2009 Score Football Pack Break

Here we are with another break from my birthday packs from Oren!

Today, we take a break back to 2009 with a pack of Score football.

I took today's pictures in the order I pulled the cards, enjoy,

 

(rookie and a glossy parallel)

Well, there you have it. Nothing too big pulled, but a trip back in time instead.

One more break to come! I think I will post it tomorrow before finishing up my trade/eBay blaster box pickup.

1993 American Bandstand Pack Break

 

If you read Cards Over Coffee, you would have seen that I got a great Christmas gift from blog reader Oren and that he sent along some packs for me to rip open.

And if you don't read or follow Cards Over Coffee yet, what's wrong with you?!

Anyways, today's pack is one of those packs we are ripping open to check out.

I'm gonna be honest that I don't know a lot about this product or the singers within. I was just hoping to land one of the gold foil autogaphs.

But, I didn't.

Here is what I did find though,

 

The last two were the ones I knew from this group. Chubby Checker used to be one of my grandmother's favorites. I always heard her toss his name around.

I will be showing off a couple more pack results from this birthday break.

Have a great Tuesday!

You Wanted More

Packs are tragic, cards are bold, you will always open what you wanted more
Packs can be hard, cards are strong, you will never say they don't belong

Cause I wanted more
More than I could get
More than I could afford

For about a year, I have watched a five pack lot of 1997 Bowman's Best football packs rot away in my watch list. I just couldn't pull the trigger on them despite the slight price decrease every couple of weeks.

Why wouldn't I want the shiny-goodness that comes from Bowman's Best? Well, I busted a box not too long ago and have most of the base set-I still have some needs for it-and wouldn't want to bust more just to land a bunch of dupes. It's not like its 1997 anymore and I can trade my duplicates with my friends. They no longer collect and haven't for years.

Then the price dropped again....

I wanted more
More than I could bear

And for $3.49 and shipping, I finally pulled the trigger. Those packs went for much more individually back then and the risk over reward seemed worth it. What happened if I pulled a refractor of Brett Favre? Autograph? Tough insert? Maybe even some set help?

A few days later, they arrived and I was in happy anticipating. Remember that this was awhile ago I picked these up before Coronavirus. Mail right now must be carried by horse and buggy at the speed it moves. Most packages for me take a week to ten days to arrive depending on where it's coming from.

I believe packs of this in the 90's carried a $6.99 price point. At least it did where I bought them. Today's gamble lot I grabbed is $1.47 a pack with shipping involved in that price.

Each pack of 1997 Bowman's Best Football comes with 6 cards and with chances at Refractors,
Atomic Refractors, Mirror Images with Refractors and Atomic Refractors, and Autographs with Refractors and Atomic Refractors. With key rookies to find of Jake Plummer, Corey Dillon, Tony Gonzalez, Tiki Barber, Warrick Dunn, and Jon Kitna.

Any of those names hit the spot?

With five packs in hand, I couldn't decide how many I was going to open. With any pack lot I buy, I always find myself not opening the entire lot. I always save one or two for memories sake. So I decided to break three out of five and save two for the memories. At least then sealed, those two packs would be worth the price of admission I paid for the lot.

I broke these down by pack. So let's see how I did and let's hope for something good!

Pack 1: Key highlights, Eddie George, Cris Carter and Andre Reed base. I also dig the old school Ravens logo on the Vinny.

Pack 2 Key Highlights:Derrick Thomas, Marvin Harrison and Natrone Means with the Jags uni.

Still no rookies. Hmph.

Ohhhh, that's because Pack 3 Highlights has two rookie cards in it. We have the two rookies in Ike Hilliard (PC material despite having three copies already), David LaFleur (who appeared in every pack I opened I felt in 1997) and a Drew Bledsoe base.

Not a whole lot of whoopie here, but it was fun. That's what truly matters to me.

Opening these three however left me staring at the other two like they were still in my watch list. Like they were the last box of Dunkaroos on the store shelves. Like they were the last chance date with Kelly Bundy.

Will I be able to withstand the temptation......time can only tell.

Cause I wanted more
More than these packs could give
More than I could handleAnd packs that I can't live without opening

Today's lyrical re-write is from the song You Wanted More by Tonic in 1999. Great song that you should listen to over and over again like I do.

Coming In Third Ain't Bad

I am an old fashioned guy. I believe those who work hard, should earn things. Nothing in life comes easy, there are no participation trophies and there is winners and losers. There is no black/white or in-between no matter the age or sport.

If there wasn't a winner or loser and everyone got the same trophy, then why bother playing? Yes, you can still play for fun, but what does that show you? Not to try your hardest? Don't give it your all? Can you imagine baseball or football and both teams get a Championship trophy in the World Series and Super Bowl...yeah...my thoughts exactly. I feel you work hard at something you can achieve it. You didn't win the top prize, go practice and make yourself better to earn it. You should never expect things and never should be handed things for free. Work harder and do your best.

Which is what I did for this years 2nd Annual The Rose Bowl Contest hosted by Stadium Fantasium blog.Yes, it's not always sports you can be competitive in. you can be in other things as well. Last year I just tossed some numbers out to the wind in hopes I would win, but, the fact I didn't put any thought and effort into my entry I wasn't even close.

