Van Every 95 SP (RC)

Pack 1:
#26 Randy Johnson D-backs
#30 David Ortiz Red Sox
#35 Roy Halladay Blue Jays
#44 Frank Thomas Atletics
#105 Clay Timpner Giants
#244 Carlos Gomez Twins
Pack 2:
#10 Chase Utley Phillies
#28 Derek Jeter Yankees
#32 Daisuke Matsuzaka Red Sox
#46 Torii Hunter Angels
#115 Fred Lewis Giants
#283 Greg Smith Athletics
Pack 3:
#18 Ryan Braun Brewers
#45 Vladimir Guerrero Angels
#50 Erik Bedard Mariners
#122 Matt Joyce Tigers
#196 Joakim Soria Royals
#297 Erik Bedard Mariners

Pack 4:
#14 Derrik Lee Cubs
#15 Jason Bay Red Sox
#19 Prince Fielder Brewers
#33 B.J.Upton Bay Rays
#69 Mican Hoffpauir Cubs
#241 Travis Hafner Indians
Pack 5:
#1 Jose Reyes Mets
#17 Ken Griffey JR. White Sox
#37 Grady Sizemore Indians
#79 Josh Banks Padres
#135 Ryan Braun Brewers
#204 Rich Hill Cubs

Pack 6:
#12 Jimmy Rollins Phillies
#31 Manny Ramirez Dodgers
#48 Ichiro Mariners
#127 Rico Washington Cardinals
#170 Ryan Howard Phillies
#194 Jeff Keppinger Reds

Pack 7:
#8 Chipper Jones Braves
#11 Ryan Howard Phillies
#38 Travis Hafner Indians
#88 Burke Badenhop Marlins
#153 Hanley Ramirez Marlins
#6168 Andy Pettitte Yankee Stadium Legacy

Pack 8:
#3 Carlos Beltran Mets
#21 Tim Lincecum Giants
#29 Chien-Ming Wang Yankees
#39 C.C.Sabathia Brewers
#70 Jeff Niemann Bay Rays
#144 Josh Beckett Red Sox

Not bad for $8, plenty of Red Sox and 1994 All-time heroes reprints.
I would seriously love a 'Dollar-Tree' just down the road.

2011 Topps Series 1

These packs came from the Alley family in North Carolina and I should have posted these weeks ago, but then I found that there were some Red Sox variations in the series 1 set and wanted to find out a little more.
Besides the 'Diamond Sparkle' parallel cards, there are two cards showing Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford in the Red Sox uniform.
The #25 Carl Crawford comes in three variations:

#25A Carl Crawford in a Bay Rays uniform,
#25B Carl Crawford in a Red Sox uniform,
#25C Carl Yastrzemski (in a Red Sox uniform).

The Adrian Gonzalez card is #350, which makes it unique as the series 1 set is #to 330.
So what do these five packs bring forth...
Pack 1:
#93 Paul Konerko White Sox
#176 Daniel Hudson D-backs
#178 Heath Bell Padres
#207 Angel Pagan Mets
#250 Carlos Gonzalez Rockies
#254 Lars Anderson Red Sox RC
#268 Jake McGee Bay Rays
#290 Ike Davis Mets
#327 Cristian Guzman Rangers
#HOT2 1951 trading cards
#RDT11 Roy Halladay Phillies
#TT29 Carlos Gonzalez Rockies

Pack 2:
#26 Neftali Feliz Rangers
#54 Brian Fuentes Twins
#80 Desmond Jennings Bay Rays
#197 Aaron Hill Blue Jays
#238 Pedron Ciriaco Pirates
#242 Brad Lidge Phillies
#260 Freddy Sanchez Giants
#305 James Loney Dodgers platinum diamond
#326 Ozzie Martinez Marlins
#60YOT52 Cliff Lee Indians
#TDG6 Roy Halliday Phillies
#TT16 Nick Markakis Orioles

Pack 3:
#37 Vicente Padilla Dodgers
#96 Zach Duke Pirates
#97 Carlos Gomez Brewers
#117 Brett Sinkbeil Marlins
#196 Jose Ceda Marlins
#215 Edwin Encarnacion Blue Jays
#228 Scott Rolen Reds
#264 Ryan Perry Tigers
#321 Jeremy Guthrie Orioles
#DDBW Berkman/Wallce
#KG22 Victor Martinez Red Sox
#TT46 Joey Votto Reds

Pack 4:
#3 Jon Lester Red Sox
#29 Josh Hamilton Rangers
#69 Brett Gardner Yankees
#84 Roger Bernadina Nationals
##182 Jeremy Bonderman Tigers
#210 Brian Wilson Giants
#214 Chase Utley Phillies
#239 Jhoulys Chacin Rockies
#298 Jeff Keppinger Astros
#60YOT56 Troy Tulowitzki Rockies
#T60-49 Josh Hamilton Rangers
#TT49 CC Sabathia Yankees

Pack 5:
#38 Ryan Dempster Cubs
#49 Angels
#166 Josh Johnson Marlins platinum diamond
#198 Buster Posey Giants
#224 Milton Bradley Mariners
#233 Ramon Hernandez Reds
#244 Mike Aviles Royals
#278 Marco Scutaro Red Sox
#311 James Shields Bay Rays
#60YOT7 Pee Wee Reese Dodgers original back
#RDT4 Josh Hamilton Rangers
#TT42 Kevin Youkilis Red Sox

So no diamond sparkles or short print Red Sox, but a good selection from 5 packs.The Platinum diamond cards are a little extreme but I really like the Kimball Champions set, I really am a sucker for the vintage look.