Pissing on the grave of your meal ticket.

By now you've seen the video, on read about it on ACP, SCU, or FCB. (Warning, clicking on the links may cause projectile vomiting.)

The question I have is this: How does the Mantle family allow Topps to desecrate The Mick like this?

Look, we get it. He's been retired for 40 and dead for 15 years. The supply of Mickey Mantle autographs and (real) gamers is finite.

But c'mon.

"MICKEY M?" How do we even know this is from a real Mickey Mantle autograph? For all we know, that could be Mickey Mouse.

Absolutely disgraceful.

Want to complain about the "diamond-cut" Topps 206 minis?

Direct your complaints to this guy...



His name is Tom Mozeleski and his title is "Director of Manufacturing & Quality" at Topps.

And yes, this is a real, unannounced, gimmick card in Topps 206. (Notice how the "Director of Quality's" own card is perfectly centered?)

You have your assignment. Have at it.

Card-Ola: 2010 Topps 206

Base Set: 140 of 350 (40.00%)
short-set: 135 of 300 (45.00%)
"Hat" SPs: 5 of 50 (1:4): M. Mantle, R. Halladay, J. Upton, S-S Choo, M. Kemp

18 Bronze
6 Piedmont Minis: D. Span, V. Wells, K. Slowey, J. Beckett, N. Ryan, C. Crawford
5 American Caramel Minis (1:4): R. Zimmerman, K. Suzuki, C. Figgins, T. Lincecum, KosFu
2 Polar Bear Minis (1:10): S. Victorino, K. Slowey
1 Old Mill Mini (1:20): A. Soriano
1 Gold Chrome Piedmont Mini (1:245, numbered to 50): H. Wagner

5 Historical Events

1 Piedmont Framed Relic (1:40) Y. Escobar
1 Polar Bear Framed Relic (1:638) K. Slowey

Product Rating: 2 1/2 Gumsticks (out of 5)

Dual Video Blaster Break: 2010 Topps 206

Card-Ola: 2009 Topps 206

One Hobby box of 2009 Topps 206 (supplied by Topps)
20 packs per box, nine cards per pack

Part One



Part Two



The Pulls

Base Set: 135 of 300 (45.00%)

5 Short-Print Variations (50 cards, 1:4): K. Uehara, Hernandez, T. Cobb, E. Longoria, G. Sizemore

Parallels

18 Bronze (one-per-pack)
15 Piedmont Minis
2 Polar Bear Minis (1:10): G. Soto, J. Sowers
1 Old Mill Mini (1:20): M. LaPorta
1 Cycle Mini (1:22, numbered to 99): J. Garland
1 Piedmont Variation (1:20) R. Porcello

Inserts

5 Mickey Mantle Checklists

Autogamers

1 Framed Autograph (30 cards, 1:18) R. Braun
1 Piedmont Framed Relic (25 cards, 1:71) HanRam

The Review

It's the most anticipated card set since..., since..., well since Topps announced it back in April. But was 2009 Topps 206 live up to the hype?

Yes. Yes it does. It's not as good as the 2002 edition (then again, how could they top that?), but the 2009 edition is a triumph, and the best card set released so far in 2009.

Product Review: 4 1/2 Gumsticks (out of 5)