2019 Topps Now Mike Trout Road to Opening Day promo

I probably this card in the mail for making at least one Topps Now purchase through Topps.com last year - while I bought my 2018 Topps Now cards from eBay, my lone Topps Now purchase off Topps.com was a Vladimir Guerrero autograph.

With the $300 million contract signed by Manny Machado and Bryce Harper still looking to sign a similar or likely better arrangement - the speculation over Trout's future has mushroomed.

It pisses me off because it has me uneasy about Trout's standing with the Angels - I think the Angels have always had Trout's back, even as fans [like me] have thought about how the best player in baseball should not be playing on a team that isn't contending for anything.

I want things to play out for the next two years and don't want to face the reality the face of my home team and yes, Major League Baseball - might be lured by the Philadelphia Phillies [his home team on the East Coast] or end up in the middle of the lineup for the New York Yankees.

I can't imagine Trout playing for another team and maybe an ideal extension would be a 7-8 year deal for something approaching $400 million of Angels owner Arte Moreno's money - if Trout does move on, the way I think about it is that someone else will get his 30s, but the Angels and their fans got his prime years.

Maybe the cliche don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened applies here - though the only acceptable scenario is Trout gets locked up as Angel for life and things turn around as far as getting other pieces to build around him.

Fairfield 250 card cube recap Part 1

I was really looking for 2017 Bowman Mega Box [latest retail gimmick] - but they weren’t on the shelves at the Target I stopped at.

I was going to get a 24-card pack of 2017 Topps Bunt and a 30-card pack of 2017 Donruss - but this changed my mind on the Donruss and for $5 more, I impulsively grabbed one of these repack cubes instead.

I saw these cubes on the shelves on a previous Target trip - I used to open these repacked boxes semi-regularly but I weaned off them because I figured I ran into my share of miscellaneous cards...maybe the repacks to get are the ones at Walgreens, though I don’t go there at all, so I haven’t really been tempted.

I counted out 261 loose cards in the package - not including the ones in the two packs enclosed, which were a 2016 Topps Series I pack and a 2016 Topps Opening Day value pack.

As far as content, I noticed a trend as far as how the repack was put together - you got your junk wax era cards [1986-1992], cards from recent years that might as well be junk wax and then miscellaneous cards.

Your average 'star cards' probably don't mean as much in 2017 as they did 25-30 years ago - but there were some star power in the box, coming from the loose Topps factory team set cards broken down and inserted.

2015 Bowman retail paper autograph of Andrew Triggs [PA-AT] - the first card I stumbled upon was an autograph, though the bottom left and right corners card were dinged.

After bouncing around a couple of organizations, Triggs [I vaguely recall his name from reading USC Trojans baseball box scores] - has improbably pitched pretty good two months into the 2017 season.

2011 Topps Ubaldo Jimenez #270
2013 Topps Chase Utley #26
1987 Fleer Update Mike Loynd #U-67
1987 Fleer Update Herm Winningham #U-130
1989 Fleer Ken Patterson #508
1989 Fleer Paul O’Neill #166
1989 Fleer Jeff Reardon #125
1989 Fleer Dave Concepcion #156
1988 Fleer Tim Wallach #198
1988 Fleer Kevin Bass #440
1988 Fleer Bill Madlock #63
1988 Topps Randy Myers #412
1988 Topps Atlanta Braves 1987 Team Leaders #549 - feat. Perry, Murphy, Griffey Sr. and James
1988 Topps Joe Carter #75
1991 Upper Deck Bob Walk #689
1988 Donruss Jesse Orosco #192
1988 Donruss Steve Sax #176
1991 Score Dave Winfield #83
1989 Topps Ramon Martinez #225
1989 Topps Rafael Belliard #723
1989 Topps Doyle Alexander #77
1991 Upper Deck Felix Fermin #409
2015 Topps factory team set Zack Wheeler #NYM-8
1989 Donruss Tom Lampkin #639
1981 Donruss Rollie Fingers #2
1990 Upper Deck Francisco Cabrera #64
1988 Topps Charlie O’Brien #566
1988 Topps Scott Bradley #762
1989 Topps Mark Salas #384
1989 Topps Steve Balboni #336
2016 Topps NL All-Stars factory team set Zack Greinke #NL-11
2016 Topps NL All-Stars factory team set Yadier Molina #NL-16 
2016 Topps NL All-Stars factory team set Matt Harvey #NL-15
2016 Topps NL All-Stars factory team set Anthony Rizzo #NL-17
2016 Topps NL All-Stars factory team set Paul Goldschmidt #NL-3 
2016 Topps San Diego Padres team card #315
2016 Topps Neftali Feliz #587 
2016 Topps Carlos Martinez #678
2016 Topps Steve Cishek #498
2015 Topps Phil Gosselin #379
2015 Topps Matt Shoemaker #597
2015 Topps Robbie Grossman #629
2015 Topps Chris Taylor #395
2015 Topps Lonnie Chisenhall / checklist #444
2015 Topps Ryan Raburn #473
2015 Topps Christian Vazquez #445
2015 Topps Daniel Descalso #587
2015 Topps Taylor Hill #655
2015 Topps Josmil Pinto #399
2007 Topps Ted Williams #TW26
2006 Topps Albert Pujols #6 of 10 - National Baseball Card Day
2011 Topps League Leaders #124 - feat. Sabathia, Price and Lester
2011 Topps James Shields #311
2015 Topps Cody Asche #420
2015 Topps Skip Schumaker #633
2015 Topps Matt Shoemaker #597
2015 Topps Chase Headley #576
2015 Topps John Danks #524
2015 Topps Koji Uehara #371
2015 Topps Kevin Gausman #619
2015 Topps Logan Morrison #536
2015 Topps Jon Niese #428
2015 Topps Lance Lynn #261
2016 Topps Dallas Keuchel #550
2016 Topps Matt Den Dekker #565
2016 Topps factory team set Kenley Jansen #LAD-13
2016 Topps factory team set Joc Pederson #LAD-3
2016 Topps factory team set Chase Utley #LAD-7
2016 Topps NL All-Stars factory team set Paul Goldschmidt #NL-3
2016 Topps NL-All-Stars factory team set Kris Bryant #NL-5
1989 Topps Randy Bockus #733 
2016 Topps factory team set Andrelton Simmons #A-4
1989 Topps Mike Smithson #377
1989 Topps Randy St. Claire #666
1988 Topps Jose De Leon #634
1988 Topps Darrel Akerfelds #82
1990 Upper Deck Craig Worthington #444
1988 Score Bill Dawley #328
1990 Upper Deck Jamie Moyer #619
1989 Fleer Paul Molitor #193
1986 Topps Rick Waits #614
1989 Topps Wes Gardner #526
1989 Topps Candy Sierra #711
1989 Topps Charlie Hough #345
1987 Fleer Glossy David Palmer #525
1987 Fleer Glossy Magic Mets #629 - feat. Carter, Fernandez, Gooden, Hernandez and Strawberry
1991 Fleer Kirk McCaskill #319 
1987 Topps Manny Lee #574
1988 Topps Greg Minton #129
1988 Topps Jose Nunez #28
1988 Topps Dave Smith #520
1988 Fleer Kevin Seitzer #270
1989 Fleer Shawn Hillegas #498
1989 Fleer Bill Long #501
1988 Fleer Bob McClure #189
1988 Fleer Sammy Stewart #616
1988 Fleer Juan Agosto #437
1988 Fleer Paul Noce #428
1987 Topps Bo Jackson #170
2006 Fleer Ryan Zimmerman #228
2011 Topps League Leaders #109 - feat. Hamilton, Cabrera and Mauer
2011 Topps League Leaders #306 - feat. Cabrera, Rodriguez and Bautista
2011 Topps Gio Gonzalez #30
2011 Topps League Leaders #124 - feat. Sabathia / Price and Lester
2006 Fleer Danny Sandoval #264
2006 Fleer Craig Hansen #304

2016 Bowman Albert Pujols oversize card

I was able to pick up four different 25h anniversary Arizona Fall League 5x7 cards at a couple of AFL games I attended - the cards were handed out in pairs, with an Andrew McCutchen card to go with the Pujols.

