New Blog Home

I was having some technical difficulties so I decided to move my blog to WordPress and see if I like it. Please bear with me as I become more familiar with WordPress – pretty soon I will be seending out more frequent posts. Here is the link to the new blog.

Craig's New Blog

Craig in Texas

Product review: 2009 Bowman Chrome....

Well, I decided to open a box of Bowman Chrome to see if I was going to like this product. One thing for sure, you know you are going to get one autograph per box and some refractors of players that you may want to put away. You never know -- in a few years you may have the next Albert Pujols! Each sealed box contains 18 packs of 4 cards each in a 330 card set including 110 Bowman and 110 Bowman Chrome cards. Each box also contains ONE Bowman Chrome Autograph Prospect card. The autograph I got in my box was Brett Anderson of the Oakland Athletics. There are the usual parallel sets: Bowman (Refractor, X-Fractor > #`d to 250, Blue > #`d to 150, Gold > #`d to 50, Orange > #`d to 25, Red > #`d to 5, Super-Fractor > 1-of-1, and Printing Plates > each is a 1-of-1) and Bowman Chrome Prospects (Refractor > #`d to 500, X-Fractor > #`d to 250, Blue > #`d to 150, Gold > #`d to 50, Orange > #`d to 25, Red > #`d to 5, Super-Fractor > each is a 1-of-1, and Printing Plates > each is a 1-of-1). Insert: Autograph Prospect cards 1:18 (Refractor > #`d to 500, X-Fractor > #`d to 250, Blue > #`d to 150, Gold > #`d to 50, Orange > #`d to 25, Red > #`d to 5, Super-Fractor > each is a 1-of-1, and Printing Plates > each is a 1-of-1). Overall this product is a good value every year. I give it a 7 out of 10. For a checklist of the 2009 Bowman Chrome, please click here:

2009 Bowman Chrome Checklist


I will try to get my pics working.....

Stay tuned for my next review and other news!!

Craig in Texas

Product review: 2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions

As most of you know I am a big fan of Topps. Occasionally, something from Upper Deck will catch my attention. Yesterday, it was Goodwin Champions. A friend of mine opened a case and after he told me what he got in it, I was determined to go ahead and get a box!

Goodwin Champions reminds me a lot of Allen & Ginter -- nice looking base cards plus you will get one mini per pack. There is also the non-baseball element that seems to be the delight of a few and the disgust of many. You are "guaranteed" to get three hits per box which usually consists of two game used jerseys and an autograph. As far as case hits go, I was told you could get an original Goodwin Champions card from the 1800's, an Entomology card, or a printing plate. Also randomly inserted are Magician mini cards hand numbered to 8! My friend got two of these rare Magician cards in his case. If it were me, I would have had two common cards but since it was my friend, he got some guys named Derek Jeter and Lebron James!

As far as the hits in my box, I received two game jersey cards: Justin Verlander and Steve Carlton. My autograph was a redemption for an autographed card of Felix Hernandez. I really enjoyed opening this box.

Overall I rate this product a 7.5 on a 10 scale. I would have rated this higher but a few of my cards had centering issues.

I'll try to get some pictures later....

For a checklist of these cards, you should look here:

2009 Goodwin Champions Checklist


Stay tuned for more!

Craig in Texas

My Interview with a Champion....

Recently, I got the chance to interview Jason Wong, the first champion code breaker of the Topps Allen & Ginter "Crack the Code" contest! I am really jealous of him as I did attempt to crack it but failed.



Craig in Texas: How were you notified that you were the first to crack the code?

Jason Wong: I was notified by phone. When I submitted my answer I also added my phone number. The contest ended on October 22 and a Topps brand manager for Allen & Ginter called me on October 24, two days after the contest ended.

Craig: How was the selection made for your picture that is on the card?

Jason: All I had to do was submit a picture, any picture I wanted. I asked if it was OK to wear an Orioles jersey and Topps said yes as long as it was a current jersey. It must not have been a current jersey because if you notice the picture does not have the Orioles on my card. BUT if you see a cloth card (limited to 10) it has the Orioles on my jersey.

Craig: Did you get to choose what information was printed on the back of the card?


Jason: Yes, just like the picture, I could write anything I wanted. I was limited to what I could say and could only use up to 300 characters.

