2022 Baseball Top Whatever

Hey, I've got a great idea for a year end story! I can half-ass it and recycle a bunch of old stuff I wrote earlier this year! I'll just call it Whatever, and simply do another ranking of my favorite cards that added to my collection this year. The whole thing can be put together quickly and posted without going through a whole lot of effort.

And then I'll add a whole big buncha more stuff to it, sabotaging my quick story idea, creating more work than I'd ever intended when I started! Now I'm digging through different boxes to find more cards to make this an even bigger story. Sure, I could do a 23 card Whatever... But it would be better if I did a 100 card Whatever! 

After all, I wouldn't want to slight a Byron Buxton card!

So I narrowed the additions down to this small pile. (Sitting on the 1990 edition of Pursue the Pennant. Which may or may not have been pulled out of New Baseballcardland for a future story?) Everything else had been previously scanned. Either for a story I already posted, or for one of the four card stories I started this year, but never finished.

Per the usual rules, this Whatever will rank the top Whatever number of cards, in order of how much I liked them, and/or feel like writing about. Purely arbitrary and based only upon my whims. So don't expect a linear form of logic to my rankings. It will consist of singles either pulled from a pack, or purchased from the LCS or card show, in 2022. 

So with and without further delay, here are the...

Top 96 Baseball Cards Acquired in 2022!

#96 - 2022 Topps Update - Robinson Cano

I would fully expect this to be Cano’s last MLB card as an active player. Over the course of the 2022 season, Cano logged time with the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. And he wasn’t productive for any of those teams. While I’m fine with not getting a Robinson Cano Atlanta Braves card, I’m happy one of him with the San Diego Padres was printed.

Now go retire, and lay off the steroids.

You turned your career into a joke and have no one to blame but yourself.

Go away.

#95 - 2022 Prizm - Julio Rodriguez

On a shopping trip to the WalMarts, I found some jumbo packs of 2022 Prizm on the shelves. And I was pretty happy to pull the top rookie star of 2022 in the second pack. Then as I’m getting ready to put it into a Top Loader, flip the card over and…

Gee, thanks Panini…

From what I've seen online, Panini Prizm wrong backs are far too common this year.

There's no excuse for that.

#94 - 2021 Topps Heritage Minors - Max Meyer - 1972 Poster Card

A local Minnesota pitcher, blazed through the Marlins minor leagues and made his Major League Debut in 2022. I’ve been excited for Meyer’s potential since the 2020 MLB Draft, so I’m following this story. His first game wasn’t all that great. Then he had to come out of his second start early, as he caught a serious case of Tommy John Surgery. 

See you in 2024...

#93 - 2002 Upper Deck - Eddie Guardado

Always found it funny when the Twins tried to honor their Washington Senators past by wearing retro uniforms, in the least retro stadium in the Major Leagues. Sure the uniforms suggest 1927, but that Astroturf screams 1977. On an unrelated note, I’d like to open a buncha more packs of 2002 Upper Deck. The design is rather dull, yet I kind of like it. Plus, there's a whole of Twins, Expos and Rockies that I don't have.

#92 - 2022 Topps National Baseball Card Trading Day - Carlos Correa

A little cut and paste re-write from the Topps Chrome Museum Fire story...

This was my first Carlos Correa Twins card. Set me back $1 at the monthly Valley West Mall Card Show. Only made it to two of those this year, my goal is three for 2023.

Correa’s 2022 season wasn’t bad. But it certainly wasn’t great. The 2022 Minnesota Twins weren’t as bad as their monumental collapse would suggest, but they certainly weren’t great either. Correa alone did little to elevate the team, and the lineup the Twins generally fielded around him didn't provide a whole lot of help. When you pay a hitter $35 million a year, he needs to drive in more than 60 runs. 22 home runs was fine. Again, not great, but fine. His defense improved as year went on, and his leadership was better than expected. 

Saying all of the right things to drive his market up, Correa convinced a desperate Giants team (that just lost out on Aaron Judge) to give him $350 million over 13 years. Actually a lower AAV than the Twins offered over 10 years. For reasons that had to really irk Correa's agent, Scott Boras, the Giants postponed the press conference announcing Correa's signing, citing issues with his medical records. Around 12 hours later, Correa signed a 12 year contract with the New York Mets. 

According to a report, the Twins declined to reopen negotiations with Correa, when asked if they were interested, by Boras, after the Giants voided the contract. 

Oh well, I’m fine with that. I’ll have a small sampling of cards featuring the Twins unlikeliest of superstars. And the back of Carlos Correa's cards will always have that one season anomaly stat line.  Sandwiched between 6 years of Astros and 12 seasons of Mets, it will read: Twins. 

Note: This was written in mid-December 2022, and wasn't updated since I didn't feel like rewriting everything each time a new twist and turns comes up. If there's any actual concrete Correa news before I put this story up, I'll react to it. If not who cares?

Edit: January 11, 2023...

Well... Well... Well...

As of this writing there has been no ink to paper, but all reports and that Carlos Correa has agreed to a guaranteed 6 year, $200 million contract with the Minnesota Twins. Incentives based on Correa's overall health could push it all the way to a 10 years, $270 million.

That's awesome, but if there's one thing the 2022 offseason has taught me, with Correa, nothing is official until I see the press conference. So I'm not re-writing this. But if it is true, I really like the way this contract is structured for Minnesota. There's definitely risk, but it's not a franchise destroying gamble. Between the rumored Correa deal, and 2021's Byron Buxton deal, the Twins have made 2 big time moves for star players, with some of the more creative contract in the game.

Has he taken his physical yet?

Okay, it's all signed and good now.

I watched the press conference on live television, to verify. 

And I'm not revising ANYTHING else I've written about Correa in this story, for another time!

#91 - 2022 Topps Heritage High Numbers - Jorge Lopez

First card of the Twins big relief pitcher acquisition, at last July's trade deadline. Lopez got here and pitched like we got ripped off. And we gave Baltimore one of our better pitching prospects for him. Lopez will be back in the Twins bullpen for 2023, so I hope he gets it together. I'd like to see more of the Jorge Lopez that almost threw a perfect game against the Twins at Target Field, back in 2019. And less of the Jorge Lopez who walked everybody and couldn't hold a lead.

#90 - 1995 Pinnacle UC3 Artist Proof - Wil Cordero

One of the dealers at the Valley West Mall Card Show had several monster boxes of team sorted and sleeved singles. Amongst them was a very small stack of mid-1990's Expos insert cards. Many of which I already had, but I did find 10 or so that I still needed. I don't know how many of these UC3 Artist Proof cards were made, but looking at previous sales, commons seems to fetch around $3 a piece these days. Some Hall of Famers are selling between $50 and $100 for ungraded copies. (Which kind of surprised me.) So there appears to be a market for these cards. Guess there's still some collectors (like myself) that will pay for more obscure PC cards.

#89 - 2022 Panini USA Baseball - Brooks Lee

From that 2022 MLB Draft Panini Prospecting story.

These may become a yearly tradition here. I really enjoy writing them.

Brooks Lee was the player I wanted the Twins to take, going into the draft. I expected the other 4 top ranked shortstops to go before Minnesota picked, but if something unexpected happened, we had a chance at Lee. Thanks to the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs going way off-script, we got him!

Brooks will likely move to third base as he advances through the minors. The thing I'm most intrigued by is his plate discipline. More walks than strikeouts. Bringing that type of skill into your organization is always a great building block to start with. Lee projects to a high average, high on base percentage, 20-25 home run a season guy, with solid to above average defensive skills. Lee’s first (half) season in Minnesota’s system was a rousing success and saw him reach Double A Wichita. Some scouts have said that Lee could be the Twins starting shortstop by the 2023 All Star Break.

Carlos Correa who?

(That aged poorly...)

Now combine Lee with Minnesota’s unexpected luck in the 2022 MLB Draft Lottery, moving up from picking 13th overall, to now picking at number 5. We could really have a jump on some much needed top prospect restocking. 

2022 Bowman Draft - Brooks Lee

So of course I was super excited for Bowman Draft to be released (as every year), but this time I’m extra jazzed for the most exciting Twins draftee since 2017 saw Royce Lewis added to the system. I need my first actual Twins card of our new top prospect. Hopefully Brooks gets all that smeared black paint washed off his face before Spring Training, 

#88 - 2022 Stadium Club - Janson Junk - Autograph

Soft-tossing righty relief pitcher named Junk. 

That’s all sorts of perfect!

