Happy Every Holiday from the Ginter Godfather!
I know it's been a little while, things have been hectic at work and the birth of the newest member of the Ginter Family has had the Godfather a little busy. It's alright, we haven't had any spitup, vomit, slobber, or other bodily fluids get on any cards, yet, so we're doing something right!
Just wanted to drop a quick update on the Ginter Project:
MyCoke Rewards Points: 153
Mt. Dew Haul: 1-month XBox Live Gold Membership x2 (estimated value is around $5 each? Not terrible for free...)
Listia Credits: 3215
Unredeemed Bottles: 21
SwagBucks: 450 (Enough for a $5 Amazon Giftcard)
Cash on Hand: $4.10
Cardboard on Hand for Trade:
2004 Topps Cracker Jack 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame' #TB-TG Troy Glaus Jersey Card
2004 Topps Cracker Jack 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame' #TB-IR Ivan Rodriguez Bat Card
2007 Topps Turkey Red #TRR-CR Chris Ray Jersey Card
So, that's what we've got to deal with. As part of a lot of jersey cards I won off of Listia for 6000 credits, I also nabbed 4 Allen and Ginter relic cards that I've added to the "Ginter Project Success Wall" if you will. They are:
2007 Topps Allen & Ginter #AGR-PL Paul LoDuca Jersey Card
2007 Topps Allen & Ginter #AGR-DW Dontrelle Willis Jersey Card
2007 Topps Allen & Ginter #AGR-CP Corey Patterson Bat Card
2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #AGR-MPR Martin Prado Jersey Card
Hey, you know, everyone starts somewhere!
In other news, I won my Fantasy Football League that was hosted by my LCS owner. I opted to split the prize money to reduce stress with the guy I was playing with. We pooled the money for 1st and 2nd and bought 4 boxes of cards from the LCS and did a snake draft, with the winner choosing first. We opened 3 boxes of Leaf Sports Heroes and 1 box of Allen and Ginter. The Ginter yielded a Jason Heyward RIP Card #/50, a Tommy Lee Autograph, a Neil Walker relic, and a Krissy Teigan bats back mini #/25. Using my superior draft powers, I took the RIP card first, and the Tommy Lee auto fell to my opponent as his 2nd pick, 3rd overall. I finished up wit hthe Teigan mini and the Walker relic, so it was a good haul. I also was gifted the base cards and minis and the boxloader as part of my champion's edge (the other guy isn't a set collector, so he's happy with the Tommy Lee auto anyways). A good haul, and by far the best box I have opened of Ginter EVER.
Have a great New Years, I've got some good things planned for this blog, including a few contests to try and bolster readership, as well as a few goals/resolutions for collecting. Gotta have those!
As always, keep it in the family!
-GG
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
Ginter Project - Mid-November Update
Greetings Mafia,
I do apologize for my absence. It is sometimes required of me to travel, which I had to do earlier this week. I'm back and have resumed the Ginter Project. I lost Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for collecting, so I feel as though I am a little behind. It happens. To help make up for it, we did visit the bottle redemption room. Lets take a look at what we have:
MyCoke Rewards Points: 117 (Almost at that 3rd 20 oz beverage coupon!)
Mt. Dew Codes: 61
Flavor Codes: 1 (holding off on auctioning it on Listia for now)
Listia Credits: 9114 (should be enough to nab a free card or two to start the cardboard part of the stash)
Unredeemed Bottles: 0
SwagBucks: 450 (Enough for a $5 Amazon Giftcard)
Cash on Hand: $2.75
I'm really very pleased so far with our progress. Again, we started with nothing and have roughly $10 in the kitty. I'll need to start focusing a little more on consolidation and advancing the actual goal.
In other news, I barely missed out on a 2013 Allen & Ginter Bill Buckner autograph from Listia this weekend. Just more motivation to amass more credits so other opportunities don't slip through our fingers again.
Until next time. Oh, and keep it in the family.
I do apologize for my absence. It is sometimes required of me to travel, which I had to do earlier this week. I'm back and have resumed the Ginter Project. I lost Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for collecting, so I feel as though I am a little behind. It happens. To help make up for it, we did visit the bottle redemption room. Lets take a look at what we have:
MyCoke Rewards Points: 117 (Almost at that 3rd 20 oz beverage coupon!)
Mt. Dew Codes: 61
Flavor Codes: 1 (holding off on auctioning it on Listia for now)
Listia Credits: 9114 (should be enough to nab a free card or two to start the cardboard part of the stash)
Unredeemed Bottles: 0
SwagBucks: 450 (Enough for a $5 Amazon Giftcard)
Cash on Hand: $2.75
I'm really very pleased so far with our progress. Again, we started with nothing and have roughly $10 in the kitty. I'll need to start focusing a little more on consolidation and advancing the actual goal.
In other news, I barely missed out on a 2013 Allen & Ginter Bill Buckner autograph from Listia this weekend. Just more motivation to amass more credits so other opportunities don't slip through our fingers again.
Until next time. Oh, and keep it in the family.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Happy Veteran's Day + Ginter Project Update
Greetings Mafia!
Happy Veterans Day to you all and thank you to all of our nation's veterans for their service!
I'm sure you're all anxiously awaiting a Ginter Project Update, so I'll get down to it:
MyCokeRewards Points: 92
Mt. Dew Codes: 45
Flavor Codes: 2 (1 up for auction on Listia with a bid of 100 credits)
Listia Credits: 2236
Unredeemed Bottles: 18
Cash on Hand: $1.40
Weekends appear to be pretty slow for bottle caps and bottles. Unfortunately I go into my off days now, so it's a double hit to production. Oh well. Will have to overcome and adapt.
Again, thank you veterans!
As always, keep it in the family.
-GG
Happy Veterans Day to you all and thank you to all of our nation's veterans for their service!
I'm sure you're all anxiously awaiting a Ginter Project Update, so I'll get down to it:
MyCokeRewards Points: 92
Mt. Dew Codes: 45
Flavor Codes: 2 (1 up for auction on Listia with a bid of 100 credits)
Listia Credits: 2236
Unredeemed Bottles: 18
Cash on Hand: $1.40
Weekends appear to be pretty slow for bottle caps and bottles. Unfortunately I go into my off days now, so it's a double hit to production. Oh well. Will have to overcome and adapt.
Again, thank you veterans!
As always, keep it in the family.
-GG
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Ginter Project Update - 11/08/2013
Greetings Mafia,
Figured I'd offer up a little pre-weekend update on the project. Been making some progress this week and I'm feeling pretty good about the overall progress. No actual physical cards yet, but we have our first actual contribution that is... dare I say it, real!? Yes. We have successfully taken off from nothing to actually having *something*.
Here's the haul --
86 MyCoke Rewards Points (Could redeem for 2 free 20 oz bottles of soda/Powerade/whatever)
41 Mt. Dew Codes (I estimate I'll need between 300 and 500 to actually get anything out of these, but they're fairly plentiful and the bounty is... bountiful. XBox One, anyone?)
2 Facebook Flavor Codes (I had 3, auctioned 1 off on Listia for 100 credits)
2141 Listia Credits (Will be looking to snag some free cards off of this site, and use various codes and whatnot to fuel it)
9 cans/bottles (Should be more, but I've been tossing several in the recycling so I could maintain my dignity... have to abide by the rules!)
Ginter Project Funds: $1.40
Yep. A buck forty. Redeemed a box of cans and bottles at a nickel apiece. Twenty eight of the suckers later and I've almost got a dollar and a half. Not enough to even mail a bubble mailer, but a Master Ginter Set was never built in a day. Unless you're Brentandbecca.
I'll conclude by pointing out that if you're interested in anything in the Ginter Project at any point and want to barter/trade/swap, drop me an e-mail or a comment and I'll get in touch. I expect this to be a bit more legitimate when I get cards, but if you're sitting there with a parched throat going, "Man, I could really use an ice cold Coca-Cola three weeks from now, but all I have is this Yasiel Puig Rookie Card." I'm you're man.
As always, keep it in the family.
-GG
Figured I'd offer up a little pre-weekend update on the project. Been making some progress this week and I'm feeling pretty good about the overall progress. No actual physical cards yet, but we have our first actual contribution that is... dare I say it, real!? Yes. We have successfully taken off from nothing to actually having *something*.
Here's the haul --
86 MyCoke Rewards Points (Could redeem for 2 free 20 oz bottles of soda/Powerade/whatever)
41 Mt. Dew Codes (I estimate I'll need between 300 and 500 to actually get anything out of these, but they're fairly plentiful and the bounty is... bountiful. XBox One, anyone?)
2 Facebook Flavor Codes (I had 3, auctioned 1 off on Listia for 100 credits)
2141 Listia Credits (Will be looking to snag some free cards off of this site, and use various codes and whatnot to fuel it)
9 cans/bottles (Should be more, but I've been tossing several in the recycling so I could maintain my dignity... have to abide by the rules!)
Ginter Project Funds: $1.40
Yep. A buck forty. Redeemed a box of cans and bottles at a nickel apiece. Twenty eight of the suckers later and I've almost got a dollar and a half. Not enough to even mail a bubble mailer, but a Master Ginter Set was never built in a day. Unless you're Brentandbecca.
I'll conclude by pointing out that if you're interested in anything in the Ginter Project at any point and want to barter/trade/swap, drop me an e-mail or a comment and I'll get in touch. I expect this to be a bit more legitimate when I get cards, but if you're sitting there with a parched throat going, "Man, I could really use an ice cold Coca-Cola three weeks from now, but all I have is this Yasiel Puig Rookie Card." I'm you're man.
As always, keep it in the family.
-GG
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
The Ginter Project: 11/06 Update
Greetings Mafia,
As promised I have an update for you. Keep in mind that I technically started this on the 1st of November, so these numbers are not indicative of a single evening of effortless collecting.
Current Project Assets:
74 MyCokeRewards points (40 points are redeemable for a free 20 oz Coke beverage...)
2 Facebook Flavor Codes (Redeemable for Facebook Credits? Don't know much about these.)
24 Mt. Dew Codes (Unlikely anything will come of these, but it's worth a shot)
16 cans/bottles ($.05 apiece. $0.80 once redeemed)
Not bad. Will keep this place posted of any updates as I get them.
Oh, and keep it in the family.
As promised I have an update for you. Keep in mind that I technically started this on the 1st of November, so these numbers are not indicative of a single evening of effortless collecting.
Current Project Assets:
74 MyCokeRewards points (40 points are redeemable for a free 20 oz Coke beverage...)
2 Facebook Flavor Codes (Redeemable for Facebook Credits? Don't know much about these.)
24 Mt. Dew Codes (Unlikely anything will come of these, but it's worth a shot)
16 cans/bottles ($.05 apiece. $0.80 once redeemed)
Not bad. Will keep this place posted of any updates as I get them.
Oh, and keep it in the family.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
The Ginter Project
Greetings Ginter Mafia,
With Gint-A-Cuffs in the past (an a recap post overdue... thanks again to the Commissioner for hosting!) it is time to turn our attention towards the horizon. I've been kicking around a few ideas for projects and have finally settled on one.
I'm sure you've seen any number of attempts at recreating the famous 'Red Paperclip' project in the hobby. Folks will take a single card and try and wheel and deal to obtain some fancy target card like a Ken Griffey Jr. PSA 10 Gem Mint Rookie Card, or a Mike Trout Autographed Superfractor, or a Bryce Harper Rookie 1/0 Invisfractor. All very admirable goals. I'm going to take it one step further, however, and be slightly different. More unique, if you will.
The Ginter Project's goal is simple - obtain the best Allen & Ginter card or cards that I can. It is an ongoing project without any sort of "end." It will end whenever it dies, and that will be that. Having amorphous goals is generally bad, however, so we'll start out with a simple goal: Obtain an unripped Allen and Ginter RIP card. Any year, any player, any serial numbering. Our starting point will be the following: Nothing.
Yep, you read that correctly. Nothing. I am going to physically start with nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Squat. Not a single card to the project's name. I will need to discover ways to obtain things for free and trade/sell them towards my goal. This includes rescuing cans and bottles from landfills and redeeming them for their container deposit ($0.05 per can/bottle!). Here are the rules:
1) Dignity will be maintained. That means no dumpster diving or stealing from recycling bins. Retreiving cans/bottles from garbage cans discreetly is permissible. The Ginter Godfather isn't a bum.
2) No personal funds will be permitted. The Project will have its own pile of money (probably in the form of quarters, nickels, and dimes) to pay for EVERYTHING - postage, envelopes, supplies, etc.
3) I am permitted to trade with myself. The trades need to be fair using SELL VALUE ONLY. Because if you can find someone who is willing to pay book value for all of my cards, I'll give you a 10% commission.
4) As an addendum to Rule 3), I can trade/buy supplies from myself. This way I don't have to buy an entire box of PWE's or something silly like that.
5) Any and all avenues are available but must be documented here. I can use message boards, LCS's, FeeBay, etc.
6) No extraordinary measures are to be taken. This is to prevent me from driving around aimlessly to pick up cans. I'll burn more in gas then I would obtain in bottle deposits. Everything must be done in the course of my regular day.
Seems pretty easy, eh? I'll post a recap for the day either every day or every couple days to keep everyone abreast of my progress. This will be fun, I think!
Just keep it in the family.
-GG
With Gint-A-Cuffs in the past (an a recap post overdue... thanks again to the Commissioner for hosting!) it is time to turn our attention towards the horizon. I've been kicking around a few ideas for projects and have finally settled on one.
I'm sure you've seen any number of attempts at recreating the famous 'Red Paperclip' project in the hobby. Folks will take a single card and try and wheel and deal to obtain some fancy target card like a Ken Griffey Jr. PSA 10 Gem Mint Rookie Card, or a Mike Trout Autographed Superfractor, or a Bryce Harper Rookie 1/0 Invisfractor. All very admirable goals. I'm going to take it one step further, however, and be slightly different. More unique, if you will.
The Ginter Project's goal is simple - obtain the best Allen & Ginter card or cards that I can. It is an ongoing project without any sort of "end." It will end whenever it dies, and that will be that. Having amorphous goals is generally bad, however, so we'll start out with a simple goal: Obtain an unripped Allen and Ginter RIP card. Any year, any player, any serial numbering. Our starting point will be the following: Nothing.
Yep, you read that correctly. Nothing. I am going to physically start with nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Squat. Not a single card to the project's name. I will need to discover ways to obtain things for free and trade/sell them towards my goal. This includes rescuing cans and bottles from landfills and redeeming them for their container deposit ($0.05 per can/bottle!). Here are the rules:
1) Dignity will be maintained. That means no dumpster diving or stealing from recycling bins. Retreiving cans/bottles from garbage cans discreetly is permissible. The Ginter Godfather isn't a bum.
2) No personal funds will be permitted. The Project will have its own pile of money (probably in the form of quarters, nickels, and dimes) to pay for EVERYTHING - postage, envelopes, supplies, etc.
3) I am permitted to trade with myself. The trades need to be fair using SELL VALUE ONLY. Because if you can find someone who is willing to pay book value for all of my cards, I'll give you a 10% commission.
4) As an addendum to Rule 3), I can trade/buy supplies from myself. This way I don't have to buy an entire box of PWE's or something silly like that.
5) Any and all avenues are available but must be documented here. I can use message boards, LCS's, FeeBay, etc.
6) No extraordinary measures are to be taken. This is to prevent me from driving around aimlessly to pick up cans. I'll burn more in gas then I would obtain in bottle deposits. Everything must be done in the course of my regular day.
Seems pretty easy, eh? I'll post a recap for the day either every day or every couple days to keep everyone abreast of my progress. This will be fun, I think!
Just keep it in the family.
-GG
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Ugh! You had ONE JOB! (Packs 21-24)
Well folks, we're into the home stretch here. The folks at Quality Control had ONE JOB and that was Quality Control, and the quality of the collation in this box, along with the appropriate number of cards is awful. I think the Ginter Mafia needs to pay them a visit to take care of this problem.
Pack 21:
Shelby "It's" Miller "Time" +1 Favorite Team
Evan Longoria
Jurickson Profar
Bryce Harper +2 Other FP
Mike "No" Joy
Barry Melrose
Across the Years: Andy "Can I have my human steak petite" Pettite +1 (+2 AtY, -1 Yankee)
Heavy Hangs the Head: Solomon +3
Pack Total: +7
Running Box Total: +163
That was a solid pack. A Cardinal, some other persons favorite player, a crappy Yankee, and a mini insert.
Pack 22:
Cal "Iron Horse" Ripken Jr.
David "Big Papi" Ortiz
Matt Garza
Johnny "Don't" Bench "Me"
Joe Morgan
Across the Years: Jason Kipnis +2
Base Mini: Whitey Ford -1
Pack Total: +1
Running Box Total: +164
OK, so I get shorted a card and I only get a single point out of the pack. Did I mention Topps Quality Control HAD ONE JOB!?
Pack 23:
Monty "Let's Make A Deal!" Hall
Jason "Not a SP This Time" Dufner
Freddie "I need a new hairdo" Roach
Chrissy "I am hotter than you" Teigen
Ryan "At least I'm not Jordan" Zimmerman
Martial Mastery: Amazons +3
Ruben Tejada SP +2
A&G Ad Back Mini: Hanley Ramirez +2
Pack Total: +7
Running Box Total: +171
Hokay so that pack was a lot better than the previous. I mean, come on. At least I got the right number of cards. This is not looking good, kids.
Pack 24:
Ed "Married with Children" O'Neil
McKayla "I'm not impressed with this Gint-A-Cuffs Box" Maroney
Robin "I make it look like I get hit by a" van "every time I fall down on the field" Persie
Kevin "Speed Demon" Harvick
Henry "Not a SP This Time" Rollins
Panama "Order of the Ditch" Canal
Across the Years: Jurickson Profar +2
A&G Ad Back Mini: Babe Ruth +1 (+2 A&G Ad Back, -1 Yankee)
Pack Total: +3
Final Box Total: +174
I think Ms. Maroney has it right there. I am not impressed in the least with this box.
So we had at least 3 packs there missing 7 cards when they should have 8. If there was a relic or auto, it will only have 7 cards, so we knew that, but we can only wonder what those 3 missing cards were. Jon Jays? Cardinals? Yankees? Who knows. Thanks a lot Topps.
I'll go ahead and follow this up tomorrow with a summary and overall feelings about this year's Gint-A-Cuffs experience.
Until then, keep it in the family.
-GG
Pack 21:
Shelby "It's" Miller "Time" +1 Favorite Team
Evan Longoria
Jurickson Profar
Bryce Harper +2 Other FP
Mike "No" Joy
Barry Melrose
Across the Years: Andy "Can I have my human steak petite" Pettite +1 (+2 AtY, -1 Yankee)
Heavy Hangs the Head: Solomon +3
Pack Total: +7
Running Box Total: +163
That was a solid pack. A Cardinal, some other persons favorite player, a crappy Yankee, and a mini insert.
Pack 22:
Cal "Iron Horse" Ripken Jr.
David "Big Papi" Ortiz
Matt Garza
Johnny "Don't" Bench "Me"
Joe Morgan
Across the Years: Jason Kipnis +2
Base Mini: Whitey Ford -1
Pack Total: +1
Running Box Total: +164
OK, so I get shorted a card and I only get a single point out of the pack. Did I mention Topps Quality Control HAD ONE JOB!?
Pack 23:
Monty "Let's Make A Deal!" Hall
Jason "Not a SP This Time" Dufner
Freddie "I need a new hairdo" Roach
Chrissy "I am hotter than you" Teigen
Ryan "At least I'm not Jordan" Zimmerman
Martial Mastery: Amazons +3
Ruben Tejada SP +2
A&G Ad Back Mini: Hanley Ramirez +2
Pack Total: +7
Running Box Total: +171
Hokay so that pack was a lot better than the previous. I mean, come on. At least I got the right number of cards. This is not looking good, kids.
Pack 24:
Ed "Married with Children" O'Neil
McKayla "I'm not impressed with this Gint-A-Cuffs Box" Maroney
Robin "I make it look like I get hit by a" van "every time I fall down on the field" Persie
Kevin "Speed Demon" Harvick
Henry "Not a SP This Time" Rollins
Panama "Order of the Ditch" Canal
Across the Years: Jurickson Profar +2
A&G Ad Back Mini: Babe Ruth +1 (+2 A&G Ad Back, -1 Yankee)
Pack Total: +3
Final Box Total: +174
I think Ms. Maroney has it right there. I am not impressed in the least with this box.
So we had at least 3 packs there missing 7 cards when they should have 8. If there was a relic or auto, it will only have 7 cards, so we knew that, but we can only wonder what those 3 missing cards were. Jon Jays? Cardinals? Yankees? Who knows. Thanks a lot Topps.
I'll go ahead and follow this up tomorrow with a summary and overall feelings about this year's Gint-A-Cuffs experience.
Until then, keep it in the family.
-GG
Monday, August 19, 2013
If I'm missing another card I'm going to scream (Packs 17-20)
I'm still very disappointed that I am missing cards from previous packs. Why don't we just tie my hands behind my back and make me open the packs with my teeth? Wait, never mind, I don't need to give the Commissioner any ideas.
Pack 17:
Bobby Doerr
Eddie Murray
John Smoltz
Paul Goldschmidt
Albert Pujols
One Little Corner: Moon +3
Russel Martin SP +2
All in a Days Work Mini: Soldier +4
Pack Total: +9
Running Box Total: +135
Alright! A case hit mini! That is what I'm talking about! And it is a soldier at that! The Ginter Mafia grows! Mwuuahahahaha!
Pack 18:
Carlos Gonzalez
Bob Feller
Doug Fister
Josh Hamilton +2 Other FP
Tim Hudson
Eddie Murray
Across the Years: C.J. Wilson +2
Heavy Hangs the Head Mini: Cyrus the Great +3
Pack Total: +7
Running Box Total: +142
Hrm. You know, I get the sneaking suspicion that I've seen some of these guys before...
Pack 19:
Kris Medlen
Ian Kennedy
Howie Kendrick
Jason Heyward +2 Other FP
Phil Nierko
Civilizations of Ages Past: Babylonians +3
Yadier Molina SP +2
Base SP Mini: Kevin "Cravin' Eyeballs" Youkilis +2 (+3 SP mini, -1 Yankee)
Pack Total: +9
Running Box Total: +151
Woohoo! A solid pack, even with Kevin Youkilis rearing his ugly mug once again. Plus, I broke the 150 point barrier. Unlikely that I'll win, but hopefully I won't be in the bottom 2 again.
Pack 20:
Cecil Fielder
CJ Wilson
Tyler Skaggs
Dylan Bundy
Jon Lester
Martial Mastery: Samurai +3
Jason "I just won a tournament!" Dufner SP +2
Base Mini: Will Clark
Pack Total: +5
Running Box Total: +156
Huh. Well, maybe since I got a Dufner, I'll pull something incredible to propel me to victory in the home stretch!
Until then, keep it in the family.
-GG
Pack 17:
Bobby Doerr
Eddie Murray
John Smoltz
Paul Goldschmidt
Albert Pujols
One Little Corner: Moon +3
Russel Martin SP +2
All in a Days Work Mini: Soldier +4
Pack Total: +9
Running Box Total: +135
Alright! A case hit mini! That is what I'm talking about! And it is a soldier at that! The Ginter Mafia grows! Mwuuahahahaha!
Pack 18:
Carlos Gonzalez
Bob Feller
Doug Fister
Josh Hamilton +2 Other FP
Tim Hudson
Eddie Murray
Across the Years: C.J. Wilson +2
Heavy Hangs the Head Mini: Cyrus the Great +3
Pack Total: +7
Running Box Total: +142
Hrm. You know, I get the sneaking suspicion that I've seen some of these guys before...
Pack 19:
Kris Medlen
Ian Kennedy
Howie Kendrick
Jason Heyward +2 Other FP
Phil Nierko
Civilizations of Ages Past: Babylonians +3
Yadier Molina SP +2
Base SP Mini: Kevin "Cravin' Eyeballs" Youkilis +2 (+3 SP mini, -1 Yankee)
Pack Total: +9
Running Box Total: +151
Woohoo! A solid pack, even with Kevin Youkilis rearing his ugly mug once again. Plus, I broke the 150 point barrier. Unlikely that I'll win, but hopefully I won't be in the bottom 2 again.
Pack 20:
Cecil Fielder
CJ Wilson
Tyler Skaggs
Dylan Bundy
Jon Lester
Martial Mastery: Samurai +3
Jason "I just won a tournament!" Dufner SP +2
Base Mini: Will Clark
Pack Total: +5
Running Box Total: +156
Huh. Well, maybe since I got a Dufner, I'll pull something incredible to propel me to victory in the home stretch!
Until then, keep it in the family.
-GG
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Yo ho ho and a pack of lamesauce (Packs 13-16)
Well, things have been going fairly well so far. Lets see what kind of momentum we can keep up going into the second half...
Pack 13:
Jackie Robinson
Dexter Fowler
Joey Votto +2 Other FP
Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas
Across the Years: Chris Sale +2
Frame Miniature Autograph: Brian Kelly +10
Regular Mini: Jon Niese
Pack Total: +14
Running Box Total: +113
Well, there goes our last hit, and it is at least a very solid hit! Ink is pretty good, and it isn't some scrub baseball player. Not that some scrub Notre Dame coach is much better.
Pack 14:
Rod Carew
Dustin Pedroia
Adam Jones
Dan "Ugh" Uggla
Brandon Beachy
Across the Years: Ryan Howard +4 (+2 AtY, +2 Other FP)
Regular Mini: Mike Schmidt
Pack Total: +4
Running Box Total: +117
HEY! Where the heck is my 8th card!? One awesome card, but I sense I'm missing an insert here.
Pack 15:
Chris Sale
Ardolis Chapman
Frank Robinson
Nick Swisher
Ty Cobb
Martial Mastery: Vikings +3
Alex Rios SP +2
Regular Mini: Andre Ethier
Pack Total: +5
Running Box Total: +122
Well. It could be worse. I could be missing a card.
Pack 16:
Mike Minor
Justin Upton
Jared Weaver
Jacob Ellsbury
Andre Dawson
Across the Years: Dylan Bundy +2
A&G Ad Back Mini: Corey Hart +2
Pack Total: +4
Running Box Total: +126
AHHHHHH! TWO packs that are missing cards!? Are you effing serious!? I'm probably missing two Jon Jay cards or two inserts. This is absurd.
By far the most disappointing round simply because I'm missing cards. Ink is cool. I'm still missing cards.
Until next time, and even after that, keep it in the family.
-GG
Pack 13:
Jackie Robinson
Dexter Fowler
Joey Votto +2 Other FP
Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas
Across the Years: Chris Sale +2
Frame Miniature Autograph: Brian Kelly +10
Regular Mini: Jon Niese
Pack Total: +14
Running Box Total: +113
Well, there goes our last hit, and it is at least a very solid hit! Ink is pretty good, and it isn't some scrub baseball player. Not that some scrub Notre Dame coach is much better.
Pack 14:
This is bologna.
Rod Carew
Dustin Pedroia
Adam Jones
Dan "Ugh" Uggla
Brandon Beachy
Across the Years: Ryan Howard +4 (+2 AtY, +2 Other FP)
Regular Mini: Mike Schmidt
Pack Total: +4
Running Box Total: +117
HEY! Where the heck is my 8th card!? One awesome card, but I sense I'm missing an insert here.
Pack 15:
Chris Sale
Ardolis Chapman
Frank Robinson
Nick Swisher
Ty Cobb
Martial Mastery: Vikings +3
Alex Rios SP +2
Regular Mini: Andre Ethier
Pack Total: +5
Running Box Total: +122
Well. It could be worse. I could be missing a card.
Pack 16:
Mike Minor
Justin Upton
Jared Weaver
Jacob Ellsbury
Andre Dawson
Across the Years: Dylan Bundy +2
A&G Ad Back Mini: Corey Hart +2
Pack Total: +4
Running Box Total: +126
AHHHHHH! TWO packs that are missing cards!? Are you effing serious!? I'm probably missing two Jon Jay cards or two inserts. This is absurd.
By far the most disappointing round simply because I'm missing cards. Ink is cool. I'm still missing cards.
Until next time, and even after that, keep it in the family.
-GG
Saturday, August 17, 2013
My dog ate all of the favorite players and Cardinals (Packs 9-12)
I'm getting a little unnerved by the lack of favorite players and Cardinals in this box. I think my dog snuck into the box, ate the cards, and then resealed the packs to factory condition. I also think this is one of those Curious Cases cards to be found somewhere in the set.
Pack 9:
Trevor Cahill
Mike Trout
Jeff Samardzija
Robin Ventura
Todd Frazier
One Little Corner: Neptune +3
Adam "OH MY GOD I FINALLY GOT A CARDINAL!" Wainwright SP +3 (+2 SP, +1 Favorite Team)
Black Bordered Mini: Edinson Volquez +3
Pack Total: +9
Running Box Total: +82
OK, so I think we may have disproved the conspiracy theory about my dog. But you never know. With a face like that, she may just be throwing us a bone to knock us off her scent. Heh, I'm punny.
