3 Blasters Of 2013 Topps – Almost All For Trade

Yes, I too fell victim to the new card smell.  In case you haven’t heard, 2013 Topps is out.  Last year we opened 5 cases of the stuff.  We’re not doing that this time for various reasons, so I ran out to Target to get some blasters.

When I got to Target, they had none on the shelves, but I did see an open packing box on the floor next to the card section.  The gravity feeder was still inside, but was picked over pretty badly.  Loose packs were scattered everywhere. It was a mess.  In the box, I found a full, unopened retail box, which I considered grabbing and 3 remaining blasters.  I went with the blasters because I knew they’d have more inserts.

I’m not trying to build the set. I’m only looking for my guys, so the idea is to trade and sell off the rest.

Fair warning:  I’m putting all of this stuff up on sportlots at the same time, partly to recoup the money spent and partly to facilitate more sales of older stuff on the site.  That means if you comment about wanting a card, there’s a chance it may have sold in the meantime. I’ll try to be as good about updating this as I can, but sales will have to take priority so our feedback stays high.

Take a look below and email me if you want to trade for something you see, or just look to see my thoughts on the set in general.

Pack 1

#275 – Johnny Cueto
#179 – Tigers ALCS Game 4
#CC-8 – CC Sabathia – Calling Card
Million Dollar Chase code
#67 – Giants WS Game 4 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#294 – Cabrera/Trout/Beltre Avg leaders – TARGET RED – SOLD
#39 – Scott Feldman
#186 – Jordan Pacheco

The Calling Cards look nice, but they could use a little more texture.
The Chase code bothers me.  Not because of the contest.  No, it’s because they also have this team pennant chase code thing where if the team wins the pennant, you could win a prize.  Except those code cards are reallllly rare.  1:12,000 packs rare.  Why can’t both contests be equal odds?  I think more people would respond to the team based one if given the chance, don’t you?

Pack 2

#135 – Eric Hosmer
#35 – Justin Verlander
#224 – Jon Jay
#CH-23 – George Brett – Chasing History
#207 – Matt Holliday – TARGET RED – PENDING
#284 – Angel Pagan – TARGET RED – PENDING
#161 – Bronson Arroyo
#32 –  Craig Breslow

We’re seeing an example of the great photography here.  And another good insert.  Sure you can see where the relic will fit, but at least it works without one.

Pack 3

#255 – Josh Johnson
#329 – Rafael Soriano
#246 – Braun/Stanton/Bruce HR leaders
#CD-24 – Brett Lawrie – Chasing the Dream – PENDING
#CD-5 – Matt Moore – Chasing the Dream – PENDING
#27 – Mike Trout – TARGET RED – PENDING
#26 – Chase Utley – TARGET RED
#180 – Casey Kotchman
#258 – Doug Fister

A Mike Trout red parallel (they come 2 per blaster pack instead of 2 packs of only parallels – equals to about the same amount of cards), and 9 cards instead of 8.  Pretty sure those two Chasing the Dream inserts got stuck together, but I’m alright with it.

Pack 4

#38 – Brian Wilson
#133 – James Shields
#153 – Cabrera/Hamilton/Granderson HR leaders
#65 – J.P. Howell
#TM-44 – Nolan Ryan – 1972 Mini – PENDING
#202 – Zack Cozart – TARGET RED
#256 – Madison Bumgarner – WS game 2 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#159 – Felipe Paulino

That’s how you get introduced to the 1972 minis.  I don’t understand why they felt the need to make them.  I don’t really like minis, but I can understand the appeal.

Pack 5

#120 – Ian Desmond
#138 – Michael Morse
#254 – Sean Burnett
#119 – Chris Davis – Green Parallel
#95 – Price/Weaver/Harrison Wins leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#5 – Carlos Gonzalez – TARGET RED
#221 – Heath Bell
#312 – Scott Hairston

So many Nationals, not one Bryce Harper.  I’ll save you the trouble and tell you he’s missing from all my stacks.

Also, my first Emerald.  They look really nice.  I agree with Funner Here that they’re even better than the golds from last year.  If Topps does it again in 2014 (and I hope they don’t – easy on the parallels, please!), I’m voting for a nice deep blue color.

Pack 6

#210 – Vernon Wells – PENDING
#240 – J.J. Putz
#67 – Giants WS Game 4
#CH-37 – Derek Jeter – Chasing History
#189 – Posey/McCutchen/Braun AVG leaders – TARGET RED – SOLD
#76 – Brandon Inge – TARGET RED
#71 – Kyle Kendrick
#208 – Kurt Suzuki

Anyone noticing the theme in my Red parallels yet?

Pack 7

#214 – Curtis Granderson
#8 – Ryan Braun
#294 – Cabrera/Trout/Beltre Avg leaders – PENDING
#171 – Brock Holt
Million Dollar Chase code
#94 – Price/Verlander/Weaver ERA leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#298 – Pablo Sandoval WS game 1 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#31 – Jose Tabata

Brock Holt – the name does not match the picture. I expect a bigger badass, not some punk kid that’s afraid of the ball.

Pack 8

#37 – Max Scherzer
#207 – Matt Holliday
#173 – Tyler Skaggs
#TM-33 – Cliff Lee – 1972 Mini
#169 – Brad Ziegler – TARGET RED
#42 – Tigers ALDS game 5 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#154 – Sergio Romo
#297 – Michael Saunders

I don’t know how I feel about the playoff games getting their own card.  I mean the concept is fine, but I want a different look to my subsets.  These and the league leaders should have a different border or a slight design change.

Pack 9

#20 – Kevin Youkilis
#15 – Dustin Pedroia
#284 – Angel Pagan
#CD-25 – Mike Moustakas – Chasing the Dream – PENDING
#CC-4 – David Ortiz – Calling Card – PENDING
#17 – Shin-Soo Choo – TARGET RED – PENDING
#149 – Yovani Gallardo – TARGET RED
#216 – Josh Willingham

Those Chasing the Dream inserts are quite nice, too.  Love the scoreboard close-up/70s game show feel.  In fact, I’m digging all the inserts.  I get a Fleer vibe from them, which can almost always be good.

Pack 10

#105 – Freddie Freeman
#16 – Andre Ethier
#175 – A.J. Ramos
#CH-11 – Babe Ruth – Chasing History
#282 – Russell Martin – TARGET RED
#88 – Jamey Carroll – TARGET RED – PENDING
#238 – Carlos Zambrano
#57 – Mark Lowe

Alright, I don’t like this aspect.  Chasing History is both vertical and horizontal.  It’s fine with a 330-card set, but in an insert set I want cohesiveness and more standardization.

Patch 1

#RCP-8 – Ryne Sandberg – Rookie Patch – PENDING

Blasters either come with a rookie reprint like this, which is really nice looking (would love to have the Gwynn, hint hint), or a more standard commemorative logo patch.  My other two blasters had those, as you’ll see.

Pack 11

#176 – Robert Andino
#101 – Bryan Shaw
#331 – Jose Reyes
#CD-21 – Jarrod Parker – Chasing the Dream – PENDING
#153 – Cabrera/Hamilton/Granderson HR leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#138 – Michael Morse – TARGET RED
#163 – J.A. Happ
#73 – Brandon Crawford

Something I noticed more today than others is all the player names using two initials.  We’ve seen quite a few already, but keep your eye peeled.

Pack 12

#46 – Craig Kimbrel
#119 – Chris Davis
#CH-35 – Hank Aaron – Chasing History
#CTC-10 – Adam Jones – Cut to the Chase – PENDING
#67 – Giants WS Game 4 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#294 – Cabrera/Trout/Beltre Avg leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#244 – Lucas Luetge

My first die-cut and I concur with all the positive comments.  Those damn things hit some sort of sweet spot in my brain.  So much so, that I almost slide right past the Hank Aaron in the same pack.

Unfortunately, die-cut = 7 cards instead of 8.

Pack 13

#301 – Jarrod Saltalamacchia
#81 – Kershaw/Dickey/Cueto ERA leaders
#187 – Nick Maronde – PENDING
#9 – Dee Gordon – Green Parallel – Tentatively going to Night Owl
#207 – Matt Holliday – TARGET RED – PENDING
#284 – Angel Pagan – TARGET RED
#235 – Jake Westbrook
#314 – A.J. Ellis

You’ll notice that some of these red parallels are repeating.  In fact, a whole lot of them repeat, in the same order.  It’s sort of disconcerting, but that just means I can trade to more of you, right?

pack 14

#206 – Jimmy Rollins
#269 – St. Louis Cardinals NLDS Game 5
#111 – Casey Kelly
#TM-42 – Willie Mays – 1972 Minis
#27 – Mike Trout – TARGET RED – PENDING
#26 – Chase Utley – TARGET RED
#319 – Brian Bogusevic
#165 – Ramon Hernandez

It also means I get another Trout red.