Craig: Have you gone to a card shop or card show and bought one of your cards without telling the card dealer who you are? If so, have any of them recognized you or asked you if you were Jason Wong?


Jason: I have gone to one card show and that was last weekend. No one knew who I was and I really didn't expect anyone to recognize me. I was trying to finish my set and needed less then 20 cards. I saw two people have singles for sale. The first guy had all but two cards I needed and one of me. He didn't even look at my card. I didn't say anything so I just paid for the cards I needed and went on my way. I saw the second guy and I was down to two cards I needed. He had one and then I asked if he had any #338's, he had two, he looked at the front and looked at me and looked at the card again and asked if I was him. I said yes but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. We talked for about 15 minutes. I signed one for him and left.

Craig: I have read that you are autographing some of your cards for collectors as well as doing something special for charity. Explain this process.


Jason: Yes, I saw collectors who do TTM for there collection and collectors trying to get whole sets autographed. I figured no one knows who I am and no one would be able to locate me unless I created something like a website or blog. I always wanted to do something for charity. We raise money at work for different charties so thought I would take advantage of my card to raise money for charities I wanted. I wasn't going to take advantage of my card for my own benifit so I wanted to do something for charity. Don't get me wrong the ones at my work are great but none go to animals or other charities I liked. In October I will be signing 10 cards all hand numbered to 10 in pink sharpie for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These are the only 10 I will sign in pink sharpie.

Craig: What is the address that we collectors can send you cards to have autographed or to give you?


Jason Wong
PO Box 51
Annapolis, MD 21404

2009 Topps Heritage Update news, notes, and opinions....

It is official. There will be a 2009 Topps Heritage High Number set this year. However, why Topps will be including two Topps Updates & Highlights cards in each pack AGAIN this year is beyond me. Last year, I opened a bunch of the 2008 Heritage Update and ended up giving away all of my 08 U&H base cards to anyone that wanted them.

According to Beckett.com, Topps officials on Thursday afternoon released preliminary images and product details on 2009 Topps Heritage High Number Edition, an update to the basic 2009 Topps Heritage set that includes 220 new cards numbered 501-720, including 75 rookies.



In addition, Topps has confirmed that every autograph in the product will be signed on-card and every pack of the product will include gum. OK, the gum I can do without. I would much rather Topps spend money on obtaining better autographs than spending money on gum!!

Each pack will deliver six Topps Heritage cards and two Updates & Highlights cards (why Topps, why???) and every box will include one autographed or Relic card. The product is set to release in mid October.



Please tell me that the autograph selection is not going to be similar to what we saw when 2009 Heritage released!!! Heritage seems watered down these days with no chance of solid autographs. Remember the earlier releases of Heritage when you could get Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Warren Spahn, Frank Robinson, and several other Hall of Famers? Now, in what I am sure is a cost saving measure, Topps is trying to spark our interest by omitting good autographs with these so called "super short print" base cards which cost nothing to make. Didn't we all learn our lesson from the error craze of 1989 and 1990? Just as the error card craze busted I hope that the super short print craze will bust as well so we can get back to the good old days of getting decent autographs out of packs. C'mon Topps, you can do better! Maybe I am jumping the gun a bit here and this update set will be loaded. Time will tell.....

Craig in Texas

Please click here for my current want list....

A new type of cut!! Get your scissors ready...

Please tell me that this buyer is not this dumb! The seller is very accurate in his description yet look at what this card sold for!!! UNREAL!!!!

You have to give this seller credit!!

I am going to go get my scissors ready -- what do you guys think???

Craig in Texas

2009 Topps Updates And Highlights info.....

Topps announced product information and released preview images for its 2009 Updates & Highlights baseball set on Thursday.

The product is scheduled to arrive in October with 180 traded players and 55 rookies on the checklist as well as Sketch Cards and All-Star Game Relics.

Also returning will be Legends of the Game as well as Turkey Red, Career Bests and World Baseball Classic inserts (with as many as three jersey swatches on some Relics) along with a new addition — Stadium Stamp Cards.

Each hobby box will include one autograph or Relic as well as a Rookie Chrome Refractor box-topper. Each HTA jumbo box will include two Relics and one autograph.

Click here for pictures:

http://beta.beckett.com/group/185223/?tab=tabArticles&p=732276#ViewArticle

Pretty soon I would expect some information on 2009 Topps Heritage update!!

