Here we are, packs 16 – 20 of this 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter goodness. If you’ve read my review of Allen & Ginter you would have seen all the spoilers as I hit a nice card in this grouping. If not, you’re in for a sweet, sweet surprise. So let’s just get down to business. We last left at a robust 109 points…not doing too well.

Pack 16: (+25 points in pack, 133 points total)

Rickie Weeks, Colby Lewis, Jordan Zimmerman, Joey Votto (+2 OFP), Jason Heyward Baseball Highlight Sketches (+5 BHS and OFP), David DeJesus (+2 SP), Nick Markakis mini Ginter back (+15 AG SP and OFP), Neil Walker Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

Pack 17: (+13 points in pack, 146 points total)

Ozzie Martinez, Eric Sogard, Joakim Soria (+2 OFP), Brian McCann, Adrian Gonzalez (+5 FT and MFP), Joe Mauer (+2 SP), Henri Grace A Dieu Floating Fortresses (+2 FF), Chris Coghlan mini Ginter back (+2 AG back)

Pack 18: (+6 points in pack, 152 points total)

Freddie Freeman, Jonathan Sanchez, Ben Zobrist, John Lackey (+1 FT), Fausto Carmona, Ascent of Man Reptiles (+1 AOM), Blue Whale Animals in Peril (+3 AIP), Corey Hart Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

Pack 19: (+6 points in pack, 158 points total)

Kristi Yamaguchi, Stan Lee, Aaron Hill, Matt Garza, Starlin Castro (+2 OFP), Jake Peavy, Step Right Up Tight Rope Walking (+3 SRU), Ryan Howard Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

Pack 20:  (+36 points in pack, 194 points total)

Brandon Snyder, Yonder Alonso, Victor Martinez, Matt Cain, Hunter Pence Rip Card (+34 Rip Card and OFP multiplier), Cliff Lee mini, Dustin Pedroia Hometown Heroes (+2 FT and HH)

Well that group of packs really stepped up my game for myself. It puts me right into contention with just 4 packs to go. Will I pull out some cards to put me in the lead, or will I fall flat on my face….see you for the next and final installment!

Now I know I don’t have pictures up yet, but the fiancee has the camera with her while she is visiting Montana for school and my cell phone went kaput! So I have no photograph options. Luckily, she comes home soon and I’ll be getting a new phone soon so all is good in this hood. I will provide the photographic evidence if my official 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter review videos just aren’t enough for the Commish of this prestigious event.

We are currently sitting at the lucky number of 69 points. So we are going to continue with packs 11 through 15 in the hopes I can beat the top score. Let’s see what we got, eh?

Pack 11: (+10 points in pack, 79 points total)

Greg Halman, Mike Napoli, Chad Billingsley, Homo Erectus Ascent of Man (+1 AOM), Yovani Gallardo Hometown Heroes (+1 HH), Joba Chamberlain Framed Jersey (+5 Yankee relic), Josh Johnson mini black (+3 black)

Pack 12: (+7 points in pack, 86 points total)

Jeremy Hellickson, Heath Bell (+2 OFP), Huston Street, Travis Hafner, Dallas Braden, Red Wolf Animals in Peril mini (+3 AIP), Matt Holliday Hometown Heroes (+1 HH), Ascent of Man Catarhhini (+1 AOM)

Pack 13:  (+11 points in pack, 97 points total)

Michael Pineda, Yunesky Maya, Adam Jones (+4 SP and OFP), Stephen Drew, Joba Chamberlain Hometown Heroes (+0 HH Yankee), Josh Rodriguez mini Ginter back (+2 AG Back), Robinson Cano Framed Bat (+5 Yankee relic)

Pack 14: (+6 points in pack, 103 points total)

Peter Gammons, Ben Revere, Yovani Gallardo, Jorge Posada (-1 Yankee), Ervin Santana, Josh Willingham (+2 SP), Uninvited Guest Villisca Axe Murder House (+3 UG), Minds That Made the Future Florence Nightingale (+2 MTMTF)

Pack 15: (+5 points in pack, 108 points total)

Chris Sale, Jake McGee, Cole Hamels (+2 OFP), Jair Jurrjens, Rick Porcello, Zach Greinke (+2 SP), Manny Pacquiao mini, Johnny Damon Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

Man, these Yankees are killing me. I really hope I don’t have more Yankees in this box or I am going to be screwed. Too many Yankees! Ahh!

Until next time…

(Pictures coming soon, iPhone randomly stopped working today so can’t take pictures!)

Gint-A-Cuffs III and the Kraken is being Released! This time, in packs 6 – 10 of this contest entry.

You can find my full review of 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter here if you want to know about the product in general. This is part of the Gint-A-Cuffs contest for the bloggers out there. Let’s see what how many points I can add…

After packs 1 – 5 I have a total of 34 points. Let’s add some more to that.

Pack 6: (+4 points, 38 points total)

Cliff Lee, Matt Guy, Jim Thome, Juan Pierre, Justin Verlander, Joe Saunders, Lars Anderson Black mini (+3 Favorite Team Black Border), Grady Sizemore Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

Pack 7: (+11 points, 49 points total)

Manny Pacquiao, Chris Carpenter, Carl Crawford (+1 Favorite Team), Wade Davis, Ichiro Baseball Highlight Sketches (+3 BHS), John Buck (+2 SP), Portraits of Penultimacy Toto (+3 PP), Minds That Made the Future Gregor Mendel (+2 MTMF)

Pack 8: (+4 points, 53 points total)

Clayton Kershaw (+2 OFP), Chase Utley, Mariano Rivera (-1 Yankee), Michael Bourn, Evan Longoria, Ty Wigginton, Derek Lowe Ginter back mini (+2 AG), Billy Butler Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

Pack 9: (+9 points, 62 points total)

Maxim Shmyrev, Ichiro, Nick Swisher (-1 Yankee), Carlos Zambrano, Dallas Braden Baseball Highlight Sketches (+3 BHS), Mike Stanton (+2 SP), Portraits of Penultimacy Meucci mini (+3 PP), Floating Fortresses USS Cairo (+2 FF)

Pack 10: (+7 points, 69 points total)

Rudy Ruettiger, Ian Desmond, Neftali Feliz, Jose Reyes, Carlos Ruiz, Mike Pelfrey Ginter Code (+4 GC and SP), Nelson Cruz Ginter back mini (+2 AG), Chipper Jones Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

So, after 10 packs of 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter goodness, I have 69 points towards Gint-A-Cuffs III. The current leader as of right now has 232 total points. At 24 packs, I am on pace for 175 which won’t do. But don’t worry, I know I have a few key cards up my sleeve. Remember, we haven’t had any hits yet!

Ladies and gentlemen, you are now in for a treat! The official scoring of Gint-A-Cuffs III: Release the Kraken has begun as the official rules have been posted on the official Gint-A-Cuffs blog. So we are going to run down, pack by pack, what I pulled in this year’s 2011 Allen & Ginter baseball. If you saw my official personal review of 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball, then you have seen what I have pulled. But I must now go pack by pack and score the cards for the purpose of winning this prestigious contest. Hey, I want a free box of A&G to pull more awesomeness.

So here we go.

N43 Boxtopper: Hanley Ramirez (+5)

Pack 1: (+6 points pack, 11 points total so far)

Ana Julaton, BJ Upton, Bobby Abreu, Angel Pagan, JD Drew (+1 Team), Kurt Suzuki (+2 SP), Dustin Pedroia mini (Ginter back) (+3 Team and A&G Back), Nick Swisher Hometown Heroes (+0 HH and Yankee)

Pack 2: (+6 points pack, 17 points total so far)

Yuniesky Betancourt (+2 SP), Hanley Ramirez, Scott Kazmir, Carlos Santana, Brent Morel, Hank Conger, WMF Rasputin mini (+3 WMF), Joe Mauer Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

Pack 3: (+6 points pack, 23 points total so far)

Nancy Lopez, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Andrew McCutchen, Rafael Soriano(-1 Yankee), Denard Span, Dominic Brown (+2 SP), UG Bachelor’s Grove Cemetary mini (+3 UG), Floating Fortresses Le Napoleon (+2 FF)

Pack 4: (+8 points pack, 31 points total so far)

Prince Fielder, Robinson Cano (-1 Yankee), Casey McGehee, Paul Konerko, Adrian Beltre, Carlos Lee (+2 SP), Jon Lester mini (+7  Other Favorite Player, Favorite Team, SP), Phil Hughes Hometown Heroes (+0 HH and Yankee)

Pack 5: (+3 points pack, 34 points total so far)

Brian Bogusevic, Hope Solo (+1), Giovany Soto, Shaun Marcum, Kendrys Morales, Alfonso Soriano, JD Drew mini (+1 Favorite Team), Ryan Zimmerman Hometown Heroes (+1 HH)

So my grand total after my first 5 packs is 34 points. I have no idea if that is good or bad or anything. I’m just happy I got a lot of Red Sox cards for my PC and a mini Jon Lester for my PC. There is plenty more Gint-A-Cuffs action coming soon. What will packs 6 – 10 reveal? You already know if you watched my review. If you didn’t, surprises galore!