Christmas Cards! Golden Treasures Part VI

It's time for the penultimate installment in the series of posts covering the "Golden Treasures" repack box I received from my parents on Christmas.  Today we're looking at packs 16-18.  Let's see what we've got!

1996 Score gets us started.  This is a set that I have very little familiarity with, as I was sort of transitioning out of the hobby around 1996.  10 cards per pack...

I can't say I'm in love with the design.  Just a bit too busy for my liking, and I'm not sure that "torn corner" effect worked on the photographs.  Also, could you find a less flattering photograph of Jorge Fabregas?

Mark Wohlers "Radar Rating".  This is a subset card, not an insert.

Yeah, there are some real close close-ups in this set...

Jose Oquendo here is easily the best photograph from my pack.  A nice bunt shot, and check out those stirrups!

We close out the pack with Keith Lockhart, who looks like he lost this one in the sun!

Not the most thrilling pack of 1996 Score, I don't think I'll be hanging onto any of these.  Oh well, them's the breaks.  Let's hope the next pack is an improvement...

We're going back a year here, with 1995 Score (Series 2).  These I remember, though I certainly didn't own too many of them as a kid.  In 1995, Score was kind enough to give you a dozen cards per pack.  Here we go...

Honestly, the design here is still a bit busy for me, but I certainly like it much more than their '96 set.  It's very '90s, but using the colors of dirt and grass at least make it feel somewhat appropriate for a baseball card.  One card into the pack, and we've already got a better pack this time around, as we lead-off with HOFer (and current color commentator) Dennis Eckersley!  Let that mane flow Dennis, let that mane flow.

Nice framing on this Randy Velarde turning two card!

Here's my one-per-pack Gold Rush parallel.  I suppose I could have done worse than Mark Grace.

Really have no recollection of either of the two players who I pulled Rookie subset cards of.

My favorite card in the pack is probably this Geronimo Berroa.  Aside from the great throwback uniform, I love the batting cage shot with the stadium backdrop.

Always fun to pull someone who shares my surname.

The pack finished strong, with newly elected HOFer Edgar Martinez...

...and one of my personal favorite players, the great Jim Abbott.  Is that Wade Boggs lurking in the background there?  I think it might be, but I'm not entirely sure.

Well, 1995 certainly defeats 1996 in the battle of the Score packs.  Finishing out today's trio is...

2006 Topps Series 2.  I didn't start dabbling in collecting again until 2007, so this set isn't all that familiar to me.  Couple of Yankees on the wrapper here, I wonder if any lie within as well?

What's bothered me about the few cards I do have from this set (most of which are buybacks actually) is that the foil makes the team, player name and team position a chore to read sometimes.  I shouldn't have to squint or tilt a card into a certain light in order to decipher it if you ask me.

A couple of pretty good semi-stars in Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez.

Every time I come across a manager card I feel obliged to mention that I miss seeing them in the present-day flagship sets.

There was a Yankee in the pack!  I certainly have quite a few memories of Matsui facing the Red Sox during his career.

"Excuse me, Mr. Zumaya?  Stand just in front of that apartment complex there.  Don't worry about the flagpole there, we'll edit that out.  Same with the giant puddle.  Perfect!"

Final card in the pack, a nice team card of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Bucs had a rough go of it in 2006, going 67-95.

That's a wrap for today.  Tune in next Saturday for the final installment of the Golden Treasures repack box, which will contain the final two packs as well as the handful of guaranteed vintage cards.  Until then, thanks for stopping by!