Bustin' Bowman retail

Spoiler: Pretty sure I could make some money back on this bust!

I hit Target a couple of days ago because I read on Twitter 2011 Bowman had arrived in retail shops. Wouldn't you know it? Target had it all. Rack packs, blasters and a gravity box. Me and the BF bought all 30 loose packs in the gravity box and split it down the middle. 

Here's my half of the haul and sample of what 2011 Bowman looks like this year. 

I got an auto out of it and that's not even the hit. 

2011 Bowman Chrome Bryce Harper (the scanner cropped the card. It's actually in good shape, centering-wise).

2011 Bowman base - I really didn't care for the pictures on the base card not do I care much for the design. Overall, I don't think this is one of Topps' strongest Bowman products when it comes to design. Most of the pictures on the card are rather boring, sort of like the Matt Kemp card.

2011 Bowman prospect cards - Prospects. Enough said. These were really the only two guys I knew from the prospect cards I pull. They also come in chrome if you like the shiny stuff. 

2011 Bowman gold parallel

2011 Bowman International parallel(At least that's what I think it is) - These are OK, but I don't understand the point of the in this product other than to add more cards to the chase. They are unnumbered. 

2011 Bowman orange parallel/250 - Aroldis Chapman

Bowman is heavy with inserts. Some I like, some I don't. These are my favorite. 

Bowman's Best - I only got one of these, but BF hit way more than I did. They are chrome-ish. I like the look because it brings up lots of fun memories of collecting cards when I was younger. 

Finest Futures - I like these cards, but I think I would have liked them more if they were chrome like Finest cards. 

Topps 100 - These cards fall somewhere in the middle for me. I like them. I don't love the. However, I do think they look better than last year's insert. 

These are the inserts I would mind if they left out

Bowman's Brightest - Seems these guys all do something well. According to Topps, Domonic "Ham Bone" Brown hits well for average. There are little blurbs on the back of the cards telling you a little more about each player.

Topps of the Class - There is already a Topps 100 insert, do we need more insert sets about up-and-comers?

Auto hit - Zack Cox, St. Louis Cardinals 2010 first-round draft pick 

A little about Sooz

I recently did an interview with Lady Ballers, a site written by female sports journalists and dedicated to those the industry.

It went up today.

If you guys want to learn a little more about me and how I work, you can check out the interview here.

Thanks. :)

Set Collectors... Look out!

Many of the set collectors I have met through blogging have told me that they put some sets into binders while other sets go into boxes, or they put them all into binders since they only collect certain sets each year.

Now it appears Topps has called the set collector by making binders specifically for sets, designed just like (but not exactly like) the product box. While I like the idea, you may want to let your machine answer the call from Topps on this one. They look pretty cool, but.... do you really want to pay how much for a 3-ring binder? Not so much. Oh but wait! They come with 10 9-pocket sheets as a bonus.... Nope, still not biting. Maybe if it came with a BOX of 9-pocket sheets I would bit the bullet. Click below to see the price on insanity.

2011 Topps Heritage Binder

I guess they figure if you can afford a complete set, you can afford to put it into the "proper" binder. Or maybe you are OCD about your card storage (like me sometimes) then you will see this and order it just because it "belongs" in that binder. They are available from Topps eBay store and from Topps online store only.

2011 Topps Binder


Did anyone else know these existed? What do you guys think of this?

I can tell you this much, I won't be buying one unless they cut the price in half because these are more like a $6-$8 product. Plus, you can get 10 9-pocket sheets for a buck at a card shop so where is the "bonus", Topps?

Break and Review: 2011 Topps Attax

Recently I got a box of 2011 Topps Attax from the good folks at Topps. It's not a retail box or a hobby box but a starter deck set of sorts. Now don't get me wrong, this is a set made for children to play with and have a good time which is quite evident by the huge deluxe playmat in the box (which I would kind of want to play with someone....) but at the same time they are cards for grown ups to collect as well.

One of the more notable differences in the 2011 set than previous years is the design of the cards. They look more like a traditional deck of cards with rounded corners as opposed to baseball cards with clear cut 90 degree angles. The other difference from years past is that the game play is more clearly defined on the cards at the bottom much like Magic cards or the like. You are told what will happen if there are men on base or not, and what to do if you want to trade a card for something.

