Best high end packs?

[Section103]

I mostly collect very specific player focused vintage cards but every now and then I have the urge to open packs like I did in my youth. Since I don't keep up as closely with the current issues I'm always a little behind trying to figure out what I should buy. What's the most interesting high end packs in 2014? What else from recent years would you suggest?

Thanks

[steve B]

Personally I like both Gypsy Queen and Allen and Ginter. Both are similar, with a mix of current players and past stars. Allen and Ginter has a number of cards of other sports or non-sports. Usually subjects I think are pretty cool anyway.

There's the obligatory mini inserts in various forms, and some paralells of the regular cards as well as short prints. And an even wider array of assorted inserts. Hardly any are super glossy reflective refractive, whatever else.

There's also the usual bit of fabric and wood cards and some that have been written on. (Last year I got one with supposedly a bit of Mark Cubans suit)

Each year they also do something odd like including an old stamp or penny on a handful of cards. I've never gotten one.

Or, if you like your modern to be modern - I'm partial to Bowman Platinum. Small shiny set with another even shinier set along side it but different players. Plenty of inserts of all sorts.

One interesting tip, the late production retail packs seem to have a much better insert ratio. Especially the jumbo ones that have three packs and a pack of exclusive inserts. I think the blaster boxes are done in one run, and the jumbos are done continuously, They're harder for the pack searchers to feel so they don't get picked over. And I also guess that the published ratios are based on estimated sales with the late packs getting loaded with leftover inserts if sales fall short. So no big deal inserts, but a better chance at the mid range ones like die cuts and that sort of thing.

Steve B

[Section103]

Thanks Steve. When it comes to modern cards, I can appreciate the retro styles and the newer styles. Some of the refracting gets a touch overboard IMO, but I certainly don't mind shiny in a variety of layouts.

[groundhog]

Can't go wrong with Heritage, love this year's 1965 look.