Welcome Cubs Fans!

This blog will discuss the 1980s and the baseball card collecting hobby, with a focus on the Chicago Cubs. Contrary to vintage baseball cards, the majority of modern cards are affordable. The various sets will be considerably simpler to obtain. So, with thousands of cards in between, we'll start with 80 Topps and end with 89 Upper Deck. The apex of this period was represented by the Sandberg Rookie of the Year in 1983.


Thursday, March 24, 2011

2011 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball

2011 Allen and Ginter Cubs

Base Set Checklist

Mini Parallels

  • Base Mini Card
  • Ginter Back Mini
  • Black Border Mini
  • No Number Mini - Limited to /50
  • Bazooka Back - Serial Numbered #/25

Chicago Cubs Checklist

Number Player
62 Alfonso Soriano
66 Starlin Castro
122 Ryan Dempster
138 Matt Garza
143 Carlos Zambrano
156 Marlon Byrd
166 Geovany Soto
168 Carlos Marmol
207 Kosuke Fukudome
212 Aramis Ramirez
261 Carlos Pena























2011 Allen & Ginter Framed Cloth Checklist
Serial Numbered #/10
Allen & Ginter will only have 150 cards from the base set available in this years version. These cards sell very well on the secondary market, but are a tough pull, they are serial numbered #/10.

Chicago Cubs Checklist

Number Player
62 Alfonso Soriano #/10
66 Starlin Castro #/10
138 Matt Garza #/10
143 Carlos Zambrano #/10
168 Carlos Marmol #/10
212 Aramis Ramirez #/10
261 Carlos Pena


2011 Allen & Ginter Framed Autograph Checklist
Randomly Inserted Into Hobby and Retail Packs

One of the cards sure to garner a lot of attention is the Manny Pacquiao Autograph pictured here. Secondary sales should be several hundred dollars for these and collectors will be delighted if they are lucky enough to pull one.

Topps is boasting on their sell sheets that this is the best Autograph Checklist yet since they started producing Ginter back in 2006. Take a look for yourself - what do you think?

AGA-MB Randy Wells

AGA-SC Starlin Castro



2011 Allen & Ginter Framed Relic Checklist
Randomly Inserted Into Hobby and Retail Packs


Chicago Cubs Checklist

Number Player
AGR-ARM  Aramis Ramirez Bat
AGR-ARM  Aramis Ramirez Jsy
AGR-AS1 Alfonso Soriano Bat
AGR-AS2 Alfonso Soriano Jsy
AGR-BD Blake DeWitt
AGR-GSO Geovany Soto
AGR-JSA Jeff Samardzija
AGR-KF Kosuke Fukudome
AGR-MBY Marlon Byrd Bat
AGR-RD Ryan Dempster
AGR-SC1 Starlin Castro Bat
AGR-SC2 Starlin Castro Jsy
AGR-TC Tyler Colvin





















2011 Allen & Ginter Book Cards Checklist
Serial Numbered 1/1 - Hobby Packs Only

2011 Allen & Ginter Rip Cards Checklist
Odds: 1 Per Hobby Case

Do you rip? There are 100 players who have exterior Rip Cards, but it's what's inside that could make or break your decision. Check below to check out all the cards that come inside these popular cards.

RC89 Matt Garza
RC95 Starlin Castro

2011 Allen & Ginter Red Autograph Checklist
Odds: Serial Numbered #/10 - Found Inside Rip Cards
Checklist Same As Framed Autograph Checklist

2011 Allen & Ginter Originals
Odds: Serial Numbered #/1 - Found Inside Rip Cards
Actual painting by artist Jeff Zachowski

2011 Allen & Ginter Mini ExclusivesOdds: Only Found Inside Rip Cards

356 Starlin Castro

2011 Allen & Ginter Hometown Heroes
HH94 Starlin Castro

2011 Allen & Ginter Highlight Sketches

BHS-3 Starlin Castro
BHS-19 Matt Garza

2011 Allen & Ginter Box Loaders
Overall Odds: 1 Per Hobby Box

Each and every Hobby Box of 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball has a special Box Loader Pack with an over-sized card. Some of the cards are more rare than others - check below to see all the cards you can get in a box loader pack. Just 1 card per Hobby Box Loader Pack.

