Way Better Than A Blaster

2016 BBM Dancing Heroine #71 Asuka Ueda

If the San Francisco Giants had cheerleaders that looked like Asuka... I still would be a San Diego Padres fan.  However... I'd probably attend more games at AT&T.

Okay... now that I've used Ms. Ueda to get your attention... let's check out a package recently sent to me by Kenny over at Torren' Up Cards that included 12 repacks and a custom topper.

The past few weeks, I've been reading everyone's 2017 Topps reviews and I was just about to cave in and buy myself a blaster.  But thanks to Kenny... I got my weekend cardboard fix and then some.  Let's start off with his custom card topper:

I've built a small collection of custom cards from fellow bloggers and this card is a very welcomed addition.

Next up... the packs or should I say "repacks":

Pack #1

Kenny kicked things off with a nice selection of Gosuke Katoh that included some very shiny refractors.  However... the hit of the pack was this dugout card of Kana Momonogi:

I have no idea who she is... but she wears very nice shoes.


Pack #2

Okay... I'm starting to see a pattern here.  At this rate, I'm never going to highlight baseball cards, unless I specifically go out of my way to target some.

2014 Bowman DPP Asia Exclusive #78

Franklin Barreto is the Oakland A's top prospect and it's possible he'll be called up sometime this season.  A's fans like myself don't have a lot to cheer for, but I'm looking forward to seeing this guy play.


Pack #3

I'm a sucker for mascot cards, so picking the top card from this pack wasn't very hard.

2012 Topps Opening Day Mascots #M24

Stomper has been around for around two decades and does a great job of getting the 10,000 fans in attendance excited for our beloved Athletics.


Pack #4

It was tough to pick the top hit from this pack.  There are a few nice prospect cards and a pair of 2008 Topps cards (one of my favorite designs in recent years).  But ultimately, I went with...

1992 Topps #285

By now you probably realize that I'm a big advocate for trading cards featuring great action shots without arms, legs, and heads cropped off.  This meets the requirements.  Plus it's Welch.  The 1990 AL Cy Young Award winner who is the only pitcher in the last 40 years to win 27 games in a season.

Pack #5

It's not often a Tony Gwynn Diamond Kings card isn't considered the hit of the pack.  But that's what happens when there's a Calbee card of Munenori Kawasaki in the same pack:

2005 Calbee Title Holder #T10

It's hard to tell... but this card has a nice sparkly effect to it.  But the key reason I chose this card over Gwynn is that it's only my 4th Japanese card of Mr. Kawasaki... whereas I probably have fourteen of those 1989 Donruss DK Gwynns.


Pack #6

Kenny switched things up with this pack and added two additional ladies, while reducing the total number of baseball cards to only three.  That's okay.  I stuck to my guns... and picked this card:

2009 Topps 206 Bronze #52

Back on September 2nd, 2006... Kouzmanoff became the first player to ever hit a grand slam on the first pitch of his first MLB at bat.  Plus he's one of a handful of guys who have hit 15+ home runs in a season for both of my favorite teams.  The other guys?  Ramon Hernandez, Mark Kotsay, and Gene Tenace.

Pack #7

Another appearance by "pink shoes".  This time a more laid back pose.  It definitely trumps the poorly cropped Catfish... but not this amazing Reddick:

2016 Topps #472

Topps loves capturing Reddick doing what he does best.

Pack #8

Another Katoh hot pack!  But I couldn't pass up a chance to feature this silver foil facsimile signature card of Misaki Tamori:

No idea who she is... but she's cute and has a little pig on her sleeve.

Pack #9

There were a few sweet action shots in this pack, but I decided to go with Kouzmanoff again:

2010 Topps #544

Kudos to Topps for combining the great action shot with a write-up that states Kevin's "hands produced an NL record-setting .990 FLD% at 3B in 2009".  I guess he's all over the record books.

Pack #10

Another outstanding Reddick card:

2013 Topps Opening Day #124

I know there are a lot of A's fans out there who are going to miss seeing Josh Reddick out in right field on Opening Day at the Coliseum.

Pack #11

Another Barreto.  I was very tempted to pick this card again... but ultimately I decided to go with another rookie card:

2011 Topps #461

Also known as the Four Eyed Fielder, Sogard and his Nerd Power charm will be missed by many in Oakland.

Pack #12

The final pack only had four cards... but all four could be considered "hits".

I decided to pick Asuka as my favorite card in the pack.  In fact, it might just be my favorite card in the entire care package.  I sure hope BBM produces more cards of her in the future.

Thank you Kenny for this awesome care package!  I loved the variety and especially enjoyed the eye candy.

As soon as I have a reasonable amount of Torrens and Chunichi Dragons to send... I'll return the favor.

Until then...

Happy Saturday and sayonara!