bdj610's Topps Baseball Card Blog: October 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

To the People Who Utilize the Sports Card Blogroll...I Am So Sorry!!!

I didn't realize that I haven't written about updating the Sports Card Blogroll since April on this humble, little blog, and then I did an update roughly three months ago, and didn't bother writing a post.

For that, I am sorry.

I know readership on my blog is down by almost 50% a day, at least that's what my Sitemeter says. I know that since I've been back at work, the quality of posts here has collapsed to the point where I don't think anybody cares anymore.

I feel bad about that.

I used to keep tabs on the Hobby Blogging Community religiously. But since being employed again (I'm happy about this, don't get me wrong), updating the big Blogroll has taken a backseat.

But since October, I've been able to bring back the Random Cards of the Day, the regular daily segments, the Minor League cards, and Team Sets. So why not, before November, update the Blogroll.

Now, I have officially lost count of how many blogs have come and gone since April. I can tell you that on the last update, the following blogs were removed from the roster:

As of today, the SCBR holds 369 active blogs. These are being removed because they have been inactive for 6, 7, 8, and even 9 months of inactivity. Get ready, it's a long list:

That's 38 blogs that will be removed from the SCBR shortly. The total will bring the number of blogs on the main site down to 331.

Whoa!!!

There are so many things that have yet been written about the Hobby we all love. It is the hope that as the year comes to a close that the new year brings us fans of the blogs new writers, new voices, and hopefully new collectors who are willing to share their collections with the rest of the world.

And maybe their blogs will be added to the active sites that the SCBR.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1998 Topps #23 Steve Trachsel

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, October 31, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1998 Topps #23.
Player Name, position, team: Steve Trachsel, pitcher, Chicago Cubs.
Major League Debut: September 19, 1993.
Last Line of Statistics: 1997 stats (Cubs): 34 G, 201.1 IP, 8-12, 110 R, 101 ER, 160 SO, 69 BB, 34 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 4.51 ERA.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cubs #7th, June 1991. Bats: right. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 16. This is his fourth Topps card.
Blurb on the back: "When Steve is hitting his spots and changing speeds with his usual ingenuity, he can be a frustrating assignment for hitters. Case in point: In a game last Sept.1, Minnesota Twins batters fouled of 31 pitches in five innings. He would, of course, prefer to throw fewer pitches - such as in the 1996 All-Star Game when he disposed of Sandy Alomar, Cal Ripken Jr., and Alex Rodriguez in eight offerings."
Commentary: Sometimes it's those "token" All-Stars, you know, the ones who are chosen to be a team's representative at the All-Star Game just because EVERY TEAM NEEDS REPRESENTATION, that make or break an ASG. Stephen Christopher Trachsel was the Cubs' rep in 1996, a season where his team was a not too terrible 41-46 heading into the break. Had there not been that "every team" rule that Trachsel would not have been picked to go in the first place. But there he was in Philly, taking in all of the festivities, and when called upon in the 7th inning to face the AL's best, it only took eight pitches and all three batters he faced were sent back to the dugout. Hey, the NL won the game 6-0. Anyway, the Cubs were somehow in the playoff hunt in 1998, and Trachsel helped get them there with a final 15-8 record, a 4.46 ERA, 149 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.385. In fact, he started the one-game play-in against the Giants, and earned the hard fought 5-3 victory that got the Cubs into the playoffs for the first time since that magical 1989 season as the Wild Card team. Of course they were trounced by the Braves in 3 games after that, but just getting there was good enough for me. The magic, sadly, did not continue the following year for Steve as he finished the 1999 campaign with a dismal 8-18 record (led the league in losses). He signed a free agent deal with the Devil Rays (the team's Opening Day starter), who promptly dealt him to Toronto before the trading deadline. The next year, he signed with the Mets, and in 6 seasons earned a 66-59 record, a 4.09 ERA, and 580 K's in 160 starts. In 2007, he signed with Baltimore, only to be traded to...THE CUBS...during another playoff run. Long removed from his All-Star form, he went a dismal 1-3, along with 8.31 ERA in 4 starts, finishing his career as a Cubbie at 61-72, 4.41 ERA, and 840 K's. After a half-season back in Baltimore in 2008, the O's released Trachsel, and ended his playing career.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 18.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2001 Topps #573. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Wait...It's All Over??!

Today, I received my 2013 Topps Update Series master set, thus ending baseball card season for me as well.

And coincidentally, in what was probably the most bizarre championship series ever, one that saw one game end with a wild throw and another with a pick-off, the Boston Red Sox wins Game 6 by a score of 6-1, thus winning the World Series and ending the 2013 MLB season.

So congratulations once again to the Boston Red Sox, the 2013 MLB World Series Champions, for winning their third World Series title in 10 big league seasons. And congratulations to the NL Champion St. Louis Cardinals for an incredible run in the postseason and for making it really interesting these last few days.

It's going to be a wild offseason, with free agents getting ready to move, and teams ready to restock for the 2014 season. Topps is getting their final stats ready for the 2014 campaign. Take your time folks. You have until February to get the new cards to the masses.

I can't wait. And for now, every team, even my Cubbies, are 0-0.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 2008 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH92 Eric Hinske

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, October 30, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2008 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH48.
Player Name, position, team: Eric Hinske, outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays.
Major League Debut: April 1, 2002.
Last Line of Statistics: 2007 stats (Red Sox): 84 G, 186 AB, 25 R, 38 H, 12 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 3 SB, 28 BB, 54 SO, .398 SLG, .715 OPS, .204 AVG.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cubs #17th, June 1998. Signed with the Rays as a Free Agent 02/06/2008. Bats: left. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 11. This is his seventh Topps card.
Blurb on the back: "After some up-and-down seasons, Eric got back to his 2002 Rookie of the Year form with the Rays in '08. Signed as a Minor League free agent, he made the club as a non-roster invitee."
Commentary: Personally, I'd like to see more action on my baseball cards. Perhaps because the space for a picture on the 2008 design was too small for a wide action shot. But you have to admit, it's a pretty unique shot of Eric Scott Hinske sliding into second (I think) and not see the fielder ahead. Was he safe? Was he out? You can't even tell who the Rays were playing on this day (or night...they play indoors remember) to figure it out. He looks like a reverse letter "l" in this shot. Awkward? Perhaps. But definitely a unique nonetheless. After four-and-half very solid years with the Blue Jays (in which he hit .259 with 78 home runs and 313 rbi's), Hinske, a former American League Rookie of the Year, found himself traded to the Boston Red Sox. Although mired by injuries during his stay with Boston, Hinske proved versatile enough in a reserve role to help the Sox win their second World Series title in four years. In the offseason, he signed a minor league contract with the newly-christened Tampa Bay Rays, a team that had never reached the postseason, let alone a winning record. He impressed the managerial staff enough to add him to the 40-man roster and make the big league roster. With Tampa Bay, Hinske appeared in 133 games, hit a cool .247 with 20 home runs and 60 rbi's. He would be added to the postseason roster during the 2008 World Series, hitting a home run in two postseason at-bats. His stay with the Rays was brief as Hinske signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2009 season.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 28 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be 1998 Topps #23. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 2009 Topps Update and Highlights #UH48 Albert Pujols NL All-Star First Baseman

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, October 29, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2009 Topps Update and Highlights #UH48.
Player Name, position, team: Albert Pujols, All-Star First Baseman, National League.
Blurb on the Back: "Pujols garnered nearly 5.4 million fan votes for the 2009 MLB All-Star Game, second only to Ken Griffey Jr.'s ballot haul in 1994. He was at the center of the festivities at his home ballpark, including as a competitor in the MLB Home Run Derby. Albert also caught the ceremonial first pitch from President Obama."
Commentary: Albert Pujols was on top of the baseball world for most of the 2000's. From the time he made the team out of spring training back in 2001, Pujols became one of the biggest stars in the game. And in 2009, he got the chance to host the rest of baseball's elite at the All-Star Game being held at Busch Stadium. He competed in the home run derby the day before, hitting 11 balls into the seats, good for fourth. The following day, he, catcher Yadier Molina, and pitcher Ryan Franklin, represented the Cardinals on the NL side (with manager Tony LaRussa named one of the "coaches." Unfortunately, the AL pitching staff, after allowing three runs in the second inning, shut down the NL squad. Th AL offense, who had scored two runs in the first, came back with runs in the fifth and eighth to win the game 4-3. Pujols went 0-3 that night, grounding out 5-3 in the first inning (Roy Halladay pitching), 3-1 in the third (Mark Buehrle), and 6-3 in the sixth (Felix Hernandez). In 2009, Topps signed a license with the CMG group, which allowed them to produce cards of legendary players like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, etc. In their U&H set, they created a series of SP cards linking players from the past with current day stars via card number. As #UH48 was the number assigned to Albert Pujols' All-Star card, #UH48b featured another legendary slugger who played for the Cardinals (albeit during the twilight of his career)...Roger Maris.

Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.75-$2.00. (Roger Maris: $6.00-$15.00)

Tomorrow's card will be: 2008 Topps Update and Highlights #UH92. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 2008 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Monday, October 28, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 2011 Topps #316 Chris Young

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, October 28, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2011 Topps #316.
Player Name, position, team: Chris Young, outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks.
Major League Debut: August 18, 2006.
Last Line of Statistics: 2010 stats (Diamondbacks): 156 G, 584 AB, 94 R, 150 H, 33 2B, 0 3B, 27 HR, 91 RBI, 28 SB, 74 BB, 145 SO, .452 SLG, .793 OPS, .257 AVG.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the White Sox 16th, June 2001. Traded by the White Sox to the Diamondbacks 12/20/2005. Bats: right. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 8. This is his sixth Topps card.
Blurb on the back: "It was a reality check," Chris said of his subpar 2009 campaign. "It was a sign that, 'Hey, you need to turn things around if you expect to play at this level.' I took it as a challenge." A challenge he surmounted in a big way. The first NL rookie ever to post a 20-HR/20-SB season ('07), Young was the first player in '10 (August 10) to reach those levels."
Commentary: I was asked recently why I try to put the full name of the player in the commentary of these Random Card of the Day posts. It's simple. Because in a handful of cases, there are players that share the same name. In many unique cases, both players were active in the same period. Would it be better if I put the player's full name in the "Player Name, Position, Team" line instead of in the commentary? What do you think? Today's subject is not the 6'10", All-Star pitcher Christopher Ryan Young, but the 6'2" All-Star outfielder that roamed Chase Field for seven seasons before being traded to Oakland in a three-player deal. After what was probably his best season in the desert (which included an All-Star Game appearance), Young's encore performance included a .236 average, 20 home runs, 71 rbi's, 22 stolen bases, and percentages of .331/.420/.751. In seven seasons as a Diamondback, Young appeared in 885 games, hit for a .239 average, hit 132 home runs, drove in 408 rbi's, stole 112 bases, and owned an OPS of .755. Being primarily a centerfielder in AZ, upon his arrival to Oakland, Young was asked to be able to back up both corner outfield spots. In both LF and CF, he was flawless defensively, committing his only 2 errors covering right. The A's have surprised all of baseball these last two years by winning the AL West. They are no longer a team to be taken lightly, and it is hoped that Young will continue to contribute as the A's defend the Western Division title for the second straight year.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.15-$0.40.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 32 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2009 Topps Update and Highlights #UH48. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #311 Kentrail Davis

