1) Yankees-Red Sox Season Opener
2) SI's World Series Predictions
3)My Birthday
3)
4) Spring Break
5) Rec Basketball Season Finale
6) Conan O'Brien Sticks it in Jay Leno's Face
When the Sports Illustrated arrived in the mail today, I was pretty excited. With “For Cards Sake” favorite Roy Halladay glistening on the cover, I knew that SI’s World Series Predictions would be inside. Now, we all know that predicting a World Series winner before the season starts is extremely pointless, but it’s still fun to see what some “experts” come up with. Sporting News had an almost identical playoff bracket as the 2009 playoffs (with the Yanks repeating over the Phils) while ESPN had (of course) the Red Sox winning it all. But after SI’s hilarious prediction of the Mets over the Angels last year, I was extremely anxious to see who they chose as this year’s World Series winner. It wasn’t a too bad of a choice, but it still got a chuckle out of me.
SI predicted the Phillies would win the World Series. Good choice right? Just acquired the best pitcher in baseball, have arguably the best lineup in the game, and made the World Series the previous two years. However, I got a laugh out of whom they picked to represent the American League. Sports Illustrated has the Tampa Bay Rays going all the way to the World Series… as a Wild Card no less! Now, don’t get me wrong, the Rays have a great lineup and a steady bullpen, but I don’t think they have the starting rotation to make it all the way. Shields, Garza, Niemann, and Price are all talented pitchers who haven’t come close to touching their primes, but their ERAs are nothing to write home about. They’re filling out their rotation with a rookie as well. To keep up with the monster rotations of Boston and New York, the young hurlers better make that giant leap or else the Rays won’t be boasting a great record.
So I can cross off SI’s World Series predictions from the Anticipation List, although it wasn’t nearly as hilarious as last year’s. Oh, and Easter Sunday brings Yankees-Red Sox!
6) Conan O'Brien Sticks it in Jay Leno's Face
When the Sports Illustrated arrived in the mail today, I was pretty excited. With “For Cards Sake” favorite Roy Halladay glistening on the cover, I knew that SI’s World Series Predictions would be inside. Now, we all know that predicting a World Series winner before the season starts is extremely pointless, but it’s still fun to see what some “experts” come up with. Sporting News had an almost identical playoff bracket as the 2009 playoffs (with the Yanks repeating over the Phils) while ESPN had (of course) the Red Sox winning it all. But after SI’s hilarious prediction of the Mets over the Angels last year, I was extremely anxious to see who they chose as this year’s World Series winner. It wasn’t a too bad of a choice, but it still got a chuckle out of me.
SI predicted the Phillies would win the World Series. Good choice right? Just acquired the best pitcher in baseball, have arguably the best lineup in the game, and made the World Series the previous two years. However, I got a laugh out of whom they picked to represent the American League. Sports Illustrated has the Tampa Bay Rays going all the way to the World Series… as a Wild Card no less! Now, don’t get me wrong, the Rays have a great lineup and a steady bullpen, but I don’t think they have the starting rotation to make it all the way. Shields, Garza, Niemann, and Price are all talented pitchers who haven’t come close to touching their primes, but their ERAs are nothing to write home about. They’re filling out their rotation with a rookie as well. To keep up with the monster rotations of Boston and New York, the young hurlers better make that giant leap or else the Rays won’t be boasting a great record.
So I can cross off SI’s World Series predictions from the Anticipation List, although it wasn’t nearly as hilarious as last year’s. Oh, and Easter Sunday brings Yankees-Red Sox!
Nice lookin’ card with a stripe right down the middle. I ignore the fact that it’s Giambi.
Whoever came up with destroying a baseball and putting it in a card, you deserve a drink. My eyes still bulge whenever I see this beauty, and the card looks ten times better in person. Bobby Richardson was a solid second baseman for the Yanks, and is famous for winning the 1960 World Series MVP even though they lost the series to the Pirates.
I’m not positive if this is a Yankee or Padre card. Winfield is pictured in a pinstripe uniform, yet it has Padres on the front and their logo on the back. Despite the confusion, I like the look of this card.
The glittery context of the card makes up for its bland design. Doesn’t hurt that Mo is on it, either.
I assume this is Upper Deck’s version of “Heritage” or a reproduction of a base design from some odd years ago featuring modern players. Actually, it’s not a bad lookin’ card.
I know a few collectors have busted some ’95 Pinnacle, and I really want to as well. Old school breaks are the bomb.
What do you get when you cross a beautiful card with a Hall-of-Fame player? A beautiful card with a Hall-of-Fame player. Although I'm a bit ticked that Topps sealed it. Sure it's a nice card, but it's only numbered to 199.
Before Topps started recycling base designs in 2008, Finest had beautiful base cards. This year’s is no exception. The photography is always pretty good, especially for a card with no background support for the player. The scan doesn’t do the cards justice, either.
Right off the bat, I pull a beautiful X-Factor. Unfortunately, it’s of Bartolo Colon. Some things are too good to be true.
What’s weird about “old school” cards is A-Rod in a Rangers or Mariners uniform. It looks a bit… off.
The king himself.
First hit of master box, and the guaranteed hit of the mini-box. I’ve always liked Larry Walker, and I think he has the numbers to get himself a few votes for the Hall of Fame. Do I think he’ll get in? Hell no. But I wish he did.
Whoa, two hits! There aren’t any big rookies on the checklist (the biggest name is Andy Marte, and we know how is career turned out), and I’m not really too disappointed in the autograph. I expected it.
Now this guy I would bet money that he makes the HOF. I don’t care that he played in Coors… he has been extremely consistent and played great defense (voters pee themselves over that) throughout his career. If he doesn’t get more than 50% of the vote on his first ballot, I’ll slap every member of the BBWAA in the mouth.
Don’t you love it when luck is on your side when you break boxes? Not only is this a Yankee (and a Yankee I especially like), it’s a beautifully designed card and the autograph sticks out. I’m not sure what the odds are on pulling a “Finest Moments” autograph, but I’ve kissed this card about four times now. Five. Six.
I should make it a rule to scan a Pierzynski card in every break I post.
To me, the relic seems better with the stripe barely fitting into the space. It represents that you almost missed the stripe, but luck brought it on your card, and not that other guy’s down the street.
It was hard to identify refractors in this set, especially when it was easy to spot them in 2009 Topps Finest because they colored the darn borders.
What every happened to Sweeney? Well, after playing some successful seasons with the Royals, he was released and signed with the A’s in 2008 for the second time in his career. He got injured a mere two months into the season and was ultimately released at the end of the campaign. Sweeney has been playing in the Mariners’ organization since 2009.
Jeter just looks so natural on a baseball card. And I just drooled.
Don’t you remember when Darin Erstad used to get base cards in exclusive sets?
Ugh. The last hit left a sour taste in my mouth. It’s up for trade.
Jose Contreras’s rookie card. Yup. That’s about it, folks.
First card from 2010 Upper Deck… a rookie. Of a Red Sox player. This is not a good start.
“Common sense is wisdom with its sleeves rolled up.”
A much better executed “Documentary” from a few years ago. Still annoying though.
Topps failed to produce “stadium” cards so far, and Upper Deck took advantage. These cards are a refreshing relief to all the unlicensed cards.
I love this card. The photography is beautiful, especially for avoiding any logos. It’s too bad that Fields doesn’t play with Chicago anymore. Upper Deck, you were so close.
Not sure how David Price made the cut on this insert. He didn’t exactly have a stellar year in 2009.
Another nice shot of a promising player. Also, if you notice in the background, you can see some construction workers climbing on the rocks.
Shiny. Just the way I like my cards.
I think this card would have looked better if Andy Pettitte was on it. But he doesn’t fit the Topps “player who needs to be on an insert” criteria.
I like all the inserts in 2006 Fleer Ultra, especially the “King” series.
This is the card that Kerry thought would scare children if posted on his blog, but fortunately I’m more shameless. I’m a bit upset to see Damon go, he had good times with the Yanks and he could still contribute with the bat. However, his agent screwed him over and now he’s playing in… Detroit. Yikes. 
It looks so… I don’t know. My eyes need to get adjusted to Doc in red.
These actually don’t look too bad. A peeve I always have of a “Series 1” set is that the players who moved to a different club aren’t pictured with their new team. This is a good example.
What the heck are these things still doing here?!
Swish-a-licious!
A different variation of these “Cards Your Mother Threw Out” insert is that the original back is on the reprint. I was confused by this at first, but I appreciate it a bit better now.
I didn’t really see the difference in the “Tales of the Game” and the “History of the Game”, but I guess there is some sort of distinction. I like the “Tales of the Game” insert better.
Another insert! More power to ya Topps. These inserts remind me too much of those Ticket to Topps Town… hopefully they won’t pop up aga-
Dag nabbit! This is the gold variation of the “Ticket to Topps Town”. I like these much better than the regular Topps Town cards. There is a different picture on the front and the subset name is FCTTT (I think it stands for First Class) which is pretty neat.
If I had the money and effort to start a Nolan Ryan collection, I would. This is easily my favorite pitcher of all-time. One of my life goals is to get an autographed picture of Ryan with the bloody lip.
I’m glad that the “Turkey Red” inserts are back in full force. I just love the feel of them… which isn’t creepy.
RC logo. It’s not as obnoxiously large, but the design is very bleak.
The inserts… too much… can’t breath…
This is the lamest name for a card I've ever read.
The 
Is it possible to have a crush on a reliever? Yes sir.
A dumb insert got dumber by picking people I never heard of.
An underrated and one of the best closers in the league. He was also involved in the infamous A.J. Pierzynski a few years ago, in which Pierzynski was shipped to San Francisco while Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Boof Bonser were moved to Minnesota. I think we know who got the better deal.
Neshek is one of the classiest guys in the league. He’s an avid baseball card and memorabilia collector and has a 
I haven’t been pulling a lot of Yanks, which is odd because Topps is loading their packs with all sorts of Bronx Bombers. This rookie card is a nice relief.
I received the regular card of the insert in the blaster box, but now both Nolans are mine! All mine!
I don’t see the lineage.
I love this card. The picture is beautiful, and Griffey’s name just looks great with a Mariners logo. I’m convinced 2000-2008 never happened.