Craig in Texas

Hair raising pull - HONEST! (As in Honest Abe...)

Could imagine opening a pack of cards and pulling this from a pack???

HAIR RAISING PULL OF A LIFETIME!!

Unfortunately for me, I was not the one that did. However, looking at this card has made me begin to wonder the future of these so called "hair" cards. With the release of 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter, I am beginning to wonder if the influx of more hair cards (Bigfoot, the horse Archie Bunker, and others) which are mainly gimmick cards will destroy the value of these types of cards in the future. I know the purpose of creating these types of gimmick cards such as the Loch Ness Monster, Unicorn, the Invisible Man, etc. is to create some buzz but come on Topps! It does not cost anything to make these! Think of the money that Topps is saving by not having to pay for Hall of Fame autographs! The same thing occurred with 2009 Topps Heritage. The buzz was created behind 7 super short printed cards. I would love for the return of quality autographs such as Willie Mays and Hank Aaron!!

What does everyone else think???

I would be curious to know!

Craig in Texas

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter: Case Review....

Well, I went ahead and opened my case of 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter. After first noticing the base cards, the thing that sticks out to me the most is the look of each card appears sharper than in year's past. The card stock seems brighter and whiter giving a nice clean, crisp look. The concept of the mini cards is pretty much the same as year's past: regular minis, A & G back minis, black bordered minis, no-numbered minis, and Bazooka minis. 1 of 1 wood minis are also randomly inserted but I was not lucky enough to receive one of those. The no-numbered minis this year are hand numbered to 50 which is a nice improvement. However, hand-numbering makes it easy for devious people to change 1's to 4's, 6's to 8's, and so on. Therefore, when buying secondhandedly, buyer beware! The Bazooka minis look a lot sharper in color and really stand out -- hand numbered to 25. There is also an unannounced insert set called Inventions of the Future. This is very similar to the Snakes insert which was unannounced in a prior release. There is also an insert set called Creatures of Legend, Myth, and Terror which are the most colorful minis that A&G has ever produced! A couple other mini insert sets of interest are National Heroes and World's Biggest Hoaxes, Hoodwinks & Bamboozles. And then there is my favorite which is why I always buy more hobby product than retail -- the RIP card!! Collectors lucky enough to pull a RIP card have a decision to make. They can rip the card open to reveal the mini card inside which can be an exclusive high number mini card, an autograph card, or a 1/1 painting. Or, the collector can leave it unopened. This is very similar to those people who own old wax packs. People may choose to open them or leave them in their unopened state. In my RIP card, I went ahead and opened mine and pulled a high number mini card of Felix Hernandez. Right after doing so, Felix beat my Texas Rangers 3-1 so I was not too happy but I know I will be able to either to sell this or trade it to some King Felix fan out there. One thing I really like about Ginter is the unknown. You never know what interesting cards you might find! Last year, I remember getting a mini boxing relic card featuring a swatch of a boxer's glove. This year is no exception! I pulled a relic card of Bryan Berg with part of a playing card. I also got a relic card of a champion sailor with a piece of her rashguard. Then there are the autographs! I received 6 in my case. They are: Scott Olson, Justin Masterson, Conor Jackson, Jeff Francoeur and champion sheep shearer Loren Opstedahl, and champion swimmer Lynne Cox. My favorite hit in the box was actually getting a N43 box topper of Alex Rodriguez. This N43 has a game used jersey piece with pinstripe numbered 09/25. It is also up for trade towards some vintage cards I need but it will most likely end up on EBay. I heard about Ginter code cards but unforunately for me I did not receive a single one in my case!! I am sure it is a production error of some kind but a bit irritating nonetheless. How am I supposed to solve the Ginter Code if I do not have any Ginter code cards??? The insert set Baseball Highlights looks very similar to Upper Deck Masterpiece inserts and look outstanding. Much better than the funny looking Dick Perez inserts in a prior release. National Pride insert set is a 75 card set and that has nice color as well and a great player selection. The base set itself is 350 cards and after cracking open my case, I believe the only shortprints are numbered 301-350. I was able to make two complete sets. Overall, I give this year's Allen & Ginter an 8.5 out of 10. (As a reference point, I gave 2009 Topps Heritage a 4 out of 10.) Once you are done opening a box of this product you will want to go back for another one -- it is that good!

For the Allen & Ginter checklist, click here:

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Checklist













CASE BREAKDOWN AND ODDS:

The Ginter Code Parallel 1:12 Expected 24 Received: 0 (production error??)
Baseball Highlights Sketches 1:6 Expected 48 Received 48
Short Print Parallel 1:13 Expected 22 Received 21
A&G Ad Back Parallel 1:5 Expected 57 Received 58
A&G Ad Back Short Print Parallel 1:65 Expected 4 Received 5
Black Bordered Parallel 1:10 Expected 28 Received 29
Black Bordered Short Print Parallel 1:130 Expected 2 Received 3
No Number Parallel 1:95 Expected 3 Received 2
Bazooka Ad Back Parallel 1:191 Expected 2 Received 1
Wood Parallel 1:2780 Expected 0 Received 0
National Heroes 1:12 Expected 24 Received 23
Creatures of Legend, Myth, & Terror 1:48 Expected 6 Received 6
World's Biggest Hoaxes, Hoodwinks, & Bamboozles 1:12 Expected 24 Rec'd 24
RIP CARD 1:257 Expected 1 Received 1
Framed Mini Printing Plates 1:608 Expected 0 Received 0
Framed Mini Cloth Cards 1:278 Expected 1 Received 2
Framed Autograph Group A 1:2730 Expected 0 Received 0
Framed Autograph Group B 1:51 Expected 5 Received 6
Framed Red Autograph 1:1801 Expected 0 Received 0
Allen & Ginter Cut Signature 1:186000 Expected 0 Received 0
Framed Relic Group A 1:100, Group B 1:215, Group C 1:39, Group D 1:17 Expected 26 Received 29
Framed DNA Relic 1:186000 Expected 0 Received 0

BOXTOPPERS:

Cabinet Boxloaders: 6
N43 Boxloaders: 5
N43 Boxloader Relic: 1

UNANNOUNCED SPECIAL:

Inventions of the Future 1:case?? Received 1

RIPPED OPEN MY RIP CARD:

Rip Card Mini Exclusive #392 Felix Hernandez

Please feel free to comment here! Thanks!

Craig in Texas

Ready to jump in the pool? 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter is HERE!!

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter is now live! I heard there are several Michael Phelps autographs available in this product! The design of the cards have changed from prior releases but still gives that nostalgic look. I am really looking forward to busting some boxes next week. Here is a great card just released (not mine):

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter is LIVE!!!

Check it out! I would like to hear comments on whether you think this product will be a hit or a dud this year!

Craig in Texas

WOW!! So this card really does exist and here is the proof!

After months of not getting anything decent from a pack, I finally get a card that is extremely rare! Instead of keeping it for my set, I decided to let someone else own this rare key gem:

My Ebay listing of this rare must have to complete your set!!!

Hopefully I will continue my luck when the 2009 Heritage update comes out!


Craig in Texas

Check out this Babe on the golf course!!!

I always knew that Babe Ruth could hit the long ball in baseball. What I did not know was that the Sultan of Swat played golf as well.

Check this out:


This has to be one of the nicest I have seen in a while!!

Craig in Texas

What was I thinking?

Sometimes, I open up packs and pull pretty decent cards. With these cards, I usually sell or trade them right away unless they qualify for my personal collection. Well, here is one I wish I could have hung on to. This guy is on fire and is on everyone's top prospect list....

What was I thinking by selling this???

I sure would like to buy it back for this price!!

Craig in Texas

Opening this from a pack would be a hair raising experience!!

As I was browsing around, I came across this card. I could only imagine the expression on the person's face when this was pulled!!!

Allen & Ginter 1 of 1 relic card!!!

Have any of you out there ever pulled a dream card like this??

Craig in Texas

The new launch of www.toppsheritagestore.com

I have launched my new web site devoted to Topps Heritage cards. On
this site I plan to sell singles, inserts, boxes, and sets. Right now
it is in it's infancy stages but it is fully functional and I
encourage you to check it out!

More information to come soon so stay tuned!

www.toppsheritagestore.com

Craig in Texas

Look at how many Buchhs this sold for!! AMAZING!!

I was surfing the net as I usually do and came across this card. I know that these type of cards usually command a premium but I could not believe my eyes when I saw what this one sold for:



Look at how many Buchh's this sold for!!



