Collecting the Sox: Bobbleheads - Jedi Mookie

If you're following me on Instagram (and really why aren't you?) you know I've been showing off my bobblehead collection periodically one by one. I realized that I should be doing that here as well so everyone can see them. So, let's continue the "Collecting the Sox" series to show some of the things a Red Sox fan might collect.

Like this one...

This is, of course, a bobblehead from Star Wars night in 2017. Recently, the Sox have been on a bit of a jersey kick when it comes to Star Wars. But, I definitely mis the bobbleheads.

Admittedly, there's nothing super creative about this offering. Just Mookie in jedi robes using a lightsaber as a bat. (I fell like that wouldn't work very well.) But, as a Sox collector who is also a Star Wars fan, this fits into the collection very nicely.

What do you think of it?

2020 Topps Chrome Update Blaster!

Here's Another box that I picked up at some point when I found them. I know you're probably sick of the 2020 stuff, now that the 2022s are practically ready for release. But, I think it's always fun to look and talk about cards. I hope you feel the same way.

Let's check it out!

In case you've forgotten what a box of these looks like. 

And what the packs look like. I'm always surprised that there are only four cards in each pack. Trying to decide if I'd rather pay twice as much for twice the cards. How about you?

That's a great bat, don't you think? If I had pulled this in 2020, pretty sure it would have been a bit of a downer. A reminder that Mookie Betts was having an MVP type year in LA and Verdugo was here in Boston. Now? Mookie was much more pedestrian out west, and Verdugo was a key player on the Sox ALCS team. The trade is looked at quite a bit differently now. So, I can appreciate the artistry in this card a lot more than I would have otherwise.

But, that was the only Sox card in the box. The Sox may have won the Mookie trade, but I did not "win" this box.

How about your boxes?

Homegrown by Alex Speier

The tagline for this book says it's "How the Red Sox built a champion from the ground up"

That couldn't be more accurate. This book follows the Red Sox behind the scenes starting with the 2011 draft. It follows the players drafted then, and acquired elsewhere along the way to the 2018 World Series Championship. Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and Jackie Bradley Jr (all key contributors to the championship) are followed in detail as the work their way through the organization to Boston. It expores how each piece contributed to a greater whole.

This book is absolutely fantastic. I had a hard time putting it down. As a Red Sox fan who follows the team pretty closely, this book opened my eyes to a whole new world of player development. It explored how relationships are built between teammates in the minors. It showed how each player handled their advancements, or lack of advancement. It saw each of them integrated into the major league team in their own ways in their own time. It showed how those introductions sometimes formed the players they would become. It explained what happened with the 2014 Red Sox, and how that played a part in what would become the 2018 team. No detail was missed, so you're able to get the whole picture behind the team. I've never read a book like this before. It was so good I'm sure I would have loved it if it was about any team, but I'm glad this one covered the Sox.

Rating: 4 bases

2020 Topps Update Blaster!

It's time to open another blaster! Or, technically, it's time to tell you about another blaster I already opened! This time we'll go with 2020 Topps Update! I've always enjoyed these pacs with their mix of stare, rookies, and fun/different cards. How'd I do? Let's see!

Here are the highlights...

And, of course, "highlight" always means a look at unopened packs. Right?

Here's the odd medallion card. Well, I guess it's actually a collector's coin. If Topps is going to make up a card with something in it, I'd prefer a better theme than this.

A Red Sox card! One of the best part of Topps Update for me is the cards of players from that year's All-Star game. It's a fun way to add content to a set that would otherwise be full of people you didn't care about...yet. Of course, this year there wasn't an All-Star game. So, Topps made the great choice to highlight players from years past. Like Sale here. 

Oh phew. I was afraid Jose Peraza wouldn't get a Red Sox card this year.

Another card celebrating All-Star games from previous years. In this case, it's the Home Run Derby from 1999. It's not a Red Sox player, obviously, but as someone who attended that derby McGwire's performance is always fun to remember. 

Hard to tell from the picture, but this is a super awesome gold version of Ryan Weber's card. A mega-hit if I've ever seen one.

Yeah. I could have done without this card. Even if it's a chance to get another Red Sox card of his.

Thankfully I also added the standard version of Ryan Weber. I hate it when you have the parallel but not the base.

So, there you have it. A nice selection of Sox cards, actually, and one Fenway card. I'd call this box a success.

How did you box go?

2020 Topps Series Two blaster!

It's time to open another blaster! Well, actually, it's time to tell you about another blaster I already opened! This time we'll go with 2020 Topps Series 2. These packs are always fun because they offer a lot of variety. How'd I do? Let's see!

Here are the highlights...

Yup. That's the box.

And those are the Packs. Sort of a Mike Trout theme going on here.

Ouch. I didn't need to get that one.

Another now former Red Sox. At least he's still on the team on this card. But, it still hurts.

And here's a guy who is actually pictured as a Red Sox, and still actually plays for the team! I like the use of the horizontal layout for this card. It really helps grab the action.

And, that's it. Two former Sox, and one actual Red Sox. Nothing too spectacular, but always good to get Sox cards in a box. 

How did your box go?

2020 Topps Opening Day Blaster!

The Easter Bunny was good to me this year, bringing plenty of card packs for me to open. I thought I'd share them with you because, well, what else am I going to write about?

