The Card Show Grab Bags!

I teased the contents of two card show grab bags a couple of posts ago and now it's time for the big reveal. Just to recap, this is the second time I have purchased these grab bags from the dealer and he claims the following for the $4 bag:  20+ cards, no junk wax, players with name recognition or higher end cards, and a relic or autographed card.  I could go to my LCS and purchase any number of $4 or $5 packs and not get the same return.  So, why not?

First up, the Anthoy Rizzo grab bag:

 We start with a Goodwin Champions card of Nolan Ryan in a suit and tie. Where do I put this in my trade box? It just says "baseball" where the team name is supposed to go.  Hmph.

Next up are some cards I was a little disappointed to see in the grab bag: 2015 Topps Series 2. Meh.  If I wanted flagship I would have just went and purchased a pack. And the names?  Double Meh.

I'm starting to regret this purchase already, and we're only seven cards in.

Cards eight and nine are inserts and bring a little more name recognition in the likes of Frank Robinson and Goose Gossage.

The inserts were followed by a few packs of Diamond Kings.  I really like this set, so there was no griping from me on these.

The last card of the lot, card number twenty-six (not counting the Rizzo), was an A-Rod jersey card from Turkey Red.

 I know where this card is heading, and it isn't into my collection.  Thank goodness I have same Yankee fans in my Rolodex!

Overall, I would give the Rizzo grab bag a D grade.  I definitely remember receiving more bang for my buck last time I purchased these.  Hopefully the Russell bag will rid me of that Topps Series 2 aftertaste.

Boom!  Mays and Aaron right off the bat!

A sliding Enos Slaughter and the Splendid Splinter!

 Another Ted Williams and one of the better known pitchers from that era in Whitey Ford.

 Ted Williams hit 0.378 for his career against Whitey and had an OBP of 0.511 against the southpaw.  Wow!

Here's a nice looking reprint card of Smoky Burgess. Smoky came up a Cub, I knew he was a Pirate, but I didn't know he played for the Fightin' Phillies.

 This pack just got interesting! The Kid, with backwards hat and all!

The Big Hurt! Just look at that smile.

Eck!  I love the Duracell oddball.  I think the only cards which should not have logos are the oddballs.  That's the way it was when I was growing up.

More Nolan Ryan!  Hey, Nick, need a card with Nolan on a horse? It would look good in your FrankenSet.  Let me know!

 Horizontal Nolan!

 Another Baseball Hero in Mr. October.  Man, I can't wait for October and playoff baseball!

Mr. Bloody Sock!  And both cards are numbered.  The Moments and Milestones card is 13/150 and the Topps Finest is numbered to 199.  I think the Finest card might be a green parallel?

 Manny and Vlad!  The Manny is numbered to 150, just like the Schilling card.  This is an early Vlad Pinnacle card, perhaps a rookie?

 Yuuuuuuuuuu!  I hope he comes back healthy next year.  I healthy Yu is good for baseball.

More ARod and an early Bowman card of Jimmy Rollins. That's a nice surprise!

A shiny Chris Davis and a mini Gio Gonzalez.  I love me some randomness and this grab bag certainly is certainly full of it!

 Oooooh!  Shiny and purple and numbered to 149.  Lane Thomas?  He was a 5th round pick for Toronto in 2014 and batted right around the Mendoza line in fifty-two games in the low minors this year.   I guess that's why a nice colorful parallel made it into the grab bag.

 The thirty-second card (not counting the Russell) is our relic card.  It's another Yankee, but this time it's Chien Ming Wang. 

I would give the second of the two grab bags an A.  Four numbered cards, some oddballs, plenty of Hall of Fame players, and it wasn't a simple dump of Topps flagship or Diamond King cards. This one was good for the trade box!  Plus, there was a half dozen more cards in this one.

There you have it folks!  I don't know if they were each worth the four dollars I paid, but they were fun to open.

As always, thanks for stopping by AND go Cubs!