Is this a Hot Box?

I was on the fence about building 2011 Topps Heritage and while reviewing posts on the production, I cam across some interesting information over at A Cardboard Problem. 

While at a card show last weekend - (note: good CSA show at Oaks PA - maybe review eventually) - I noticed a case of Heritage Boxes being sold by a dealer.

And I had to check.  

The upside down Topps Logo can see at the Bottom Right Side of the Red oval.  This would be a rumored "Hot Box" - I checked in a stack of perhaps a dozen boxes of Heritage it was the only one box wrapped in the upside down cellophane.    

So I have Two Questions 1) Do you think this is a Hot Box and 2) Should I feel dirty for checking the stack to find this box? 


I figure I can say that I bought the box in the name of the all important research related to card collecting.

2010 Topps T206 Case - Group Break Results - Twins

I couldn't get the Phillies in the T206 Case break over at A Cardboard Problem, so I took the Twins - They always have good young talent and plus guys Like Morneau Mauer and Liriano.

This is may be the first break I participated in this year and the first one I have ever watched live through the magic of UStream. Unfortunately one of the aspects of the break we were looking forward to was cashing in on a Strasburgmania - of course as luck would have it Strasburg would have Tommy John Surgery basically the day of the case break.

Still it was fun to watch the break as Marie performed the marathon of opening 140+ packs.

The Draw of the Twins cards included 2 Relic Cards of Kevin Slowey and a Cycle Mini of Jason Kubel

Click to enlarge
2010 Topps T206
#27 Jason Kubel (Cycle back #d 72/99)
#TR-KS Kevin Slowey Relic

I think they could have come up with a nicer way to stamp the Cycle cards. The numbers run right over the bottom of the first C. It is as if serial numbering the cards was an afterthought.

There were actually 2 Slowey Relics in the break. The one that has the b-side displayed here also has a stripe on it, but it is a bit crooked.


#228 Francisco Liriano
#349 Joe Mauer/Checklist #214-#257
#204 Justin Morneau (gold)

I have no idea what building Morneau is supposed to be looks like an older dorm at southern school. The Mauer card is a checklist, I also picked up a Mauer Base card in the break.

Minis
#127 Nick Blackburn (mini-Piedmont back)
#204 Justin Morneau (mini-Polar Bear back)

I am on a bit of a mini kick right now and enjoyed these. I am particularly fond of Polar Bear minis and will likely turn collecting those into some sort of obsession at some point.

There were a bunch of non-Twins base cards that I got including one Phils card.

#285 Jayson Werth

Bit of a fan favorite - especially among the ladies - this is likely one of the last cards that will be issues of Werth in a Phils uniform. Jayson will be a free agent after the season and is likely to head elsewhere for big bucks.


Thanks again to Marie over at A Cardboard Problem for running the break.

Phungo 5 with A Cardboard Problem

The Phils open interleague play as the first National League team to play in brand new Yankee Stadium. This also means the Phils are the first team to play in both new New York Ballparks. I was only at the original Yankee Stadium three times but was pretty excited to go there each time. This series should be an exciting one packed with star power and I am looking forward to it.

To represent the Yankees we have called upon Sooz, one of the lovely ladies who contributes to the blog "A Cardboard Problem". Sooz is also an award winning columnist for a New Jersey newspaper who is familiar with both the Phils and the Yanks.

1) If I am heading to Yankee Stadium what is my best way of getting a reasonably priced ticket?

Well, I'm lucky in the sense that I know a lot of people with season tickets, including Marie. So when I need a ticket I just hit up one of my buds and see if anyone can get me a ticket. I've never been shutout of a game before because of it. However, I hear the secondary market has been pretty decent. Although, as of right now (wednesday), Yankees have won five in a row, so the prices might be going up.

2) How has covering a baseball teamed influenced your collecting habits.

There are certain players I have met that have a bad attitude. It makes me never want to even look at their card. I had to talk myself into going to talk to Kouz when San Diego was in Philadelphia because if he was a jerk to me, I was going to look at my collection and cry all over it. Then, try to sell it.

More than that, I try not to let my personal life entire with my business life. I collect cards for fun. I work to make money (even though that's fun too).

3) How often do you tell Marie that she's crazy for trying to collect the entire Yankee Stadium Legacy set?

Hmm. I actually don't know if I ever called her crazy for that. I call her crazy for lots of other things though. Probably about twice a day.

4) That short RF seems to be custom made for the Phils power hitters - Over Under for Homers between the Yanks and Phils this wkend I set at 10.5. Do the two teams go over or under that? .

For three games? Over. I was just having this conversation yesterday. Ryan Howard might break the over/under by himself. Man, with him and Ibanez, who is red-hot right now, there could be a lot of homers in this series.

5) Does your life have anything in common with PJ Franklin other than your profession?

When the show My Boys first started, I had to watch my back to make sure someone wasn't following me. Our lives are amazingly similar, it's weird. I love sports, cover baseball (most of the time), play poker and have mostly male friends. I'm very casual and have a sailor's mouth (just as I suspect she would if the show wasn't on TBS). I am PJ. PJ is me.

I probably should award a 5 out of 5 right away, because the more I read the more I realize how much 10.5 is an underestimate for the number of homers in this series. But I will take the safe route and give Sooz a 4 of 4 pending the HR outcome of the series.

It is good to hear that Sooz has a PJ like lifestyle and I would love to hear some o the things that she calls Marie crazy for, but I guess we will have to catch that over at A Cardboard Problem. I would like to thanks Sooz for playing Phungo 5 and look forward to seeing all those Howard and Ibanez bombs this weekend.

For a look back at a previous Phungo 5 with Nachos Grande click here.

Phungo Cards - Mike Mussina

2009 Phungo #20 Mike Mussina

Today the Hall of Fame committee selected Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice as it's class of 2009. Henderson is an obvious choice and is going in on his first ballot, Rice is not as obvious and gets in on his last ballot. I haven't really looked over Rice's numbers, but from what I have read Rice's qualifications are certainly in the neighborhood. The only non-member that I know enough to construct an argument for would be Bert Blyleven and possibly Ron Santo.

What does this all have to do with today's Phungo Card? Well, if he remains retired, in 2014 Mussina will be on his first Hall of Fame ballot. At that time I am pretty sure that I will advocate his induction into the hall. If you want to see some of my arguments for Mussina's Hall of Fame credentials check out the Phungo post from November in reference to his retirement.

As far as the Phungo Card, I have selected a dark blue for the Yankees border color. Mussina gets a hero number of 20 for his card. I did this to represent his 20 Wins in his final season. His uniform number is 35, I will let you ponder who got that number instead over Mussina. You may also notice in the player postion I have added the designation of ACE. I have annoited certain pitchers as Aces if I think they are the top pitchers on their staff. I am sure this can be debated during Mussina's career in New York. He may not have always been their ace but over the last 5 or 6 years he has certainly been one of their steadier pitchers. This picture was taken on May 3rd of this past year. It was a Saturday day game. Mussina pitched well giving up one run over six innings scattering 7 hits, all singles. Good enough for Career win #254.

I hope that Mussina gets one more victory when they announce the selections for Cooperstown five years from now.

If you want to know more about Phungo Cards, read some background here.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

There was another reason I selected Mussina today, I wanted to recognize the great young ladies over at A Cardboard Problem for getting into the Heavenly 7. They are of Yankee fandom and put out quality work that is both informative and funny - Best of all they drop by here to comment occasionally and are also active participants in Spot the Sig!

Speaking of Spot the Sig! Night Owl Cards got this weeks STS! and broke PTBNL string of four consecutive STS! victories. I will have more on Alex Rios and the autographed card later this week. Tonight, however I am hoping to do some streak busting of my own. If you were with us last night, you now that Team Phungo is in a Phillies drought. We have opened 18 EIGHTEEN!!! consecutive packs and not drawn one Phillies card. Can you believe that??

This is the first pack, 08 UD Masterpieces. I think at least two of our participants picked Masterpieces and I appreciated it. Here goes. RIP!!!

#36 Miguel Cabrera
#8 Jim Palmer...funny doesn't look like Palmer
#60 Whitey Ford and I think I have this card already.
#39 Roy Oswalt

bummer 19 packs and still no Phils.

Sorry Sooz, Sorry Fan of Reds. No Phils in the Masterpieces Pack. Tomorrow or Wednesday I will have a Post on the 05 UD MVP, which was only picked by DayF.