Sunday, March 17, 2024

Is 2024 (1975 Design) the Culmination Peak for Topps Heritage - Probably Yes

 


Since Heritage began in 2001 with the 1952 set design the sets journey seemed to be heading to this set design (1975). Back in the early 2000s - collectors got to see todays players on the vintage classic Topps design. But are we at the Top of the Mountain with the 24th Heritage set. 

1975 Topps seems like the pinnacle of the vintage designs. 

Nothing that will follow this set can Top this set in the Topps Pantheon. 

Compare the run of Topps sets from 1976 to 1979 with 1966 to 1969. Those latter sets just don't feel as vintage or iconic as the earlier sets. 

After 1975, Topps did have some iconic designs such as 1983 and 1991 but maybe that is it. 

I would hope that Topps goes back to 1952 and begins another 24 year run of Heritage after this set (They probably are not because they are going to use the Chrome platinum sets to keep giving us Todays players on classic design). Leave post 1975s sets to archives and inserts.

Are we at the Pinnacle of Heritage, I think so and it is only down hill from here. 

P.S. Thank God they are using the All Star logo in this set.  



Sunday, March 10, 2024

Will Ronald Acuna highlights be Card 1 in 2024 Heritage - Probably


 If Topps stays true to form (I this case I believe they will). Ronald Acuna Jr. highlights card will be card No 1. in the Heritage Set (75 design) will the caption Acuna sets HR/SB mark.

Will Ronald Acuna card number 1 have the NL All Star logo on it. He was a starter in the All Star game.  I am not sure about this one. I want Topps to put All Star logos on the cards but I think it is  50/50 proposition. 

Also, I think there is a good chance that Card number 4 will be a Miguel Cabrera highlights (to mimic Al Kaline). It might say something like Cabrera retires in 3000 hit club. 

Friday, March 8, 2024

Topps is going to Short Print the first 100 cards of 2024 Heritage - Are you kidding me.

 What a way to ruin a good thing,

The second most anticipated Heritage set of my lifetime (Behind 2021 - 1972 design), Topps finds a way to ruin it.

I knew they were going to SP even though there were none in 1975, but I assumed it would be 401-500.

No, it comes at the front of the set 1-100. I think they are looking to sell more cases because they assume more people then chase the SPs - they may be right because the 1975 seems to the most beloved set until going back to the early 1960s or 1950s.

It can be worse - if they can short print most the the stars such as Trout, Harper, Ohtani, Soto, Acuna 

and it could of been even worse where the SP scatter shot throughout the set of 1-500 (which I think they were doing 10 years ago)

What a way to ruin a good thing,

Updated: Also No Minis




 


Thursday, February 29, 2024

The 1989 Topps inserts look so much better than the 2024 Topps cards themselves


 

Now that is a baseball card. The more I see the 2024 Topps on-line I more disappointed I am - The cards have that dark rainy day thunder storm feel to them. But the card above screams nostalgia with a better clearer photo and a subtle design. Where have you gone 1989 Topps are lonely card collectors turn there eyes to you. 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Is Topps Stupid?

 In its preview for 2024 Topps Baseball - Topps (below) promoted new 1/1 first print cards. They cards were supposed to have a first card designation on the front - accept they don't

New First Card parallels represent the first one of that card’s production run. In the 1990s, Stadium Club First Day Issue parallels covered an entire day of printing. These 2024 Topps Baseball parallels have just one copy each and it’s the first made.

How is it possible to mess this up. 

Just get 350 different cards and stamp first print on the front -

There is a back card designation but I bet they screwed this one up too.






Monday, February 19, 2024

Bill Barnwell you missed one major point about the NFL Playoff overtime rules. If you kickoff you can't lose.

 Bill Barnwell ran a column over at ESPN.com about last Weeks Super Bowl - and Kyle Shanahan decision to take the ball first.  Which was a bad idea. Bill Barnwell article mentioned percentages and analytics of taking the ball first or kicking off.

However, he missed one big point. If you kick off you can't lose the game. 

The offense can punt, kick a field goal or score a touchdown  on that first possession - but the team that kicks off does not lose. However, the team that kicks off can actually win the game on the first drive. They could get a safety (unlikely), a fumble return for a touchdown or even an interception return for a touchdown. (Or even if the fumble return or interception does not give you a score it can give you great field position.

If you kick off and the other team scores a TD with an extra point - then you know you have to score a touchdown (and you will always be playing four downs). If you score that touchdown and you almost always wants to go for the 2 points. Because it is better to have the ball at the 2 yard line to win as opposed to tying the score - having to kick off and stopping the other team from scoring and then you having to march down the field again to score 

If you lose the coin toss and the other team elects to kick off - the team that gets the ball first can turn the tables by scoring a TD and getting the 2 pt, and they then know that when they kick off  THEY CAN'T LOSE THE GAME. 




Saturday, February 17, 2024

Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama


He have won of the best rookie of the year races of all time.


If Chet Holmgren can average 17 points a game - He will become the only the 4th rookie in the last 30 years to do that on a team with a winning record.

If Chet Holmgren can average 16 points a game and Oklahoma City wins 50 - He will become only the 6  player to do that in the last 55 years (Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Alvin Adams, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, Tim Duncan)

All won the rookie of the year except Magic (Bird won)

I am assuming Holmgren career sways toward Adams than the other players.

Victor Wembanyama is a highlight reel, looks unreal on the court and probably will have a better career than Chet but I don't know if he will win the ROY.