Late Birthday Presents From Eric

"I remember when the candle shop burned down. Everyone stood around singing 'Happy Birthday.'" - Steven Wright

This was a pleasant and unexpected surprise! Another kick ass package from Eric! There was even a little note stuck inside wishing me a happy late birthday and warning me that the racing cards are only in there to protect the valuable White Sox cards. Time and time again, Eric pulls through with a winner!

I could be wrong, but I think Eric busts a ton of Upper Deck product. Why, you may ask? I received FIFTEEN different Yankee Stadium Legacy cards featuring White Sox games! That's quite an accomplishment. Either that, or he's buying YSL lots like mad and getting a lot of doubles. Either way, I've just doubled my collection of the White Sox cards in that set.

There were two plastic snap boxes full of cards. There was also a large taped cardboard sandwich containing unknown treasures. Let's see what was in the two boxes.

1988 Topps Traded
82T – Dan Pasqua

1990 Donruss Baseball’s Best
60 – Robin Ventura

1990 Topps Stickers
304 – Melido Perez

1991 Donruss
147 – Sammy Sosa

1991 Fleer
136 – Sammy Sosa

1991 Leaf
321 – Sammy Sosa

1991 Line Drive AA
51 – Wilson Alvarez

1991 Score
256 – Sammy Sosa
428 – Wilson Alvarez NH

1991 Stadium Club
303 – Harold Baines

1991 Topps
378 – Wilson Alvarez
414 – Sammy Sosa

1991 Topps Traded
56T – Charlie Hough

1991 Upper Deck
265 – Sammy Sosa

1992 Donruss Spirit Of The Game
SG18 – Frank Thomas

1992 Pinnacle
1 – Frank Thomas
192 – Wilson Alvarez

1992 Stadium Club
761 – Wilson Alvarez

1992 Topps
94 – Sammy Sosa

1992 Ultra
44 – Frank Thomas

1993 Fun Pack
202 – Frank Thomas

1993 Pinnacle
108 – Frank Thomas

1993 Score
70 – Jack McDowell

1993 Select
6 – Frank Thomas

1993 Topps
150 – Frank Thomas
737 – Wilson Alvarez

1993 U.S. Playing Cards
6H – Tim Raines

1993 Upper Deck
526 – Ellis Burks
555 – Frank Thomas

1994 Bowman
211 – Scott Christman
399 – Julio Franco

1994 Classic
102 – Scott Ruffcorn

1994 Classic Four Sport
174 – Paul Konerko

1994 Collector’s Choice
36 – Wilson Alvarez
370 – Darrin Jackson
500 – Frank Thomas

1994 Donruss
86 – Jason Bere
145 – Ellis Burks

1994 Finest
262 – Darrin Jackson

1994 Fleer
73 – Wilson Alvarez
77 – Rod Bolton

1994 Leaf
71 – Wilson Alvarez
125 – Jack McDowell
210 – Steve Sax

1994 Post
7 – Jack McDowell

1994 Select
33 – Ron Karkovice
92 – Tim Raines
111 – Wilson Alvarez

1994 Score
41 – Frank Thomas
220 – Wilson Alvarez
469 – Harold Baines

1994 Stadium Club
212 – Jason Bere
285 – Frank Thomas

1994 Topps
392 – Jack McDowell AS
421 – Scott Radinsky (2)
478 – Joey Cora
599 – Alex Fernandez
662 – Steve Sax
684 – Ron Karkovice
766 – James Baldwin/Rod Bolton

1994 Topps Gold
599 – Alex Fernandez

1994 Triple Play
261 – Wilson Alvarez
262 – Jason Bere

1994 Ultra Award Winners
4 – Robin Ventura

1994 Ultra Second Year Standouts
1 – Jason Bere

1995 Donruss
57 – Wilson Alvarez
198 – Ron Karkovice
298 – Lance Johnson

1996 Topps
194 – Alex Fernandez

1996 Upper Deck Diamond Destinby
DD14 – Frank Thomas

2001 Topps
373 – Joe Crede

2003 Bazooka
172 – Anthony Webster

2003 Bowman
264 – Aaron Miles

2004 Bowman Draft
BDP92 – Wes Whisler

2005 Topps
107 – Mark Buehrle

2006 Bazooka Stamps
5 – Mark Buehrle

2007 Bowman Heritage
148 – Paul Konerko

2007 UD Masterpieces
5 – Carlton Fisk
46 – Michael Jordan (2)
62 – Luis Aparicio

2008 Allen & Ginter
24 – Bobby Jenks
141 – Jermaine Dye

2008 A Piece Of History
108 – Lance Broadway

2008 Baseball Heroes
187 – Carlton Fisk (Yaz, Boggs)

2008 Baseball Heroes Black
187 – Carlton Fisk (Yaz, Boggs)

2008 SP Authentic
73 – Jim Thome
74 – Paul Konerko

2008 Spectrum
69 – Nick Swisher

2008 Upper Deck
282 – Jon Garland
284 – Matt Thornton
290 – Jermaine Dye
455 – A.J. Pierzynski
779 – Nick Swisher CL

2008 Upper Deck First Edition
235 – Jon Garland
240 – Jerry Owens

2008 Upper Deck First Edition Update
331 – Bobby Jenks
332 – Javier Vazquez
334 – Orlando Cabrera
337 – Nick Swisher
339 – Alexei Ramirez

2008 Upper Deck First Edition Starquest
SQ-54 – Paul Konerko

2008 Upper Deck Starquest
SQ-54 – Paul Konerko (Common)

2008 Upper Deck X
24 – Paul Konerko
25 – Jermaine Dye
27 – Jim Thome (2)

2008 Upper Deck Yankee Stadium Legacy
15, 60, 446, 611, 677, 950, 1047, 1658, 2135, 2218, 2922, 2935, 3124, 4400, 5261

That's a pretty good haul! I've been constantly reminded this month that Sammy Sosa was once a part of the White Sox team. It seems that packages have come loaded with him lately. I'm certainly not complaining about it. I'm just observing. Tons of Big Frank and Wilson Alvarez too. It's interesting to see the trends in cards coming my way. There was a time not too long ago where every package contained a 1989 Donruss Jack McDowell. Now they are nowhere to be found. Funny how that all works out.

I couldn't begin to imagine what was in the cardboard sandwich. So, I approached with care. Here's what I found.

1988 Topps Big
197 - Carlton Fisk

1989 Bowman
56 - Bill Long
58 - Shawn Hillegas
59 - Melido Perez
66 - Fred "Malaise" Manrique

1989 Topps Big
44 - Dan Pasqua
84 - Fred "Malaise" Manrique

Here's where the mystery sandwich's contents get very interesting.

1990 Baseball Cards Magazine
49 - Robin Ventura/Sammy Sosa (1990 Rookie Stars)

1993 Donruss Masters Of The Game
1 - Frank Thomas

1994 Donruss Dominators Jumbo
B2 - Frank Thomas 00097/10,000

WOW!! Those are some of the coolest cards I have ever seen! You may be wondering why I chose the Frank Thomas 1994 Stadium Club card to represent this lot. Basically, I think it's funny that this card never gets any mention for Frank giving the middle finger. This one is super obvious. Definitely more obvious than the 1991 Upper Deck.

It's the little things that stick out to me. Frank even looks like he's trying to hide from the camera while giving the finger. A classic shot!

Thanks again, Eric! You have made my birthday special this year. Everything from the cards themselves to the unexpectedness of the package makes this one a total win! You never fail to amaze me with the selection of cards that you send over.