I said a few times that I’m catching up on these completed insert sets. And I am. But you wouldn’t think it on this one – I finished it up almost 2 years ago and am just not getting to the post. It’s a quick one, though.
Info about the set:
Set description: “10 dual-subject cards pairing current rookies with one of their franchise’s most famous rookies from the past”. At least, that’s what the sell sheet says. But that’s not really what Topps did – as I’ll show.
Set composition: 10 cards, 1:8 (2013 Topps Update)
Hall of Famers: 5 – Sandy Koufax, Cal Ripken, Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, Rickey Henderson
How I put the set together:
- 5 cards from my HTA Jumbo box
- 3 cards from trades
- 1 card from Sportlots
- 1 card from COMC
Card that completed my set: #FF5 – Wil Myers / Evan Longoria
I got this card from COMC on their Black Friday sale – in 2014.
Thoughts on the set: It’s a good idea, but I don’t think the execution is great. Out of all the Dodgers who have won Rookie of the Year – they pick Sandy Koufax and Matt Kemp? Koufax had the greatest pitching stretch in history and Kemp was a great player when this set came out. But with Jackie Robinson, Newcombe, Fernando, Piazza, Nomo – there’s just a bunch of better options.
At least the team was right there. Nolan Ryan is paired with Yu Darvish, but the Texas Rangers didn’t even exist when he made his MLB debut. Honestly, he’d have been a better pairing for Matt Harvey than David Wright (though Wright is one of the more correct pairings).
Basically, it’s an OK idea for a set but not executed correctly in a number of places.
Best card (my opinion): #FF3 – Manny Machado / Cal Ripken
Unlike almost every other card – this one is perfect.
My Favorite Reds card: There are none
Lifetime Topps project 
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