We'll start with the newest box, the 2020 Topps Opening Day!

Not sure why these come in one of the big blasters. Was the single slot not wasteful enough? Too easy to display on shelves?

I mean, there are more packs than usual...bot not THAT many more. Even if you include the "red parallel" pack.

Speaking of which...always great when the special packs yield a Red Sox card. It will be interesting to see how Chavis does in his next season. Will he have a role? Will he break out? Will he be forgotten? Only time will tell.

Look, another Red Sox card in the very next pack! And, another player currently on the team. Bonus! Love the red jersey matching up with the red border.

No Red Sox card in the next pack. But, a guy the Sox beat on the way to one of their titles. That's pretty. Cool.

OK, this is pretty cool. I wonder if that chandelier looks as amazing in real life. Anyone know? Is it just out in the middle of the concourse?

Another Washington guy. A pretty generic insert, but at least it adds some variety to the pack.

I have to say, I enjoy the mascot inserts in this set. The idea was supposed to be that this would be a fun set...and the mascots certainly help that image.

The same goes for this insert set. I like the theme of showing spring training shots as a fun diversion from regular cards.

Another Red Sox player. The blue jersey doesn't work quite as well as the red one did.

This one's not quite as obviously spring...so a little less fun.

Another mascot!

Another National! What's with them all?

Did he catch it?

Another Red Sox! Unfortunately, the first "former" Red Sox.

As expected, a fun box to open. Imaginative inserts. Mascots. Exactly what you've come to expect from Opening Day.

How did your boxes turn out?

2019 Topps Series 2 Blaster!

OK, so it's not quite a Topps Update box. But, it's a little bit newer than some others. Been meaning to post this one for a bit, so glad I'm finally getting the chance.

And hoping you still care...if you ever did.

Yup. It's actually a Series 2 box. Couple decent ballplayers on the cover.

Seven pacs, plus the one special patch card pack. Let's start with that one.

OK. So, decent player. But, is there anyone out there with an Honus Wagner player collection that this sort of card would appeal to? Especially since, as you may have noticed, this isn't a regular old patch card. This is a special foil numbered version. So, an Honus Wagner super-collector? Let's check out the back of this one.

 Yeah. Ok. 36/150. Maybe I can think of someone who might like that numbering.

Starting with the real packs, we get another middle infielder without much range these days. I wonder what kind of offer the Sox could make him so that he would retire. Some sort of personal services contract in order to get him out of the luxury tax calculation? Nice picture though. I wonder when they could have gotten that shot.

High fives. Low fives. Number five. I sense a theme in this pack.

Bregman must be looking for his sign before he takes his cuts.

This card is much better than the annoying Aaron Judge versions. Almost makes it worth going to Wal-Mart. I said "almost".

I like the "Franchise Feats" idea for a card set celebrating 150 years of baseball. Gives a decent excuse to add more star players into the set. I, of course, live the Benintendi card. That picture belongs in ever sports room in New England.

Not sure I need another Bob Feller reprint card. Let me rephrase that. I know I don't.

Nor do I particularly need a Rickey Henderson reprint/throwback. It's one thing to see new players on old designs. It's another to see them on designs we've already seen them on. Not sure I see the purpose. 

But, overall, a couple decent Red Sox cards in the box...including an insert. Not exactly something to write home about. But, it's not like it's a premium box. 

How did your boxes go?

2019 Topps Allen & Ginter Blaster!

Yup. You were probably hoping there would be a Topps Update blaster coming soon. Hopefully there will be. As soon as I get get my meaty little claws on one, you can be sure. But, for now this was still hanging around my Target. So, since I haven't opened one on here yet, I thought it would be fun. 

How did it go? Only one way to find out...keep reading!

Yup. They use that enormous box to hold eight packs. Have we figured out why they do that yet? This of the packaging and shipping costs they could save. Let alone saving the turtles.

First pack, and first TWO Red Sox. Pretty solid talent represented by these two as well. I like the design of the set this year. It manages to get the feel of that old timey paintings, but still make the images easy to see.

Two packs, both with Red Sox cards! Always enjoy getting cards of this World Series hero. Is the look on his face him knowing that he holds all the cards?

Not a Red Sox card, but still a solid pull! Odd that Alonso's cards don't seem as popular as Judge's were just a couple years ago, despite Alonso breaking Judge's record and also playing in NY. The interlocking N-Y sure does have a lot of pull!

Always fun to get a Hall of Famer. Even thought thy mystique is wearing off a little bit since they seem to be included by the handful in just about every set these days.

Speaking of Judge...

Look, another Hall of Famer. He's in the Hall of Fame, right? I lost track once they started voting everyone in the world into the Hall.

Not a Hall of Famer. I always see these cards and question my involvement in the hobby. My first reaction is, "no matter how much I think monkey's are cool...why would I collect a card just because it has a picture of a monkey on it?" Then I remember, that's what the entire baseball card hobby is based on. Why are collecting cards with baseball players on them more legitimate that collecting cards with monkeys on them? Any ideas?

Or, you know, thrones on them?

So, there you have it. Solid box if I do say so. Lots of Red Sox, a few Hall of Famers, a hot rookie, and some fun oddities. Pretty much exactly what you hope to get in an A&G blaster.

What did you get in yours?