The other cards I got were of Matt Holliday and Adam Wainwright - these cards resemble the 2016 Bowman design but with the AFL's league 25th anniversary logo added in front.

The card backs identify the players' fall league teams as well as a AFL team logo added - there is a write-up of the players' career highlights with a line featuring their fall league stats.

Fairfield 250 card cube recap Part 1

When I can't get to a card shop and have no other means to secure random cards to go through, I grab one of these $10 cubes - I figure I might have fun sifting through the junk wax cards to find at least a few cards for my mini-collections.

2013 Topps Series II
#410 Roy Halladay
#624 Justin Ruggiano

#651 Gregor Blanco

#649 Ryan Hanigan
#487 Hanley Ramirez
#458 Jake Peavy - Gold parallel serial #'d 0795/2013
#CH-68 John Smoltz - Chasing History insert
#2013 MLB Chipz / Big League Minis info card
#481 Justin Wilson
#411 Jesus Guzman
#615 Mark Ellis

#385 Brandon Belt
#462 Eduardo Nunez
Security card

2013 Topps Allen and Ginter
#147 Ian Desmond
#63 Jose Bautista
#37 Nelson Cruz
#153 Alex Cobb
#IM-BS Baruch Spinoza - Inquiring Minds mini
#ATY-RJ Reggie Jackson - Across the Years insert

2002 Donruss Originals Pedro Martinez #48
2011 Topps Mike Cameron #357
2011 Topps Hideki Okajima #423
2011 Topps Dan Johnson #585
2011 Topps J.J. Putz #601

2011 Topps Nyjer Morgan #573
2011 Topps Barry Enright #386
2011 Topps Rich Harden #535
2011 Topps Luke Gregerson #561
2011 Topps Franklin Gutierrez #477
1994 Pinnacle Lonnie Maclin #407
1989 Score Shawn Hillegas #488
1993 Pinnacle Scott Leius #192
1991 Fleer Ultra Hal Morris #98
1992 Topps Skeeter Barnes #221
1988 Donruss Jeff Russell #531
1990 Topps Jim Presley #346
1990 Score Andy Allanson #452
1988 Topps Lonnie Smith #777
1987 Topps Pat Sheridan #234
1989 Fleer Steve Farr #281
1995 Topps Eric Karros #487
1991 Fleer Andy Benes #524
1989 Donruss Darren Daulton #549
1989 Topps Rob Dibble #264
1991 Donruss Hensley Muelens #31
1992 Topps Bernie Williams #374
1986 Topps Luis Aguayo #69
1988 Score Jose Lind #597
1992 Topps Pat Combs #456
1990 Topps Wally Joyner #525
1987 Topps Chuck Cary #171
1991 Topps Art Howe #51
1992 Donruss Scott Erickson #463
1991 Donruss Chuck Finley #692
1990 Topps Jose Canseco #250
1989 Topps Andres Galarraga #386
1988 Donruss Tom Pagnozzi #577
1993 Topps Kirk McCaskill #175

1996 Score Charlie Hayes #307
1991 Score George Bell #195
1988 Topps Ken Oberkfell #67
1990 Topps R.J. Reynolds #592
2006 Topps Terry Francona #595
1990 Bowman Mickey Pina #270
1990 Classic Gregg Olson #3
1991 Score Rookie/Traded Scott Sanderson #78T
1989 Fleer Keith Brown #154
1989 Topps Glossy All-Stars Bobby Doerr #11 of 22
2002 Fleer Triple Crown Hideo Nomo #240
2011 Topps Jeff Baker #502
2011 Topps Alexei Ramirez #261
2011 Topps Paul Janish #358
2011 Topps Jason Donald #526
2011 Topps Derek Lowe #19
2011 Topps Aaron Hill #197
2011 Topps Jamie Moyer #232
2011 Topps Ben Francisco #379
2008 Topps Mike Quade #34
1991 Topps Mark Williamson #296
1992 Pinnacle Bill Landrum #116
1992 Donruss Walt Weiss #71
1988 Topps Mike Morgan #32
1986 Fleer Vern Ruhle #593
1991 Fleer checklist #718
1990 Topps Jeff Ballard #394
1994 Fleer Ultra Damon Buford #303
1994 Pinnacle Brad Ausmus #106
1987 Topps Tom Nieto #416
1990 Donruss Dennis Rasmussen #420
1992 Topps Darrin Jackson #88
1997 Donruss Desi Relaford #397
1988 Topps Andre Dawson #500
1991 Donruss Jeff Robinson #291
1989 Fleer Ray Hayward #521
1989 Topps Mike Harkey #742

1992 Wild Card Barry Sanders #P7 - promo; it's a football card lurking in a baseball repack, but this might have actually been a 'hot card' when it first came out since collectors were crazy for promos back in the early 1990's.
1989 Donruss Brett Butler #217
1989 Donruss Gerald Perry #BC-24 - MVP insert
1989 Score Barry Lyons #456
1986 Fleer Joe Beckwith #2
1990 Topps Andre Dawson #140
1988 Donruss Chili Davis #313
1988 Donruss Bill Almon #487
1995 Pinnacle Jose Valentin #75
1988 Fleer Mario Diaz / Clay Parker #649
1988 Topps Steve Balboni #638
1997 Pacific Crown Collection Jeff Kent #72
1988 Topps Mike Heath #237

1990 Topps Tom Niedenfuer #306

1994 Score Brian McCrae #19 - while the background is blurred out, it looks like Hall of Famer George Brett lurks on the on-deck circle.
1987 Donruss Floyd Youmans #257
1990 Fleer Greg Hibbard #534
1987 Donruss Dale Murphy #3
1993 Score Charlie Hough #223 - as long as he is still kicking, having his cards are probably handy since he lives in So. Cal and occasionally helps out with the Los Angeles Dodgers California League team.
1988 Donruss Mark Clear #372
1990 Fleer Denny Walling #263
1994 Score Julio Valera #223
1988 Donruss Brian Downing #258
1989 Topps Glossy All-Stars Gary Carter #20 of 22
1989 Topps Bazooka Gary Sheffield #19 of 22
2000 Fleer Ultra Ray Durham #46
2003 Upper Deck SP Authentic Ryan Klesko #76
2001 Bowman Andy Van Hekken #283
2002 Bowman Draft Scott Hairston #BDP 116

2002 Donruss Studio Stars Jeff Bagwell #SS-50
2001 Fleer Tradition Damion Easley #261
2002 Bowman Chrome Alexis Gomez #139
2002 Fleer Fall Classic Rollie Fingers #18
1990 Topps checklist #262
1988 Donruss Steve Kiefer #542
1989 Score Dave Henderson #533
1990 Score Mike Munoz #653
1992 Topps Stadium Club Rick Reed #434
1989 Topps Traded Lonnie Smith #114T
1985 Topps Don Aase #86
1992 Score David Howard #704

1984 Donruss Andy McGaffigan #309
1989 Fleer Julio Franco #404
1990 Upper Deck Tom Candiotti #388
1990 Topps Gary Pettis #71
2007 Upper Deck Matt Cain #438
1992 Score Keith Mitchell #748
1991 Topps Bob Patterson #479
1989 Topps B.J. Surhoff #33
1988 Score Andre Thornton #231
1990 Fleer Andy Van Slyke #481

1986 Topps Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Fernando Valenzuela #17 - I did a random search for his cards several days ago and it's a nice coincidence I get one of his cards that I'd probably put on my collecting topics wantlist, since I assume he is doing something 'hittery,' wearing a batting helmet.

2000 Upper Deck Dean Palmer #385 - it's not the greatest action shot, but I like how Palmer is captured giving the full effort in throwing the ball.