Group Break Idea

We are thinking about doing a group break of 2013-14 Panini Contenders Hockey and we're wondering how many of you would be interested.  The sell sheet shows it is packed with hits per box and would be a fun break.

We are estimating the cost per team to be $48 including shipping to the US and $50 to Canada.

I will be picking the Rangers and Suzy the Oilers.  If you are interested and can commit to this please leave your team in the comments and you can send PayPal once we see how much interest we have.  If we get close enough to 30 teams, perhaps we can split the difference of teams not sold to cover the cost and decide what to do with hits from those teams after.

Let us know what you think.

Available Teams for Facebook Case

Some of you have asked what teams are available in the Facebook case break of 2011 Topps Series 2 Jumbo so I thought I would list it here as well.

If you would like a team from this break you need to send the payment with "FACEBOOK" in the title so that I can file the payment with that break. If you are sending payment here and have a team in the blog case, please note that with your address so I can mail in one box.

Teams available:

Marlins

Pirates

Orioles

Diamondbacks

Astros

Rockies

Blue Jays

Royals

Twins

2011 Topps Series 2 Jumbo Case Break

I wanted to let you guys know that the date for the break is creeping closer and we still have some teams available. I need to fill this break immediately because payment is due one week prior to the release. Please leave a comment on the team you would like followed by PayPal payment as a gift to our e-mail. ($24)

Here are the teams available:

Marlins
Mariners
Diamondbacks
Royals

2011 Topps Series 2 Jumbo Case Break

I just wanted to remind everyone that we are going to be breaking a case of 2011 Topps Series 2 and that we still have spots available.

I am also running the same break through Facebook to try and spice things up a bit and give people who are friends of the Card Bandits and read the blog through that feed a chance to get involved as well.

There are teams available in both breaks and I would really like to get them filled up as soon as possible because I have been asked to do other breaks after that and I can't lay out anymore cash until this is secured.

Teams are $24 each including shipping, and the following teams are still available in the blog break:

Indians
Rays
Mariners
Marlins
Nationals
Diamondbacks
A's
Reds
Twins

Please leave a comment and let me know if you want to take a team or 4.

2011 Topps Gypsy Queen Available Teams

Here is the story: Many of you have asked me about getting a Heritage break together, however this break is only about half full right now. If we can lock this up quickly, then we can get a Heritage rolling as well. But the longer we wait the higher the price gets on the Heritage case. We have the option to do a half case or something like that as well, though.

Here are the available teams:

Royals
Diamondbacks
Angels
Marlins
A's

Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

Case Break Info: 2011 Topps Series 1

I wanted to post this so those of you who aren't on Twitter know the current status of the case break festivities. According to UPS' website I will have the case of 2011 Topps Series 1 Jumbo tomorrow.

What I want to know is this, can the majority of the participants hangout to do the break starting at toughly 10:00pm or 11:30pm EST tomorrow? I'm a night owl so those are the power hours.

I am open to suggestions if many of you would prefer an earlier start time please let me know, but I am figuring that around then would allow people west of here time to get home from work and eat dinner, etc.

Please let me know so I can plan accordingly tomorrow.

I'm super excited to open this case.

Case Break: 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen

OK guys, here is the dealio.... I got pricing on both 2011 Gypsy Queen and 2011 Topps Heritage. The majority in the poll and from the comments were interested more so in doing the case of Gypsy Queen, and personally so am I. I don't know about you guys, but I am less likely to spring for hobby boxes of Gypsy Queen than I would be of Heritage.

Gypsy Queen will be $36 per team and Heritage $29 per team, including shipping. For the price difference and weighing the hits per box/case, I think the Gypsy Queen will be "funner" as I like saying.

You can refer to the Gypsy Queen press release by clicking here, and that will tell you product info and breakdown. Click here for the checklist.

Approximate release date is April 21, 2011.

If we can fill this, I will have no problem hosting a Heritage break as well. I will work this break as a tandem in that instance so if you buy in for the Gypsy Queen you will have the option to keep the same team for Heritage if we do both.

Please send payment as a gift to cardbandits AT gmail DOT com and include your team name, and address in the notes, as well as a comment stating the team you will be claiming. Teams are officially yours upon payment.

Claimed teams:

Yankees
Cardinals
Red Sox
Twins
Padres
Braves
Phillies
Blue Jays
Cubs
Reds
Rangers
Giants
Orioles
Dodgers
Brewers

2010 Bowman Chrome Case Info

I had originally posted the price of the break as $31 per team and that is what some people have already paid. I have been talking to some of you guys, and some people who run case breaks all the time about teams not having much and eliminating them. However, the problem with eliminating teams and randoming off those cards at the end is that it will raise the price for the people with teams.

If we can fill all 29 slots this will not be an issue, and everyone will have a team. The Team USA cards will be randomized and given to the teams with no hits above a blue refractor. If there is a dual Team USA auto all 29 people will be included in the randomized list to be eligible.

The reason there are only 29 teams available is because we had decided to keep the Nationals out of the break and sell any Strasburg's to try and recoup some of the money on the case.

I have the following teams as taken/paid for:

Yankees
Cardinals
Blue Jays
Royals
Twins
Mariners
Tigers
Astros
Cubs
Padres
Reds
Braves
A's
Rays
Red Sox
Rangers
O's

I am awaiting word on the rest of the T206 participants to let me know if they are in or out. I know the Orioles are definitely available, as that person asked for a refund which I will be sending along shortly.

2010 Topps T-206 Case Break

The case break video is in two parts on UStream, channel CardBandits.

The results will be scanned and posted, probably tomorrow.

Some of the highlights were 3 dual relic booklets /99, a 1/1, 2 chrome /50, a printing plate, 2 Strasburg base cards, and 1 Strasburg mini American Caramel.

Check out the video or check our blog here for the case hits.

LIVE ON USTREAM

I have a case of 2010 T206 to open....

Come hang out with us.

Wheeeeee!!!!

The case of 2010 Topps T206 has arrived!! I announced it on Twitter, then realized there may be some people who don't use Twitter.

I'm going to test my equipment out and make sure everything is working and then we can figure out when to break it.

I'm excited to open the case, and to have something to blog about. My brain has been empty lately of card ideas. I still love you all, though. =)

Going to hook up the camera now and try out the whole thing and see where I'm at. I'll send an update along shortly.

2010 Topps T-206 Case Info

I made the final payment on the case this week with Blowout Cards. I was told that the case should arrive Wednesday on the release date.

We could break the case Wednesday or Thursday evening. Let me know which day works best so we could do it on a video break. Obviously watching the entire thing is totally up to you and you can probably view it at another time if you can't be there for the whole thing. I am hoping to do the break through uStream.

Let me know if this works for you.

Case Break Update

I just wanted to let everyone know that the 206 is scheduled to release on September 1st, and the Bowman Chrome has been pushed to October 27th.

There are a couple of people who paid and did not leave a shipping address. I need addresses for the following teams:

Red Sox/Giants
Marlins
Rockies
Rays
Mets

I also need the Reds to send shipping money as a gift (first payment was not sent as a gift and we were charged. If you want to do a refund and send $30 as a gift at once that's fine, too.) Pirates also sent money as a payment and we got charged, same applies here.

I am just filling out a spread sheet with everyone's name, address, and team to get everything set up and ready to go.

If anyone is interested in any of the other releases this year for a case break please leave a suggestion and I can get a price.

Sunday Question

We are very close to our 2010 Topps T206 Case break which is still scheduled to release on August 30th as far as I know. I have filled the last two spots with one of the guys from Freedom Cardboard. We are all set on that one now.

What I need to know is who from the 206 break plans on claiming their team in the Bowman Chrome. I'm looking to get everyone paid up by the first week in September or at least by the 15th so that I can pay for the case.

Please leave me a comment with your team name and if you plan on picking it up this way I know if I can open that team up to someone else or not. Thanks guys.

2010 Topps T-206 Team Owners

If you want to get in on this (c'mon, you know you do) please see the previous post for what is taking place and just follow the instructions. It should be a solid product with some great autos.

PAID and guaranteed teams

Greg L. - Royals
David H - Indians
David A. - Cubs
Greg G. - Dodgers
Andy R. - Phillies
Chris F. - Brewers
Paul E. - Twins
Dan T. - Tigers
Sooz/Marie - Yankees (We will end up splitting for 2 team sets, or something like that)
Marie - Cardinals
Marie - Jays
Sooz - A's
Canuck - Braves
Paul - Rays
Tricia - Rangers
Joe M. - Mets
Harrison E. - Padres
Scott E. - Mariners
Michael B - Red Sox, Giants
Steve G. - White Sox
Jason B. - Astros
Ryan H. - Orioles
Ric K. - Reds
Jeffrey M. - Rockies
Chuck - Marlins
David A. - Pirates

AVAILABLE TEAMS (Payment required for guarantee):

Los Angeles Angels
Arizona Diamondbacks

2010 Topps T-206 Case Break

So here is the deal on our very first case break. We will go with Option 2 on everyone getting some base cards plus the complete team set of their team, and their teams inserts, gu, autos.

Blowout Cards has quoted a price delivered on the case of T-206 and I really think this is a great case to break, there were great auto's in this product last year and I know I enjoyed it.

This will make it approximately $26 per team over 29 teams, with Strasburg being sold for $ back.

I think this is affordable for everyone without making price tiers. I am thinking $30 each including shipping and packaging would work. I would like to try and get the deposit to them by Friday, or just pay it in full would be even better.

To claim a team, please leave it in the comment section and make payment to cardbandits AT gmail DOT com with your team name and mailing address. Send payment as a "gift" so there are no additional fees. (if you take more than one team you only need to pay for the team @ $26,, no extra shipping.)

Once teams started getting claimed I will create a post with a list so everyone can keep track. Teams are granted upon payment, so please claim the team here and then make payment.

(Yanks, Cards, A's, Jay's are taken.)

Here is what you can expect (courtesy of Blowout Cards):

ONE Autograph and ONE Relic Card per Hobby Box!
Insertion rates are based on estimated production levels, which may vary from the actual insertion rates to be published on product packaging.

NEW! MINI INSERT CARDS (20 TOTAL CARDS)
- Historical Events (20 subjects)

NEW! STAMP CARDS (80 TOTAL CARDS)
- 20 subjects - Numbered TBD! Hobby Exclusive!

BASE CARDS (350 TOTAL CARDS) - 7 PER PACK! T-206 Classic Design
- 300 Veterans, Legends and Rookies, plus 50 Short Print Variation Cards (300 subjects)

MINI PARALLEL CARDS (1,950 TOTAL CARDS) - 1 PER PACK!
- Carolina Brights (300) - One of One! Hobby Exclusive!
- Cycle (300) - Numbered to 99!
- NEW! American Caramel (300)
- Piedmont (300)
- Old Mill (300)
- Polar Bear (300)
- NEW! Red Chrome Carolina Brights Variations (50) - One of One! Hobby Exclusive!
- Gold Chrome Piedmont Variations (50) - Numbered to 50! Hobby Exclusive!
- Silk Short Print Variations (50) - Numbered to 50!

PARALLEL CARDS (300 TOTAL CARDS) - 1 PER PACK!
- Bronze (300 subjects)

AUTOGRAPH CARDS (TBD subjects) - 1 PER BOX!
- NEW! American Caramel (35)
- NEW! T-206 Cut Signatures (TBD) - One of One! Hobby Exclusive!
- T-206 Autographs (40)
- T-206 Cut Signature Book Cards (20 subjects/10 cards) - One of One! Hobby Exclusive!

RELIC CARDS (75 subjects) - 1 RELIC CARD PER BOX!
- NEW! Mini Book Relic Cards (50 subjects/25 cards) - 1 PER CASE! Numbered to 50! Hobby Exclusive!
- NEW! T-206 Dual Relic Cards (25) - Numbered to 99!
- T-206 Relics (50)
*Polar Bear Parallel
*Old Mill Parallel

BUYBACK T-206 CARDS (TBD subjects)
- Original T-206 Cards (TBD) - Hobby Exclusive!

PRINTING PLATES (700 total cards) - One of One! Hobby Exclusive!
- Base Cards (350)
- Mini Parallel Cards (350)

CONTINUITY PROGRAM (5 subjects)
- MLB Logo Man Patch Cards (5) - Numbered to 50! Hobby Exclusive!

COMBINED INSERTION RATE FOR AUTOGRAPHED/RELIC* CARDS - Inserted 2 Per Box!

ONE Autograph and ONE Relic Card per Hobby Box!

Covered in Wrappers

is now covered in wrappers.

Holy smokes! We are working feverishly to try and get all of the cards listed right now. We will be back with some entertainment later tonight if we don't pass out on the scanner and keyboard, or tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone for making our first live case break a success.

2008 UD Masterpieces Case Autographs

OK, now that you have all seen the game used cards, I'm sure you're interested in what autographs were pulled. I am still leaving something out because I'm banking on Sooz telling you about it. I didn't include the dual GU/Auto cards since they were posted in the previous blog. Here goes:

2008 UD Masterpieces Game Used Cards

This is the breakdown of Game Used cards that we pulled from the case, we ended up with 2 Freddy Sanchez and 2 Khalil Greene. The "holy grail" of Game Used cards, and well the case will be posted by Sooz, hopefully later tonight. Probably one of the best cards we'll ever pull. I'm going to do a blog of all the auto's later tonight or tomorrow so everyone can see them. Everything is in the store.

2008 Masterpieces Albert Pujols & Derek Jeter

Well, short print is an understatement to say the least about these two guys. 16 box case yielded 2 of each Pujols and Jeter. Pujols did not appear until 5 boxes into the case, if you were wondering how long I was tortured for. I have to say it's rather aggravating how the two players we collect religiously are always so damn hard to pull, I won't even get into the expense.

We do have plenty of complete base sets of cards 1-90, and can probably put together a team set or two of each team if anyone is interested. Complete sets are for sale on eBay, and the team sets right now will be by request. I am still working on listing individual cards, which I will hopefully finish tomorrow.