The Return of Pack Wars

Several weeks ago my sister, Jane, gifted me most of her card collection from her childhood. Before doing so she plucked out certain cards she thought I would appreciate on some level and wrapped them up for me to do a Pack Wars post. Crazy to think, but Jane actually reads my blog . . . and she's contributing! She bought a couple packs of 1986 Topps to do battle with her Pack of Mystery.

Here's the packs before we get started.

 Jane's Pack of Mystery will be on the left throughout this post and the 1986 Topps offering will be on the right. (The picture above has them flip-flopped. My bad!) This battle is set for 16 rounds! So, without further delay... Here. We. Go.


Round 1

Ah, a Fleer sticker card, in a penny sleeve, versus twenty-three-year-old cracked gum. No, I did not try the gum. I do see a Cubs sticker though! Winner-winner!

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  1
1986 Topps =  0

Round 2

I've always had a fondness for the Record Breaker subset. Yet, Tony Perez cannot compete with a Hall-of-Famer in a Cubs uniform! For what it's worth, this 1960 Topps card is firmly planted in my Hall of Fame binder!

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  2
1986 Topps =  0

Round 3

Holy Cow do I love that classic Pirates hat Jim Tanner is sporting.  These Score inserts were a fun read when I was learning baseball history back in the day. This one is a bit outdated though. It still may wind up in my Cubs World Series binder eventually.
A point for Jane's pack, but it was a lot closer than you'd think because of that hat!

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  3
1986 Topps =  0

Round 4

 Crinkled 1975 Hostess card of Ted Simmons . . . a Cardinal. Usually, I love well-loved vintage cardboard, but this is a little extreme! I'm not sure how to pronounce Ed Wojna's last name, but he's not a Cardinal and he assures us the 1986 Topps pack won't be shutout!

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  3
1986 Topps =  1

Round 5

One crease . . . deckle edge . . . legit 1969 vintage . . . not a Cardinal. Scott McGregor didn't have a chance. Richie Allen for the win.

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  4
1986 Topps =  1

Round 6

Trimming! What a scandal! Oh my! Dale Murphy is underrated and so are those powder blue road uniforms, but how you can not take a smiling Jose Cardenal here? Easy win!

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  5
1986 Topps =  1

Round 7

More 1969 deckle edge! Tommy Helms wearing one of those sleeveless jersey tops with a red t-shirt underneath. Just wonderful.

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  6
1986 Topps =  1

Round 8

More Cardinals? Pink? Ugh. Mel Hall is a convicted sex offender. Double Ugh.  Alex Kellner . . . gulp . . . a Cardinal . . . wins. #facepalm

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  7
1986 Topps =  1

Round 9

Hostess with the most-est! Jim Palmer, a member of Cooperstown, versus Curt Young. Sorry, Mr. Young. You didn't have a chance.

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  8
1986 Topps =  1

Round 10

I'm a fan of Maury Wills and I have no idea who Dave Schmidt is, but it looks like a spring training photo to me. Maury doesn't need the help, seeing as his card is FIFTY years, but I believe that is a batting cage on the left side of the card. That's awesome!

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  9
1986 Topps =  1

Round 11

1958 Topps is an underrated set. 1986 Topps is one of my least favorite designs.
Somewhat off topic pondering: Charlie Rabe was once traded, as part of a 4-for-1 deal, for Don Newcombe.

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  10
1986 Topps =  1

Round 12

Woot! Ralph Kiner, as a Cub, on 1961 Fleer cardboard. Oh, but I do believe that's a Glenn Davis rookie card!  Pshaw... what was I thinking! Kiner all the way! Again, the Kiner is in my Hall of Fame binder.

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  11
1986 Topps =  1

Round 13

Randy Bush once let me try on his World Series ring . . . he was the assistant general manager to Jim Hendry and was visiting Peoria during one of the Cubs Caravans in the middle of winter. That was a pretty cool experience. The Hal Newhouser is also from 1961 Fleer and it resides in my HOF binder, but it doesn't bring back any cool memories. 1986 Topps wins again!

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  11
1986 Topps =  2

Round 14

Wow... that is some "loved" vintage. Man, those White Sox uniforms are awesome. I'll take Greg Walker here, but only because I don't like touching the 1953 Topps card.

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  11
1986 Topps =  3

Round 15

I don't think of Enos Slaughter as a Kansas City Athletic, but that is one beautiful card. How many cards out there show a pick off move to first? 1956 Topps is full of so much goodness. Oh, and this is now another card in my HOF binder!

Current Score:
Jane's Pack =  12
1986 Topps =  3

Round 16

Roberto Clemente is one of my favorite Hall of Fame players of all time. Jose Cruz was a good player, but he's no Clemente. Plus, Collect-a-Books contain a bio, stats and a caricature of the player within their pages. How can I not choose that as the winner?

FINAL Score:
Jane's Pack =  13
1986 Topps =  3

Hmmm... the only three winners for 1986 Topps were Ed Wojna, Randy Bush and Greg Walker. Not exactly household names. I didn't see that coming!

Thanks for the cards, Jane!

If you liked this Pack Wars post then I have good news for you: Jane created one more pack for me to share! Stay tuned!