Sep 25, 2013

Gint-A-Cuffs V: Packs 21-24, in which the rug is pulled out from under me

It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." 
-Bart Giamatti, speaking about Gint-A-Cuffs


Pack 21
Ken Griffey Jr
Carlos Beltran
Cliff Lee +1 (FT)
Darryl Strawberry
Joe Mauer +2 (FP)
Civilization of Ages Past Olmecs +3
Bob Lemon SP +2
Mini Black Border Jose Bautista +3
Pack Total: 11
Box Total: 175

Pack 22
David Ortiz
Matt Garza
Johnny Bench
Joe Morgan
Carlos Santana
Cecil Fielder
Across the Years Ryne Sandberg +2
Mini No Number Mini Ben Revere +11, +1 (FT)
Pack Total: 14
Box Total: 189

Pack 23
Albert Pujols
Jackie Robinson
Dexter Fowler
Joey Votto +2 (FP)
Frank Thomas
Civilization of Ages Past Shang Dynasty +3
Josh Rutledge SP +2
Mini Paul Molitor SP +3
Pack Total: 10
Box Total: 199

Pack 24
Juan Marichal
Raul Ibanez
Mariano Rivera -1
Don Mattingly -1
Gary Carter
Yovani Gallardo
Across the Years Babe Ruth +2, -1
Mini Early Wynn
Pack Total: -1
Box Total: 198

Worst last pack ever.....keeps my 5 year streak alive of not breaking 200.  This reminds of the time when I played Rummy 500, got to 495 and the managed to be stuck there for 4 straight wins as I was overtaken.

Gint-A-Cuffs, you win again.....curse you.

Sep 24, 2013

Gint-A-Cuffs V: Packs 17-20, in which somebody is not impressed

Pink ribbon scars I never forget....I fear that I am ordinary just like everyone.

Pack 17
Chrissy Teigen
Ryan Zimmerman
Colby Rasmus
Matt Harrison
Enos Slaughter
Palaces and Stronghold Mysore Palace +3
Andrew McCutchen SP +2
Mini The First Americans +3
Pack Total: 8
Box Total: 131

Pack 18
Reggie Jackson
Carlos Ruiz +1 (FT)
Starling Marte
Tim Lincecum +2 (FP)
Across the Years Manny Machado +2
Framed Relic McKayla Maroney +10
Mini Justin Morneau SP +3
Pack Total: 18
Box Total: 149

Pack 19
Ian Kennedy
Howie Kendrick
Jason Heyward +2 (FP)
Phil Niekro
Cal Ripken Jr
Martial Mastery Amazons +3
Carlton Fisk SP +2
Mini A&G Back Tommy Lee +2
Pack Total: 9
Box Total: 158

Pack 20
Bryce Harper +2 (FP)
Mike Joy
Barry Melrose
Monty Hall
Jason Dufner
Freddie Roach
Through the Years Jason Heyward +2, +2 (FP)
Mini Jim Rice
Pack Total: 6
Box Total: 164

Sep 23, 2013

Gint-A-Cuffs V Packs 13-16, in which a corked bat was found

To paraphrase: Did you see the jabberwock, my son?  The jaws that bite, the claws that catch?

Pack 13
Bill Walton
Abe Vigoda +1
Ziggy Marley
Phil Heath
Framed Relic Albert Belle +10
Through the Years Sandy Koufax +2
Mini James Shields
Pack Total: 13
Box Total: 106


Pack 14
AJ Burnett
Yasmani Grandal
Willie Mays
Felix Hernandez
Babe Ruth -1
Derek Jeter -1
Through the Years Jesus Montero +2
Mini A&G Back Ian Kinsler +2, +3 (FP)
Pack Total: 5
Box Total: 111

Pack 15
Matthew Berry
Nana Meriwether
Shelby Miller
Evan Longoria
Jurickson Profar
Civilization of Ages Past Mayans +3
Robin Yount SP +2
Mini Fergie Jenkins
Pack Total: 5
Box Total: 116

Pack 16
Allen Craig
Elvis Andrus
Ian Kinsler  +2 (FP)
Brandon Morrow
Denard Span
Penny Marshall +1
Through the Years Troy Tulowitzki +2
Mini A&G Back Matt Moore +2
Pack Total: 7
Box Total: 123




Sep 22, 2013

Gint-A-Cuffs V, Packs 9-12, there is no spoon

The quest continues to paper the world with art-deco borders.

Pack 9
Bonnie Bernstein
Bud Selig -1
Code Breakers Trio
Anthony Rendon
Death Valley (the one time I was in Death Valley, it was 114 degrees)
Gio Gonzalez
Through the Years Ken Griffey Jr +2
Mini Inquiring Minds Hannah Arendt +3
Pack Total: 4
Box Total: 73

Pack 10
Dylan Bundy
Jon Lester
Anthony Rizzo
Bronson Arroyo
Tony Perez
Palaces and Strongholds Forbidden City (I've been here, it's enormous) +3
Alex Rodriuez SP +2 -1
Mini Black Bordered John Smoltz +3
Pack Total: 7
Box Total: 80

Pack 11
Vance Worley
Rickie Weeks
Hanley Ramirez
Salvador Perez
Jose Altuve
One Little Corner Makemake +3
Avisail Garcia SP +2
Mini Duke Snider
Pack Total: 5
Box Total: 85

Pack 12
Clayton Kershaw
Alex Gordon
Robinson Cano -1
Vida Blue
Ben Revere (FT)+1
Martial Mastery Apache +3
Marco Scutaro SP +2
Inquiring Minds Author of The Prince +3
Pack Total: 8
Box Total: 93


Sep 21, 2013

Gint-a-cuffs V: Packs 5-8, in which PEDs make relics grow

The box continues to spill out its contents as the heat lamp reveals the truth.

Pack 5
Jon Niese
Ryan Braun
Chad Billingsley
Anibal Sanchez
Paco Rodriguez
Corey Hart
Through the Years Salvador Perez +2
Mini Bronson Arroyo
Pack Total: 2
Box Total: 41

Pack 6
Bobby Doerr
Eddie Murray
John Smoltz
Paul Goldschmidt
Full-sized Relic Ryan Braun +10
Through the Years Yu Darvish +2
Mini A&G Back BJ Upton +2
Pack Total: 14
Box Total: 56

Pack 7
Daniel Murphy
Curtis Granderson -1
Yoenis Cespedes
Michael Young +1 (FT)
Neil Walker
Palaces and Strongholds Taj Mahal +3
Wily Peralta SP +2
Mini Tony Perez
Pack Total: 5
Box Total: 61

Pack 8
Roy Jones Jr
Lou Brock
Adrian Beltre
Mark Buehrle
Michael Morse
Martial Mastery Aztecs +3
Rickey Henderson SP +2
Mini Black Border Paul Goldschmidt +3
Pack Total: 8
Box Total: 69

Sep 15, 2013

Gint-A-Cuffs V: BoxTopper and Packs 1-4

I know this is the moment everyone who's ever read this site has waited for......the 5th edition of Gint-A-Cuffs here on this blog.  When I was a young lad, I once dreamed of a world where Yankees were hated properly and devalued, where red ink and blood were worth more than the written word, and when destruction and tearing was the desired outcome of any endeavor.  Gint-A-Cuffs is a culmination of those wishes.

This year, the Ginter universe is slightly changed.  There are more retired players in the set since its first incarnation in '06. And there are more standard size inserts, and no more sketches to to look for.

Onto the ripping....

First, I ripped into the box itself.....I did not have a card inside. (0 points)



Next, up is the boxtopper.

Josh Hamilton Sepia Oversized Box Loader +8, +10=18


Box Total: 18

Then, onto smaller and better things.

Pack 1
Early Wynn
Ferguson Jenkins
Duke Snider
Jim Rice
Brooks Robinson
Kris Medlen
Across the Years Gio Gonzalez +2
Mini Peacemaker Mother Teresa +3
Pack 1 Total: 5
Box Total: 23


Pack 2
Anthony Gose
David Murphy
Stan Musial
David Freese
Chanel Iman
One Little Corner-Uranus +3
Wei-Yin Chen SP +2
Mini A&G Back Brian McCann +2
Pack 2 Total: 7
Box Total: 30


Pack 3
Starlin Castro
Jay Bruce
Bob Feller
Doug Fister
Carlos Gonzalez
One Little Corner-Ceres +3
Kyle Seager SP +2
Mini The First Americans Cherokee +3
Pack 3 Total: 8
Box Total: 38

Pack 4
Alfonso Soriano
Ernie Banks
Michael Brantley
Prince Fielder
CJ Wilson
Tyler Skaggs
Across the Years Lou Gehrig +2, -1=+1
Mini Jose Altuve
Pack 4 Total: 1
Box Total: 39