The starter box includes 2 decks of 30 cards (which is what you need to play this year instead of 11 like previous years), deck cases (cardboard), and a deluxe playmat which opposite the playmat has all the directions for complete game play and rules. You are also given a 3 card bonus pack which contained 2 hologram cards, Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter, as well as a Topps Town card of Dan Haren.



The complete set/complete deck would have 258 cards with 206 being players and the remainder being team mascots and ballparks. Mascot and ballpark cards have their own role in the game so they aren't just extras like the Topps Town card.

As someone who collects sports trading cards and not gaming cards, I like the hologram/foil type background cards. The regular cards leave something to be desired for the hardcore collector. If you can understand that the cards were made for kids to toss around and beat up and not for your binder then you will like the set just fine. However if you are expecting thick card stock and a great design... You are nuts. The set definitely hits the target demographic and for kids who like game play cards this is a homerun.

I went and scanned some examples from the 2 starter decks along with the 3 card bonus pack to give you an idea of what I am talking about. I am hoping that the hologram/foil background cards can be seen on the scan but if you go to Target, pick up a box and look at the Pujols on the front. It might make you buy the box, and at $7.99 per box it's not a bad price. Plus if you have any kids it's a great excuse to buy "them" something. (wink, nudge)

Here are some pictures of the cards so you can take a look for yourself.





Poor Nationals. Not sure this card could make them look any more pathetic, no team on the field, no fans, I don't even see a bird flying by. Why wouldn't they use a picture with a game going on at least?

Let it be noted that the A-Rod photo is from 2009. Of course there was a Chipper Jones in the box.

If you are a parent then I think this product is well worth $7.99 for what you get inside the box. I also think the huge playmat is awesome, and the directions are very easy to read and understand once you look at the cards and the rules. I don't know how hard it would be to explain to young kids because I don't have any but good luck. If you are a grown up and just need every card of your team or player, I still don't see how you can go wrong for the price.

Did anyone rip some packs of the 2011 Topps Attax yet or buy a starter box/rack pack? Let me know what you think of the set.

Sunday Question

With Bowman retail hitting the market last week, Bryce Harper has been the hot topic of conversation. His autographs (though, paper ones) are on eBay.

The cards will likely go for a serious amount of money (including this one up for auction right now) and not just his autographs though.

The first chrome card non-auto to appear on the Bay sold for around $130.

The base non-chrome autos are selling between $20-$25 right now.

So, here's my question ... how much would you pay for a 2011 Bowman Bryce Harpercard?

Hobby Box Break and Review: 2011 Gypsy Queen

I was very excited when my review box came in the mail from Topps because I had a ton of fun opening the case of
2011 Topps Gypsy Queen and was excited to get to open another one (and get to keep whatever cards of other teams I like).

I am going to show you the highlights of the box, plus let you know what I think of each insert set.

Hobby boxes contain 24 packs per box with 10 cards per pack. You are guaranteed 2 relics AND 2 autographs per hobby box. As per Topps press release before this product went live, there was a problem where many boxes only got 1 autograph so if you only got 1 auto you need to mail them your hobby box UPC code ASAP.

Base card total: 184
Base card duplicates: 0
Short prints (301-350): 6

I didn't scan the base cards, but I did scan the short prints to show you what the cards look like and which short prints were in the box.


Short Prints


Homerun Heroes (25 card set)

I like this insert set because it is short and sweet. There aren't a bunch of cards to chase and it looks nice and vintage-like. It's also hard to dislike a set that contains some of baseball's biggest sluggers.


Future Stars (20 card set)

This is a fun insert set for prospectors and rookie card collectors. It adds a little something different to the typical base cards you tend to see for rookies. Also, it's one of those cards that not every rookie will have making it cool if you collect one of the 20 guys featured in the set.


Great Ones (30 card set) Now this is great for some of the "old timers" who still collect cards of the players they grew up with, or people who like collecting the older players. I can imagine it gets boring when you collect a guy who hasn't played in 15+ years and there are like 2 cards a year of him. I would imagine it's cheaper, but not as much fun.

The Homerun Heroes, Future Stars, and Great Ones are 3 insert sets that actually offer something for everyone. You can find at least one card out of these 3 sets to love, or collect a full set. Plus, they would look sweet displayed in your binder.