It's Minor League Monday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #311.
Player Name, position, team: Kentrail Davis, outfieder, Brevard County Manatees.
Level-League, Team Affiliation: A-Florida State League, Milwaukee Brewers.
Minor League Stats (stats with team depicted only): 33 G, 123 AB, 20 R, 30 H, 2 2B, 5 3B, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 8 SB, 17 BB, 28 SO, .341 SLG, .721 OPS, .244 AVG.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Brewers #1st, June 2009. Bats: left. Throws: left.
Major League Debut: n/a.
Baseball America Organizational Ranking After Season with Team: Milwaukee Brewers #7 prospect after the 2010 season.
Blurb on the back: "After signing out of the U. of Tennessee in 2009, Davis launched ihis pro career at Brevard County in '10. He legged out five triples and swiped eight bags in 10 attempts there before moving to wisconsin in June, where he batted .335 the rest of the way."
Official Topps Rookie Card: n/a.
Commentary: Originally drafted by the Rockies in the 14th round during the 2007 draft, Kentrail Latron Davis opted to go to college instead, attending the University of Tennessee. When looking up Davis' numbers through Baseball-Reference.com, it looked like he moved up from Low-A Wisconsin to High A Brevard County after tearing up the Midwest League. But after looking at the blurb on the back of the card, and then going back to Davis' entry in BR (where it shows the dates in which he was with each team), it turns out that it was the exact opposite. After 33 games with Brevard County, he was sent to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and it was there that his offensive numbers picked up. With Wisconsin, he hit for an incredible .335 with 3 home runs, 46 rbi's, an OPS of .939, and 3 stolen bases. He has moved up the ladder since then, returning to the Manatees in 2011 and then spending 2012 with the AA Huntsville Stars. In 2013, he split time with both the Stars and AAA Nashville Sounds, hitting a combined .268 with 7 home runs, 47 rbi's, 26 stolen bases, and an OPS of .754. If all goes according to plan, he could start his 2014 campaign with the Sounds before what could be an inevitable call up to the bigs.

Next week's featured card will be: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #115. Post will arrive at 9:00 AM CST. Hope you enjoyed this week's installment of Minor League Monday.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1959 Topps #248 Boston Red Sox Team Card

It's Retro Sunday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Sunday, October 27, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1959 Topps #248.
Team: 1958 Boston Red Sox.
Last Line of Statistics: 1970 stats: Manager Pinky Higgins, 79-75, .513 PCT., 13 GB, Third Place American League.
Commentary: It's rare that the Randomizer picks a team card for these segments. But when it does, it makes for interesting discussion. Should we talk about the team being featured? Or should I discuss the card itself? It would be the fourth year in a row that Topps would include team cards within their sets. And just like the team cards from the year before, the team cards from 1959 provided collectors with checklists of the series that the card was a part of. In this case, the back of the Red Sox team card includes cards from the 1959 Topps Third Series of cards, card #'s 177 Johnny Riggs to 264 Chico Carrasquel. The 1959 Red Sox finished 5th in the American League standings, finishing a dismal 75-79, 38 games behind the AL Pennant winning Chicago White Sox. Manager Higgins was fired after a 31-42 start to the season, and after a one-game loss credited to interim manager Rudy York, Billy Jurges finished the season on a good note, winning 44 of the team's final 80 games. Pete Runnels was the team's leading hitter with a .314 average while Jackie Jensen led the BoSox with 28 home runs and 112 rbi's. Pitchers Tom Brewer (10-12, 3.76, 121 k's, 11 complete games) and Jerry Casale (13-8, 4.31, 93 k's) were the team's starting aces while Mike Fornieles (5-3, 3.07, 54 k's, 11 saves) served as the Sox' closer.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $7.00-$15.00.

In case you're actually wondering, I don't own this card, but was able to get a crystal clean copy of the image from the from the Baseball Card Cyber Museum. So thank you Joe McAnally and the folks at the BCCM.

Well, it's back to normal on Monday. Tomorrow's card will be: 2011 Topps #316. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Come on back then to see what the Topps Card Randomizer gets us to look at then.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Random Topps Team Set of the Week: 2009 Topps Chicago Cubs

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

Team: 2009 Chicago Cubs
Record: 83-78, second place, NL Central Division.
Manager: Lou Piniella
Card on the Top: Alfonso Soriano

The checklist consists of the following players:

CHC1 Alfonso Soriano
CHC2 Carlos Zambrano
CHC3 Geovany Soto
CHC4 Rich Harden
CHC5 Kosuke Fukudome
CHC6 Milton Bradley
CHC7 Mike Fontenot
CHC8 Ted Lilly
CHC9 Aramis Ramirez
CHC10 Reed Johnson
CHC11 Derrek Lee
CHC12 Jeff Samardzija
CHC13 Ryan Dempster
CHC14 Ryan Theriot
CHC15 Wrigley Field

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 2009 Topps eponymous set:

It's hard to believe this, but Ryan Dempster, a year removed from being named an All-Star in 2008, did not have a Topps card in either the base or Updates and Highlights set. I'm surprised too. That's what I get for not paying attention. So the only way you can get a Ryan Dempster 2009 card in the recognizable Topps design (he did appear in the Turkey Red insert set, and in Allen & Ginter's among other sets), you'll only find it in the retail set.

Instead of running the bases, Alfonso Soriano shows the sign of peace to the camera person (and subsequently the collectors):

And here's Milton Bradley, full extension:

From further out, Ted Lilly:

Here's Aramis Ramirez, showing the he has a steady glove to go with that powerful bat?:

Reed Johnson running towards the wall (he did know that it's all brick back there, right???):

Ryan Theriot, on defense, on his base card:

So of the 14 players included in this set, six have picture variations and one player's card can only be found in the retail set. This is yet another good example as to why team collectors (and regular collectors too) should buy the retail sets.

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

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies #T28 Nate Bump

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, October 26, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies #T28.
Player Name, position, team: Nate Bump, pitcher, San FRancisco Giants.
Major League Debut: June 28, 2003.
Last Line of Statistics: 1998 stats (San Jose, A-California): 11 G, 61.2 IP, 6-1, 13 R, 12 ER, 61 SO, 24 BB, 11 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 1.75 ERA.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Giants #1st, June 1998. Bats: right. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 3. This is his second Topps card.
Blurb on the back: "The Giants may have struck gold with this savvy righthander. San Francisco's first round pick in the 1998 draft, Bump has shown excellent command and location of his above-average fastball and a high-80s cutter that he consistently gets under left-handed hitters' fists. Further, refinement of his breaking ball is all Nate needs to keep moving up."
Commentary: In trying to find information on Nathan Louis Bump, a pitcher who actually made it to the majors with the Florida Marlins in the mid-00's, I was channeling another famous Mr. Bump...

That's right. Because while there have been players surnamed Strong, at least 19 men named or nicknamed Happy, and yes there have been baseball players named or nicknamed Bump, only one man can presently claim to have this unique surname. But unfortunately, Nate Bump had a lot in common with his cartoon namesake. Two shoulder surgeries and a couple of hit balls to the elbow sidelined him for portions of his playing career. Although a Giants high draft pick, he was traded to the Marlins in 1999 for playoff hero Livan Hernandez. During his brief run in the mid 2000's with the Florida Marlins, Bump would achieve a record of 6-7. an ERA of 4.68, 79 strikeouts, and one World Series ring (with the 2003 team...darn it). But even though he last saw action at the big league level in 2005 (and his last Topps card appeared in the 2006 set), he was still travelling through the minor league systems of the Tigers and Phillies from 2006 through 2011. He last saw action with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and was released after the 2011 season.
Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 4 cards.

Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1959 Topps #248. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Friday, October 25, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1989 Topps Traded #124T Gary Ward

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, October 25, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1989 Topps Traded #124T.
Player Name, position, team: Gary Ward, designated hitter-outfielder, Detroit Tigers.
Major League Debut: September 3, 1979.
Last Line of Statistics: 1988 stats (Yankees): 91 G, 231 AB, 26 R, 52 H, 8 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 0 SB, .312 SLG, 24 BB, 41 SO, .225 AVG.
Any special information about player: Signed with the Twins as a Free Agent 08/29/1972. Signed with the Tigers as a Free Agent 04/23/1989. Bats: right. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 15. This is his thirteenth Topps card.
Blurb on the back: "Gary delivered 3-run pinch-Home Run in 10th inning providing Yankees with 7-4 win vs. Tigers, 9-8-88."
Commentary: Released by the Yankees after the first week of the 1989 season (April 16), Gary Lamell Ward still believed that he could still be a productive player in the majors. So after a week off to clear his mind a bit (and for those of us who have been unemployed know the feeling), he signed on with the Detroit Tigers. He quickly showed that he could still produce. Although his All-Star days with the Twins and Rangers were behind him, Ward covered all three spots in the outfield as well as fill in at DH. In 1989, he hit for a .251 average with 9 home runs, 29 rbi's, and percentages of .300/.400/.700. The following year he hit .256, and although his home run total remained at 9, he drove in 17 more runs than the previous year. Granted free agency in 1990, and unable to sign on with any team, Ward retired from the game, and watched his son, Daryle, follow in his big league footsteps. Gary Ward is back in the minors now, moving up the ranks as a hitting coach in the White Sox farm system. In 2013, he was the hitting coach for the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and is being considered for the same role for the big league team in 2014.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.01-$0.05.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 17.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies T28. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

So Exactly HOW MANY SHORT-PRINTED CARDS are There in This Year's Update Series??!

Prince George, the future King, is a SP subject in 2013 Topps Update Series. Whose card number does he share? Stay tuned.

