Would anyone like some Red Sox cards?

Half-term holiday this week, which means that Sunday isn't as hectic as it usually is. In our house Sunday ends up being a homework day for the children, my wife and me. Planning for the week ahead.
Today has been very different, the girls spent most of the day playing with a large box. It was a house, a cave, momentarily a trap, but it spent most of the day full of cushions and blankets. The boys played Paper Mario on the Wii, read for a while, annoyed their sisters and went back to Mario. My wife Tina read and was occasionally called upon to move a large cardboard box somewhere else. I was able to do some card sorting.

I have accumulated a heafty pile of cards but not had the time to sort through them for trade. The bulk of the cards are Red Sox. Adam from Thought and Sox sent a large selection of Red Sox my way recently, so there are some from his wants list on the way. A few from Shoebox Legends wants list, but there is still loads of 2009, 2008, 2007 Red Sox cards (a few earlier too) looking for a home.

Anyone else collect Red Sox?

2009 Bowman baseball

The final pack from Mark, then it is onto the book he included ' The Teammates' by David Halberstam.
There are only one card I need to complete the Red Sox set, which is;

188 Kevin Youkilis

The Pack:

#47 Mike Jacobs Royals

#58 James Shields Bay Rays

#143 Lance Berkman Astros

#159 Shane Victorion Phillies

#190 Kosuke Fukudome Cubs

#BP59 Parker Frazier Rockies

#BP59 Parker Frazier Rockies gold border

#BP89 Bryan Petersen Marlins

#BCP9 Kevin De La Cruz Indians

#BCP116 Javier Rodriguez Mets auto

So there you have it. No Red Sox but an auto from an autograph collector. I wonder how often the gold border and base card are included in the same pack!

2007 Fleer baseball

How fickle we can be as collectors. I really loved the 2006 Fleer design but wasn't moved by the 2007 design. The photography is excellent all the examples I have seen are close-up action shots, the inserts are nice and shiny, 2 rookies per pack. What's not to like? See fickle.
This pack comes form the generous Alley family in North Carolina.

There are still 12 cards I need to complete the Red Sox team set;
#166 Julio Lugo
#277 Josh Beckett
#279 Kevin Youkilis
#280 Jason Varitek
#281 Manny Ramirez
#282 Curt Schilling
#283 Jon Lester
#284 Jonathan Papelbon
#286 Mike Lowell a
#374 David Ortiz CL
#404 Daisuke Matsuzaka RC
#405 Hideki Okajima RC

The Pack:

#8 Jose Vidro Mariners

#29 Gary Matthews Angels

#130 Lastings Milledge Mets

#186 Joey Gathright Royals

#286 Mike Lowell Red Sox

#269 Aramis Ramirez Cubs

#333 Jerry Owens White Sox

#369 Joaquin Arias Rangers

#IZ-VG Vladimir Guerrero Angels

#RS-CH Cole Hamels Phillies

Nice one, a Red Sox and needed. Still think this is an above average set just not to my liking.

2009 O-Pee-Chee baseball

Another two packs of the controversial OPC cards by Upper Deck. There are still quite a few that I need to complete the Red Sox base set and this doesn't include the black border variation.

Still needed are:

#7 J.D. Drew
#34 Takashi Saito
#150 Dustin Pedroia
#180 Josh Beckett
#192 Hideki Okajima
#236 Brad Penny
#239 Mike Lowell
#370 David Ortiz
#392 Tim Wakefield
#406 Jason Varitek
#456 John Smoltz
#502 Boston Red Sox CL
#550 Jonathan Papelbon
#553 Kevin Youkilis

Pack 1:

#87 Andy Pettitte Yankees

#93 Aubrey Huff Orioles black border

#299 Jon Rauch D-backs

#264 Mike Adams Padres

#529 Angels checklist

#548 Padres moments

Pack 2:

#41 Xavier Nady Yankees

#44 Gabe Gross Bay Rays

#195 Geovany Soto Cubs

#285 Josh Johnson Marlins

#571 Scott Elbert Dodgers black border

#1138 20th Century Denver Broncos

What no Red Sox? Not a great deal to say about this set, it was fairly mediocre. It has a vintage type of feel and the photography is pretty good. But I'm not sure I would go for the complete set. I read the Padres moments card with interest, the Padres wore a camouflage kit in a game vs the Tigers in June 2008 to honour US troops. I wonder if these kits were available to purchase on the day?

