What is Topps Strategy in delaying the release of 2024 Topps Heritage Update and a Holiday wish

 I am pretty sure there will be a 2024 Topps Heritage Update.  I don't think Topps canceled it.

More recently (at least 2008) Heritage update has come out between October and December. I believe last year (middle of December) was one of the latest release dates for Heritage update. 

That late release date did not seem to push back the release of 2024 Heritage that much.

The trend has been that the first 3 sets released in a new baseball collecting season has been the Flagship, Heritage and Bowman. But I noticed those dates have been getting later.

In 2019, Bowman release 4/17 and in 2024 it released 5/10.

In 2019, Heritage released 2/27 and in 2024 it released 4/10.

My guess is that we will get 2024 Heritage update in the middle or late January and 2025 Heritage (1976 design) will not come out until the middle or late May.

This is completely different from my younger collecting days. Usually by opening day I had my Topps (or Fleer, Donruss) set completed. By opening day I had all my 792 cards to look at by the beginning of the season.

With Topps going to two series, getting all (or most) of the cards of players for the beginning of the new baseball season occurred with the Heritage set (though Heritage set has been withholding some players for the update set like Tatis, Bregman and Guerrero in 2024).

Now this will not most likely occur until the middle to late May.

This is a reason why I miss the Gypsy Queen set - while it was not large (it was 300 cards) and it was being released before open day.

I wish Topps would release a set (Maybe Bowman going back to 220 or larger) that would have all the stars and a decent representation of players for each of the teams by opening day. (Topps Big League with its pokeman system and foil cards just doesn't cut it)

 

The Top sports card sets to debut in the 21th Century - No1. Tim Horton NHL Hockey

 I have been a big critic of Upper Deck over the years but them teaming up with Tim Horton to produce Hockey Cards is probably the best new idea / new set of the 21st Century,

Granted this set is a slight evolution from the earlier McDonalds Hockey sets but it is distinct on its own and has its own flavor and I can't think of anything quite like it except maybe the Denny's sets from the early 1990s.

You get all the stars and all the teams are represented on the 120 card checklist (up from 100 cards). The one recent draw back since Covid the stats have been a year behind. The cards have a unique feel and look unlike anything else out on the market. The cards are easy to get, affordable, fun to pack break and put together sets.

The 21st century has really not offered much new but this is the best of the best. 

THE GREAT 1970s HOME RUN CHASE = September 21, 1970

 The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – September 21, 1970

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 628

Hank Aaron 591

Micky Mantle 536

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Eddie Mathews 512

Mel Ott 511

Ernie Banks 509

Lou Gehrig 493

Harmon Killebrew 487

Stan Musial 475

Frank Robinson 473

Duke Sinder 407

Rocky Colavito 373

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

 

For a long time (3 years) there was no one between Duke Snider at 407 and Stan Musial at 475 until  Willie McCovey (9/3/73), Billy Williams (8/7/75) and Willie Stargell (6/10/78) showed up. When Stargell hit 408 on 6/10/78, McCovey was already at 497.

The GREAT 1960s and 1970s Home Run Chase

 The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – June 7, 1970

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 613

Hank Aaron 571

Micky Mantle 536

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Eddie Mathews 512

Mel Ott 511

Ernie Banks 501

Lou Gehrig 493

Stan Musial 475

Harmon Killebrew 461

Frank Robinson 458

Duke Sinder 407

Rocky Colavito 373

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

The Top sports card sets to debut in the 21th Century - No 2. Allen Ginter

 

O.K. this set is recycled from the 19th century - and the non baseball player checklist has been lacking for the last few years - but the designs have become significantly better the last 10 years.  The photos look the paintings. The headshots are reminiscence of the early Topps 1950s set - The card stock is solid.

The Top sports card sets to debut in the 21th Century - No 3. Heritage

 O.K. I know these are recycled designs 

This isn't new coke though.

These designs are classic and the concept is cool with thick old school cardboard. 

It is a cool concept. It is also a set to look forward to. 

The short prints suck though.

