Topps Archives Week: Opening the Final (?) Blaster

As of the time I am writing this post, this is the final blaster of 2012 Topps Archives that I purchased.  Through the first four blasters, I've landed an auto and a relic - plus a three of the 1:32 packs cards.  Good stuff thus far - will it continue for this blaster?

2012 Topps Archives:
Blaster #5:


Pack 1:
20.  Robinson Cano
66.  Andrew McCutchen
67.  Justin Verlander
117.  George Brett
118.  Desmond Jennings
169.  Michael Morse
177.  Shane Victorino
Archives reprint:  Yogi Berra

I had no idea Yogi Berra's first name was Lawrence.

Pack 2:
18.  Tom Seaver
25.  Dan Haren
75.  Reggie Jackson
102.  Dee Gordon
127.  Evan Longoria
152.  Johnny Cueto
181.  Matt Cain
1967 Stickers:  67S-PS.  Pablo Sandoval

I don't know what to think of the '67 Stickers.  In a way they are cool because they are different...and yet, the floating head thing is still sort of creepy.  I don't think I'd want to actually stick these things on anything that I'd have to look at very often.

Pack 3:
2.  Nick Swisher
15.  Madison Bumgarner
52.  Geovany Soto
73.  Shaun Marcum
132.  Ben Zobrist
162.  Jayson Werth
234.  Shawon Dunston
Gold foilboard parallel:  David Freese

My second foilboard parallel - and it's another Cardinal.  Ugh!  The Freese is for trade to be sure.  Ignoring the Freese card, all the other cards in the pack were needed for my set - including the Dunston short print!

Pack 4:
11.  Curtis Granderson
45.  Carlos Ruiz
58.  Tommy Hanson
96.  Phil Rizzuto
111.  John Axford
146.  Jarrod Parker
193.  Lonnie Chisenhall
1969 Deckle Edge:  69DE-9.  Juan Marichal

There are 15 cards in the Deckle Edge insert set (each card is seeded 1:8 packs or 1 per blaster).  I now have 5 of the 15...almost enough for me to consider trying for the full set!

Pack 5:
39.  Jackie Robinson
70.  Joey Votto
89.  Lou Gehrig
123.  Ryan Vogelson
142.  Ozzie Smith
173.  Daniel Hudson
189.  Babe Ruth
Archive reprint:  Johnny Bench

Woah!  A Jackie Robinson card, a Votto, a Gehrig, an Ozzie, a Ruth, AND a Johnny Bench insert all in the same pack?  No complaints from me!  Even better than getting all those great players in one pack is needing all those cards for the set - which I did.  Good stuff to be sure.

Pack 6:
6.  Paul Goldschmidt
10.  Ryan Braun
55.  Jesus Montero
106.  Alex Gordon
137.  Jason Heyward
157.  Carlos Gonzalez
179.  Michael Bourn
1977 Cloth Stickers:  77C-RC.  Rod Carew

I didn't pursue the cloth sticker insert set from the 2011 Topps Lineage set.  I might try for the cloth sticker set this time around!

Pack 7:
30.  Jacoby Ellsbury
35.  Zack Greinke
64.  Derek Holland
85.  Matt Holliday
115.  Gio Gonzalez
166.  CC Sabathia
194.  Gary Carter
240.  Sid Bream

Another short print that I needed - that gives me ten total short prints (out of 40) which puts me at a decent 25% completion.  If you have any for trade - let me know!

Pack 8:
42.  Aroldis Chapman
80.  Troy Tulowitzki
125.  David Freese
168.  Carlos Santana
Topps 3D:  CC Sabathia
Relic:  56R-FT.  Frank Thomas

Woo!  Another relic - this time a really nice one of Mr. Frank Thomas.  That means that in three of the five blasters I've found a hit - 2 relics and 1 auto.  It's not quite as good as the 2011 Gyspy Queen blasters, but it's close.  Good work Topps!