Sunday, November 19, 2023

2023 Allen and Ginter Chicago Cubs Checklist

Number of Cards

400 cards in the 2023 Allen and Ginter collection included 14 Cubs players.

Size of Cards

The size of the cards are standard-size 2 ½ x 3 ½

Basic Features

Topps Allen and Ginter, which debuted in 2006, quickly became one of the company's most popular offerings. Current and retired baseball players, historical luminaries, current celebrities, and the occasional monument were all depicted on the cards. Each set included 300 base cards, 100 short prints, an autograph, and a set of game-used inserts.

Rip Cards were a one-of-a-kind creation for Topps Allen and Ginter. Each card can be split open to reveal a second card, a rare red ink autograph, a shortprinted small unique, a wood counterpart, or an original on the inside. Around one rip card was put each case. In 2014, Double Rip Cards were introduced.

For several years, Topps has been framing mini cards with autographs or gamed minis inside in their retro-tobacco themed sets. This concept was carried over into Topps Allen and Ginter, which included both an autograph and a game-used collection. Also inserted into packs were original A and G that were framed similar to the relic and autographed cards. Allen and Ginter are also known for their box topper insert sets of slightly oversized cards, as well as low serial number autographs and game-used cards.

In 2023, Topps marked the 17th anniversary of the popular Allen & Ginter series. Cards 301-400 were published as short prints and are part of the base set.


2023%20Allen%20&%20Ginter%20Double%20Rip%20Card%20Sammy%20Sosaa 2023%20Allen%20&%20Ginter%20Double%20Rip%20Card%20Sammy%20Sosab

Cody%20Bellinger%20Andre%20Dawson%20Cubs%202023%20Allen%20&%20Ginter%20DOUBLE%20RIP%20CARDa Cody%20Bellinger%20Andre%20Dawson%20Cubs%202023%20Allen%20&%20Ginter%20DOUBLE%20RIP%20CARDb



Chicago Cubs 2023 Topps Allen and Ginter Checklist


Number Player
54 Christopher More
57 Dansby Swanson
81 Trey Mancini
102 Cody Bellinger
119 Javier Assad RC
155 Hayden Wesneski
160 Greg Maddux
184 Andre Dawson
195 Patrick Wisdom
230 Seiya Suzuki
260 Nico Hoerner
347 Sammy Sosa SP
370 Andre Dawson SP
387 Greg Maddux SP


2023ag54a 2023ag54b

2023ag57a 2023ag57b

2023ag81a 2023ag81b

2023ag102a 2023ag102b

2023ag119a 2023ag119b

2023ag155a 2023ag155b

2023ag160a 2023ag160b

2023ag184a 2023ag184b

2023ag195a 2023ag195b

2023ag230a 2023ag230b

2023ag260a 2023ag260b

2023ag347a 2023ag347b

2023ag370a 2023ag370b

2023ag387a 2023ag387b

Player Card
Allen & Ginter Relics A
AGRA-CM Christopher Morel
Allen & Ginter Relics B
AGRB-DS Dansby Swanson
AGRB-EH Eric Hosmer
AGRB-IH Ian Happ
AGRB-TM Trey Mancini
Autographed Relic Book Cards
ARBC-TM Trey Mancini /10
Boxloader Rip Cards
BRC-EB Ernie Banks
Double Rip Cards
DRC-BD Cody Bellinger / Andre Dawson
DRC-BS Cody Bellinger / Sammy Sosa
DRC-SS Dansby Swanson / Ryne Sandberg
Rip Cards
RC-CBE Cody Bellinger
RC-DS Dansby Swanson
RC-EBA Ernie Banks
RC-GMAD Greg Maddux
RC-LS Lee Smith
RC-RS Ron Santo
Framed Mini Autographs
MA-CM Christopher Morel
MA-EDU Hayden Wesneski
MA-JA Javier Assad
MA-TM Trey Mancini
Stained Glass Minis
54 Christopher Morel
57 Dansby Swanson
81 Trey Mancini
102 Cody Bellinger
119 Javier Assad
Framed Mini Cloth
54 Christopher Morel /10
57 Dansby Swanson /10
81 Trey Mancini /10
102 Cody Bellinger /10
119 Javier Assad /10
Framed Mini Relics
MFR-GM Greg Maddux
MFR-SS Sammy Sosa
Metal Minis
54 Christopher Morel
57 Dansby Swanson
81 Trey Mancini
102 Cody Bellinger
119 Javier Assad
Mini Exclusives
370 Andre Dawson
387 Greg Maddux
Only In Boxloaders
OIB-5 Ivy
Only In Minis
OI-5 Ivy


ARBC-TM%20-%20Trey%20Mancini%20a
ARBC-TM%20-%20Trey%20Mancini%20b


AGRA-CM%20-%20Christopher%20Morel%20a AGRA-CM%20-%20Christopher%20Morel%20b

AGRB-DS%20-%20Dansby%20Swanson%20a AGRB-DS%20-%20Dansby%20Swanson%20b

AGRB-EH%20-%20Eric%20Hosmer%20a AGRB-EH%20-%20Eric%20Hosmer%20b

AGRB-IH%20-%20Ian%20Happ%20a AGRB-IH%20-%20Ian%20Happ%20b

AGRB-TM%20-%20Trey%20Mancini%20a AGRB-TM%20-%20Trey%20Mancini%20b

Allen%20&%20Ginter%20Mini%20Framed%20Relicsa Allen%20&%20Ginter%20Mini%20Framed%20Relicsb



Friday, November 17, 2023

Odds and Ends, secondary collection-Part Two

When you're a hard-core collector of one team, there are a ton of instances where you get stuck with untradeable cards because no one has comparable pieces in their collection. So these valuable gems of history are what you're stuck with; I'll share a few of the cards I'm stuck with, and to be honest, I'm very grateful for my Odds and Ends collection.

I sold cards on Ebay for a few years, but it was too much hassle and expensive for shipping, so around my 400th sale, I quit. Now that these gems are starting to pile up in my collection, today's post is about a cards I pulled and saved.

2009 Topps American Heritage - American Legends Relics: Mickey Mantle


Inserted 1:1,472 hobby packs; 1:1,590 retail packs

Secondary Collection:

  • HOF Autograph or Relics
  • Rookies Autograph or Relics
  • World Series Autograph or Relics
  • ex-Cubs on different teams Autograph or Relics
These secondary collections get to be fairly valuable over the years, and before you know it, you're looking forward to getting any of these gems. I hope 2023 will be a banner year for Cubs and the rest of the collection.

Sunday, November 12, 2023

2023 Topps Chicago Cubs Checklist Including Updates + Codes

Number of Cards

2023 Topps has 990 cards, including the update, and there are 36 Cubs players.

Size of Cards

The size of the cards are standard-size 2 ½ x 3 ½

Basic Features

The design has two photos of the player on the front: an action shot and a smaller portrait. The team logo is in the middle bottom, and the position the player plays is in the left bottom corner. This has a pattern where it happens every 20 years. The reverse has the usual states and bio. Overall, the new owners of Topps did a good job with this classic set.

topps2023-137a topps2023-137b

2023 Topps Parallels include:
All Series
Rainbow Foil – 1:10 packs
Royal Blue – 1:10 retail packs (retail only)
Gold – /2022
Blue Foil Board – /999 (retail only)
Purple Foil Board – /799 (retail only)
Green Foil Board – /499
Advanced Stats – /300
Orange Foil Board – /299
Red Foil Board – /199
Vintage Stock – /99
Independence Day – /76
Black – /72
Father’s Day Powder Blue – /50
Mother’s Day Hot Pink – /50
Memorial Day Camo – /25


2023 Topps Codes include:
Series 1 Series 2 Update
Base cards  #565 Base cards  #904 Base cards  #280
SSP variations #585 SSP variations #924
Advanced Stats #587 Advanced Stats #926


