Wednesday, March 23, 2011
2011 Topps Triple Threads preview images
I've never bought a box of Triple Threads as it's out of my price range for the amount of cards you receive. That's not to say I haven't liked the set, but when it's a set of essentially game used and auto cards, with even the base cards with parallels, it just never seemed like a good investment to me. The preview cards from the 2011 set are without a doubt the most high end of the set, but that's the target market to be certain. I think the cards have a nicer look than last years set. Here are the examples provided by Topps.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
2011 Topps Allen & Ginter: A Preview Review
To stem the tide until mid March's release of Heritage, Topps has released preview images of this years (and frankly the last few) best product in this collectors opinion. The basic product layout is very similar to last year, in that all mini inserts sets are still included with different themes. Mini parallel's will still be present, as will framed autographs and relics. Boxtoppers in the form of N43's and cabinet cards are also returning favourites. So without further ado, lets take a look at the images provided by Topps.
The standard base card this year is a modernized hybrid of the flagship set and A&G's vintage styling. The team logos in the bottom right corner are a new addition, as is the separated box with the now familiar A&G branding. The use of just a last name on the card is a nod to the tobacco card heritage. The image itself is as much like any previous year, which still is a quality representation of the player.
Aside from the standard base mini, NNO and black parallel mini's known to all collectors, this year's inserts are "Flora of the World," "Animals in Peril," and "Uninvited Guests." The first two are self explanitory, which if to be judged by these samples will provided an excellent visual inclusion in somewhat dreary and muted insert sets from the past. The last insert mini takes on a supernatural element, and who doesn't like ghost stories and the odd scare?
As a hobby box promises three hits, I thought it appropriate to give all three autograph examples (keeping in mind a box with all three of these as hits would be exceptional and highly unlikely). As is A&G's traditional world champion athletes inclusions in not only the bese set, but in the hits as well, this years list teems with excellent offerings (Manny Pacquiao, Annika Sorenstam and John McEnroe just to name a few non-baseball stars, as well as many major superstars in baseball) are placed in the standard frame, coloured royal blue this year.
Lastly, the long shot hits look to be just as good or better than previous years. Rip Cards make a triumphant return, as they proved last year to be hotly demanded for the chance to pull the Strasburg variations. The same demand may not be so feverish, but still remain a strong addition to any PC or set builders collecction. Numbered to various print runs, these are always a fun chase. The US state oversized relic box loader has an interesting concept. Included as a relic wil be an item symbolic of the state represented. Limitied to 50 per state, these will be a true find in a box. I wonder if they are to scale, as you can put the regular state boxloaders together to make a map of the US. The very cool book card featuring Joe Mauer of the Twins and Buster Posey of the World Champion Giants is a great sample of a much rarer, but highly collectible insert. The limited nature of these is unknown, but will most certainly be in the low range of numbered cards. These jumbo double relics are always a collector favourite, and if the quality stays as is or even gets better, will be for years to come. Finally, the historical DNA relics come back with another round of excellent and worthy subjects. In the royal blue frame of the autographs and relics, the lucky collector who come across any of these 1 of 1's will have a true piece of history in their hands.
So as a whole, the anticipation level for this set is very high. I know i will be certainly picking up a few boxes, as breaking the packs is as much a rush as the cards themselves. 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter is due in July.
The standard base card this year is a modernized hybrid of the flagship set and A&G's vintage styling. The team logos in the bottom right corner are a new addition, as is the separated box with the now familiar A&G branding. The use of just a last name on the card is a nod to the tobacco card heritage. The image itself is as much like any previous year, which still is a quality representation of the player.
Aside from the standard base mini, NNO and black parallel mini's known to all collectors, this year's inserts are "Flora of the World," "Animals in Peril," and "Uninvited Guests." The first two are self explanitory, which if to be judged by these samples will provided an excellent visual inclusion in somewhat dreary and muted insert sets from the past. The last insert mini takes on a supernatural element, and who doesn't like ghost stories and the odd scare?
As a hobby box promises three hits, I thought it appropriate to give all three autograph examples (keeping in mind a box with all three of these as hits would be exceptional and highly unlikely). As is A&G's traditional world champion athletes inclusions in not only the bese set, but in the hits as well, this years list teems with excellent offerings (Manny Pacquiao, Annika Sorenstam and John McEnroe just to name a few non-baseball stars, as well as many major superstars in baseball) are placed in the standard frame, coloured royal blue this year.
Lastly, the long shot hits look to be just as good or better than previous years. Rip Cards make a triumphant return, as they proved last year to be hotly demanded for the chance to pull the Strasburg variations. The same demand may not be so feverish, but still remain a strong addition to any PC or set builders collecction. Numbered to various print runs, these are always a fun chase. The US state oversized relic box loader has an interesting concept. Included as a relic wil be an item symbolic of the state represented. Limitied to 50 per state, these will be a true find in a box. I wonder if they are to scale, as you can put the regular state boxloaders together to make a map of the US. The very cool book card featuring Joe Mauer of the Twins and Buster Posey of the World Champion Giants is a great sample of a much rarer, but highly collectible insert. The limited nature of these is unknown, but will most certainly be in the low range of numbered cards. These jumbo double relics are always a collector favourite, and if the quality stays as is or even gets better, will be for years to come. Finally, the historical DNA relics come back with another round of excellent and worthy subjects. In the royal blue frame of the autographs and relics, the lucky collector who come across any of these 1 of 1's will have a true piece of history in their hands.
So as a whole, the anticipation level for this set is very high. I know i will be certainly picking up a few boxes, as breaking the packs is as much a rush as the cards themselves. 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter is due in July.
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