Another Guest Closer! This Time It's Francesca!

I love these guest closers! The ability to get everyone to participate in the videos makes things so much more fun. This time Francesca joins the party to let everyone know exactly where she'd rather be!

Be sure to check out the Section 36 Sportscards Youtube Channel to see more guest closers, and all the other pack openings. You won't be disappointed.

I wonder who the next "Guest Closer" will be. Maybe you?

More Guest Closers! Youtube visit from Caroline!

Since you've all been watching every YouTube video I post, you know that I close each one by reminding everyone that I'd rather be in Section 36. Wouldn't we all? It's defintily something I say wherever I am, and whichever account I'm using. Some people have made the fun decision that they'd also like to remind everyone where they'd rather be. So here is another of our "guest closers"!

Introducing "Guest Closers"

I'm sure you've all been watching every YouTube video I post. Since you do, you know that I close each one by reminding everyone that I'd rather be in Section 36. Wouldn't we all? It'd defintily something I say wherever I am, and whichever account I'm using. Some people have made the fun decision that they'd also like to remind everyone where they'd rather be. So here are a few of our first "guest closers"!

Gold Together: 2022 Topps Walmart Gold Star Parallel Jack Lopez

 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. As a nod to the Gold Together activities going on this month to help raise awareness of the leading cause of death by disease in children, I thought I'd contribute several "gold" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month. Here's the next one.

Let's talk about this card...

I've mentioned it before. The retail sets are a fun way to easily add some variety to my collection. These Gold Star versions are an great way to do it. With one in three factory sets coming with a parallel, there are enough of them to make them obtainable. But, rare enough to be something a little different. Which is great.

This is a pretty generic picture of Lopez here. The red socks really pop, and almost make it look like he's wearing shin guards or something. Otherwise, nothing to exciting to talk about. Just your basic "hitter hitting" base card.

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I'm sure you all remember Mina Smith from her interview with us. Through her social impact initiative "Love Your Neighbor" she is fundraising to brind awareness to childhood cancer through Dance Hope Cure. I highly recommend you support her efforts with a donation if you are able. You can find the link here.

Thank you for supporting her efforts to Love Your Neighbor!

Go Red! 2014 Topps Target Red Kelly Johnson

 February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Kelly Johnson played ten gmes for the Red Sox in 2014. He was acquired from the Yankees at the deadline for Stephen Drew. A month later, he was traded to the Orioles in a four players deal. So, obviously, not a lot to say about his Red Sox career. Glad he was able to get a card out of it, though.

It's a simple card. I'm guessing there weren't a ton of pictures to choose from. I don't actually remember the Red sox wearing the blue and red combo like that. That's nice to see. Otherwise, it's a rather non-descript card. Which I guess you get every once in a while.

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This month, and every month, if you are able please consider donating to American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women campaign.

"For 100 years the American Heart Association has been leading the fight to save lives from heart disease and stroke. We've invested more than $5 billion in heart and brain research, leading to the development of the artificial heart valve, the defibrillator, and even CPR.

Countless lives have been saved. But we are still losing someone every 34 seconds in this country to heart disease. It's the cause of death of 1 in 5 people - that's more than all forms of cancer combined. Chances are you or someone you love will be affected by this deadly disease."

This month, and every month, if you are able please consider donating to American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women campaign.

Go Red! 2014 Topps Target Red David Ross

February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Hard to forget David Ross! Especially for me, since I was in the park as he caught the last strike of the 2013 World Series. He definitely earned that ring on his finger. While his stints in Boston weren't long, they made up for it with that championship.

The card itself...I'm not sure what Ross is doing with his fingers. Is he supposed to be showing "3" of something? Or is that the only way he could figure out to make his fingers work to show off the ring? The picture is fantastic though. Even cropped tight, you can see the giant championship banner behind him on the monster. What a great addition to the team collection.

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This month, and every month, if you are able please consider donating to American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women campaign.

"For 100 years the American Heart Association has been leading the fight to save lives from heart disease and stroke. We've invested more than $5 billion in heart and brain research, leading to the development of the artificial heart valve, the defibrillator, and even CPR.

Countless lives have been saved. But we are still losing someone every 34 seconds in this country to heart disease. It's the cause of death of 1 in 5 people - that's more than all forms of cancer combined. Chances are you or someone you love will be affected by this deadly disease."

Go Red! 2014 Topps Target Red Edward Mujica

 February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Remember last time when I said I sometimes forget that AJ Pierzynski was on the Sox? Yeah. Edward Mujica was on the Sox for a season plus, coming out of the pen. He actually appeared in 75 games over those two years, so was used a lot. But, in the championship hangover, that season isn't one that sticks out in my memories...for any of the Sox players.

The card itself...I'll keep saying it. I like the Target Red parallels. I love the idea that every player, even Mujica, has a rare card to chase. Something that every collection can add to make it a bit more special. I will also keep saying that I wish the color red they chose didn't clash with the color red in the Sox logo. But, that's still ok. It's a fun card to have in my binder.

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This month, and every month, if you are able please consider donating to American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women campaign.

"For 100 years the American Heart Association has been leading the fight to save lives from heart disease and stroke. We've invested more than $5 billion in heart and brain research, leading to the development of the artificial heart valve, the defibrillator, and even CPR.

Countless lives have been saved. But we are still losing someone every 34 seconds in this country to heart disease. It's the cause of death of 1 in 5 people - that's more than all forms of cancer combined. Chances are you or someone you love will be affected by this deadly disease."

Go Red! 2014 Topps Target Red AJ Pierzynski

February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Sometimes forget that Pierzynski was on the Sox. His partial season in 2014 isn't exactly the stuff of legends. Especially since everyone was still in the haze after winning the championship in 2013. But, he served a role batting .250 is 72 games for the Sox that year. Just enough to not be memorable. To me at least.

The card itself...I still say I like the Target Red parallels. It gives something fun to chace in retail packs. It's not ridiculously overwhelming. Just a simple matte red border. Just enough to add some variety ot a collection. I do wish the color red they chose didn't clash with the color red in the Sox logo. But, I guess I can't have everything.

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This month, and every month, if you are able please consider donating to American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women campaign.

"For 100 years the American Heart Association has been leading the fight to save lives from heart disease and stroke. We've invested more than $5 billion in heart and brain research, leading to the development of the artificial heart valve, the defibrillator, and even CPR.

Countless lives have been saved. But we are still losing someone every 34 seconds in this country to heart disease. It's the cause of death of 1 in 5 people - that's more than all forms of cancer combined. Chances are you or someone you love will be affected by this deadly disease."

Go Red! 2014 Topps Red Hot Foil David Ortiz

February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Not much to say about Ortiz that hasn't been said. From waiver wire pick-up to the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history. In 2014, Ortiz had just led the Sox to yet another title...and "led" he did. His numbers in the World Series was the stuff of legends.

The card itself...is a lot. I'm not usually a fan of mixing horizontal cards into a vertical set. They always just look off. Of course, this picture was just made for a horizontal cropping. But, it still sticks out a bit. Plus the red foil makes an already foil heavy set just completely over the top.

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This month, and every month, if you are able please consider donating to American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women campaign.

"For 100 years the American Heart Association has been leading the fight to save lives from heart disease and stroke. We've invested more than $5 billion in heart and brain research, leading to the development of the artificial heart valve, the defibrillator, and even CPR.

Countless lives have been saved. But we are still losing someone every 34 seconds in this country to heart disease. It's the cause of death of 1 in 5 people - that's more than all forms of cancer combined. Chances are you or someone you love will be affected by this deadly disease."

This Week In Videos! Topps Holiday and Topps Composite!

More videos that you just NEED to see on the Section 36 YouTube channel! If you subscribe already (and why wouldn't you?) you saw all these videos this week, and have the chance to relive them here! If you're not subscribed...watch these videos, subscribe to the channel, and prepare to be amazed!

2023 Topps Composite Blaster Opening!

I was hoping this would be a different product. Remember when Topps came back to the basketball card market after a long absence? They put out their Archives set. It featured players whose rookie cards would have been produced during their time away, in the design of that year’s baseball set. So, we got Michael Jordan in the 1984 Topps design. I was hoping that’s what this set would be. I wanted Josh Allen in the 2018 Topps design. What I got was a football version of the baseball archives set. I didn’t need another Dan Marino Topps card, or Barry Sanders in a design from the 70’s. On the bright side, the blaster was full of stars and top rookies. On the other side, it was a missed opportunity. What do you think?

How did this particular blaster go? I'm glad you asked.

Here's what the box looks like. In a shadow.

And here's a Drew Bledsoe on a Topps Chrome design. See what I mean, though? I have plenty of Bledsoe Topps cards. This one just seems unnecessary. Especially an "unlicensed" version.

Same goes for this Tops Finest looking card of Teddy Bruschi. I mean, sure, always nice to add one of his cards. But...this is really something I didn't really need.

And there you have it. Two Patriots cards out of this box, and they're both retired greats.

If you want to see every card I pulled, be sure to subscribe to the Section 36 YouTube channel! The video of the entire opening will be posted there, if it hasn't already. You will also be able to find an almost endless selection of packs and boxes that I've opened. Feel free to dive down that rabbit hole.

How did your box go?

2024 Topps Holiday Mega Box Opening!

The Topps Holiday sets are so much fun. It’s another way to get a different looking card of your favorite player in your collection. One more edition of the rainbow you can try to chase. Or, in some cases, two or three more editions. More importantly, editions that won't break the bank. I love that the set doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still guarantees a hit in every box. What could be better?

So let’s see what magic we find in our winter wonderland!

Here's what the box looks like.

Here's a card of Sox star Rafael Devers. I like how Topps mixes up how they do the "holiday" each year. Sometimes it's a fun border. Sometimes it's a snow effect. This year, it's neon holiday decorations all over the entire card. Definitely different!

And here's one of Section 36 favorite Triston Casas. Again, love the theming.

And there you go. Only two Red Sox cards out of the ten packs. But, they were certainly good ones.

If you want to see every card I pulled, be sure to subscribe to the Section 36 YouTube channel! The video of the entire opening will be posted there, if it hasn't already. You will also be able to find an almost endless selection of packs and boxes that I've opened. Feel free to dive down that rabbit hole.

How did your box go?