Repack But 20 Cards Lesser

Happy Holidays! Hope everyone had a good one so far. Went to Walgreens for few items including Fairfield baseball repack. I noticed a change on it. Originally Fairfield repacks were this:

 

You used to get 100 random cards. Now the repacks are this:

Now with 20 fewer cards than previously. At least it still came with a pack of cards. I got the following cards:

1986 Topps: Larry McWilliams
1986 Donruss: Bruce Benedict
1987 Fleer: Greg Gagne
1987 Donruss: Ozzie Virgil, Jim Deshaies
1987 Topps: Andy Van Slyke, Chuck Tanner, Aurelio Lopez

1988 Donruss: Willie Randolph, Milt Thompson, Ron Hassey

1988 Fleer Update: Gary Pettis, Sil Campusano, Roger Samuels

1988 Topps: Ed Hearn, Thad Bosley, Jose Uribe, Ed Whitson

1988 Score: Ruben Sierra

1989 Topps: Gerald Perry, Hal Lanier, Jim Sundberg, Orel Hershiser (All-Star), Don Robinson, Steve Rosenberg, Norm Charlton

1989 Donruss: Jeff Robinson (Diamond Kings), Ed Whitson, Vance Law, Oddibe McDowell

1989 Fleer: Gene Nelson, Jose DeLeon, Lenny Harris/Marty Brown

1990 Topps: Bryan Harvey, Brian Downing, John Moses

1990 Bowman: Will Clark

1990 Fleer: Steve Balboni

1990 Donruss: Jeff Innis, Lloyd Moseby, Pete Harnish

1990 Upper Deck: Cecil Fielder, Steve Lyons

1991 Donruss: Chuck McElroy, Will Clark

1991 Fleer: Glenallen Hill

1991 Topps: Herm Winningham, Tim Wallach, Alex Fernandez, Vicente Palacios

1991 Score: Scott Terry

1991 Upper Deck: Mike Heath, Bret Barberie

1992 Donruss: Alvaro Espinoza, Derek Bell

1992 Fleer: John Cerutti, Walt Terrell, Kim Batiste, Jarvis Brown

1992 Score: Tom Goodwin

1993 Ted Williams: Bobby Brown

1993 Studio: Dave Hollins

1993 Pinnacle: Sandy Alomar, Jr.

1993 Topps: Mike Stanton

1993 Donruss: Andy Benes

1994 Score: Ken Ryan

1994 Donruss: Andres Galaraga, Bob Hamelin

1995 Leaf: Hal Morris

2000 Upper Deck: Jacque Jones, Juan Pena, Carl Everett, Sammy Sosa

2004 Topps: Zach Duke

2006 Topps: Matt Clement

2012 Topps Heritage: David Robertson

2017 Panini Chronicles: Gary Sanchez

2018 Topps: Josh Tomlin, Cheslor Cuthbert, Brandon Drury

As for the pack it was 1989 Donruss. Could be something such as Ken Griffey, Jr. or Gary Sheffield rookie.

Get the following: Puzzle 34-36, Dave West, Jeff Russell, Pat Perry, Sherman Corbett, Pedro Guerrero, Jerry Reuss, Dave Meads, Bob Dernier, Herm Winningham, Jeff Montgomery, Dickie Thon, Walt Weiss, Glenn Wilson, Rex Hudler, Bob Brenly, Bruce Sutter

As usual most of it from junk wax era. Now Fairfield repacks downsize from 100 to 80 cards.

Minor League Baseball Reorganization Big Losers (as of this moment)

It's been a month and the long rumor minor league baseball reorganization have gone underway. Ever since MLB/MiLB agreement ended all current affiliations were voided. Most of MLB teams looking ways to cut costs decided to have their minor league affiliate clubs close to their stadium especially Triple-A level. During that time some teams have upgraded their status, changed affiliation, realigned, or "re-purposed" into current or new leagues. There were few teams that have hit the lottery like St. Paul Saints and Sugar Land Skeeters. Then there were few teams having deal with bad set circumstances involving affiliation loses and demotions. Here are four teams that have took the reorganization hard.

