2018 Topps Update Blaster #2

I wanted to celebrate.  The Red Sox are World Champions so I wanted to buy some cards.  Even though my last break was deplorable, I figured I would try out 2018 Topps Update again.  There are still so many Red Sox cards in it that I need.

Here is the wantlist:

2018 Topps Update: Mookie Betts AS, Mookie Betts/J.D. Martinez, Craig Kimbrel AS, Ian Kinsler, Kyle Martin, J.D. Martinez, Mitch Moreland AS, Marcus Walden

2018 Topps Update Base Variations: Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Ted Williams

2018 Topps Update 1983: Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez

2018 Topps Update 1983 Autographs: Tzu-Wei Lin AU

2018 Topps Update All Star Stitches: Mitch Moreland JSY

2018 Topps Update An International Affair: Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Ted Williams

2018 Topps Update Legends in the Making: Xander Bogaerts, Craig Kimbrel, J.D. Martinez

2018 Topps Update Postseason Preeminence: David Ortiz

2018 Topps Update Salute: Mookie Betts, Pedro Martinez, Ted Williams

2018 Topps Update Storybook Endings: David Ortiz, Ted Williams

PACK 1:

Shane Bieber (Indians: 1)

Andrew Cashner (Orioles: 1)

Trevor Story AS (Rockies: 1)
Devin Mesoraco (Mets: 1)
Chipper Jones 2018 Hall of Famer Highlights (Braves: 1)

George Brett Postseason Preeminence (Royals: 1)

Ozzie Smith Postseason Preeminence (Cardinals: 1)

Carson Kelly (Cardinals: 2)

Jordan Hicks RD (Cardinals: 3)

Brandon Crawford AS (Giants: 1)

Three Cardinals in a row is an odd pack.  That's the third time I have pulled those Carson Kelly and Jordan Hicks cards.  I have a bad feeling.

PACK 2:

Aledmys Diaz (Blue Jays: 1)
Mookie Betts AS (Red Sox: 1)

Jason Vargas (Mets: 2)

Billy Hamilton Legends in the Making Black (Reds: 1)

Ted Williams Storybook Endings (Red Sox: 2)

Lance McCullers Legends in the Making (Astros: 1)

Nelson Cruz AS (Mariners: 1)
Max Scherzer AS (Nationals: 1)

Austin Meadows (Rays: 1)

Willy Adames (Rays: 2)

Three more doubles, but a Red Sox insert and a base card.  Bonus: the Williams is a photo that has not been used thousands of times.

PACK 3:

Mike Foltynewicz AS (Braves: 2)

Teoscar Hernandez (Blue Jays: 2)

Ozzie Albies AS (Braves: 3)
Eugenio Suarez AS (Reds: 2)

Corey Dickerson (Pirates: 1)

Ronald Acuna Jr. Salute (Braves: 4)

Bob Gibson Postseason Preeminence (Cardinals: 4)

Shohei Ohtani/Ichiro (Angels: 1/Mariners: 2)

Chris Stratton (Giants: 2)

Josh Hader AS (Brewers: 1)

More triples.

PACK 4:

Yairo Munoz (Cardinals: 5)
Mike Tauchman (Rockies: 2)
Alex Bregman HR (Astros: 2)

Jonathan Villar (Orioles: 2)

Vladimir Guerrero 2018 Hall of Famer Highlights (Expos/Nationals: 2)

Jose Altuve Postseason Preeminence (Astros: 3)

Trevor Hoffman 2018 Hall of Famer Highlights (Padres: 1)

Brad Ziegler (Diamondbacks: 1)

Adam Engel (White Sox: 1)

Felipe Vasquez (Pirates: 2)

PACK 5:

Pablo Sandoval (Giants: 3)

Mike Trout AS (Angels: 2)

Brandon Morrow (Cubs: 1)

Christian Arroyo (Rays: 3)

Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks: 2)

Rickey Henderson Don't Blink (Athletics: 1)

Mike Trout 1983 (Angels: 3)

Matt Adams (Nationals: 3)

Jesmuel Valentin/Mitch Walding (Phillies: 1)

Eric Hosmer (Padres: 2)

PACK 6:

Brett Phillips (Royals: 2)

Billy McKinney (Blue Jays: 3)

Jacob DeGrom AS (Mets: 3)

Nick Kingham (Pirates: 3)

Andrew Cashner Gold (Orioles: 3)

Xander Bogaerts Legends in the Making (Red Sox: 3)

George Springer Postseason Preeminence (Astros: 4)

Jesus Aguilar HR (Brewers: 2)

Justin Verlander AS (Astros: 5)
Miles Mikolas (Cardinals: 6)

PACK 7:

Mitch Moreland AS (Red Sox: 4)

Shane Greene (Tigers: 1)

J.A. Happ AS (Blue Jays: 4)

Francisco Mejia (Padres: 3)

Ian Kinsler (Red Sox: 5)

MIke Trout Salute (Angels: 4)

Jon Lester Postseason Preeminence (Cubs: 2)

Daniel Gossett (Athletics: 2)

Kenley Jansen AS (Dodgers: 1)

Justin Anderson/Michael Hermosillo (Angels: 5)

This pack made me happy.  Two base Red Sox cards, but the Mitch Moreland All Star and the Ian Kinsler base card were two of the cards I wanted most.  Particularly since the Kinsler is my first one in my collection.  He did not work out as well as hoped, and made some brutal plays on occasion (Game 3, 13th inning, ugh), but he was one of the members of the World Series roster I still needed (Ryan Brasier is the other one).

PACK 8:

Junior Guerra (Brewers: 3)

Charlie Blackmon AS (Rockies: 3)

Wade LeBlanc (Mariners: 3)

Matt Kemp AS (Dodgers: 2)

Zack Littell (Twins: 1)

Yu Darvish An International Affair (Cubs: 3)
Jordan Hicks 1983 (Cardinals: 7)
Jeimer Candelario (Tigers: 2)
Zach Britton (Yankees: 1)
Taylor Davis (Cubs: 4)

The first Yankee card of the break.  That took awhile.  Knowing my luck there will be five more in the next two packs.

PACK 9:

Jeremy Hellickson (Nationals: 4)

Javier Baez AS (Cubs: 5)

Justin Verlander HL (Astros: 6)

Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves: 5)

Wade LeBlanc Rainbow Foil (Mariners: 4)

Jim Thome 2018 Hall of Famer Highlights (Phillies: 2)

Lou Gehrig Postseason Preeminence (Yankees: 2)

Justin Upton/Shohei Ohtani/Mike Trout (Angels: 6)

Juan Lagares (Mets: 4)

Elieser Hernandez/Merandy Gonzalez (Marlins: 1)

PACK 10:

Andrew McCutchen (Giants: 4)

Gerson Bautista (Mets: 5) 

Sam Gaviglio (Blue Jays: 5)

Tommy Pham (Rays: 4)

Kyle Schwarber HR (Cubs: 6)

Will Clark Storybook Endings (Cardinals: 8)

Craig Kimbrel Legends in the Making (Red Sox: 6)

Khris Davis Legends in the Making Blue (Athletics: 3)

Tyler Chatwood (Cubs: 7)

Dan Otero (Indians: 2)

RELIC PACK:

Miguel Cabrera Jackie Robinson Patch Red (Tigers: 3)

And the relic pack yielded a rarer parallel, that's something I suppose. 

That was pretty decent.  Six Red Sox cards, including three inserts.  A nice way to celebrate.

Here are the updated team totals:

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: 60
NEW YORK YANKEES: 57
CHICAGO CUBS: 54
BOSTON RED SOX: 51
ATLANTA BRAVES: 48
WASHINGTON NATIONALS/MONTREAL EXPOS 47 (43 NATIONALS/4 EXPOS)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: 46
SEATTLE MARINERS: 43
CLEVELAND INDIANS: 40
HOUSTON ASTROS: 40
LOS ANGELES ANGELS: 40
MILWAUKEE BREWERS: 36
NEW YORK METS: 36
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: 36
CINCINNATI REDS: 35
TEXAS RANGERS: 34
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: 34
MINNESOTA TWINS: 33
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: 32
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: 32
OAKLAND ATHLETICS: 32
COLORADO ROCKIES: 29
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: 28
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: 28
TAMPA BAY RAYS: 28
DETROIT TIGERS: 27

SAN DIEGO PADRES: 25

MIAMI MARLINS: 24

KANSAS CITY ROYALS: 24

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: 19

OTHER: 6

In a startling development, the Cardinals jump way over the Yankees somehow.  The Red Sox did well, but remain in fourth place.  Next year, that might change.  In more surprising news, the Padres are gaining ground, leap-frogging the Marlins and Royals.  The Diamondbacks remain mired in last place.

As usual, everything except the Red Sox are for trade.  I anticipate sending at least a couple of packages out to some random people soon.

This is dISEMBOWELMENT, one of the primary bands that influenced the style of music that would come to be called funeral doom metal.  This is the song that most closely resembles the style.  The band did not last long, releasing just one full-length, but they were very influential.  Without dISEMBOWELMENT, we would not have Ahab, Bell Witch, and other great bands.