Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Foray into Topps 2011

I waited it out as long as I could.  But, since I was at Wagamaw (one of my pet names for Wally World, er, Walmart), I figured it was just as good a time as any to pick a pack.  I opted for the double pack thing because the single packs looked like some had tried very hard to feel the contents.  In fact, someone had posted a "no moleste" hotel hanger on one of the retail displays.

I am writing this from my Droid, and posting pictures is nothing less than futile, so I will post pics when I have access to an actual computer. In the meantime, I will let you know my "thoughts and gots."

I managed to get a Triber in the pack: closer Chris Perez.

I have to say, I like the design of the base set. the photo takes up the entire front other than the traditional white border. the player's name is featured in an arc that starts in the lower left corner, rises just a little, then arcs back down to the team logo on the right. Unlike the photography of last year, these pictures are crisp and clear with very little photoshopping from what I can tell. though, the casey blake card seems to have a bit more dust then would be really evident given a head first slide where he is still in the air and his hands appear to have just reached the ground. hmmm.

the card backs are traditional topps all the way... sometimes there is a blurb, and sometimes just stats, depending on the player career. the one thing i dont care about is a little feature down the edge that tells you this cards number was so and so in another set. for example, adrian beltre on card 302 says that "in the 1957 set, Sandy Koufax was card number 302." Really, I dont care. Then, I may be in the minority there.

In addition to base set cards, I got a Diamond Anniversary VERY sparkly Jon Lester. There is also a Chicle Jimmie Foxx (cmgr7). Toppstown gave me a josh johnson with code to get virtual cards. I pulled a gold bordered clay hensley (0138/2011) and a mini champions jared weaver. there is a diamond duo boggs/youkilis that will find its way to merry old england someday soon. continuing the list, we have a topps60 felix hernandez. last but not least, a 60toy-32... that would be ozzie smith. the front features his 1983 topps card. i believe i have the real one in my non-tribers collection.

i ended up with a handful of national league leader cards featuring various leading roles. and i also ended up with an absurd number of reds cards. i pulled a jeter base card, which shows him spread eagle chucking a ball in what has bevome the quintessential derek jeter pose (well, that and one where he is flying away from first while throwing the ball across his chest toward that base.).

all in all, i like the design of this years base set. stay tuned for pics...

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