This is the week Topps baseball card collectors have been waiting for...UPDATE SERIES streets today (or yesterday..or some time soon as the number of auctions on the Bay is starting to grow). Along with all the goodies that come with the set that concludes the 2013 Topps season is word that there will be more short printed cards.

That shouldn't be a big surprise as Topps has been putting in SP's for the last few years, including this one.

However, it's the number of SP's and the way they are numbered that should make a certain cynical soccer fan/baseball card cynic's head explode.

If I counted correctly, there are 50...THAT'S RIGHT...

50...FIFTY...50...

And not only do you get player variations (and there are tons), there are also All-Star card variations (like last year), retired legends (from All-Star Games past), and even a card of the new Prince...George (you can already guess whose card the future king shares a card number with). Case breaker Brent Williams (the guy known as brentandbecca on eBay, Twitter, etc.) has been able to determine the cards that he is calling SP's (the regular short-prints that appear 6-8 per case), and the ones that he's confidently announcing as SSP's (the super short-prints that appear 1-2 per case).

So let's get to it. Before the final checklist comes out (oh wait, it already did...), here are the 50 cards that you will need to be on the lookout for that are not part of the base set. You want to see images? Then after you're done reading the checklist, you can peruse all 50 cards at Cardboard Connection. Before I forget, the cards in bold are your Super Short Prints. Good luck!!!

US1b Matt Harvey, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, All-Star Workout Day with David Wright)
US1c Tom Seaver, All-Star 2013 with David Wright (Base card Matt Harvey)
US7b Yoenis Cespedes, Home Run Derby (Variation: Celebrating with Robinson Cano. I missed it, but was the name on the back of Cano's jersey "Robi"?)
US7c Yoenis Cespedes, Home Run Derby (Variation: AL Home Run Derby Lineup)
US16b Bo Jackson, All-Star 1989 (Base card Alex Gordon)
US35b Andrew McCutchen, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal with Pedro Alvarez)
US53b Craig Kimbrel, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, in dugout)
US53c Hank Aaron, All-Star 1970 with Willie Mays (Base card Craig Kimbrel)

Found the original picture used for the Aaron card.

US53d Chipper Jones, All-Star 2000 (Base card Craig Kimbrel)
US73b Willie Mays, All-Star 1963 with Sandy Koufax (Base card Buster Posey)
US73c Will Clark, All-Star 1990 with Matt Williams (Base card Buster Posey)
US79 Yu Darvish, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, with Hisashi Iwakuma)
US88b Troy Tulowitzki, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, with Michael Cuddyer and Carlos Gonzalez)
US114b Nomar Garciaparra, All-Star 2000 (Base card Dustin Pedroia)
US114c Wade Boggs, All-Star 1989 (Base card Dustin Pedroia)
US119b Ken Griffey Jr., All-Star 1998 (Base card Felix Hernandez)
US119c Ken Griffey Jr., All-Star 1999 with trophy (Base card Felix Hernandez)
US134b Justin Verlander, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, All-Star Workout Day with David Wright)
US140b Tony Gwynn, All-Star 1992 with Ken Griffey, Jr. (Base card Justin Upton)
US142b Yadier Molina, All-Star (Variation: All-Star Workout Day with Buster Posey)
US150b Gerrit Cole (Variation: Vertical, wearing black jacket)
US180b Bryce Harper, All-Star (Variation: NL Home Run Derby Lineup)
US188b John Kruk, All-Star 1993 (Base card Cliff Lee)
US193b Max Scherzer, All-Star (Variation: All-Star Workout Day with Miguel Cabrera)
US200b Wil Myers (Variation: wearing "retro" Rays jersey)
US205b Prince George of Cambridge (yes, the future King of England. Base card Prince Fielder)
US216b Cal Ripken Jr., All-Star 2001 with trophy (Base card Manny Machado)
US216c Cal Ripken Jr., All-Star 2001 signing autographs (Base card Manny Machado)
US218b Miguel Cabrera, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, with Adam Jones and Mike Trout)
US250b Yasiel Puig (Variation: Horizontal, raising arms)
US250c Yasiel Puig (Variation: with a large glove)
US250d Yasiel Puig (Variation: Horizontal, sliding home preparing for Walk-Off celebration)
US268b Joey Votto, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, All-Star Game with Brandon Phillips and Aroldis Chapman)
US268c Teddy Kremer with Dusty Baker (the Reds' batboy who has Down Syndrome, but has been a positive story for the Reds in 2013. Base card Joey Votto)

Feel good story of the year Teddy Kremer has now been immortalized in cardboard.

US276b Torii Hunter, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, preparing for All-Star Team Photo)
US285b David Ortiz, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, with Mariano Rivera and Robinson Cano)
US300b Mike Trout, All-Star (Variation: with Robinson Cano)
US313b Mariano Rivera, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, approaching mound)
US313c Mariano Rivera, All-Star (Variation: leaving bullpen)
US316b David Wright, All-Star (Variation: Horizontal, All-Star Workout Day)
US323b Robinson Cano, All-Star (Variation: Wearing sunglasses and All-Star Game cap)
US323c Lou Gehrig, All-Star 1939 All-Star with Jimmie Foxx (Base card Robinson Cano)

It takes a bit of digging, but the guy standing next to Gehrig's right is Yankees pitcher Lefty Gomez.

