Some baseball packs for Opening Day

Since I'll soon be adding a new starting nine to my Mets opening day starting lineup project, I figured that I would buy a few more baseball packs to see if I could give myself some cards to choose from for this year.

I stopped in at the Wal-Mart in Ogdensburg, NY when I went down to pick up my mail the other day. I picked up two of the 24 card packs of Topps Opening Day, and one of the Topps Gypsy Queen packages that comes with three packs and 5 green parallel cards.

I'll start with the Opening Day packs.

Pack 1:

I don't know the Topps Series One cards to know what is new, and what isn't. I've said it before, I'm a former catcher so I'm biased in liking the Perez card.

I'm happy to see the Rosario card.

The packs said that I would get three inserts per pack, and they were in the middle with the first one appearing here in the rally monkey.

I was surprised to see the blue foil Schwarber card. The date popped out at me as I first looked at the pack. Really, at first I thought it was just one of the inserts. The blue looks good surrounding the white Cubs uniform.

And my other two inserts. I can't say that I had even the slightest clue about a Rays mascot before pulling this card.

I know some players got updated uniforms for the start of the set but I guess no photos exist of Matt Kemp in a Dodgers uniform. I guess that growing up in Canada, I was used to O-Pee-Chee acknowledging player movement to new teams even if the player was in his old uniform.

 

Last calls for McCutchen and Cole in Pirates uniforms.

Pack 2:

It doesn't really fit into my sometimes old-school thinking, but I like Bour's shades on his card. I also love the photo on the Myers card.

Speaking of old-school, I hate seeing the players' pants dragging along the ground when I watch a game. I want to see the socks! I guess with the banner on the bottom of the cards I don't have to worry about it on cards. (Yes, I'm aware that Altuve's socks are peeking onto his card. That is what made me think of it.)

I know the Billy Hamilton card was in Series One. I was happy to get that one in the very little that I opened.

And the start of this pack's inserts. I really enjoyed my visit to Great American Ball Park last summer. I'm sure it would be fun to see the Opening Day parade.

I'm a Mets fan. I hate the Phillies. No surprise there. But, really, I have a soft spot for the Phanatic. I grew up seeing Youppi! in Montreal, but remember hearing a lot about the Phanatic as a kid. Mascot antics can bring a smile to my face.

I also hate the Nationals, partly as a division rival, but partly because I wanted the Expos to stay in Montreal. I do appreciate a lot of their talent, though, and do like Strasburg showing that he's wearing his pants and socks properly.

I think I saw that Night Owl found the original Marlins photo for Stanton's card. Glad to see Topps catering to the Yankees fans to update this card.

Ah, well, only the one Met card, but fun cards to open.

Now, to look at the Gypsy Queen cards that I picked up.

Pack 1:

Well, I got a Met in a non-Mets uniform. That doesn't count for me though.

I didn't notice the logo on the Castro card when I first opened the pack - only when I saw the scan.

I like the cardboard that these cards are printed on, but I don't think they are very attractive cards. And the backs don't appeal to me having just a small write-up and no stats on them.

Pack 2:

Wow, horrible job with this scan. How did I leave such a big blank bottom margin here? Oh, well, I'm too lazy to fix it now.

Okay, two packs and two players blowing bubbles? Really?

I like the Khris Davis Fortune Teller mini.

Pack 3:

No bubbles here, but Newcomb doesn't really have a good pitching face.

No Mets in any of the three packs, but I still have my five green cards to find some.

Bonus green parallel cards:

Nope, no Mets here either. 

Enjoy Opening Day everyone!

Let's Go Mets!