Monday, June 18, 2007

I Get Letters: Bengie Molina in Topps 2.

Stale Gum reader Rob Heiser made an observation on Topps series 2 that escaped even my eagle eye.

"I noticed that the Bengie Molina card (#4) in 2007 Topps Series 1 is exactly the same as his card in 2007 Topps Series 2 (#342) except for the number on the back of the card. I haven't noticed any other similarities like that between the two sets and wondered if this was a common thing to do -- and if so, why? I could understand if the (#4) card was in a Blue Jays uniform or something, but the picture is the same, as well as the blurb text about him."

Yes Rob, it's exactly the same card. The only difference being the card number. It does not appear -- at least at first glance -- that the second series card is a variation. I've examed the obverse and reverse sides of both Molinas and could find no other difference between the two other than card number.

This can be chalked up to one of two things: 1) Topps' irrational airbrushing exuberance in the first series of '07 Topps, (Molina played for Toronto last year and signed with the Giants as a free agent in the off-season, hence the airbrushing from Toronto to San Francisco) or 2) sheer laziness on Topps behalf.

For the record, I choose the latter.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gary Sheffield is another that have identical cards in series 1 and series 2 except for the number.

#470 in series 2
#133 in series 1

Chris Harris said...

And so it is. Topps "recycled" two cards: Molina and Sheffield. Anybody found any more?

Anonymous said...

I would hate to see Topps gobbled up by Upper Deck because I hate Upper Deck. That said, I hate this year's Topps base set as well (although I love the Heritage set). I hate the airbrushing. I hate the design. I hate the mirror cards. I hate the "Generation Now" idiocy. I hate the Mickey Mantle "hero worship" cards. I hate that Topps repeatedly recycles the 1952 baseball design everywhere -- basketball, wrestling (or was that '53 or '54?), '52 baseball rookies, Mantle history, 2001 Heritage (that was the only good one). I really hate the red letter variations. I hate the fake short-print variations (it was okay when the 1982 George Foster All-Star had signature/no signature variations, as that was truly a mistake).

Topps is digging its own grave, IMHO. I wish they would keep their base set sacrosanct. Put in autographed cards as chase cards. Maybe do one or two small (10-card) insert sets. But that's it! Save this bull---- for their Opening Day set or somewhere else. Don't ruin the stinkin' base set!

Sadly, I think they will learn their lesson while being a brand owned by Upper Deck.

Chris Harris said...

Couldn't have said it any better myself. Whoever you are, I think you speak for a lot of collectors.

Anonymous said...

Don't have the cards in front of me, but Michael Barrett has the exact same card in series 1 and 2 just different numbers.

Anonymous said...

Another duplicate is #84 and #554, Elizardo Ramirez. The blurbs on the back are different. The pictures are actually different, but on closer examination the pic in 554 is just a zoom-in of the pic in 84.