Completed insert set – 2011 Before there was Topps

I already finished the History of Topps set and posted about it back in January.  That was a series 1 insert set; Topps created a similar set for series 2 that covered baseball card history before Topps started up – “Before there was Topps”.  I finished this set shortly thereafter, but didn’t get around to posting on it until now.  Since I’m moving this week, I don’t have much time to do new posts, so I’m going to take this opportunity to do some of these overdue “completed set” posts.

Info about the set:

Set description: “A 10-card review showcasing the world of vintage baseball culminating with the founding of Topps!”  At least that’s the way they describe it on the sell sheets.  Everything is correct – except this is really just a 7-card set.  The cards in this set have a tan border surrounding an oval “mirror”, with a card from the highlighted vintage set showcased.  In the top part of the border is the wording “Before There Was Topps”, while the name of the set showcased is in the bottom.

Set composition:  7 cards, 1:18 hobby odds

Hall of Famers:  7.  All the cards displayed feature Hall of Famers.

How I put the set together:

2 cards from a series 2 HTA jumbo

1 card from a series 2 blaster

2 cards from a card show

2 cards from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set:

I think the fact they did this set as part of their 60th anniversary was a good idea.  From that vantage point, I like this better than the Vintage Reproductions they had in series 1.  This set goes well with their “History of Topps” set – though I’d have added some cards.  Here’s what they did include:

• BTT1 Honus Wagner (1909 T-206)
• BTT2 Christy Mathewson (1911 T-205)
• BTT3 Walter Johnson (1911 T-201)
• BTT4 Babe Ruth (1921 Exhibit Supply Co)
• BTT5 Jimmie Foxx (1933 Goudey)
• BTT6 Mel Ott (1939 Play Ball)
• BTT7 Stan Musial (1948 Bowman)

I would have included as much as possible, including these sets:

• 1869 Peck & Snyder – the first card of the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings would have been great for this set – heck, they even mention it on the back of the Wagner T-206 card!
• 1887 Allen & Ginter – obviously something they can make happen
• 1887 Gypsy Queen and/or Old Judge – they clearly have the rights to the Gypsy Queen set
• 1888 Goodwin Champions – though there may be some rights issues here since Upper Deck has the rights to this set.  But I don’t know if it matters – I think they use the “informational” thing here.  Because I think UD has the Play Ball and Goudey rights that Topps did still use.
• 1888 – Kimball Champions – they have an insert set of this in 2011 Topps.  A card with a description about the set would have been cool.
• 1912 – Hassan Triple Folders – I love these cards!!!!
• 1914 – Cracker Jack.  This is a must!
• 1916-1938 – Zeenut – I don’t know much about these, so another card would be great!
• 1930′s – US Caramel – they had these in the Vintage Reproduction set – why not here?
• 1941 – Double Play – ditto

There’s at least 8 ideas they could come up with there!

Card that completed my set: #BTT1 – Honus Wagner (1909 T-206)

I got this card along with card #2 in a January purchase from Sportlots.

Highest book value:  They are all the same value.

Best card (my opinion): #BTT1 – Honus Wagner (1909 T-206)

Hard to go against the Holy Grail.  I also really like the Mathewson T-205 card.

My Favorite Reds card:  There aren’t any.

Completed insert set – 2011 Topps Reproductions Cards

Vintage Reproductions was another set Topps did in its 2011 Topps product – this was a series 1 insert set.  I kind of question the relevance on this one – why have a bunch of reprints in the year they’re celebrating their 60th anniversary.  Not saying the set isn’t kind of cool – it is – it just seems like it would have fit in a different year.  These cards have a CMG prefix because CMG Worldwide is the marketing company that represents the deceased Hall of Famers.

Info about the set:

Set description: “A retrospective showcasing the world of vintage baseball cards pre-1952 and pre-Topps!”  They sort of tie it in that way to the 60th anniversary thing – but I don’t get why they have this set and the “Before there was Topps” set.  Anyways, the design is dependent on the card – but I’d note that Topps “stretches” each card so that it’s the same size as a standard card.

Set composition: 30 cards, 1:8 hobby odds

Hall of Famers:  16.  Babe Ruth, Hank Greenberg, Christy Mathewson, Cy Young, George Sisler, Jackie Robinson, Honus Wagner, Jimmie Foxx, Enos Slaughter, Johnny Mize, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Rogers Hornsby, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson.  All the players in the set are in the HOF, but many of the players have multiple cards.

How I put the set together:

5 cards from a series 1 hobby box

5 cards from a series 1 HTA jumbo box

1 card from a retail jumbo pack

2 cards from a blaster

8 cards from trades

7 cards from eBay and/or card shows

1 cards from Sportlots

1 card from Check Out My Cards

Thoughts on the set:  Like I said above – I like the set, I just don’t know if this was the right year / product for it.  Also, I’d have rather had them just pick only one card per set, go in chronological order, and maybe do a few more sets, like Ginter, Gypsy, Kimball and others.  All that said – the set does look pretty cool scanning them all in together.

I did find a couple of errors they made in the write-ups on the back.  The Jackie Robinson 1950 Bowman card says he was in Topps first set, “in 1951″ – Robinson was not in the ’51 Red or Blue Back set, but he was in the 1952 Topps set, so I think that’s what they meant to put.  A bigger mistake – the George Sisler card says it’s from 1921 National Caramel, designated E220, and the back proceeds to describe how he’s reaching for a ground ball.  Well, the 1921 E220 National Caramel card does show him reaching for a ground ball, but that’s not the card pictured on the front!  He’s shown hitting on the front.  The confusion is that it’s actually the E121 set from American Caramel.

Card that completed my set: #CMGR22 – Mel Ott (1933 Goudey)

I got this card from Check Out My Cards in January.

Highest book value: #CMGR1, CMGR2, CMGR4, CMGR5 – Babe Ruth

Best card (my opinion): #CMGR17 – Jimmie Foxx (1935 Diamond Stars)

Double-X with an old school catchers mitt.  Love it.

My Favorite Reds card: There are none.

Waiting until the last minute of the Topps Diamond Giveaway

Today was the last day you could just about everything (redeem codes, trade cards, dig, etc.) for the Topps Diamond Giveaway.  I believe the one thing you can still do is request delivery until the end of July.  I stopped biding my time about a week ago and went onto the site to take delivery of my cards.  I didn’t realize how it worked, but I also had 2 “Factory sets” as prizes in my queue.  I was wondering about those – for some reason I assumed they would be sent when I won them, then forgot about them.  But they actually showed up when I went to redeem the other cards.  Also, it ended up earning me free delivery, so that was pretty cool – I guess when you’ve won a prize, you get free shipping instead of the total rip-off if you have to pay (like 3 bucks first card, 50 cents each additional).

I have quite the plan for these.  I think I’m going to try to sell one set, but for the other I’ll try to sell some team sets and keep the box to put my 2011 base set.

As mentioned, I also got some cards.  Here they are, basically in chronological order.  Naturally, the older cards are in worse condition.  That McMillan would be pretty good if it wasn’t completely offset.  The McMillan and the other Red, the 1960 Rookie Stars Ted Wieand, were two cards I was looking forward to seeing.  Too bad they’re in bad shape, but I guess that gives them “character”.  The McRae and Reuss from 1973 are pretty cool cards – I turned down a number offers for each of those cards.

Next up, cards from the mid-late 1970′s.  The 1975 MVPs with Ernie Banks was the one I got the most trade offers for, and now I wish I’d have taken the best one.  It’s really in bad share.  Not only are the corners beyond rounded, the card has a wax stain on the back.  Oh well, what can you do.  Overall, some nice cards here as I wrap up my 2011 Topps extravaganza.

Completed insert set – 2011 Topps Diamond Stars

The Diamond Stars set was inserted in 2011 Topps series 2.  It was a pretty cool looking set that used the “sparkly” design effect that Topps used for the Diamond Platinum parallel cards for all the 2011 Topps sets.

Info about the set:

Set description:  “25 of the greatest players of today are fittingly honored on premium cards.”  As mentioned, Topps used the diamond look that was used on the background of the Platinum Diamond parallels.  The main background of the card is blue, with a red diamond surrounding an up-close image of the player.

Set composition:  25 cards, 1:6 in series 2

Hall of Famers: None – only current players.