US323d Don Mattingly, All-Star 1989 with Bo Jackson (Base card Robinson Cano)

Now not only did the Update Series cards get the SP treatment, but Topps dove back into the regular set and added SSP cards for the following players. Please note that with the exception of Jeter, each player has an exclusive card found only in the retail factory sets:

2b Derek Jeter, All-Star 2000 (Base card in Series 1)
270c Manny Machado (Variation: Horizontal, black uniform. Base card in Series 1, exclusive card in Factory set)
286c Jurickson Profar (Variation: in dugout. Base card in Series 1, exclusive card in Factory set)
305c Shelby Miller (Variation: black cap. Base card in Series 1, exclusive card in Factory set)
589c Jose Fernandez (Variation: All-Star Game with Miguel Cabrera. Base card in Series 2, exclusive card in Factory Set)
661d Hyun-jin Ryu (Variation: in dugout. Base card in Series 2, also has a shortprint card in Series 2, and an exclusive card in Factory Set)
661e Hyun-jin Ryu (Variation: at bat. Base card in Series 2, also has a shortprint card in Series 2, and an exclusive card in Factory Set)

In total, there are 50 cards that are either short-printed or super-short-printed in 2013 Topps Update Series.

My take? At least there are no SSP cards of extremely last minute deals (see the first 7 cards of last year's Update Series). Lots of All-Star variations in both categories, which should make for a very interesting chase for those who are going to do it (good luck by the way).

I would have loved to go after the legends/retired All-Star cards, but since eleven of them are in the SSP category, I think I'll hold off. I still have to get my master set of Update Series to finish out the year. Maybe this weekend.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1983 Topps #556 Willie Upshaw

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, October 24, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1983 Topps #556.
Player Name, position, team: Willie Upshaw, first baseman, Toronto Blue Jays.
Major League Debut: April 9, 1978.
Last Line of Statistics: 1982 stats (Blue Jays): 160 G, 580 AB, 77 R, 155 H, 25 2B, 7 3B, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 8 SB, .443 SLG, 52 BB, 90 SO, .267 AVG.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Yankees #5th, June 1975. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the Rule 5 Draft, 12/05/1977. Bats: right. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 10. This is his third Topps card.
Blurb on the back: "Willie collected 3 Hits including a Home Run in Blue Jays' 11-inning,5-3 win at Seattle, 6-23-82."
Commentary: As of the end of the 2013 season, there have been only 54 baseball players in the major leagues whose last name began with the letter "U." Until guys like Uggla and the Upton brothers did it in the last couple of years, Willie Clay Upshaw was the all-time home run leader for a guy whose last name started with "U," (and with that, our Sesame Street moment is over). Upshaw's best season in the majors would be in 1983, when he hit what would be career highs in many of the hitting numbers (.306 average, 27 homers, 104 rbi's - becoming the first player in Blue Jays' history to reach the century mark in this category), .809 OPS, 11th on the MVP voting). He would be a steady presence in the Jays lineup at first base throughout the mid 80's. By the time he left Toronto (they had some guy named McGriff waiting in the wings as their future first baseman) for Cleveland, Upshaw finished his run with Toronto with a cumulative .265 average, 112 home runs, 528 runs driven in, percentages of .336/.426/.762, and 88 stolen bases in 1,115 games played. After a year in Cleveland, Upshaw took his talents to Japan, playing for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1989-90 (hitting 33 home runs in '89) before retiring as an active player. He has gone on to be a first base coach of both the Indians (2000-2005) and the Giants from 2006-2007 (was the first person to congratulate Barry Bonds on his 756th home run) and minor league manager. He recently finished his fourth season (seventh overall) as manager of the independent league (Atlantic) Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.05-$0.15.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 10.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1989 Topps Traded #124T. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 2004 Topps #256 Alex Gonzalez

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, October 23, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2004 Topps #256.
Player Name, position, team: Alex Gonzalez, shortstop, Chicago Cubs.
Major League Debut: April 4, 1994.
Last Line of Statistics: 2003 stats (Cubs): 152 G, 536 AB, 71 R, 122 H, 37 2B, 0 3B, 20 HR, 59 RBI, 3 SB, 47 BB, 123 SO, .409 SLG, .704 OPS, .228 AVG.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Blue Jays #14th, June 1991. Traded by the Blue Jays to the Cubs 12/10/2001. Bats: right. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 14. This is his thirteenth Topps card.
Blurb on the back: "Over the first 10 days of May, Alex hit three homers (two of the walk-off variety) - all to win games in the 10th inning."
Commentary: You can blame that Bartman guy all you want, but if it wasn't for this guy muffing what should have been a double play to end that fateful 8th inning, it would have been the Cubs running for the World Series...or that's what we're told in some places. But it doesn't matter now, even if it has been 10 years after that sting. Alex Scott Gonzalez (not to be confused with Alex Gonzalez, the one whose career has continued through the 2013 season) was acquired from the Blue Jays after Ricky Gutierrez left the team via free agency. And to be honest, Gonzalez did fill in quite nicely in those first two years. In 2004, after 37 games in which he was hitting .217 with 3 home runs and 8 rbi;'s in which he spent all of June on the DL, Gonzalez was part of the massive 4-team trade that saw eight players change hands. When the dust settled, Alex was sent to Montreal, with Nomar Garciaparra taking over at short. Gonzalez did much better in Montreal, hitting .241-4-16 in 35 games. But in September, the Expos traded him to the Padres, where he finished the season with cumulative .225-7-27 numbers. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2005, and after a successful season, signed with the Phillies in 2006. After 20 games with Philly though, Alex Gonzalez retired. He would "un-retire" the following year, but couldn't latch on with either the Royals or Nationals. He has since become an analyst for NBC and the MLB Network, as well as a principal of Miami Sports Management.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 15 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be 1983 Topps #556. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1981 Topps Traded #843 Jason Thompson

