2010 Allen & Ginter Wantlist

Took me long enough to post this eh? eh, so I'm slow. Trying to get my Ginter house in order since I am kinda sorta committed to this set. At least until Topps screws it up like Heritage.

Base
COMPLETE!!! Thanks Duane!

Short Prints
COMPLETE

This Day in History
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Topps Ganks Pictures From Wikipedia - #3 Pigs

More Yoink! Same set.  Different year. Last one for today, just wanted to establish the theme and maybe stir up some isht while the National is going on.

2010 Allen & Ginter Three Little Pigs

Topps Pigs

Wikipedia Project Gutenberg Pigs

Ok, so it's Project Gutenberg instead of Wikipedia. Close enough for government work.

Topps Ganks Pictures From Wikipedia - #2 The Horror

More Yoink! from Allen & Ginter.

2011 Allen & Ginter The Amityville Haunting

Topps Amityville Horror

Wikipedia Amityville Horror

Top 20 Intermission - Checkin' Lists Allen & Ginter

After completing the 2007 and 2008 editions of Allen & Ginter, 2009 remained unfinished due to financial concerns and 2010 remains unfinished due to sheer laziness. The morning of the card show I hurriedly scribbled out wantlists and vowed to knock out some of these sets. I must say that I was triumphant in this regard. I did the best on 2006 Allen & Ginter. This stuff got real expensive real quick when it first came out and I couldn't find enough packs to get close to completion. Five years later and piles of it including SPs show up in dime boxes. Patience is a virtue in this hobby, and I'm not just saying that for the benefit of all the people I owe cards to.

I knocked out either 17 or 18 out of this set depending on whether I need the Tony LaRussa I picked up. It was on the list but I could swear I had it already. No I haven't put them in my binder yet, I'm equal parts lazy and busy. Here's 9 notables from the dime pile.

If this was a vintage card set, this would be the 'key' card of the set. A short printed GoDaddy.com rookie card. I found many of these costing 8 dollars and up during my travels. I got it for a dime and got with it my most triumphant memory of the card show. When I showed up I slowly looked down the first aisle, scoping out the dealers so I could make a game plan. At the very back corner of the show were a couple of tables stacked two deep with dime boxes. Lo and behold, there was Chris Harris of Stale Gum plugging away at the boxes. He had attacked the boxes the day before and already had a pile of '90s stuff picked out again today. I commented that it looks like he had already wiped out the boxes and Chris replied "You snooze you lose". My tastes in cards are substantially different than Chris so I starting picking through his sloppy seconds and found a few goodies for myself. Both of us were meticulously avoiding the massive stash of  Bowman and Chrome (full Pringle effect evident even in the monster box) that were infesting the boxes. On box two or three I found a cache of 2006 A&G. Brilliant! My list writing did not go for naught! After gleefully picking out a dozen needed cards I came across the Danica. I showed it to Chris. "Look here, a Danica Patrick short print in a dime box!" Chris replies, "Hey, I need that card!" You snooze you lose, Chris, you snooze you lose...

YOGI! I think this might be a short print too. A rule of thumb with the 2006 A&G set is that if the card number ends in 5 there's a good chance that it's a short print. I haven't done the math, but it's about a 90% chance. There's also a run of short prints in the 50's and 150's. Skip numbered short prints are quite ridiculous and the fact that they kiboshed that in 2007 probably helped the brand become so popular with set collectors.  Topps still does that skip numbered crap for other sets though, most recently Magic Football.

Topps must hate Bobby Cox. Almost off of the Topps cards of Bobby from the past 10 years make him look like a decrepit old geezer. Upper Deck's cards of Bobby looked good. Topps' later year cards of Casey Stengel and Earl Weaver made them look good. Bobby's look like someone who escaped from the nursing home for the criminally aged. That's just plain wrong, the man is still running around Spring Training doing some work for the braves before going off on a cruise this April. Probably a wild tropical sex cruise, 'cause Bobby is still a fightin' pimp. Booooo Topps! Your photo selection sucks! Why U hate Bobby?

Also I'm pretty certain I have this card already, just not in the binder.

I'm so mad about Topps giving Bobby crummy pictures that I'm ready to fight! You! Skinny wuss! I'mma beat you up now! POW POW POW! Ouch! Shouldn't have gotten in a fight with champion pugilist Bob Fitzsimmons. This is a pain that shall linger.

Hey! Da pope! You all realize that one day I shall MSPaint Father Guido Sarducci's head into this card, right? Maybe not today... maybe not tomorrow... But it will happen, just you wait.

THIS is the shit I'm talking about Topps. Bobby's card looks like grampa pooped himself at the family reunion while Joe Torre looks like a motherflubbing mafia ninja gunfighter emerging from fog and shadows ready to murder you with your own spleen. Yeah, no bias showing there, Topps.

I pulled a David Wright relic card in the second pack of A&G I ever opened and am now only getting his base card five years later. Cards are funny like that.

Here's one of those short prints, number 145 of Jorge Cantu. Who the hell wants a Jorge Cantu card? Set collectors, team collectors and his mom, most likely. But I dare you to find this card anywhere other than the internet...

Finally, here's a card of Douchey McSnoogens. I don't know what that means but I'm not calling Popcorn McMunchybutt by his official nickname anymore because it's stupid. Ya hear me Weenie McDuckiedrawers! I shall no longer submit to the tyranny of your dumb nickname! J-Hey is fine though.

This is card #50. I'm not sure if that's a short print or not.

When I first wrote up my recap of the card show I stated that I was unable to find any cards off my 2009 list. This was an inaccurate statement. There was a box of 2009 short print cards ready for the picking. Unfortunately there were only about 20-25 of the short prints in the box with about 15 copies of each. I was able to pick out three I needed: Jeff Francis, John Baker and Wladimir Balentien (Did anyone do a Happy Balentien's day joke this year?). I tried to post the Francis, but Google images choked.

Just as well, no one cares about a Jeff Francis SP anyway.

The 2010 wantlist resulted in half joy, half heartbreak. First the heartbreak. I did find a large box of 2007-2010 Allen & Ginter commons for sale. However, the box was not priced. And there were short prints peppered throughout the box. And the cards were not in numerical order. I picked out ten off my list including two short prints before I got fed up and quit. When I decided I was ready to check out I discovered the proprietor had buggered off and left the table in the hands of someone who had no clue or interest in the price of these cards. I got 'em all for 2 bucks. Not terrible, but with a little organization or even a freaking price I might have really cut down that list. I got the Braun at least:

Inside the same quarter box as that 1952 reprint card was this:

Aw yeah, Chippah! I didn't know if I needed this for my history set or not but who cares. Turns out I didn't have it in the binder. I probably have it in a package or a Chipper box but hey, got one for the binder now.

2010 Allen & Ginter Box Break - Pack 21 - 24

Limping towards the finish line...

Pack 21:
207 Wandy Rodriguez
24 Brandon Webb
14 Shane Victorino
225 Mark Teahen
55 Esmil Rogers RC
336 Hiroki Kuroda SP +2
169 Felix Hernandez mini A&G +2
TDH23 Dan Haren TDIH +1

I've had Brandon Webb stashed on the DL of my fantasy team all season. He ain't coming off, I'm afraid. Kuroda got a hard luck loss against Tim Hudson and the Braves on Friday night. the Dodgers deserved it after choking that huge lead against the Phillies the night before. The mini is a nice one of Felix Hernandez. Does Felix make the FrankenSet?

YES

Kazuo Matsui can't keep out King Felix.

Pack 22:
266 Adam LaRoche
255 Robert Scott +2
97 Zach Duke
96 Roy Halladay

THE LAST HIT

MY ONLY HOPE

FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUkudome.

guuuh. It's his pants too. Cub farts.
Maybe I can get the booby prize for lowest points. +8

231 Travis Snyder black border mini +3
TDH49 Justin Morneau TDIH +1

Negro Leaguer Robert Scott dulls the sting of a horrible relic. Even though it's a black border, I'm doubtful Snider gets in the A&G binder. Let's check... does he make it?

NOPE

A 2006 Tadahito Iguchi blocks his path.