#87 - 2003 Topps - Joe Mauer - Justin Morneau

I don’t know how as a long time Twins card collector, this card eluded me for nearly 20 years...

#86 - 2022 Topps Update - Byron Buxton - All Star

I’ll commend Topps for shifting the 50+ All Star cards away from the yearly Update set, into it’s own separate insert set.

That’s 50 more slots for redundant rookie cards!

My mom, as a Twins partial season ticket holder, was able to pick up All Star jerseys at Target Field before they quickly sold out. She picked up a Buxton for me and an Arraez for herself.

#85 - 2021 Pro Set Baseball - Bryan Acuna

Featured in July's Twins vs Rockies story.

Despite being only 17 years old, Acuna logged a very promising 2022 season for the Dominican Summer League Twins. After an extended Spring Training, Acuna was activated to play in 43 games, batting .310/.409/.393 over 171 plate appearances. No home runs, but 12 doubles and 9 stolen bases. He'll be one to watch in the coming years.

And I really want his first Bowman Chrome auto.

I just don't want to pay for one...

Bryan’s older brother played a role in one of the better box breaks I’ve taken part in, from my Pal’s at Pal’s, in December 2022. Seems like I always draw the teams I hate in these breaks. This time it’s the Atlanta Braves. Well, that’s better than the Astros or Red Sox…

Bryan Acuna’s older brother is represented by Allen & Ginter box topper and Triple Threads teal parallel. 2001 Topps Chrome Platinum had a quartet of Braves, one of which in black & white. Another Triple Threads set of Austin Riley jersey chunks, and a Kyle Muller autographed, serial numbered and encased Topps Chrome Black rookie card. 

Earlier this offseason, Kyle Muller was optioned to the AAA Oakland Athletics, and catcher Sean Murphy was recalled by the Braves. (Since Oakland wants to be a triple A team so badly, I’m now going to treat their transactions as if they were one.) For Oakland’s sake, hopefully Muller does something exciting, otherwise this trade will go down as another of their most pathetic since leaving Kansas City.

Well, it has a ways to go before being worse than the Mark McGwire deal.

#84 - 2022 Topps Archives - Vladimir Guerrero

Topps runs their annual Archives set as a tribute to current stars and rookies, but also some of the more fringe star players and local stars, that don't get a lot of attention. For that reason, Archives is always a fun brand to open. Typically they throw an Expo or two in the 300 card set, just to get a few extra buys from me. It's a given that one of them will always be Vladimir Guerrero.

Which is fine, I never get tired of seeing Vladimir the Expo. But let's go a bit deeper with our Expos representatives. I don't mean Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Larry Walker, Pedro Martinez or even Archi Cianfrocco. I want to see Bill "The Spaceman" Lee!

Let's get some certified Bill Lee autographs in 2023 Topps Archives!

Yeah, that'll NEVER happen...

#83 - 1976 SSPC: The 1970's - Jim Mudcat Grant

All of the SSPC sets feature a picture in a white border front, with no text or logos. So it's hard to tell which set they're from. I have full sets of 1976 SSPC and one of their "Best Of" sets from 1977 or 1978. I'd have to look. All I know is, I didn't have this Grant card before. The Met Stadium scoreboard caught my eye and stood out.

Now, we're going to interrupt the 2022 Top Baseball Cards Whatever for the never before seen 2022 Top Football Cards Whatever.

So the Top One Football card of 2022 is…

1981 Topps - Joe Senser

In 2022, I bought not just one Joe Senser Minnesota Vikings card, but EIGHTEEN Joe Senser Minnesota Vikings cards! Just so I could write a story about his abandoned Sports Bar. 

Well, I did like that story a lot...

#82 - 2022 Topps - Wander Franco - Gold Foil

An excerpt about Wander, from my 2022 Topps Series 1 story. It's edited together from pulling his base rookie card, earlier in the box, and hitting the Gold Foil in one of the last packs.

Well, there you go. It’s the 2022 Topps card that everyone is after. Good thing for them, Topps printed enough to make sure everybody gets one. Or ten. I knew I’d get one in my jumbo box, so that’s cool. I have one now.

Just like everybody else.

Let’s say that 25 or so years from now, we’re looking at Wander Franco’s first ballot election to the Hall of Fame. He’d finished a remarkable career that saw him post similar numbers to... Oh, let’s say Alex Rodriguez (without the steroid issues), for argument’s sake. With the production numbers for 2022 Topps being where they are, it’s hard to imagine that Franco card I got in this pack, selling for more than $10-$15.

And if Franco ends up having a career more like... Oh, let’s say Alex Gonzalez. Well, a whole lot of people lost a whole lot of money on him. No one more than the Tampa Bay Rays. And whoever forked out 6 figures for his Superfractor.

I don't sell my cards. When I pull something significant like this, I'm happy, then slide it into a Top-Loader and stash it in a box. Along with all of the other big hit cards I've pulled over the years. Maybe someday I'll sell them, but for now, keeping stuff like this is a nice record of my experience in the hobby. My memento of the time that the collecting world went apeshit over a hot rookie. I remember Ohtani in 2018... Harper in 2012... Strasburg in 2010... Maas in 1990... 

It goes on and on...

But when the dust settles, I still have my piece of the hype. And that's good enough for me.

I'm not into cards for the money.

Guess I'm just stupid that way.

I'm sure a few people will tell me I am.

Franco was the star of 2022 Topps Series 1. Unfortunately, Wander's 2022 season was interrupted by injury, so he didn't get to expand of his rookie season with a follow up breakout season. He did sign a massive contract for the Rays to build around, and trade in five years. But his 2022 was pretty similar to his 2021. Roughly the same numbers over the same number of games played. Hardly anything to make too many assumptions about. 

His cards are now slightly overshadowed by the big name rookies of 2022, headlined by Julio Rodriguez. With Bobby Witt Jr., Spencer Strider, O'Niell Cruz, Steven Kwan and Jeremy Pena amongst many other newcomers who had notable rookie seasons in 2022.

One team didn't have any real notable rookies by the end of 2022.

Most of them were sent to Washington DC, in July.

#81 - 2011 Topps - San Diego Padres - Blue Diamond

I'm pretty sure this card had been in the Padres team bin at the LCS, since it was first pulled from a pack in 2011. Serial numbered 47/60, I've looked at this card for years while I was looking for other Padres. Finally one day I decided that I should just buy it. It was only $5, but I'd seen it so many times, I decided it needed to go with the rest of my Padres cards. The throwback uniforms are cool, and the blue color looks a lot better than it scanned.

#80 - 2020 Bowman Chrome - Aaron Ashby - Autograph

$8 buy from the Brewers bin at the LCS. I didn't think it would last 11 years, so I bought it on first sight.

#79 - 2022 Select - Oneil Cruz - Red Yellow Prizm

Pack pull from the same night’s batch of retail that brought me the Julio Rodriguez wrong back.

#78 - 2022 Topps Update - Albert Pujols - SP

Albert Pujols going back to the Cardinals and reaching 700 Home Runs has to be the baseball story of the 2022 season. Making people forget years of slowly fading, then being unceremoniously dumped by the Angels a year earlier.

Last summer, Topps brought out something that caught my eye...

2022 Topps Series 2 Mini Vending Boxes!

These looked really cool! A smaller version of the old 500 card Vending Boxes of the 1980's. Basically a wax box without the wax. I was always intrigued by these, until I finally bought one in 1989. Then I was bummed out that it was short on stars and high on duplicates. The LCS had a bunch of these 2022 revisions at $45 apiece. Which wouldn't be a bad deal IF they still offered a decent shot at Short Prints or parallels.

But they don't....

Each box contains 170 cards. Five of which are part of the "Fresh Faces" insert set, based on top rookies of 2022. The remaining 165 cards would all be 2022 Topps Series 2 base. With no inserts, short prints or parallels. And that's pretty lame for nearly $50.

Even lamer than that is both boxes I opened contained the EXACT same 165 base cards, in the EXACT same order. I pulled out the Twins, Rockies and the three most notable Fresh Faces inserts for Top Loadering, then put the 2 Vending Boxes in a box that will be dealt with whenever I feel like disappointing myself for a second time.

Good thing the LCS dropped the price to $10/box for these at the end of the year. 

Barely worth that...

#77 - 2022 Select Phenomenon - Vladimir Guerrero

Token Expos insert in a current product. Sure looks nice for a couple bucks.

What was not as nice, for a whole lot more than a couple of bucks, was a...