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, October 22, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1981 Topps Traded #843.
Player Name, position, team: Jason Thompson, first baseman, Pittsburgh Pirates.
Major League Debut: April 23, 1976.
Last Line of Statistics: 1980 stats (Angels): 102 G, 312 AB, 59 R, 99 H, 14 2B, 0 3B, 17 HR, 70 RBI, 2 SB, .526 SLG, 70 BB, 60 SO, .317 AVG.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Tigers #4th, June 1975. Traded by the Angels to the Pirates Yankees 04/01/1981. Bats: left. Throws: left.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 11. This is his sixth Topps card.
Blurb on the back: n/a.
Commentary: A two-time All-Star with the Tigers in the late 70's, Jason Dolph Thompson found himself traded to the Angels on May 27, 1980 for rightfielder Al Cowens. He would be traded just before the end of spring training in 1981 to Pittsburgh in exchange for Mickey Mahler and Ed Ott. During the strike-shortened season, Thompson appeared in 86 games, hit for a .242 average with 15 home runs and 42 rbi's. It would be the following year that he would prove that the Bucs received the better end of the trade. In what would be his third All-Star season, Thompson hit .284 with 31 home runs, 101 rbi's, 100 walks (becoming the third player in Pirates history with 100 rbi's and walks during the same season) and had percentages of .391/.511/.902. He finished with a .993 fielding percentage, committing 10 errors in 1510 chances. During his stay in the Steel City, Thompson hit for a cumulative.259 with 93 homers, 354 rbi's (the same number or rbi's he drove in with Detroit), and an .808 OPS. In 1986, he was traded to the Montréal Expos. After 30 games in which he hit for a .196 average, and with a young up-and-comer named Andres Galarraga taking over the reins at first base, Thompson was released, thus ending his MLB playing career.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.08-$0.25.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 12 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2004 Topps #256. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 2004 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Monday, October 21, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1990 Topps Traded #67T Mike Marshall

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, October 21, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1990 Topps Traded #67T.
Player Name, position, team: Mike Marshall, first baseman, New York Mets.
Major League Debut: September 7, 1981.
Last Line of Statistics: 1989 stats (Dodgers): 105 G, 377 AB, 41 R, 98 H, 21 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 42 RBI, 2 SB, .408 SLG, 33 BB, 78 SO, .260 AVG.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Dodgers #6th, June 1978. Traded by the Dodgers to the Mets 12/20/1989. Bats: right. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 11. This is his tenth Topps card.
Blurb on the back: "His first 5-Hit major league game: 4-22-84. He belted 100th major league Home Run: 7-17-87. He belted 1st World Series Home Run: 10-16-88."
Commentary: After nine seasons, a .271 average, 137 home runs, 484 rbi's, an All-Star Game selection, and one World Series title, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Michael Allen Marshall (not to be confused with the pitching workhorse Michael Grant Marhsall) to the New York Mets with pitcher Alejandro Pena for All-Star second baseman Juan Samuel. I'm sure he would have loved to move back to his natural first base position, after years of spending time in right field at Chavez Ravine. But they already had Eddie Murray, a player they traded for in 1989, at first. So it was off to the bright lights of the Big Apple. His stay with the Mets, however, was short lived. After appearing in 53 games from April through June 12, 1990, in which his hitting numbers included a .239 average with 6 homers and 27 rbi's, Marshall was traded to Boston for three minor leaugers. He entered 30 games for Boston, hitting a better .286-4-12. An injury riddled 1991 campaign saw him play for both Boston and the California Angels before taking his talents to Japan in 1992, where he joined the Nippon Ham Fighters for a season before calling it quits for good. Since then, he's been running around the independent leagues, working in various capacities from manager to team president, general manager, to vice president of baseball operations for four different organizations.
Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.01-$0.05.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 13 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1981 Topps Traded #843. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #260 Kendal Volz

It's Minor League Monday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #260.
Player Name, position, team: Kendal Volz, pitcher, Greenville Drive.
Level-League, Team Affiliation: A-South Atlantic League, Boston Red Sox.
Minor League Stats (stats with team depicted only): 26 G, 116.1 IP, 6-5, 53 R, 48 ER, 94 SO, 14 BB, 24 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 1.212 WHIP, 3.71 ERA.
Any special information about player: Drafted by the Red Sox #9th, June 2009. Bats: right. Throws: left.
Major League Debut: n/a.
Baseball America Organizational Ranking After Season with Team: n/a.
Blurb on the back: "A former star at Baylor and veteran of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, Volz signed too late in 2009 to start his pro career. The 22-year-old right hander opened '10 at Single-A Greenville, where he compiled a 6.71 strikeout-to-walk ratio."
Official Topps Rookie Card: n/a.
Commentary: Originally drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 50th round during the 2006 draft, William Kendal Volz opted to go to college instead, attending Baylor University. He spent the first four months of the season with the Red Sox' minor league team in Salem, as a reliever (he was a starter the previous season). In 31 games, Volz went 2-3 with 2 saves, an ERA of 3.33, 56 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.052. He was traded at the deadline to Kansas City as one of the prospects the Royals wanted for infielder Mike Aviles, and after 6 games with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, was promoted to the Royals AA team, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He returned to the Naturals in 2012, pitching in 16 games, finishing 11 of them, a record of 3-1, and 16 strikeouts when a muscle tear ended his season. In a surprising move, Volz opted to retire from baseball on July 20, 2012.

