16 packs down, 8 left to go. For a Stadium Club set, this is a very well-shot, well-designed, very clean and spiffy set, sort of inching towards the future. Some people, including myself, refer to this one as the last great Stadium Club set, or the last one you could really collect, as the 1996 release on had less packs-per-box, and you couldn't yield a full set from all of that.
Still, we came relatively close with the '95 one, so let's round out the box:
Pack 17-
Cards I needed: 7/14
Dupes: 7/14
Guys That Would Have Been Great Pulls in 1995: 2/14
On the left is a reminder that Denny Neagle was on the Pirates before he spontaneously snuck onto a Braves roster that could make him look cool. The Cover Story is the 2nd Marlin in that subset, and it's Chuck Carr, though this one is pretty damn cool.
Tim Salmon was Mr. Angel this time in 1995, which doesn't bode well for Mike Trout. Also, Mark McGwire, pre-St. Louis career boost.
Pack 18-
Cards I needed: 4/14
Dupes: 10/14
Philadelphia Legends: 1/14
Devo recats to a strikeout, Wayne Kirby goofs off while warming up, and John Kruk rounds the bases. By this point in the actual 1995 season, Kruk was rounding out his career in Chicago.
Pack 19-
Cards I needed: 6/14
Dupes: 8/14
Hall of Famers: 2/14
Stars of Liar, Liar (not really): 1/14
Tom Pagnozzi is our last (I think) Best Seat in the House subset subject, and it's a pretty nice one. Plus, here Jose Canseco is threatening to beat up the cameraman, a practice that eventually got him kicked off of Celebrity Apprentice.
Rickey Henderson is just sitting down, waiting to steal another base. Meanwhile, Frank Thomas, in a BEAUTIFUL SHOT, signs some autographs.
Pack 20-
Cards I needed: 5/14
Dupes: 9/14
Hall of Famers: 1/14
Aside from Tim Raines', who I didn't pull in this box, Barry Larkin is the one Cover Story insert that still matters 21 years later.
Meanwhile, Wally Joyner's happy to still be a relevant player, even on the Royals.
Pack 21-
Cards I needed: 7/14
Hall of Extremely Good-ers: 2/14
Mike Deveraux, who was still an O in '95, holds onto a camera, costing that poor cameraman a few hundred dollars. Mattingly takes a bow for the crowd in one of his last few seasons on the team.
Valentin I already pulled the Virtual Reality version of, but it's still sooooo cool. Grace's is just as awesome of a close-up shot.
Pack 22-
Cards I needed: 6/14
Dupes: 8/14
Legitimate Stars in '95: 1/14
Justice's is a great shot, and this is right before his star began to deflate. Meares' is a really cool field tag shot.
Pack 23-
Cards I needed: 6/14
Dupes: 8/14
Absolutely Amazing Cards: 1/14
Hall of Famers: 1/14
Roberto Kelly and Chris Gomez have some nice, well lit shots, but I wanna get to these last two...
JAIME NAVARRO'S CARD IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. HE IS RIDING...A MOTORCYCLE...ON A BASEBALL CARD. What did I tell you about all the Brewers cards being spontaneously amazing? Do you think I would lie about that? This is legitimately artwork.
Also, nice appearance by HOFer John Smoltz to give a last glimmer of hope to this box.
Pack 24- Only Henry and Baines were ones that I needed, so the box goes out with a whimper.
Still, I got a great deal of the set, and I'll only have to pilfer one or two from other sources, which will probably lead to a want list going up at some point.
Another Nostalgic Box Break is coming in a few days, when this one has some time to breathe. It's...not too different from this one.
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