Today was Target Day

I figured since I did ok at K-Mart yesterday I would try my luck over at Target today. I am not going to tell you that I didn't even open yesterdays stuff yet. I was going to the mall to have lunch with a friend and I was like, "oh, why don't we park up by Target?" She knew why and she complied with my request. We had lunch then stopped back on the way out.

They only had 2009 Heritage and First Edition blasters. There were packs of 09 F.E., and that was it other than the Attax cards. I saw a few random Timeline packs, and I opted to get one of those since I haven't had bad luck with opening them.

I ended up with a Russell Martin card I don't think I have, and pulled a jersey card as well. As soon as I opened the pack and saw that it was Andy Pettitte, I looked at my friend and said, "Suzy just got a sweet card." It's nice to get a card with a stripe on it, or dirt which is what I like seeing. I feel like when a jersey comes with dirt, you know the player or some player actually wore it. Unless the companies rip things off shelves and throw them on the floor. The other 2 cards in the pack were Manny and Corey Hart.

I'm going to open some stuff later, after I log in a pile that is on my desk collecting dust.

Conservation of Cardboard & Cash

Just like everyone else out there, I am doing my best to not purchase anything. I had one moment of weakness last weekend with luvbubby on eBay, but otherwise I have been good. I have been slowly opening a hobby box of 2008 Upper Deck Timeline, one of the last boxes I have been hoarding from Christmas.

I know a lot of you can't keep sealed wax laying around, and normally I like to open stuff also. I used to keep a bunch of blasters laying around for snow days and boredom, but I don't have the money for it now on top of the fact that there really hasn't been anything around to buy and hoard.

I was clawing at the walls last night itching to open something so I opened that box and picked the top 4 packs and opened them. Nothing exciting, but a Yankee Stadium Legacy card of Roger Clemens. I will scan a couple of cards for the sake of making this entertaining. I don't really care for this product one way or the other anymore, but it's here and I have an addiction.

I'm going to open some more tonight since I am home and bored out of my mind. Also please check out the previous post about our contest that is coming up.

Target and Blasters...

Clearly you all know that we have some serious issues buying things all the time, we have established that. However, this time I can't even get mad at myself for this purchase.

I was wandering around the mall with a friend of mine looking for a birthday present for a 1 year old, and we ended up in Modells looking for little Yankees outfits. I spotted a 2008 Timeline blaster, still $24.99 with the promise of 1 memorabilia card in every box. Despite that promise, I decided that I am not paying more than $19.99 for a blaster, and mustered the courage to leave empty handed. On to Target we went (the second Target of the day mind you)...

In Target I see 2008 Timeline blasters for $14.99, and I think perfect just a little something to get me through the day. I continue to rummage and find a 2008 Topps Stadium Club blaster for $19.99, sweet! I carry these around and pick up a pack of gum, and a bottle of shampoo and proceed to checkout. The cashier scans all my stuff, and says, "$23.15, please". Yeah, $23.15. I was like ummm.... sure. I swiped my card, paid, and then proceeded to dance to the car. My Stadium Club blaster rang up for $2.99!!!!!!!!!! Way to go Target for using the same bar code for packs and blasters... YEAH!! I win.

I didn't open them yet. Sooz and I smashed a 2007 hobby box of Bowman Heritage, 2 2008 UD Masterpieces blasters, and I got my Pujols card.

The 2 blasters were pretty sad, and the Heritage was sad also. I did however, get a Pujols base card from the Heritage that I didn't have so that worked out well, and Sooz got a couple of cards she wanted out of it. The blasters had a couple of things that I'll post later on with the interesting cards from the Heritage box.

Hobby vs. Retail

I've noticed a trend in some of the blogs we visit are comparing hobby vs. retail and I felt the need to add my 2 cents. I work part-time in a store that sells hobby only packs of everything, and coincidentally is about 50 yards from Target and retail. I am not going to say how many days (all) that I have left the mall with one or the other, or both.

Right now the store I work in is selling UD Timeline packs for $4.29 up from $3.99 a week ago, and is also selling UD Masterpiece Baseball for $6.99... Masterpieces for $6.99! I did make an attempt to purchase 2 packs from fresh boxes and see what happens. I ended up with 2 YSL cards, and crap. We have like 7 of every card from this set, and I have two blasters which makes me an idiot for buying two hobby packs for that price. In Target you can get UD Timeline for $1.99 a pack (way more fun), and they haven't had the Masterpieces in a while. We also just got in the Ballpark Collection at $49.99 per pack (3 GU and 1 AU per pack on average). Needless to say, I will not be purchasing any of those.

My other issue with this debate is the problem with the pricing of retail blasters. They are marked from the card companies at $19.99, however Modells and Sports Authority like to charge $24.99 for them. They can go scratch unless I am getting a sale price. The same stores also charge a dollar or two more for rack packs as well.

2008 Stadium Club... we could go on and on about what was Topps thinking releasing yet another product with a price tag not conducive to what most collectors can afford in this economy, or are willing to spend with the economy in a downward progression. Anyway, point is I got a blaster and a ton of base cards and 1st day Issues AND ONE SP AUTO for $19.99. One pack of hobby is $24.99 vs. one pack of retail for $2.99 if you are just trying to get your favorite players or set build. Topps can get bent for that pack.

I buy both hobby and retail, and often in one trip. It depends on my mood and what I feel like opening at the time. I honestly feel like if you are just trying to build sets or pull players, there is just as good of a chance at that in the cheaper retail versions of the packs. However, if you collect Albert Pujols or Derek Jeter you more or less have no chance at getting them in either pack. (I still do not have all the UD Timeline, or the Stadium Club cards)

We will be going out on Sunday together, which means we will end up on some wild goose chase for baseball cards and have something interesting to report, I hope. Until then, you may have to cross your fingers that I open one of my bargain blasters from K-Mart (that is the 2 for 1 08 Masterpieces). I am working all day tomorrow so God knows I will have purchased something dumb by this time tomorrow.

I'm done for now.
Stay tuned.

2008 UD Timeline Pack Breaks

Here are the goods from todays puchase at BC Sports:

- Ichiro #48 Gold
- Clay Buchholz #176 20th Anniversary Gold Stamp
- David Wright #158 20th Anniversary Gold Stamp

Base Cards:
- Jeter #28
- Hamilton #47
- Buchholz #53 RC
- Bocock #90 RC

- Brandon Phillips #102
- Corey Hart #107
- Fred Lewis #114
- German Duran #116 RC
- David Ortiz #136
- Manny Ramirez #156
- Homer Bailey #190
- Jeff Baker #193
- Matt Holliday #243
- Frank Thomas #281
- Colt Morton #350

Upper Deck & Yankee Stadium Legacy Update

I just want to say that I have now sent 2 e-mails in regard to that waste of money box set from QVC and have not received a response. Granted the second one may not have started as politely as the first, but I have nothing better to do than to progressively get nastier with every e-mail I compose. Not that I am ever mean or cranky (ha).

I picked up 3 packs of Timeline today at BC, got one YSL card, and a gold Longoria SP #361, and a gold Daric Barton RC base card. The rest of the packs were boring. I still have those 2 2008 UD Masterpieces to rip so we will do that tonight or tomorrow hopefully.

Retail therapy isn't cheap.

2008 UD Masterpieces & K-Mart

Today me and K-Mart are best friends. I go there to look for 2 Christmas gifts, and well I didn't get them. However, I did search the baseball card area, and hit the jackpot. It seems as though they were trying to get rid of some 2007 blasters, 2007 Rookies & Stars and 2007 UD Masterpieces and had them bundled as 2 blasters for $19.99. Only problem was, whoever bundled them accidentally bundled 2 2008 UD Masterpieces boxes for $19.99 and I snatched them up. It didn't dawn on me that those were the only ones until I was walking around thinking about getting other blasters, and when I went back I decided to cut my losses with this steal.

I haven't opened them yet because earlier in the day I went to Target. I picked up 5 packs of Timeline (yes, 5 - I normally do not purchase things in an add amount, but I thought I had 6) and opened those today. I got 1 YSL card, and TWO ALBERT PUJOLS!!! Wahoo!! Jackpot for me, thanks Target and thanks to $1.99 retail packs. I still need 1 of the Pujols cards from this set, if anyone has #142 let me know so we can work out a trade.

Tomorrow I will break one or both blasters. I am trying to hold off on opening them so I don't go out and spend more tomorrow. OK, I know what you're thinking so.... shush.

2008 Upper Deck Timeline Pack Breaks

I only got suckered into 4 packs over the course of the week, which for me isn't terrible. Here is a quick breakdown of what I got, with some scans to show you what the cards look like if you haven;t purchased any yet.

-14 Derek Lee Gold SP
-18 Ryan Braun
-21 Tim Lincecum
-25 Brandon Webb
-27 Alex Rodriguez
-31 Manny Ramirez
-48 Ichiro
-67 Justin Masterson RC
-69 Micah Hoffpauir RC
-75 Max Scherzer RC
-94 Brett Lillibridge RC

Reprints / Short Prints

-107 Corey Hart
-117 Greg Smith RC
-119 Joey Votto RC
-124 Nick Swisher

-133 Greg Maddux
-150 Grady Sizemore
-154 Magglio Ordonez
-157 Travis Hafner 20th Anniversary Foil Stamp
-160 Matt Holliday

-184 Callix Crabbe RC
-187 Clayton Kershaw RC
-198 Josh Hamilton
-199 Kosuke Fukudome RC

-217 Chipper Jones
-263 Justin Morneau
-273 Carlos Beltran
-301 Rick Ankiel

-317 Daric Barton RC
-326 Jesse Carlson RC
-337 Johnny Cueto RC

1 Yankee Stadium Legacy card, 1455 Henrich

2008 Upper Deck Timeline (or lack of)

We ordered a case of the 2008 UD Timeline Baseball back in August as a pre-order from someone in good standing, and with good feedback on eBay. Apparently since then, this guy has jumped the shark and ran. In recent months his feedback has plummeted to 57.1%, and now we are going through the motions with PayPal to get our money back. Honestly, I would rather have the cards because we got the case at a steal of a price, and instead he stole our money. So if we end up getting a case of cards, there will be fun for everyone otherwise, no fun.

Moral of the story: If it's too good to be true on eBay, it very well might be.

Buuuttttt........ for those loyal readers out there who know me better than to have not purchased any of these, you are right. I will be back later with some scans and pack breaks. I may also have a surprise for tomorrow. (You can thank my local Target, who finally restocked and got some new things in.)