After more research it turns out that the seller of this card really had no intentions of selling this card but rather wanted to generate a little publicity and probably was hoping for a publication like Beckett to take notice. I can only imagine his surprise when the high bidder was someone that has over 8,000 feedback!! My immediate thoughts were that this was some April Fool's joke. Could it be?? What do you think???



Craig in Texas

I'd be willing to Gamble that this is the most outrageous looking card ever made!

I was going through memory lane by looking at my Topps sets and came across this card. I wonder if he has any regrets.....

The funniest card ever made??

If you know of a card that is funnier, I would be interested to hear from you!!

Craig in Texas

Strange happenings with 2009 Topps Heritage.....

I think it is really strange that this year's Topps Heritage produced the following results for me in two of my auctions that ended Sunday night. Whatever happened to selling great players for high prices? Man, I sure do miss the chances of getting some decent hall of fame players -- unfortunately this year Topps forget to include them in the product! :)

I can not believe this card sold for this high!

I can not believe this card sold for this low!

Craig in Texas

Which year has the best Topps design of all time???

In my opinion this is the year of the best Topps card design of all time and has always been my favorite set:

The Year of the Best Topps Design of All Time?

Do you agree? If not, what year do you think is the best Topps design ever?

Craig in Texas

I pulled two variations from Topps Heritage!!

I was lucky to pull this Topps Heritage variation out of a pack:

2009 Topps Heritage Variation John Smoltz

Then, I sorted all of cards into numerical order and I saw this:

2009 Topps Heritage Variation Conor Jackson

I have a bunch of Heritage to trade and will be posting my want lists soon.

Craig in Texas

Topps Heritage Variation #5 and #6 DISCOVERED!!!

There are seven confirmed "super" shortprints and #5 and #6 have just been discovered!!! Check them out!!

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #6

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #5

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #4

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #3

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #2

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #1

I still have a few boxes of Heritage coming -- if I get anything good I will post it here so stay tuned!!

If you have not signed up to be a follower of my blog, please do. Thanks!

Craig in Texas

The Price Is Right CONTEST #1

I thought it would fun to have a contest! Let's play The Price Is Right!

It's simple--guess the final price of this:

2009 Topps Heritage Real One Autograph


HERE ARE THE RULES:

1. Players must post their guess by emailing me by noon Saturday (12:00 pm) CST on March 14, 2009. Auction will end on Sunday March 15 and winner will be announced by Monday March 16.

2. Simply send me an email with your guess. Please put TPIR #1 in the subject line and include your name and your guess. You may only guess once and you may not change your guess. My email is parker95@cableone.net. PLEASE DO NOT GUESS BY REPLYING TO THIS THREAD -- SENDING ME AN EMAIL WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME TO TRACK.

3. Closest guess WITHOUT going over wins.

4. I reserve the right to modify rules if I feel they are needed since I am new to hosting these contests.

5. Your name and guess will be posted on my web site [url]www.mytoppscards.com[/url] so you can follow along. I will not use your full name just first name and initial of your last name or a nickname if you provide that.


The winner will get a 2009 Topps Heritage game used jersey or bat card of their choice from this list:

Kevin Youkilis jersey
Kurt Suzuki bat
Dan Uggla jersey
Miguel Tejada bat
Cameron Maybin jersey

I will try to have these contests weekly depending on how this one goes!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Craig in Texas

2009 Topps Heritage Retail Case Break

I went ahead and opened two retail cases of 2009 Topps Heritage Baseball. I really like the design of these cards and the odds are not that much different when compared to the more expensive hobby version. All in all, I am very pleased with the cards I received but I noticed that there was something quite peculiar....where are the regular Chromes? Odds are that I was supposed to get one in 10 packs?? Here is the breakdown of what I did get. Do you think I beat the odds?



CASE 1 FINAL RESULTS....

SP - 63
BF - 17
TN - 15
NAP - 12
NF - 13
Chrome - 4
Chrome Refractors - 16!!
Black Chrome Refractors - 4!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clubhouse Collection - 1 - Dan Uggla



CASE 2 FINAL RESULTS....

SP - 61
BF - 5 (strange that this is so much less)
TN - 24 (strange that this is so much more)
NAP - 14
NF - 16
Chrome - ZERO!!
Chrome Refractors - 23!!!!
Black Chrome Refractors - 0
Clubhouse Collection - 2- Miguel Tejada, Cameron Maybin
Real One Auto - (1) Art Schult

Topps Heritage DUAL RELIC!!