Trenton Thunder - they were first two minor league teams taking a huge hit in the reorganization. Originally they were Yankees Double-A affiliate since 2002. After the season ended Yankees cut their affiliation ties with the team and chose Somerset Patriots, formerly of Atlantic League, as their Double-A affiliate. The move left Thunder ownership steaming. Some consolation for Thunder as they recently became part of MLB draft league. A downgrade for them. Another team not so lucky.

Staten Island Yankees - another team left out in the cold by Yankees, but it was a year in the making. This team were doomed once contraction news first hit and most of New York-Penn League was on the list. MLB wanted NYPL to become summer-collegiate league that have met with resistance from team owners within the league. Yankees, like they did with Trenton Thunder, cut affiliation ties with the team leaving them shocked. This one didn't have happy ending. Staten Island team decide to close up shop AND sue the Yankees and MLB. Sad way to end.

Wichita Wind Surge - one of the teams hit big in reorganization based on unfortunate circumstances. Wichita had finish building a new stadium for Triple-A baseball and lured former New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins affiliate) to relocate. Then pandemic hits and end up cancelling the season before a single Triple-A game played at the new stadium. In the reorganization Minnesota Twins scooped them up as their farm team along the now former American Association team St. Paul Saints. Saints end up being big winners in this going from independent to Triple-A baseball. Meanwhile, Wind Surge demoted down to Double-A, most likely, playing in the league they familiar with the Texas League. (Note: Wichita Wranglers played in TL from 1987-2007 before relocating and becoming Northwest Arkansas Naturals). In summary, city of Wichita hiked taxes to get a new stadium to be built for Triple A team, got a club to relocated, but covid cancelled the season as well MLB/MiLB agreement ending voiding all affiliations. They got a new affiliate club, but end up being demoted a level down away from the original plan. It was horrible whirlwind of circumstances that turn a field of dreams into a nightmare.

Fresno Grizzlies - how bad the reorganization hurts this team? Fresno wanted to remain in Triple-A, but they became a team no MLB teams want Triple-A affiliate with. It goes back when Giants ditched them for Sacramento after 2014 season. They ended up being Astros affiliate from 2014-2018 mainly it was the only Triple-A team available after the rest been scooped up. Their final affiliate? Washington Nationals. Yikes! Imagine being a player having fly through 3 time zones when getting called up or sent down. With no MLB team showing any interest as Triple-A affilaite what does MLB want to do with them? Demote them to Low-A ball and being affiliated with Colorado Rockies. A big time demotion that city of Fresno is fighting against, but time is running out as MLB awaits their decision. It's a no-win situation for them.

Thank You Undertaker

Last night on the day he made his WWF debut 30 years ago Undertaker officially call it a career. This fan been with him in his entire WWF/WWE run. I got emotional watching celebration of his career. From the final walk to the ring with his trademark pyrotechnics and setup, the final speech, his trademark pose with a hologram of the late Paul Bearer (great tear-jerking excellent touch!) to the final walk up the ramp. I wish this was done in front of a crowd, but covid put every crowd holding plans on hold. I want to say thank you Undertaker. He is part of my growing up days from a kid to adulthood. You deserve a long rest and into the darkness. This fan will forever miss you in the ring.

I want you check out his interviews with Steve Austin on Broken Skull Sessions and docuseries Last Ride. It's a great rare in-depth look of his career and his tough final years in the ring. Also check out Meeting the Undertaker as wrestlers and personnel give details when did they first met him in the wrestling business. Another documentary to check out called The Mortician: The Story of Paul Bearer on his former late manager who been with him month after he debut and became vital part of Undertaker storyline throughout the years as well Brothers of Destruction as Undertaker and Kane spoke on infamous wrestling storyline. All of these shows are on WWE Network.

Way a Go Auto Collectors

Last month I mention about how greedy autograph collectors will cause athletes to stop signing through mail for free. Guess what? The collectors have broke Jim Kaat. After finding his stuff being bragged about on social media and sold online he decide to stop accepting all mail. The only time he will sign is through private signings or appearance. Congratulations greedy jackasses for ruining things as usual

Thank you Baby D

The end of MPX Wrestling show on a Saturday night of November 7, 2020 in Bedford, TX marked the coming end. It was coming end of in-ring career of Baby D with her final match scheduled on December 11 at Mission Pro Wrestling show in Buda, TX. After getting pinned in a match stipulation she must leave the fed she gave a heartfelt speech it was her last match in MPX thanking the fans for the support throughout the years. It marks the end of her six year journey up and down the roads of independent wrestling scene.