Pack 10:
Joey "OH WHAT THE HELL NOW MY CONSPIRACY THEORY IS SHOT" Votto +2 Other FP
Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas
Bobby Doerr
Alfonso Soriano
Ernie Banks
Michael Brantley
Across the Years: Willie Stargell +2
Regular Mini: Willie Stargell
Pack Total: +4
Running Box Total: +86
Ouch, that one hurt. Not so much on the helping of the going up of the total box score. Damn that dog...
Pack 11:
Edwin Encarnacion
Derek Holland
Matt Moore
Lance Lynn +1 Favorite Team
Dan Haren
Civilizations of Ages Past: Vikings +3
Kevin "Cravin' Eyeballs" Youkilis SP +1 (+2 SP, -1 Yankee)
Codes, Cypers & Cryptographs: The Phastos Disc +3
Pack Total: +8
Running Box Total: +94
Well, we get a Cardinal, a Yankee, and some Vikings all in one pack. Boy oh boy.
Pack 12:
Colby Rasmus
Matt Harrison
Enos "I'm going to" Slaughter "Yankees"
Allen Craig +1 Favorite Team
Elvis Andrus
Ian Kinsler +2 Other FP
Across the Years: David "Big Papi" Ortiz +2
Regular Mini: Scott "Shine Bright Like A" Diamond
Pack Total: +5
Running Box Total: +99
Ungh! Just shy of 100 total points and we're halfway through. I expect things to slow down considerably here in the last half of the course, and hopefully we finish below par... or do we want to be above par, since low scores in Gint-A-Cuffs is bad?
As always, keep it in the family.
-GG
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Pack 9:
Trevor Cahill
Mike Trout
Jeff Samardzija
Robin Ventura
Todd Frazier
One Little Corner: Neptune +3
Adam "OH MY GOD I FINALLY GOT A CARDINAL!" Wainwright SP +3 (+2 SP, +1 Favorite Team)
Black Bordered Mini: Edinson Volquez +3
Pack Total: +9
Running Box Total: +82
OK, so I think we may have disproved the conspiracy theory about my dog. But you never know. With a face like that, she may just be throwing us a bone to knock us off her scent. Heh, I'm punny.
Pack 10:
Joey "OH WHAT THE HELL NOW MY CONSPIRACY THEORY IS SHOT" Votto +2 Other FP
Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas
Bobby Doerr
Alfonso Soriano
Ernie Banks
Michael Brantley
Across the Years: Willie Stargell +2
Regular Mini: Willie Stargell
Pack Total: +4
Running Box Total: +86
Ouch, that one hurt. Not so much on the helping of the going up of the total box score. Damn that dog...
Pack 11:
Edwin Encarnacion
Derek Holland
Matt Moore
Lance Lynn +1 Favorite Team
Dan Haren
Civilizations of Ages Past: Vikings +3
Kevin "Cravin' Eyeballs" Youkilis SP +1 (+2 SP, -1 Yankee)
Codes, Cypers & Cryptographs: The Phastos Disc +3
Pack Total: +8
Running Box Total: +94
Well, we get a Cardinal, a Yankee, and some Vikings all in one pack. Boy oh boy.
Pack 12:
Colby Rasmus
Matt Harrison
Enos "I'm going to" Slaughter "Yankees"
Allen Craig +1 Favorite Team
Elvis Andrus
Ian Kinsler +2 Other FP
Across the Years: David "Big Papi" Ortiz +2
Regular Mini: Scott "Shine Bright Like A" Diamond
Pack Total: +5
Running Box Total: +99
Ungh! Just shy of 100 total points and we're halfway through. I expect things to slow down considerably here in the last half of the course, and hopefully we finish below par... or do we want to be above par, since low scores in Gint-A-Cuffs is bad?
As always, keep it in the family.
-GG
Friday, August 16, 2013
They're clearly bringing a whale (Packs 5-8)
Well, after a somewhat-solid Round 1, we're off to Round 2. I'll save you any unpleasing images of Zombies wearing Yankees apparel and just get straight to the whoopin'! I mean, Gint-a-Cuffing!
Pack 5:
Carlos Santana
Cecil Fielder
Bert "Be Home" Blyleven
Ted Williams
Manny Machado
Palaces and Strongholds: Neuschwansten Castle +3
Brandon Phillips SP +2
Heavy Hangs the Head: Constantine +3
Pack Total: +8
Running Box Total: +55
So, all in all not horrible. Still no Angels, an no Favorite Players. This is a little disheartening. But a solid showing!
Pack 6:
Will Middlebrooks
Starlin Castro
Jay Bruce
Bob Feller
Doug Fister
Carlos Gonzalez
Across the Years: Jordan Zimmerman +2
A&G Back Mini: Ken Griffey Jr. +2
Pack Total: +4
Running Box Total: +59
I think this is our worst pack thus far. Next to nothing. Griffey saved the pack from being more than simply mundane. Good work, Ken!
Pack 7:
Ernie Banks
Jim Johnson
Will Middlebrooks
Starlin Castro
Jay Bruce
Civilizations of Ages Past: Indus River Valley +3
Wade Miley SP: +2
Black Bordered Mini: Michael Young +3
Pack Total: +8
Running Box Total: +67
BUH! Wait a minute... didn't I get THREE of those base cards in Pack 6? WTF! None of them are Cardinals, Favorite Players, OR Yasiel Puig. This is bullcrap. I guess I should be thankful that none of them were Yankees.
Pack 8:
Brandon Morrow
Amelia Boone
Denard Span
Penny Marshal +1
Byamba
One Little Corner: Scattered Disc +3
Henry Rollins SP +2
Regular Mini: Paco Rodriguez
Pack Total: +6
Running Box Total: +73
OH BOY! What a stunning pack. What a lackluster round. +73 is respectable after 8 packs, however, so we've got some momentum going for us. Lets just hope we can keep it up. I still have managed to dodge every favorite player and every Cardinal. This is amazing.