Framed Paper /999 This may be my favorite part of the whole Gypsy Queen set. I absolutely love these framed paper cards. The border is a bronze/brownish type color and it is raised slightly. The border is more like the color of the infield dirt, which makes it super sweet looking on cards that have just the right color dirt. (Check out the Tim Lincecum card) These are gorgeous looking inserts and probably one of the best inserts of the year.


Gypsy While I am aware that the set is called, "Gypsy Queen" I find no need to have included actual gypsies in the set. No card collector really gives a hoot about pulling one of these. And furthermore who on Earth wants to get an auto of a gypsy? It's worth about as much as me signing a card. Jewel cards are a case hit = LAME. Again, worthless card. If this set is produced again in the future we can all do without the gypsies. Sorry, Oriana.

Mini (regular back) Mini cards... hard to find anything cooler than tiny baseball cards. They are fun size cards perfect to add a little something to any set. I am all for a mini version in every set, I like tiny cards. Actually I think I just like how they look in the binder sheets. Anyway, they are the same as the base version unless you get the variant from the box topper pack. The variant is a slightly lighter card with a different pose, which you will see in a little bit.

Mini (red backs)

Mini black parallels These are the "cooler" version of the mini cards, if you will. They are black cards, not serial numbered and very nice looking. I can't wait to get my mitts on the Cano, Martin and Pujols black mini's (hint hint if you have one I need please e-mail).


Mariano Sepia Mini /99 This is just plain awesome. It makes Mo look like he pitched 30 years ago. Sepia cards are a nice variant for baseball cards, but I think they work best on current players. A sepia mini of Babe Ruth just wouldn't have the same coolness to me. Sepia mini = happy MarieBay.


Mini's from the little bonus pack of mini cards.

The only way to get one of the insert set mini's is from the mini box topper pack. So you can definitely expect to pay more for these if one of your guys is in one of the sets.

Lighter mini variant exclusive to the mini pack.


Prince Fielder relic I'm honestly not a fan of the relic cards, but then again I never am. These look just like the base cards with a plain ol' swatch on 'em.



Josh Hamilton Framed Relic Love, love, love framed relic cards. I have no reason why I dislike regular ones but I am okay with the framed ones. Maybe because in the card is a tiny card with a swatch or bat piece, and I like tiny cards. Personally, what I think would have made the framed relics more awesome would be if there was another version (different color border), serial numbered, and a PATCH with more than one color. That would have made a great case hit instead of the lame jewel cards.

Josh Hamilton auto redemption Hooray it's Josh Hamilton, and boooooo there was only one auto and it was a redemption. The whole fun of this product was the promise of on card autographs in every box and then when you are jipped one auto and the other is a redemption it kinda sucks some of the fun out of it. But when it's Josh Hamilton I guess I can let it slide. (On hold for the Woodpecker.)

This definitely might be one of the most fun products so far this year. So here is my report card:

Design: A

It gets an A from me based more on the framed paper cards than the base cards. The base cards are nice in that they look vintage and all that jazz, but the framed paper and the inserts steal the show and won me over. Mini cards? Yes, Topps has a winner here.

Value: B-

The value rating is reflected by the current price point of over $130 per hobby box currently. Not to say that you don't get a ton for the money (like 4 hits per box guaranteed) but with the way the economy is right now and people are trying to save money while still indulge in things they like the resellers are making it hard for the average person to afford to open a box of this set. If the price leveled out around $90 per box I would give it an A.

Quality: B

Why not an A? Well, the fact that the product was advertised for months to have 2 autographs per box and 24 hours prior to the product going live they announce an "oops, sorry we forgot one" press release.... Not cool. Maybe it's Quality Control, and not so much the quality category of the cards themselves. The cards themselves were great. I don't recall seeing a single damaged card in the case we opened or in this hobby box which is always nice. Again, the inserts are an added bonus for this category as well.

Overall: A-

I know it doesn't average out, but the pricing is set by resellers not Topps so that grade isn't totally their fault. The quality issues, while yes there should have been 2 autographs the cards themselves were definitely on point and very nice looking. I did take a little something off for those issues.

The product offers a great range of extras, and inserts which make it a super fun box to break if you can afford one. If you can buy a retail blaster or rack pack at Target or Walmart and not a whole hobby box I can assure you that you will have a ton of fun with either option. Even retail packs have had autographs in them. This product has potential to throw you a hit in any version, plus with the autos on card those pesky pack searchers can't find them.