2023 Topps Base
Number Player
40 Keegan Thompson
54 Marcus Stroman
69 Caleb Kilian RC
97 Brandon Hughes RC
120 Patrick Wisdom
137 Kyle Hendricks
183 Seiya Suzuki
220 Chicago Cubs – Team Card
232 Ian Happ
249 Frank Schwindel
308 Christopher Morel RC
332 Alfonso Rivas
338 P.J. Higgins
376 Christopher Morel CC
379 Dansby Swanson
384 Jameson Taillon
434 Nick Madrigal
444 Javier Assad RC
485 Nico Hoerner
535 Drew Smyly
569 Yan Gomes
590 Brad Boxberger
592 Miles Mastrobuoni RC
593 Trey Mancini
638 Hayden Wesneski RC
2023 Topps Updates
Number Player
US13 Mark Leiter Jr.
US31 Nelson Velázquez RC
US41 Christopher Morel – Season Highlights
US42 Matt Mervis RC
US60 Miguel Amaya RC
US125 Eric Hosmer
US163 Christopher Morel – Rookie Debut
US170 Rowan Wick
US236 Matt Mervis – Rookie Debut
US281 Michael Fulmer
US300 Cody Bellinger

2023 Topps Inserts include:
Series 1 Series 2 Update



1988 Topps Baseball 1988 Topps Baseball 988 Topps Baseball
T88-11 Christopher Morel 2T88-6 Cody Bellinger 88US-12 Matt Mervis
T88-73 Seiya Suzuki 2T88-21 Dansby Swanson 88US-14 Greg Maddux
T88-92 Ryne Sandberg


1988 Topps Baseball All-Stars 1988 Topps All-Star Auto
1988 Topps Baseball Auto 88AS-12 Ryne Sandberg 88ASA-WCO Contreras
88BA-BH Brandon Hughes

88BA-CK Caleb Kilian 1988 Topps All-Stars Auto 1988 Topps Baseball Auto
88BA-CMO Christopher Morel 88ASA-AD Andre Dawson 88BA-JY Jared Young
88BA-JST Justin Steele 88ASA-RS Ryne Sandberg 88BAU-MME Matt Mervis
88BA-NC Narciso Crook 88ASA-SS Sammy Sosa
88BA-PW Patrick Wisdom
1988 Topps Chrome Silver

1988 Topps Baseball Autographs T88CU-23 Hayden Wesneski
1988 Topps Baseball Relics 88BA-CMO Christopher Morel T88CU-25 Javier Assad
88R-CM Christopher Morel 88BA-HW Hayden Wesneski T88CU-54 Matt Mervis
88R-RS Ryne Sandberg 88BA-JA Javier Assad T88CU-75 Cody Bellinger
88R-SS Sammy Sosa 88BA-AD Andre Dawson
88R-WC Willson Contreras 88BA-MSW Matt Swarmer 1988 Topps Chrome Silver Auto


T88CU-23 Hayden Wesneski
1988 Topps Chrome Silve 1988 Topps Chrome Silver Packs T88CU-25 Javier Assad
T88C-4 Christopher Morel 2T88C-6 Seiya Suzuki T88CU-54 Matt Mervis
T88C-63 Ryne Sandberg 2T88C-24 Andre Dawson T88CU-75 Cody Bellinger
T88C-72 Caleb Kilian 2T88C-96 Dansby Swanson
T88C-94 Nelson Velazquez
2023 All-Star Game

1988 Topps Baseball Relics ASG-37 Justin Steele
1988 Topps Chrome Silver Auto 88R-CB Cody Bellinger ASG-38 Dansby Swanson
T88C-4 Christopher Morel
ASG-43 Marcus Stroman
T88C-63 Ryne Sandberg All Aces
T88C-72 Caleb Kilian AA-29 Marcus Stroman All Aces
T88C-94 Nelson Velázquez
AA-58 Fergie Jenkins

