2014 Topps Allen & Ginter Box #3: Box Topper and the First Six Packs!

It's been a bit over a week and I've managed to open up two of my four boxes.  I think I'll speed the process up even more for the third box by opening up six packs at a time and simply listing any cards of note.

Box topper:

A Mark McGwire card...as a freaking Cardinal.  I'm guessing this is one of the least wanted cards (by me anyhow) in the entire set.

Packs 1 - 6:

The first six packs didn't prove to be the most exciting ever - sort of like the box topper.  It's not a good sign for the box, that's for sure.

The so-called highlights of the first quarter of the box did include a black bordered short print mini (Jason Grilli) and two A&G back minis.

I also landed two Pastime's Pastimes (both Orioles) and three Air Supremacy cards.

Finally, I landed a new Natural Wonder card for my collection.

I've got 75% of the box remaining (including all three promised hits).  Hopefully the next post will be much more interesting!

Finishing off Box #2 of 2014 Topps Allen & Ginter's

It's hard to believe the end of the second hobby box of 2014 Topps Allen & Ginter's is here already.  Even more disappointing to me, the end of the summer is rapidly approaching for me - I go back to work in about three weeks!

Let's not waste our Monday morning dwelling on negative thoughts though - let's rip packs and have fun instead.  I'm still looking for one more hit out of this box - maybe it's going to be a rip card?  *fingers crossed*

Pack 21:

Another Shilin Stone Forest Natural Wonder card made an appearance but I pulled that one already in the last box.  The Jarrod Parker A&G back mini is nice enough I guess to "save" the pack.  It's a bit interesting that through (almost) two full boxes I have yet find a hand-numbered or serially numbered card!

Pack 22:

I love the Frank Robinson (regular back) mini card a lot!  However, that wasn't the only treat in Pack 22...there was also my third hit:

Yeah, it's not a rip card...but it a card of one of the game's best young players.  Unfortunately, Posey hit the grand slam against the Reds that knocked Cincinnati out of the playoffs a couple of years ago and I've never quite forgiven him.

Pack 23:

A Billy Williams regular backed mini card was the best option here...not worth scanning in my opinion.

Pack 24:

The final pack of the box produced a Festivals and Fairs insert (of Carnivale which I got last box) and a mini Little Lions insert of the Cornish Rex cat (which I previously pulled in a retail pack).  It could have been a great pack to end on but unfortunately duplicates are lame (especially when I'm still missing the vast majority of both sets)!

I was also really hoping to pull a rip card this year after getting shut out the previous TWO years in my cases.  Why I should think that I'd get a rip this year with only four boxes when I didn't get one either of the previous two years when I bought full, unopened cases is beyond me...but hey, a guy can hope right?

2014 Topps Allen & Ginter's Hobby Box #2: Painting Peasants and Black Bordered Red Sox.

Only eight packs remain in my second (of four) 2014 Topps Allen & Ginter's hobby box.  I've found two of the three promised hits...still holding out hope that the third is a rip card!

Pack 17:

A Kolten Wong mini (Cardinals, yuck) and a Luray Caverns Natural Wonder card (that I've already pulled in a previous box) made for a boring pack that wasn't worthy of a scan.

Pack 18:

That's more like it!  Another mini insert - this one being Pieter Bruegel - an artist who often featured peasants from the 16th century in his works.  Ok, so that's not the most exciting description but hey, it's a mini I needed so I'm happy!

Pack 19:

Another copy of the Fields of (so-called) Yore card of Wrigley Field.  I've already made my feelings on that designation clear in a previous post.  The only other card of note was the Ivan Nova regular mini short print.  I almost didn't even scan it since it was a Yankee...but given the poor selection out of the packs in this post so far I felt compelled to add another image!

Pack 20:

A black bordered Clay Buchholz was alright I guess (and probably on its way to Mark).

For me, the highlight was the Cal Ripken Jr. Pastime's Pastimes card.  I like me some Cal Ripken - and since it's a card I still needed for my set it was doubly good!

All things considered, those weren't the strongest four packs.  I haven't exactly broken the bank so to speak with my boxes...but there's still time to turn things around.  After all, last year I pulled a Pele autograph so maybe I can have lightening hit twice!

2014 Allen & Ginter Box #2: A 1:174 Pack Hit!!

Yesterday, I managed to knock out the first half of my second 2014 Topps Allen & Ginter's hobby box.  Today, let's start cranking through the second half, shall we?

Pack 13:

Pack 13 produced my first Air Supremacy card of the box - this one being the F-86 Sabre.    I enjoy learning a bit about each plane in the set but ultimately I prefer boats!

Pack 14:

The 14th pack of the box produced a nice Al Kaline Pastime's Pastime card (I'm impressed that I still like this insert set seeing as how you get a card from it in every other pack on average).  The set is a lot nicer than the similar Hometown Heroes of past years.

The other card of note in the pack was this Tony Gwynn A&G back mini.

Pack 15:

The second hit of the box ended up being a framed relic of Adrian Beltre.  The framed relics are actually really tough pulls this year (1:174 for Version A and 1:175 packs for Version B).  Unfortunately, I don't think the secondary market treats them as rare - but I'll probably find out for certain when I list this card on eBay (assuming no one wants to trade for it since there are so few Rangers fans out there)!

Pack 16:

Pack 16 had another Air Supremacy card (F-16 Fighting Falcon) in it which is appreciated.

That said, my real favorite card of the pack was this base short print of the Polar Vortex.  I hated last winter (thanks to the aforementioned Polar Vortex) but it's still a kickin' card to own.  Good stuff by Topps, I only wish there were more truly oddball things like this in the base set!

Update to my LEGO Blog: A New Blog Name, A New Blog Address (PLEASE UPDATE YOUR BLOG ROLLS ACCORDINGLY)

As I explained on my LEGO-centric blog, I decided to rename my blog (it's now called Playing with Bricks to avoid using the LEGO brand name) - and with it give it a brand new blog address which unfortunately will require everyone to update their blog rolls.  I've been doing a much better job at providing weekly content over there, so if you haven't, now is a good time to check it out!