This year I strived to do better and guess what, I won a prize. It was only the bronze level which is third place, but its further than I was last year and I got to take home a prize because of my efforts.

Each prize level spot won a couple of cups commemorating the Rose Bowl Game.

Then after that it was a rotating winner claim prize depending on where you finished. There was lots of great prizes up for grabs, a few I really wanted but my turn wasn't at that point yet, so I claimed what I wanted from what was left.

Including this 2007 Fleer retail baseball pack. Anytime I can open anything Fleer, I will take it.

Delmon Young rookie. Can you imagine how hot that card was at the time?

Davis Ross mini

The two promised Rookie Sensations inserts, Josh Beckett and Jeremy Hermida who I had some nice cards of and I had always hoped he would turn out big. But, he didn't.

And then a bonus surprise, Crowning Achievement Frank Thomas insert. I will never get used to see him in any uniform that's not the White Sox.

And the final prize was this Carlos Carrasco autograph on card from Topps Tek. I always like the Tek design but always worry that the autographs will fade over time like with those Pinnacle Inscriptions from the 90's,.

A solid prize for finishing third if I may say so myself.

Next year if this is hosted I will strive for an even better finish, except I would have to find a way to outdo the two-time champion Fuji. But, I am coming for ya haha.

Thanks for the prize Stadium Fantasium!

Breakin Wax:1996 Collectors Edge President's Reserve Series 1 Pack Break

It seemed only fitting that I post this pack break as my next retro bust from my Jammin JD Sports Cards retro crate with the presidential election just completed.

You won't find any Trump or Hillary in here, just fun clear acetate cards with the biggest names in the NFL.

In every pack of 1996 Collectors Edge Presidents Reserve, you will find yourself 6 acetate cards whether it's base or inserts. Packs on the Jammin JD Sports Cards website run $2.25 each (which is much less than they used to be in 1996) and you can find those HERE.

In order for me to show off their greatness, I put them on a green counter top to show you how the card lays out.

As you can see with the Willie Jackson here, the outside of the card is clear acetate with some gold trim. The inner part is a blue box with a featured player. All acetate.

 

Let's have some fun with these cards to since the product has the word President in it.

Willie wants to "Catch Your Vote" for his election slogan.

 

Jason Elam is "Kicking His Way In" as his slogan.

 

If you vote Jerome, he will offer "Free Bus Rides"

 

Terry wants to "Run For Your Vote".

Bruce Smith says "Vote For Me Or Else"

 

Overall, no insert finds but I had fun busting it and posting them. I didn't buy a lot of the product when it came out and it appears the cards I pulled in this break are all new so that's a plus.

Thoughts on today's break welcomed below!

1997 Upper Deck UD3 Baseball Pack # 24, The Finale

It's the end of the box and we know it. It's the end of the box and we know it..and it is fine! (not really cause I don't have anymore to bust!)

No inserts, no autographs, but a few set needs. I guess that is better than nothing.

 

 

After I am done sorting it all out I will leave my overall thoughts on the break in a post and ask for your thoughts as well. Should be next week or two as I am behind sorting a few other things first.

 

Oh, and I mentioned giving some cards away. I still am. Look for those in a future contest....

1997 Upper Deck UD3 Baseball Pack # 23

Oy! Was the words out of my mouth for this break. Three doubles!!!! I am still short on my set with only one pack to go! Going to need that one to be a good one to help.

Not a bad pack otherwise...

 

 

The finale is tomorrow. Will there be set help? Insert? Autograph? I might bust it today for tomorrow cause I can't wait either....

1997 Upper Deck UD3 Baseball Pack # 21

Can't believe I am at Pack 21 already. Amazing how fast this went even though it has been three weeks.

Today's pack had a couple more set needs including one for my Yanks PC.

 

Pack #22 tomorrow. Only a few left!

1997 Upper Deck UD3 Baseball Pack # 20

Pack 20 gives me three new set needs and some memories.

All I can remember of Mo was that he was the Ortiz of the 90's. Big dude that could hit. Mo delivered a grand slam in the game I went to see Griffey play in. Was a bad ending to a great day.

 

John was so dominant that my friends would fight in the backyard on who got to be him in our baseball matchups.

 

And Andruw makes me think back to when my father and I would try to chase down his rookie cards as he was the "it" factor.

 

 

Let's see if Pack #21 will be as memorable as this one tomorrow!

1997 Upper Deck UD3 Baseball Pack # 19

Today kicks off the final few packs of UD3. I  know a lot of you will be sad as this box break comes to an end, but we knew at some point we would get there.

Today's pack provided more set needs.

 

Once again, great photo placement.

 

I was always a fan of Larkins.

 

 Tomorrow we break Pack 20. Stay tuned and cross your fingers I find something else.

1997 Upper Deck UD3 Baseball Pack #16

Finally, a pack that provides me some more set help. All three of these cards will go towards my set.

Slammin Sammy. I liked him until....well....you know. I think I have repeated that enough during this series.

Jim Thome to me was the ageless wonder. Seems like he continued to hit no matter the team and age.

Jason Kendall was one of the leagues better catchers during his playing time.

Another pack on it's way tomorrow. We are closing in on the end.