Ready. Set.

Hey there, Gint-A-Cuffs contestants.

I've made the 2017 rules and scoring page available.  Things will kick off in a short bit.

I'd like to thank Topps for the great prize (a hobby box of 2017 Allen & Ginter).

Being veterans of Gint-A-Cuffs, you know what to do.  (Bribe.  Bribe.  Bribe.)

I'm sure that as the bleary-eyed commissioner I've made some colossal mistake.  I'll correct it in a few days.

Ask questions on the Q&A page.  Show your scoring cards.  Keep it clean.  Have fun.

Now Go!

Unanticipated Delay

To make Gint-A-Cuffs work, a few things need to happen.

Number 1. Participants need to declare their Favorite Player and Favorite Team.  If you've done so, thank you.  If not, please do it.

I'll be trying to contact those that haven't yet declared.

Number 2.  The Commissioner needs to get the scoring straightened out.  Please do it.

I'll be crunching numbers like, well, whatever crunches numbers.

Thanks for your patience.  Please stay tuned.

2017 Hobby Wrapper / Odds

Judson, from My Cardboard Habit, sent in this scan of a wrapper, detailing the odds of cards.

I've transcribed it below.  I'll be using these odds to help formulate the final scoring rules.  No, there won't be any skill-test questions for our neighbors to the north.

*Base Card Glossy Parallel 1:4,244
Base Short Print 1:2
Base Short Print Glossy Parallel 1:4,244

Base Card Mini Parallels
Allen & Ginter Back 1:5
Black-Bordered 1:10
No Number 1:85
*Brooklyn Back 1:170
*Wood 1:2,332
*Glossy 1:4,244
*Metal 1:1,811
*Printing Plate 1:1,058
Base Mini Short Print 1:13

Base Card Mini Short Print Parallels
Allen & Ginter Back 1:65
Black-Border 1:130
No Number 1:85
*Brooklyn Back 1:170
*Wood 1:2,332
*Glossy 1:4,244
*Framed Cloth Card 1:543
Relic Version A 1:24
Relic Version B 1:24
Framed Mini Relic 1:105
Framed Mini Relic Gems and Ancient Fossils 1:3,600
Framed Mini Relic Fictional Figures 1:8,174
*Cut Signature 1:51,767
*Framed Allen & Ginter Originals 1:7,924
*Single Autograph Relic Book 1:2,390
*Dual Autograph Relic Book 1:5,431
Framed Mini Autograph 1:65
*Framed Mini Autograph Parallels:
  *Black Frame 1:423
  *Red Ink 1:1,139
*Framed Mini Employee Autograph 1:10,494
*Rip Card 1:160
*Double Rip Card 1:1,441

Full Size Inserts
What A Day 1:2
World's Fair 1:5
Sport Fish & Fishing Lures 1:5
Revolutionary Battles 1:10

Mini Inserts
World's Dudes 1:13
Bust a Move! 1:20
Required Reading 1:50
Magicians & Illusionists 1:34
Constellations 1:50

Extremely Short Print Stealth 1:5,227
*Dual Autograph Book 1:77,650
*World Baseball Classic Full Size Relic 1:274
*World Baseball Classic Mini Relic 1:8,174
Full Size Autograph 1:731
Ultimate Card Giveaway Topps buyback 1:6


key: * = Sequentially Numbered

Be Calm and Rip Some Packs

It is now the first of August. People all over the globe are wondering when Gint-A-Cuffs will actually start.

The official start date will be Monday, August 8, 12:01 am.  Just after Sunday night turns into Monday morning.  Eastern Daylight Saving time.  Or are we off that?  Monday morning, Knoxville, Tenn. time.  There.

Judson was able to provide a wrapper image.  Odds and points are being scrutinized.

Topps has graciously provided a prize of a Hobby Box.

Sign up.  Pick your Favorite Player, Favorite Team.

If you have questions, ask.

Be calm.  Rip some packs.

Limber up.

GAC 9!

We're a go on Gint-A-Cuffs 9!

There's been some interest.  I've started working on the updated rules.  An email has been sent to Topps, asking for another year of sponsorship.

What do I need to do next?  Get a high quality scan / image of the back of a hobby pack to see the odds / subsets.

I need you to spread the word.  Get a few more collectors interested.  Start thinking about your favorite player and favorite team.

Yes, I understand that the price of a hobby box increased.  Sorry about that.

You might also be under the impression that you must have your hobby box in at the time the contest starts (roughly August 1st).  Nope.  You need to have your final score submitted by the time the contest ends (roughly September 30th).  Yep.

Let me know in the comments if you're interested in participating.

GAC 9?

A few of you have asked about what is happening with Gint-A-Cuffs this year.

I haven't given it much thought.  Yes, Topps A&G has hit the street.  Packs are being busted.

And I haven't even looked at a checklist.

So, let's have a sign up.  If there's enough interest, I'll toss some rules together and we'll have fun.

How much is "enough interest"?  I'll know it when I see it.

No, the rules aren't going to be changing much.  New subsets, new cards, same snark.

If you want in, comment below.  You know what to do.

Signed,
The Commissioner

A winner is you (plural) - GAC VIII

After spending hours looking at the entries, my crack accounting team has determined that the scores presented are accurate and that Brad's score of 153.5 is the winner of Gint-A-Cuffs VIII.

Congrats.  I had to triple check the rules about that double rip card.  The stars aligned in your favor when you bought that box.  Good choice on Kenta Madea as your Favorite Player.

Brad, a 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter Hobby Box, graciously provided by our sponsor, Topps, will be headed to you.

Now, the last place participant that offered points is the Ginter Godfather.  With a name like that, and a blog that surfaces but once a year to be involved with Gint-A-Cuffs, you'd think that points would be flowing.  Not this year.  But they were just low enough to earn you the consolation prize of a 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter Hobby Box to be sent your way.

Now, for the mystery winner.  I took the remaining participants that entered a score, randomized them eight times (GAC VIII) and the magic numbers selected Faith.  I'll be sending something special from my personal collection of hoo-haw.

Winners, please send me your current mailing address and I'll get the items out this next week.

Thank you all for participating.  I look forward to next year.