2010 Opening Day: Because I can

Yes, collectors, the long wait is over. Opening Day has returned to the card aisle. It's back and better ... uh, well ... the same as ever.

In fact, I purchased a pack of 2010 Opening Day today. And I'm going to show the contents right here.

Hello? Anybody still reading? Was it something I said?

OK, for the very few of you left, you know the details. Opening Day is a cheaper version of the 2010 base set. It looks the same except for one or two minor details. In 2006, the foil was blue. In 2007, the borders were white. In 2008, the borders were crimson-blood-red-oh-my-god-they-sacrificed-a-goat-and-dried-its-life-source-on-cardboard!!!!!!!!!!

After that bit of ugliness, Opening Day went on hiatus for 2009. The economy was the official reason. But we all know it was about the goat blood.

Now it's back, and pretty blah, I must say. I wonder how Ryan Howard feels getting stuck on the Opening Day wrapper while Albert Pujols graces the main set.

Anyway, let's see what's in the pack.

Well, this is an interesting start. It's Curtis Granderson photo-shopped into a Yankee uniform. You're all aware, I'm sure, of the short-print Yankee Granderson in the base set. That particular card is horizontal.

Here is the regular base Granderson for comparison:

Notice that Topps didn't bother to re-paint the color of Granderson's "Live Strong" bracelet, or whatever it is, when they photoshopped him into a Yankee uniform. It's still Tiger orange (Yes, Grand Cards, I do think of orange when I think of the Tigers).

OK, onto the basic differences between the Opening Day set and the base set. Of course, there is the Opening Day logo that appears on every Opening Day card. The other difference is the names are actually readable in the OD set. There is no foil. The names are simply outlined in gray. The card backs, as usual, are identical to the base set.

Jorge. I don't have anything nice to say. So let's move on.

A shiny Topps Attax-like card of Dan Haren. I'm guessing this is some sort of parallel of what will appear in Topps Attax. The card back is your basic advertisement:

Well, I've pulled this card enough in the base set. I might as well own an OD Kazmir, too.

Excellent. My third Yankee in the seven-card pack. The family will be warm tonight because I'll be firing up the furnace.

A Ranger phenom closes it out.

Although I'm all for no foil on cards, Opening Day is just not interesting enough for me to buy again, even at a buck a pack. It's too similar to the base set. If they made the borders green or black or something, that might appeal to me a little more.

But there you are: Opening Day is back, restoring the world order. Without killing goats.

Oh, I also bought six packs of base Topps. I didn't get a single Million Giveaway code card. Apparently the word is out that I redeem nothing but crap from these, and Topps has stopped supplying my Target with code cards for fear I'll ruin the whole promotion.

Can't say I blame them.