Target Finally Comes Through

I can't remember the last time I opened packs. Oh, right. I was in Los Angeles, and it was one of those value boxes (the only time I ever found one, coincidentally). Since then, both Gypsy Queen and Bowman were released. I saw a few packs of Gypsy Queen in stores, and I've been seeing empty gravity feed boxes of Bowman since its release. I would have picked up a discounted blaster, but they're fairly rare around here.

All that changed Sunday. On the hunt for taco seasoning, I made the obligatory walk by the card aisle. I expected to see the usual - leftover 2010 Topps Chrome value boxes, football blasters, and plenty of loose '11 Topps and Opening Day packs along with all the other stuff I never pay attention to. I wasn't disappointed on that expectation, but in my scan for blasters I noticed something different: a 40% off blaster of Upper Deck 2010. $12 for a guaranteed boring jersey and 80 other cards isn't too bad, and perhaps I'll pull some inserts I don't have, or maybe I can start putting together the Ballparks subset.

I noticed the empty Bowman gravity feed, and a quick scan of the rack packs didn't show any GQs or Bowman, but then I started seeing red. All over the place. Little stacks of Bowman packs were scattered amongst the retail boxes on the shelf. At first, I saw one stack of eight. Then, more and more became visible. I even finally noticed the retail box they came from, difficult to spot due to all the packs being turned sideways in the box. You know what that means, though - pack searchers. I'm surprised they didn't just buy all the packs in hopes of locating some Harpers. Anyway, I reasoned myself out of buying the loose packs, and took one last glance back at the hanging blisters on my way out. Wait, what's this? A Bowman three-pack? With three exclusive purple parallel cards? You've got a deal!

I'll get to the Bowman blister tomorrow. But first, let's see what awaits in the golden green box.

Packe The Firste

• 322 Jon Rauch
• 441 Jeremy Affeldt
• 395 Jason Jaramillo
• Portraits SE-74 Barry Zito
• Season Biography SB-108 Albert Pujols
• 95 Kevin Youkilis
• 534 Austin Kearns
• 579 Rockies Team Checklist

Packe The Seconde

• 92 David Ortiz
• 39 Justin Turner Star Rookie
• 129 Alexei Ramirez
• 82 Chad Moeller
• Celebrity Predictors CP-15/CP-16 (no clue who these two are even though I posted about this whole set last month)
• 369 Joey Devine
• 233 Jose Valverde
• 428 Eugenio Velez

Packe The Thirde

• 475 Ryan Franklin
• 296 Braden Looper
• 481 Carlos Pena
• Season Biography SB-34 Zack Greinke
• Pure Heat PH-12 Prince Fielder (someone else just posted this card on their blog)
• 46 Miguel Montero
• 494 Nelson Cruz
• 570 Washington DC Ballparks (it took three packs, but the collection begins)

Packe The Fourthe

• 3 Eric Young Star Rookie
• 209 Cody Ross
• 204 Bobby Seay
• 353 A.J. Burnett
• Season Biography SB-196 Andres Torres
• 414 Chris Young
• 452 Brandon Morrow
• 584 Angels Team Checklist

Packe The Fifthe

• 74 Adam Jones
• 472 Kyle McClellan
• 312 Brendan Harris
• Portraits SE-2 Dan Haren
• 99 George Kottaras
• 538 Garrett Mock
• 140 D.J. Carrasco
• 552 Houston, Texas Ballpark

Packe The Sixthe

• 526 Josh Willingham
• 157 Jared Burton
• 266 Jeff Mathis
• Season Biography SB-90 Tommy Hanson
• Supreme Green S-45 Carl Crawford (maybe it isn't green, because Beckett says these should be serially numbered to 100)
• 330 Omir Santos
• 237 Bud Norris
• 177 Seth Smith

Packe The Seventhe

• 442 Russell Branyan
• 429 Pablo Sandoval
• 297 Yovani Gallardo
• 337 Bobby Parnell
• 236 LaTroy Hawkins
• 415 Luis Perdomo
• 575 Cubs Team Checklist
• 512 Brett Cecil

Packe The Eighthe

• 9 Tyler Flowers Star Rookie
• 115 Mike Fontenot
• Season Biography SB-156 Russell Branyan
• Celebrity Predictors CP-9/CP-10 Again, no clue who these two are. Maybe Gwyneth Paltrow? (Yes, I realize I could just look it up but I'd rather leave it to the imagination.)
• All World AW-3 Carlos Lee
• 50 Dan Haren
• 148 Brandon Phillips
• 561 Philadelphia Ballpark

Packe The Ninthe

• 142 Justin Lehr
• 27 Dusty Hughes Star Rookie
• 249 Kyle Davies
• 421 Cha Seung Bank
• 376 Chase Utley
• 283 Corey Wade
• 456 Mark Lowe
• 593 Padres Team Checklist

Packe The Tenthe

• 12 Tommy Manzella
• 516 Aaron Hill
• 173 Jensen Lewis
• Game Jersey UDGJ-AP Albert Pujols (nice! Though it is just a gray swatch.)
• 321 Anthony Swarzak
• 187 Franklin Morales
• 77 Felix Pie

Over a year after the fact, I finally opened some 2010 Upper Deck. I already have the set (thanks, eBay deal). I like the base design - it feels modern and polished. The inserts feel like 2006 Ultra, with a nice design and no importance or meaning. The Pujols jersey is a nice pull, and it already has a place in my collection. The ballpark subset cards feel unique because they show the stadium from the outside. If I didn't already have the set it would be nice to pick up a cheap hobby box (in fact, if I have the money at the next show, I might just do that anyway).