Pack 15

#54 – Jaime Garcia
#236 – Joe Nathan
#90 – Andy Pettitte – Checklist
#CC-4 – David Ortiz – Calling Card
Million Dollar Chase code
#202 – Zack Cozart – TARGET RED
#256 – Madison Bumgarner – WS game 2 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#251 – Sean Marshall

Oh yeah, what do I think about the 2013 Topps design?  I’m more impressed with the photography than the design.  It’s clean and unobtrusive, but when I look at it I see Bowman, not Topps.  That’s my biggest problem with it.

Pack 16

#308 – Desmond Jennings
#112 – Mark Reynolds
#148 – L.J. Hoes
#CH-50 – Sandy Koufax – Chasing History – Tentatively going to Night Owl
#95 – Price/Weaver/Harrison Wins leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#5 – Carlos Gonzalez – TARGET RED
#299 – Darwin Barney – PENDING
#167 – Luke Hochevar

Have you noticed the red parallel pattern yet?  Did you notice the two initial name again, too?

Pack 17

#43 – R.A. Dickey
#122 – Andrew McCutchen
#23 – Jemile Weeks
#CD-3 – Will Middlebrooks – Chasing the Dream – PENDING
#189 – Posey/McCutchen/Braun AVG leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#76 – Brandon Inge – TARGET RED
#212 – Eric Chavez
#188 – Brian Fuentes

Another one.  R.A.  Sorry Blue Jays fans, but I can’t trust that he’s going to be worth what was given to get him.

Pack 18

#24 – Dan Haren -PENDING
#229 – Jeff Samardzija
#100 – Mike Moustakas
#199 – Avisail Garcia
#TM-27 – R.A. Dickey – 1972 Minis
#94 – Price/Verlander/Weaver ERA leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#298 – Pablo Sandoval WS game 1 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#262 – Kevin Correia

I noticed another pattern in my blasters.  Any Rookie Cards I got came right before the inserts and nowhere else.  Not sure what, if anything, that says about Topps handling of Rookies.

Pack 19

#141 – Carlos Santana
#283 – CC Sabathia ALDS game 5
#261 – Trevor Rosenthal
#48 – Ryan Cook – Green Parallel
#169 – Brad Ziegler – TARGET RED
#42 – Tigers ALDS game 5 – TARGET RED
#190 – Daniel Descalso
#162 – Kyle Seager

Green on green.  Oddly, it doesn’t look that great compared to the others.  How about that Descalso, huh?

Pack 20

#22 – Clayton Kershaw
#213 – Alex Rodriguez
#157 – Carter Capps
#CH-49 – Jackie Robinson – Chasing History – Tentatively going to Night Owl
#17 – Shin-Soo Choo – TARGET RED – PENDING
#149 – Yovani Gallardo – TARGET RED
#292 – Matt Thornton
#51 – Jonathan Broxton

One of two packs in the blaster with new reds, I think?

Patch 2

#CP-24 – Stephen Strasburg – Commemorative Patch

Here’s what the other ones look like.  Both sets have mighty fine checklists by today’s standards.  10 years from now, maybe it won’t look so hot, but you never know.

Pack 21

#44 – Anthony Rizzo – PENDING
#278 – Christian Garcia
#CTC-25 – Josh Hamilton – Cut to the Chase – PENDING
#TM-29 – CC Sabathia – 1972 Minis
#153 – Cabrera/Hamilton/Granderson HR leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#138 – Michael Morse – TARGET RED
#93 – Austin Kearns

Sweet Rizzo Rookie Cup.  If he has another solid season, expect him and Starlin to be virtually the only Cubs you find in packs.

Also, another die-cut!  It may be #25, but it’s actually #23.  In case you haven’t heard cards 1 and 24 were not produced.

Pack 22

#108 – Kendrys Morales – PENDING
#310 – Edwin Encarnacion
#290 – Tom Layne – Gold Parallel #1326/2013
#331 – Jose Reyes – Green Parallel – Tentatively going to Long Fly Ball To Because
#35 – Justin Verlander – TARGET RED – PENDING
#246 – Braun/Stanton/Bruce HR leaders – TARGET RED – SOLD
#300 – Daniel Murphy
#322 – Alex Gonzalez

Awesome Jose Reyes Green.  I love the way the blue plays off the foil.

I also found my one and only gold, and yes they’re back to the black laser printer instead of the foil stamp.  Mr. Layne needs a big season to make this worth anything.

Pack 23

#151 – Alex Rios
#116 – Brian McCann
#103 – Evan Longoria
#271 – Jeurys Familia
#CH-36 – Kerry Wood – Chasing History – Not for Trade
#310 – Edwin Encarnacion – TARGET RED
#179 – Detroit Tigers ALCS Game 4 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#140 – Wade Davis

The Kerry Wood insert is the only keeper in the lot.  I’ll show it in my typical close-up fashion later on.

Love the Alex Rios with the red White Sox jersey.  Chris Sale has a shot with the same uniform as you’ll see.

Pack 24

#59 – John Axford
#219 – Josh Beckett
#82 – Jason Vargas
#CD-22 – Drew Smyly – Chasing the Dream – PENDING
#82 – Jason Vargas – TARGET RED – SOLD
#103 – Evan Longoria – TARGET RED
#145 – Anthony Bass
#193 – Matt Carpenter

Drew Smyly flew completely under the wire for me last year.  I guess he did alright?  Can you tell I’m running out of things to say?

Pack 25

#107 – Joe Mauer
#317 – Orioles Wild Card
#185 – Rob Scahill
#TM-50 – Ted Williams – 1972 Minis
#12 – A.J. Pierzynski – TARGET RED
#17 – Orioles Wild Card – TARGET RED
#152 – Jose Contreras
#177 – Elliot Johnson

I like the player checklist for the ’72 Minis.  I’m sure I won’t be able to say the same once series 2 and Update hit.

Pack 26

#62 – Tommy Hunter
#25 – Mark Teixeira
#12 – A.J. Pierzynski
#311 – Rajai Davis
Million Dollar Chase code
#121 – Delmon Young – TARGET RED – PENDING
#194 – Cabrera/Hamilton/Encarnacion RBI Leaders – TARGET RED – PENDING
#250 – Jonathon Niese

I hate to admit it, but I really like that A.J. Pierzynski card.  This is coming from a Cubs fan who was very happy to see Michael Barrett punch that jerk-hole in his jerk-hole.  I’ve already informed Topps that we’re fighting now because they made me enjoy looking at his card.

Pack 27

#328 – Jayson Werth
#257 – Mike Minor
#194 – Cabrera/Hamilton/Encarnacion RBI Leaders
#CH-41 – Johan Santana – Chasing History
#109 – Kirk Nieuwenhuis – TARGET RED
#30 – Neftali Feliz – TARGET RED – PENDING
#164 – Lucas Harrell
#56 – Joe Blanton

I guess now is a good time to reveal that the big trend in my red parallels is that every single one is horizontal.  That’s right.  All 60 of them are horizontal.  Granted I only got about 40 different ones, but still I have no evidence that a vertical red exists.

Pack 28

#218 – Ben Zobrist
#121 – Delmon Young
#89 – Johan Santana – Checklist
#225 – Will Venable – Green Parallel
#CC-12 – Kevin Youkilis – Calling Card
#260 – Giants NLDS Game 5 – TARGET RED – PENDING
#326 – Andruw Jones – TARGET RED
#166 – Logan Ondrusek

Someone tell me if Zobrist is happy, angry, injured, or singing.  Cannot tell.  It could be all of them.

Pack 29

#48 – Ryan Cook
#128 – Buster Posey
#30 – Neftali Feliz
#232 – Jake Odorizzi
#TM-36 – Matt Holliday – 1972 Minis – PENDING
#287 – Gonzalez/Dickey/Cueto Wins leaders – TARGET RED
#48 – Chris Sale – TARGET RED
#280 – Rafael Doli

There’s that Sale card I mentioned.  Boy, I bet Topps is thrilled he broke through so they could tout all his sticker autos instead of dump, run, and hide.

Pack 30

#267 – Jason Kipnis
#9 – Dee Gordon
#109 – Kirk Nieuwenhuis
#CD-4 – Trevor Bauer – Chasing the Dream – PENDING
#263 – Ted Lilly – TARGET RED –  Tentatively going to Night Owl
#85 – Sean Doolittle – TARGET RED
#205 – Ryan Theriot
#130 – Jason Motte

Last regular pack produces and awesome shot of Kipnis and a pretty good Bauer insert.  What’s my last patch, you ask?  Well, I’m sure you can see it below already so you don’t have to ask.

Patch 3

#CP-5 – Yu Darvish – Commemorative Patch – PENDING

Darvish and Strasburg patches?  I’m rich. Rich I tells ya!

And that’s it.  Probably more than you wanted to read.  I’m enjoying the 2013 stuff so far.  The inserts are quite improved.  The design is nice, although it may be better suited to a Bowman line.  The white space in the design lends itself to appealing parallels.  Good stuff.  But it’s not stuff I need.  All I need is the cards for my player collections.  Since only 1 of the 240 or so cards fits into that, I’m hoping you guys can help me out on that front.  Trade away!

9 comments to 3 Blasters Of 2013 Topps – Almost All For Trade

Leave a Reply

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>