2010 Topps Update Baseball inserts Part I

I did not do the 1st or 2nd series but I just may have to find a box or two to do the sets...some pretty neat inserts in the Update series:  here's some of the different subsets and a couple of Strasburgs that I pulled:

59th Anniversary Gold Parallels

Cards your Mother Threw Out

 

Strasburg RC patch & Attax card

I'll post the rest of the subset scans later ...enjoy them!!

If anybody else has opened some Update, I'd love to hear what you pulled....also interested in any Tigers for trade if any thing interests you...am going to give the Strasburg cards to my boy for his birthday in a couple of weeks but anything else is up for trade either here or the rest of the subsets which will be up soon

Topps Magic football 2010

Here's some scans of the mini's and auto's that I pulled

Topps Million Card Give-Away Part II

Bought a box of Topps 2010 Update today and got a pretty nice box, I guess.  Got 8 redemptions and while none were as nice as the 1961 Rizzuto that my son got, I got a wide range of cards based on their years..just no stars other Canseco ...anyway, here's the cards I "won".

Tomorrow I'll scan some of the highlights of the other cards I pulled along with some of the cards from the Topps Magic football 2010 I opened

Winter Musings Part II

Here's my prize pull of 2010...pulled from the 8th and final series of the TK Legacy University of Michigan set...a lot of people don't know that he played for the Wolverines back in his college days.

Winter break musings Part I

Sitting here trying to think of something to do with a house full of sick kids so I decided to go to school for an hour to do some scanning of a box of cards that one might call my special box...has more of my high end cards of my collection.  So I figure I'd share some of my collection with you during my Christmas break from teaching and into the New Year. 

Here's some autographs from a box that I bought from a local card shop that is no longer around (SportsCard Stadium) back a few years ago (2004)...from a series called Topps Originals Signatures...a box that I really liked due to the players that were in it....although the Harmon Killebrew 1 of 2 was not too shabby.  Here they are:

This guy and Jack Morris had some great pitching duals back in the mid '80's especially in 84 when the Tigers took the World Series.

Who can forget  Jim Abbott?   A very good pitcher but even a more inspirational person who overcame much to pitch in the Bigs....plus he's from the University of Michigan!!!   :)

He was a little before my time but my father-in-law who was a Twins fan loved him...this was the 1 of 2 cards...I believe I have a couple of other autos of his somewhere.

The ultimate Tiger...came to play every day...the homerun against the Padres to clinch the World Series against Goose is one of my favorite baseball memories.

Not much to say about these guys although Whitey did win a World Series with Ozzie and company if I'm not mistaken...the Rudi card was from the 1980 set that was one of the first sets I tried to collect...had a great number of them but not the full set...may be something to work on in the New Year.

Anyway, as the New Year draws near...I hope you enjoyed a little blast from the past.

Topps Million Card GiveAway

My son ( age 5) got a pack of 2010 Topps Baseball Update for Christmas and got one of those redemption cards for the million card giveaway...having done a couple of the football cards and gotten two nothing cards, I wasn't holding my breath for what this redemption would bring but was I pleasantly surprised...1961 Phil Rizzuto MVP card # 471...I think we'll get this one sent to us.

Feelings torn

After watching the debacle on Saturday, I'm torn at whether Michigan needs to make a change with Harbaugh or stay the course with Rodriguez....there are definitely pros and cons for both possibilities.  It would have been great if UM had just been in the game and there would have been no debate...one part of me says Rodriguez has the team headed in the right direction with only a couple of recruiting classes but the defense....UGH!!!!...amother part of me says Harbaugh has been impressive at Stanford and coming home would give a big boost of adrenaline to the program....hope Dave Brandon knows what he is doing!

NCAA Sweet Swatches

Here's the swatches I pulled from my two boxes....two Megatrons but with slightly different uniforms...one has a mesh aspect while the other swatches are solid...pleased I got a Mario Manningham for my UM collection

Go Blue!! Beat the Buckeyes!!

In honor of the game against the "hated foe from the south" here are some of the NCAA Sweet Spot auto's I picked up on ebay...it appears there are 3 different variations of the helmets..at least that's all I've seen so far.

Thank you Jon Falk

If anybody knows the links between the Bo era and the current regime, it would be one Mr. Jon Falk...this snippet was emailed to me and spot on as to the current team:

Jon Falk's take on the program + Rich Rodriguez (long) 

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Disclaimer:  This is not meant to strike back at "the haters" or divide this board any further, but instead to show you guys what a true insider thinks of RRod and the state of the program.  If there's a more enlightened opinion on Michigan football, we don't know what it is.  Now that Bo is gone, there's also no one more astute or a better judge of character (due to the numerous sources in this book) when it comes to players and coaches.  Big Jon has seen it all...

These snippets are from multiple chapters in his book "If These Walls Could Talk".

"Bo always said there are termites in the foundation," Falk smiled.  "When things are going good, nobody hears from those people.  But if something goes wrong, they creep out of the walls and from under the rugs.  He said to watch all of them and take their names"  When things settle down, you'll know who they are.  You'll know who you can trust and who you can't."

Bo's "termite theory" reassures Falk's belief that Michigan's trials of the past two years eventually will become the foundation for future success.  The problems of the last two years make the Manhattan Yellow pages look skinny as a Christmas card.  From a coaching transition to a system transplant to the stepping down of an AD to a host of unfounded innuendos, the termites have had plenty to chew on.

Given time, Falk is convinced that Rodriguez will bring Michigan back to its proper place of prominence.  "Rich is intense about his job," Falk said.  "Very intense.  He's got a vision for what he wants his program to be.  It's all about the team.  It's not about individuals.  The intensity of his practices is just like Bo's.  I don't mess with him during practice.  If I have to talk to him during practice, there's a problem that must be resolved immediately.  Rich is also extremely accomodating to former Michigan players and coaches who drop by to visit. He always makes time to meet them and share his vision for the program.

'When a team is struggling, the game will do anything it can to take you down," Falk said.  "It doesn't matter who you are.  Things turn against you.  Fumbles.  Interceptions.  Referee calls.  Everything that can go against you does.  Like Rich said many times, the last two years we weren't good enough to play over mistakes and bad breaks.  But that day is coming, and the termites will start to scramble.

Falk is convinced the pendulum is getting ready to swing.  And when it does, all the termites will scurry back to their holes.

From Zoltan Mesko:

The players are well aware that the last two seasons have been disappointing to Michigan fans.  But they stand unashamed of their confidence that success lies closer than many think.  "They unity and spirit of our team is phenomenal," Mesko said.  "True Michigan fans have the vision to look beyond a bad season.  I honestly see the potential for dominance."

 

 

UM 27 Purdue 16

Congrats to the defense who played, by far, there best game of the year.   Don't give me the garbage being thrown all over that Purdue's offense had hurt guys and was awful.  HELLLLLLLOOOOOO!!!!!!  have you looked at the injury list on the defensive side of the ball for Michigan?   Last I looked, Purdue is in the Big Ten, and it was a ROAD WIN!!!!   Ask Iowa how easy it is to win on the road.....a drop on the easiest of catches last week by Indiana at Indiana gives Iowa that win but and then they lose at Northwestern.  The same team that blows MSU out.  Yet Michigan goes on the road and, yes, the offense was terrible with 5 turnovers, but THEY WON!!!!  WITH 5 TURNOVERS!!!!!   IN TERRIBLE WEATHER!!! 

By no means has Rodriguez done everything right, but you had to know the offense was due a clunker game with all the huge numbers put up so far this season, but less we forget...Robinson and Forcier are still sophomores and will have times of struggling...guess what, we STILL WON!!!!  The future is bright, the defense, being so young , is growing up in front of our eyes, adjustments have been made ( Mr. Roh has found a position to excel at) and it will payoff in the next year and following.

( just one UM fan's humble opinion)

2010 NCAA Sweet Spot

Opened a box the other day....got a Billy Sims auto ( Oklahoma ) for one of the helmets...Keiland Williams (LSU)  from the Redskins was the other...highlight was two swatch cards in one pack...one was a Calvin Johnson and the other was a Mario Manningham...will get some scans up later next week....anybody with UM cards I'd be willing to trade for to add to my collection

What a game!! UM 67 Illinois 65 3OT

This was a must needed win for the Wolverines....with all the distractions of the week and the debacle of the week before, Coach Rich-Rod and the team can smile and celebrate tonight on a hard fought victory.  Although there is much to be done to fix the defense, one has to think that the defense made enough plays today to maybe turn the corner for the rest of the year and play well enough to win one or two more games this year plus  a bowl game.  The offense, despite 5 turnovers, is still the most explosive offense in college football and NOBODY has stopped it yet.  We have only stopped ourselves with bad and ill times penalties and the dreaded turnovers.  It will be interesting to see what the vaunted Buckeye defense can do against Denard and Company.