Every year, there are a few sets that I spend a ton of money on. One is Chrome, one is Five Star, and one is surprisingly base Topps. All three of these sets have delivered in great ways over the last few years, and after seeing solicitation for the first REAL set of 2012 today from Topps, 2012 is going to be an incredible year.
Not only is the rookie class going to be stronger than any class has been in years, but the base design is quite impressive in many different ways. Aside from listening to collectors who wanted to see a different design from the baseball one, they really delivered a great looking card that continues the tradition of the set. I love the bar across the bottom of the card, as it worked so well last year, that it should work that much better this year with a downward swoop instead of an arc. It will make it easier for the players to sign the Chrome cards, and I have a distinct feeling that collectors wont have to wait for Chrome to get some rare autographs in Topps.
My favorite part of the product is the Rookie Premiere autographs, which have a very nice design this year. Although they are solicited without NFL pictures or teams, the actual cards will have both. Additionally, the patch auto version of them look just as good, with the patch correctly cut down into the bottom border instead of intruding into the player picture.
I also really like the veteran autograph content they are displaying, as the horizontal patch and autograph cards that should be replacing the “Game Day” ones from last year are a huge upgrade. Adding in the manu-medallions that sold well in baseball is a nice touch, and the cards that will be like the Bradshaw should be as good as the HOF patch autos from Gridiron Legends last year.
The two cards that intrigued me the most are the Montana reprint auto and the Luck autograph modeled after the famous Elway/Marino cards from 1984 Topps. Again, I expect the Luck card to be branded with NFL logos and such, and I also expect them to be one of the cooler cards in the set. I have called for retro themed cards on a number of occasions, especially for reprint autos, and I think there is a lot to look forward to with these two cards.
Most importantly, because Topps is prepping this for collectors first, its obvious that there is most likely not going to be a pre-draft set from them. I think this is a good decision, as both Rising Rookies and Bowman Draft/Topps Draft never really sat well with me. I never understood why they wouldn’t just wait until after the premiere.
With some of the most highly touted prospects of the year being drafted in 2012, the companies better bring their ‘A’ game to increase potential for making money. Like Strasburg intrigued non-collectors to buy, Luck and RGIII could have similar effects. Both are already in the national spotlight and could go 1 and 2 in the draft come april. This is a great start to the year for Topps, and I have the utmost confidence in their design team to continue the run of great products.
As always, there will be lots of surprises in this set, and I personally cannot wait for the release sometime in July. LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!
Thought you were smart enough not to be swept off your feet by sell sheet images of cards that will show up maybe once per 10+ cases, best case scenario. Most boxes will still have a couple of photo shoot relics and a lower tier rookie auto. Just like the Panini products you endlessly drone on about. But luckily for Topps, most collectors are like you and blinded by sell sheet fool’s gold, so they’ll do alright.
I do kind of wish they would make a pre-draft set though, if only to make Panini look that much more ridiculous for the way they’re probably going to still be releasing “2011” sets three weeks into the stupid 2012 regular season.
dammit. I got all excited with that pic of the Montana rc reprint auto… and… it’s a sticker. Sigh… back to hoping one shows up for less than $800 on feebay. Topps reads this, right? Hey, do this guys. Montana/Deion Sanders/Emmitt Smith/Jerry Rice/Barry Sanders/Darrell Green/Bruce Smith/Cris Carter and whoever else from the mid 80s to very early 90’s had awesome Rookie Cards in your sets. Reprint autos (ON CARD), and put ’em in 2012 Five Star, to accommodate the cost of acquisition of the signatures. Do it. … please? 🙂
Ha! Totally. Who knows, this isnt due until first week in august, there could be a set to that prior.
I think from what we saw in previous years, Topps is a pretty good break.
@brentandbecca busts a bunch of it every year, and he made bank last year. With Luck’s auto selling in the crazy high price range I expect, followed closely by RGIII, Blackmon, and others, I think it will be easier than ever to get your money back on a regular box.
Panini’s cards look horrible, and content is awful, so its a double whammy. At least if you get a crappy box in Topps, the cards still look good.
You know what makes me sad? Something like a Montana reprint… the DESIGN DOESN’T CHANGE! There is ZERO excuse for these cards to not be hard signed! WTF, Topps! If you are going to use a retro rookie card, at least do it right. Hell, print out 100 or so of them, have Montana sign them and release a few per product though a calender year (like the Red Zone autos).
Montana RC reprint autos have been overdone to death. I think this the 4th or 5th different Topps product to contain them over the past decade.
However, the base card design is awesome, although I’m guessing the player names will be in harder-to-read foil (one of my pet peeves), rather than good old fashioned ink. Would be great if the checklist includes HOFers as SP’s, like the past few years’ baseball sets have. Or maybe some CTNW’s inserts (Cards That Never Were)…
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