Goodbye, Fernando - UNREAL

 It is really strange that Fernando passes away on the eve of the first Dodgers-Yankees series since 1981 which he was a star of.

I was just commenting on Night Owl's blog how this card was one of the first "important" rookie cards at the time in the spring of 1981.

Unreal - was the word on the SI cover when, I think Fernando won his first seven starts with complete games without giving up a run or something like that - Unreal.

This reminds me of when Franco Harris died just a few days before the 50th anniversary of the immaculate reception

Unreal

 

Who is going to win the election? The GDP knows, the Stock Market knows and the Shadow knows

 As I wrote about 4 years there is a formula with the GDP numbers that correspond with Presidential Election outcomes. The Formula is:

If the GDP rises up from the third year to the fourth  year of an administration, the party in power stays in power.

If the GDP goes down from the 3rd year to the 4th year or if the 3rd or 4th year of the administration produces a negative calendar year GDP then the party in power gets kicked out of office.         This formula has worked about 85% of the time since 1928,

Currently the GDP stands at 2.3%  (thru June) it was 2.5% in 2023

There is a stock market formula. If the market is higher at the end of October than it was at the beginning of August then the party on power stays in power and if the stock market drops then the party in power gets kicked out of office. I have heard this formula works 90% of the time in the last 100 years

For example in 2020 on July 30 S&P 500 stood at 3,271 points. And on Oct 14, it stood at S&P 500 3,488 points. However the market dropped and it stood at 3,269 at the end of October. The party in power lost

At the end of July 2024, S&P 500 stood at 5537 points - today it is at 5853. 

The 3rd quarter GDP numbers will come out soon

PEAK MUSIC WHY DOES MUSICAL GENUIS LEAD TO EARLY DEATH

 Liam Payne (probably the 3rd wheel) of the Band One Direction has died.

He fell off a balcony.

He was 31.

One Direction was a big boy band about 10m years ago. The 2010s version of New Kids on the Block.

Liam Payne joins a long list of musicians whose life ended "young".

Plane crashes, drug overdoses, shootings etc.... 

So what famous musician died around Payne's age - My first thought was Andy Gibb. I thought he might have been too old but after checking Gibb died at age 30.

The second singer I thought of was the lead singer of Sublime - Bradley Nowell - he died at age 28.

The wrong way - rest in piece

The Top sports card sets to debut in the 21th Century - No 4. Prizm

 When I first thought about doing this series I was going to limit it ten but the pickings are so slim I limited to 4.

What is disqualified are all the sets that debuted in the 20th century - So no Topps, Upper Deck, Donruss, Bowman, Fleer, Score, Topps Chrome,  OPeeChee, Bowman, Contenders, Prestige, Elite, Spx, Playoff, Stadium Club etc...

I was thinking about starting at 3 because Prizm is kind of Topps Chrome with a different name. I never collected Prizm and think it is inferior to Topps Chrome (which I don't collect either except for 2008 Topps chrome 

baseball). This is kind of blasé looking.  

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - September 21, 1969

 The big 3 that appear on the Topps 1973 card

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – September 21, 1969

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 599

Hank Aaron 553

Micky Mantle 536

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Eddie Mathews 512

Mel Ott 511

Ernie Banks 496

Lou Gehrig 493

Stan Musial 475

Frank Robinson 449

Harmon Killebrew 443

Duke Sinder 407

Rocky Colavito 374

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

I want to be the first $100,000 a year singles hitter.

 He did it.

You don't see stats like that any more. 

25 more Higher Profile people than................

 I had to do it. 

When Attorney Ariel Mitchell-Kidd  said there is a more higher profile person who was in a certain person than a certain Rap Mogul who is in prison. 

I think they key word is "Higher". Attorney Mitchell-Kidd may be wrong but you don't get much higher than the certain Rap Mogul - - though I would say he was bigger 10-20 years -- though the number  of candidates is lower. I will name a few individuals who are probably on the same lever but not higher. 

The first one that comes to mind is Shaquille O'Neal but I think O'Neal is on the same level as Rap Mogul.

