Sunday, August 28, 2011
2011 Topps Las Vegas Sportscard Summit Starlin Castro Auto #/12
This is one of those cards that has kind of flown under the radar for me this year until just recently. Topps issued these cards back in March at the Las Vegas Sportscard Summit event, and although I had seen quite a few copies of cards from this set, I hadn't seen the Castro until just recently and didn't realize he was in the set. Given the low print run of 12 copies for the Castro and the sweet design these cards feature, I may have to try to grab one of these at some point. We'll see, I definitely don't want to pay over $100 for one. But I could probably bring myself to pay $75 or so. All of the cards from the set were issued in Beckett Grading slabs, although the cards are not graded. The checklist for this set is super strong and given the low print runs of the cards and the attractive design, I would not be surprised to see this set end up heavily collected in the future (with accompanying premium prices).
Friday, August 26, 2011
Cubs Breakdown - 2011 Topps Sticker Collection
2011 Topps Sticker Collection
Topps apparently decided to bring back the idea of a sticker set this year, kind of a throwback to the 1980s. Not much to comment on here, it is a single version set with no inserts. The stickers are smaller than standard cards (slightly smaller than 1975 minis), with a decent design, and I will almost certainly buy a Cubs set of these.
Base Set (Single Version)
#187 Alfonso Soriano
#188 Marlon Byrd
#189 Kosuke Fukudome
#190 Aramis Ramirez
#191 Starlin Castro
#192 Blake DeWitt
#193 Carlos Pena
#194 Geovany Soto
#195 Matt Garza
#304 Cubs Logo
Topps apparently decided to bring back the idea of a sticker set this year, kind of a throwback to the 1980s. Not much to comment on here, it is a single version set with no inserts. The stickers are smaller than standard cards (slightly smaller than 1975 minis), with a decent design, and I will almost certainly buy a Cubs set of these.
Base Set (Single Version)
#187 Alfonso Soriano
#188 Marlon Byrd
#189 Kosuke Fukudome
#190 Aramis Ramirez
#191 Starlin Castro
#192 Blake DeWitt
#193 Carlos Pena
#194 Geovany Soto
#195 Matt Garza
#304 Cubs Logo
Sunday, August 21, 2011
2011 National Sports Collectors Convention Stuff
The National Sports Collectors Convention was held a few weeks back outside of Chicago, and we always see a few new promotional items come out of this show. Given that the show was held in Chicago, I expected to see quite a few Cubs items among these this year. This turned out not to be the case, however, with Topps producing no Cubs related stuff for the show (at least that I have seen yet), and Upper Deck being the main supplier of Cubs cards from the show. Given that they do not have an MLB license, Upper Deck is a little bit handicapped when it comes to producing quality cards of baseball players. Even given that handicap though, I still think their offerings here are pretty weak. We got cards of Ryne Sandberg, Greg Maddux, and Matt Szczur, along with autographed parallels with varied numbering. Like I said, I'm not a big fan of these;
#2 Ryne Sandberg (Auto #/10)
#9 Greg Maddux (No Auto Parallel)
#20 Matt Szczur (Auto #/35)
Tristar also came through with a Cubs card in their Obak promo set, this one being a Cap Anson. The Anson shares the same design as the Anson card in the Obak set that was released around the same time, but the photo is different;
#3 Cap Anson
That's all I've seen so far, but keep in mind that Sportkings have released some very limited promos the past few years at the National and it appears they did so again this year. So there may be a card or two from this set that we won't see on the market immediately.
#2 Ryne Sandberg (Auto #/10)
#9 Greg Maddux (No Auto Parallel)
#20 Matt Szczur (Auto #/35)
Tristar also came through with a Cubs card in their Obak promo set, this one being a Cap Anson. The Anson shares the same design as the Anson card in the Obak set that was released around the same time, but the photo is different;
#3 Cap Anson
That's all I've seen so far, but keep in mind that Sportkings have released some very limited promos the past few years at the National and it appears they did so again this year. So there may be a card or two from this set that we won't see on the market immediately.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Cubs Breakdown - 2011 Tristar Obak
2011 Tristar Obak
Tristar Obak is back for its third year of life, and this year's version is a lot like the last two versions. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Obak is definitely a niche set, appealing to those who like offbeat players and who actually read the backs of cards. I qualify on both accounts, so this issue works pretty well for me. The design for these cards works fine for me as well, even though it is the same as it has been the last two years. Trying to create a new design with a good retro feel is very hit and miss. So I'm content to see the same design each year on this set.
Of course, Tristar decided to bring back the cut autos in this set, which are among the most puke worthy cards of the year for most of the post war players. So not everything is likable, but overall, I can live with it. Here's the breakdown of Cubs in the set;
Base Set - 7 Versions - Base, Orange (#/75), Gold (#/50), Green (#/25), Orange (#/10), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
#12 Andre Dawson
#18 Hack Wilson
#54 Cap Anson
#55 Ross Barnes
#65 Shawon Dunston
T-212 Mini Parallels (Partial Parallel of the Base Set) - 5 Versions - Base, Brown (#/75), Green (#/25), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
#7 Cap Anson
Auto Parallels (Partial Parallel of the Base Set) - 6 Versions - Base (#/100), Orange (#/75), Brown (#/50), Green (#/25), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
#11 Shawon Dunston
T-212 Mini Auto Parallels - 3 Versions - Green (#/10), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
No Cubs Included
T-4 Cabinets - 5 Versions - Base (#/80), Brown (#/50), Green (#/25), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
No Cubs Included
T-4 Cabinets Auto Parallels - 2 Versions - Base (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
No Cubs Included
Cut Autos - 5 Versions, not all players have all versions - Bronze (#/75), Blue (#/50), Green (#/25), Red (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
Ernie Banks (Bronze, Blue, and Green Versions)
Andre Dawson (Green Only)
Fergie Jenkins (Green & Red Only)
Don Kessinger (Green Only)
Jerome Walton (Green Only)
Dual Cut Autos (1/1)
Babe Ruth & Charlie Root
Promos & Previews - Cap Anson had two different promos issued for Obak. The first was issued in Tristar Pursuit, and features a slightly different crop on the photo from his regular card. There is also a variation of this promo which has a square around the card # on the back. The second version was issued at the National Sports Collector's Convention and has a different photo and the Chicago Skyline in the background.
Tristar Obak is back for its third year of life, and this year's version is a lot like the last two versions. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Obak is definitely a niche set, appealing to those who like offbeat players and who actually read the backs of cards. I qualify on both accounts, so this issue works pretty well for me. The design for these cards works fine for me as well, even though it is the same as it has been the last two years. Trying to create a new design with a good retro feel is very hit and miss. So I'm content to see the same design each year on this set.
Of course, Tristar decided to bring back the cut autos in this set, which are among the most puke worthy cards of the year for most of the post war players. So not everything is likable, but overall, I can live with it. Here's the breakdown of Cubs in the set;
Base Set - 7 Versions - Base, Orange (#/75), Gold (#/50), Green (#/25), Orange (#/10), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
#12 Andre Dawson
#18 Hack Wilson
#54 Cap Anson
#55 Ross Barnes
#65 Shawon Dunston
T-212 Mini Parallels (Partial Parallel of the Base Set) - 5 Versions - Base, Brown (#/75), Green (#/25), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
#7 Cap Anson
Auto Parallels (Partial Parallel of the Base Set) - 6 Versions - Base (#/100), Orange (#/75), Brown (#/50), Green (#/25), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
#11 Shawon Dunston
T-212 Mini Auto Parallels - 3 Versions - Green (#/10), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
No Cubs Included
T-4 Cabinets - 5 Versions - Base (#/80), Brown (#/50), Green (#/25), Blue (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
No Cubs Included
T-4 Cabinets Auto Parallels - 2 Versions - Base (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
No Cubs Included
Cut Autos - 5 Versions, not all players have all versions - Bronze (#/75), Blue (#/50), Green (#/25), Red (#/5), and Purple (1/1)
Ernie Banks (Bronze, Blue, and Green Versions)
Andre Dawson (Green Only)
Fergie Jenkins (Green & Red Only)
Don Kessinger (Green Only)
Jerome Walton (Green Only)
Dual Cut Autos (1/1)
Babe Ruth & Charlie Root
Promos & Previews - Cap Anson had two different promos issued for Obak. The first was issued in Tristar Pursuit, and features a slightly different crop on the photo from his regular card. There is also a variation of this promo which has a square around the card # on the back. The second version was issued at the National Sports Collector's Convention and has a different photo and the Chicago Skyline in the background.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
2011 Minor League Team Sets
The 2011 team sets for all of the Cubs minor league affiliates have now been released, and I have had a chance to pick up a set of each. I love minor league cards, so this is one of my favorites times of the year. I dig the variety of designs on the cards, the obscure players, the weird jerseys, etc. Checklists for this year's sets are below along with a few scans of selected cards from the sets.