How I put the set together:

5 cards from series 2 HTA jumbo box

1 card from a series 2 retail pack

1 card from a series 2 blaster

1 card from a trade

7 cards from eBay / card shows

10 cards from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set:  I like the design of this insert set, and I like the “sparkly” technology.  Topps was a little overboard with all the insert sets from the 2011 base set, but this is one I wouldn’t cut.  At 25 cards, it’s collectible, too.

Card that completed my set:  DS14 – Miguel Cabrera

One of 5 cards I picked up from a Sportlots purchase in January.

Highest book value:  DS10 – Albert Pujols

Best card (my opinion):  DS19 – Josh Hamilton

The red jersey Hamilton is sporting goes well with this design.  Close behind is the Longoria card, for the same reason – his light blue Rays jersey looks sweet, too.  Hamilton’s picture is on a swing follow-through, so that puts it over the Rays’ 3rd baseman.

My Favorite Reds card:  DS5 – Joey Votto

He’s the only Red in the set.

Completed insert set – 2011 Topps 60th Anniversary Black Diamond

Yesterday, I posted about the wrapper redemption from this year – today I’m showing off my completed wrapper redemption from last year!

The 2011 60th Anniversary Black Diamond set was available through a wrapper redemption program from series 1.  The set contains current players and features the classic 1952 design with a black “diamond effect” similar to what Topps did for the Diamond Anniversary parallels or Diamond Stars insert sets.

Info about the set:

Set description:  60 of today’s players on the classic 1952 Topps design, enhanced with the diamond effect.  The set was available through a series 1 hobby wrapper redemption program.  By sending in 10 HTA jumbo or 36 hobby packs (one box worth), collectors would get a 5 card pack of the cards.  Randomly inserted were black diamond reprints of cards from the 1952 set autographed by those players.  Players in the autograph set include Monte Irvin, Joe Garagiola, Virgil Trucks and Ralph Branca.

Set composition:  60 cards, 5 per wrapper redemption pack

Hall of Famers: None – only current players.

How I put the set together:

I bought a complete set on eBay.  I did get 10 cards in the mail – but I found a cheaper deal on the full set than it would have been to collect the remaining 50 cards.

Thoughts on the set:  I know that Topps has beat together the retro theme, and particularly the 1952 set, but this set it gorgeous.  I love it.

Card that completed my set:  All of them – as noted, I bought the whole set on eBay.

Highest book value:  11 – Albert Pujols, 54 – Derek Jeter

Best card (my opinion):  52 – Martin Prado

I love this photo, with the jersey logo next to the logo to the left above the signature at the bottom of the card.

My Favorite Reds card:  6 – Joey Votto

The other card is Aroldis Chapman – Votto just has a better picture.

Completed insert set – 2011 History of Topps

I’ve only completed one 2011 Topps insert set thus far – and it’s a fairly small one with hardly any baseball players at that!  History of Topps was an insert set that Topps released in its 2011 Series 1 product.

Info about the set:

Set description:  “An overview of Topps from its nascency, and the milestones and events that complete its history.”  The cards are made to look like the pages of a book, with a picture of something representative of the specified event shown diagonally on each card.

Set composition: 10 cards, 1:18 hobby odds

Hall of Famers:  11.  Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews are featured on the card for the 1957 Topps set.  Juan Marichal is showcased on the card for the 1974 Topps Traded set.  Ryne Sandberg, George Brett, Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith, Nolan Ryan, and Mike Schmidt are all shown on the 1989 Bowman card.  Mantle is also featured with a bunch of cards on the 2009 “exclusive license” set.

How I put the set together:

2 cards from a series 1 hobby box

2 cards from a series 1 HTA jumbo

1 card from a series 1 blaster

2 cards from trades

2 cards from a card show

1 card from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set:

I read a bit on the blogosphere about people not liking it when it came out – but I don’t think it’s too bad.  It’s a set that makes sense in 2011 as they are celebrating their 60th anniversary.  I only think they should have made it a 20-card set.  I think everything they included makes complete sense:

• 1938 – Topps is founded by the Shorin family
• 1951 – First cards are sold
• 1952 – Sy Berger creates the first complete set
• 1957 – Topps sets the card size standard
• 1972 - Topps goes public
• 1974 – First Topps Traded set
• 1989 – Topps reintroduced Bowman
• 1994 – Topps moves from Brooklyn to NYC
• 2007 – Eisner & Co. buy into Topps
• 2009 – Topps receives MLB exclusive

But I would have added:

• 1954 - Topps issues its first professional hockey card set
• 1956 – Topps issues its first professional football card set
• 1958 – Topps issues its first professional basketball card set
• 1960′s – Topps creates the first inserts (Stamps, Baseball Bucks, Stick-Ons, Embossed)
• 1981 – Topps introduces “Hit to Win” baseball card contest
• 1991 – Topps introduces Stadium Club
• 1992 – Topps creates Topps Gold, the first parallel baseball insert set (They could also talk about their first autograph card - Brien Taylor)
• 1993 – Topps introduces Finest (there are so many things they could say about this)
• 1996 – Topps “retires” card #7 for Mickey Mantle
• 2001 – Topps introduces the Heritage brand

Card that completed my set: #HOT8 – Topps moves from Brooklyn to NYC

I got this card in a trade with a reader of my blog.

Highest book value:  They are all the same value.

Best card (my opinion): #HOT3 – Sy Berger creates the first complete set

Hard to go against this one.

My Favorite Reds card:  There aren’t any.

Card of the Year!!!

If you’re a Reds fan – it’s this, card hands down.  For the rest of you poor, misguided souls – I’m sure there’s some others.  Here’s some that jump to mind:

• Night Owl’s favorite – Dee Gordon from Topps Update
• Eric Young’s Topps series 1 card
• SP Legendary Murderer’s Row or Black Sox cut signatures – say what you want about Upper Deck, but this is a pretty cool card

• Heritage Sandy Koufax Real One Auto*

* – another Dodger, I must be going soft – but initially I thought either Sandy or Hank Aaron could be a potential Card of the Year.  Both Aaron and Koufax signed with Topps at the start of the year.  Sandy is a notoriously difficult autograph (though he’s had more than I thought in past baseball card products).  Aaron is the bigger name, and he has become more difficult to obtain as he gets up there in age.  What puts Koufax over the top here?  The combination of above, plus the fact that his card #5 out of 1962 Topps is particularly awesome, the auto is on-card, and Aaron’s is a redemption anyways (I haven’t even seen the actual card anywhere now that I think about it – just the mock-ups).

Anybody have any other favorites?

2011 Topps Update blaster

I also got a blaster of Topps Update from the red-dot-with-a-circle-around-it in addition to the packs I posted yesterday.  I got the remaining card I needed to finish the Update set (Orlando Cabrera).  I also got 2 packs worth of red parallels – I hear there are some blue Wally World versions, too.  Not the biggest fan – just another parallel.  It seems like these are only Topps Update parallels – unlike the cognac diamonds – they didn’t do the full Topps set for these cards.  Here’s some of the cards I got – most notably a Bob Gibson throwback manu-patch and a Johnny Mize liquor-fractor.  I must admit – though I like the manu-patch cards more than most, I don’t understand this Gibson.  I get when they do a current player with an old patch.  I get when they put a former player with a patch that he wore.  But unless I’m forgetting something and it was Gibson, not Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier – the 1943 Cardinals patch does not go here.

2011 Topps Update Jumbo and retail packs

I purchased a jumbo pack and a blaster pack from Target the other day.  Just like series 2 – I only got one “hobby” box (HTA Jumbo) and a little more retail.  I was 1 card short after the HTA box (only because the 1 cards had a bad corner).

The jumbo pack and the retail pack did not net me the card I needed.  They did yield a diamond giveaway card, and some other inserts.

2011 Topps Update HTA jumbo box – hits

Here are the “hits” and rarer inserts I got from my Update HTA jumbo box.  I got a Hornsby black leather glove card (#/99) – kind of goes with my Koufax from series 2.  A couple of legends variations on the cognac (liquor-fractor) parallel – Yaz and a guy from the ’90 Reds!  Paul O’Neill!  That’s the 3rd Topps Black I’ve pulled – each from a jumbo box.  The Blue Diamond parallels are #’d out of 60 – and look pretty cool.  Also – the All-Star game relics are a great relic idea for this product.