Pack Rip - 2011 Gypsy Queen Value Pack #4

Alright, so my incredible luck with pulling autos in my first two Gypsy Queen value packs came to an end in pack three. Nonetheless, I pulled two short prints and two pretty cool minis (Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker), which was enough for me to try again at $9 a pop, so I'm back for more. Here's my fourth value pack:

#42 - Jose Reyes

#11 - Zack Greinke

#18 - Christy Mathewson

Christy is obviously the pick of the lot as far as the green framed parallels in this pack. 373 career wins, over 2,500 strikeouts and one of the first members elected to the Hall...not too shabby.

Pack 1:

#71 - CC Sabathia

#287 - Jorge De La Rosa

#265 - Stephen Drew

Double...and the trade pile begins...

#WC10 - David DeJesus - Wall Climbers

Another double, here we go...

Mini #273 - Chad Billingsley

#GO7 - George Sisler - The Great Ones

Pack 2:

#47 - Jimmy Rollins

#242 - Joba Chamberlain

CC and Joba in the same value pack, this has not been a winner for a Red Sox fan like myself.

#261 - Daniel Bard

Ah, that's better.

#SF12 - Orlando Hudson - Sticky Fingers

Mini #300 - Franklin Gutierrez

#346 - Shane Victorino - SP

Pack 3:

#35 - Pee Wee Reese

#170 - Nick Swisher

A Yankee in every pack. Wonderful.

#259 - Aubrey Huff

Another double.

#272 - Felix Pie

Yet another double. In fact I pulled Huff and Pie right next to each other like this just last value pack. I hope these aren't riddled with collation issues.

Mini Black #180 - Alexei Ramirez

I'd be willing to trade this one away, make me an offer if you're interested!

#HH19 - Johnny Mize - Home Run Heroes

There you have it. Probably the worst of the four value packs I've opened. For my favorite card out of this bunch, I'll have to go with the green framed Mathewson.

Belated Thank You to Johngy!

I owe a belated thank you to Johngy of Johngy's Beat for a great package he sent along a couple months back. Inside it were 21 cards off of my 1974-75 Topps hockey want list!

#26 - Cesare Maniago

If you're familiar with this set you know what to expect, a lot of strange looking portrait shots. I've been casually accumulating these for a couple years now, and I'm actually making good progress.

#27 - Bobby Schmautz

#36 - Gary Croteau

#49 - Marc Boileau

Another thing I love about the set, coach cards.

#51 - Bob Leiter

#64 - Bill Flett

Probably my favorite card in the bunch. Did you know Flett was also a rodeo performer?

#85 - Ed Van Impe

#88 - Inge Hammarstrom

#89 - Ab DeMarco

There are some classic haircuts in this set.

#103 - Keith McCreary

#105 - Denis Dupere

#106 - Steve Durbano

#114 - Richard Lemieux

#122 - Jocelyn Guevremont

#143 - J. Bob Kelly

My second new Battleship card in recent weeks.

#146 - Dallas Smith

#148 - Ted McAneeley

#149 - Pierre Plante

#165 - Carol Vadnais

#167 - Ron Schock

#175 - John Stewart

Thank you Johngy! This lot now puts me at less than 50 cards needed to finish this one off. I really appreciate the package!

La Tour Eiffel!

I'll warn you now, you won't find any baseball cards in this quick post. I had a few minutes and wanted to thank Captain Canuck for his suggestion of visiting the Eiffel Tower at night. We strolled over around dusk last night, here's a photo from the second deck looking up towards the top, or "sommet":

Here's another shot, looking out across the city at sunset from the second level:

We did it the right way and went all the way to the top, although my wife was quite terrified as the elevator ascended. By the time we reached the top it was pitch black with thunderstorms on the horizon (but no rain at the tower itself), a beautiful evening. Pictures don't do it justice at night, at least not with my run of the mill digital camera, but here's a shot of my wife looking out over the city from the top:


Thanks for the suggestion Canuck!!!

The Eiffel Tower

2007 Allen & Ginter - #30 - Eiffel Tower

If things have gone according to plan, then I should be seeing the Eiffel Tower with my own eyes for the first time in my life right about now.

Seemed like the appropriate time to post this card!

Pack Rip - 2011 Gypsy Queen Value Pack #3

I was lucky enough to pull an auto in each of my first 2 2011 Gypsy Queen value packs. Could I keep up my good fortune and go 3 for 3? Here we go, framed green parallels first as usual:

#4 - Jackie Robinson

#82 - Starlin Castro

#33 - Ian Kinsler

I'm going to try to build the 100 card framed green parallel set. This probably means that in about a year or so I'll have 50 or 60 of them that I throw in a box and never complete the set, but I'm gonna give it a shot at least.

Pack 1:

#48 - Roger Maris

#101 - Ricky Nolasco

#165 - Yadier Molina

#248 - Dustin Pedroia

Mini #29 - Ty Cobb

Very cool, this is my favorite mini so far.

#341 - Nyjer Morgan - SP

Checklist 1 of 4

Pack 2:

#52 - Carlos Santana

#136 - Brett Myers

#140 - Shaun Marcum

#WC6 - Ichiro - Wall Climbers

Mini #298 - Tris Speaker

Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, this value pack is yielding the best mini cards so far hands down.

#FS16 - David Price - Future Stars

Pack 3:

#42 - Jose Reyes

#162 - Cliff Lee

#122 - Derrek Lee

#WC-10 - David DeJesus - Wall Climbers

Some free advertising for AT&T.

Mini #172 - Ryan Zimmerman

And the streak of good minis is over...

#308 - Kila Ka'aihue - SP

Alright, so no hit in this value pack. I did get two short prints in just 3 retail packs which isn't too shabby. The Ty Cobb mini was my favorite in this bunch: