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Delivery Time! Top 10 Cards from the Great State of Alaska (Plus a Contest!)

This is it!  The final package that has been sitting by my desk waiting for me to scan, sort, and write up a post!  I got way behind when doing the group break but I'm now officially caught up.  That's a good thing because I also decided to host a contest (see full details here including the sign ups).

The final package from the previous few months is courtesy of David up in Alaska.  David and I have completed a bunch of trades lately - some involve baseball cards, other LEGOs, and oftentimes - both!  However, this particular package is brick free - so instead you get to gawk at a bunch of gorgeous cards that are now mine, mine, mine!

Since the package that David sent my way was so chock full of goodies, I've decided it'd be fun to do another Top 10 list.  This package is certainly worthy of ten scans!

#10:
1991 Topps All-Star:
15.  Chris Sabo

I didn't realize that Topps produced one of these All-Star insert sets in 1991.  In fact, David found a couple of different sets that I didn't know existed - more on that in a bit later in the countdown.  Chris Sabo was one of my favorite players when I was a kid so this card is an instant treasure for that reason alone!

#9:
2013 Allen & Ginter's:
Curious Cases:
CC-H.  HAARP

First, let me once again state that I HATE the fact that Topps stopped using numbers for their insert sets and instead moved to letters.  I HATE, HATE, HATE that.  Did I mention that I HATE that yet?  Luckily, despite my aforementioned HATE of the card number, the card itself is pretty darn cool.  I had never heard of HAARP but the back of the card says it's used by the government to control the minds of the citizens (allegedly of course).  I think our government has enough problems controlling their own minds (not to mention other body organs) to bother with trying to control ours, but that might just be me.

#8:
1976 ??:
Joe Morgan

I'm not sure what set this is from - it reminds me of the 'ol Calico (I think that was name) game where you used circular disks and a spinner.  This isn't a form of that though because there are no statistics along the edge - and it's about 20 years before the game I remember.  This particular card made the list despite being a bit dinged up - that's simply the testament to the Reds' team of the mid-70s.  Glory days that I missed due to not being born yet.  Darn parents.

#7:
2012 Topps:
Gold Rush?
265.  Aroldis Chapman

I might not have realized that Topps produced an All-Star set in 1991 but that can be forgiven since I was nine years old at the time.  What's less forgivable is that I have no idea what this set is...and it came out last year.  David sent me four different Reds from this set - it's obviously some sort of parallel (notice the Gold Rush stamp) but otherwise the cards appear identical to the regular base cards.  I have no idea where you find these cards...or how they came to be - but now I own four of the Reds!

#6:
2013 Allen & Ginter's:
Civilizations of Ages Past:
CAP-IN.  Inca

Hey, whaddya know - more stupid lettering for the card number.  Can you even call it a card number when it's made up entirely of letters?  I'm a sucker for historical cards so the Civilizations of Ages Past set is right up my alley.  In fact, despite this year's A&G base set being in the bottom half of base sets (for me anyhow), I felt most of the insert sets were a solid step or two above and beyond what Topps had been producing lately.

#5:
2013 Allen & Ginter's:
The First Americans:
TFA-ZN.  Zuni

More dumb lettering for card numbers but you knew that.  This is another historical set of sorts, though not nearly as ancient as Ages Past set.  The photograph on this card looks like it was taken recently - a stark contrast to most of The First Americans' images.

#4:
2013 Topps Archives:
Dual Fan Favorites:
DFF-DP.  Eric Davis & Brandon Phillips

What'dya know...a different set but the same dumb lettering for the card number.  Why Topps?  Why?!  This particular card is one of two different Dual Fan Favorites cards in the 2013 Topps Archives set that features Reds.  The other one (which I still need) is of Rob Dibble and Aroldis Chapman.

#3:
1997 Pinnacle Mint Collection:
27 of 30.  Barry Larkin

I have a feeling this is some sort of insert or parallel - but I haven't had any time to research it yet.  No matter, I'm fairly certain this one is totally new to my Barry Larkin Collection...and that alone is good for #3 in the Top 10!  What could possible be better than a Barry Larkin card that I didn't already own?  Well...

#2:  
2013 Topps Museum:
Autograph:
AA-TF.  Todd Frazier

Todd Frazier didn't have the best season ever but he's still a fun player to watch play.  In fact, during the Reds/Pirates one game playoff game, Frazier was about the only Red who looked like he cared or could even be bothered to try.  For that reason alone I'm glad that Frazier's a Red.  I'm also glad that this card is in my possession because it's a great looking autograph (and numbered 014/399 no less).

#1:
2013 Topps Gypsy Queen:
Relic:
GQR-JBE.  Johnny Bench

Yep, the #1 slot goes to a relic.  I know for many of you that's now considered sacrilegious, but that's how I roll.  I never pull cool relics like the Bench for myself - in fact, my box of 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen was one of the worst boxes I've ever opened in all of my life!  Luckily, other people are better at picking out boxes to open - and sometimes people like David send me the nice stuff as part of a trade!

Thanks for the great bunch of cards David!  And, as always, should anyone else want to trade - check out my want list and make an offer!

Comments

  1. Whats on the back of the Morgan disc? Or is it blank?
    I did a quick search and there is a set that looks like that (with the stars at the top) from 1976 from an Isaly's/Sweet William Restaurants (I don't know where those were located). Those have an advertisement for the set and restaurants on the back.

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  2. Yeah, the back of the disc was blank (so it must not be the restaurant promo). The mystery continues!

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  3. I believe the Gold Rush cards were distributed to hobby shops for some sort of promotion. I don't know the exact details, but I'm pretty sure they weren't in any sort of packs and the whole set may not be paralleled with that stamp. First time I saw them, I thought they were fakes someone made, but nope.
    --Jon

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