Here’s another completed insert set. This one from 2001 Topps – I’ve done a few of these now. It was also completed from a Black Friday purchase last year – another one of those I’ve done!
Info about the set:
Set description: A lot of the inserts for Topps’ 50th anniversary looked back at the company’s history – this one looks at what might come for some of baseball’s stars. The set has a blue background with a spiral effect with future years listed. The set name is in the upper left corner, the player name in the lower right corner, and the 50th year Topps logo is in the top right. The back has a write-up of expectations for “Y2K and beyond”, and statistics from 2000 and his career.
Set composition: 10 cards, 1:17 odds (2001 Topps series 1)
Hall of Famers: 2. Ken Griffey Jr., Pedro Martinez
How I put the set together:
- 2 cards from my 2001 series 1 hobby box
- 2 cards from a trade
- 4 cards from Sportlots
- 2 cards from COMC
Card that completed my set: #LA4 – Alex Rodriguez
This was one of 2 cards I got last December (after Black Friday) from COMC. The other was Derek Jeter.
Thoughts on the set: Nice insert set. In 2001, Topps really seemed like it was going overboard with the number of inserts, so some of them were starting to feel like filler. This one has a little bit of that, but I do like the design and the theme. The spiral seems appropriate for a “look into the future” set.
Best card (my opinion): #LA4 – Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod when he was with the Mariners was as fun to watch as any player I can remember. He was the best offensive shortstop in history, he was very good defensively, and he could steal bases. With all that’s happened since, it’s easy to forget how exciting he was.
My Favorite Reds card: #LA5 – Ken Griffey Jr.
Here’s a scan of the full set:
Other tidbits: It’s a little sad going through the backs of these cards. Here are some of the things Topps predicts that don’t come true:
- Vlad Guerrero never won the triple crown
- Todd Helton had a number of great years after 2000, but he didn’t approach .400 again
- A-Rod switched to third base and didn’t break Cal Ripken’s record for homers as a short stop
- Ken Griffey Jr. did not break Hank Aaron’s career home run record.
- Nomar Garciaparra did not become one of the best that’s ever played
- Pedro Record did not break Roger Clemens’ record of 5 Cy Young Awards. In fact, Clemens won 2 more.
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