2009 Allen+Ginter baseball

Three packs of 2009 Allen+Ginter from Mark. This is a really nice set to collect, great quality card and impressive pictures. No surprise it was voted product of the year in Stale Gum's 'Gummies' .
There are only 3 cards that I still need to complete the Red Sox base set. That doesn't include minis or crack the code variations.

#185 Dustin Pedroia
#279 Jon Lester a
#285 George Kottaras (RC)

Let's see what we can get from the three packs:

Pack1:

#64 Jordan Zimmermann Nationals

#114 Hideki Matsui Yankees

#126 Trevor Crowe Indians

#171 Brett Anderson Athletics

#319 Gary Sheffield Mets

#AGHS23 Brad Lidge Phillies

#NP15 Jorge Posada Yankees

#48 Brigham Young 'Colonizer' mini

Pack 2:

#36 Joba Chamberlain Yankees

#94 Paul Maholm Pirates

#121 Ryan Church Mets

#142 Lashawn Merritt

#239 Chris Carpenter Cardinals

#248 Colby Rasmus Cardinals

#NP14 Francisco Rodriguez Mets

#293 Ian Snell Pirates mini A+G back

Pack 3:

#45 Derrek Lee Cubs

#251 Carl Crawford Bay Rays

#279 Jon Lester Red Sox

#298 Dan Harden D-backs

#321 Kelly Shoppach Indians

#AGHS1 Aaron Boone Yankees

#NP72 Edgar Gonzalez Padres

#332 Curtis Granderson Tigers mini

Thats the way to do it. A single Red Sox but one that is needed.

2010 Topps Series 1

Unbelievable to be sent some 2010 packs of cards so early in the year. These came from the Alley family who contacted me a while ago about some Topps Attax cards for their son, an Everton fan. I purchased a few Everton items (scarf, tie pin) to include with a football sticker book and cards. In return they sent a huge package of Red Sox cards and unopened packs, not once but twice. Wow, what a family!

Pack 1:

#9 Tim Lincecum Giants

#22 Anthony Swarzak Twins

#46 Chad Tracy D-backs

#93 Joe Nathan Twins

#84 Nate Robertson Tigers

#175 Josh Hamilton Rangers

#184 Jeff Francoeur Mets

#190 Pablo Sandoval Giants

#207 Colby Rasmus Cardinals

#CMT-19 Steve Carlton Cardinals

#TOG-24 Josh Hamilton Rangers

#TTT1 Joe Mauer Twins

Pack 2:

#29 Aubrey Huff Tigers

#134 Philadelphia Phillies
#138 League leaders

#187 Will Venable Padres

#291 Austin Kearns Nationals

#303 Chris Snyder D-backs

#CMT-27 Nolan Ryan Angels

#TOG-4 1952 cards dumped in river!

#TTT18 Vladimir Guerrero Angels

#PPR-GSO Geovany Soto Cubs

Pack 3:

