2022 Topps Red Sox Team Set (Blister)

Xander Bogaerts was a 4X All-Star and 5X Silver Slugger award winner, including 2021, during his time with the Red Sox.  He also won two championships in Boston.

Evoldi led the starters in WAR (4.3) and ERA (3.57).  JD Martinez led the league with 42 doubles.  I purchased this blister pack team set in July of 2022.

I thought I was going to get a Braves - Red Sox World Series but Houston eliminated Boston in the 2021 ALCS.

Vazquez and Dalbec were 2021 starters though I'm not convinced their combined on base percentage was above .300.

Devers delivered 38 home runs and 113 runs batted in in his fifth season.

Christian had some fun highlight moments in 2021 and his photo feels appropriate.  These blister packs were found at Wal-Mart and each had 17 cards.

Great photo and 2021 was probably Enrique's (Kiki's) best season of his career.

This team really had a good mix of young talent with a few veterans sprinkled in.  Feels like they needed just a bit more pitching and health to have gotten by Houston.

I like the 2022 design.  Kind of feels more like Bowman but it works.  But no matter, this fun team and some nice photos make it a good set to own for a Red Sox fan.

2022 Topps Braves Team Set (Blister)

Topps 2022:  Jorge Soler is only a 1X All-Star but he'll be forever known to Braves fans as one of the keys to Atlanta's run to the Championship in 2021.  He capped it off with a great World Series and the World Series MVP award.

The Braves run to the 2021 World Series title was so much fun and unexpected.  So many great stories and great years for players.

Freddie Freeman needs no introduction and led the league in runs while batting .300.

Max Fried and Charlie Morton led the Braves with 14 wins each in 2021.  Fried won game 6 of the World Series to clinch the title.  These blister packs were on Wal-Mart shelves at the time, and I couldn't resist.  I picked up the Angels, Braves and Red Sox who I'll show off tomorrow.

Pederson, Duvall and Rosario were part of the patch work outfield after Ronald Acuna went down and wow, did they deliver time and time again in the regular season and in the playoffs.

Smyly and Ynoa were key contributors to the starting lineup during the regular season.  There are 17 total cards in these blister team sets.

Ian Anderson won 9 games during the regular season and game three of the 2021 World Series.

Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley were huge parts of the offense.  What a year and it's so fun to relive some of those memories.  And a perfect time to look back as we start the 2025 season today in ernest.  Enjoy Opening Day!

2022 Topps Angels Team Set (Blister)

2022 Topps:  I think I picked these up in Wal-Mart.  It was May 2022 and while I'd normally only grab Atlanta and Boston I couldn't pass Ohtani and Trout as well.  Picking up this team set also gives you the chance to get both Ohtanis at once.  And while I pulled multiple Ohtani inserts from this set, I never got a base card so this was a win.

I had pulled a 2022 Trout before, but I'll never complain about more Mike Trout on cardboard...or on the field.  DANG those injuries that he can't get past.

Shame Ohtani and the Angels never had any real success.  Los Angeles spent a lot of money trying but injuries, lack of young players developing, and some bad moves doomed them.

I like those old school Angels unis.

Luis Rengifo has developed into a nice hitter.  Not great but good.

Is he waiting for the ball to come in from an outfield throw?  Stretching?  We'll never know.

Jo Adell was one of those players who was thought to be a big star in the making but never got there.  Raisel Iglesias on the other hand came from Cincy as an established dominant closer but the Angels just weren't that good and moved him to the Braves.

Fun pack of cards and the $6 or $8 I paid for this pack was probably an overpay but the Ohtani and Trout cards are keepers for me.

BREAKDOWN:

Total Cards - 17

Random Wax: 2018-2019 Hoops Portland Trail Blazers Team Set

18-19 Hoops: Nuggets go for their first Championship in franchise history tonight.  This is a Portland Trail Blazers team set I picked up two years ago.  This was a set I like with a nice ice design.  Lillard would be the easy choice to go first here but CJ McCollum is a really good shooter and helped New Orleans be relevant this last season.  Always liked CJ but I understand why Portland decided to try something different.

Nurkic is one of those guys Portland has to figure out this offseason.  He is a good center but not great.  I like him but I am thinking it is time to move on.  I believe the Trail Blazers keep him.  Zach Collins plays for the Spurs now and had a nice contract year.

Anfernee Simons had a really good year.  Kind of the same stats as what you'd expect from CJ.  He's younger and should be a piece for some time.  I just hope this year wasn't a fluke.

Are these guys still on the team?  No.  All good.  This offseason is all about figuring how to get a team around Dame that can compete.  He has repeatedly said he wants to stay in Portland and also says he wants to win.  Can those two converge soon?  That's the big question.  I love Dame.  He's great and my favorite all-time Trail Blazer.  We'll finish it off with him and here's to hoping he is in Portland for the rest of his career.

2007 Atlanta Falcons Topps Team Set

This 2007 Topps set showcasing the 2005 Atlanta Falcons is not one of my favorites.  The black borders really don't do it for me.  The edges show wear, the names in foil are hard to read, and the border as a whole seems to take up way to much space on the card.  A team logo really could have served Topps better here as opposed to the the name centered at the top.  Faux signatures also don't do anything for me.

  As for the '06 team they had a disappointing 7-9 season.  Michael Vick had an outstanding year but somehow didn't make the Pro Bowl.  He rushed for 1000+ yards and two touchdowns while throwing 2400 yards against 20 TD's and 13 interceptions.  Warrick Dunn had just over 1100 yards and four rushing touchdowns.  Alge Crumpler again led the team in receptions and receiving yards.  While I know Crumpler was a good tight end I think his leading the team these three years was more a product of Michael Vick checking down and not able to get the ball down the field.

Four RC cards in this set.  No Pro Bowl cards this year. It would have been nice if they'd at least put the annotation on the base cards.  

No Matt Schaub this year. So what do they do?  They give us a Joey Harrington card.  Joey didn't play for Atlanta in '06 but would go on to start 10 games the next year.  It really makes you shake your head and wonder who had the job of picking players for each team.   

2006 Topps Atlanta Falcons Team Set

This 2006 Topps team set of the 8-8 2005 Atlanta Falcons.  Michael Vick wasn't quite the force on the ground as he was in 2004 and Falcons were not a playoff team.  Warrick Dunn rushed for over 1400 yards but only had three touchdowns on the ground.  Alge Crumpler once again led the team in receptions and yards receiving.  Both were selected to the Pro Bowl.  Star linebacker Keith Brooking was once again a Pro Bowl selection as well.    

Another "All-Pro" card here.  Ugh.  Still I'll be happy just having Pro Bowl cards in the set.  I like this Dunn card.

Overall this is a solid design and I will probably look for a few more singles from this set.

Pro Bowler Roderick Coleman was left out of this set.  He led the team with 10.5 sacks.  The backs are a bit bland but I won't complain any.  I've seen much worse.  Of course Matt Schuab gets another card and threw for a whopping 495 yards.  

2005 Topps Atlanta Falcons Team Set

The 2004 Atlanta Falcons are stylized on this 2005 Topps team set.  In his fourth year, Michael Vick led this team to an 11-4 record and to the NFC Championship game before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles.  Vick made the Pro-Bowl throwing for 2300 yards and rushing for just over 900 yards accounting for 17 touchdowns.  Warrick Dunn, an all-time favorite of mine, led the team with 1106 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.     

  I really like the design of these cards. which marked the 50th anniversary of Topps football cards.  These particular cards say All-Pro but they actually mean Pro Bowl.  Huge mistake by Topps since there is a very big difference between the two.  Still I enjoy Pro Bowl cards and I like these which star with in-game photos.

This set also shows Roddy White who was selected in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft.  Alge Crumpler led the team in receptions and receiving yards while Allen Rossum was a standout return man.

For a team that threw for under 3000 yards they really focused in on the quarterbacks and receivers.  The defense didn't get much love.  An Schaub?  He only threw for 330 yards on the year which makes him an odd inclusion.  The backs are nice even if they aren't spectacular. Maybe they could have added Patrick Kerney who also made the Pro Bowl.  Definitely a set in which I'll search out more singles due to the nice design.

2000 Topps Buffalo Bills Team Set

2000 Topps Buffalo Bills set showcasing the 11-5 '99 Bills.  Not a favorite design of mine but it has warmed up on me some.  Doug Flutie led this team to the playoffs before losing to the eventual AFC Champion Tennessee Titans.  Flutie was just fun to root for.  Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas were in the twilights of their careers but will always be looked at as an all-time Bills greats.  Thomas did appear in five games so i'm surprised he didn't get a card.

These were leaders on the offense with Sam Gash making the Pro Bowl.  Eric Moulds would go on to be one of the all-time great Bills receivers (2nd in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns to Andre Reed).  

Rob Johnson was pressed into starting one regular season game, which he won, and the playoff loss to the Titans.  Jonathan Linton led the team in rushing while Antoine Smith was close behind.    

The backs are pretty nice though the font throws me off.  Doesn't mean I don't like it but it seems like there is a better one out there.  Now I'm talking about fonts...

1988 Topps Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Set

My love for the Creamsicle unis brings me another Tampa Bay Buccaneers team set.  This time it is the 1987 team in the form of 1988 Topps football cards.  Again a nice design.  This team went 4-11 while prize rookie Vinny Testaverde went 0-4 in six games.   Seems like Steve Deberg, who started 8 games deserved a card.  If for nothing else for being the "trainer" for his replacement once again.  

  While only a head shot I like this James Wilder card.  He is an all-time favorite for me so it is probably tough to find bad cards of his.  He led this team in rushing yards and receptions but only had one touchdown and it was in the air.  Who didn't like Dopnald Igwebuike's name?  And that nose...that nose!  Gerald Carter led the team in receiving yards.  

Not really a star laden team.

Wilder gets his action photo on the team card.