First Group Break: Sign Ups are Live!

First, indulge me as I ramble a bit.  I've been a little frustrated with Topps' monopoly and Panini's lack of a license and for the first time since I jumped back into the hobby in 2009 I am not going to build a current set.  I could go on, but it is much of the same you've read around the blogosphere.  Blah. Blah. Blah.

So, here's what I've done to satisfy my set building desires for 2014.  I've been picking up boxes on the cheap at card shows and I've managed to pick up these three from local dealers:
1989 Swell Baseball (135 cards in set, 36 packs in box, 10 cards per pack)
1990 Swell Baseball (135 cards in set, 36 packs in box, 10 cards per pack)
1991 Swell Baseball (150 cards in set, 36 packs in box, 10 cards per pack)

Didn't I say in my last contest post, "I have three swell boxes picked out..."?

I've also placed an order for the box below and it should arrive early next week:
1990 Pacific Legends (110 cards in set, 36 packs in box, 10 cards per pack)


If you're not sure you're interested take a look at the checklists I have linked above and please reconsider.  We're talking about names like Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, and Roberto Clemente, plus guys who aren't featured very often to today's product like Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, Boog Powell, and Tommy Agee. 


I'm going to crack open the the four above boxes and keep one duplicate of each card.  Just to make this clear, let's say I pull four Manny Sanguillen cards (#126) from the '90 Swell box.  Whoever selects the Pirates would receive the first, third, and fourth Sangullien cards.  I'm keeping the first duplicate (the second card), because I'm attempting to build he set.  If I would only pull one Sanguillen card, then the blogger who selects the Pirates would get it and I'm off on my search to find one to fill my set.  No problem for me, because I love the chase!

Seeing as there's 360 cards in a box and the largest set is 150 cards, the odds are in your favor to get a team set. Because I'm keeping one of each card it will keep the prices down in the break and you won't get tremendously loaded down with duplicates!  A win for everybody!

Let's get to the details.  I figure shipping is going to run around $2.50 per team (padded mailer) and since I'm keeping roughly a third of the cards, I should rightfully eat a third of the price of the total of the four boxes.  Alright, here's what we're looking at:
1 team = $4 ($1.50 for the cards and $2.50 includes shipping)

I'm not going to randomize a second team.  I'm hoping I can find enough bloggers to fill out the break.   If you would like a second or third team, then add $2 on for each additional team you'd like to claim.  $1.50 for the cards plus $.50 for the added shipping for each team; I think that's fair.


We're talking 4 teams sets (if collation is good), plus some duplicates, for FOUR BUCKS!  Yeah, you're not going to beat that.

I'm going to start breaking and collating this weekend, but then I'm out of town for nine consecutive days. I hope to everything mailed out before A&G hits the shelves.

Please claim your team below, then make your payment through PayPal to mrcoach00 at yahoo dot com.  Please, select the "I'm sending money to family or friends" toggle to save me on the fees.  Afterwards, please send me an e-mail to the aforementioned address stating your name, blogosphere handle, team(s) claimed, and address.  Thanks!


Now, I did hold two contests earlier to give away spots in the break.  The catch was that the Cubs had to win the game that I saw during my recent vacation.  They lost in Pittsburgh, but they blanked the Phillies.  So, the thirteen blogger who commented on the second contest post had their names tossed into the dreaded randomizer. {Thanks for the support!  It was nice to see a Cubs' win!}
 Let's see who came out on top after the third trial:

Jeff, from One Man's Junk (Wax), you're costs are covered for one team! Leave a comment below to claim your team.  If you're looking at a second team it'll be another two bucks.

Here's the teams:
Atlanta Braves -
Baltimore Orioles - Ryan H, "O" No!!! Another Orioles Blog - PAID
Boston Red Sox -
Chicago Cubs - Matt, Once a Cub
Chicago White Sox - JediJeff
Cincinnati Reds -
Cleveland Indians -
Detroit Tigers -
Houston Astros - Bru, Remember the Astrodome - PAID
Kansas City Royals -
L.A. Angels of Anaheim - Jeff (One Man's Junk (Wax)) - contest winner
L.A. Dodgers -
Milwaukee Brewers -
Minnesota Twins - CaptKirk42 - PAID
Montreal Expos (Nats) -  CaptKirk42 - PAID
New York Mets - Mets Cardboard - PAID
New York Yankees -
Oakland Athletics - Bru, Remember the Astrodome - PAID
Philadelphia Philles -
Pittsburgh Pirates - Bru, Remember the Astrodome - PAID
San Diego Padres -
San Francisco Giants -
Seattle Mariners -
St. Louis Cardinals - madding - PAID
Texas Rangers - J.Meeks - PAID
Toronto Blue Jays -

You may notice the Rockies, Marlins, D'backs, and Rays aren't listed above.  Well, the boxes I'm breaking were produced before these teams were part of the league.  Sorry folks.  Also, teams like the Mariners and Blue Jays, who were expansion teams in the late '70s may have less cards than some other teams (e.g. - the Yankees).  Them are the breaks.

For the record, many of the players in the boxes played for many different teams, so the jersey they are featured in on the card will be the deciding factor as to which team gets the players.  Also, all the normal box break stuff is in place for the teams: the Senators will go to the Twins, the Philadelphia Atheltics and Kansas City Atheltics will both go to Oakland, & etc.

So, who's in?  Leave your comments below!

Cubs Convention Calendar: June

"Before the bleachers were constructed in 1937 fans crowded the outfield grass during games, separated from the action by only a rope. Rumor has it they would move the rope closer to the plate when the Northsiders were up to bat."

Talk about your home field advantage!   Although, I believe there are three policemen sitting in front of the ropes and I wonder if they were part of the fans shenanigans, or their presence was there to prohibit such shenanigans from happening.

Either way, this is a pretty neat shot!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Contest #2 for Spot in My 1st Group Break

I hope you were able to enter Contest #1 earlier this week.  Here's #2!

Here's the down and dirty details for the contest:
What you have to do: I'm attending the Cubs game in Philadelphia tomorrow (Sunday, June 15th) and all you have to do make some comment on how you'd like the Cubs to win the game. Yes, I'm going to limit you to one entry for this contest, thus only one comment is required.
Deadline for contest: 1:35pm Eastern Time, June 15th (first pitch of the game); which gives you twenty-four hours from the time this post went live.

Contest Prize: IF the Cubs win, then I will randomize all the entries and the winner will be able to select a team of their choice in the group break!
Disclaimer: No Cubs win = no contest winner.  So, I hope your comments pack a punch, because I want to see a win and I'd like to give away a slot!

What's in the group break:  I have three swell boxes picked out from three different years.  (Yes, swell is in italics for a reason.)   If I find something else moderately interesting on my current travels we'll add that to the mix as well.  Cross you fingers!

The big details reveal post about the break will be after I return from my trip.  That post will contain the price of the break, how to make payment, the boxes in the break, and all the other details.

Seeing as how these two contest posts are taking place while I'm on the road, please be patient waiting for the results if the Cubs do happen to win.  I'll get to the randomizer as soon as I return to P-town.

Now, start rooting and cheering for my Cubs!

Where's P-town Tom?

Certainly not in P-town. Living the dream! 

Laura and I hit Oriole's Park at Camden Yards, but beforehand I dodged the rain drops to visit the birthplace of Babe Ruth.  

Did you know how he got the name Babe? The first contract he signed was with Baltimore and within the contract their was wording that gave the owner protective custody of the then 19 year old Ruth. When the media got ahold of that information they dubbed George Herman Ruth to be the owner's baby.  Oh, that crazy media!

The Blog is on Autopilot

I'm in the midst of well deserved vacation with Mrs. P-town Tom.  We were at the Cubs game in Pittsburgh last night and tonight we'll take in a Baltimore Orioles game.  My wife spoils me so!

Thankfully, I received a PWE from Nick before we hit the road.  How nice of Nick, he of the Dime Box ilk, to provide you guys with some cards to look at while we're on the road. 

 Minis!  Recent A-Ram, vintage two-toned green Jim Todd, and a modern Dempster.

 You can never go wrong with minis!

Speaking of never going wrong...  Vintage!  Only the Steve Stone is a dupe for the Cub collector. 

I've never seen the '72 In Action card of Joe Pepitone before.  Very nice.  I've run across the Hooton before, but I think it was on someone's blog.  Rickey Reuschel?  Rickey?  This card was produced in 1975, after Reuschel's third big league season, and I'm guessing he went by Rickey in his early days.  I'm not sure of the manufacturer, but from the dotted line on the right edge I'm going to guess it came off a cereal box.  Post, perhaps?

Parallels?  Holy cow, do we have parallels!

That's my first diamond parallel of Tony Campana's 2011 card.  Absolutely gorgeous!  I think the 2011 Topps set is probably my favorite of the century so far, and the sparkly parallels way heavily in my decision.
 
 Hall-of-Famers?

More specifically, a powder blue Ron Santo and a multi-exposure Ryne Sandberg.  I think this may be the second best double play Cub card on the market.  Number one?  I'm going with the flyin' Shawon.

I don't read the back of every card I get or rip from a pack, but I do read the back of every card Nick sends my way.  Why?  Because he pays such great attention to detail I fear I may miss something cool if I don't.

 What did I find on the back?  A simple oversight.  The back should read, "Ron's 28-game hitting streak in 1966 was the longest in Cubs history until Jerome Walton reached 30 games as a rookie in 1989."  I fell in love with the Cubs that magical summer and I have to give Juice his due!

What a great assortment of cards in a single PWE!

In a recent post Nick answered the question, "What do I collect?" In short, his response was, "My collection is all over he place."

So was this PWE and it was marvelous.  Thanks, Nick!