Some surprises in 2010 Topps Update

Who doesn't like surprises right.  I mean good surprises like a new puppy under the Christmas tree not bad surprises like "Hey you have Lupus". 

I was starting to put together my 2010 Topps Update set the other night, still haven't collated yet, just separtating cards into there number groups and I found some interesting stuff.  Now I figured there would be some more pie in the face variations and retire legends variations, but there were a few more surprises in Topps Update that you might not know about. 

First is the Topps Rookie Cup variations.  I was sorting cards and noticed I had a regular numbered card in the batch not numbered 661 but 450, Omir Santos.  And at first I was stumped as to why this card was in Update.  But after some quick searching on eBay and the net I realized that this was a All Topps Rookie Cup Variation.  That means that it has the Topps Cup on the front and oddly enough the same picture as the regular 450. 

The other card which stood out right away was the Atlanta Braves Mickey Mouse All Stars card I got from my second box.  Nothing too exciting with the card, no numbering or foil,  and a quick search around the old 'bay revealed a bunch of these cards.  I'm not sure if each team has one or not.  I saw a lot of 5 go for about 5 bucks and most are unsold.  Mainly because they were listed for an opening bid of $9.99 and no one knows these cards are around yet. 

I pickd up the Cubs one from a random single pack buy.  I have no idea how rare these might be.

But these is no updated checklist for this set yet.  At least not from Topps and these inserts are not on there on their originally released check list.  Lots of TBA's there.

And there are pie in the face variations as well.  Here is the Edwin Jackson I got.

TTM Pawn Stars Successful Failure

I sent 4 custom cards to the guys at Gold and Silver Pawn the stars of the History Channel's Pawn Stars.

Here's what the customs look like.

And the backs.

Unfortunatly they did sign the customs, they( or some secretary) sent me this nice letter to explain why.

I did however get this nice autocard with everybodys sig on it.

Here's the envelope they sent it in.

They didn't send my SASE back though.  Next time I'm in Vegas I'll have to bring my customs and see if I can get them signed.

TTM Eli Wallach Success and bonus

Who is Eli Wallach you ask?  Why only one of the best western actors of all time and one of the oldest working actors in the world!!  You may remember him as Tuco from the Good, the Bad and the Ugly or Calvera from the Magnifcent Seven.

I sent this  customs on 10/18/210 to Eli Wallach and recieved it back today 10/30/10.

I love that fact that Mr. Wallach writes all over the card.  Labeling one of his most famous characcters and the movie it's from and the nice customization.

Bonus one is he signed the back as well.

I also found this bonus in the envelope.

It's too bad it got smudged but nice none the less.  I thought for a second I had gotten a Kate Winslet auto too but then I realized it was just another label by Eli.  I'm not sure what it says above Kate's name. "Late"?  is Kate Winslet dead?

Here's the envelope.

He or his secretary even added 10 cents in stamps even though I know it didn't need it.

Address used

Eli Wallach

90 Riverside Dr.

New York, NY 10024

Stay tuned for more.

Free Stuff 4 U but not from me.

By now I'm sure that you have seen the mulitple post for Georgia Mindset's box o' chrome giveaway.  No?  Well go here to check it out.  Unfortunalty it's incredibly difficult to enter so you  better have some time. Just kidding.

Topps Rookie of the Week: Week 7

I can't figure Topps out.  Not at all anymore.  At the end of Sunday football I had no idea who they would pick for this weeks rookie of the week.  But after watching MNF I was convinced it would be Dez Bryant.  Now maybe Topps only picks rookies from Sunday's games, I don't know, does Topps even know? Maybe they already have their ROW's picked out and it doesn't matter.  Next week Golden Tate who didn't catch anything, but boy can the kid drink Gatoraid.

Any ways you be the judge.

From the Topps site "Bengals receiver Jordan Shipley broke out in Week 7 with a monster afternoon, hauling in six passes for 131 yards and his first career touchdown - an impressive 64-yard catch and run. The former Longhorns star now leads all rookies in yards-per-game and may soon emerge as one of the games top slot receivers."

Not bad.  I'm not saying that it wasn't a good outing and I'm not saying he's not having a good start to the season.   
Here's what Dez did Monday night.
4 receptions for 54 yards and 2 touchdowns, 93 yard punt return for TD, and no fumbles.

I guess what I need is some critirea that Topps uses for picking it's ROW.  Is it total yards recieving for recievers?  TD's, total yards gained?  Leading all rookies in yards per game?  Or is it an individual effort per game?

