More Takes on 2011 Topps Baseball

So, Topps released some more images of next year's flagship baseball set on their facebook page today. By now you've already seen them, so here's my take.

This looks pretty damn cool: On-card autographs WITH NOTATIONS. Very original. Too bad you'll probably never see one unless you rip eleventy billion HTA cases.

The once, and future, Cy Young winner; shown Cuttering the shit out of some poor National League donkey, on a die-cut insert (I'm assuming this is an insert) that has a bit of a late-90s vibe to it. Mmm, Guy Like!

I guess since this is the 60th Anniversary, we should get use to every-other insert having the word "Diamond" in it.


Hey look kids, a letter patch that's from the back of an actual uniform! (Albeit from a batting practice shirt.) Again, you'll probably have to rip twelvity five hundred waxboxes to find one, but AT LEAST IT AIN'T A STUPID MANU-PATCH!

For the uninitiated, the card on the left is a reprint of Babe Ruth's first trading card. This card (the real one, not the Topps reprint) is actually rarer than the T-206 Wagner and has been valued at $500,000. The one on the right is a Ryan Braun card done in the style of the 1888 Kimball Champion's set -- Mr. Burdick refers to it as "N-184."

2011 Topps is supposed to commemorate Topps' 60th year in baseball cards, right? Then tell me what the hell are cards like these doing in a set like this? If you're going to make 2011 Topps a celebration of 60 years of Topps Baseball, then make it A CELEBRATION OF "TOPPS FUCKING BASEBALL!" NOT OF CARDS YOU NEVER MADE!

Besides, I think we can all agree, we could use a break from the pre-war/19th Century retro stuff for a year.

And it wouldn't be a Topps product without reprints of ACTUAL Topps cards, right?

For those of you scoring at home, this is now (by my count) the twelfth time Topps has printed this particular Jackie Robinson card.

1952 (Original)
1983: 1952 Topps Reprint Set
1997: All-Star Fan Fest
2001: Topps Through the Years Reprints
2001: Topps Chrome Through the Years Reprints
2001: Topps Chrome Through the Years Reprints Refractor
2001: Topps Archives
2001: Topps Archives Reserve
2002: Topps '52 Reprints
2002: Topps Chrome '52 Reprints
2002: Topps Chrome '52 Reprints Refractor
2011: Topps

Speaking of reprints, wouldn't it have been great if Topps waited until 2011 to unveil "The Cards Your Mom Threw Out" and "Million Card Giveaway" promotions? I know, I know, I'm thinking long-term viability -- a prerequisite not required for employment in the trading card industry.



Chris Olds and I had a Twitter-debate as to what the borders of these cards are supposed to be. Olds thought it was Dufex, I think it's etched-foil a la 1993 Bowman. Either way, they look pretty damn cool. But I do find it curious that the serial-number is on the front of the Gold Ichiro, but not the Silver Jeter.

For the Record: There's also a gray-bordered David Wright card that I assume will inherit the "numbered to 2011" parallel, and a black-border of some broken-down, washed-up, pitcher that should be numbered to 60 copies.

Of course, Topps has yet to release the composition and structure of 2011 Topps. Until then, any further judgments will be withheld.

My take on the 2011 Topps design.

On the Plus Side:

1) No Moose-Knuckle. If I see another card of Albert Pujols' moose-knuckle, I swear, I'm going to off myself.

2) Going back to team logos after a year of wordmarks. Wordmarks are like Topps 206, something to be used once-per-decade, at most.

3) No unnecessary "boxes" or "dots."

4) White borders.

On the Minus Side:

1) Unnecessary repetition of team name. We get it. Albert Pujols plays for the Cardinals. Do you have to state it TWICE AROUND THE TEAM LOGO? Isn't that a little too redundant?

2) The "Name Arc." Try fitting the names "JONATHAN PAPELBON," "SHANE VICTORINO," or "JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA" on that small amount of real estate. (Thank God William Van Landingham is retired!)

3) Where's that way-cool 60th Anniversary logo you showed us at The National?

4) If you were a novice baseball fan and had no idea what position Albert Pujols plays, would you be able to find it on this card?

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.

The greatest relic card I've ever pulled.

Behold. In all its beauty...





Thanks Steve.

It's On (dayf) 187um Killa

Royz in the Hood: 1997 Bowman's Best

I did this last year with Raul Ibanez; this year, it's Halladay, Hamels & Oswalt. First up, Roy Halladay and 1997 Bowman's Best.




Base: 125 of 200 (62.50%)
12 doubles
1 triple

2 Refractors (1:12): R. Sandberg, R. Rivera
1 Atomic Refractor (1:24): R. Klesko

1 Best Cuts (20 cards, 1:24): F. Thomas
1 Best Cuts Refractor (20 cards, 1:48): J. Bagwell
1 Mirror Image Refractor (10 cards, 1:96): C. Jones/A. Beltre, M. Williams/R. Branyan

ROY HALLADAY ROOKIE CARDS PULLED: 1

Card-Ola: 2010 Topps Football

Part One:



Part Two:



Base Set: 269 of 440

7 Golds (1:5, numbered to 2010): J. Pierre-Parl, M. Pouncey, M. Hardesty, D. Reed, T. Pike, J. Skelton, Z. Robinson

32 Topps Attax (50 cards, one-per-pack)
2 Drew Brees Ring of Honor (1 card, 1:36)
4 Topps Reprints (20 cards, 1:9) A. Johnson, D. Marino, D. Brees, F. Gore
12 1952 Bowman (50 cards, 1:3) G. Tate, A. Rodgers, T. Tebow, B. Marshall, R. Moss, C. McCoy, B. Tate, S. Bradford, J. Beason, M. Turner, M. Austin, D. Brees
6 NFL Draft 75th Anniversary (50 cards, 1:6) R. Lewis, T. Tebow, V. Young, E. Manning, D-Jack, P. Harvin
8 Gridiron Lineage (20 cards, 1:4): Aikman/Romo, Dawkins/Berry, Dickerson/Jackson, Montana/Brady, Namath/Sanchez, Sayers/Forte, Smith/Tomlinson, Thomas/Spiller
10 Peak Performers (50 cards, 1:4): D. Bryant, P. Manning, R. Rice, K. Winslow, J. Dwyer, J. Mayo, B. Favre, C. Johnson, D. Clark, G. Tate
6 Gridiron Giveaway (1:6)

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

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)

Royz N The Hood

Last year, it was The Great Raul Hunt. This year, it's...


Coming soon to a baseball cardblog near you....