No Purchase Necessary

I've been sick since Thursday and I'm starting to feel better now that I've had plenty of rest but I wanted to highlight today's today mail day.  Today I received my first ever "No Purchase Necessary" card.

If you aren't aware, on every package of cards is a list of insert/parallel cards and for Topps products, the odds of receiving those cards.  By law, the trading card companies are required to offer the purchaser a chance to win those cards.  The same rules apply to other products that give you the chance to win something by buying a certain product.

To date, I've submitted 17 entries for NPN cards.  I do not keep track of when the drawings occur because I'd rather be surprised instead of checking my mail after the drawing occurs.  So it's possible that out of the 17 entries  not all of them have had their drawings.

With all that said, what did I win??

A base card of 2016 Bowman.  Even though it is just a base card, at least Topps protected the card well.  A toploader, penny sleeve, and sticker are likely worth more than the card itself.  This was a base card I needed so I can't be too disappointed.  Rather than breaking out the card, I think I'll keep it secured as a memento for my first NPN win.

EDIT:
I wanted to add that even if you don't buy new packs of cards there is a great website that tracks most of the NPN entries.  Head over to NPN Cards to find out all the details for how to enter.

Topps Buyback Cards

1973 Topps - #43

The concept of buyback cards was foreign to me until I won on Sportlots a Series 2 lot of 2015 Topps.  Included in the lot were two Topps buyback cards.  I don't know when exactly Topps started its buyback program but I believe it's only been in the past couple years that Topps has stamped the cards.  

Since buybacks are not new topic there has already been plenty of digital ink spilled talking about these cards.  That won't stop me from giving my own $.02, though.  

In my experience so far, all of my buyback cards have been from the 1970s.  As I mentioned in my trade post documenting my first vintage basketball cards, the vintage cards have a classic look and feel to them. I don't need an all-star player to feel like I had a successful pull.  Any card is fine by me.

1979 Topps - #696

Some critics might argue that if collectors want vintage cards they should just go out and buy the originals and keep the buybacks out of the modern sets.  It's fair point but I personally wouldn't seek out these cards on my own.  I'm not at the point where I'm trying to collect vintage cards.  Any buybacks I receive I consider a special surprise.  

There is also the question of value.  Are buyback cards more valuable than the originals? I have not performed any comparison research but my gut answer would be no.  I don't think the stamp adds any intrinsic value beyond the original.  Or rather, the unstamped version.  

The downside to the buyback cards is that it is nearly impossible to put together a checklist.  Topps never releases a checklist of all the buyback cards they've inserted into boxes and I doubt Topps even knows which cards are shipped off.  Collectors don't even know how many different buyback cards are out there.

1973 Topps - #283

Another thorny issue is the matter of cataloging and sorting buyback cards.  At least on the Trading Card Database, with no set checklist the cards cannot be added to my collection.  I've resorted to cataloging the card under it's original set.  I then scan the front of the buyback and upload it to my collection.  That way the stamped version will show up in my collection gallery.  

When I sort the card I put it with the set that it was pulled from.  For example, the Ray Sadecki card was pulled from 2014 Topps Update.  Therefore, I will keep it sorted with the rest of my Update cards.  I also make a note in my collection on TCDB that it's sorted with Update so I can find it easier at a later date.

Topps 1978 - #217

Will Topps continue the buyback program for 2017 flagship?  Given that there is no shortage of cheap commons out in the world, my money is on "yes."

Memorabilia Box

Damn the Fairfield Company, the purveyor of these repack boxes.  Last time I was at Target I noticed they now had boxes that came with 1 memorabilia or autograph card and three unopened packs.  At $10 a pop I wasn't ready to take the gamble.  Thought after a successful night at the casino on the slot machines I was feeling lucky again.  I had to return a shirt from the Sports Authority (which doesn't have any liquidation sales yet at my store) and the Target is right next door, well technically right above it.  I also picked up of box of 2016 Score football and one pack of 2015-16 Donruss Basketball.

#76 - 2001 Pacific Private Stock - Game Gear
How do they get the bat piece in there? How do they make a round bat, flat?

I'll start with the memorabilia piece: a game-used bat from Alex Gonzalez.  This isn't a spectacular card by any means.  The card design is trying too hard to be futuristic.  Notice all the 1s and 0s in the background? I think that's Pacific's attempt at designing a 21st century card.  The black and white lines surrounding the game gear are also out of place with the rest of the card design.  Gonzalez is also not a noteworthy player.  He was an all-star in 1999 and a World Series Champion with the Marlins in 2013.  That's the extent of his accomplishments.  Not that those are nothing to be proud of but he was not a particularly good shortstop.  The year this card came out he committed 26 errors, which led the major league.  He routinely put up double digit error numbers.  He was a lifetime .246 batter with a slightly better .290 on-base percentage.  Gonzalez's Wins Above Replacement during the 8 years he spent with the Marlins was only 1.6.  Not a great player, not a great card, not a great pull.

The unopened packs, however, were an improvement.  I had a Topps 2015 Series 2 and Opening Day.  There was also a 2015 Allen & Ginter.

2015 Topps Opening Day

I got some nice cards in the Adam Jones and Adrian Gonzalez.  Jones is a player that's hard to watch for me.  He used to play for the Mariners until our inept management traded him away for abject garbage.  Jones of course turned out to be a high caliber player for the Orioles while the Mariners' outfield languished.  It is quite possible that the Mariners organization would have crushed his ability to play baseball so perhaps it was best he left.  Former Mariners typically play better once they leave the Mariners. This year is a little different as Leonys Martin is absolutely crushing it as a Mariner versus when he was with the Texas Rangers.

Fuck Mike Trout

Tout is a good baseball player.  Trout plays for Los Angeles Angels.  The Angels play in the AL West.  Ergo: Fuck Mike Trout.  I don't really hate Trout, it's more of an ongoing inside joke with the Mariners subreddit.  Trout has a hit well against the Mariners and always finds a way to make them lose.  Thus, "Fuck Mike Trout."

2015 Topps Series 2

The Topps pack was not that exciting.  The majority were NL players who I'm not familiar with.  I do like the 'Til It's Over insert as it talks about a specific come from behind victory.  Yet in Mays' case it's about him more generally helping the Giants win the 1951 NL Pennant.  I'm always a fan of inserts about baseball history.

2015 Topps Allen & Ginter

My first ever Allen & Ginter cards.  At first I thought I didn't like these cards so I never bothered with packs but now I think I like them.  A very classy look.  The non-sports inserts are also a nice change of pace.

Mini Joe

Broadcasters don't get enough love from baseball cards.  Whatever your opinion might be about Joe Buck, I think he's biased against the Seahawks, it's nice to see a broadcaster on a card.  I wish the Mariners' broadcaster would get their own cards.

2015-16 Donruss

Although not part of the memorabilia box, I also picked up a pack of Donruss seeing as how these packs will likely be gone from stores soon.  I pulled a few good cards in the Giffin and Lowry cards.  I kept my streak alive of not getting any Oklahoma City Thunder cards.  Owning any OKC cards would taint my whole collection (I'm still upset that the Sonics were swept out of town).