Obviously not the last ones, since Dez had 3 TD and if you count the punt return run back almost 150 yards gained.  Now I'm no Dallas fan or Dez Bryant for that matter, but facts is facts and who would you rather see on the ROW card?  Truely?

Last week I thought for sure Colt McCoy deserved it and this week I think Dez Bryant deserved it.

Maybe Topps is trying to purposely get away from their "bandwagoning" ways of picking the hottest stars to boast sales, Strasburg anyone.  And has anyone notice how many different Strasburg cards are in Topps Update?? A lot, but probably fewer than a million. 

Am I wrong here?  True I don't get to watch every game but stats are stats. And in my opinion Dez Bryant stood out in Week 7 espcially when you consider that his 2 TD's came from the back up QB Kitna, who, yes I realize has some experience, if you can call it that with the Lions.  And who knows maybe Kitna will step up and kick some ass. Matt Cassell anybody? Kitna didn't do to shabby from coming in on off the bench either.  Not great but pretty damn good.

I'm sure it's hard to get thrown in the game when your runner up to Tony Romo and probably only get to touch the football when helping the ball boy. 

cb out

Ah Topps so were dancing again are we?

This card should be in my hands right now.

Redemptions.  Ah the one word you have to hate as a collector.  I opened a few mini boxes of Finest Baseball this year.  I think I did fairly well pulling a Joe Mauer logo man from one box that pretty much paid for both mini boxes.  I also got 2 Red Hot Rookie Redemption cards.  The first one I pulled was #9 Domonic Brown pictured above, the other was #3 Starlin Castro who's rookie season was sadly cut short from bat shrapnel.  Of course when I redeemed it I had no idea who it was going to be and of course the dilemma is whether or not to sell it as an unknown because who knows this might be a Strausberg auto parallel.  But I didn't, I redeemed.  They still have a month till the Castro card is due. 

Yesterday I received this email from Topps.

Dear Consumer.

This email is to inform you that the Topps Company is currently beyond the 15 week processing time allocated for the following redemption card:

PIN #: Product: Card/Player Name
 Topps Finest MLB Rookie Base #9

Our staff is working diligently to process and ship your redemption card as soon as possible. Please continue to check your Online Redemption account for updates regarding the status of your card.

If you no longer wish to wait for the redemption card, please contact our Consumer Relations team in order to place a substitution request for a card of equal Beckett value.

Do not hesitate to contact our Consumer Relations department via phone at 1-800-489-9149 or via email at support@etopps.com for assistance. A consumer relations representative will be available to assist you Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30 pm (ET).

Sincerely,

Consumer Relations
The Topps Company, Inc.

Consumer that's me.  This is nothing new, as a matter of fact I was expecting this email.  Since every year I've submitted my redemptions, 3 now, I've gotten this e-mail.  But I did receive a card from their fulfillment company the other day, before the email, I thought maybe my red hots had come but it was my 2009 T206 Phil Hughs auto redemption I had gotten from a box I opened not too long ago.  I couldn't pass up $42 bucks a box at blowout for 2009 T206 not while I'm trying to put a set together. 

Here's what the Hughes auto looks like.

Mmmmmmm, Dear Consumer.  Not Customer, not Fan, not lucky redeemer or recipient, no consumer.

It makes me think and this is probably a rant for another day, what would happen if sports cards just went away?  What would happen if I, you, everybody stopped "consuming" sports cards?  Nothing.  Did you know that not one of the sports card companies is a publicly traded company? Not one. Topps use to be but not anymore.  Nope the world would still be turning, I would still be able to afford gas, barely.  I don't think the world would be a better place.  I like sports cards, as a matter of fact I would even say I love them, at least the hobby.   I know that I would have a ton of disposable income I probably should invest.  I'm sure I'd find a way to get rid of it. 

Consumer.  I scoff, I harummf, I chide, and I snear.  Like baseball cards are like a bag of chips to be eaten while watching the playoffs.  I can't build with them, the bank won't take them as payment on my mortgage, they don't keep you warm at night, I can't drive to the store on baseball cards.  They do however take up a lot of space.

One last thing, I love the second to last paragraph telling me that I can ask for substitution of a card of equal Beckett value.  Ah yes the Beckett scale.  So how does Topps know the value of this card when it has yet to be produced and distributed?  Redemption sales?  Before or after the player was announced?  GRRRR Beckett. 

cb out.

New leaked photo shows cause of Topps quality control issues!!!!

Of Course!!! Monkeys!!!!

I thought my cards smelled funny.