My Night at Pack Battle.

This past Friday night, the Lakewood BlueClaws (Single-A affiliate of the WFC) hosted a card show. Many were there to take in an evening of Single-A baseball; I was there to play Pack Battle with the one and only Dr. Wax Battle.

(Also, check out an exclusive preview of my next on-location video.)



(h/t Dr. Wax Battle)

Whole-lee Freakin' Crap! This whole Jefferson Burdick Box Break is Bigger Than I Thought.

http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2009/05/honoring_the_greatest_card_col.html

I'll have more on my trip to Jefferson Burdick's grave, and the locals I ran into in my quest, soon.

On-Location Mailday Video.

The morning of my trip to Jefferson Burdick's grave, I got a mailday from Marie of A Cardboard Problem. On my way home, I had to make a detour.

The Greatest Video Box Break Ever: Part Two

The Greatest Video Box Break Ever: Part One

2009 Bowman Baseball

24 packs per box, 10 cards per pack
Supplied from Topps

A Special Preview of my 2009 Bowman Video Break.

I promise you, that my upcoming video box break of 2009 Bowman Baseball will be THE GREATEST VIDEO BOX BREAK YOU'VE EVER SEEN!!!

I wouldn't be making this claim if I didn't think it would be THAT FUCKING AWESOME!!!

Seriously, this box break will BLOW YOUR FUCKING MIND!!!

By the time this gets posted, I'll be on my way to the site of my epic break. I don't want to give away any hints, but all I'll say is the reason why it will be THE GREATEST VIDEO BOX BREAK EVER, has to do with this guy...

Cardola: 2009 Topps Series Two Hobby

Part One:



Part Two:



Part Three:

Me on TV

About a week-and-a-half ago, Philadelphia's new MLS team unveiled their name and crest. The supporters group I belong to held a gathering the morning of the event to celebrate and Comcast Sportsnet was there to document the drunken spectacle.



I had no idea that CSN ran this until Dr. Wax Battle brought it to my attention. Really.

What I got at the White Plains Show: 5/16/09

We were somewhere around Orangetown, on the edge of the Tappan Zee Bridge, when...

HOLY JESUS WHAT'S THAT IN THE MIRROR!



Eighteen-year-olds should not be allowed to drive their parent's SUV. Seriously.

Thoughts and Observations on 2009 Upper Deck Series Two.

Since I seem to be the only person on the planet who has opened Series Two UD Baseball, (Yeah, I know, you're jealous. Don't hate, folks.) I figure I'd give you all a heads-up on what to expect when the UPS guy gets around to your neck-of-the-woods. Consider this a collector's guide to UD2.

1) The master checklist to UD2 has still not been posted to the Upper Deck website. There is a link to Series Two, and it mentions a street date of next Tuesday. But if you're one of those collectors who, you know, actually wants to know what's in a product before you buy it, you'll be disappointed to learn that the UD2 link takes you to Upper Deck's generic "Collector's Zone" page instead.

2) As you may have noticed in my video break, the "Silver Common" StarQuests are back for Series Two. For some strange reason the Silver's in UD1 were exclusive to loose retail packs and Jumbos. Not so for UD2.

OBTW, other than the words "BLUE" and "UNCOMMON" on the back, there is no noticeable difference (at least none to my discerning eye) at all between the Silvers and the Blues. Seriously, they are EXACTLY the same.

3) It appears that UD tacked a few extra cards onto the base set. Series Two was originally set at 500 cards (#501-1000). But according to the Team Checklists I pulled, there are a minimum of three extra cards in the set. Those additional cards -- all of which (surprise, surprise) are "Rookies" -- are:

#1001 Brett Anderson
#1002 Trevor Cahill
#1003 Jordan Schafer

4) Selected players who had base cards in UD1, are also in UD2.

You may have noticed that I pulled the Phillies Team Checklist out of my UD2 Blaster. Comparing and contrasting it with the Series One Team Checklist, five members of your 2008 World F'n Champions (Rollins, Hamels, Lidge, Howard, and Chutley) have base cards in BOTH series. And while UD2 DOES include many of the role players and backups you come to expect from a set like this, J.A. Happ and J.C. Romero are not to be found in either series. That sucks!

So there you have it; a taste of what's to come. Anyway, I think I'll be heading to the Audubon Wal-Mart tomorrow, if you know what I mean.

Video Box Break and Review: 2009 Upper Deck Series Two Blaster

Bloggers Note: 2009 Upper Deck Series Two Baseball is not scheduled for release until May 19. However at the Wal-Mart in Audubon, NJ, Blasters are already on the shelf. Don't tell anyone though, it'll be our little secret.

One Blaster box of 2009 Upper Deck Series Two (paid $19.97 + tax)
Ten packs per box, eight cards per pack.



Base Set: 64 of 500

Parallels: NONE

Inserts

5 Silver "Common" StarQuest: B. Webb, B. McCann, E. Longoria, F. Liriano, J. Bruce
3 Blue "Uncommon" StarQuest: B. Phillips, C-M Wang, D. Pedroia
1 Gold "Rare" StarQuest: B.J. Upton
1 Emerald "Super Rare" StarQuest: B. Phillips
1 OPC Preview: Chipper
1 Upper Deck Allen & Ginter Goodwin Champions Preview: C. Ripken, Jr.
1 20th Anniversary: N. Ryan

Autogamers

1 UD Game Materials: Dice-K

Video Box Break and Review (On-Location): 2009 Upper Deck Goudey.

Part One:


Part Two:


And if you're ever in the Philadelphia/Trenton/Bucks County Area, drop the kids off at Sesame Place and check out Warren's. And tell 'em Stale Gum sent you.

No, this has nothing to do with baseball, cards, or baseball cards. But...

You got to admit, OUR TEAM CREST KICKS ASS!!!



(Proud Charter Member of the Sons of Ben)

Start placing your pre-orders for 2010 Panini Baseball, now.

I guess we now know who Razor's "West Coast Sugar Daddy" was, huh?

(Epic WIN for Wax Heaven)

A Blast from UD's Past.

Why isn't The Hobby marketing itself like this anymore?

Special Preview: On-Location Box Break, 2009 Goudey.