2014: Looking Back

It was kind of a bad year to be a Red Sox fan.  The BoSox finished in last place for the second time in three years, though the other year they won the World Series, so it is not so bad.  It was kind of a rough year for my collection too.  Not as many trades as I would have liked and a ton of cards left on my wantlist right now.

Nevertheless, there were some highlights.

BEST CARD FROM A PACK
This was a very bad year for pack pulls.  I probably bought more boxes with no Red Sox in them than in any other year.  It was particularly disappointing since 2013 was so good.  Anyway, here they are.  I could not decide between these two:

2014 Panini Prizm Red, White, & Blue David Ortiz

One of three retail-only parallels from a special pack bought from Target, this is the first time one of those packs worked for me.

2014 Topps Update SP Mookie Betts

Easily one of my favorite players of the year and one of the most exciting to look forward to next year.  This was a great pull for me.

BEST CARD SOMEONE SENT ME UNSOLICITED
I will have to break this one up between two people who sent a number of packages to me this year.

Zippy Zappy Edition
1961 Fleer George Pipgras

I have never owned a card from this set before and Pipgras is such a unique player to be depicted in a Red Sox uniform due to his very short stint in Boston.

Mark Hoyle Edition
1973 Topps Dwight Evans RC

Mark sent me a ton of great cards, but the rookie card of Dwight Evans blows them away.  Just a terrific card.

FAVORITE EBAY BUY
2012 Topps Commemorative Rings Babe Ruth

Gotta love the Babe.

FAVORITE CARD FROM A TRADE I EXPECTED
2014 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor Mookie Betts

Yes, another Mookie.  Yes, he is that exciting.  I still can't believe I managed to trade so little for this card.

BEST CARLOS QUINTANA ADDITION
1991 Score Pepsi Carlos Quintana

Who else would be excited about a Carlos Quintana card?

BEST JASON VARITEK ADDITION
2013 Panini Hometown Heroes Sportdiscs

Varitek re-emerged in this set and it took me awhile to find some of these.

BEST PHOTO
2014 Stadium Club David Ortiz

What else?  One of the few Stadium Club Red Sox cards I have actually managed to get, this shot is terrific.

So that's it for now.  Hopefully next year will be a little bit better.