Coffee Break:2024 Topps Allen and Ginter Value Pack (autograph pull!)

*takes a sip, gets ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee*

Before I begin with today's post, I wanted to remind everyone who hasn't voted yet, get your vote in for the 2024 Cards Over Coffee Hall Of Fame Cards. You can vote under that post HERE.

Speaking of voting, Nachos Grande is doing some End Of The Year Blogging Awards (hobby ones too). You can vote on those HERE.

Now onto today's post. Sip first.

I mentioned a few posts ago that my parents were coming over for their Christmas and that I had a feeling that some cards would be involved. Not only did my father bring a nice box of trade bait, but my parents also picked out a cool gift for me as well.

A value pack of 2024 Topps Allen And Ginter! 

Each of these come with 14 cards and cost less than $7. It is my first rip in a long time. Allen and Ginter is my second favorite Topps product other than Topps Chrome. I still haven't opened a pack of that yet. If I don't, a streak of opening a new year's worth since 1996 will come to an end.

But, at least my much shorter streak of opening Ginter continues.

I don't usually get Allen and Ginter retail due to lack of luck with it, but this pack surprised me.

I think this was my first Chisholm Yankee card.

Rookie cards of hitters are always welcomed.

Some non-baseball subjects which happens to be my favorite part of this product.

A couple non sport inserts including another dog card. Between the two rounds from Oren and now this one, I really wonder how many I am off from the complete set. I should check.

A mini-Trout chrome card. I haven't ever seen these before in Allen and Ginter, so it kind of surprised me.

And a mini non baseball card. There are so many subjects in this year's product I don't know.

Then came the biggest surprise of them all...

 

An autograph! I don't know who in the world this is, but an auto is an auto especially from a hanger pack. It's impressive. Especially since I used to break/review hobby boxes for Topps and every time I pulled three relics. Autographs were near impossible to find. Not today I guess!

Thinking the next time I get to open something that I need my father to use his magic for it.

*takes a final sip thinking about pulling something bigger next time he brings a pack*

Well, I spent time showing off the pack I opened for Christmas from my parents, now I will have to show off my box of trade stuff I landed from my father. I can't say it's the best stuff he has ever brought over, but there are a few hidden gems in there.

Thoughts on my pack pull welcomed in comments!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Pain And Pleasure With Series 1

There was a lot packed into this week.

Sunday, was the Big Game.

Tuesday, I had surgery. 

Wednesday, was Valentine's Day. 

Yesterday, I had a checkup with my PCP.

And mixed in with all of that Topps released 2024 Series 1 baseball.

It's been a mixed bag kind of week.

But at least I had coffee to carry the week and guess what...some cards too!

When you have cards and you have coffee, you know that means....some Cards Over Coffee.

*takes a sip*

Yesterday on my way to PCP appointment, I checked out on my online health portal on my phone-don't worry my wife was driving- and found out that my urologist wants me to wait until March 22nd to get the stent out. For one, the OR is booked and for two, the longer I can wait, the better chance for the stone and no other issues afterwards with needing to add another stent in.

Ugh.

That is a long time to wait and have pain for. It's been a rough three days, but I was at least able to get some sleep last night.

Hopefully that continues.

*takes a sip*

At my PCP appointment, everything else looked good and I was able to get my hernia referral sent over to the surgeons so I can meet with them. I assume that won't be fixed until an even later date. But I have to take care of things in order and the one I am dealing with right now is at the top of the list. I still need to get some PT done on my injured shoulder so I can have my arm back again.

After I was done with that appointment, I went and spoke to my urologist whose office is downstairs from my PCP about my pain and the surgery and trying to move up the date. Good news is I guess I can be put on a surgical cancellation list, bad news is I am doing all I can do for the pain.

*breathes, takes a sip*

*gets up and puts a new warm beanbag on the back*

*sits back down to do more on this post that already has taken an hour*

After my appointments, my wife wanted to go to Walmart since we were actually close to it for once. All Walmarts here are 45 minutes to an hour away from my house so when you get close to one, you go.

I wasn't expecting to get any cards, but figured I would go look anyways. There was plenty to choose from with Prizm basketball and football (two of my favorites but way too pricy), Stadium Club baseball, Mosaic for all sports and so on. 

And on the top shelf was where it was loaded with 2024 Topps Series 1 baseball. I stared at it...contemplating...my wife saw this from a distance and said it was okay to grab something. Knowing how tight finances are, even though I wanted a blaster for the Easter/Spring parallels, I went for a Hanger Box instead.

But, at least it was something and something I needed this week.

*takes a sip*

Hanger Boxes come with 59 cards. Such an odd number but a good amount. Each box has no guarantees other than some new cards from 2024.

My main want from 2024 Topps Series 1 this year is Jasson Dominguez cards, key rookie cards of hitters and the Easter/Spring parallels. Already knowing I won't get any of the parallels I want from a hanger, I was hoping for the other finds in the box.

Let's see if I did,

I pulled the clear pack out of the box and it started off well finding a Trout at the top. I haven't quite figured out if I like the new design yet or not. Maybe it will grow on me.

I didn't take all 59 pictures as that is a lot and I am not quite up to that yet, so I took pictures of key cards from the break.

(best base rookie I found, no Dominguez or Elly)

(is Ohtani tall or Mookie short?)

These were my key base cards. Looks like there are 350 base overall in the Series 1 set.

Now onto the inserts and parallels which were located in the middle of the pack. I skipped over them when scrolling through and did all of the base first, then backtracked.

Lars is a Royal Blue parallel found in retail.

I will say that the rainbow foil looks super sharp on this card design. Not too bad of a pull here.

Yellow Parallels. I think these are only in hanger boxes.

It wouldn't be a Topps product without throwing it back to an old design for one of their inserts. I despise these.

My favorite insert find was the Stars Of The MLB. Clean design with a shiny background and plenty of them in a hanger box to go around.

 

And the final key card of the box was a blueprint of McCutchen. These are meh.

Overall, didn't quite land anything I needed per say, but it was fun to rip into something new. Actually, it was fun just to be able to rip something for once.

It was definitely a week of pain and pleasure.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I probably won't grab anymore of these to open this year and I will be putting my focus on acquiring the cards I want from the product via pwe trade. If any of you have extra rookies or the Easter/Spring parallels call me interested!

Thanks for swinging by today and checking out today's post. I hope all of you have a great weekend.

And make sure you have your coffee ready for the next post!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Hanging Up The Ornaments

*sits down, has coffee ready and is ready for today's new post on Cards Over Coffee*

23 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Every year I put up my Christmas decorations early usually around the second week of November. Don't roll your eyes at me.

I do this for a few reasons. One, it takes a really long time to get everything dug out and put up. Two, I don't usually turn the lights on/etc until it gets closer to Thanksgiving. Three, I take everything down on December 26th because Christmas is over and it's time to countdown to spring. Four, I simply love Christmas and want to enjoy my decorations as long as I can....as long as it's before Christmas.

When it comes to my Tree though, I don't put that up until Thanksgiving night.

*takes a sip*

There was a time I would get a fresh Christmas Tree, but after years of cleaning up needles and seeing the prices go way up, I ended up investing in a fake tree that already has the lights built in. Even though it doesn't have that same feel or Christmas scent, it still is pretty.

This year though, I decided to actually cut back on so many decorations including ornaments on my tree. I have never not put ornaments on my tree, but this year, I wasn't feeling it and I think it looks good as is.

Even if I had put ornaments on the tree, I wouldn't have hung up my Topps ones from Topps Holiday. I would rather keep them safe from any tree damage...or cats.

I don't have a lot of the ornaments, just ones I have traded for, but here is my ranking in terms of design for the ones I do have.

3. 2020 version. Not a lot of pop to these, but they are shaped like an ornament so I will give them that.

2. 2021. Definitely a huge improvement over 2020. Added shine, I like the die-cut star. 

 

1. 2022 is a beautiful design. I am not sure if they can top this one. Christmas tree die-cut, full of color, beautiful.

I still need to add a 2023 ornament to my collection, but from a distance look at it, it doesn't top number one and not sure if it even gets by number two on my list. 

Definitely beats out number three though.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

My tree is lit brightly every night now and my outside lights as well. Things are beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....everywhere in my house I go.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday. In comments let me know when you decorate and take down your decorations.

Also, your favorite design for the Topps Ornaments above and your favorite ornament you put on your tree and why.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Sequel Wasn't As Good

 *sits down, opened box and cards in and I ready to show this off. it's time for a new Cards Over Coffee*

I should have known.

I didn't stick with what I knew best, that a sequel never lives up to the original.

That goes with music, movies and even cards.

When I opened that first 2022 Stadium Club Chrome blaster box and hit two autographs and some other great cards, I should have known that it was going to be hard to beat. 

And it was.

I found a second blaster last week and without thinking, without hesitation of any kind, I tossed it into the shopping cart carefree.

I skipped out of Walmart like a little child who found his favorite toy and immediately opened the box in the car hoping for the same magic as the original box.

Except this blaster didn't have any kind of magic and was a letdown like most highly promoted sequels.

 

This was my best base card, not that anyone can complain about adding a Mike Trout.

My rookies. Kind of weak.

 

X-Factor parallels, the Musial is decent but meh on the rest.

So I guess buying a second box means pulling two of the same insert card, great. At least I know a Dodgers fan that would be happy with this I believe. Yes, Greg, I am talking to you.

And my last card,

I wanted to pull a Trophy Hunters, just didn't even get a player even close to who I wanted. It's a cool looking card.

And that was it. No autographs this time. Nothing that really stood out to me and most of this is available for trade as well.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I don't plan on opening up anymore of this product after the disappointing sequel.

In comments today, thoughts on my break and what movie sequel you felt lived up to the original. My favorite sequel, which I think outdid the first one was the new Jumanji movie series with the second one in Jumanji:The Next Level.

Also, my second cup of coffee this morning outdid the first. Which doesn't usually happen either.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2022 Topps Allen And Ginter Baseball

*mug is shaking as I am holding the mug. the excitement and smell of coffee is in the air.*

*takes a sip, is ready for the latest box break*

ALLEN AND GINTER!! If you have been reading my blogs for the past 10 years, you know I have a mad man crush on Allen and Ginter.

Yes, the product has the same feel every year, but for me, it's all about the non-sport subjects. That's my main focus.

*takes a sip before getting ready for today's new post*

Every hobby box of 2022 Allen And Ginter baseball are 24 packs of 8 cards. Each box comes with 3 hits and boxes are roughly $100-$110 each. I think that is a good deal comparing other three-hit boxes.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

Each box also comes with a box topper

 

Oversized Allen Ginter card of the legend, Mike Trout.

BASE:

The base card set is built up of 298 cards, two cards don't exist in the first 300, and has players of now,

The past

The future

Then my favorites, non-sport characters. There aren't as many for me that I am dying to chase like the past two years, but there are still a few. Hopefully Topps will finally see my years of nagging about being included in the product myself as a sport card blogger. How much fun would that be? Or what happens if they put all of us bloggers into a mini insert series??? COME ON TOPPS!!

There are also another 52 base cards that are 1:2 Sp's that complete the full base card set of 350 cards.

MINIS:

There are 350 mini cards in this year's product, 50 of those being the extended or sp part of the set.

 

INSERTS:

Famous Rivals. From food to baseball they are all here. There are 10 cards in the set to collect. 

Mini Rookie Design. They fall 1:8 packs.

What's Cookin'? Digging these non-sport inserts this year. There are 10-cards to collect. It's about time that Ketchup got it's first rookie card!

Banner Season features players from their best seasons and has 50 cards to collect.

Pitching a Gem. Looks like a similar insert to one that was in Gypsy Queen, but I still really like the design and theme of this one. There are 25 cards to collect in this set.

Get That Bread!!...and make me some toast with my coffee! There are 10 cards to collect.

It's Your Special Day. May be one of my most favorite inserts this year. Now I can have a card to post on these special days! (looking for others I don't have)

20 cards to seek in Baseball Lexicon.

Inside The Park isn't just about baseball, there are 32 cards to collect featuring National Parks.

Mini Ducks Quacking their way into this product with 10 cards.

HITS:

Fingers were crossed on pulling my first ever rip card...but...as my luck goes...

Castillo relic

Luke Williams auto. My first Ginter auto pull in many years.

And by far the pull of the break, Judge pinstripe relic. This will match the autograph mini I have of him really well.

Ratings (ratings based on 1-5 🍵 on this break and not overall product)

Design 🍵🍵

Photography 🍵

Inserts 🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵

Hits 🍵🍵

Price 🍵🍵🍵

Value 🍵🍵

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

I didn't pull anything huge, but the Judge relic in my very first pack was decent. The price point as I mentioned above is really great for three hits compared to other products and other products that are less fun.

I really dig this year's inserts and hope to build the sets off from them. Mainly the non-sport ones are what I am seeking.

Let me know your thoughts on this product in comments and what your favorite non-sport inserts or person you are chasing this year.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*