Wrapper redemptions at the NSCC

Wrapper redemptions can be a fun thing, if one of your players or teams is involved. Last year, was one of the craziest in recent memory because Topps had the redemption for a limited amount of Stephen Strasburg Heritage exclusive cards.

I had the idea that I was going to resell this card and become crazy rich! Well, at least make a few bucks back on the card. Instead, I got it graded - it came out a 9.5 with 9.5 sub-grades - and held on to it. Then, Strasburg broke himself and we're waiting on his return to MLB.

I don't see this year's wrapper redemptions being as exciting, but simply because there isn't much baseball other than Topps. I'm a baseball card collector and feel like I am missing out on something.

Upper Deck does actually have two baseball cards it's giving away in packs, including a Matt Szczur autographs, which I would really like to have. But there are only 35 of them and I think I would have a better chance of waiting for one of them to pop up on eBay instead of taking the wrapper redemption gamble.

Here's a breakdown from each company on what they're doing with their wrapper redemption programs.

Any of these interest you?

Panini America details on wrapper redemption
Upper Deck unveils its plans
Topps rookie Heritage redemptions
Obak cards

2011 Topps Wrapper Redemption Packs

First of all, let me say that I am absolutely amazed that it took ONE week to get the packs in the mail for our case break of jumbo 2011 Topps Series 1. I did offer last night on Twitter to open the packs live on UStream and only one person responded. Since no one jumped, I decided to study and just scan the packs.

I was hopeful that we would have gotten lucky and pulled an auto but no such luck on this one. We had 6 jumbo boxes in the case and got back 6 packs. I scanned them in packs so that it made it easier to go through rather than having 30 cards on the post.

Ichiro, Markakis, Howard, David Price, Roy Oswalt


David Wright, Prince Fielder, Mark Reynolds, Sabathia, Miguel Cabrera


Jose Reyes, Carlos Gonzalez, Adrian Gonzalez, Dan Uggla, Justin Upton


Wainwright, Dunn, Lincecum, McCutchen, Kinsler


The greatest pack ever.
Robinson Cano, VMart, Holliday, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter


Youk, Tulo, Cliff Lee, Morneau, Kershaw

Here are you options on having the cards shipped to you. You can send $2.00 for a bubble mailer via PayPal gift; you can send me an SASE (PWE or bubble mailer) with the postage already paid and toploaders supplied; you can have me ship them with your Gypsy Queen or Topps Series 2 team cards for no extra cost.

If I am shipping them with your next break YOU need to CONTACT me informing me what team you had in the 2011 Series 1, and what team you have in the Gypsy Queen or Series 2 break so that I can pair them up correctly at that time.

Any questions on getting the cards please ask in the comments or send me an e-mail. I will be sitting here studying for my upcoming exams so I will be able to get back to you rather quickly.

Results: Bowman Chrome Wrapper Redemptions

Hey guys, sorry for the delay. I just punched in the 29 teams in the drawing for the hits out of the case, the Team USA Christian Colon auto, black Strasburg, and there were 2 chrome Strasburg cards.

First team gets the auto, second place gets the black parallel, and third and fourth place each get a Strasburg chrome (base). I think that is pretty fair.

Again if you want your team cards mailed to you from the wrapper redemption, please send $2.00 as a gift to cardbandits AT gmail.



If you won and don't care about the Strasburg (I don't blame you), and would rather pass it along to someone else who wants it just let me know.

Also, midnight tonight is the deadline to enter the Topps inserts and base card contest.

Bowman Chrome Wrapper Redemptions

For those of you who were not at the live break (shame on you), here is the video so you can see what was in the packs.



The two "hits", if you will, shall be randomed off at some point within the week. I am not sure who should be included in that randomized giveaway... The teams that didn't get hits were eligible for the USA autos that were in the case, so I'm thinking maybe every team gets a crack now.

If you guys have a better idea, I'm all ears. Well technically,I'm all eyes.

Live Break Tonight

For those of you who were involved in the 2010 Bowman Chrome break, I FINALLY got our redemption packs in the mail. I don't know how exciting this news it to anyone but I figured I would do the break live so whoever wants to see it live can.

I honestly don't plan on scanning each card, but may do groups of cards after the break. One at a time just doesn't interest me and I can bet half of you don't care either.

We have 12 packs here to open so it shouldn't be more than 10 minutes or so to do. I will set up a live video on UStream sometime after 11pm. But if you can't make it the cards will be posted on the blog.