But lets keep it in the family.
-GG
Pack 5:
Carlos Santana
Cecil Fielder
Bert "Be Home" Blyleven
Ted Williams
Manny Machado
Palaces and Strongholds: Neuschwansten Castle +3
Brandon Phillips SP +2
Heavy Hangs the Head: Constantine +3
Pack Total: +8
Running Box Total: +55
So, all in all not horrible. Still no Angels, an no Favorite Players. This is a little disheartening. But a solid showing!
Pack 6:
Starlin Castro
Jay Bruce
Bob Feller
Doug Fister
Carlos Gonzalez
Across the Years: Jordan Zimmerman +2
A&G Back Mini: Ken Griffey Jr. +2
Pack Total: +4
Running Box Total: +59
I think this is our worst pack thus far. Next to nothing. Griffey saved the pack from being more than simply mundane. Good work, Ken!
Pack 7:
Ernie Banks
Jim Johnson
Will Middlebrooks
Starlin Castro
Jay Bruce
Civilizations of Ages Past: Indus River Valley +3
Wade Miley SP: +2
Black Bordered Mini: Michael Young +3
Pack Total: +8
Running Box Total: +67
BUH! Wait a minute... didn't I get THREE of those base cards in Pack 6? WTF! None of them are Cardinals, Favorite Players, OR Yasiel Puig. This is bullcrap. I guess I should be thankful that none of them were Yankees.
Pack 8:
Brandon Morrow
Amelia Boone
Denard Span
Penny Marshal +1
Byamba
One Little Corner: Scattered Disc +3
Henry Rollins SP +2
Regular Mini: Paco Rodriguez
Pack Total: +6
Running Box Total: +73
OH BOY! What a stunning pack. What a lackluster round. +73 is respectable after 8 packs, however, so we've got some momentum going for us. Lets just hope we can keep it up. I still have managed to dodge every favorite player and every Cardinal. This is amazing.
But lets keep it in the family.
-GG
Thursday, August 15, 2013
And they're officially off! (Packs 1-4)
With the starting pistol sounded and the bullet missing the brain of every undead Yankee, Gint-A-Cuffs V has officially begun!
Ah crap, we lost George already...
Well, I've alluded to the fact I've already opened some of my packs. So without further delay, lets get to it!
Cabinet Card: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus +5
Oh snap son, this place is brimming with Zombyankees waiting to eat your brains.
Running Box Total: +5
Pack 1:
John Smoltz
Paul Goldschmidt
Albert Pujols
Jackie Robinson
Dexter Fowler
Omar Infante SP +2
Palaces and Strongholds: Leeds Castle +3
Allen and Ginter Back Mini: Daryl Strawberry +2
Pack Total: +7
Running Box Total: +12
OK, so, we dodged any really horrible cards, but other than a mini and an insert, not so much on the positive side. Could have been a better start.
Pack 2:
Abe Vigoda +1
Ziggy Marley
Phil Heath
Matthew Berry
Nana Meriweather
Palaces and Strongholds: Summer Palace +3
David Price SP +2
Black Bordered Mini: Adrian Gonzalez +3
Pack Total: +9
Running Box Total: +21
Hey, this pack turned out pretty decent. Always good to get a bonus point from some guy named Abe Vigoda, and an insert, SP, and black bordered mini are nothing to shake a stick at.
Pack 3:
Fergie Jenkins
Duke Snider
Jim Rice
Frank Robinson
Across the Years: Jose Bautista +2
Full Sized Relic: Scott Rolen +10
Regular Mini: Evan Longoria
Pack Total: +12
Running Box Total: +33
Ugh. Almost blanked except for our first of three hits, and it was a weak hit at that. Was hoping for a Jon Jay relic or bat, or a Cardinals, or a printing plate, or a Pee Wee Herman DNA Relic, or something. At least it wasn't part of Robinson "Eat Yo Brains" Cano's entail-stained pants or anything!
Pack 4:
Mike Richter
Grand Central Terminal
Bobby Bowden
Jordan Zimmerman
Across the Years: Robinson "Eat Yo Brains" Cano +1 (+2 for AtY, -1 for Yankee)
Framed Miniature Relic: Jared Weaver +10
Short Print Mini: Rickey Henderson +3
Pack Total: +14
Running Total: +47
Bleh. I'm not mentioning anymore Zombyankees by name. Then they'll pop out of these delightful wrappers and try and eat me.
That wraps up the initial unwrapping. Current box total is +47, with a projected total of (+42 from packs, divided by 4 packs, times 24 total packs, +5 from the cabinet card) +257. I can guarantee you that won't happen, that would imply I get 12 hits in the box or get crazy mad inserts and favorite players and stuff. Not. Happening.
Lets keep this in the family.
-GG
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Descent into Madness
"THIS... IS... GINT-A-CUFFS!"
OK, so lets hope that my pack ripping skills are better than my graphic design skills. Points for effort are not awarded that I am aware of in Gint-A-Cuffs.
Without any scoring and the official start date 6 days away, the need to open packs got the better of me. I really wish now that I hadn't, because this round of Gint-A-Cuffs could be terribly anti-climactic. I'll save pictures and do them in groups of 4 packs to save time/effort/whatever. But here's a taste of the Ginter Godfather's Gint-A-Cuffs V box:
Box Topper: Masoleum at Halicarnassus
Pack 1:
Mike Richter
Grand Central Terminal
Bobby Bowden
Jordan Zimmerman
Rickie Henderson SP Mini
Across the Years - Robinson "Eat Yo Brains" Cano (boo hiss! First pack and a Zombyankee. Not a good sign)
And...
Jared Weaver Framed Mini Relic
Pack 2:
Fergie Jenkins
Duke Snider
Jim Rice
Brooks Robinson
Evan Longoria Mini
Across the Years - Jose Bautista
And...
