Joy of a Completed Set - 2010 Obak

 I found the last card I needed to complete 2010 Obak as BIN on Ebay.

It was about $5 delivered, which seems high, but it was a short print.

And the last card I needed to complete the set.

It isn't a master set as I didn't even try to get all the variations. I did get all the variations that were based on a different picture on the front. But couldn't be bothered with the back-only variations.

At some point, I may chase the box topper cabinet cards, but they come up so rarely and at such a price ($10-$15 each, if memory serves) that I may just let them go.

Obak was a fun set to build and I will probably keep an eye on finishing 2009 and 2011 in the next year.

True fact:  Joe Tinker only played two games at Wrigley Field in his career. The Cubs started playing at Wrigley in 1916, the last year of Tinker's career.

Favorite Cards of 2012 #4 - OBAK!

Here is another of the few modern cards that made my 2012 favorite cards countdown.

One of the low lights of my year was the discovery that Tristar was not going to issue an OBAK set for 2012. It's run ended after three years.  It was a fun set who's subjects always connected back to baseball even if they weren't even directly employed in the game. I pulled a lot of fun cards out of the several boxes of Obak I opened, but I suppose this 2010 Andre Dawson autographed card is the best of the bunch.

Big COMC Mail Call - and a Finished Set

Last week, I spent a little time (and money) at COMC.  My goal was two fold: finish my 1976 set and cheaply make progress on a couple others. 

I got two 2010 Obak Short Prints , including the one above, which is sort of a reprint of a real 1911 Obak Buck Weaver.  This card is standard size for a modern card, while the original is a mini.  But, I suspect this is as close as I will get to owning one, since a 1911 original in rough shape sold for $650 on EBay recently.  This gets me down to needing only six more to complete the set. Sure, I still need 28 out of 30 of the T4 cabinet cards, but they don't seem to come available all that often and usually are being offered for $4 or more each.  So, when I finish the base set, I am going to call it done.

 I picked up 24 cards towards my 2011 Topps Heritage (both MLB and MiLB) set.  All of the other cards I needed to complete the MLB set were available, but the asking price was too high.  But, I was quite happy knocking off a huge chunk of my needs with this order. I am now down to needing 19 cards to complete the MLB set (all SP or inserts) and 29 cards (all SPs) to complete the Minor League run.

I didn't realize it at the time, but one of the cards I ordered was the Tyler Matzek above. I actually got an auto card of his in one of the Obak boxes I have busted. I am hoping he pans out. He had a rough year last year, but seems to be doing real well in high A this year with Modesto.

And finally, the last 11 cards I needed to complete my 1976 Topps set. I probably overpaid on a few of the 76s, but I just wanted to finish the set so I can focus my vintage efforts on 1971 for the next few months.  And, yes, as a set collector, I do want the checklists.  I think my favorite of the lot is the Guidry rookie card, although there is some weird satisfaction with getting clean checklists. I can't explain it, I just like them.

So, that is about it. Not sure I will have much to say over the next week.  I'll be staying on top of any trades that are in the works, but will mainly be biding my time until next weekend, which is the bi-monthly card show up in OKC. 

Trade with Baseball Dad

Today was another good day. Two packages arrived in the mail. One was a trade package from Baseball Dad and the other was from an EBay purchase. Now, the EBay purchase may be raising a few eyebrows since I said I wasn't spending any money on cards until I was back working. But, technically, I didn't spend any money, so it is all good. But, I'll explain that in another post.

Baseball Dad and I completed another trade recently. Since we are probably two of the few bloggers who are working on 2010 Tristar OBAK, so we swapped a few cards.


Self-explanatory. Frederick Thayer invented the catchers mask in 1877 and, at least according to the card back, James Tyng was the first to wear it. However, when you look up James Tyng on Baseball-Reference he is shown as a pitcher.


Caleb Bradham, founder of Pepsi-Cola.



T212 mini of Connie Mack, Tactician. Whenever I see this card, I always think of the following scene from one of the more underrated Coen Brothers movies, Intolerable Cruelty.

Jack also set three 2011 Heritage cards off my want list.





What is significant here is that all three are short prints. So, once again, I am overwhelmed by card blogger's generosity. When I get back going to card shows, I am going to need to keep an eye out for something nice for everyone's favorite Baseball Dad.

Thanks, Jack.

OBAK - Packs 17 to 20

And we are now at the last set of four packs in the box.

Pack 17

7 - Desmond Jennings
9 - Tyler Matzek
38 - Eddie Plank T212 Mini
74 - Rube Foster



Founder of the Chicago American Giants and the Negro National League.

