Rack Pack Hit!

I wanted to follow up on the post Suzy did about the odds of a rack pack vs. a blaster.  While I had never read the two to compare them until that day, it makes much more sense to go with a rack pack now.  The difference in cards is not enough to warrant buying a blaster especially when the odds of hits goes up so much.

I bought two rack packs of 2014 Gypsy Queen a week or two ago just because I was bored and I hate money.  I never get anything so imagine my face when this card appeared...

Ben Revere, serial numbered /49 on card auto.

While I couldn't care less about this player or his autograph, it was nice to actually pull something cool from retail for a change.  Anyone that is interested in this card, I am more than willing to part with it for a pack of pens or something.

2 2011 Bowman Chrome Rack Packs

I had to go to Shop Rite earlier to return Bad Teacher to the Red Box and since Target is across the street I figured why not go there and buy cards for no reason if they had them. Lucky me, they were fully stocked with 2011 Bowman Chrome and probably had them yesterday even by the looks of things.

I walked around the store carrying blasters and rack packs while tweeting to see what everyone voted on me purchasing. The reviews were mixed. Whether or not my purchase was, well, you will have to stay tuned.

Here is what I got:

Hi Derek Jeter!
Hector Noesi RC
Phil Franchise refractor
Bowman Prospects
Purple Refractor, Erasmo Ramirez

Future Fractor/Refractor


Bowman Chrome Throwback, Shelby Miller

Exclusive Rack Pack Green Xfractors




I really thought I would be more excited about the green xfractors than I am. They don't do much for me, but then again I don't like green anything so that could be why. The die cut cards are fun, but the xfractor I pulled on the back of the card it was peeled on a corner out of the pack.... I like the idea, but I feel like these will be harder to pull mint and/or keep mint.

If anyone pulls any Manny Banuelos or Jesus Montero cards, please get in touch with me if you want to trade.

Anyone pull anything cool from retail? Basically I want you to give me a reason to go back to Target.

Topps Lineage blaster break

Just gonna show off the inserts to 2011 Topps Lineage. I enjoy the inserts a lot. I am not a fan of the base cards so much, I received about 45 or so of those.

There is one relic card in each blaster of Topps Lineage. I actually pulled Kevin Youklis, but the good BF traded it for me a former Yankee. I felt much better after getting rid of the Youk card.

The Austin Jackson in a plain white swatch and the Youklis was a plain gray swatch. I like the look of the relics, but the relic itself just needs some work.

A 1975 mini insert. These might be my favorite inserts of the set, but I have not seen a 3-D in person yet. So I am waiting on those to pass full judgement.

Just to get an idea of exactly how mini we are talking, I have a Buster Posey scanned next to a George Sisler diamond platinum card from Lineage. They "minis" aren't Allen and Ginter minis, just a slightly smaller version of the base cards. 

Interestingly enough, my two chrome, refractor-type cards are of Walter Johnson and Stephen Strasburg. Both of Washington baseball fame.

These cards can be a little tricky to notice. If you don't check the back closely enough, you may miss the Venezuelan inserts where the backs are in Spanish. I initially thought I did not get an insert in that pack, but remembered these and sure enough found a Starlin Castro.

2011 star rookies - J.P. Arencicia

My little stand up card is of Hunter Pence. I wonder if I could sit him on my desk and look at his high socks all day.

2 Rack Packs of 2011 Gypsy Queen

Was anyone else wondering what was in a rack pack of 2011 Gypsy Queen? It appears that I like to open packs, so I figured let me try my luck with 2 rack packs to see if I can end up with a green framed card or two that I might want.

Rack packs are $8.99 and they have 2 packs (6 cards per pack) with a 3 card bonus pack of green framed paper cards. Not really a bargain price for 3 extra cards, but that didn't stop me.

Rack Pack #1:

10 base cards total, no SP's



Wall Climbers



Mini's, the Lester one is a red back


Green Framed Paper



Rack Pack #2

10 base cards, no SP's



Wall Climbers



Mini's


Green Framed Paper (I got an extra one! I win.)

I like the framed paper cards very much, but I like the hobby version better. The whole idea is nice to me as an insert. They are different than any inserts in baseball packs in recent memory which is another reason I like them a lot. Which color do you like better? (Say Copper!)

So there you have it, that's what you get in a rack pack. I also wondered what one could get in a blaster... How many of you think I have a blaster sitting here waiting to be opened?

2011 Topps Heritage Pack Rip

I had to go to Target today to pick up some pictures I had printed and I had to force myself to go look and see if the 2011 Topps Heritage cards had arrived yet. By force, I mean practically ran to the aisle that I refer to warmly as my office. Sweet glorious loose packs, gravity feeder, and 3 blasters were there. No, I didn't buy all of it and I wasn't even tempted after the hulabaloo I have been hearing about retail sucking.

I grabbed a few loose packs (for the sake of the blog, of course). I did pretty good considering I expected nothing from the packs. By the way, if you didn't already know the Target credit card gives you 5% off every purchase.... Anyway, here are the highlights.

Teix and Joba base cards



These may have been the only two I loved out of the packs I got. I love the action shot of Jeter, and the Jeter and Cano card is just awesome.

Sabathia insert, Matt Holliday Sporting News

Ichiro and Mauer inserts

Rookie Parade, which is an SP



Ramon Hernandez Chrome, /1962

Victor Martinez game used bat card



This is for the Woodman.

EDIT: There were two total short prints, the Rookie card and an Alexei Ramirez Sporting News.

So between my starting to type this and me finishing it, I ended up at Target again with Sooz but I didn't buy anything. I did take notice that there were no more blasters left, but a box of rack packs showed up. Perhaps Sooz will share her tale of rack pack blues later.

I like Heritage just about every year, and this year doesn't seem to be any different. I don't really like or hate the design, but I do think we are in trouble once Heritage goes up to (God forbid) 1987.

Let us know if you opened any or if you posted it on your blog so we can be nosy and see how you did.

Flash at Dropped Third Strike opened a bunch of Heritage retail if you want to check out what he got.