Baseball Stars Autographs AA-62 Greg Maddux
Baseball Stars Auto BSA-MM Miles Mastrobuoni
BSA-AR Aramis Ramirez BSA-TM Trey Mancini All Aces Autographs
BSA-CMO Christopher Morel
AA-58 Fergie Jenkins

Baseball Stars Dual Autographs AA-62 Greg Maddux
Baseball Stars Dual Auto BSDA-BSW Swanson / Bellinger
BSDA-MSA Maddux /Sandberg
All-Star Jumbo Patch

Clear ASJP-STE Justin Steele
City Connect Patch Cards 379 Dansby Swanson /10
CC-CM Christopher Morel 444 Javier Assad /10 All-Star Stitches
CC-SS Seiya Suzuki 592 Miles Mastrobuoni /10 ASR-STE Justin Steele
CCA-CM Christopher Morel 638 Hayden Wesneski /10


Baseball Stars Auto
Clear Crowning Achievements Patch BSA-AMA Miguel Amaya
183 Seiya Suzuki /10 CA-EB Ernie Banks BSA-CB Cody Bellinger
308 Christopher Morel /10
BSA-MME Matt Mervis


BSA-SS Sammy Sosa
In the Name Relics

ITN-IH Ian Happ Father’s Day Team Patch Clear
ITN-WCO Willson Contreras FD-CM Christopher Morel US31 Nelson Velázquez


US42 Matt Mervis
Major League Material Father’s Day  Patch Autographs US60 Miguel Amaya
MLM-SS Seiya Suzuki FD-CM Christopher Morel US163 Christopher Morel
MLM-WC Willson Contreras
US236 Matt Mervis

Favorite Sons US300 Cody Bellinger
Major League Material Auto FS-6 Dansby Swanson
MLMA-CM Christopher Morel
Postseason Trophy Auto
MLMA-WC Willson Contreras Favorite Sons Autographs PTM-ARI Anthony Rizzo

FS-6 Dansby Swanson
Patchwork of the Pas
Postseason Trophy Medallions
POTP-CM Christopher Morel Legends of the Game PTM-ARI Anthony Rizzo
POTP-SS Seiya Suzuki LG-20 Ryne Sandberg

LG-27 Ernie Banks Heavy Lumber
Patchwork of the Past Auto
HL-47 Ryne Sandberg
PPA-CM Christopher Morel Legends of the Game Autographs

LG-20 Ryne Sandberg Major League Material Auto
Team Logo Manufactured Patch Cards
MLMA-CBE Cody Bellinger
TLP-CM Christopher Morel Major League Materials
TLP-SS Seiya Suzuki MLM-CMO Christopher Morel MLB First Stitch Patch

MLM-DS Dansby Swanson FSP-CBE Cody Bellinger
Team Logo Patch Cards Aut
FSP-DSW Dansby Swanson
TLPA-CM Christopher Morel Major League Materials Autographs

MLMA-CM Christopher Morel MLB First Stitch Patch Autographs
Topps Reverence Auto Cards
FSAP-CB Cody Bellinger /5
TRAP-CM Morel /10 Oversized Topps Record Breaker

RB-24 Ryne Sandberg MVP Medallions
Welcome to the Club
MVP-RS Ryne Sandberg
WC-11 Sammy Sosa Social Media Follow Back Redemptions

SMFB-DS Dansby Swanson MVP Medallions Autographs
Welcome to the Club Autographs
MVP-RS Ryne Sandberg
WCA-SS Sammy Sosa Stars of MLB

SMLB-40 Christopher Morel All-Star Game Red Carpet


Justin Steele

Stars of MLB Chrome

SMLBC-40 Christopher Morel Stars of MLB


SMLB-67 Dansby Swanson

Topps Reverence Auto Patch

TRAP-WC Willson Contreras /10 Stars of MLB Chrome

TRAP2-CM Christopher Morel /10 SMLBC-68 Dansby Swanson








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