Try a Pack #2: 2017 Donruss Baseball

Now before you say anything, I am not becoming a Panini advocate.  I've always preferred products that have a MLB license, and that's not going to change.

But I really like the look of this set.  If I weren't chasing so many damn sets right now, I might be tempted to put this together.

I bought the jumbo pack, 30 cards in total.   I really enjoyed ripping this.

I was always under the impression that the retro versions were a parallel set.   Wrong.  It's an insert, 50 cards total.  That's a shame, because I like these as well.  Pulled some pretty good names though.   If you need one, let me know.

A couple of Hall of Famers in the set, Ryan and Bench.  Nice!
A couple of Davis' in the set, both named Khris/Chris.  Confusing!  (no, not really)

A pretty solid start to a pitching staff here.  I had to check out Carlos Martinez's stats, he's been a solid part of that Cardinals rotation for a couple of years now, and his numbers this year are pretty solid so far: 2.95 ERA, WHIP of 1.042, 99K's to 30 walks.   A 5-5 record obviously doesn't reflect what he's done so far this year...

4 pretty good bats here at first base.  Love the photo of Goldschmidt at what I'm guessing is Wrigley Field. 

Stanton and Yelich make up what I believe to be 2/3 of the best outfield in baseball with Marcell Ozuna.  If you haven't seen the shot that Stanton hit over the batters eye in Pittsburgh on the weekend, check it out here on Twitter. 

I had not heard of Seth Beer, so I looked him up.  He's a first baseman for the Clemson Tigers who won National collegiate player of the year in 2016, the first time a freshman has won the award.  Listen for his name in the next few years.  As you can see I pulled his American Pride insert, 169/999. 

Josh Bell is a player that the Pirates have high hopes for, but he's struggling to keep his average up during his first full season, although he is showing some power with 11 HR's so far.  I may have to send that card up to Bob Walk the Plank...

I like this set.  Not enough to go and build it, but it's not bad.  I've received cards from this set from other bloggers (Jays, of course), but hadn't seen anything else until I decided to try a pack. 

I imagine there's a few people out there that would definitely get some enjoyment out of putting this set together...

thanks for reading, Robert

Inbound and Down #11: The Lost Collector

Have to say that AJ from The Lost Collector blog is becoming one of my biggest suppliers.  A few weeks back he sent me a PWE with 3 high number SPs from this year's Heritage set, and on Saturday I received my 2nd PWE from him in 2017 full of more Blue Jays goodness.

I see this card on the top of the pile and think "great, must be the last card I need for Fleer '91!  will be great to get that off the want list."   Turns out, I already have it.  Then I look and see the hair cut on Glenallen Hill.  So that's why he saw spiders in his sleep....

People can rip Donruss all they want.  I really like this design.  Not enough to collect the entire set, mind you, but for sure I'll chase the Jays from '17 Donruss. 

The Retro Variations are cool, featuring the '83 Donruss design.  Who says Heritage is the only release that can feature old sets?  I always thought the Career Stat Line parallels were numbered to the stat on the front.  In this case, the J.A. Happ card should have been #'d out of 1022.  Maybe it's hockey I'm thinking of where Panini numbers the stat line cards like that.

It's still going to take me a while to get over EE leaving town.  I don't think Kendrys Morales is going to have the same effect in the line up that Edwin did.  Or is it the parrot leaving on Edwin's arm that has me upset?

The JD heritage card goes right into the set I'm putting together.  Just another reminder that I have to get that want list up on the blog.

AJ, awesome as always and totally unexpected!!  Thank you very much, they are appreciated.

Thanks for reading, Robert