Thursday, November 19, 2009

2009 Topps U&H Target & Wal-Mart Legends of the Game

I finally was able to acquire a couple of the Legends of the Game parallels that are available only in Target and Wal-Mart retail packs.


I believe this is the "base" version of the Target card, but I'm really not sure. There's also a "gold" version, and although this card does have a gold border (as compared to the greenish border on the Legends found in the regular packs), it may or may not be the gold parallel.

Here's the cards that Beckett says are available:
2009 Topps Target Legends #LLG21
2009 Topps Target Legends Gold #LLG21
2009 Topps Target Legends Platinum #LLG21

All of the auctions that I've seen list this as the "gold" card, and I have not seen any that look any different. I believe one of the problems arises from the numbering on the back. The Target only parallels are considered the "gold" parallels, hence the "G" in the card numbered. So, in essence, there is a gold parallel of a gold card, if that makes any sense.



Here's the Wal-Mart card, and the identification doesn't get much easier.


These are the cards that are supposedly available:
2009 Topps Wal Mart Legends #LLP22
2009 Topps Wal Mart Legends Gold #LLP22
2009 Topps Wal Mart Legends Platinum #LLP22

Just like Target has the gold set, Wal-Mart has the platinum set. I believe the card that's actually listed as a Platinum is a #1/1, so I know it's not that one. That leaves me to believe that this is actually the base card, although I'm still left wondering what the gold parallel might be.

I actually contacted Topps to help me out, and their response was pretty useless, as it seems that even they are confused about what's going on.

"Thank you for taking the time to write with your question, and please accept our apologies for any confusion.

It appears the Gold versions are serial numbered #/99 on the front top right of the card. The Platinum versions are serial numbered #/25. There are base versions of similarly colored Gold and Platinum parallels, however the more common versions are not serial numbered on the card."

The fact that the gold's #/99 and the platinum's are #/25 is true of the Legends that are found in the regular hobby packs, but I know this is not the case with the Target and Wal-Mart cards. If anyone has different versions of the same player (base, gold, platinum) from either the Target or Wal-Mart Legends set, I would love to see a side-by-side scan. Hopefully then I'll be able to finally put this mystery to bed.

Now I just need to wait for the U&H cereal box chrome, chrome refractors, and gold refractors to be released, and hope that those are a bit easier to decipher.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Incredible Lou Brock Memorabilia Auction

As a Rickey Henderson fan, you can't help but be a fan of Lou Brock as well. I actually got to interact with him a little bit during the Hall of Fame Golf Tournament this past summer, and he was a lot of fun!

That being said, I was a little sad when I read last week that there was going to be an entire auction filled with his memorabilia. I hope that he's selling these off in the hopes that others will be able to get some enjoyment out of them, and not because he actually needs the money. Considering what athletes get paid these days, it's amazing to think that these guys used to work as car salesman and insurance agents in the off-season!

The Legendary Auctions catalog includes some really amazing stuff, and I've included some of my favorite items below. You can view the entire catalog here.


Lou Brock's 893rd stolen base, which he stole to pass Ty Cobb on the all-time list.




Brock wore this jersey in 1974 when he stole his 105th base, breaking the all-time single season record. He ended the season with 118 steals, which stood until Rickey broke the record in 1982.


Brock's 1967 St. Louis Cardinals World Series ring.


A neat little stool that Brock had made featuring his 74th stolen base in 1966, in which he lead the NL for the first time.


A game-used ball from the game in which Brock stole his 900th base, one of only 3 players to do so. There are actually quite a few game-used balls included in the auction.


A pair of Brock's game-used cleats from the 1960's. These definitely don't compare to the cleats they wear today, but I still wouldn't want to get in the way of that front spike!


Brock received this award in the 1950's in high school for "outstanding achievement."


As a member of the 1967 All-Star team, Brock received this decorative silver bowl.


I've always been a fan of Leroy Neiman's paintings, and this one of Brock is one of my new favorites.


Arguably Brock's best season was in 1974, where he came in 2nd in the MVP voting. But, he was awarded the National League Player of the Year Award at the Kansas City Baseball Awards Dinner. It's not the MVP award, but it still is a pretty cool trophy.

If you enjoyed these items, be sure to check out everything else that is listed at the link above. I won't be bidding on anything myself, but if anyone does actually bid and win an item, be sure to let me know!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

2009 Topps Triple Threads Slideshow and Checklist

Now that Triple Threads has been live for a few weeks now, most of the different card variations have surfaced on eBay at one time or another. There is a total of 18 "different" Rickey cards included in the set, and other than 2 of the 3 #1/1's, the other 16 cards have all been accounted for, all of which are included in the slideshow below.



Here's the "official" checklist of the Rickey cards included in 2009 Topps TripleThreads. Due to seeing almost all of these on eBay, there are no surprises, but it's good too know that there isn't a super short-print hiding out there that just hasn't been uncovered yet.

2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics #115 Print Run/36
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics #116 Print Run/36
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics #117 Print Run/36

2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Sepia #115 Print Run/27
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Sepia #116 Print Run/27
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Sepia #117 Print Run/27

2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Emerald #115 Print Run/18
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Emerald #116 Print Run/18
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Emerald #117 Print Run/18

2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Gold #115 Print Run/9
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Gold #116 Print Run/9
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Gold #117 Print Run/9

2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Sapphire #115 Print Run/3
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Sapphire #116 Print Run/3
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Sapphire #117 Print Run/3

2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Platinum #115 Print Run/1
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Platinum #116 Print Run/1
2009 Topps Triple Threads Relics Platinum #117 Print Run/1

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Behind the Scenes at Arco Arena

I'm going to change pace a little bit, with a non-Rickey (but still sports) focused post. I'm currently enrolled in an MBA program, and am thinking about focusing on Marketing or Operations Management. I got an e-mail last week from the marketing department at the school, about an event at Arco Arena with the head of marketing for Maloof Entertainment (the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs).

Although I'm definitely more of a baseball fan, the Arena is only about 5 minutes from my house, plus the event included a tour of the arena, as well as access to the shoot-around before hand. It was also opening night, and although the Kings were already 0-3, I figured it would be fun.


We first met at the security entrance to the arena, where a mural had just been completed for the 2009 season, featuring Kevin Martin, Jason Thompson, and Tyreke Evans.


Our meeting was actually held underneath Arco, which is basically just a bunch of tunnels filled with wires, pipes, and a lot of other random stuff. I don't think they've updated their "wall of TV's" for quite some time now.


As you might have guessed, the above is a row of the players cars. They just pull directly into the Arena, and park only a few steps from the locker room.


Every little bit of space seemed to be used for storage in one way or another. Hidden in one corner was a couple of extra backboards, as it's always good to have a few of those on hand.


When it was time to enter the actual arena, we got to go through the same tunnel that the players use, which was pretty cool. Basketball players definitely make much more of a grand entrance than those in baseball, who basically just walk out of the dugout.


We were there almost two hours before game time, and we're only a few rows off the floor for the shoot-around.


When game-time approached, we had to move back to our actual seats, which were still pretty good. We were told that Bobby Jackson (who has recently retired, and is now working with the Kings) had upgraded the seats from those that we were originally supposed to be given. Thanks Bobby!

P.S. The Kings beat the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime, for their first win of the season!