2009 Topps T-206 rack pack breaks

2009 Topps T-206 rack pack breaks [$4.99 each / four packs at Target] - because I had a $50 gift certificate, which was another impromptu [this time for Christmas] present from my father, I was able to splurge on four packs among other purchases.

I picked up a base set already so I was hoping for some random hits - though these rack packs are retail, so it is always a crap shoot.

I only listed the minis and one or two notable base cards - this was probably a 'meh' break, but I guess I'll deal with it.

Pack one
287 Babe Ruth Piedmont mini base card parallel
287 Babe Ruth base

Pack two
164 Luis Valbuena Piedmont mini base card parallel
174 Gordon Beckham base

Pack three
171 David Wright Piedmont mini base card parallel
NNO A-Rod short print variation
207 Jackie Robinson base


Pack four
274 Colby Rasmus Piedmont mini base card parallel
90 A-Rod base
271 Lou Gehrig base

Featured dud: 2009 Topps T-206 Jonny Gomes #16

For baseball fans who grew of age in the mid 1990s, Gomes reminds me of Dante Bichette - both seem like righty mashing meatheads who kind of take a pose once they know they've connected.

It remains to be seen if Gomes will ever be given a full-time job in the Major Leagues, but he packs a ton of power in his swing - kind of fun watching him sit on a pitch and crank the ball far and deep, even though I might see on a highlight or a clip online, as opposed to in-person or a game broadcast somewhere.

Gomes' 2009 Topps T-206 is a dud, because seriously do most baseball card collectors care - 'Jonny was a high school classmate of Pixie, the former Fear Factor winner and shop manager in the TV series LA Ink.'

I claim ignorance as to knowing who this Pixie is - maybe if she was an politician, actress, model, athlete, maybe I would care about the little factoid on the back of Gomes' trading card.

Featured dud: 2009 Topps T-206 Fausto Carmona #280

My choice as the worst card of 2009 - the least he could do was keep his eyes open or at least a better image should have been chosen to manipulate.

Featured card: 2009 Topps T-206 Josh Hamilton #266

Instead of trying to mess around with loose packs and blasters, not even being able to complete a set in process and ending up with doubles, triples, et al - I picked up a hand-collated complete set of 2009 Topps T-206 for the price of around two blaster boxes, probably a few bucks more.

As I go through the cards to talk about [like others here and there] - there was no way this Hamilton card was going to escape my notice.

A quick story I remember is I'm in Surprise Arizona this past year, trying to get Texas Rangers' autographs in spring training - Hamilton was signing autographs for fans and as he was moving from one section of the railing to the other, I think he actually chipped his tooth trying to hold up a soda can.

That is my Hamilton in-person story for the year - it is fitting Topps gets a picture of Hamilton balancing a bat with his teeth, because it seems to capture who he is.

2009 Topps T-206 pack break with A Polar Bear

2009 Topps T-206 retail [$2.99 each / one pack at Target] - I was able to find a sealed box on the shelf and had to go through the pomp and circumstance of having it opened up [to grab just a lone, lonely pack because it was all I could afford to pick up], so it wouldn't seem like I was doing something shady.

Pack #1
106 Jeff Francis - great start, a card of a guy who hasn't played in about a year or more.
179 Roy Oswalt - had an off-year, but typically regarded as an 'ace.'
235 Yovani Gallardo Polar Bear mini base card parallel - according to the listing on the pack, Polar Bear parallels are found one in every 10 packs.
74 Greg Golson thick gold filler card- not pictured.
171 David Wright - this card is sort of ugly, it looks like Wright is grimacing with his eyes closed as he is following through.
130 Honus Wagner - probably the main reason the legacy of the T-206 lives on through the 21st century, never mind he is probably considered the best shortstop in the history of the game.