Scott Rolen Full Sized Relic
So, if Gint-A-Cuffs was won in the first 2 packs, I might have a shot. As it is now? Yeah... The Zombyankees are going to overrun this blog. Great.
2 hits down, 1 to go. Here's hoping for a Ginter Miracle.
Until next time,
Keep it in the family
OK, so lets hope that my pack ripping skills are better than my graphic design skills. Points for effort are not awarded that I am aware of in Gint-A-Cuffs.
Without any scoring and the official start date 6 days away, the need to open packs got the better of me. I really wish now that I hadn't, because this round of Gint-A-Cuffs could be terribly anti-climactic. I'll save pictures and do them in groups of 4 packs to save time/effort/whatever. But here's a taste of the Ginter Godfather's Gint-A-Cuffs V box:
Box Topper: Masoleum at Halicarnassus
Pack 1:
Mike Richter
Grand Central Terminal
Bobby Bowden
Jordan Zimmerman
Rickie Henderson SP Mini
Across the Years - Robinson "Eat Yo Brains" Cano (boo hiss! First pack and a Zombyankee. Not a good sign)
And...
Jared Weaver Framed Mini Relic
Pack 2:
Fergie Jenkins
Duke Snider
Jim Rice
Brooks Robinson
Evan Longoria Mini
Across the Years - Jose Bautista
And...
Scott Rolen Full Sized Relic
So, if Gint-A-Cuffs was won in the first 2 packs, I might have a shot. As it is now? Yeah... The Zombyankees are going to overrun this blog. Great.
2 hits down, 1 to go. Here's hoping for a Ginter Miracle.
Until next time,
Keep it in the family
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
The Yankee-pocalypse is almost upon us...
Family, friends, enemies, children and pets!
The day we have all been waiting for is neigh! We are all but a few precious hours away before the dreaded Yankee-pocalypse that will require all of the initiative, guts, brains, and courage we can muster to repel the awful horde...
Oh, and 2013 Allen and Ginter is being released, too!
Yes folks, it is that time of year again. Retail sightings have already occurred and FeeBay is flooded with overpriced singles and molested "hot packs." (Hey, if I found a pack of cards so attractive as to use the adjective 'hot' to describe them, I probably couldn't keep my hands off, either!)
This blog will hopefully be used to document my journey into the depths of 2013 Allen and Ginter, most successfully at least than 2012 Allen and Ginter's lame attempt. Oops.
One thing that IS for certain - Gint-A-Cuffs V: The Commissioner Strikes Back! Yours truly has thrown my metaphorical hat into the actual ring and will duke it out with the fine citizens of the blog-o-sphere to see who can unwrap the greatest boxed champion of all time! I'm trying to see how I might be able to do this via video to make it more interactive, or something. But we'll see!
Until tomorrow... keep it in the family.
-The Ginter Godfather
(AND THANK GOD GREG GUMBEL IS NOT RETURNING EVEN FOR A CAMEO)
The day we have all been waiting for is neigh! We are all but a few precious hours away before the dreaded Yankee-pocalypse that will require all of the initiative, guts, brains, and courage we can muster to repel the awful horde...
Oh, and 2013 Allen and Ginter is being released, too!
Yes folks, it is that time of year again. Retail sightings have already occurred and FeeBay is flooded with overpriced singles and molested "hot packs." (Hey, if I found a pack of cards so attractive as to use the adjective 'hot' to describe them, I probably couldn't keep my hands off, either!)
This blog will hopefully be used to document my journey into the depths of 2013 Allen and Ginter, most successfully at least than 2012 Allen and Ginter's lame attempt. Oops.
One thing that IS for certain - Gint-A-Cuffs V: The Commissioner Strikes Back! Yours truly has thrown my metaphorical hat into the actual ring and will duke it out with the fine citizens of the blog-o-sphere to see who can unwrap the greatest boxed champion of all time! I'm trying to see how I might be able to do this via video to make it more interactive, or something. But we'll see!
Until tomorrow... keep it in the family.
-The Ginter Godfather
(AND THANK GOD GREG GUMBEL IS NOT RETURNING EVEN FOR A CAMEO)
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Ahhhh, spring is in the air!
Greetings Ginter Mafia!
It's been quite some time since since our last post, and with baseball season now in full swing it seemed an appropriate time to reassemble the Ginter Mafia. If you're reading this... you are the Ginter Mafia. Congratulations on your appointment to such an esteemed post!
Hopefully this season we can start to revamp the Mafia a bit to include more breaks, trades, mail days, oddities, stories, and the like. Quite frankly there should be no other place to go for Ginter related mania.
A few things! I'm currently in the process of pursuing a master set of autographs, relics, minis, base, and inserts of 2011 and 2012. I've got a long ways to go, and won't be anywhere complete by the time 2013 rolls around, but I'd like to try and get close on the minis/base/inserts. The autos and relics are going to be long-term projects, but worthwhile ones at that.
So! I'll keep it short for now, but I look forward to seeing you all around here in the future.
Keep it in the family
-The Ginter Godfather
It's been quite some time since since our last post, and with baseball season now in full swing it seemed an appropriate time to reassemble the Ginter Mafia. If you're reading this... you are the Ginter Mafia. Congratulations on your appointment to such an esteemed post!
Hopefully this season we can start to revamp the Mafia a bit to include more breaks, trades, mail days, oddities, stories, and the like. Quite frankly there should be no other place to go for Ginter related mania.
A few things! I'm currently in the process of pursuing a master set of autographs, relics, minis, base, and inserts of 2011 and 2012. I've got a long ways to go, and won't be anywhere complete by the time 2013 rolls around, but I'd like to try and get close on the minis/base/inserts. The autos and relics are going to be long-term projects, but worthwhile ones at that.
So! I'll keep it short for now, but I look forward to seeing you all around here in the future.
Keep it in the family
-The Ginter Godfather
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