Hobby Box Hits from the Philly Show

I think I can come up with posts for weeks about the Philly Show I went to last Saturday, but this will be the last one. At the show, in addition to the single cards I picked up, I also got a hobby box of 2008 Topps Series 2, and 2010 Topps 206. 

First up, the 206, featuring autographs, relics, and original T-206 cards.  Two autographs and/or relics per box.  I like how the cards are heavy cardboard, and thus easy to handle. 

Here are some of the nice base and SP cards I pulled:

I really like the Buster Posey and the Mickey Mantle cards. Cliff Lee looks like he is ready to be traded to the Rangers in his portrait, Heyward looks like he has some swagger (he does) and the Babe is just simply awesome.  I'll never tire of pulling Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle cards.

Each of the 20 packs had a mini, and you could pull a mini relic and/or auto if you are lucky. Here are some of the mini pulls showing the different variations of the card backs, and the different subjects on the front.

The card on the upper right is numbered 96/99, a Jenrry Mejia rookie.  I think of all the variations I like the Polar Bear best. The blue back is just so different from the rest of the set.  And for some reason I enjoy the penny card. Although I have no explanation as to why.

The box promised two hits, and although I was hoping for an auto, I did wind up getting some decent cards. 

Hit number one:

Paul Konerko game worn jersey, Piedmont back.  I'd consider trading it, make me an offer.

The second hit was pretty nice.  Here it is:

Mini-book relic of CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, numbered 77/99.  The cool thing about this card is that it actually does fold like a book.  For the life of me, I will never understand why Topps chooses to use a bat relic for an American League pitcher, but ok.  Maybe they took the bat relic from when Pettitte was with the Astros?  So the Holy Grail of this card is the Mantle/Ruth booklet, which books high at 300 bucks.  This card books high at 40 bucks, so I'd say it is a nice pull.  Anyway, the 206 set is fun, and the variations are interesting.  I'm glad I bought the box.

Next up was the 2008 Topps Series 2 hobby box, promising one relic or autograph per box, 36 packs with ten cards per pack.  It was an election year, so there are plenty of campaign related inserts:
 

I do have this card, although I didn't pull it from this hobby box.  There is another variation of this that shows Palin in her pageant days, and that books high at 60 bucks.  This one books for around 15, if memory serves correct.

The hit from this box was awesome for me.  Here it is:

A nice two color jersey swatch of Chase Utley, my first Utley relic card, and one of only a handful of Phillies relics I have.  Needless to say for having only one hit in the box, I was super happy it was this card! 

I look forward to the next Philly show in March, I'd highly recommend it to vendors and collectors alike.