As you all probably know by now I am a huge fan of Topps Heritage baseball. I was looking on the internet and came across this card. Man oh man I wish I could pull this out of a pack!!

2009 Topps Heritage DUAL Flashback Relic numbered to 10!!

Speaking of pulling cards out of packs, the best card I ever pulled out of a pack was back in 1999-00 Upper Deck Retro basketball. I pulled a redemption card for a Michael Jordan autograph numbered to 23 and ended up selling it for a lot more than I ever imagined.

That was my best pull ever - what is yours?

Craig in Texas

Topps Heritage RETAIL case break coming soon!

Hey gang! I will be posting a case break this weekend of 2009 Topps
Heritage. I opened a few hobby packs and got a Black refractor of Mark
Teixeira numbered 05/60!! The 500 card set is VERY hard to put
together and I have been trying to the past few days to do this and
today my 500 card set is now complete!! I will be trading this set
for a lot of 1967 Topps High Numbers in EX or better condition that I
need for the set I am working on. If anyone else wants a 500 card
Heritage set and has vintage to trade, please let me know! My want
list is updated and is located on my web site at www.mytoppscards.com.

Stay tuned for the case break!

Craig in Texas

Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #3 CONFIRMED!!

Well, initially my friends and I who opened several boxes of 2009 Topps Heritage thought that there were no variations or surprises. In fact, most of us are disappointed in the value of 2009 Topps Heritage and feel that last year, especially the high numbers, provided more value in the way of decent hall of fame inserts. I pulled a red ink Frank Robinson and a dual relic numbered 59/59 that had Jay Bruce and Frank Robinson on it. Well, even though so far this has been a disappointing start to the Heritage season, there have been three confirmed "super" shortprints:

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #1

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #2

2009 Topps Heritage Super Shortprint #3

I still have a few boxes of Heritage coming -- if I get anything good I will post it here so stay tuned!!

If you have not signed up to be a follower of my blog, please do. Thanks!

Craig in Texas

I'd place this Mantle above my fireplace!!

As I was looking on the internet I came across this card. It is a 1/1 out of this year's Heritage. I can only imagine the feeling of opening up a pack and getting a cut signature of a Hall of Famer.

Here it is:

2009 Topps Heritage Cut Autograph 1/1

Can you say wow???

Craig in Texas

2009 Topps Heritage -- I'm disappointed...

Well, I went ahead and opened, sorted, and examined every card out of 12 boxes and I have to say I'm disappointed in this year's Topps Heritage. I love the design of the base cards. That is about the only thing I like though. The SP's (426-500) are easy to spot as the card backs are darker than the base cards from 1-425. The inserts are the same as last year -- Then & Now (10 cards), Flashbacks (10 cards), News Flashbacks (10 cards), and New Age Performers (15 cards). I was just told that a "super short print" has just been discovered. Here it is:

2009 Topps Heritage Variation

Out of 12 boxes I am still several SP's short of a set. I received one black refractor of Carlos Zambrano and one autograph of Art Ceccarelli. Other than a handful of Clubhouse Collection no names, I did not receive anything of great value. The autograph selection this year is VERY weak! Whatever happened to the likes of Willie Mays and Hank Aaron? This year I do not know of any hall of famers that are in the autograph set. It will be interesting to see what the odds are in retail packs but mark my words -- the price of Heritage hobby cases will definitely drop from the current $900 level in the coming weeks. Last year's 2008 Heritage High Numbers is such a better value and can be picked up for hundreds of dollars cheaper.

Here are a few pics of my pulls -- nothing exciting yet but maybe once I hit the Targets and Wal-Mart stores, my opinion of this year's Heritage will change.

Topps Heritage - Like a carrot dangling just out of reach!

Not fair!!! I want to open and give my review of this year's Heritage but it looks like I will have to wait until Friday since I have not been able to locate any in Texas. Oh well, meanwhile, enjoy this scan of a black refractor also pulled by my friend Kevin!

2009 Topps Heritage is here!!!

Well, I have proof that 2009 Topps Heritage has been released!! Unfortunately, I do not have any here in Texas. My local dealer says he has confirmation that he will have it on Friday and I will post my pulls shortly thereafter. Meanwhile here are a few pictures of cards that my friend Kevin has posted.....