The first time I seen wrestle in-person was in June 2015 at Anarchy Championship Wrestling Queen of Queens event, at first, under the name Baby Dumplings. She would shorten it to Baby D and within those five years she became one of premier woman wrestler in Texas. Whether in MPX, Sabotage, Branded Outlaw Wrestling, or various feds she poured her heart and effort with a charismatic charm in the ring. She was fun and entertaining in the ring from singles to tag team as either with Phoebe as Fun N Sexy or Steven Kirby as Punch Drunk Love winning titles along the way. Outside the ring she have a pure heart of gold taking time with fans like me. She's willing lend a hand to fellow wrestlers. She will always be a champion to me. Thank you Baby D! You will be missed in the ring. Wish you well outside of it.

Here are few Baby D matches to check out. If you want watch more of MPX wrestling check them out on their streaming network site at https://network.mpxwrestling.com/

Loaded Hockey Box from Cardsone

I been sitting on this box since I got it in June. I ended up being too busy and barely got the time go into full detail til now. Middle of the year I was going through one of my boxes and found Dollar Tree packs from a company called Cardsone. I notice they have a website so I checked them out and, lo and behold, they are still around. They are selling packs Dollar Tree used to sell to boxes and lots from various sports to comic books and supplies. I decide to order from them including a loaded hockey card box. There was few problems as few of the items I ordered were out of stock. Even though I wasn't charged for out of stock items I wish they updated their site daily to not include them. On to the loaded hockey card box it contains 100 cards, 10 packs, and 10 cards from 1970-1979.

The packs I received in the box are 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Bowman, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score, 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum, 1991-92 Pro Set french edition, 1992-93 Pro Set, 1993-94 Topps Premier, 2003-04 In the Game Toronto Star, and 2006-07 Victory. You can find most of my card pulls on A Pack to be Named Later with links to it. I counted the cards and I end up with total of 125 cards. Looks like I got extra loaded box. Some of the cards have dinged corners or scuffed up. For the 10 vintage cards I got the following:

1972-73 Topps: Serge Bernier and Bob Baun

1975-76 Topps: Tom Williams, Phil Russell, Ross Lonsberry, Gary Dornhoefer. Not bad on Williams who was part of 1960 US hockey team that won the last gold for US before Miracle on Ice.

1976-77 Topps: Bill Clement, Curt Ridley (X2). I got two of Ridley's card. A good pull as in Clement who was two-time All-Star. Known to hockey card collectors for the infamous horrible Capitals airbrush on 1975-76 card.

1978-79 Topps: Ron Sedlbauer

Things with those cards they are in excellent to near-mint condition which pretty good consider that era of cards. These are 115 modern day era cards I got from the box. Instead posting everything I going to post examples of what I received.

89-90 O-Pee-Chee: Tony Hrkac, Gary Suter, Peter Stastny, Brian Bellows, Aaron Broten, Bob Brooke. Box starts with cards from solid OPC set.

1990-91 Pro Set: Doug Bodger, Dave Taylor, Trevor Linden, Bob McCammon.

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee: Neal Broten

1990-91 Topps: Paul Reinhart. Same design as OPC but Topps had fewer cards than OPC.

1990-91 Upper Deck: Wayne Gretzky hologram sticker, Joe Murphy, Greg Adams, Mats Sundin. Gretzky hologram would have sold alot back in the day. It's Mats first year card who was chosen first overall in 1989 draft.

1990-91 Score: Jyrki Lumme. Troy Loney, Mats Sundin

1991-92 Classic : Marcel Cousineau. Only played 26 games in four seasons.

1991-92 O-Pee-Chee: Allen Pedersen, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, David Reid

1991-92 Score: Brian Benning, Peter Bondra

1991-92 Pro Set: Bob Sweeney, Jeremy Roenick, Russ Courtnall, Brian Skrudland, Denis Savard, Vincent Damphousse, Theo Fleury (All-Star), Dave Gagner (All-Star). Ace Bailey Benefit Game, Sylvain Turgeon. 10 cards from this set. Gagner card was heavily dinged up on the corner and the card.

 

1991-92 Pro Set Platiunm: Craig Billington, James Belushi. According to Jim he's a Blackhawks fan

1991-92 Upper Deck: Markus Ketterer, Benoit Hogue, Ken Baumgartner. Ketterer had two season stint in North America playing AHL before returning back Sweden. Good shot Hogue's card as his jersey getting pulled on

1991-92 Pinnacle: Kevin Todd. French edition of the card.

1992-93 Classic Prospects: Dallas Drake, Todd Nelson, Terry Chitaroni

1992-93 Classic Draft Picks: Sergei Klimovich (X3), Denny Felsner. I got three of Klimovich cards in this box. Felsner trying emulate Bobby Orr

1992-93 O-Pee-Chee Premier: Toronto Maple Leafs

1992-93 Topps Stadium: Checklist

1992-93 Upper Deck: Darryl Sydor, Chris Lindberg, Kelly Buchberger, Joe Mullen, Patrick Roy, Neal Broten, Derian Hatcher, World Championship checklist, Joe Juneau (X2), Dean McAmmond, Tommy Sjodin. Dozen cards from this set including two of Joe Juneau. Roy can sure leap high.

1993-94 Classic Prospects: Jason Arnott, Alexandre Daigle, Chris Gratton, Jim Montgomery, Derek Plante (X2), John LeClair, Colin Chin, Jason Smith (X2), Tyler Wright, Yan Kaminsky, Ed Jovanovski, Brett Lindros, David Cooper, Cammi Granato, Erin Witten (X3), Manon Rheaume. This is equivalent of 1990-91 Bowman hockey in Fairfield hockey repack. Got 20 cards from this set counting the repeats. Manon card would fetch big money for a while. Cammi Granato cards would go up for a while after US woman hockey won the gold medal in 98 Winter Olympics. Classic would re-use Arnott photo for their Four-Sports set

1993-94 Classic Four-Sports: Grant Marshall. This set consist of prospects from baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Marshall would go on having a 11 year career

1993-94 Parkhurst: Brent Fedyk

1993-94 Fleer Ultra: Stephane Richer, Patrik Carnback, Dean Evason (X5), Petr Klima, Darren Puppa. Yes I got five cards of Evason.I got a TTM on him back in 2014.

1993-94 Pinnacle: Greg Johnson

 

1993-94 Score: Pavol Demitra

 

1994-95 Classic Hockey: Andria Hunter (insert), Ryan Smyth (X2), Clayton Beddes, David Vyborny. Another repeat card as in Ryan Smyth

1994-95 Score: Gaetan Duchesne

1994-95 Parkhurst: Randy Wood

1994-95 Pinnacle: Cam Neely

1994-95 Topps Premier: Steve Konowalchuk, Sergei Nemchinov

1995-96 Collector's Edge: Jamie Allison. I never heard of this set before. First card I got off them and I bought lots of Fairfield hockey repacks when it was available

1995-96 Upper Deck Swedish Elite: Mattias Ohlund (X3), Ulf Sandstrom (X2), Peter Eriksson, Per-Erik Eklund. Now cards I really never seen before and first time getting my hands on it. Upper Deck goes to Europe with release of Swedish Elite League cards. I got repeats on Ohlund and Sandstrom. All three cards were set inserts. Ohlund had 13 year career in NHL. Sandstrom never made the trek across the pond. Eriksson played for 89-90 Oilers in his only NHL season. Eklund is a base card. His only trip to North America is 97-98 season playing in the AHL. One of opposing teams is sponsored by McDonalds.

1995-96 Upper Deck Be a Player: Petr Nedved. Another set I never seen before. Licensed by NHLPA but not the NHL. The logos are airbrushed off.

1996-97 Donruss: Todd Marchant

This was fun box go through but is it worth $20 price? As long you in it for fun and not attempt to flip for a profit. Outside the vintage cards most of the cards and packs going around the junk wax era. No a single card from 2000 and only two packs are from 2000. I got 24 repeats out of 125 cards sent to me. I wonder how they randomly stuck cards in their loaded box. Several things on Cardsone. Company isn't up to date on their stock which is frustrating when you make a purchase only get an e-mail do they not have it. There been complaints for the lack of service as they been hard to reach. There is their website now. They updated from the last time I visited and its a giant mess to navigate through. Pretty much order at your own risk.