Topps’ first few years as the sole provider of licensed MLB cards has undoubtedly turbulent. Although they have been successful with annual favorites, the newer products put out in the meantime have faced some sharp criticism for long time collectors. Today, we got our first look at some of the more expensive cards to be released in 2012, and for the first time in a long time, I am looking forward to baseball again.
Albert Pujols is the most expensive current star autograph there is. Because he is a perennial MVP candidate who played for and now plays again in a huge market, there is rarely a bigger autograph you can pull. Over the course of the last few years, his signature, when signed on card, has become more and more rare, which was disheartening for his many collectors. Topps previewed some of his cards today on their twitter page, and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed. The cards look extremely well done, and could be a feature in any high end set released in the last few years. Baseball is a set collectors sport, but that doesnt mean there are not a ton of high end collectors who will salivate over well designed cards like these.
Tribute will be one of the first high end sets released this year, and after seeing the clutch inscriptions that Topps is featuring, a lot of people are going to buy in hard for the boxes. I cannot say how important inscriptions have become, as unique autograph content can spike a product in any sport. Additionally, the hard signed cards from Gypsy Queen, Tier One, and Ginter all look tremendous, with Gypsy Queen being my favorite of all of them.
Its hard to cater a set collector’s product to a wide variety of market tastes, but I think that creating as many high end level cards as possible cannot hurt at all. When considering how many Angels fans will be on board for Pujols’ first cards with the team, its unbelievable that Topps has been able to print Angels’ cards in time for him to sign.
Dont get me wrong, Topps has a lot to prove with 2012’s calendar as compared to last years. Although I think the products are a complete joke, Panini is now going to be gunning for the big dogs, and Topps needs to stay ahead of the wave. If all the cards look as good as these do, I think we are in for a strong year in baseball cards.
It isn’t just that the cards look great either. Pujols takes the time to do a beautiful autograph. I hope his collectors appreciate it! I collect Greg Maddux and his signature is just ridiculously lazy and unintelligible.
All of those cards look great! Topps should have hit Pujols up for his All-Star shirt while they had him there. The All-Star and Nike logos would look great in a card…unless they get shoe-horned into a Triple Threads sick mojo card, paired with a sticker auto.
what’s with all the cards not showing Pujols in his Angels uniform?
Other than that, I’m holding my enthusiasm – you don’t know how much are truly going to be released in each product and these are only mockups of course and you know that Topps can change things from the mockups.
These are actual cards. Some are redemption fufillment from 2011.
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