#34 Michael Dunn Yankees

#89 J.A.Harp Phillies

#108 Erick Aybar Angels

#163 Josh Butler Brewers

#168 Brad Kilby Athletics

#170 Jason Bay Red Sox

#283 Adam Kennedy Athletics

#288 Boston Red Sox

#290 Orlando Hudson Dodgers

#LL7 George Sisler/Ichiro Suzuki
#TR26 Dexter Fowler Rockies

#TTT14 Albert Pujols Cardinals

Pack 4:
#51 Eric Young Jr. Rockies
#60 David Wright Mets
#135 Ryan Dempster Cubs
#159 Vernon Wells Blue Jays
#165 Brandon Phillips Reds
#177 Adam Lind Blue Jays
#218 Fernando Martinez Mets
#233 League leaders
#245 Lance Berkman Astros
#PP-29 Roy Campanella Dodgers
#TTT25 Manny Ramirez Dodgers
#8 of 45 Mariano Rivera Yankees Topps 1951 Red back mini

Pack 5:

#26 Zach Duke Pirates

#49 Jorge De La Rosa Rockies

#87 Darin Erstad Astros

#146 Yunel Escobar Angels

#188 Joe Blanton Phillies

#192 Andruw Jones Rangers

#244 Barry Zito Giants gold border 0544/2010

#284 Ross Ohlendorf Pirates

#305 Juan Francisco Reds

#CMT-6 Frank Robinson Reds

#FCTTT20 Adam Jones Orioles

#TMC-9 card giveaway

As far as Red Sox go, this was poor showing. As a card collector there is a great variety of inserts, base and a nice memorabilia card. I like the 'cards your mom threw out' insert, although a variation on a theme used before. I'm not sure about the wave on the edge of each of the base cards though. Is this some sort of looking down a tunnel or looking through a lens effect?

As always any are up from grabs/trade.

2009 Topps Updates and Highlights Jumbo pack

Yes I know there are people posting 2010 Topps but I am in a little behind when it comes to 'fresh' product. Thankfully the word is well and truly out that I collect baseball cards - I have been trying hard enough to get it out there. The downside is the giggles and comments of a grown man collecting cards, etc. The upside is that friends of friends who visit the US bring back cards! This fine looking jumbo came from a parent at school, whose sister went to the US for a short break over Christmas. Thought you might like these she said as they were handed over.

I haven't received any of the Red Sox UH cards as of yet, so the good news is any Red Sox will be a welcome addition.

The Jumbo:

#UH2 Felipe Lopez Brewers

#UH51 Jesus Guzman Giants

#UH55 Ben Zorbist Bay Rays

#UH60 Brandon Inge Tigers

#UH86 Carlos Pena Bay Rays

#UH87 Jake Peavy White Sox

#UH88 Classic Combos Leyland/LaRussa

#UH98 Hanley Ramirez Marlins

#UH94 Jarrod Washburn Tigers

#UH101 Nick Green Red Sox

#UH105 Luis Valbuena Indians

#UH107 Anthony Swarzak Twins (x2)

#UH122 Classic Combos Youkilis et al.

#UH124 Delwyn Young Pirates (x2)

#UH128 Chone Figgins Angels

#UH132 Joe Thurston Cardinals

#UH140 Jack Wilson Mariners

#UH144 Ronny Cedeno Pirates

#UH148 Micah Hoffpaur Cubs (x2)

#UH147 Jayson Nix White Sox (x2)

#UH171 Trevor Hoffman Brewers

#UH179 Carl Crawford Bay Rays

#UH181 Zach Duke Pirates

#UH191 Ben Zorbist Bay Rays gold 1579/2009

#UH197 Dan Harden D-backs

#UH224 Takashi Saito Red Sox

#UH262 Jeff Niemann Bay Rays

#UH284 Mark Melancon Yankees

#UH309 Scott Podsednik White Sox

#LGU20 Frank Robinson Reds

#PP8 David Wright Mets

#TTT73 Matt Cain Giants

There is 2 Red Sox cards which isn't a great ratio, technically 3 but one of the cards is a classic combo with Youkilis but mainly pictures Derek Jeter.

This was a Bay Rays pack crossing the line with 5 cards including a gold border numbered card. Unfortunately 4 of the cards were duplicated. This may be common in jumbo packs and I have been lucky, as I haven't experienced this sort of duplication before.