2011 Allen & Ginter N43 Relic Cards
Odds: Serial Numbered #/25
Found Inside Box Loader Packs

2011 Allen & Ginter N43 Autographs
Odds: Serial Numbered #/15
Found Inside Box Loader Packs

2011 Allen & Ginter N43 Relic/Auto
Odds: Serial Numbered #/5
Found Inside Box Loader Packs

2011 Allen & Ginter Cabinet
Found Inside Box Loader Packs

CB-6 Albert Pujols/Tony LaRussa/Ryan Dempster

2011 Allen & Ginter Cabinet Relics
Odds: Serial Numbered 1/1
Found Inside Box Loader Packs

2011 Allen & Ginter Cut Signature Cards
Odds: Serial Numbered 1/1
Checklist TBA

2011 Allen & Ginter Crack the Code

2011 Allen & Ginter 60th Anniversary Autographs
Odds: Serial Numbered #/60
Checklist TBA

2011 Topps Tribute Baseball Box

2011 Topps Tribute Base Set Checklist
Parallel Base Cards - 6 Total Per Box
  • Blue #/399
  • Black #/99
  • Green #/99
  • Gold #/50
  • Framed Printing Plate #/1
  • Red #/1
29 Fergie Jenkins
38 Ryne Sandberg


2011 Topps Tribute Autograph Relics
Serial Numbered #/99
Parallel Cards:
  • Green #/75
  • Black #/50
  • Gold #/25
  • Red #/1
TAR-AD1 Andre Dawson
TAR-AD2 Andre Dawson
TAR-FJ1 Fergie Jenkins
TAR-FJ2 Fergie Jenkins
TAR-EB Ernie Banks

2011 Topps Tribute Autograph Dual Relics
Serial Numbered #/99



  • TADR-RS Ryne Sandberg






  • 2011 Topps Tribute Pastime Patches
    Serial Numbered #/24
    Parallel Cards - Red #/1

    PP-RS Ryne Sandberg


    2011 Topps Tribute to the Stars Auto
    Varied Serial Numbering
    Parallel Cards - Red #/1 - Gold #/25
    Andre Dawson/Jim Rice
    Andre Dawson/Ryne Sandberg


    2011 Topps Tribute Rookie Book Card
    Serial Numbered #/1

    Carlos Santana - Stephen Strasburg - Mike Stanton - Buster Posey - Kyle Drabek
    Starlin Castro - Neftali Feliz - Austin Jackson - Jason Heyward - Aroldis Chapman

    2011 Topps Tribute Roll Call Book Cards
    Fold-Out Into Players Name
    Serial Numbered #/9 - Red 1/1 Parallel

    2011 Topps Tribute Dual Relic Cards
    Serial Numbered #/99
    Parallel Cards:
    • Green #/75
    • Black #/50
    • Gold #/25
    • Red #/1
    TDR-RS Ryne Sandberg
    TDR-AD Andre Dawson
    TDR-AD2 Andre Dawson
    TDR-RS Ron Santo


    2011 Topps Tribute Triple Relic Cards
    Serial Numbered #/99
    Parallel Cards:
    • Green #/75
    • Black #/50
    • Gold #/25
    • Red #/1
    TTR-RS Ryne Sandberg


    Tribute Cuts
    1/1 Cut Signature Cards

    2011 Topps Opening Day Base Set Checklist

    2011 Topps Opening Day baseball cards  are geared toward kids and collectors looking to get a jump on the 2011 baseball card season

    Release Date: March 9, 2011
    • Fun, easy to collect product for kids and budget collectors.
    • 220 card base set including 13 rookies and 74 preview base cards from 2011 Topps Baseball Series 2!
    • Parallels numbered to 2011!
    • Look 1/1 printing plates in Hobby version!
    • Superstar Celebrations: 25 cards featuring notable home plate or dugout celebrations.
    • Mascots: "Lucky Charms" from 25 major league teams.
    • Toppstown.com Stars: 25 playable Topps Attax cards in a shiny version featuring a 2011 Topps Opening Day logo.
    • New Spot the Error Inserts: These cards present 2 fronts. Compare fronts for each card and search for the Errors.
    • New Under the Lights Inserts: Glow-in-the-dark cards featuring night game photography showcasing shimmering lights and key game elements.
    • New Opening Day Stars Inserts: 3D cards featuring a handful of the games biggest stars.
    • New Presidential First Pitches:
    • Autographed Cards from some of the games biggest stars!
    Parallel Cards:
    • Base BLUE Parallel - Serial Numbered #/2011
    • Printing Plates - 4 of each card - #/1

    6 Aramis Ramirez


    17 Ryan Dempster


    19 Carlos Marmol


    24 Andrew Cashner

    115 Starlin Castro


    117 Tyler Colvin


    165 Carlos Zambrano- Preview base card from 2011 Topps Series 2


    167 Geovany Soto- Preview base card from 2011 Topps Series 2


    207 Kosuke Fukudome- Preview base card from 2011 Topps Series 2


    220 Alfonso Soriano- Preview base card from 2011 Topps Series 2


    Superstar Celebrations Inserts
    No Cub players in this set

    Under the Lights Inserts
    No Cub players in this set

    Opening Day Stars Inserts
    No Cub players in this set

    Autograph Checklist Inserts
    No Cub players in this set

    Mascots Inserts
    No Cub players in this set

    Presidential 1st Pitches Inserts
    No Cub players in this set

    Topps Town Codes Inserts
    #TTOD7 Carlos Marmol