When I posted that pack of Panini Hometown Heroes a week or so ago, I was holding out on you. Baseball Dad also landed a pack of this on me.
I admit, I don't handle non-major league baseball well. I'll watch minor league games. I'll work up a little bit of interest for minor league sets. But otherwise I am not spending money on anything that's not major league in quality.
I like to see the big boys play. I'm like that in other sports, too. I just can't get past the "god, that pass was crap, that'd never fly in the NFL."
Then there is the Olympics. They're pretty much "professional only" these days, and I'm not getting into whether that's good or bad, but not being able to see baseball in the Olympics has really put a damper on my interest in USA Baseball. If the guys playing on the USA team aren't someday going to play in the Olympics, then all I've got is waiting for them to make the majors. And that means: I'll pay attention when they make the majors.
So, I didn't have a lot of hope for this pack. But since All Tribe Baseball was good enough to send it to me, I will open it here.
Go USA:
#102 - Dillon Maples
Maples finished his second year in the Cubs organization last year, pitching in Class A ball.
#35 - Jason Varitek, Legends, diecut insert of some sort
Oooh. I think I did good here. Not only is it a diecut insert, but it's turned the American flag green. And, of course, I've heard of Jason Varitek.
#87 - Michael Choice
Choice is actually playing major league ball, working for the Rangers this season after being acquired from Oakland.
#45 - Cole Green
Green played independent ball last year after not doing so well in the Reds' lower levels.
#7 - Frank Viola
I think everyone knows Frank. He just underwent successful heart surgery. Those 1980 caps sure look homemade.
#65 - Matt Purke
Purke has moved up to Double A ball for the Washington Nationals
#23 - Nomar Garciaparra
The gold borders are your sign that this player is probably well-known.
And that's your pack.
There apparently is a hobby edition of this set, which boggles my mind on why someone would pay even more on this set than they have to.
But then, I'm always wondering why anyone watches college football when the NFL is happening the very next day.
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