83 - Fredrick Miller
97 - Alex Liddi and Lou Polli



Lou Polli, born in Baven, Italy, was mostly a career minor leaguer, with 21 years of service, but also appeared in a total of 24 major league games spread over two seasons (1932 and 1944). Alex Liddi, born in San Remo, is still a youngster of 22. He made 44 plate appearances last year for the Seattle Mariners, hitting only .225, but slugging .525. Should be one to watch.


Pack 18
3 - Starlin Castro T212 Mini
17 - Roger Clemens
20 - Dale Murphy
32 - Bob Horner


40 - Johnny Bench


109 - Sherry Magie



With the exception of my 1974 set, I have mainly swore off variation cards. This one, however, I did not. In the original T212 OBAK set, there was an error card with Sherry Magee's last name spelled as Magie, as seen here. Tristar repeated the same variation in this set. I have both (see below for the other version) and will keep them. All other variations in this set, I am not going to bother with.

Pack 19
5 - Kyle Drabek
8 - Jason Kipnis


Jason made his MLB debut last year with the Indians, hitting .272 and slugging .507 across 150 plate appearances.

39 - Todd McFarlane T212 Mini
104 - Kyle Rote, Sr.
107 - Col. John Stevens III


A22 - Jeff Kobernus Auto (032/125)


This guy is still in the prospect phase of his career, competing in the A+ Carolina League last year. From his minor league stats, he appears to have a decent batting average, little power but speed on the base paths. His relative number of strikeouts and walks, though, indicate he needs to work on his plate discipline, though, before he moves too much further up the chain.

On a separate note, this was my fifth autograph in the box.

Pack 20
16 - Donavan Tate
28 - Fred Toney
38 - Eddie Plank T212 Mini Black Back (45/50)
44 - Jason Heyward
94 - John Montgomery Ward
109 - Sherry Magee


The other Magee variant.

So, we are at the end of the line of this box of 2010 Tristar OBAK. I can't lay my hands on my tally sheet of how I did against the promised hits. I do recall that I only got 1 of the 3 promised short prints, but got 5 autos instead of the promised 4. If memory serves, I also got an extra serial numbered parallel, but I am not going to bother going back to re-tally. Overall, I like this set and will definitely buy another box in the future, in the hopes of finishing the base set.

OBAK - Packs 13 to 16

Pack 13
11 - Dale Murphy T212 Mini
19 - Hank Greenberg
25 - Paul Hines


Hines apparently was a (or the) player in 13 baseball firsts, including the first unassisted triple play (he was on defense), first at bat in a World Series, and the first player to ever wear sunglasses.

31 - David Clyde
47 - Ken Landreaux
70 - George Eastman Red Back (3/5)


I complained earlier that the serial numbered parallels were only differentiated from the base cards, by the color of the ink used on the back. It took me until now (pack 13!) to realize that the color of the logo and title on the front are also different. Not sure it changes my underlying point, but I do need to correct the record.

Pack 14
17 - Jose Canseco T212 Mini
29 - Ron Blomberg


First person ever to go to bat as a designated hitter.

43 - Ben Grieve
51 - Mel Stottlemyre
62 - Daniel Lucius "Doc" Adams
A81 - Charlie Ward Auto (098/125)


Charlie Ward is included because of his multi-sport credentials. He won the Heisman Award, was drafted by MLB, but ended up playing in the NBA. This is the fourth of the promised 4 autographs. I guess I am done for this box.

Pack 15
13 - Tony Sanchez


41 - Jason Heyward and Austin Jackson T212 Mini
94 - John Montgomery Ward
106 - Hulk Hogan
109 - Sherry Magee
112 - Johnny Evers Short Print



My first of three promised short prints. It is a variation of the Tinkers-Ever-Chance card shown earlier. Interestingly, as Charlie from Lifetimetopps points out, Wrigley Field didn't open until after Evers tenure with the Cubbies ended.

Pack 16
3 - Starlin Castro T212 Mini
3 - Chris Carter
11 - Jared Mitchell
15 - Drew Storen
23 - Lawrence "Crash" Davis


The real Crash Davis.

35 - Jay Clarke


Part of the Minor Leagues Best series. I just like the background image.

OBAK - Packs 9 to 12

After three autos in the last batch of packs, it is only to be expected that this group will be a bit less exciting. Sure enough, it was a bit of a snoozer. I am not even sure I can muster a lot of commentary either. I'll try, but don't expect much.

Pack 9

6 - Austin Jackson
24 - Ray Chapman T212 Mini


To this day, the only player killed due to a game related event.

21 - Cal Ripken, Jr.
33 - Ben McDonald
39 - Don Baylor


This card is part of the MiLB Player of the Year subset. Baylor earned that honor while playing for the Rochester Red Wings in 1970.