Iowa Cubs (Triple A)
There is just one set for the Cubs Triple A affiliate in Iowa this year, with Multi-Ad Sports being the issuer once again. Almost everyone in this set has played in the majors at some point, so the crop of prospects here isn't very strong. More players going down in their career (or just stalled) than going up. So not many really new or interesting guys in this set.
Tennessee Smokies (Double A)
Only one set was issued for Tennessee, a full team set by Grandstand. Brett Jackson is probably the most notable prospect in the set, but I'm guessing we will see several of these guys get a look in Chicago next year as several high draft picks and up and coming guys are featured here. The cards in the set are not numbered.
Daytona Cubs (High Single A)
Daytona only has one set as well, issued by Choice. New faces seems to be the theme of this set as we get our first Cubs organization cards of Michael Burgess (acquired along with Matt Garza), Evan Crawford (came here as part of the Mike Fontenot trade to the Giants last year), and Brett Wallach (came here in the trade with the Dodgers for Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot last year). I can't say that I recognize many of the other names in the set, but hopefully I will in a couple of years!
Peoria Chiefs (Mid Single A)
Our low A affiliate in Peoria has multiple team sets available again this year, but with only two sets this year vs. three or more in most of the last several years. Multi-Ad Sports produced the main set, and then there is a 5 card set produced by DAV that was given away at the stadium. Three of our top draft picks from last year are featured in both of the sets - 1st rounder Hayden Simpson, 3rd rounder Micah Gibbs, and 5th rounder Matt Szczcur. All things considered, these are my favorites sets of the year this year among the Cubs minor league issues.
Multi-Ad
DAV
#10 Hayden Simpson
#11 Matt Szczur
#12 Micah Gibbs
#13 Rubi Silva
#14 Austin Kirk
Boise Hawks (Low Single A)
Boise is the Cubs rookie league affiliate, and they have two sets available this year. One is a comprehensive team set from Grandstand and the other is a retrospective type set produced by DAV that features players from Boise teams of the past few years who have made it to the majors. Unfortunately, most of those players are no longer with the Cubs. The main set does feature our 2nd round draft pick from last year in Reggie Golden. The cards in the Grandstand set are not numbered.
Grandstand
DAV
Iowa Cubs (Triple A)
There is just one set for the Cubs Triple A affiliate in Iowa this year, with Multi-Ad Sports being the issuer once again. Almost everyone in this set has played in the majors at some point, so the crop of prospects here isn't very strong. More players going down in their career (or just stalled) than going up. So not many really new or interesting guys in this set.
| #1 Bill Dancy | #11 Welington Castillo | #21 Scott Moore |
| #2 Mike Mason | #12 Robert Coello | #22 Jonathan Mota |
| #3 Von Joshua | #13 Tyler Colvin | #23 Ramon Ortiz |
| #4 Matt Johnson | #14 Thomas Diamond | #24 Blake Parker |
| #5 Justin Berg | #15 John Gaub | #25 Fernando Perez |
| #6 Austin Bibens-Dirkx | #16 Jay Jackson | #26 Chris Robinson |
| #7 Matt Camp | #17 Bryan LaHair | #27 Bobby Scales |
| #8 Tony Campana | #18 Scott Maine | #28 Marquez Smith |
| #9 Esmailin Caridad | #19 J.R. Mathes | #29 Brad Snyder |
| #10 Chris Carpenter | #20 Lou Montanez | #30 Jeff Stevens |
Tennessee Smokies (Double A)
Only one set was issued for Tennessee, a full team set by Grandstand. Brett Jackson is probably the most notable prospect in the set, but I'm guessing we will see several of these guys get a look in Chicago next year as several high draft picks and up and coming guys are featured here. The cards in the set are not numbered.
| Jim Adduci | Marwin Gonzalez | Brooks Raley |
| Alberto Cabrera | Brian Harper | Kevin Rhoderick |
| Marco Carrillo | Ty'Relle Harris | Rebel Ridling |
| Hung-Wen Chen | Brett Jackson | Chris Rusin |
| Steve Clevenger | Blake Lalli | Nate Samson |
| Rafael Dolis | Brad Lawson | Kyle Smit |
| Mariano Duncan | D.J. LeMahieu | Matt Spencer |
| Carlos Figueroa | Marty Mason | Josh Vitters |
| Ryan Flaherty | Trey McNutt | Rob Whitenack |
| Nick Frangella | Blake Parker | Team Checklist |
Daytona Cubs (High Single A)
Daytona only has one set as well, issued by Choice. New faces seems to be the theme of this set as we get our first Cubs organization cards of Michael Burgess (acquired along with Matt Garza), Evan Crawford (came here as part of the Mike Fontenot trade to the Giants last year), and Brett Wallach (came here in the trade with the Dodgers for Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot last year). I can't say that I recognize many of the other names in the set, but hopefully I will in a couple of years!
