As I mentioned in my last post – my first purchase of a Topps series 2 box was an utter disaster. Out of 360 cards in the box, less than 100 were salvageable. Most of the base cards stuck together and looked something like this:
The Noteworthy insert cards all had the same issue – like this Frank Robinson below.
I was discouraged by this, and after opening the first 9 packs, I just decided to order a different box and hope for better results. Some of it is just the nature of 2001 Topps – because my second series 2 box wasn’t very good either (though it wasn’t a complete mess like this box).
I opened that box first, and then put this one aside for a while. I opened the rest of it a little later, and I’m glad I didn’t just throw it away :). Other than the Noteworthy cards, all the inserts (and the big salvation below) were in fine shape.
So I knocked a few cards off my checklist.
But the biggest pull was in the first pack after I pulled the box back out – sitting in the front of the top pack on the lower right stack!
A Nolan Ryan auto – this is definitely in the top 5 pulls I’ve ever had. Right up there with a Hank Aaron auto from 2012 Topps, a Jeter auto from 2008 Upper Deck Heroes, and a Griffey buyback Auto from 1997 SP. So good things did come out of this box, which initially was such a disappointment!
Lifetime Topps project 
NICE hit. Good thing that card wasn’t damaged.
Yeh for sure. It’s not just dumb luck though. All the inserts were fine except noteworthy. I think the green borders of the base card cause the problem
Wow! Nice pull. I think I’m going to start sending out my 2001 in trade packages before they are unsalvageable. I’ve notice in the past that mine like to stick together as well.
Congratulations. That’s one hell of a pull.
Thanks Greg!
That sir is the very definition of “it all evens out.”
Good call NO. I actually feel like I’m getting too much on the other side with this one! My next box will probably have some real negative karma. Like one pack will give off a toxic fume that damages the Ryan I just pulled somehow!
Awesome card. Glad you got something so cool out of such a disappointing box.
thanks Matt!
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