2022 Bowman Wax Box.

Not a great investment when my big hit was a...

#76 - 2022 Bowman Chrome - Adam Macko - Autograph Refractor

Well, it's better than a simple base autograph. Disappointing to pull a pitcher whose ceiling is likely long relief on a fringe level. However, Macko pitched well enough in 2022 to be included in the Teoscar Hernandez trade with Toronto. Maybe that'll mean something?

#75 - 1991 Legends Magazine - Kirby Puckett

Dating back to the peak of the Junk Wax Era, I'd wanted this card. But I still waited 31 years before finally buying it for $1, at the Valley West Mall Card Show. At that point, it had been many years since I'd seen a copy of this card for sale anywhere. 30 years ago, nearly every table at every card show had multiple copies of it for sale. Priced closer to $5 then.

See, if you're willing to wait, you can save money!

#74 - 2022 Topps Update - Royce Lewis Rookie Debut - Foil

Too bad Lewis' rookie season didn't go according to plan... At least he'll still be a rookie when he comes back from the second torn ACL, next summer. He probably wont still be a shortstop, as I can't imagine his knee holding up to that demanding of a position. Was still nice to pull Major League cards of Lewis from packs, that aren't Pro Debut or Bowman prospects.

#73 - 2019 Panini Chronicles Obsidian - Nick Senzel - Orange

Here was a completely unexpected card coming from completely unexpected packs. The LCS had a box full of multi-sport bonus packs available for free with qualified purchase. I don’t remember the terms involved, but I opened three of these such packs. Easily the best card pulled was this Senzel, numbered 27/50, even if Senzel hasn’t panned out as a prospect.

#72 - 2022 Panini Chronicles Resolution - Julio Rodriguez

Supa-sparkley and with the correct card back!

Every once in a while, my facebook feed will pop up one of these graphics dedicated to highlighting  some MLB statistic. This one showed up last summer, and the image of Pete Rose the Montreal Expo caught my eye. The subject is most outs made in an MLB career. Didn’t realize that Rose made nearly 1,200 more outs than the next player behind him on the list. But he did hang on a few extra years just to pad his own statistics. 

However, seeing this picture made me want a Pete Rose autographed Montreal Expos card. Unfortunately, Rose is banned from MLB, so he can’t appear in any Topps product. He can (and does) show up in Panini products, but Panini can’t use MLB logos, so there’s two strikes against him.

But we can have this!

#71 - 2020 Leaf Charlie Hustle - Pete Rose Autograph

At the rate he’s going, there will soon be more Pete Rose autographs out there, than 1988 Donruss base cards. Good thing Rose does not appear in 1988 Donruss. An autographed 1988 Donruss Pete Rose card may just cause the universe to collapse into itself.

2022 Topps Heritage really interested me when it came out. I’d lazily been trying to complete both the 2020 and 2021 Topps Heritage sets, but had pretty much given up on them by the time 2022 Heritage hit the shelves. Even though I really liked this product. I was going to write a post about all the pack and boxes of it that I bought, but then I lost interest.

#70 - 2022 Topps Heritage - Joey Votto - Action Variation

Seems like pulling Votto minor hits comes easily to me. This one would have likely been demoted to outside the Whatever, had it not been for all of the glorious Target Field going on in the picture.

Honorable Mention - 2022 Topps Heritage - Wander Franco - Redemption

A strand of Harley’s fur accidentally got in the scan, and I don’t feel like Photoshopping it out, because it’s a redemption and not the actual autographed card. This came in the second box of Archives I bought last March, and have yet to redeem it. When I do, it will probably move up on the Whatever.

#69 - 2022 Topps Heritage - Juan Soto - Black

A pick up from the LCS for $10. Not serial numbered, but I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that Topps printed only 100 of each of these black parallels. If that’s true, $10 seems like a good price for it. The all black take on 1973 Topps is a fun look.

#68 - 2022 Topps Chrome - Riley Adams - Magenta Speckle Refractor

This card was previously mentioned in the Topps Chrome Museum Fire, and I don't have much else to say about it. But I will anyways...

I seemed to have luck in pulling decent Riley Adams cards in 2022, and he looks like a catcher that could last a few years in the league. The Blue Jays have done exceptionally well in developing quality catchers, to the point where they can trade them for other pieces they need. (See Gabriel Moreno.)

2022 Stadium Club Riley Adams Autograph

I got a few random packs as an X-Mess gift this year, including two 2022 Stadium Club hobby packs. One of which had this Riley autograph. And it's better than a scribble!

#67 - 2019 Bowman Sterling - Keoni Cavaco - Autograph

A scribble unlike Keoni Cavaco's autograph... Minnesota's first round draft pick from 2019 doesn't look like he's going to pan out. The Twins gambled on an athletic high school shortstop's potential, taking Cavaco higher (13th overall) than the rest of the league ranked him. In this case, the rest of the league was right. Cavaco has excelled at one thing, striking out. His power hasn't developed, he can't hit for average and his baserunning isn't anything special. 

But I needed his autograph, and this one was cheap.

#66 - 2022 Bowman Platinum - Yiddi Cappe - Orange Refractor Autograph

Being in the right place at the right time, I was able to find a Mega Box of Bowman Platinum out in the wild. Guaranteeing two autographs in 20 four card packs. The first one was so underwhelming that I don't even remember who it was. But one of the last packs in the box had this orange refractor autograph, numbered 2/25. Hopefully Yiddi becomes something because I like this card.

I want to like the Marlins, but they make it so tough...

#65 - 1992 Topps Kids - Tim Wallach

A recent Fairfield Repack brought me an Expos card that I'd never seen before. Pure junk from the Junk Wax Era, but it's new junk. To me anyway.

#64 - 2022 Topps Pro Debut Chrome - Jose Miranda

Up until about two months ago, I had no Miranda cards that weren't unlicensed logoless Minor League cards from Panini. Meaning I was super-jazzed to pull a Miranda St. Paul Saints card out of Topps Pro Debut. Still Minor League, but licensed!

Pro Debut is a product I really like when it comes out each year. You get the normal hobby wax box with 4 autographs inside, or the hobby jumbo box with only 3 autographs BUT a whole mess of Chrome parallels. And of course a bigger mess of Chrome Refractor Parallels. But Chrome cards aren't available in the regular hobby boxes.

Something tells me that I may have pulled a better 2022 Topps ProDebut Chrome Refractor parallel, later on. 

It might be pretty noteworthy, so you may want to stay tuned for that.

2022 Topps Chrome Update - Jose Miranda RD

Miranda also showed up in 2022 Topps Chrome Update, in the form of one of those obnoxiously redundant Rookie Debut cards. I haven't bought any Topps Chrome Update over the last couple of years since I haven't found any in retail big box stores. This year they started selling it in hobby shops, so I split a box with my mom. 

And it's a little watered down this year. 2022 is no comparison to the great 2018 Topps Chrome Update.

Which I was able to get a pretty decent amount of back in 2018. 

But it's 2022.

2022 Topps Chrome Update - Julio Rodriguez All Star

The All Star insert set is less redundant, because it has a point. 

I think this guy is probably pretty good.

2022 Topps Chrome Update - Gabriel Arias Autographed Refractor

Hobby boxes don't even guarantee an autograph per box, which is really odd these days. Although the partial box I ripped had this one inside. Arias is a pretty decent looking prospect, who logged some decent time with Cleveland in 2022. Plus this is a very nice looking card, with a supa-loopy signature. 

#63 - 2022 Diamond Kings - Jarren Duran - Autograph

Is he better than Bobby Dalbec? Is he better than Tristan Casas? I'm starting to become as weary of Red Sox prospects as I am the Yankees prospects. This Duran (numbered 22/50) came from a box of 2022 Diamond Kings I ripped last Spring. And it seems like he's already falling out of Boston's plans.

#62 - 2022 Topps Update - Carlos Correa & Byron Buxton

Topps went all sorts of Twins wacky for their 2022 Update set, including a ridiculous amount of Twins in a 330 card set. I'm not complaining about that since I'm a Twins fan. But I can still imagine collectors all over the country getting irritated when opening packs and finding all sorts of Caleb Thielbar, Chris Archer, Jorge Alcala, Chris Paddack and Cole Sands. 

My favorite being this combo card of Correa and Buxton. The superstar shortstop, who signed here only because he couldn't find anyone willing to spend $300 million on him, took our $35 million and immediately opted out as soon as he could. Standing next to him is the guy drafted immediately after him in 2012, who liked Minnesota so much that he signed a creative low ball contract, that reflected his injury risk and history, instead of trying to find more money elsewhere. 

This card probably tells the best story in the entire set.

And uhhh.... 

Whatever...

#61 - 2020 Bowman Chrome 1990 Anniversary - Dylan Cease - Green Refractor

Picked up from the LCS last spring, before Cease had his best season to date. Knowing his potential, $8 for his rookie card, serial numbered 24/99 seemed like a great price. Wasn't wrong there...

#60 - 2013 Topps Pro Debut - Byron Buxton

$3 for a Buxton minor league sea turtle card, at one of the Valley West Mall Card Shows last summer. I miss the Elizabethton Twins. When MLB consolidated the minor leagues a couple years ago, the entire Appalachian League was cut. That included the Twins rookie ball team in Elizabethton Tennessee, part of Minnesota's organization from 1974 to 2020. They didn't even get to play their final season, thanks to Covid.

#59 - 2019 Topps Gold - Charlie Blackmon - All Star

$1 from that same Valley West Mall Card Show.

I like it!

#58 - 2022 Topps Update - Albert Pujols - Paragons of the Postseason - Blue

Was nice to see Pujols on Cardinals cards again. I pulled this blue parallel before seeing one of the base cards, so i was under the assumption that the blue border was the base. Not a bank breaking insert, but I was happy to add this to the Pujols collection. 

#57 - 2022 Topps Pro Debut Chrome - Misael Urbina - Gold Refractor

No, this is not the 2022 Topps Pro Debut Chrome Refractor I was hinting at earlier. That's still coming later. This is just a sweet Gold Refractor of a fairly hyped Twins prospect, currently a Might Mussel.

Pulled from another hobby jumbo, as soon as I saw the refractory gold border mixed amongst the chrome, I was excited. Gold Refractors are always awesome. And 13/50 is pretty cool. Urbina needs some more base hits, but the walk and stolen bases are looking pretty good for a 20 year old.

I'd been on a Twins hot streak regarding 2022 Pro Debut, also pulling this...

#56 - 2022 Topps Pro Debut Chrome - Austin Martin - Refractor

After a really lackluster year and a half run with the AA Wichita Wind Surge, Martin logged a stellar 2022 run in the Arizona Fall League. There have been wrist injuries to blame for a lot of his struggles, making him another Twins prospect slowed by wrist injuries. Alex Kirilloff can relate. But writers are starting to bypass him when talking about Twins prospects, so I'm really hoping he has a big 2023 with the St. Paul Saints. 

This is just a basic Refractor, numbered 95/99.

So this is still not the 2022 Topps Pro Debut Chrome Refractor I hyped a few cards back. 

It's still coming...

#55 - 2021 Choice - Willians Astudillo

Another table at the (now) famed Valley West Mall Card Show had a large amount of Twins minor league cards that I hadn't seen before. One of my all time favorite players spent 2022 with the Miami Marlins and their minor league system, but he finished up his 4 year Twins run splitting 2021 between the Twins and St. Paul Saints. For this picture, he wore his Twins catchers gear over his Saints uniform. Saving money, very frugal!

Astudillo will head to the Land of the Rising Sun for 2023, signing a nice contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball. I will definitely miss seeing highlights of his somewhat frequent pitching appearances on MLB Network. 

Even yet another table had a bunch of cards from a set I'd never seen before. According to info on the card backs, these came out in 2006 and feature art by Andy Nelson. The subject of the set is some of the more famous alumni of the St. Paul Saints. Stupidly, I only bought three cards from the set, I really wish I would have tried to get all of it.

The three I did buy...

2006 Andy Nelson Collection - St. Paul Saints - Jack Morris

2006 Andy Nelson Collection - St. Paul Saints - JD Drew

2006 Andy Nelson Collection - St. Paul Saints - Wayne Terwilliger

Yeah, I need to find more cards from this set...

Whatever...

#54 - 2020 Topps Silver Pack - Fernando Tatis Jr. - Green Refractor

An early 2022 LCS pickup, I was counting on a big season from Tatis Jr., and found this great looking card, numbered 2/99, for $10. This was before the injury from one of his motorcycle accidents had been disclosed, and DEFINITELY before his steroid test failure became public. 

Well... It's still a nice card...

#53 - 2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces - Josh Willingham - Strokes Of Genius

Upper Deck Masterpieces... The set that current day Topps Gallery REALLY wishes it was...

#52 - 2004 Leaf Exhibit - Rod Carew

This sweet card was previously covered in the Twins vs Rockies story. I have nothing more I need to add about it.

Unlike this one...

1969 Topps Rod Carew

On my last visit to the LCS of 2022, the staff had started to do year end inventory of the store. One shelf has about 20 albums full of vintage cards from the 1950's to the late 1970's. I overheard a conversation about upgrading a Rod Carew card from the album, to the Twins case. My ears perked up and saw the card. Now I didn't remember if I had this already, or if I didn't. 

Well, to be on the safe side, I should probably just buy it. 

I already had it...

#51 - 2020 Bowman Heritage - Andrew Vaughn - Autograph Refractor

Story from 2021 Bowman Draft Day.

Pal's had two hobby boxes of 2020 Bowman Heritage in the store last Summer. I didn't buy a full box, and instead just bought several packs on each visit. I wrote about that experience last year. None of those packs had an autograph in them (but one of them DID have a Superfractor, my first!), I was still hoping to pull one at some point. After I wrote that story, Brian told me that he ordered another box of 2020 Bowman Heritage, so I could continuing collecting the flashback to one of my favorite sets of all time, 1992 Bowman. 

On Bowman Draft Day, Pal's was down to just over half of that box left. I'd been picking away at it diligently, likely with no competition. Even though I've pulled the autograph, I'm not going to stop buying packs. After all, when I bought the last three packs from the box in August, one of them had a Superfractor! I doubt those have all been pulled!

Those packs eventually sold out, with me buying most of them. I found no more autographs and no Superfractors either. 

#50 - 1996 Leaf Studio - Kirby Puckett - Hit Parade

Serial numbered 4568/5000, which seems to be an astronomical amount, but 1996 was just coming out of the Junk Wax Era. How easy are Donruss Elite cards (numbered to 10,000 copies each) to pull from packs? Now, I probably did, but I certainly don't remember ever seeing these inserts back in the day. And I certainly ripped MANY packs of 1996 Studio. 

To the point where I don't want to see any 1996 Studio cards again. They're the 1993 Topps of 1996 cards.

Except this one. This card is really cool!

#49 - 2019 Topps - Aaron Nola - 1984 Anniversary Jersey

Philadelphia isn't going to compete with the New York Mets for largest payroll in the division, but I'm really liking the roster the Phillies are putting together. Actually, I like the Phillies roster better than the Mets. They made it to the World Series in 2022, and it's not far fetched to see them back in 2023. Quality $5 pickup from the LCS.

#48 - 2014 Bowman Chrome - Nick Gordon - Autograph

As featured in the Topps Chrome Museum Fire story.

Not a whole lot more to add to that.

#47 - 2012 Bowman Ice - Justin Morneau

Gotta love the Bowman Ice parallels that were printed for a few years. Chrome gets all the fun stuff these days, but Ice parallels gave the paper base cards something attractive to chase. Another cheap $1 card from the Valley West Mall Card Show. 

Just like this next one. Which wasn't $1.

#46 - 2020 Diamond Kings DK Originals - Josh Donaldson - Autograph

It was actually $20. Pretty steep, but I needed a Donaldson autograph, and this one had the endlessly appealing serial number of 99/99. 

Recently, the Dodgers diverged themselves of Trevor Bauer's contract, after he completed his MLB suspension for naughty bedroom activities. Bauer is now a free agent, who would only cost the team signing him the league minimum of $720,000, with the Dodgers picking up the remaining $20 million or so left. I posed the question of weather he would would be a good pickup for the Twins, given his rather heavy baggage. 

While he was never found guilty of anything, nor did he even face assault charges, he does have a lengthy pattern of being a complete tool. A useful tool, but a tool nonetheless. 

Personally, I would roll the dice on signing him. A lot of people disagree, and I fully understand why. But I've always felt the Twins have lacked an edge. Something that gives them a little more fight. Minnesota Nice is a real thing and it's a crutch. I'd hoped that signing Donaldson in 2020 would have given us some swagger, but the best part of his Twins run was convincing the Yankees to take on his entire contract in a trade.

Still don't know how we managed to get the Yankees to pay him...

Whatever.

#45 - 2021 Leaf Flash Baseball - Ty Madden - Autograph

Yay! Prospect autographs!

Supa shiney and sparkley prospect autographs!

2021 Leaf Flash Wax Box

Last spring, I dropped $110 on this box, for the specific purpose of getting a bunch of supa shiny and sparkly prospect autographs, and that's precisely what I got. It was tacked into the 2022 MLB Draft Panini Prospecting story, because it felt appropriate there.

So why did I choose Ty Madden for this Whatever?

If I recall correctly, Ty Madden was the only 1 of 1 card I pulled in 2022. 

Not sure where he ranks in terms of Detroit Tigers top prospects, but he did have a really promising 2022 season, pitching in both high A and AA. Going a combined 8-6 3.01 ERA, over 26 combined starts. Obviously on an innings limit for his first season out of college, Madden pitched 122 innings, giving up only 97 hits and 38 walks, while striking out 133. 

If he can avoid catching Tommy John Surgery (unlike so many of his Detroit pitching partners), those numbers point to a possible decent Major League Career. Making an autographed supa shiny and sparkly prospect 1 of 1 card a real nice thing to have.

But pitchers are risky, and I'm crossing my fingers every time I see #44 whip off a nasty slider...

#44 - 2022 Donruss - Joe Ryan - Pink Fireworks Autograph

You can read all about it in the Twins vs Rockies story.

#43 - 2013 Panini Cooperstown - Satchel Paige

Early in 2022, the LCS was blowing out packs of 2013 Panini Cooperstown, for $4 a piece. I bought a couple, hoping for a Hall of Fame autograph. One that would go along with the Roberto Alomar auto I pulled from a pack, that was inside a Fairfield Repack, back in 2018. No autographs this time around, but this really cool Satchel Paige card was my big hit. 

Even better, Panini was allowed to use the Negro League trademarks and logos, so his Kansas City Monarchs uniform could appear unaltered.

#42 - 2022 Bowman Chrome - Estiven Machado - Blue Wave or Lava or Somethingfractor

Another $10 pickup from the LCS. Numbered 38/150, I fell in love at first sight with the wavy refractory awesomeness going on all over Machado's 1st Bowman card. The scan does not do this card justice. 

#41 - 2019 Topps Tier One - Sandy Alcantara - Autograph

Sure do love picking up $5 cards from the LCS during the offseason, then watching said player have a career year.

#40 - 2022 Topps Update Silver Pack - Carlos Correa

When I dropped by the LCS for a box of 2022 Topps Update, I found this card in the Twins Bin for $2. 

Yeah, I’m not turning that down.

Now I'm beginning to wonder if Correa will even sign with a team before I'm finished writing this post. For a week, it looked like he would be a San Francisco Giant. Then for two weeks it looked like he would be a New York Met. Now there's a slim chance he could return to the Minnesota Twins. Next week, he'll be talking to the Kintetsu Buffalos. By February he'll be a Kansas City Monarch, with a break to attend Spring Training with the House of David.

Do the Twins really need a shortstop?

Well, we do. And it'll mean we can take the pressure off #39...

We know this guy will be out until the 2023 All Star Break...

#39 - 2021 Panini Contenders - Royce Lewis - Autograph

$12 at the only card shows I seem to attend... This was acquired shortly after Lewis blew up his ACL for the second time, while playing center field. He did make a Buxtonesque spectacular catch while tearing his knee apart. Which makes me believe that the Twins built Target Field over an Indian burial ground or something. Center field at least.

Maybe we wont actually need a new shortstop?

2022 Bowman Chrome Draft - Brooks Lee

2022 First Round Draft Pick (8th overall) sign with Minnesota shortly after the draft and blazed his way up to AA Wichita before the 2022 season ended. Scouts are saying he's not far off, and could be playing in Minnesota by the All Star Break. You don't want to get too caught up in the prospect hype, but I'm big on Lee's potential for the Twins.

If it works out for Correa signing with the Twins, you have Lee that could allow him to move to third down the line. Move Miranda to first base. Trade Arraez for pitching. Pure speculation on my part.

Beyond any of the autographs, inserts or Refractors, Brooks Lee was the driving force in my excitement for 2022 Bowman Draft Day.

So I went a tad nuts, buying both a 2022 Bowman Draft Hobby Box and a 2022 Bowman Draft Lights 100 Box. (It's now been nearly 6 months since my last cigarette... I MISS THEM SO MUCH!!!) As I said, I'm really interested in Brooks Lee cards, anything else is gravy...

2022 Bowman Draft - Nick Biddison - Orange Refractor Autograph

An Orange Refractor numbered 21/25, well that's pretty cool. But I think I like the base Brooks Lee and Chrome Brooks Lee more. (Flipping the card over, not that excited about Nick Biddison's potential, though I need to do more research...) Perhaps if Biddison played for a team I didn't detest... 

He also forgot to finish his signature, just going with N Biddi. 

Guess that "ick son" was too much effort.

I'm not writing a dedicated 2022 Bowman Draft story this year. Results of my 2 box break are here, so zoom in and pretend I wrote even more words here. Obviously the Biddison was the top prize, but there wasn't much I feel like writing about. Ripping it was a lot of fun, and it will all be boxed up and ignored for a few years, Just like 2020 and 2021 Bowman Draft are. When I FINALLY get around to sorting all the 2020-2022 cards, it will probably be 2025 and a pleasant surprise to see who the newest superstars are. 

Maybe even Biddison.

Hopefully Brooks Lee!

#38 - 2022 Stadium Club Chrome - Joe Ryan - Orange Refractor

Stadium Club never disappoints, and pulling an Orange Refractor, numbered 86/99, of your new favorite Twins pitcher, is always going to be uber cool!

#37 - 2022 Absolute - Reid Detmers - Tools - Quad Jersey Autograph

Probably my favorite retail hit of the year. Story can be read in Topps Chrome Museum Fire.

I have found a bit of 2022 Panini Chronicles at retail stores, but haven't hit anything of note from them. Nothing even serial numbered I don't think. So avoid retail packs of Panini Chronicles. But if you are lucky enough to stumble into hobby boxes of Panini Chronicles, they're one of the funnest unlicensed rips you could buy.

#36 - 2022 Panini Chronicles Optic Contenders - Shohei Ohtani - Red Cracked Ice

Even ignoring the three autographs in six packs that boxes of Panini Chronicles offer, there's great chances at low serial numbered cards. This Ohtani is 4/25. Which is pretty awesome to pull from a pack. Red for the Angels is just a bonus.

Honorable Mention: 2022 Panini Chronicles - Jasson Dominguez - Redemption

This would be my best autograph pulled from 2022 Panini Chronicles. But since I don't have it in hand, I can't properly rank it. Who even knows if Dominguez pans out? I'm skeptical just given the hyped Yankee prospect stigma. Now will Jasson end up as a Pittsburgh Pirate in some form of trade for Brian Reynolds? It's been rumored, but does that rumor have legs?

#35 - 2022 Panini Chronicles Recon - Lars Nootbaar

Nootbaar may just go from that fourth outfielder with a strange name to an actual star for the St. Louis Cardinals. He took some major steps forward in 2022, and I'm very anxious to see what his 2023 looks like. Willing to bet there's at least one more Nootbaar to come...

Hopefully one that spotlights something other than his ass...

#34 - 2022 Topps Archives Signature Series - Kenta Maeda

Needed a Maeda autograph for the Twins collection, almost as much as the Twins need him to come back and pitch like a Cy Young Award contender. This Archives buy back (87/99) is one of the better photos from that awful 2021 Topps set.

I really dislike 2021 Topps. 

#33 - 1993 Fleer - Bob Natal

Natal was understandably missing from the 1993 Fleer Montreal Expos team set I bought a years ago. I honestly didn't know this card existed until it fell out of a Fairfield Repack last summer. So, is this a Marlins card or an Expos card. Well, it's both. But it will have a welcome home in the Expos binder, instead of the Marlins box.

Still made me happier than even Bob looks. 

One thing that stood out about collecting in 2022, was the overall lack of cards I’m interested in at retail stores. Still feeling like I need to buy something from the card shelves, I’ve started picking these up from Targets and Walmart’s, whenever I find them:

$5.99 for a package of 500 UltraPro Sleeves is still a pretty good deal. I paused the massive sorting project for most of 2022, but I plan on restarting it this winter. I know that I’m going to need a ridiculous amount of penny sleeves to finish this project, so stocking up as I find them will be a big help. 

