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