Random Topps Team Set of the Week: 2010 Minnesota Twins

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Team Set of the Week:

• Team: 2010 Minnesota Twins
• Record: 94-68, first place, AL Central Division.
• Manager: Ron Gardenhire
• Card on the Top: Joe Mauer

The checklist consists of the following players:

• MIN1 Joe Mauer
• MIN2 Pat Neshek
• MIN3 Anthony Swarzak
• MIN4 J.J. Hardy
• MIN5 Scott Baker
• MIN6 Denard Span
• MIN7 Jason Kubel
• MIN8 Carl Pavano
• MIN9 Joe Nathan
• MIN10 Nick Blackburn
• MIN11 Michael Cuddyer
• MIN12 Glen Perkins
• MIN13 Delmon Young
• MIN14 Nick Punto
• MIN15 Francisco Liriano
• MIN16 Alexi Casilla
• MIN17 Justin Morneau

The cards in order from the set (the checklist at the end was cut from the back of the package. What, you don't do that?):

Key differences between the team set and 2010 Topps eponymous set:

• You get a more up-close-and-personal look at Carl Pavano in his base card:
  
  

• Michael Cuddyer makes a run for it in the eponymous Topps set:
  
  

• You get a bit closer to Glen Perkins in his base card:
  
  

• Here is another shot of Delmon Young taking a swing:
  
  

• It's the same shot, but this time, you're seeing more of the scene in Nick Punto's Topps card:
  
  

• We need a closer to take a closer look at Alexi Casilla on his card:
  
  

• Finally, you get to see the same picture of Justin Morneau, at a different angle:
  
  

So of the 17 players included in this set, only two had obvious picture variances, while five more used the same picture, but either brought you closer or moved your perspective back a bit.  The variations are subtle, but Topps, if you're going to use the same picture for both the regular set and the team set, at least be consistent and don't mess around with the cropping.

Next week's featured set will be the 2011 Chicago Cubs. Hope you'll be here when we compare the cards from the retail set to their counterparts found in Topps and Topps Update Series.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama