GAC Closed and we have a Winner

So, this year's Gint-A-Cuffs closed last week.  I took notice and failed to notify the contestants.  I figure that you're all big enough to read and know the rules.

We ended the event with two participants reporting 207 points.

207 - Ross ( Design on Deck )
207 - Play at the Plate ( Play at the Plate )

I didn't have a contingency plan for a tie.  I quickly looked to my inbox to see if bribes were offered.  Nothing outstanding.  Get it together, guys.  You want to win?  Toss something substantial my way.

Then I started to look at the actual GAC posts to see if the cards were scored correctly.  During the contest I tried not to look at GAC posts.  I don't want to be influenced in any way (except bribes - did I mention bribes enough?) if I had to make a scoring decision or ruling.  During the review I found myself chuckling a few times.  I like the cards and the way that they were presented.

I did find a scoring discrepancy in one of Ross's packs.  Pack 23, to be specific.  Ross figured:

WIN79 Mickey Mantle (NYY) -1

That card should be scored as:

-1 Any Yankees
+2 What's In A Name? 1:2 (+1 more if the player is on Your Favorite Team or +2 if it is a Favorite Player or +4 if it is Your Favorite Player) 

So it should be a +1, for a net gain of +2 for the pack (and the box).  Which places Ross as the winner with 209 points.

Ross, please contact me with your address so that I can get your prize, which is a 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter Hobby Box, graciously supplied by Topps.

My thanks to Topps for the prize, Community Gum for a great price on boxes for the participants, Spankee for the GAC IV banner, and all the participants who added to the fun.

Time's Running Out

Scores must be posted this weekend. Per the rules:

Final scores shall be submitted no later than 11:59pm, Eastern, Saturday, September 1, 2012.

That's all.

Oh, what the heck am I supposed to do with a tie?  Sure, a half windsor.

I need to scrutinize the current leaders and check my inbox for bribes that I might have overlooked.

Suggestions are welcome.

Red Backed minis

Greg Z, asked about some card backs...

Q: Are the A&G Baseball Ad Back Mini Parallels (1:222) the red back minis hand-numbered out of 25?
A: The short answer is: No. We had a bit more discussion, with me asking if he was looking for a points ruling on the red back.   That short answer is: Yes.  He also wanted to see examples of each.  I lifted these from ebay auctions.

So, now on to the scoring.  I couldn't find the odds listed for these elusive red backs.  The points assigned and the odds of pulling a card are not necessarily linear.  I'm going to assign the red back minis a +21 points.

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter
A&G Ad Back

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter
A&G Red Back (#ed/25)

So, there you go.  I've ruled.

I Have More Answers

More questions have arrived which means that it is time for more answers.  Clarifications, really.

Ginter Godfather queried:

Q: How should we score hits of the non-baseball Yankees? Regular full points or because Greg Gumbel looks like a cabbage patch doll he's worth half points? I didn't even know he had a relic... but I would imagine Bob Knight's relic, and the surfer's relic (if it exists?) should have their points adjusted to reflect the anti-Gint-A-Cuff nature of the subject depicted.
A: I'm not quite sure what you mean by "non-baseball Yankees".  By the rest of the question I assume that you mean relic or auto cards of Bob Knight, Ara Parseghian, Dale Webster, and Greg Gumbel.  You would get +10 for the relic or auto, but would be assessed a -1 penalty for being one of those four.

Colbey asked:

Q: Do you get bonus points for pulling an insert of someone else's favorite player? For instance I pulled a Joe Mauer N43 boxloader. +5 for the card itself, but do I get another +2 since the Ginter Godfather chose Mauer?
A: Absolutely.  +5 for the boxloader, +2 for another participant's Favorite Player.

Ross beseeched:

Q: If I pulled a Greg Gumbel Black Mini, does that mean -1 off of the +3 for a black mini? Or does the Gumbelness cancel out the Black Border?
A: The Gumblness cancels out many things, including, but not limited to appetite, but it does not cancel out the Black Border. +3 for black bordered mini, -1 for being Greg Gumbel.