Next week's featured card will be: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #311. Post will arrive at 9:00 AM CST. Hope you enjoyed this week's installment of Minor League Monday.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1951 Topps Blue Back #24 Sherman Lollar

It's Retro Sunday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Sunday, October 20, 2013:

Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1951 Topps Blue Back #24.
Player Name, position, team: Sherman Lollar, catcher, St. Louis Browns.
Major League Debut: April 20, 1946.
Last Line of Statistics: 1950 stats (Browns): N/A (no statistics found on the 1951 Topps cards).
Any special information about player: Signed with the Browns as a Free Agent before the 1943 season. Traded by the Yankees to the Browns 12/13/1948. Bats: right. Throws: right.
Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 4. This is his first Topps card.
Blurb on the front: "Batting and throwing right-handed, the 6', 180 pound St. Louis Browns' catcher had a .280 batting mark in 1950."
Commentary: In 1951, Topps jumped into the baseball card market with two series of 52 cards that were to be used to play a simple game of baseball. Each card, along with the black-and-white headshot of a player from one of the 16 teams in the majors, was a play that would determine the outcome of an at bat (ball, strike, home run, etc). If you and a friend were to play this game, and Sherm Lollar was on the card, you would get is a strike called. While John Sherman Lollar made his MLB debut with the Indians, and spent parts of two seasons with the Yankees (winning a World Series title in 1947), it wasn't until he was traded to the St. Louis Browns that he began not only to get regular playing time, but become a star. In 1950, on the heels of batting .314 through the first half of the season, he earned his first trip to the All-Star Game. He finished the year with a .280 average, 13 home runs, and 65 rbi's for the Browns. The following season, he would appear in 98 games, but still hit .252 with 8 homers and 44 rbi's. He was traded to the White Sox at the end of the season. For 12 productive years on the southside, Lollar would go on to play 1358 games for the Pale Hose, hitting a cumulative .265, with 124 home runs, 631 driven in, percentages of .358/.402/.759, earn 6 more trips to the All-Star Game, and win three Gold Glove awards for his defense. Upon retiring, Lollar became a coach for the Orioles (1964-68) and A's (1969). In 2000, Lollar was named to the White Sox' All-Century Team. He is considered one of the best catchers in the Golden Era, and is eligible for consideration on the Hall of Fame Ballot for 2014. He was one of 32 players listed in the book The Case for Those Overlooked by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Seven players mentioned in that book have since been inducted into Cooperstown. Sherm Lollar passed away on September 7, 1963 at the age of 53 years old.
How many cards of this player do I own?: 0.

In case you're actually wondering, I don't own this card, but was able to get a crystal clean copy of the image from the from the Baseball Card Cyber Museum. So thank you Joe McAnally and the folks at the BCCM.

Well, it's back to normal on Monday. Tomorrow's card will be: 1990 Topps Traded #67T. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Come on back then to see what the Topps Card Randomizer gets us to look at then.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Random Topps Team Set of the Week: 2011 Topps Cincinnati Reds

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

Team: 2011 Cincinnati Reds
Record: 79-83, third place, NL Central Division.
Manager: Dusty Baker
Card on the Top: Joey Votto

The checklist consists of the following players:

CIN1 Joey Votto
CIN2 Jay Bruce
CIN3 Edinson Volquez
CIN4 Johnny Cueto
CIN5 Bronson Arroyo
CIN6 Scott Rolen
CIN7 Francisco Cordero
CIN8 Homer Bailey
CIN9 Edgar Renteria
CIN10 Aroldis Chapman
CIN11 Ramon Hernandez
CIN12 Jonny Gomes
CIN13 Mike Leake
CIN14 Brandon Phillips
CIN15 Drew Stubbs
CIN16 Travis Wood
CIN17 Home of the Reds

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 2011 Topps eponymous set:

Francisco Cordero's cards use the same photo, but on the retail card the top of the card nearly touches the top border:

Whose arm appears in the background of Homer Bailey's retail card? Because you can't see it on the base card:

Edgar Renteria was a Giant in 2010, and it looks like for the retail Reds card they photoshopped the Reds jersey over his Giants uniform. For the record, here for your viewing pleasure are both his base and Update Series cards:

I'm pretty sure that this is a different picture used on Aroldis Chapman's rookie card...isn't it?:

Jonny Gomes is getting ready to step onto the plate on his base card:

Definitely a different picture used for Travis Wood.:

So of the 16 players included in this set, four have picture variations and two use the same picture, but cropped differently. This is a set that is a good example of why team collectors (and regular collectors too) should buy the retail sets. Yes, it may be the same players, yes, there might be the same pictures. But when there are variations...it's pretty cool to compare.

Next week's featured set will be the 2009 Chicago Cubs. Hope you'll be here when we compare the cards from the retail set to their counterparts found in Topps and Topps Updates and Highlights sets.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama