Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Pack Wars from a Repack

The repack that was featured in my last post came with four packs of cards.   Two of them were from 2008 Upper Deck, one was from the First Edition and the other was an Update to the First Edition.  Why the second pack isn't called a Second Edition is beyond me.

No matter.  We have our second Pack Wars here on my humble little blog and this one will pit card versus card!

In the pictures below, the First edition card will be on the left and the Update will be on the right.  Also, for further clarification I have noticed the First Edition actually says "First Edition" directly beneath the player's name on each card.

Leading off in today's match up is Hank Blalock vs. Rafael Furcal.
This is one easy.  Furcal had 6,445 plate appearances leading off in his career.  Hank Blalock?  He NEVER batted in the #1 slot, not even as a pinch hitter.
First Edition 0, Update 1.

Brian Bruney vs. Matt Holiday?  Um, let's see...  a Yankee I've never heard of against a landscape shot of Matt Holliday in the Home Run Derby.  (Sorry for not rotating the card.)  Just look at the ball!  It's right on the bat!
First Edition 0, Update 2.

The third match up may be the most hotly contested.  Two great landscape shots.  Julio Lugo is all stretched out, but John Buck is about ready to put the smack down on Grady Sizemore. I love a good play at the plate card!
First Edition 1, Update 2.

Miguel Olivo dressed up as Darth Vader for Halloween at Wrigley Field versus Gavin Floyd and his high socks.  I sported the high socks back in the day, but I'll give this one to Vader.
First Edition 2, Update 2.

Jeff Kent?  Sorry, man, you didn't really have a fighting chance after I turned down Gavin and his high socks in the last match up.  David Murphy comes in with his high socks AND sleeveless jersey top.  Whoa!  Bustin' out the big guns!
First Edition 2, Update 3.

David Eckstein against Craig Monroe? Easy choice.  Grit.  Grit every time.
First Edition 3, Update 3.

We have a barn burner here, folks!  Four cards to go!

Josh Banks versus Pedro?  By name recognition alone Pedro has given Update the lead.
First Edition 3, Update 4.

Next up:
An awkwardly stretching Vladimir Guerrero versus Geoff Jenkins and his nice goatee.  Close, but I've always been a big fan of Vlad the Impaler.
First Edition 4, Update 4.

It's all knotted up with two more battles to go.
Yikes.  On the left we have Carlos Pena, as a Ray, before he was a Cub versus Jim Edmonds before he was a Cub.  Although Edmonds is wearing a Padres uniform, but his card does report him as a member of the Cubs.  Advantage: Edmonds.
First Edition 4, Update 5.

Update has a one card advantage going into the last card of the packs.  How will the contest unfold?
Well, I like shiny.  Shiny is always good, but I'm not a big fan of the Phillies, Red Sox, Utley, or Dice K.  Neither of the two photo selections stand out to me.  I'm calling it a draw. Each contestant earns half a point.
Final score: First Edition 4.5, Update 5.5.

Update maintains their one card margin of a lead and holds on for the win!
What do you think?  Agree or disagree?  Feel free to let the judges have it in the comment section below.

Oh, and as always, all cards featured in today's Pack Wars are up for trade.  Just let me know!

Wait, what about the other two packs the repack guaranteed?

Well, one of them was a jumbo pack of 1989 Topps. I have about 1,500 repeats of 1989 Topps.  I'm not terribly enthused about opening a JUMBO pack of the stuff.  Yawn.

The other was a five card pack of 2007 Fleer Ultra, which I'll save for another edition of Pack Wars on a rainy/snowy day.  Good stuff.

5 comments:

  1. I'd take the Kent over the Murphy, cliche but so well framed. I think the best is the John Buck. We could probably figure out the exact play. But we won't.

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  2. As a Cubs fan, I'd give Player B the nod over a Cardinal any day, so Craig Monroe wins out over Eckstein. It doesn't hurt that he was a former Cub as well.

    Still an Update win, just not as close.

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  3. From someone who has busted a lot of First Edition Update (I buy a lot of repacks), I can tell you every pack has Geoff Jenkins and Jim Edmonds in it.

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    Replies
    1. Lol. It's funny because it's true.

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    2. I have two more repacks to bust. Can't wait for the duplicates!

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