Nostalgic Box Break: 2002 Topps Total (Part Two)

Monday I started a box of 2002 Topps Total, as a way of distracting myself from the hysteria going on around here.

Today we keep it going. Nine more packs. 99 more cards. All with delightful 2002-era photography and foil-curling.

 Pack 10-
Borderline HOFers: 4/11
SWEET NAMES: 1/11

 I know there are more important cards in this pack but THIS MAN IS NAMED NOOCHIE. THAT IS THE NAME HE'S LISTED WITH. THAT IS ONE HECK OF A NICKNAME. It's not like 'Chipper' or 'Boog' where you can  kind of see where it came from. NOOCHIE. THE NOOCHMEISTER. LORD OF NOOCH.
...He never made the majors, but with that name, I wish he had.

 Standard star base- Pat the Bat for Philly, Curt the, uh...Blurt, I guess, for AZ.

And the fun stuff- a Topps Total insert of Yankee favorite Jorge Posada, and a base card of Pirates saving grace for a bit Aramis Ramirez. Interested to see what Ramirez' Hall of Fame chances look like next year.

 Pack 11-
Guys Not Named Noochie: 11/11
Longtime Journeyman Pitchers: 4/11
HOFers: 1/11
Guys Whose HOF Numbers Need to be Reevaluated: 1/11

 Bronson Arroyo cards pre-Reds are always fun to pull, because he's just some schmo without an opportunity. Once he hits Cincinnati, people really start to pay attention.
Randy Wolf was good for a while and everyone seems to forget that.

This pack's TOTAL insert is of Carlos Delgado. And Randy Johnson is our checklist card.

 Pack 12-
HOFers: 2/11
Guys Who Were Good for One Season: 1/11

Slim highlights here- Total insert of Tom Glavine, checklist of Ken Griffey, and a base card of Javy Lopez right before the big homer year.

 Pack 13-
Merciless Home Run Hitters: 3/11
Hall of Famers: 1/11
Guys Whose HOF Cases Need to be Reexamined: 1/11

 Three 2000s sluggers. Gibbons was lethal for a while in Baltimore. Hinske was about to win Rookie of the Year. Pena was about to be traded midyear to Detroit, as depicted in Moneyball.

Mike Hampton was a 2001 award winner, getting a silver slugger for...you know...pitching in Colorado. Chipper's a checklist, I believe. And ZOINKS A BASE CARD OF DAVID CONE AS A RED SOCK. I often forget his last few years, and how he bounced around. Cool to see him in Boston colors.

 Pack 14-
90s Stars in Waning Years: 4/11
Rookies of People Dealt at the 2009 Trade Deadline: 2/11
HOFers: 2/11

 Two odd uniform changes for 90s guys- David Justice spent his last season in Oakland, again as depicted in Moneyball. Devo played his last season in 2001, making this a SUNSET CARD. And in Milwaukee, as well, which is a rare look for him.

 Technically these two are rookies. V-Mart was still chilling in the Cleveland farm system, Freddy would eventually be dealt to Pittsburgh.

Total Production insert of EDGAR MARTINEZ, so that's cool. And a base card of Roberto Alomar as a Met.

 Pack 15-
Guys Who Played Forever: 3/11

 I pull Roberto in one pack, I pull Sandy in the next.
Also, good shot for Mark Loretta.

 Delgado's is a checklist. Joe Nathan has a pretty boring shot here for a future all-star closer.

 Pack 16-
Cards That Aged Badly Like a Year After They Were Released: 1/11
Amusing Rookies: 2/11

 Casey Kotchman in 2001-era Angels colors...doesn't look right. I picture him as a member of the later-2000s Angels teams. This is weird.
Saying Ruben Sierra won an award is like saying Tommy Wiseau has fans. Yes, while that is technically a true statement, the connotation may not be what you're intending.

This is...sort of a Jayson Werth rookie. He has rookies before this, but this is a pre-majors release for him.
Buehrle had major league numbers in 2001, and he just rolled from there. Another guy whose HOF case will be interesting next year.

 Pack 17-
Guys Who Looked HUGE for a bit: 3/11

 Erik Bedard in Futures Game garb, Ben Grieve hitting...man, 2001 was a time. Ray Durham was a steady performer then as well.

 Helton's...might be the real base card. Erstad's is cool because, again, 2001 Angels uniforms.

 Pack 18-
Extremely Young Power Hitters: 2/11
Yankee Legends: 1/11

 Nick Johnson would soon be traded for Javier Vazquez, Ben Broussard would soon be traded for Russell Branyan, and Jason Jennings would soon win a Rookie of the Year.

We end this half on a great Bengie Molina shot, JD Drew, and Bernie Williams making the Yankee fans proud, as per usual.

Next 9 tomorrow or Friday. Fun box so far.