So here is the list of the "highers" who come to mind:

Leonardo De Caprio 

Justin Beiber - though he might be more equal

Tom Cruise

Brad Pitt

Patrick Mahomes

Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce - higher profile at the moment

Tyler Perry - popular online choice - I see close to as an Equal

Will Smith - his career coincides with the Rap Mogul

Charles Barkley -

Lebron James

Stephen Curry

Tom Hanks - doubtful

Jay Z - most popular choice on the internet

Beyonce

Ben Affleck and JLo - one choice

Ryan Roberts and Blake Lively - as one choice

Robert Downey Jr - with the Marvel success but more of an equal

Tom Brady

George Clooney

Donald Trump

Christiano Ronaldo - internet 

Justin Timberlake

Elon Musk 

Mark Zuckerberg - more money

Aston Kutcher would be 26 but I think he falls more in the Shaq range  - he was never bigger than the certain Rap Mogul. Drake is also a possibility for the list.

 

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - JULY 25 1969

 Hank and Mickey tied

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – July 25, 1969

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 596

Micky Mantle 536

Hank Aaron 536

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Eddie Mathews 512

Mel Ott 511

Lou Gehrig 493

Ernie Banks 489

Stan Musial 475

Frank Robinson 441

Harmon Killebrew 426

Duke Sinder 407

Rocky Colavito 374

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

Okay I am not kidding - Where the heck is 2024 Topps Allen Ginter

 The season is over in 3 days.

Have not seen a peak of 2024 Ginter.

I have only been collecting the set the last few years, I know that it has been around since 2006, but I don't ever think it has come out this late.

I wonder has it been cancelled.

Doesn't Topps/Fanatics send out sell sheets? 

It is pretty odd about the silence.

I thought Allen Ginter is really first 21  Century Baseball Set that has been established.

Topps, Bowman, Chrome all were developed in the 20th Century.

Though I realized AG is based on 19th Century Cards

Hate to see it disappear. 

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE MAY 22, 1969

 Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear.

Aaron is looking to become part of the big 3

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – May 22, 1969

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 592

Micky Mantle 536

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Hank Aaron 519

Eddie Mathews 512

Mel Ott 511

Lou Gehrig 493

Ernie Banks 480

Stan Musial 475

Frank Robinson 430

Duke Sinder 407

Harmon Killebrew 406

Rocky Colavito 374

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - SEPTEMBER 22, 1968

 Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear.

Frank Robinson begins his long journey to Stan and Lou

Eddie Mathews was 6th on this date

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – September 22, 1968

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 585

Micky Mantle 536

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Eddie Mathews 512

Mel Ott 511

Hank Aaron 509

Lou Gehrig 493

Stan Musial 475

Ernie Banks 474

Frank Robinson 418

Duke Sinder 407

Harmon Killebrew 394

Rocky Colavito 373

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - JULY 14, 1968

  Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear.

Aaron at 500

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – July 14, 1968

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 577

Jimmy Foxx 534

Micky Mantle 529

Ted Williams 521

Eddie Mathews 512

Mel Ott 511

Hank Aaron 500

Lou Gehrig 493

Stan Musial 475

Ernie Banks 455

Duke Sinder 407

Frank Robinson 407

Harmon Killebrew 393

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Rocky Colavito 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - MAY 27, 1968

 Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear.

Eddie Mathews last HR - Every date that I have chosen so far was a day that Eddie Mathews hit a home run

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – May 27, 1968

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 571

Jimmy Foxx 534

Micky Mantle 522

Ted Williams 521

Eddie Mathews 512

Mel Ott 511

Lou Gehrig 493

Hank Aaron 490

Stan Musial 475

Ernie Banks 450

Duke Sinder 407

Frank Robinson 404

Harmon Killebrew 389

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Rocky Colavito 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

Where the Heck is 2024 Topps Allen Ginter?

 It is September 12, 2024 and there has not been no hide nor hair on 2024 Allen Ginter in sight.

Did Topps move this to an off season set?

Is there a problem getting enough B, C, D listers in the set?

Maybe give us more current players in the set.

Don't they send out sell sheets to dealers to gauge what they demand is?

