Wal-Mart Combo: 2018 Topps Series 1

My last of my Wal-Mart Combo posts shows off the  five 2018 Topps Series 1 packs I received.  A strong design highlighted by great photos make these some nice cards.  My pull was good but again the stars here for me are the photos.  Overall the Wal-Mart combo was a win.  I thought I did great for $20 - 50 packs of cards totaling 352 cards.  I pulled plenty of fun cards and there were a few surprises along the way with the 2015 Topps Archives being my favorite packs.  I'll keep an eye out for more deals like this..  You can see all the posts for the combo here.  

Wal-Mart Combo: 2016 Topps Series 1

There were 5 packs of the 2016 Topps as part of my Wal-Mart Combo purchased last month.  Topps did well with this design.  These packs offered plenty of fun and star power.  Great adding a Big Papi card to the collection.  I also thought the photos were strong on these cards.  All of the Wal-Mart combo cards I've posted so far can be found here.  

 BREAKDOWN:

25 – Total Cards
2 – Checklists
1 – Team Card
1 – RC
1 – Future Stars

Wal-Mart Combo: 2017 Topps Series 1, Series 2 and Update Series

More cards from the Wal-Mart Combo I purchased last month.  This post we'll look at the 2017 Topps Series 1, Series 2 and Update cards I received.  There were five packs of each series.  My series 1 cards were pretty good highlighted by Red Sox all-time great Dustin Pedroia in a nice looking card.  There were other stars as well including Albert Pujols, Kris Bryant and Dallas Kuechel. The 2017 Topps is a design I like.  These series 1 packs didn't wow me but they were still fun.

   

The Topps Series 2 cards offered up personal favorite Yadier Molina.  I also pulled World Series Champion David Price as well as current, and what feels like forever, free agent Manny Machado.  This series puts a focus on younger players in their first years so I was happy with my pull of some of the big stars of the league.  

The Update series always give me some all-star game cards.  I'm an all-star game guy so these are always fun for me.  George Springer.  He and the Houston Astros of course would go in to win their first World Series.  That team is still young and stocked so they should contend for years to come.  Are the Blue Jays dabbing?  Or something else this old man doesn't get?  Still a fun card.  Overall I enjoyed the 2017 packs but I can't say they blew me away.  All the Wal-Mart combos I've put up so far can be seen here.  

  BREAKDOWN:
2017 Topps Series 1 (5)
25 – Total Cards
2 – RC
1 – League Leaders

2017 Topps Series 2 (5)
25 – Total Cards
3 – Team Cards

2017 Topps Update (5)
20 – Total Cards
7 – RC
5 – All-Star Game
2 – Rookie Combos
1 – Homerun Derby
1 – Charged Up Battery

Wal-Mart Combo: 2015 Topps Series 1 and Update Series

As part of the Wal-Mart Combo I purchased last month I also received 5 packs each of the 2015 Topps Series 1 and Update cards.  2015 Topps is one of my favorites.  I really liked the design and colors incorporated here.  My pull netted me stud and new St. Louis Cardinal Paul Goldshmidt.  The rest of my pull wasn't bad netting me MadBum, Aroldis Chapman and a great Yordano Ventura photo.  It's also fun looking back at those league leaders cards to see who were atop the stat categories.  Amazing how many times I catch myself saying...oh yeah...that guy.  

The Update series gives me my all-star cards which is always fun.  Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado highlight those offerings.  Bryant's National League jersey is pretty cool.  I like the colors.  A Noah Syndegaard card was a great surprise.  I didn't realize his RC was a part of this set.  Trevor Rosenthal's card rated a group photo.  Those out of the normal cards help keep things fun.  All of the Wal-Mart Combo posts I've put up so far can be found here.    

BREAKDOWN:

2015 Topps Series 1 (5)
25 – Total Cards
2 – RC
2 – Future Stars
2 – League Leaders
1 – Team Card
1 – First Pitch

2015 Topps Update (5)
25 – Total Cards
7 – RC
3 – All-Star Game
1 – Rookie Combo
1 – Team Rookies
1 – Veteran Combo
1 – Season Highlight
1 – Homerun Derby

Wal-Mart Combo: 2015 Topps Archives

Back to the cards I received as part of the Wal-Mart Combo I purchased last month.  These five 2015 Topps Archives packs were a nice surprise.  The Archives are always fun as they use retro designs to showcase current stars and retired legends.  The 2015 set showcased the 1957, 1976, and 1983 Topps designs. I was very happy with my pull.  I felt I received quite a few stars from across MLB history and as always I enjoy seeing them on new retro cardboard.  I had seen these before but this was the first time I had actually busted any packs.  These were very fun and packs I was not expecting to see as part of my combo.

These are all great cards.  The Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig really pop on these '83 Topps designs.  Mike Foltynewicz was a big part of the Braves' surprising run to the National East's top spot this year.  

More greats here in the 1957 cards.  One of the best right handed hitters of our time in Albert Pujols and Hall of Famers Wade Boggs and Robin Yount.  I'm not a huge fan of this design but I really enjoy these cards.

Mariano Rivera anchors the '76 Topps design. He nailed the dismount byt being named unanimously on this year's Hall of Fame ballot.  All of the Wal-Mart combo posts that I've put up so far can be found here. 

BREAKDOWN:  

20 – Total Cards (5 packs)

7 – 1976

7 - 1983

6 - 1957 

6 – Retired Greats

1 – RC

Wal-Mart Combo: 1988, 1989, and 1990 Donruss Baseball

From the Wal-Mart Ultimate Baseball Combo I received packs of 1988, 1989, and 1990 Donruss.  These are of course junk wax but the 1990 Donruss is my favorite of those Donruss set and the 1988 is right behind it.  This '88 set has nice blue and black borders that always appealed to me.  There were two packs of this set in my combo and there were plenty of stars.  I really like the Carlton Fisk card.  While not in action it is just a really nice photo of Fisk.  

   Plenty of stars in this pack including these personal collection (PC) guys.  

Molitor is another personal collection guy for me.  I like the simplicity of the MVP cards and the logo. The Diamond King Sets from the era are all-time favorites of mine.   

With my four packs of '89 Donruss I pulled maybe the biggest card of the set in the Randy Johnson rookie.  This design isn't one of my favorites   Something to do with the colors.  I do know that.

The MVP cards took a step back.  I preferred the '88 version much better than these which come off as really bland to me - no offense to Tony Gwynn.  Those goggles on Sabo.  He may not be a hall of famer but he'll always be remembered for those goggles.

Oil Can was a bit of head case but I think Red Sox fans look back on him in a good light.  And how can you not like that name.  Zane Smith is PC guy for me.  

The last Donruss from my combo were two packs of the 1990 set.  By far my favorite Donruss offering these are always fun to break.  I really like the All-Star cards in this set.  The different league logos on the cards were a great addition to make them stand out.

Yaz was the puzzle for this set and this is the puzzle card showing what it would look like when put together.  I think they are pretty cool and I have a ton of these cards.  Of course it helps that he is my #2 all-time favorite baseball player.  

Not quite the star power of the other packs but Willie was a stud in the era.  He was great to watch in the field, at the plate and on the bases.  And he is a PC guy.  I know all these are junk wax but they didn't dominate my Wal-Mart combo and were a nice trip down memory lane.

BREAKDOWN:

1988 Donruss (2)

30 – Total Cards + 6 Puzzle Pieces

2 – MVP

2 – Diamond Kings

1989 Donruss (4)

60 – Total Cards + 12 Puzzle Pieces

3 – Diamond Kings

2 – MVP

1 - Checklist

1990 Donruss (2)

32 – Total Cards + 6 Puzzle Pieces

3 – All-Star

2 – Rated Rookie

1 – Puzzle Photo Card

1 – Diamond King

1 - Checklist

Wal-Mart Combo: 1991 Fleer Ultra Baseball Card Pack

Pack #2 from the Wal-Mart Ultimate Combo purchase is a pack of 1991 Ultra Fleer baseball.  This pack came with 14 cards and one sticker.  I think I had a great pull with three hall of famers and Barry Bonds.  John Smoltz is a personal collection guy and Atlanta Brave so I was very happy to grab this card - even if the look on his face is not one he wants to remember.    

More stars with Barry Bonds and hall of famers Ryne Sandberg and Lee Smith.  The cards have a very simple design and while I don't prefer gray as the main color for cards the inclusion in this minimal design is OK.  

  More notables from this pack - all players folks familiar with the era will remember.  The Denny Neagle Prospect card was a nice pull.  Prospects are never a sure thing but Neagle definitely had a good career finishing up with 124 wins.

BREAKDOWN:

14 – Total Cards + 1 Sticker

1 – Team Fleer

1 – Prospect

Wal-Mart Combo: 2006 Topps Baseball Rack Pack

This will be my first post on those packs from the Wal-Mart 50 Pack Combo purchase.  I've never opened, or to my knowledge owned, any 2006 Topps baseball until this rack pack that came as part of the combo.  This Ken Griffey Jr. card highlighted the pack which included three hall of famers and a World Series winning manager.  The rack packs have a total of 21 cards.  Eighteen of those are 2006 Topps and three cards from past Topps sets.  My three were from the eighties though none were notable players.  

  The cards themselves have a good design and the wording in foil isn't as hard to read as it appears in the scans.  I like the different shots of the players even if they weren't all action shots.  Jeff Bagwell during introductions is a cool card though again it isn't an action photo.  I like the look on Ivan  Rodiguez's face in his Up The Middle card with Carlos Guillen.  

Team cards are part of the base set while the Hit Parade inserts highlight hitting accomplishments.  This was a really fun pack to break as it was my first time seeing this set.  It was a very cool inclusion in my combo by.

BREAKDOWN:

21 – Total Cards

2 – Rookie Card

1 – Manager

1 – Checklist

1 – Team Card

1 – Hit Parade

1 – Up the Middle

1 – 1981 Topps

1 – 1986 Topps

1 – 1987 Topps

Wal-Mart MLB Baseball's Ultimate Collector's 50 Pack Combo

I ran across this Wal-Mart MLB Baseball's Ultimate Collector's 50 Pack Combo online and was intrigued.  For the price ($19.97) and some of the packs shown I thought this can't be that bad a deal.  With 50 packs I figured there would be a minimum of 250 cards and while I wouldn't be surprised to see junk wax I made the leap.  I went in with my eyes wide open and I am happy with my cards.  The 50 packs I received are detailed out below and totaled 352 cards.  The highlights for me were the five packs of  2015 Topps Archives and the 2006 Topps Series 2 rack pack.  I hadn't seen either of these sets before and my pull from the Archives packs was great in my opinion.  I'll start throwing up posts on the cards I pulled but just wanted to throw this out there for folks to see. It is a relatively inexpensive option to grab some "random" packs which may appeal to others. This is all about the fun as you probably won't find autos or relics here.  I purchased the combo with another item that put me into the free shipping category by the way (orders over $35). 

BREAKDOWN:

352 – Total Cards

1988 Donruss (2 Packs – 30 cards)

1989 Donruss (4 Packs – 60)

1990 Donruss (2 Packs – 32)

1991 Ultra Fleer (1 Pack - 14)

2006 Topps Series 2 Rack Pack (1 Pack - 18 + 3 Vintage – 1 – 87 Topps, 1 – 86 Topps, 1 – 81 Topps)

2015 Topps Series 1 (5 Packs – 25)

2015 Topps Series Update (5 Packs – 25)

2015 Topps Archives (5 Packs – 20)

2016 Topps Series 2 (5 Packs – 25)

2017 Topps Series 1 (5 Packs – 25)

2017 Topps Series 2 (5 Packs – 25)

2017 Topps Update (5 Packs – 25)

2018 Topps Series 1 (5 Packs – 25)