2009 Topps Heritage!!!!

I managed to find this picture on the internet!!!! Any day now and I will be ripping!!

Also, I saw this card and began to wonder. How can someone hang on to this for 200 years and is it possible to do a DNA test to prove its authentic??? I am not a scientist but I would be curious to know the answer. It is an amazing card but the buy it now seems a bit high in my opinion....

Presidential Hair Cut Autograph

Craig in Texas

Topps Heritage -- 2 days away???

Well, I am kind of bummed out as there are no signs of any 2009 Topps Heritage!! I doubt it will be available by Wednesday!! The latest I heard was that it will be available in card stores this Friday. What a way to spend a weekend by opening Heritage and chewing gum!!! The first card I see will be posted here and I will be checking daily so once again stay tuned!!!


Craig in Texas

No sign of Heritage

There is no Heritage sighting as of right now. I have checked the bay and all over the internet and NOTHING!! :(

Oh well! A friend of mine was telling me of this card and I have NO idea why it is going for over $1,000!!! I thought this was like a $20 card!!! Check it out:

Hideo Nomo worth this much???

Hopefully I will have better news to report on Heritage tomorrow -- stay tuned!!

And thank you goes out to JayBee for his kind comments in his blog. I encourage you to check it out here as it is a GREAT BLOG:

JayBee's Topps Card Blog

Craig in Texas

Topps Heritage - any day now!!

Well, it is almost here and usually when a product is supposed to release in hobby stores on an upcoming Wednesday, you will see the cards start to pop up on EBay the weekend before. Right now, I have yet to see any 2009 Topps Heritage baseball but stay tuned as I will post a link to the first card I see!

MY WEB SITE!!

Craig in Texas

Topps Heritage - 6 days away!

It is now only six days away until the release date! I can already
smell the gum! I should be getting my shipment on Wednesday and will
be reviewing the product as well as posting pictures of my better
cards. Stay tuned here for all of the fun!

Topps Heritage

Well heritage should be released next Wednesday and we should start
seeing these cards popping up on Ebay soon. Will Heritage be released
in retail before it hits the hobby stores? That was the case with
regular Topps. Stay tuned here to find out!

Here is an amazing video of a box break of 2008 RAZOR signature oval office cuts. Be warned -- there are a couple of words that little kids shouldn't hear....

2008 RAZOR CUT AUTO VIDEO PULL!!





It is available here if you want to buy it...

2008 RAZOR CUT AUTO!!

Topps Heritage - 10 more days away!!

10 more days until Topps Heritage is released!!

I should have the checklist soon so stay here for more details!

A friend of mine was telling me of this historical card that went over $4,000. Check it out!!

Barack Obama and Jackie Robinson Cut Autograph

Topps Heritage - 11 days away!!

11 more days until 2009 Topps Heritage. If anyone has a preliminary checklist that is more organized than the one off of the Topps web site, please let me know. Thanks!

www.mytoppscards.com

Craig in Texas

Topps Heritage

Well, we have 12 days left until the release date of Topps Heritage
unless it gets delayed. I look forward to this product every year.
This year I decided to prebuy my cases from a reputable dealer after
getting delayed last year by svu18. So I went with lrcards who has
been reputable among my Collectors Universe trading buddies. Big
mistake. Lrcards went out of business and now people are scrambling
trying to find dealers that have Heritage. As of this post there is
only one dealer that has a case listed on Ebay, Blowout Cards. Blowout
is basically price gouging asking for well over $900 a case. Blowout
used to have decent prices as I have bought from them several times.
However, they have recently changed their ways and now charge prices
that you would expect to see at card shops in shopping malls. Well,
those are my thoughts for today. Check back tomorrow and every day for
more Heritage news!

Topps Heritage Daily Blog

I started my blog several months ago and thought I would go ahead and give it another try. Hopefully I will update this on a much more frequent basis. Please look at my web page at http://www.mytoppscards.com/ for my up to date trade list and want list. In a couple of weeks, 2009 Topps Heritage will be released. This set will have the design of vintage 1960 Topps. I look forward to this product every year. Stick around here to see updates as we inch closer to the release date!

Craig in Texas

Check out the 2009 Topps Heritage Preview here!!