105 - Charlie Ward

Pack 10

1 - Dustin Ackley
9 - Roger Clemens T212 Mini
18 - Andre Dawson


The Hawk.

30 - Jeff Borroughs
50 - Sebastian "Sibby" Sisti


Sibby looks like he is doing his Icarus impression on this card.

84 - John Pemberton

Pack 11

4 - Starlin Castron
18 - Jason Heyward T212 Mini
75 - Bernice Gera



84 - John Pemberton
103 - Francis Ouimet



This is part of the Muli-Sport subset, although it is a bit of a stretch. Francis Oiumet was strictly an amateur golfer, but funded his playing by working at a sporting goods store owned by baseball HOFer George Wright.

106 - Hulk Hogan

Pack 12

24 - Jack Dunn
29 - Bernice Gera T212 Mini
36 - Smead Jolley


Part of the Minor Leagues Best subset. Jolley had a short (3 years), but successful major league career. He is more known for his time in the Pacific Coast League, back when it was considered the West Coast near-equivalent of MLB. He was a lifetime .367 hitter in the minors, with .372 at the AA level (which was the highest level at the time.)

72 - Al Munro Elias
81 - Connie Mack



I'm sorry, but whenever I see the word "tactician" I always think of this scene from one of the Coen Brothers more underrated films, Intolerable Cruelty (starts at around 0:36):



92 - Charles Tiffany

On a unrelated note, does anyone have a child that collects foreign coins? While sorting through a lot of boxes I had stored in my barn, I came across a bunch of coins that my father gave me when he was travelling for work back in the 1970s. I have coins from France, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Mexico, Australia, and Singapore. If I can find them, I'll even through in some modern coins from Mexico and the EU. They are all circulated, so they won't have any value and I really don't have much use for them, so I'd like to get them into the hands of someone who collects coins. Let me know.

2010 OBAK - Packs 5 to 8

Well, this set of packs was chock full of big hits. Let's not waste any time looking.

Pack 5

27 - Denny Mclain
28 - Rube Foster T212 Mini
37 - Joe Riggert
45 - Frank Howard
70 - George Eastman


Having grown up in a Kodak family and being an amateur photographer, this card is one of my favorite base cards. It is a shame that Kodak has fallen on hard times, but I am hoping they come out of bankruptcy a leaner and more successful company.

A80 - Wayne Terwilliger Auto (037/125)


Here is my first autograph card. It is a sticker auto, which I don't mind since it is still a sharp looking card. Ignore the shmutz on the bottom of the left border. My scanner really needs a good cleaning.

Pack 6
37 - Sherry Magee T212 Mini
90 - Ernest Thayer
96 - Louis Sockalexis
101 - Howard "Hopalong" Cassady


Cassady, the 1955 Heisman Award winner played 9 years in the NFL. He never played professional baseball but, as a friend of George Steinbrenner, he was a scout and minor league coach in the Yankees organization.

102 - Dave Debusschere
A33 - Carlos Santana Red Back Auto (2/5)


This is where Baseball Dad is possibly drooling. An extremely rare (number 2 of only 5 printed) Carlos Santana autograph. Actually, here is my one complaint about this set. The difference between the base cards and the various levels of serial numbered parallels and auto cards is the color of ink on the back and maybe the original OBAK tobacco slogan that is printed in large letters across the card back. That is it. It is a minor complaint, though.

Pack 7
35 - Charlie Ward T212 Mini
54 - Lou Bierbauer
65 - Morgan Bulkeley
86 - John Sherman
99 - Jason Heyward and Austin Jackson



Not much to say here. Austin Jackson was a highly touted Yankees prospect until he was traded, along with Phil Coke, to the Tigers for Curtis Granderson. I think the Yankees got the better part of that deal. Both Jackson and Granderson strike out a lot, but Austin doesn't compensate for that with any real power.

108 - Tinker, Evers, & Chance



Definitely nothing to add here. This is one of my favorite cards. I like how they superimposed the players pictures over the Wrigley field sign. Sometimes in this set, the choice of background image defies explanation. This one does not. Perfect.

Pack 8
41 - Jose Canseco
52 - Jim Abbott
58 - Walter "Wally" Pipp
63 - Eberhard Anheuser
69 - Jim Creighton



The card back reads:

Jim is cosidered the first professional ball player and superstar. He is said to have thrown the 1st fastball and completed the first triple play. In 1862, at the age of 21, it is believed that he was not put out at bat during the entire season. Sadly that season, from an unknown cause, he suddenly passed away.

MA9 - Ben McDonald T212 Mini Auto (07/10)



The third auto card in this group of 4 packs. I am only guaranteed 3, so the rest of this may end up being boring. We'll just have to see.