UPDATE (This question came in just after I answered the others.  I didn't want to put it on hold for a few days.)

Charlie pondered:

Q: If you pull an N43 of someone else's favorite player, is it worth +10 only, or +15 (+5 N43 & +10 FP N43)?
A: Very good question.  Not good enough to get you any extra credit, but good.  I see where the scoring rules are confusing.  I'm going to keep pushing the scores up.  It will be additional points.  (+5 N43 & +10 FP N43).  If it is a Yankee, then divide N43 total points by 2.

I Have Answers

CommishBob asked a few questions that need answering.

 Q: Josh Hamilton is a 2X Favorite Player... does that affect his points?
 A: No. I just wanted to show that Josh Hamilton is a popular guy.

 Q: Do we need to post images of 'minus' cards... Yanks, the surfer guy, etc?
 A: Yes. Even negative, they are points cards. Humor me. I haven't purchased any A&G this year and I want to see what the cards look like.

The Ginter Godfather asked a scoring question.

Q: How many bonus points for YOUR Favorite Player being pulled in a What's In A Name insert? Is it just the +1 for being on your favorite team (if in fact they are on your favorite team...) or is it the +4 from your favorite player from the base card? Maybe even the +5 from the mini of your favorite player?
A: I have absolutely no idea.  Well, it isn't a mini card, although there is a mini depicted on the card.  The Mini Minoso card does not factor into this. The scoring rules are +2 What's In A Name? 1:2 (+1 more if the player is on Your Favorite Team).  I'm going to amend this to read: +2 What's In A Name? 1:2 (+1 more if the player is on Your Favorite Team or +2 if it is a Favorite Player or +4 if it is Your Favorite Player).  Since you pulled a Joe Mauer, it would be +2 for WIN and +4 for Your Favorite Player, for a total of 6 points.

Milwaukee Southpaw asked a generic question.

Q: What does one need to do to get in on the contest??
A: Declare your intent to be an active participant, let me know your favorite player and favorite team, purchase a hobby box of 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter, get to posting.  If Milwaukee Southpaw is indeed interested in joining GAC this year, I'll allow it.  But, the intent must be acted on by Saturday, August 4.  I'm sorry that I haven't answered this before.  Strange circumstances will cause me to make strange rulings. Yes, I'm aware that several of you have scored many packs.  This might mean that you have to change your scores.  Look, they can only go up.

So there.

You have questions?

We've got answers. Just not now.

This has been a busy past few days. Late last Thursday evening my mother-in-law passed away.  I do not share this with you as "Woe is me" information, I just wanted you to know that I haven't forgotten about Gint-A-Cuffs.  This is also not the place to share with you what a wonderful woman she was.

Answers will be coming, but not right tonight.

On a better note, the Grand Prize has arrived.  Photos later.  It is a hobby box of 2012 A&G from Topps.  You've all seen them.  Maybe no photo.

Let's Get It On

 I've assembled the 2012 Rules.  I'm sure that there's some sort of weird subset that I overlooked.  Or didn't remove something that was in last year's set.  If you find them, let me know and I'll correct.

We're still missing one participant's favorite player.  I've contacted him but haven't yet heard back.

Start the busting and start scoring.  Remember, you need to show the scoring cards on your blog.  Some will show only the cards, some will show the whole stinking packs.  I don't care.  Just bust, bribe, and blog.

A little help?

Does anyone have the checklists that were included in the hobby boxes?  I'd like to see the scans.  Also, a scan of a wrapper with the odds of inserts and hits would be nice.

Thanks.

Rules are getting closer.  Don't give up hope.  And Topps has informed me that they've shipped the grand prize.  It should be arriving at my house tomorrow.

Last Chance for GAC Boxes

The guys over at Community Gum are declaring the last chance on good priced boxes of 2012 Topps Allen and Ginter. 

