Tag Archives: 2015

On The Radar: 2015 Topps Football Takes a Final Bow?

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This is a day I look forward to every single year, mainly because it is the first solicitation of the licensed products released after the rookie premiere. This is the first Topps product that features rookies in their NFL jerseys, and it is also the base design for Chrome and other aspects of the card year. Its bittersweet this year, because it may end up being the last licensed version of the Flagship Topps Set. Thanks to Panini, the set that everyone has known and loved for the last 60 years may be gone. In 2016, Panini is set to take over the NFL exclusive, which will make this set a lot different. I could not be more angry about that.

Check out some of the more iconic cards, which will likely get some time in the sun for this set:

1981 Topps Joe Montana RC BGS 9

1986 Topps Jerry Rice RC

1976 Topps Walter Payton RC

1956 Topps Johnny Unitas RC

Because this is the 60th anniversary, we already know Buybacks will be a part of the set, as are a number of other commemorative items. We could see some really fun surprises.

Base Design

I really like that they did not play it conservative, as this is a very different approach from what they have done in previous years. A bigger nameplate, more futuristic type of an approach, and definitely a modern take. It reminds me a BIT of 1993, but this is its own animal. They were right to preview the Odell Beckham card, featuring his now infamous catch, as the card looks absolutely stunning with that picture plastered across the front.

15TFB1_1167_Base_Vet_OBJ15TFB1_1145_Base_Parallel_Brady

Rookie Premiere Autographs

Last year, for the first time, Topps moved away from cards that featured photos taken at the premiere and then signed the next day. Instead, they used retouched photos used in sets like Inception, and did the rookie premiere autographs that way. The result was SO much better than it had been in the past, as the erratic arrival schedule didnt play into who got their photos done or not. This year’s design looks simple and sleek, which will make for a VERY good looking set. I have always liked this set, because they are on card and look cool – even with my pet peeve of studio shots.

15TFB1_3302_RP-AUTO

Base Autographs

I thought last year's base autographs were good not great. This year, I think the design looks so much better, as it plays into the look and feel of the overall product in a way that didnt happen last year. The team logo background separated by the different shapes is really cool, and I will definitely be interested to see who is on the checklist – especially if Aaron Rodgers is the cover boy. Topps has done great with checklists as of late.

3241_ToppsAuto_Rodgers

Retro Rookie Autographs

Let me say that they are just not going to beat last year's 1985 tribute, and its just as tough to beat 1984. Seeing that they went with 1987 is still a nice homage, but its just not on the iconic level that the previous two were. The cards will look nice, dont you fret, and I will buy the shit out of them, but 1985 is my favorite of all time.

15TFB1_3703_1987AUTO

Other inserts

During 2014, the insert quality skyrocketed over a dismal performance in 2013. This year, I think the inserts are especially nice again, especially with the retro cards celebrating the 60th anniversary of the set. Seeing the 1984 Lynch and the Emmitt Autograph make me remember how awesome those sets were, and how much I continue to despise Panini for ruining this sport for me. The other inserts are similarly nice, and it looks like this year is going to be pretty freaking solid for this set.

Like I mentioned at the top, this is a sad situation. But, as I have said a ton of times, the trading card industry is going down a path that benefits no one but Panini. Even then I question how much understanding they really choose to have, as their overspending for license on top of license is only going to hurt the hobby more when they cant make their money back. Seeing that this is the final year of a 60 year old set makes my blood boil, especially one that is responsible for some of the most iconic football cards of all time.

On the Radar: 2015 Topps Triple Threads Baseball

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For the majority of the time I have spent writing this site, I have waged a war on Triple Threads that knows no hotter fire. Although Football has improved in terms of design and concept over the years somewhat, Baseball has remained as horrifically bad as ever. Now that we see what 2015 is bringing, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the one Baseball set that needs a complete overhaul.

Here are some of the best of the worst from over the years, just for shits and giggles. These are so bad they are hilarious:

2008 Triple Threads Jorge Posada 36 Piece Relic Booklet – Deserves a 36 facepalm salute

2013 Triple Threads Casey Kelly Auto Relic – well who else would you be?

2014 Triple Threads Chris Archer Triple Relic – Horrible play on words

2014 Triple Threads Bryce Harper Auto Relic – ????

2014 Triple Threads Billy Butler Auto Relic – Something my dad would say

2013 Triple Threads Chase Headley Triple Relic – Really? I mean REALLY?

2012 Triple Threads Carlos Santana Triple Relic – Just a terrible play on his name. TERRIBLE.

Triple Threads has always been for the type of collector that values nothing but the name on the card, and the content of the relic that card contains. They dont care about the ugly design(s), they dont care about tired theme, and they are not people I would associate myself with. I have a generalized profile of these types of collectors in my mind, and though I know its bad, I cant help but despise what they reinforce with the manufacturers as acceptable card production methods.

Obviously, Triple Threads has always been as much about those god awful sayings they die cut into the cards, as it is about anything else. The sayings have been around for so long that they are literally scraping the bottom of the bottom of the barrel each passing year. Where Triple Threads was progressing towards more on card autographs, it seems to have stopped, once again going back to stickers to complement the awful looking design.

Although I do give Topps credit for using the silhouette style in their trifold relic booklets, instead of horrendous looking junk like this, everything else is pretty much exactly the same. It has been identical every year for the last 10 years, no joke. The only difference is in the players that are featured, and even then its not much different. They may have come up with these deca-threads books, which feature 10 relics, but I just dont see the appeal that it has. This is like the follow up to their 36 piece booklet, which was so terrible looking, they could be deemed the worst of the run.

Adding more single color swatches to a card SHOULD not help in this day and age, even if they might be patches. The card itself may look okay, but this is where the concept just doesnt work for me. I just dont care about a 10 player swatch booklet. I would much rather they focus their efforts somewhere else.

Topps Baseball has definitely created some interesting products over the years, but this is not one of them. I just hope that someday the production team will give more license to tweak baseball the way they have in football, and see what they can do. Until then, my fire breathing hatred will continue.

Breaking Down My Favorite Cards from 2015 Topps Series 1 Baseball

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As mentioned before, there are more people that wait for the release of Topps baseball than any other set that is released during the year. Almost yearly it gets national attention, which is has happened again this year with Jeter’s final Topps base card. That type of thing rarely happens, and is very good when it does. VERY GOOD. I think this year’s set has some real gems, and I wanted to highlight some of my favorites.

Strata Signature Relics

When I wrote about the set a few days ago, I mentioned how much I love these cards. In football, they continue to be a card I will chase until the end, and I am happy that they are back again for baseball after a lot of success last year. The multi-layer presentation looks awesome with a hard signed signature, and though many are redemptions, they are worth the wait.

2015 Topps Mike Piazza Strata Signature Relic – Live Card

2015 Topps Clayton Kershaw Strata Signature Relic

2015 Topps Jose Abreu Strata Signature Relic

Post Season Relic Autos

Whenever a card company can use the official logos from an event, I will usually perk my ears up. It adds a bit of fanfare to something to get its own logo, and most of the time they are worth adding to the trading cards to commemorate what happened. These cards were cool last year, and this year they are really nice as well.

2015 Topps Clayton Kershaw Post Season Auto Patch

2015 Topps Salvador Perez Post Season Auto Patch

Gallery of Greats

The framing of the picture with a focus on highlighting some of Baseaball’s titans is awesome. I think the cards just look high end, and raised border makes it seem more special. Although the autograph cards look worse in scans than I expect they really are in person, I would chase them if the checklist had a player I collected.

2015 Topps Derek Jeter Gallery of Greats Gold

2015 Topps Mike Piazza Gallery of Greats Auto

Framed Base Parallels

I dont really collect base cards at all. These are a bit different, as the metal frame adds a level of museum to these cards that rarely exist. At 20 copies each, the big guys like Jeter sell for insane money.

2015 Topps Miguel Cabrera Framed Base /20

2015 Topps Madison Bumgarner Framed Base /20

Acetate Base Parallels

Much like the framed cards, the acetate parallel is also one I love. As someone who loves acetate cards (as evidenced in my love of Strata), these are some bad ass base cards. Rarity in 10 copies makes them pretty beastly in price too.

2015 Topps Jose Abreu Acetate Base /10

2015 Topps Eric Hosmer Acetate Base /10

Topps Series 1 remains a hobby event, and that will not change as long as it exists. I think these cards are perfect examples why even the hit collectors can appreciate the product.

SCU Go-Live Report: 2015 Topps Baseball

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With pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training less than a month from now, that only means one thing – 2015 Topps Series 1 Baseball is on the way. Even though I rarely buy packs of Baseball cards anymore, the release of the new Topps set is always fun. Seeing that this release ALSO crosses over to the amazing digital apps that are my new favorite past time, Im more invested than ever, even if its not in a traditional manner.

This year’s design is a relative departure from the last few years of the set, but its one that I rather enjoy. Its not so modern that it takes away from the history of the set, but its not so boring that it doesnt feel fresh. The only thing I dont think will work as well stems from the transition of colored borders in all the parallels.

Here are some of the first hits up so far:

2015 Topps Miguel Cabrera Auto Relic Gallery of Greats

2015 Topps Mike Trout Career High Auto SSP

2015 Topps Bo Jackson Coin and Stamp Relic

2015 Topps Jacob Degrom Auto Career High

2015 Topps Clayton Kershaw SSP Photo Variation

We dont know much about the surprises that are definitely in store for the variations or other quirks of the set, but I am excited to see what that turns out to be. Breaks should start showing up tonight, as Topps has planned some pre-release parties with major retailers for the first time I can remember.

The first pitch celebrity cards are generating a lot of buzz among collectors, as they feature some really cool subjects that threw out ceremonial first pitches during last year. The set is selling for some really nice money, and it is a cool idea for an insert.

Topps Series 1 also brings out the set collectors from the woodwork each year, as this is really one of the main products that caters to that kind of hobby participant. Even though I am not a set collector by any definition of the word, its always funny to see people pick it apart with what they like and dont like.

I also like a lot of the designs for the inserts and autographs for the first time in a while, as I feel they have come up drastically short over the last few years. My three favorite parts of the set in the acetate parallels, framed cards and Strata signature relics are all back, and I will definitely try to pick up a few from the guys I chase. I still think the framed cards play after a few years, which is cool.

For whatever reason, card collectors can be some of the most anal OCD individuals about certain things, many of which I dont agree with or understand. There was some annoying controversy around including Derek Jeter as the first card in the set, as people have cited that retired players shouldnt be included in the base set. Although Paul Konerko also has a commemorative card in the base set, Jeter took most of the heat. Im going to say this again, as I said it in Twitter – Really? I mean Really? This is what we are getting mad about? The most iconic player in the game retires and people are pissed at Topps for giving him one last major sendoff? Cmon people. Really? If you think the backup shortstop on the Royals deserves a card more than Jeter in this set, even I will tell you that you have made the wrong cause your banner.

Either way, Series 1 should be a fun rip for Baseball enthusiasts as they prepare for the year, and I hope that will never change. Ill be keeping an eye out to see any of the cards I might want, and hopefully this year, I can find a better excuse to get back into collecting baseball cards. With all the time I spend on Topps BUNT, that shouldnt be hard.