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1997 Sports Illustrated: Packs 9, 10, and 11

I'm a sucker for sets with compelling photography which is one reason why I asked for this particular box as a gift.  By and large, the photography is excellent (as well it should be seeing how the Sports Illustrated name was slapped on everything)!

Pack 9:
10.  Jose Guillen - Fresh Faces
42.  Andres Galarraga - Inside Baseball
54.  Dmitri Young - Inside Baseball
98.  Reggie Sanders
124.  Cal Ripken Jr.

Mini poster:
Barry Bonds

 With all the old players that Topps puts in their sets nowadays, it is sort of amazing that there aren't more Cal Ripken Jr. cards.  Even though I was never an Orioles fan, I always enjoyed pulling Ripken cards (it must be the position).  He was no Barry Larkin, but he was pretty good.

Pack 10:
12.  Russ Johnson - Fresh Faces
43.  Rusty Greer - Inside Baseball

78.  Fred McGriff
134.  Pat Hentgen
156.  Kevin Appier

Mini poster:
Ryne Sandberg

Another good pack - the Greer photo is typical of the set (and excellent by the way)!  The Appier card is amusing both for the camera angle but also because there appears to be about 432 people in attendance, look at those empty stands!  Finally, the Sandberg poster is an instant classic - I like how the majority of the posters show the ballplayers having fun (and being a bit goofy).  They would look good hanging up in a young boy's room back in '97!

Pack 11:
40.  Darren Daulton - Inside Baseball

128.  Derek Jeter
148.  Frank Thomas
173.  Greg Maddux - SI Covers
Checklist (it's lame a paper checklist counts as a card)
Mini poster:
Alex Rodriguez

Two thoughts on this pack:
First, that Daulton card is awesome!  Poor guy looks like he barely avoided a 98 mph headhunting baseball.
Second, A-rod is a total douche even when he was a Mariner apparently.  Everyone else has a fun poster, A-rod has to get all "staring in the mirror" on us.  Of course, it wouldn't be the last time he pulled that stunt, now would it?

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