I think we will just do this by teams as well, I think that is the easiest way to go and with 12 packs there should be something for everyone. As far as shipping these cards... if you are participating in the Gypsy Queen break I am going to put these cards in with those unless you want to pay for separate shipping.

If you aren't in the Gypsy Queen break, I am asking each person who has cards in this break to send $2.00 for shipping. If you want to send a SASE bubble mailer that's fine too, but I think it will be cheaper to just send me the $ rather than paying to mail nothing.

2010 Bowman Black (Redemptions)

Yesterday I wandered over to the card shop because I needed some more boxes to pack up the last of the 2011 Topps Jumbo case (I still need to know who had the Marlins and Phillies!) and I was telling Dave how we never got our redemption from the case. He took pity on my sadness and gave me a pack that they were sent.

He was supposed to give them to people who threw out their wrappers and didn't know, but I opened about 20 packs in the store one day and left the wrappers because I didn't care. Clearly it worked out in my favor anyway since I still got a pack AND I am STILL waiting for the packs form our case.

I heard that Topps got out all the remaining redemption for the 2010 Bowman Chrome on Friday, so we shall see. I have already e-mailed someone at Topps and got a contact person in case we do not get them this week.

Who wants to see what was in my pack? OK, settle down.

Craig Clark


Eric Niesen


J.J. Hoover


Sheng-An Kuo


Jaff Decker


Slade Heathcott (yay)


Dustin Ackley


Caleb Brewer


Matt Tucker

There was also an Anthony Rizzo card in the pack, but I left it at the shop for the Woodpecker (Dan) since I think he was collecting him. I would have also left that Mets dude there for him also but I didn't notice it until I scanned the cards.

Did anyone get these packs back and pull an auto? More importantly, did anyone get these back and pull a J.R. Murphy card? I feel like I have a nice little starter collection of Murphy going so I'd be inclined to trade for a card of his.

For the record, I like these cards better in black borders than the white.

2011 Topps Wrapper Redemption

This morning Topps announced that they will be doing a wrapper redemption program with the 2011 Topps hobby and jumbo wrappers.

Since we are doing a case break of 2011 Topps Series 1 Jumbo, we will be eligible to get 6 5 card packs. The cards in the pack we redeem will be randomized to the teams with no hits. For a list of teams still available please click on the link on the sidebar.

Here is the information from Topps:

TOPPS ANNOUNCES SERIES 1 WRAPPER REDEMPTION

To launch and celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of Topps Baseball Cards, the company is pleased to announce a special Hobby-Exclusive Wrapper Redemption Program for 2011 Topps Baseball Series 1. (image attached)

Collectors sending Topps 36 Hobby wrappers or 10 HTA Jumbo wrappers of 2011 Topps Series 1 will receive a special 5-card pack of 60^th Anniversary Black Diamond cards (collect all 60!).

In addition, Topps is seeding 34 different on-card Autograph cards (#’d to 60), featuring subjects from the original 1952 Topps set, into these 5-card packs.

Collectors should send wrappers to:

PO BOX 2008

Duryea, PA 18642

ATTN: Topps Baseball Series 1 Promotion

*Collectors are encouraged to group their wrappers and send in 1 package.

*Promotion ends August 1, 2011.

Rip and recycle: making money from your Topps wrappers

Topps announced the specifics of the 2010 Bowman Chrome wrapper redemption program yesterday.

It reeks of an obvious way to save their product. The prices on these boxes had been tanking. Some cases fell to under $500. Many didn't want to buy this product and others even backed out of orders.

Can you blame people for getting mad? All the hype surrounding every product after 2010 Bowman revolved around Stephen Strasburg. He was supposed to be included in the remaining product. Of course, his cards are there, but they seem to be a much harder pull.

So, Topps announced a program where you can get some really great cards: Buster Posey or Mike Moustaskas autographs will be included in a five-card pack of black-bordered parallels.

The USA buyback promo is now part of the redemption as well, which was an obvious – maybe, intentional – production error. Those cards that include some highly sought after plays include Bryce Harper, James Taillon and Manny Machado.

NOW … sellers are getting worth out of their cases. They are not just selling the autos and refractors anymore, they get to sell the actual wrappers.

Several auctions have popped up on eBay selling lots of wrappers (auction links).

This is an auction for 1,500 wrappers. That’ll get you 83 packs of cards from Topps.