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - MAY 19, 1968

 Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear.

Hank is upon Lou and 500

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – May 19, 1968

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 571

Jimmy Foxx 534

Micky Mantle 522

Ted Williams 521

Mel Ott 511

Eddie Mathews 510

Lou Gehrig 493

Hank Aaron 490

Stan Musial 475

Ernie Banks 448

Duke Sinder 407

Frank Robinson 404

Harmon Killebrew 388

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Rocky Colavito 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - September 8, 1967

 Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear.

Killebrew is on the scene

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – September 8, 1967

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 559

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Micky Mantle 518

Mel Ott 511

Eddie Mathews 508

Lou Gehrig 493

Hank Aaron 477

Stan Musial 475

Ernie Banks 440

Duke Sinder 407

Frank Robinson 399

Harmon Killebrew 373

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Rocky Colavito 366

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - JULY 16, 1967

   Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear.

Mantle passes Ott, Hank is within Reach of Stan and Lou

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – July 16, 1967

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 555

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Micky Mantle 513

Mel Ott 511

Eddie Mathews 501

Lou Gehrig 493

Stan Musial 475

Hank Aaron 465

Ernie Banks 436

Duke Sinder 407

Frank Robinson 394

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Rocky Colavito 363

Harmon Killebrew 362

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - MAY 30, 1967

  Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear.

Mantle closes in on Ott

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – May 30, 1967

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 547

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Mel Ott 511

Micky Mantle 507

Eddie Mathews 496

Lou Gehrig 493

Stan Musial 475

Hank Aaron 453

Ernie Banks 426

Duke Sinder 407

Frank Robinson 387

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

Rocky Colavito 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - SEPTEMBER 3, 1966

  Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear. 

Frank Robinson passes Joe – Willie begins his long journey to Babe. Will he make it?

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – September 3, 1966

Babe Ruth 714

Willie Mays 538

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Mel Ott 511

Micky Mantle 498

Lou Gehrig 493

Eddie Mathews 490

Stan Musial 475

Hank Aaron 437

Ernie Banks 417

Duke Sinder 407

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Frank Robinson 367

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - JULY 16, 1966

  Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear. 

Hank is coming hard after Stan

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – July 16, 1966

Babe Ruth 714

Jimmy Foxx 534

Willie Mays 526

Ted Williams 521

Mel Ott 511

Lou Gehrig 493

Micky Mantle 491

Eddie Mathews 484

Stan Musial 475

Hank Aaron 424

Ernie Banks 408

Duke Sinder 407

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOMERUN CHASE MAY 29, 1966

  Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear. 

Willie is beyond Ott as Mathews and Mantle eye Gehrig

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – May 29, 1966

Babe Ruth 714

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Willie Mays 515

Mel Ott 511

Lou Gehrig 493

Eddie Mathews 480

Micky Mantle 477

Stan Musial 475

Hank Aaron 414

Duke Sinder 407

Ernie Banks 406

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - AUGUST 24, 1965

 Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear. 

Willie is upon Lou

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – August 24, 1965

Babe Ruth 714

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Mel Ott 511

Lou Gehrig 493

Willie Mays 491

Stan Musial 475

Eddie Mathews 474

Micky Mantle 471

Duke Sinder 407

Ernie Banks 395

Hank Aaron 393

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361

THE GREAT 1960s HOME RUN CHASE - July 15, 1965

 Baseball has been around 150 years, because of that there are very few players in the top 200 of any statistical category today and there is very little movement at the top of the leaders, however in the 1960s there was a thrilling race to the top for the home run leaders board.

Relive the thrilling days of Yesteryear. 

Willie Passes Stan

The 60s HR Chase - All Time Leaders – July 15, 1965

Babe Ruth 714

Jimmy Foxx 534

Ted Williams 521

Mel Ott 511

Lou Gehrig 493

Willie Mays 476

Stan Musial 475

Micky Mantle 466

Eddie Mathews 462

Duke Sinder 407

Ernie Banks 390

Hank Aaron 383

Gil Hodges 370

Ralph Kiner 369

Joe DiMaggio 361