Pack 23:
192 Tom Knapp - Don't shoot! I surrender!
257 Ervin Santana
226 Brian McCann +1
100 Matt LaPorta
235 Carlos Guillen
191 Justin Morneau
187 Jair Jurrjens mini +1
TDH12 Andre Ethier TDIH +1

Woooo! Two Braves! Jurrjens has got to go in the FrankenSet right?

YES 

Jair bumps a 2007 Russell Martin A&G mini card.

LAST ONE THANK THE MAKER

232 Hubertus "Master of Hellfire" Wawra
149 Ichiro
106 Dustin Pedroia +2
181 Tyler Colvin
293 Troy Tulowitzki
330 Jonathan Papelbon
55 Esmil Rogers RC mini
TDH2 Stephen Drew +1

I am fully aware of the fact that Dustim Pedroia is the player on the Favorite Players list and not Ichiro. I still chose to scan Ichiro instead. Sox fans have Papelbon to stare at anyway.

The mini was some rookie I've never heard of. Not even asking the question.

NO

A Rockies rookie with 45 innings pitched in the majors is not dislodging a 2007 Ken Griffey Jr. A&G mini card out of that binder.

Ok, time to wrap this whole shebang up.

Most interesting non-scoring card:

Tom Knapp

BanG!

Ze box. She ees dead.

Most interesting This date in History:

Battle of Iwo Jima Ends. Next time you hear the attendance of a ballgame was 27,000, remember that's how many people died fighting over a tiny rock in the middle of the ocean. War is Hell.

Gint-A-Cuffs Final Total:

Box Topper: 8 points

Pack 1: 3 points

Pack 2: 3 points

Pack 3: 15 points

Pack 4: 8 points

Pack 5: 3 points

Pack 6: 7 points

Pack 7: 4 points

Pack 8: 10 points

Pack 9: 3 points

Pack 10: bupkis

Pack 11: 7 points

Pack 12: 7 points

Pack 13: 9 points

Pack 14: 5 points

Pack 15: 12 points

Pack 16: 10 points

Pack 17: 3 points

Pack 18: 5 points

Pack 19: 6 points

Pack 20: 2 points

Pack 21: 5 points

Pack 22: 14 points

Pack 23: 3 points

Pack 24: 3 points

GRAND TOTAL: 155 points

That's a wrap, folks...

2010 Allen & Ginter Box Break - Pack 17 - 20

What?! An Allen & Ginter box break post? How'd that happen??

Pack 17:
277 Regis Philbin
231 Travis Snider
122 Yadier Molina
281 Kurt Suzuki
18 Jose Lopez
348 Asdrubal Cabrera +2
11 Wade Davis BASE MINI ZOMG
TDH47 Brandon Phillips TDIH +1
Code Ad

I know, this post has taken me forever. I probably missed the deadline for Gint-A-Cuffs with my procrastination. I couldn't help it, every time I started to write the post Regis stared up at me and peered into my soul. In his eyes I could hear him say "Nice post BUT IS THAT YER FINAL ANSWER???" No! It's not my final answer! I don't know what to write it's toomuchpressure. Dammit, why couldn't Topps have done a card of Merv Griffin instead.

Oh looky, a base mini card. Woo. Does it make the FrankenSet?

NO

A 2006 mini of Ramon Hernandez stays in the binder.

Pack 18:
297 Isaac "Fabulous" Newton
165 Nick "Enigma" Jacoby +1
139 Miguel "Drunky" Cabrera
101 Mark "Houdini" Buehrle
7 Ryan "Gimpy" Howard +1

343 Brad "DL" Penny SP +2

144 Stewart "Oh God my ears are bleeding why does he keep saying booyah oh please make IT STOP" Scott mini black border
TDH44 BJ "Heh heh... BJ" Upton TDIH +1

Oh goody. A black border card of a caricature. He better not make the FrankenSet.

YES

Empty spot in the binder! FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU

Pack 19:
254 Rich Harden
264 Captain Nemo
87 Carl Crawford +1
113 Billy Butler
2 Evereth Cabrera
39 Josh Johnson
171 Michael Young +1

137 Ryan Zimmerman
MM9 Apatosaurus +3
TDH56 Jimmy Rollins TDIH +1

Yep that was a 10 card pack. When I was opening the box this thick pack gave me visions of Rip Cards and Cut autos and crazy thick relics dancing in my head. Instead I got a couple extra base cards. Le sigh. the dino card is nifty though. And how is Michael Young a favorite player and Albert Pujols not?? Crazy game, this Ginter.

Pack 20:
121 Francisco Rodriguez
112 Tyler Bradt
184 Jake Peavy
249 Alfonso Soriano
177 Pedro Feliz
324 Randy Winn +2 -1
222 Gary Gentry RC mini
TDH46 Yovani Gallardo TDIH +1
Code Ad

These packs suuuuuuuuuucked. At least I got three SPs and a couple of base mini rookies. Just not the base mini rookie everyone else wants. So does this one make the FrankenSet?

I DON'T KNOW

I forgot to check this one before writing the post. Do you really care?

Ok time to wrap this up.

Most interesting non-scoring card:

Tyler Bradt

I know, I thought it would be Captain Nemo too. A fictional submarine captain doesn't beat a real live person who goes over waterfalls in a kayak though. Sure, I could have chosen Newton, but I used him for a pimp joke up at the top already. Seriously, kayak, waterfall, sploosh. Holy crap.

Most interesting This date in History:

The Treaty of Versailles: The treaty that ended one great war and directly caused a second great war. Appropriate that a peace treaty be on a Brandon Phillips card. What he said was shocking, just shocking. HOW CAN YOU HATE ANYTHING WORSE THAN THE CUBS, BRANDON??? This is madness!

Gint-A-Cuffs total:

Box Topper: 8 points

Pack 1: ???

Pack 2: 3 points

Pack 3: 15 points

Pack 4: 8 points

Pack 5: 3 points

Pack 6: 7 points

Pack 7: 4 points

Pack 8: 10 points

Pack 9: 3 points

Pack 10: bupkis

Pack 11: 7 points

Pack 12: 7 points

Pack 13: ???

Pack 14: ???

Pack 15: ???

Pack 16: ???

Pack 17: 3 points

Pack 18: 5 points

Pack 19: 6 points

Pack 20: 2 points

TOTAL: 91 points + Pack 1, 13, 14, 15, 16's points

Does it really even matter if I add up the rest of the points?? Is there a consolation prize for last place?

2010 Allen & Ginter Box Break Part 5: Packs 13-16

THIS POST ONLY: snarky comments on all 64 cards pulled out of these four packs.

Man, it's been a while since I did the last Gint-a-Cuffs post. Sorry, I got totally distracted by blasters.

Pack 13:

130 Area 51 +1
Only Topps could make something as interesting as Area 51 the most boring card in the set. At least the Suez Canal card was vaguely filthy if you squinted.

237 Kevin Millwood
Good pitcher, rotten team. What would his career have looked like had he stayed with the Braves?

251 Chase Headley Lamarr
Now go DO... That VOODOO... That YOU DO... So weeeeeeeell!

289 Loafer Ramirez +2
Thanks for the new manager you lazy oaf!

66 Orlando Hudson
Exhibit A on why the current free agent draft pick compensation system is broken.

150 Grady Sizemore +2
So who else picked this guy early in your fantasy drafts?

MM4 Clever Girl +3
Randall Munroe's favorite trading card I reckon.

TDH69 Alexei Ramirez TDIH +1
The Sox are pulling off a bigger Houdini act than the Braves this year. Braves vs. White Sox World Series, mickeyfickeys!

Pack 14:

129 Steve Gutenberg +1
The inventor of the formulaic cop comedy that is awful, yet entertaining.

213 Mark Reynolds
Apparently striking out 200 times a season is acceptable now. Who'd a thunk it?

263 Ruben Tejada RC
Now I want a pastrami sandwich with kraut and thousand island on grilled rye. No, not want... NEED.

4 Princess Fielder
The Brewers are doing a remake of Midnight Cowboy with Ryan Braun playing a gigolo and Fielder in the role of Fatso Rizzo. Oscars all around, baby.