They're a great sponsor, so if you haven't yet purchased, go now.  Clickety, clickety, click.

Official rules being rolled out this coming weekend.

Ginter has hit the streets

Okay, Cuffites, it appears that Topps has released the 2012 Allen & Ginter upon us.

I need the participants to list their Favorite Players and their Favorite Team.

As in previous years, this will affect the scoring.  Specific scoring rules are being addressed (which means I haven't yet started to work on them).  Scoring rules will be posted on or about Saturday, July 21.  All scores by participants shall be posted by midnight, Saturday, September 1.  That's Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Sign ups to participate shall close on Saturday, July 21.  I need a definite "I'm in".  Not a, "I'll do it if so and so does it" or "I'll do it if funding comes my way".  I appreciate those issues, but I don't have time to see if Timmy is playing or to hack your bank account.  You're either in or you're not.  Thanks.

I'll be doing some updating of the pages over the next few days.  Remember, bribes are never a bad thing.

Let's hope that the Mayans got this one wrong.

Ginter themed interview

The Cardboard Connection has a very nice interview with Topps' Matt Perrone, a Brand Manager.

Go read it and then buy a hobby box from Community Gum.

Here's the checklist (pdf file).

2012 Dealer Announced

It is with great pleasure that I can announce that the guys from Community Gum have agreed to be the Dealer Sponsor for the 2012 Gint-A-Cuffs.

They'll be selling a hobby box for $93.95, which works out to $84.95 (the same price as some other online dealers) but with shipping. Illinois residents will have to add sales tax (paypal will do it automatically), but all out of state players will not. Then, of course, they'll ship them out as soon as they get them in.

Community Gum has a full 12 box case loaded into the button, but they are limiting it to one box per Gint-A-Cuffs participant so that everyone has an equal chance. They may open it up if they still have leftover boxes closer to contest time.

All transactions are between the participants and Community Gum.

Please continue to support them and the hobby.

GAC IV, we're on

Looks like Gint-A-Cuffs IV is on.  I had a conversation with the online dealer last evening.  They're working out a few more minor details and should be ready to announce this week.

I just received word from Topps.  They are graciously going to be our main prize sponsor.  Thank you, Topps.

I'm sticking with a Mayan theme.  No witty catchphrases have come to mind, but I'm sure BRIBES something will eventually.

Similar to last year, GAC won't officially begin until about a week after the product hits the streets.

Rules will be vaguely the same.  Start thinking about your Favorite Player and Favorite Team.  I'll start working on the card points, changing out the design, etc.

Let's get this party started.

art work created by Spankee from My Cardboard Mistress

Gint-A-Cuffs 3.5

It is getting closer. Thank you for weighing in. I've been talking with a very reputable online distributor. The distributor is checking prices and trying to firm things up. If the distributor can pull it off, I'll announce them and we'll get this party started.

Since this will be the last Gint-A-Cuffs, what with the Mayan Calendar and all, I thought we'd go with that theme.  Here's a quick idea for the logo.

If you are inclined, put forth your photoshoppin' skills.  I don't have a phrase.

"Thank you sir, Mayan have another?"  Anyone?

I don't know.

I'll be contacting Topps to see if they's be willing to be the grand prize sponsor.

So, summing up.  Mayan theme.  I'm talking to a distributor.  I'll be talking with Topps.  There you go.

GAC IV?

As commissioner of the ever so popular Gint-A-Cuffs I figured that I should make some sort of statement regarding the current status of the 2012 edition of Gint-A-Cuffs.

I'm mulling over :

• what to call it
• what the rules are
• getting new artwork
• even having it at all

So, I need you, loyal participants, to weigh in.

Is there enough interest to even put forth the effort?  I was highly disappointed by the lack of commissioner bribes last year.  The repeat winner could have been prevented, but no one stepped up.  Commissioner Landis is dead and Selig could be less interested in this.  Bribe me.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.