Collector Crate! November Box

This month is my second go around with Collector Crate! So far, I love it! I go for the Gold level box because really it's about my only pack or box buying opportunity up here in the panhandle. So, last month was pretty exciting stuff, let's see what the box holds in store this month!

Here's what the box looks like, nothing fancy, simple and understated, just like me. 

 So they throw in some items relating to the three teams you picked. I went for Astros, Rangers and Yankees, mainly for trade-ability factors. The sunglasses have a Yankees logo so you won't see them on this noggin! But fun items for sure, last month I got a Giants mini baseball and Pirates pennant. 

 Next up, a Buster Posey action figure. These are from Macfarlane but aren't the usual static figures, these have "OVER 20 MOVING PARTS" so you can pose them however you want... don't think these won't be used inappropriately by some less mature people in some way...

Let's get into the cards!!!!! First up, a sketch card print exclusive to Collector Crate!

 I like everything about this card except the Jeter part... definitely for trade... 

Next up, the (3) relics and (3) autographs that come standard with each Gold box!

Kemp, Sosa and Piazza on the relics, not shabby at all. J.P. Murphy, Vernon Wells and HOW ABOUT A SPRINGER AUTO!!!!! I do believe the Springer was on purpose based on the teams I selected as it was the top card in the manilla envelope, VERY happy Collector Crate is customizing in this way! 

Alright, how about the packs???? 10 Total with the Gold Box and a promise of some high end mojo!

I decided to do a picture of each pack and the best card I feel I pulled from each! 

First up, 2014 Donruss.

 The Gwynn /999 is nice, but this set just doesn't look great in my opinion. Can't wait for them to some day get a license. It will improve their product by 513%, at least, arbitrarily.

Another Panini product next, it was a nice thick pack, thought I had a relic. It was a blocker... 2013 Panini Golden Age:

 Yep, Honest Abe was the best card. Another product with decent intentions what went awry.

Finally, the last "junk pack" as I would call these first three. None of these are "high end" and again the lack of a license is a killer on the sports cards: 2013 Goodwin Champions.

 Cheatin' Tiger is the best in the pack. It was a lousy pack. Moving on. 

Ah, here we go with some Topps 2011 Allen & Ginter garbage...

 Somewhere along the way they stopped caring about A&G and just puked out sets like 2011 hoping collectors would fawn over it like they did in years past. Meh. RMS Queen Mary, welcome to the board, ghosts and all.

Next up, a product I busted a few boxes of in breaks and was very excited to see in my box last month and this, but alas I went hitless in this product two months in a row. I love their relic sets, and this product is the only one I've ever pulled a bat knob from! Quick, can anyone guess/remember who it was? Matt Pederson, you are not allowed to guess. 2009 Topps Unique

 The McCann /1199 is the best one in this pack!

Half way through, we get into some retro packs! 1996 Leaf Preferred! 

 If I was a fan of Barry Larkin (which I am not) I'd LOVE this metal card! Hopefully there is a Larkin fan who would love this card. I don't remember this set at all, but cool to open a pack!

I had high hopes of a Griffy RC in this next pack of 1989 Upper Deck, the set that started the Griffey fame!

 But alas my only Rookie was the rather disappointing Gregg Jefferies. Brought back some memories though, his was pretty well sought after as well!

Here's another set I don't remember and that I don't think I ever opened a single pack! 1993 Bowman with "Special Engraved Foil Card" in every pack!

 Mr. Larry Sutton, we never knew you, no really, I don't think anyone knows who you were, cool card though, very shiny!

Apparently, 13 year old me missed out on Topps Finest 1993, maybe I was just too poor to open this stuff.

I was hoping for a refractor that would sell for millions. Instead, All Star of Fred McGriff. Meh.

Finally, the big daddy of them all, 2013 Bowman Sterling, where my redemption awaits (figuratively, not literally)...

The first card out of the pack was actually the Cosart, I knew it'd be a good pack...

 

And finally, the two big BOOOOOM cards of this Collector Crate!

Shelby "Don't Call Me a Cardinal" Miller gold auto /25!!! WOO HOO!!!

and...

Current Twins #1 prospect Byron Buxton! Everyone says we should have taken him over Correa, I'm fine with Correa but Buxton is no slouch. Both need to get healthy!

Ok, so I've got a lot of people asking me, "But Mr. Dimwit, is it worth it?" Well, here's my official stance on Collector Crate: I love it. Whether it's worth $100 for the Gold Box or not, it's a heck of a lot of fun to bust open! They put fun stuff in the box along with the packs. The packs hold a lot of potential as well. I'd much rather have this than a single box of any product on the market that I could buy for $100. Is it perfect? No. Some of the pack selection (like any Panini products or Upper Deck) is less than desirable. I ordered the baseball box, I'd like baseball cards. But I would never go buy a pack of Sterling on my own, so it's cool it's part of the deal. Last month my "big pack" was actually an unopened box of Panini Prime Cuts from 2012. So it's definitely worth the gamble for me, and I have a blast opening the product! 

This opinion is 100% my own, I pay full price for my Collector Crate and have no affiliation with them other than following them on Twitter. I have received ZERO compensation for this review. :)