202 Aramis Ramirez
A miserable season by Aramis is barely noticed in the swirling vortex of Fail up on the North side.

310 Enrico Palazzo SP +2
And the rocket's red glare... buncha bombs in the air... gave proof to the night... that we still had a flag...

NA30 Koi Japan +1
Fishies! I like this set. Much more civilized than showing off crooked politicians.

TDH57 Miguel Tejada TDIH +1
Honestly, I've pulled so many Miguel Tejada cards on this blog, I've totally run out of jokes for the guy.

Pack 15:
11 Wade Davis RC
Other than Heyward, I have not recognized a single rookie so far. Apparently this guy doesn't suck from what I've heard.

288 Bobby Jenks
Not a great picture job by Topps on this one, it looks like he has mold growing on his chin.

256 Rick Porcello
I know damn well I've seen this picture before.

265 Kendry Morales
Lice looking photo on this one though. Shame about the injury.

UT OH

IZ TEH HIT

AGR-AE Andre Ethier Jersey +8

Yessss! There are Dodger fans in the Gint-A-Cuffs! And their favorite players are... Kershaw and Kemp. #@$%!!! Oh well this is a sight better than Smarjzdjiajadjizjiadiza.

122 Yadier Molina mini +2

An actual base mini card! Can it really be.....

Nope. Another A&G back. Yadi make the set?

NO

A 2006 mini of Brad Penny is in his spot. 2006 minis are scarce in my set and must be preserved.

TDH 36 Hanley Ramirez TDIH +2

I make fun of Hanley's defensive loafing, but this year Yunel Escobar has had just as many mental lapses as HanRam only without the hitting. Crumbs. Now I'm sad. Just so you know how long it took me to get this post together, Escobar was still on the Braves when I wrote about this card.

Pack 16:
156 Cameron Maybin
Think the Fish would like Cabrera back?

291 Ron Teasley +2
Yay! My first Negro League player! Wayne played for the New York Cubans and was in the Dodgers' minor league system.

119 Dan Uggla
Speaking as a Braves fan, this guy is a colossal pain in the ass.

167 Dan Haren
Can you say trade bait? This guy is dealt every three years like clockwork. 

252 Matt Garza
I think the Rays steal the division this year. Don't know how, I just think they will. 

AGHS9 Jimmy Rollins Sketch +3
I am mildly bemused by the plethora of articles floating around written by sports wonks who are utterly shocked and horrified that the Phillies are seven games back.  However, I do not think they will be seven games back all year long, and the Braves and Phils play each other a LOT in September. This season is long from over.

WGW54 Miguel De Cervantes Wordsmiths +4
When you come to think about it, card bloggers ranting and raving about monopolies and licenses and gimmicks high end travesties and a certain publisher/grader/industry lobbyist/propaganda machine is just a lot of tilting at windmills, ya know?

TDH37 Ichiro TDIH +1
All Ichiro cards are good Ichiro cards. No exceptions. I dare someone to show me a bad Ichiro card. I'm waiting.

Most interesting non-scoring card:

All the interesting cards scored points this round.

Coolest This Date In History:
 
John Scopes Is Indicted For Teaching the Theory of Evolution

Three out of four historical events on these cards had to do with horror, war and death. I chose this one because Inherit the Wind is a damn fine film. Rent or stream or torrent this sucker whenever you get a chance, you won't be disappointed.


Gint-A-Cuffs total:
Box Topper: 8 points
Pack 1: ???
Pack 2: 3 points
Pack 3: 15 points
Pack 4: 8 points
Pack 5: 3 points
Pack 6: 7 points
Pack 7: 4 points
Pack 8: 10 points
Pack 9: 3 points
Pack 10: bupkis
Pack 11: 7 points
Pack 12: 7 points
Pack 13: ???
Pack 14: ???
Pack 15: ???
Pack 16: ???
TOTAL: 75 points + Pack 1, 13, 14, 15, 16's points

I had time to either upload the images or calculate the Gint-a-Cuffs points this morning, but not both. I think I chose wisely.