It’s true. I’m serious. I bought two fat packs at Walmart, and there is just something about it. Getting a retail hit helped, but regardless, I can confidently say I would have enjoyed them anyway. These cards have a certain charm about them I can’t deny. Maybe I am just a sucker for ticket themed cards; I have always thought highly of it. Maybe it’s because everyone else seems to hate them with a passion. Maybe it’s because the base cards look out-freakin’-standing. Maybe it’s these admittedly pointless, yet absurdly awesome, parallels with perforated looking top(p)s and bottoms that subtly and excellently further the ticket theme (the very definition of a Hidden Highlight).
I dunno if it’s any one thing. It might well be all of the above. No matter what it is, if nobody else will give topps any dap for this great set, I absolutely will. The relic, and especially dual relic, tickets may be wonkily designed (though I happen to find how they look endearing, in a Wrestlecraptastic Pirate Paul Burchill kinda way), and tickets may come from meaningless games or don’t match the blurb on the back, but those are the only flaws we’re dealing with here. When the base cards and auto/jerseys are so nice looking, the flaws aren’t fatal.
The worst I can call it is a Jeckyll & Hyde-type set, where the good is great and the bad really blows. To me, the highs at the very least equal the lows (and most the lows I find quirky and endearing), so to call this set a mess or total failure is bullsh*t to me. It may have it’s problems, but there are plenty of redeeming qualities too. Seeing all sides of a situation and the positive side of things is kinda my specialty though, so if your mileage may varies, I understand.
Alright, enough jibba-jabba. Let’s get to the packs, shall we? Second pack first (because the hit was in the first pack).
2009 topps Ticket to Stardom fat pack (14 cards)
Pack 2
190 Andy Sonnanstine (Rays)
34 Rich Harden (Cubs)- Keeper!
141 Jeremy Sowers (Indians)
10 David DeJesus (Royals)
177 Alexei Ramirez (White Sox)
109 Gary Sheffield (Mets)
155 Jered Weaver parallel (Angels)- I don’t know what these things are called, but they are awesome. The top and bottom of the card are cut to make it look more like a ticket. Ya know, they say that it’s the little things that make something great, and this otherwise meaningless thing that would normally be a bother (if I were a set builder) goes a long way towards doing that for me. It’s the best kind of genius: subtle. Not everyone will appreciate it, but the ones that do will think it’s fantastic.
TTS-1 David Price (Rays) Ticket to Stardom- 1:4 fat packs
188 Adam Jones (Orioles)
139 Andy Pettitte (Yankees)
95 Ryan Doumit (Pirates)
151 Derek Lowe (Braves)
83 Vernon Wells (Blue Jays)- Reminds me of the autograph of him I pulled back in the day from one of the two packs 2005 topps Pack Wars I ever busted. Also reminds me to let you know that I have five more packs on the way that I hope attempt a youtube break on. Even if I can’t figure out how to do that, I’m sure there will be some nice new trade bait to offer up. 😉 /cheap plug
148 Akinori Iwamura (Rays)
Three evenly spaced Rays in that one. Cool beans on a chilly night. Might there be a certain Troll who could use them? NEXT PACK!
Pack 1
126 Jason Varitek (Red Sox)- Someone jacked most of the contents of the huge trade package I sent to JD’s Daddy somewhere along the way to him, so this will probably go into a new one.
162 (hehe) Conor Jackson (Diamondbacks)
197 Ian Kinsler (Rangers)
165 Vladimir Guerrero (Angels)- Keeper!
62 Cameron Maybin parallel (Marlins)- I’ve pulled several Cabreras and Maybins (including a Goodwin mini of Maybin tonight) ever since I sent out the trade to Wicked Ortega. Guess I might need to get another package ready.
I guess these cards count as die-cuts? That’s how to find ’em on eBay anyway.
TS-9 Albert Pujols Ticket Stub #’ed 065/110- Hi Marie. 😉
Image yoinked from eBay...
That isn’t mine. I’m plenty lazy on my own, but even still, my chances to scan stuff are… severely limited (which is why I have so many trades that haven’t been blogged about yet). You can click on the pic to get to the auction it from wence it came.
For the record, mine has a different pic if Pujols in the corner. The ticket in mine comes from April 6th, 2008. Pujols went 0 for 2 with two walks and a stolen base on April 6th, 2008 in a 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals. Nothing special for Albert, but at least it was a win for his team, and the stolen base is nice. Also, the ticket in mine is better positioned, with Baseball Heaven being fully visible right below the top. I will make sure I scan mine soon so y’all can see if you think the ticket position makes it look as cool as I think it does.
#’ed Ticket Stubs fall at pretty nice odds in fat packs (1:11 packs). It looks like they may be the only hit available in retail packs.
111 Carlos Beltran (Mets)
155 Jered Weaver (Angels)
100 Adrian Beltre (Mariners)- Maybe a keeper, I’m waffling on whether or not I want to collect him.
107 Bobby Abreu (Angels)
115 Mark Buehrle (White Sox)- Do you need either of the Sox I pulled, Steve? I’m still trying to put something together for you for all that cool stuff you sent awhile back.
44 Mat Latos RC (Padres)
Checklist 1 of 2
Like I said, I really like these cards. To some, I may have overhyped them up top, but that’s how I roll. Gotta give some love to the things I like as passionately as I can, since I’m so often misaligned with what the general public likes, or dislikes, in this case. Eh, what do they know anyway? 😛
Oh, here’s the pack of Goodwin Champions I also picked up tonight.
125 Chris Johnson- Tennessee Titans star running back, in his collect uni. Ayyy, there be a pirate on the back. Yarrr, I guess it be East Carolina’s logo.
190 Alex Hinshaw SP (Giants)- Cool, this is an SP. I finally just now got around to looking at a checklist, lol.
234 Cameron Maybin Mini (Marlins)- Ohh, so this is a Mini Exclusive. That’s cool. I’m doing quite well with Goodwin minis. DiMaggio, Lebron, Steve Carlton, a near triple crown racehorse, and this.
That animal insert is cool too, although it’s a killer whale and not a panda. Meh, they got the same color scheme. Honest mistake. 😛
118 Bucky Dent- Pfft.
Okay, time to sketch some cards. I’m falling behind already. Later gators. 🙂
Life and Baseball Cards 