Sometimes you can even find a 1000 pack for $12!

#32 - 2022 Absolute - Billy Martin

This card popped up in a break at the LCS. I did not have the Yankees, so I didn't get it. But it was soon pasted into memory, and I set out to find one at the (say it along with me) Valley West Mall Card Show. 50 cents later and it was mine!

#31 - 2007 Upper Deck - 1987 Twins - Joe Niekro

Now what is this? Apparently in 2007, Upper Deck put together a small set commemorating the 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins. I'm assuming this was a stadium giveaway during the weekend where the Twins honored the 20th anniversary of that team. But I'd never seen these before. Same card show, one dealer's table had multiple singles from this set, all between 50 cents and $1 each (except Kirby Puckett, who was $3). I selected a bunch of my favorites, but did not try to complete the entire 27 card set. So I went home missing 5 cards from it.

Now I really want those 5 cards...

#30 - 2022 Bowman - Joe Ryan - Lime Green

Still haven't left that card show, because I needed to drop $8 on another Joe Ryan card!

#29 - 2022 Topps Chrome - Kyle Tucker - Blue Refractor

Previously covered in the Topps Chrome Museum Fire story

As Kyle Tucker (serial numbered 5 of 150) continues to establish himself as a rising star for the Houston Astros, I'm very cool with having this card. Even if it is an Astros card. Nice when you buy one pack and get something like this out of it.

#28 - 1998 Leaf Rookie & Stars - David Ortiz

There's still quite a few Ortiz Twins cards I don't have, and this was a nice one to cross off the list. Actually, the day I bought this card from the LCS, was the first time I saw a copy. Never would have imaged back in 1998 when I was actively looking for David Ortiz Twins cards that he'd eventually be a Hall of Famer, but it figures he'd have to leave Minnesota in order for that to happen.

#27 - 2020 Topps Heritage - Luis Tiant - Real Ones Autograph

Tiant's Twins career lasted all of 18 games in 1970. Making it kind of strange that Topps actually chose the Twins for Tiant's Heritage Real One Autograph. You'd expect Red Sox (8 years) or Cleveland (6 years) as teams that better represent Tiant's exceptional Major League Career. Either way, as soon as I saw this card in a case at a certain Card Show, it became a must buy.

#26 - 2022 Stadium Club - Kirby Puckett

Stadium Club once again with a great moment captured on a card. Celebrating their 1991 World Series victory, Puckett is shown with teammates Junior Ortiz, Rick Aguilera, Carl Willis and Chuck Knoblauch, all visible in this photo. 

Hard to believe this was over 30 years ago now...

#25 - 2001 Upper Deck Heroes Of Baseball - Kirby Puckett - Bat Chunk

Until I found this card at the LCS, I didn't have a Puckett bat card. Not a big fan of the card design, but can't complain because it's a Puckett bat card. Only $15 as well!

Whatever...

The dawning of 2023 means plans of finally organizing the collections this year. 

Laura and I moved into this house over 4 years ago now, and the large basement storage room has never been fully set up. One half, titled New Baseballcardland, is dedicated to (what else) baseball memorabilia storage. The other half, The Home of Happy Playthings, is dedicated to collectable toys. To date, nothing has been sorted out to where it needs to be. More and more boxes have been added to the room, with clutter overtaking nearly the whole 24' x 9' space. 

First step in this extensive process was the add more shelving to the space. Luckily, the WalMarts had these matching plastic 24" x 36" x 72" shelves on sale. Still $65 a piece, which was about as cheap as shelves come these days. I got the other four wire shelves from the Targets for $30 each, back in 2018. So I guess the price of storage has gone up just like everything else...

Oh well, they are sorely needed...

Whatever...

#24 - 2022 Donruss - JJ Bleday - Rated Prospect Diamond

JJ Bleday gets a small spotlight since there were no Miami Marlins cards to make the unfinished 2022 Topps Update Whatever. Bleday also should have had his rookie card in the set, but missed Topps arbitrary cut-off date, meaning Marlins fans have to wait for 2023 Topps Series One, for his first rookie card.

All that and I really liked this parallel, even if I don't know what it's called.

#23 - 2019 Panini National Treasures - Victor Victor Mesa - 6 Jersey Swatch

Staying in Miami for #23, we have our old friend with the redundant name, Victor Victor Mesa. Given his extremely pedestrian statistics he's put up in Miami's farm system, I'm skeptical he ever advances to the Major League Fish. Which sucks, as I really really wanted to see him make it.

#22 - 2022 Bowman Chrome It Came To The League - Colton Cowser - Autograph

Cowser is one of Baltimore's top prospects, and the LCS had this new autographed insert card (numbered 14/99) for only $12. You never know what you'll find when you dig through the team boxes. This is the type of thing I'll buy every time I see something like it for sale.

#21 - 2022 Stadium Club - Jose Berrios

I've ripped a couple boxes of 2022 Stadium Club and not seen a base card I like better than Jose Berrios. (The Babe Ruth trumpeting next to Lou Gehrig card is very close, but I don't have a copy of that.) The photo taken at Target Field, during the Twins team Hall of Fame induction weekend, shows Berrios talking with Twins legend Rod Carew. Fellow team Hall of Famer Johan Santana can be seen over Carew's shoulder. Not sure who the grey haired gentleman behind Carew is, but a slightly different angle may have bumped this card up another 5 slots.

We're now getting into the top 20 of the Whatever.

Doubt I've kept very many readers who started this, by now...

So the number 20 card comes from a recent purchase at the WalMarts...

Hey look, it's Colton Cowser!

While shopping for cheap blank T-shirts and microwave sausage patties, I found two 2022 Bowman Platinum Mega Boxes on the shelf. Knowing they weren't cheap, I only bought one of them. It rang out at some price in the $90-$100 range (can't remember exactly what it cost), which seems high for retail. But if this Bowman product guaranteeing 2 autographs was a hobby box, it would a lot more than $100. 

#20 - 2022 Bowman Platinum - Charlie Blackmon - Green Refractor

Yiddi Cappe was mentioned about 7 years ago, but my favorite card in the box was this Charlie Blackmon Green Refractor, numbered 75/99. Denver absence is decreasing my Rockies love (even more than their poor management), but Charlie Blackmon will always be one of my favorite players. That and this card is absolutely gorgeous.

#19 - 2022 Topps Tier One - Tim Raines - Autograph

I've needed a Tim Raines autograph for the collection for many years. The LCS has had a Raines autographed White Sox card in the team bin for as long as I've been going there. But the signature is badly faded, and it's a White Sox card, so while I've debated it, it's never been a serious gotta have it card. 

Then one day this appeared in the case. It cost more that the White Sox card because it should. I'd gladly pay more for an on card Expos autograph. It was $25, but who cares. This card was a must own.

#18 - 2022 Topps Inception - Alex Kirilloff - Autograph Relic

This sweet autograph with an absolutely sick patch was already covered in that underrated Twins vs Rockies story, from last Summer. I can't think of anything else to add.

#17 - 2022 Topps Chrome Black - Torii Hunter - Autograph

I can't imagine ever dropping the type of money for unopened backs of Topps Chrome Black, but I'll gladly pick up any autographed singles I want for a fraction of the price. My third certified Torii Hunter autograph was partially purchased with a gift card to the LCS, that I received on my birfday. The other part of that gift card will be revealed later in the Whatever.

#16 - 2022 Topps Tribute - Byron Buxton - Autograph Purple

Previously mentioned in the Topps Chrome Museum Fire story. This Buxton is another of those cards in this segment of Whatever where I wont pay the going price for unopened packs, but will buy the singles I want for far less. I already have two Buxton autographs that I like VERY much, but this is the first one from Topps. So it has logos!

#15 - 2019 Topps Five Star - Willians Astudillo - Autograph

Tough for me to rank Astudillo ahead of such a great Buxton card, but those awesome retro Twins pinstriped uniforms pushed Willians over the top. 2019 was the last year they wore them, and given the abominations Nike will dress Minnesota in for 2023, Twins cards are about to look a whole lot cheaper.

#14 - 2021 Topps Museum Collection - Trevor Story - Autograph Jersey

Another deeply discounted single from a Valley West Card Show. I do love the dealers that offer better prices for the more you buy. When I go to a card show these days, I'm looking to spend my money as follows:

1-2 big cards, in the $50-$100 range.

Anywhere from 5-20 cards in the $10-$30 range.

Bulk singles in the range of $1-$5, or less. As many as I feel are worth buying.

Now when I find a dealer who has multiple $10-$30 cards I want, and is willing to drop the price per card once I'm around $50-$100 worth, they're going to get the bulk of my money. There's also the handy Twins guy, who excellent inventory usually gets around $100 at his table alone. I remember this Story being priced at $15, but I bought so much other stuff from him, I doubt I paid more than $5 for it.

And that's awesome!

#13 - 2017 Bowman Chrome - Luis Arraez - Autograph

I wrote about this Arraez in the Twins vs Rockies story.

No new developments have changed my opinions on it since then.

#12 - 2007 SP Legendary Cuts - Kirby Puckett - Jersey

Just as I said earlier that I didn't have a Kirby Puckett bat card before, I also didn't have a Kirby Puckett jersey card either. About the same time the LCS had the bat card show up in the case, this jersey card showed up. It was more expensive than the bat card, but it's a whole lot nicer looking. In real life it is. This scan kinda looks like crap.

All of these new Twins cards will have a much nicer and better organized home once I can get around to setting up New Baseballcardland. 

The current set up doesn't have the right amount of space needed for the Twins and Expos collections. The Rockies fit, only because there's considerably less of them. The first shelf was placed against the wall, replacing a single tiered card table. Which was not a very practical use of that precious space. 

Soon as the shelves were assembled, five boxes of sleeved duplicate Twins, Expos and Rockies cards found a temporary home there. They will be moved to a better and more appropriate shelf, once the rest of those team collections are put together.

The second shelf fit snugly in the previously shelf-less corner, making a much better use of that space. What was there previously was easily dispersed around the room to better places. Before this shelf was added, this was a very dead corner, filled with wasted potential. I'm envisioning this shelf to be used for mainly boxes of stuff that wont be displayed. Which will free up the other shelves for better use. 

Now I just need to have the time to really work on it.

Someday...

Whatever...

#11 - 2022 Gypsy Queen - Juan Soto - Autograph

You can read all about this Soto that my mom got in a Hobby box of Gypsy Queen we split last summer, then gifted me, in that now famous Twins vs Rockies story.

#10 - 2021 Topps Archives - Lauren Shehadi - Fan Favorites Autograph

Lauren should probably rank slightly higher based on how happy I was to buy this card at which card show? Why it would have to be the Valley West Mall Card Show! I've had a serious crush on Shehadi since she first appeared on MLB Network, over a decade ago. So an autographed card was a must own, as soon as I knew that Topps was making one. Didn't happen in 2017, when her first Topps cards came out, but I found this one, and it was only $20! 

Sure am glad former MLB first baseman Sean Casey didn't accidentally kill her back in 2015!

Whatever...

#9 - 1982 Fleer - Pete Falcone

Number 9 in the 2022 Baseball Top Whatever, was also number 1 in the New Fairfield Repack Whatever! I love this card so much, I'll just reprint what I wrote on that post:

Seriously, wow... There is so much going on here.

A New York Mets pitcher opening packs of 1981 Fleer for his 1982 Fleer card.

The guy with his spinal cord about to burst out of his lower back, sitting next to him. 

Hideous shirts hanging next to his extra Mets jerseys, in his locker.

Extra jersey name plates under his glove, on the stool next to him, that aren't even his name. 

Sunglasses guy above his head...

I think this might be one of the single greatest baseball cards of all time!

If only there was something interesting on the concrete floor, next to his shoe...

Amazing job Fleer...

Speaking of 1980's Fleer...

For X-Mess this year, Laura's mom gave me two wax boxes of 1984 Fleer! One was full of sealed packs, the other was a full box worth of opened packs. Her husband had bought these years ago when he was working in a retail store that carried baseball cards. I already have a complete set of 1984 Fleer, so I have no problems leaving the one box complete. 

The box of opened packs was a little more intriguing. It even came with a promotional shelf price sign, which is something I'd never seen before. Since I wasn't going to open any of the sealed packs, the box of opened packs would be almost the same thing, without having to deal with wrappers. 

I had no idea if they'd been searched after opening, the only way to find out would be looking to see what wasn't here...

Some of the 1984 Fleer Hall of Famers. There was no Don Mattingly rookie cards, but that doesn't mean anything. The contents of the box had a healthy selection of Hall of Fame stars, suggesting that what was in the box was what was opened, when Laura's father opened the box worth of packs, back in 1984. 

1984 Fleer Expos.

Most of these were needed.

1984 Fleer Twins.

I didn't need as many of these as I did the Expos, but a fair number of them are new to my Twins binder.

And in the category of Better Late Than Never...

1984 Fleer Darryl Strawberry

Wish I would have had this when I posted my awesome Darryl Strawberry story. Which more people had clicked on than I ever would have imagine. Maybe I need to write more stories that amuse only me?

Whatever...

Before we get to number 8 on the Whatever, I have to mention the LCS had a drawing recently, and I was lucky enough to win the grand prize of a $100 Gift Card!

Which was rather funny since it's been a running joke that I never remember to use the $5 off coupons they occasionally run. If you were to do a little snooping in New Baseballcardland, or on my office desk, you'd probably find at least 30 of them from the last four years. But this time I was convinced to not only use one on my purchase, but to fill out the back of the coupon to enter the drawing.

And then promptly forget about it.

On December 3, 2022, I stopped in at Pal's Sports Cards, intending to buy a Stadium Club Hobby Box. As soon as I walked over to the team sorted card bins, I was handed my prize. So that box of Stadium Club cost a whole lot less than I was budgeting. Meaning I could buy that box, as well as a box of 2022 Panini Chronicles. (The box that netted me the Jasson Dominguez autograph redemption.) What a day that was!

We know what the Chronicles offered up, did Stadium Club have anything fun and/or awesome?

#8 - 2022 Stadium Club Chrome - Kris Bryant - Autograph Refractor

Why yes it did! Kinda wanted a Kris Bryant autograph since he entered the league. But this was no crappy Cubs card, nor a grotesque Giants card, this was a Colorado Rockies autographed Refractor! Serial numbered 16/24! 

So that day was all sorts of perfect!

#7 - 2001 Donruss Elite Throwback Threads - Harmon Killebrew

Months earlier, my Pal's at Pal's sold me this sweet Killebrew jersey card. Looking at that swatch of material, I'm kind of sad that such an artifact would be chopped into pieces, just to be glued into a baseball card. It's also serial numbered 40/100, wonder if those 100 came from the same jersey? I don't know what year it's from, but I would lean more towards the earlier days of the Twins than any year in the 1970's.

#6 - 1985 7-11 Minnesota Twins - Kirby Puckett

As mentioned in the 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary story:

In other sets I'm trying to collect news: Last weekend I went from having just 1 card, to owning 7, from the 1985 7-Eleven Minnesota Twins set! A 13 card set that I had most of when I was a kid, and got destroyed because I was a kid. I went back to the Valley West card show and picked up a bunch of cool stuff, that I may or may not write about. One of the key finds of the day was six cards from that set, including the Kirby Puckett rookie.

Now that I'm over half way there, I'm obligated to see it through...

#5 - 2022 Allen & Ginter Get That Bread - Italian Sub

The Targets had blasters of 2022 Allen & Ginter a few weeks ago. I picked one up with the other needed supplies, and found this inside. It about damn time they started putting big ass sammiches on baseball cards! This is something I fully endorse!

My ideal Italian Sub doesn't need to be as complicated as the card back describes, The usual selection of sliced deli meats and cheeses, plus some white onion (NONE of that purple onion crap!), lettuce, tomatoes and salt. I've yet to find a decent local sub shop to my liking, but for a chain, Jersey Mike's is the best on going for a good Italian Sub. Which on their menu is a Number 2. 

Going back to Colorado, I've often had a tough time walking up to the counter and telling the you sammich making girl that I'd like a Giant #2, with a straight face. One time I just couldn't hold it together and say it without cracking up. Which made the overenthusiastic girl in the tight khaki pants laugh with me.

Whatever.

In case you need a category for best baseball set of 2022, it absolutely has to be:

2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Hobby Box

(From the 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary story.)

Early in the summer of 2021, I was visiting Pal’s Sports Cards, talking about upcoming 2021 baseball card releases. Brian was talking up a new Topps Chrome set that would be coming out in a few months. It would be a massive 700 card tribute to Topps 70th Anniversary of making baseball cards. He said it would feature players from the past 70 years, using the 1952 design. Sill to be sold in Topps’ typical 4 card packs, with 24 to a box. Which is fine when the set is limited to 100-200 cards, but putting out a 700 card set using this type of format is entirely new territory.

In early July (2022), I finally got my hands on a Hobby Box of 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary.

And I loved it.

Looking at the checklist, the set would break down as roughly 125 rookie cards, 225 legends and fan favorites, and about 350 current MLB players. Which is a pretty decent mix for a set trying to accomplish an anniversary piece, while still trying to be a current release.

#4 - 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Steve Rogers - Red Atomic Refractor

Also from the 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary story, because, duh!

Now there's a deep cut! Steve Rogers pitched for the Expos from 1973-1985, putting up a 158-152 record over 13 seasons, all with Montreal. Solid, but definitely not spectacular numbers for his career. An obscure Expo to begin with, his inclusion in the set made me start seriously thinking that I want to put the whole 700 card shebang together. 

I've not taken on a big card project in probably over a decade. The last I think was 2007's Upper Deck set, clocking in at a massive 1020 cards. Most of that was put together from heavily discounted jumbo packs, from the old Englewood, CO, KMart. I finished it in early 2009. Buying the last 14 commons, where everything else came from packs. When you can pick up 50+ cards to a set for just over $3, it's pretty easy to accumulate a whole lot of them, quick and cheap

Putting a full set of 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary would be anything but... 

My mom pulled the Steve Rogers' base card from a pack, and gave it to me, because she had no use for it. Instantly it was my favorite card in the set. If Topps went with some of the more unrecognized players to sprinkle into the typical stars in the set, well now I really want it...

The second Lite Box I opened (I'll get to that) had this Steve Rogers Red Atomic Refractor, serial numbered to 100, inside. Clearly, that is a direct message from the baseball card gods, saying I need to collect this set.

2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary will likely take years to complete. And I'm fine with that.

But there's no Wander Franco?

Hooray! There's no Wander Franco! 

Now you people wont artificially jack the prices, just to look for your junk bonds! 

Topps finally put out a product that hits in a whole lot of the right places. They made a set specifically to interest and challenge me. 

Well I accept, Topps.

No matter how long it takes...

At the end of 2022, I am 43 cards short of the set.

Now remember way back in 2006 when I started talking about that great 2022 Topps Pro Debut Chrome Refractor I pulled from a pack this fall? 

#3 - 2022 Topps Pro Debut Chrome - Jordan Lawlar - Red Refractor Autograph

Numbered a meager 3/5, there aren't a lot of more hyped prospects in the set than Lawlar. It was cool enough to open the pack and see a red border mixed in with the silver of the stack of Chrome cards, amongst all the base. Then there was the pure shock to see it was one of the rarest cards the product offered. One of my best pack pulls of a lifetime. Pure odds anyways. Can't even imagine what this could be if Lawlar ends up in the Hall of Fame in 2050. 

I probably wont be alive then...

Whatever...

Speaking of callbacks...

Remember the Topps Chrome Black Torii Hunter autograph I said I bought with part of my bifrday Pal's gift card, last March? The rest of that gift card went for:

#2 - 2022 Topps Inception - Lars Nootbaar - Autograph Jersey

Nootbaar proved by the end of 2022 that I spent $75 of gift card capital on actual potential, instead of just feeding the wacky niche of my collection. 

Now it's time for the number 1 card of 2022. Before I get to what that card will be, let me drag this out even further by describing the best hobby box I opened in 2022. If not the greatest wax box I've ever opened in my life. 

And it happens to be...

2022 Topps Update?

Topps kind of blew it with the players chosen for the packaging. Nothing at all against Max Scherzer, but I would have removed him, shift Pete Alonso to the left side, and put new San Diego Padres acquisition, Juan Soto, in Scherzer's place. That way the two jersey numbers would read: 20 22. Well, that's what I'd do...

I was fairly anxious to buy a box of 2022 Topps Update this year. Even though I completely ignored Series Two, after not finding too much of a problem with Series One. I liked the design well enough, but this set didn't blow me away. It was better than the last few years of Topps, just not enough to buy a bunch of it.

But Topps Traded/Update/Series 3 is usually a different beast. By the time it comes out, we've had 6 months of players of cards from last year. There's a lot of Photoshoppery being committed, and some updated photos in smaller sets over the summer, but this is the first look at recent acquisitions and rookies, on that year's official base card design.

An update if you will.

Which has evolved over the years into a separate release, not all that different than Series One or Two.

A long ways from this...

What we have today is better, but I miss these...

My LCS put out the word that boxes of 2022 Topps Update were available in limited quantities, with a limit of one box per customer per day. That's okay, I only want one box. I stopped by on the Friday afternoon, on my way to work. The box would be my end-of-the-week reward, after my shift. 

Pal's was sold out of Jumbo Boxes, so I settled for a regular Hobby Box. About a 100 cards less, and without the guaranteed autograph. But I didn't care too much about that. Chances are that autograph would be a borderline relief pitcher. I'll take my inevitable plain white jersey square of Whit Merrifield and be happy. Actually, I'm more bummed out by not getting 2 Silver Packs. I'll get over that.

Because I'm truly here for the base!

The day that Topps released the checklist for 2022 Topps Update, I checked it out. For whatever reason, Topps decided to include an abnormally high amount of Twins base cards in the set. More than pretty much every other team in baseball. Why? I’m not sure, but I’m glad they did this. I’m sure there’s a few of them that won’t see another Twins card in the future. 

And of course, work ran late… Instead of my shift ending at 10pm, I was still plugging away at 2am. Fridays mean that I have to get everything set up to run over the weekend, and nothing was approved until late. Combine that with malfunctioning equipment problems... 

Hate days like this...

Throughout my 12 hour shift, the box of 2022 Topps Update sat in a bag on my desk. Wasn't going to risk a car break-in ruining more of my day... I was only briefly tempted to open a pack or seven while eating that turkey sammich on my break. I didn't give in to that urge, and waited until I got home.

As I opened the packs, I set aside the cards I wanted to talk about, then put the rest back in the wrappers, back in the box and into one of the unsorted car shelves. Which will take months to deal with as I keep putting it off. I haven't sorted any new cards since 2019. 

No, we're still not at number one, but check this out!

Honorable Mention: 2022 Topps Update - Shohei Ohtani - All Star Stitch Autograph Redemption

I can't award this as the number one in the 2022 Whatever. It's not the real card. Don't get me wrong, it's all sorts of awesome, but it can't be number one. Not until I have the actually card in my hand.

And even then...

As I ripped the box, I kept wondering where my promised hit was. With every pack, I was just waiting for that Whit Merrifield white napkin swatch, that may or may not be game used. I was 23 packs in and I still hadn't found that guaranteed hit. Just in case something big was about to happen, knowing that I'd eventually write about this box, whether it would be a stand alone Whatever, or a part of something else, I took a photo of the last pack in the box.

I opened that last pack -hey! it's Connor Joe!- fanned the cards out and saw that familiar light cyan border...

Well, this is going to be interesting...

JUMPING JESUS ON A POGO STICK!

I was so excited by this that I momentarily forgot all about the included Silver Pack that I always save for last, before opening. 

Here's number 1 on the 2022 Baseball Top Whatever...

#1 - 2022 Topps Update Silver Pack - Greg Maddux - Autograph

No f**king way!

I hate the Atlanta Braves for everything they were between 1991 and 2004. (I have warmed slightly on them since the Expos moved to Washington.) But I have always had a respect for Greg Maddux, and his was an autograph I've always wanted. The best part of this is it's on a Cubs card. Maddux the Cub is better than Maddux the Brave, all day, every day. 

And the even bester part of this card?

7 of 10!

Yeah, I don't think I've ever opened a better box of cards in my life. Which was funny because there was absolutely nothing to be excited about until the last 2 packs. It gave me the base cards I wanted, but the inserts were just there. Ready to placed in a box and ignored until whatever year I finally got around to sorting them.

Well, I have to go. Gracie barricaded herself in the refrigerator to protest the Twins horrible new uniforms. 

The Twins have always had a contrasting outline (or two) on the lettering, until now. These look like incomplete screen printed garbage. More like T-shirts instead of an actual jersey. Nike... Can you as a company please finish the uniforms before putting them on sale? I guess you're hurting for money, but did you have to go so cheap on the lettering? Are you worried that any sort of detail on the team name or logo would distract from the most important part of the uniform, that god damn swoosh? 

Hate Nike so much...

I'll see if if I can cheer her up with some tuna nuggets.