| #1 Frank Batista | #11 Junior Lake | #21 Ryan Searle |
| #2 Jeffrey Beliveau | #12 Jordan Latham | #22 Nick Struck |
| #3 Justin Bour | #13 Jeffrey Lorick | #23 Brett Wallach |
| #4 Mike Brenly | #14 David Macias | #24 Logan Watkins |
| #5 Michael Burgess | #15 Chad Noble | #25 Rob Whitenack |
| #6 Matt Cerda | #16 Jake Opitz | #26 Buddy Bailey |
| #7 Evan Crawford | #17 Nelson Perez | #27 Barbaro Garbey |
| #8 Brent Ebinger | #18 Dae-Eun Rhee | #28 Tom Pratt |
| #9 Jae-Hoon Ha | #19 Kevin Rhoderick | #29 Pete Fagan |
| #10 Aaron Kurcz | #20 Zac Rosscup | #30 Cubby (Mascot) |
Peoria Chiefs (Mid Single A)
Our low A affiliate in Peoria has multiple team sets available again this year, but with only two sets this year vs. three or more in most of the last several years. Multi-Ad Sports produced the main set, and then there is a 5 card set produced by DAV that was given away at the stadium. Three of our top draft picks from last year are featured in both of the sets - 1st rounder Hayden Simpson, 3rd rounder Micah Gibbs, and 5th rounder Matt Szczcur. All things considered, these are my favorites sets of the year this year among the Cubs minor league issues.
Multi-Ad
| #1 Casey Kopitzke | #11 Casey Harman | #21 Greg Rohan |
| #2 Arismendy Alcantara | #12 Graham Hicks | #22 Hayden Simpson |
| #3 Smaily Borges | #13 Erik Jokisch | #23 Alvaro Sosa |
| #4 Sergio Burruel | #14 Richard Jones | #24 Elliot Soto |
| #5 Ryan Cuneo | #15 Su-Min Jung | #25 Larry Suarez |
| #6 Brent Ebinger | #16 Austin Kirk | #26 Matt Szczur |
| #7 Anthony Giansanti | #17 Pierre LePage | #27 Jeff Fassero |
| #8 Micah Gibbs | #18 Robinson Lopez | #28 Ricardo Medina |
| #9 Yohan Gonzalez | #19 Brandon May | #29 A.J. Larson |
| #10 Cam Greathouse | #20 Kyung-Min Na | #30 Blaine Kinsley |
DAV
#10 Hayden Simpson
#11 Matt Szczur
#12 Micah Gibbs
#13 Rubi Silva
#14 Austin Kirk
Boise Hawks (Low Single A)
Boise is the Cubs rookie league affiliate, and they have two sets available this year. One is a comprehensive team set from Grandstand and the other is a retrospective type set produced by DAV that features players from Boise teams of the past few years who have made it to the majors. Unfortunately, most of those players are no longer with the Cubs. The main set does feature our 2nd round draft pick from last year in Reggie Golden. The cards in the Grandstand set are not numbered.
Grandstand
| Kyler Burke | Cam Greathouse | Bryce Shafer |
| Pin-Chien Chen | Paul Holiman | Kenny Socorro |
| Yi-Chang Chiang | Mark Johnson | Blair Springfield |
| Wilson Contreras | Su-Min Jung | Charles Thomas |
| Willengton Cruz | Jin-Young Kim | Gary Van Tol |
| Wes Darvill | Rafael Lopez | Yao-Lin Wang |
| Zeke DeVoss | Austin Reed | Ben Wells |
| Dustin Fitzgerald | Colin Richardson | Desi Wilson |
| Yaniel Cabezas | David Rosario | Brad Zapenas |
| Reggie Golden | Jose Rosario | Joe Zeller |
DAV
#663 Al Alburquerque
#664 Billy Petrick
#665 Casey Coleman
#666 Chris Carpenter
#667 Jerry Blevins
#668 Josh Donaldson
#669 Josh Harrison
#670 Tony Campana
#671 Welington Castillo
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