It's not easy being green...

I have to admit, I'm a huge fan of the emerald parallels out of 2013 Topps.
The fact that there are 18 Cardinals (until S2 and US), also appealed to me. I don't know why, but how cards are going to lay out on a page really influences how I may or may not try to complete a
base/insert/parallel set. 
So, here is my latest pick up:

 This is the photo from the eBay sale, if you are in any way familiar with my inability to scan multiple cards at one time, you understand.

Currently, I am 3 cards away from completing the (S1) set:
188 Brian Fuentes
235 Jake Westbrook
305 Shelby Miller

On a sidebar: Why is Brian Fuentes in this set? He was a member of the organization for around a month, and wasn't a notable contributor. I'm sure there's something in his contract with Topps that obligated them to include him, but I think there are some better choices out there.

Minus my almost-set, here are the extras I have for trade:
4 Molina x2
50 Wainright
125 Holliday (Wild Card)
130 Motte
193 M. Carpenter
207 Holliday
224 Jay
261 Rosenthal
269 Cardinals x2
321 Craig

I've got trade night in a few weeks and I've got a spot in a case break coming up, so hopefully I'll be able to increase posting frequency!

Staying unabashed and interested,
Ruffin

My favorite pack I've ever opened... (Plus a little more)

Well, let me explain my parameters for "favorite" and "pack":
Favorite = made me the most happy to open, generally Cardinals/MSU related
Pack = single pack bought, not part of a box, or multi-pack purchase

Now let me back up to my favorite box that I ever bought, if you will.
It was a hobby box of 2011 Topps Update (regular). I had already busted a jumbo box and pulled a monster hit (of which I need to get the picture from my LCS if they still have it, lol) but one day I just wanted to open a 36-packer.
My first hit in the box made me happy enough, but it's currently in trade discussions via Twitter...

My second "hit" will be sticking in the keeper box for a long time...

I didn't scan the back, but would you believe it's #'d 7/60? I remember being pretty stoked about it, and I still am, haha!

Now, onto my favorite pack that I've ever opened!
I swung by my LCS today to drop off some video games for their resale department, so I could pick up some credit for trade night tomorrow. On my way out, I noticed the open jumbo box on the shelf was running kind of low, so I looked in and saw there were only 2 packs left.
Normally, I'd stay away because I know I'm probably going to buy the second pack after I bust the first. But today, I figured "I can exercise some self control, right?"
I picked up the packs (one in each hand), and the one in my left hand felt a little heavier than the other one.
After cursing the shop owner for letting me get to that point (Sorry Nate!), I resigned myself to my fate.

I saw a thicker card in the center of the pack, and I really tried to move it to the back without looking at it.
I failed...but I wasn't disappointed.

 And if that wasn't enough, I also ran across this...

 And 5 more Cardinals!

 For those of you who want to know, here are my inserts]minis out of the pack:

(Still trying to master multi-card scans, sorry!)

I wish the emerald foils were more than 1:1 per jumbo and 1:6 per regular, Topps really did a good job on these! 

The "calling cards" insert series, I find a bit lacking. Maybe it's just because I've only seen the Teixeira, and it was a bit disappointing. 

On the other hand, the '72 Minis are NICE! Dickey has been a "fringe favorite" (aka non-Cardinal) of mine since I learned that he has the best bat names in the business.

I was surprised to get 5 Cardinals base cards in one jumbo pack, so here's a quick breakdown of the other teams/base in the pack (Not counting inserts)

3: Reds, Giants (2 postseason cards)
2: Dodgers, Cubs, Mets, Angels, Red Sox, Phillies, Orioles, Braves, Mariners
1: Rays, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Astros, Rockies, Royals, Brewers, White Sox, A's, Yankees, Nationals

For those of you keeping count, there was also a 2012 NL RBI Leaders card. I was surprised to see that the top three were players from the Padres, Brewers, and Cubs. It intrigues me, I don't know why...

That wraps up my jumbo pack, and almost wraps up this blog entry!

I was browsing through the half-price box (on my second attempt to leave!), looking for some Bob Gibsons I had seen a few weeks ago. They were no longer there, this card was, and I was okay with it:

This 1961 Musial is now the oldest card in my collection, and I am very proud to own it!

I'm still trying to decide on whether I'm getting a jumbo or regular box of S1. There is a pack raffle, so the regular would benefit me more, and I think the jumbo is a little more out of reach given my purchases today, haha!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by!
Staying unabashed and interested,
-Ruffin