2018 Topps Big League - Rainbow lucky

24 packs inside my cute Big League box.

I already opened them all, and I must say that I like the design, simple and direct to the point. Don't get why only last 5 years or so of stats in the back, but I'm ok with it..

A couple of years ago I bought some hobby packs from Topps flagship and was hopping to get some of those *hits*. And I got only base cards and a couple of inserts. Nothing to show. But then, I get this simple display retail box and I assure you..I got pretty lucky!

Will post some of the cards in next days by pack colour (the one on top, not the bottom colour). So lets see which colour brought me more good cards.

2018 Topps Big League

The moment you discover that there is a seller in amazone.es that ships to your country, and you can even apply to free shipping!

I take anything that I can get!

Top 10 by Price

I decided to see if my old accounts at Zistle and The Trading Card Database were still alive and after some work from my memory I could manage to log in.

I must say that I added these cards wayyyyyyy back I don't remember when. So I might have to go and re-do all my listings. Which, for a listing-maniac is like Christmas.

One thing I like at The Trading Card Database is the all the top 10s they provide, based on your added cards.

So, based upon the cards I have registered this is my situation:

Only registering around 4,5K cards the values of my collection goes like 2K dollars. Not bad!

So lets see my top 10.

So my card ranking #1 is this beauty commemorative patch from 2009 Topps Update Series.

I like these cards. I have a couple of them, the commemorative patches. But I always thought people used to dislike them because they were things manufactured and not true relics, like pieces of real cloth or bats. Maybe it's because I don't have much cards and tend to appreciate this little things more. They are all kinda important to me, to make me closer to the game.

Notice that the patch is a Reds patch (yeah!) but Tom is wearing a Mets uniform (buhhhhh).

And then my #2 card is also an other commemorative patch from the same set.

I also have a Roy Campanella patch but it does not make the top10.

And the final podium place, ranking #3 (two times) is Altuve RC.

And it seems I even have, at least, two of them. I think after Astros win this is normal to happen, getting a RC card like this to get a better price value.

But this card is one of those that I like besides all those facts. It's mainly because no matter how many times I see it, I have to double-take it in order to see the 3 people in it!

Getting on to #5 I have the Tris Speaker SP, from 2009 Topps (what a year!)

On #6 is one of the many Stephen Strasburg RC variation

I still cannot see him as such a star...but ok.

Now the first Yankee in the house is #7

Well...technically Alex Rodrigues RC card is not a Yankee card, but I take what I get!

And this is one of my favourite Upper Deck sets. It has such good photos!

#8 is the one and only Mickey Mouse! And now in truly Yankees mode!

Ok..this is a cute card.

And also at #8 it's Cal Ripken

You see...Mickey Mouse and Cal Ripken tied.

And I must say that this insert set is one of the ugliest... I can see it working with a relic, but this way, it's just a waste of card space..

And closing top 10 we have two giants

Again Ripken with a Yankee, but not Mickey Mouse. This time around is the insert Timeless Talents with The Captain Jeter.

That's a nice top10 by price. Lets see how it changes when I add more cards.

50 Cities of the World #30 Pekin

Almost done with the Cities of the World collection. 20 more to go!

Today we're visiting Pekin. Which is obvious Beijing.

It seems Beijing is the mandarin word, and Pekin the romanization of it. In Portuguese we still say the romanization form of it 'Pequim'.

Pekin was, and still is, China capital. And it is like one of the most populated cities in the world, their airport is like one of the busiest in the world, not even talking about their underground system!

And even if Pekin is one of the oldest cities in the world, it got quite the modernized capital to represent a country like China. But I think they still keep the old-district with more historical buildings and stuff. I think Asian people tend to admire and preserve better their past and their history than us...They manage to incorporate both old and new like it's the perfect puzzle. That's one of the things I truly admire in them.

About the industry examples the Emperor giving the subjects...LOL that is so funny! When I read something like this I always tend to imagine how would these people feel if they could travel in time and see how far we've come.


If you search for 'Beijing skyline' and compare to the picture in this card...WOW

See Pekin's wiki page here.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game

Remember way too many months ago...like in September last year I got a bunch of Final Fantasy cards? So now I finally started opening them and scanning.

I got 3 beginners decks for FF VII, FF X and FF XIII, and 3 more booster packs. And here are some of the things I got.

These cute little things are all from FF V GBA edition. You can see that at the bottom of the card it states the card design and which game it belongs (adding a bit more info, besides the global universe stated on the blue box on the right, adter the name).

I think all the 'backup' cards have FF V cute characters.

Then you have this more mature characters. The Qator card, like the one on top of this post, and the following Mystic, are all shiny and special versions of the cards. The usual thing in trading cards.

One of my favourite group of cards. The 'doodles' ones. It looks like concept art and they are simply beautiful...

I have to highlight the FF IX cards because that's the game I'm currently playing on my PS2. I'm that vintage!

And I end the post with one of the famous FF VII characters. Will post more soon.

Go Go Gadget arm!

I know it's all about technique. It works like a catapult. But stil...one thing that always made me go and look again, was seeing baseball players in moments like this one, like Garciaparra throwing the ball and the arm is in the strangest position...

It's more common seeing this in pitchers cards, so this card is special.

Besides, following the trend from last post about Grand Slams, Nomar "is one of 13 players in Major League history to hit two grand slams during a single game, and the only player to achieve the feat at his home stadium."

Hitting Stance

After changing to my new house and finally getting the main things on place, I got all my cards together and safe on a better place than under my bed.

So now I can come back and start posting again about the few cards I have. Yep. They are just a few, because even if I wanted to buy more I just cannot afford the insane price of shipping PLUS the VAT that is almost as much as the shipping already...and they cost even more than the product itself!

Thanks to the insane politics we are getting nowadays from some people...

But so, about the cards, I scanned a few and decided to save them by folders on my computer to see if I can somehow organize them better to post. Mainly by weird categories. Like this card. It's save under atBat/hitting/weirdStance.

I love those players, like Tatis who look like is scared of a mice and get both legs together. Au contraire to the other players that look like kicking a ghost.

This is a Rookie Class insert card from Upper Deck 1998 Collector's Choice set. One of my favourite sets.

Tatis was not that of a star but at least hit two grand slams in one inning against Dodgers in 1999 (for a total of 8 in his careerer).
He also got a MLB record for 8 RBI in one inning with these 2 grand slams. And he's the number one in that ranking! (ARod is #2)

So, all-in-all, even if he never played for a team I like, this is a good card of Tatis, stating his debut at 26 of July of 1997 for the Rangers.