2011 Topps Series 2 Sell Sheets are Live!!!

So on Sunday, before the Bears game, I was sitting at the social hall (yes, my church has a social hall...) and surfing the 'net on my phone (ain't technology wonderful), when on Twitter, word was out that the sell sheets for 2011 Topps Series 2 was already out.

What??? Series 1 hasn't even come out yet (are you counting down the days???) and now the sell sheets for the second series is live?

Well sure enough, when I (finally) got home, sure enough, there they are. The sell sheets for the now highly anticipated 2011 Topps Baseball Series 2 product is now live!!!
And wouldn't you know it, the it may be Topps' "Diamond Anniversary," but it's the collectors who could be getting the "bling" (can't believe I used the word bling)...literally!!!

















Where should I begin? First, notice that there is no mention of the Red Hot Rookie program. Maybe they realized that if they wanted this program to succeed, they should pick actual "good rookies". Not that all their picks were duds, but some of the guys who were picked left collectors scratching their heads.

The program that will succeed the MCG website (diamondtopps.com...wait wasn't it toppsdiamond.com in series 1???) will now give you the chance of not only getting cards encrusted with diamonds, but actual jewelry (check out the rings on picture number 3). Now personally, I want one. And who wouldn't? But I would feel kind of awkward having a ring with more diamonds on it than the one I bought my wife for her engagement ring.

Many of the other inserts sets that are going along with the basic 330-card set continue what was started in Series 1 (Diamond Duos, the Kimball Champions, Diamond Stars). But there are a couple of new insert sets for this series, including the Diamond Stars and Before there was Topps; and the return of the Topps Attax will replace the Tickets to Toppstown.

And at least we know that two of the 25 legend shortprints in series 2 will be of Nolan Ryan and Babe Ruth (that canary parallel of the Ryan card looks awesome, especially since he's depicted on the front as an Astro.

The base set consists of 330 cards, which breaks down as:

• 280 veterans
• 30 rookie cards (with the now exclusive rookie card logo)
• 15 team cards
• 5 record breakers
• 25 cards variation cards featuring legendary players (again)...

You have the usual suspects in the parallel world (golds #'d to 2011, blacks #'d to 60, platinums are 1 of 1), and then you have the diamond parallels (canary diamond- the Ichiro card in the sell sheet - are 1 of 1, the platinum diamond - the Jeter card used in the sell sheet - comes 1 in every four packs). Printing plates (1 of 1, four colors), and silk cards (100 subjects per series) return. But wait. Series one made no mention of team cards. Does this mean that series 2 will contain two teams per card???

Must say that based on what I've seen based on the sell sheets that Topps Series 2 will be something to look forward to during the 2011 MLB season.

There is no product information (yet), but the checklist can be found here. Remember, that everything is subject to change.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in about a month. And right around that time, we will have baseball cards. Rejoice!!!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama