2009 Topps 206 Baseball 100th Anniversary Edition Sell Sheets are Live!!!

The highly anticipated sell sheets for 2009 Topps 206 Baseball 100th Anniversary Edition went out late last week. See scans below for more information.





The official breakdown of the 300 card set includes:
226 veterans
18 Legends
56 Rookies

But then you factor in an extra 50 Short Print Variation cards, and you have a 350 card set. The short prints are scheduled to be (and this list is subject to change):

1 Ryan Howard
10 Andrew McCutchen
19 Mel Ott
23 Koji Uehara
28 Kenshin Kawakami
36 Jimmie Foxx
41 David Hernandez
44 Michael Bowden
49 Walter Johnson
57 Matt LaPorta
61 Derrek Holland
66 Ty Cobb
71 Dustin Pedroia
72 Rick Porcello
83 Rogers Hornsby
87 Ryan Perry
90 Alex Rodriguez
102 Hanley Ramirez
103 Andrew Bailey
107 Fernando Martinez
113 Tris Speaker
116 Chase Utley
120 Derek Jeter
129 Ichiro
130 Honus Wagner
137 Mark Teixeira
138 Elvis Andrus
142 Evan Longoria
143 Cy Young
154 Mickey Mantle
160 Thurman Munson
171 David Wright
174 Gordon Beckham
175 Manny Ramirez
177 Pee Wee Reese
181 David Price
207 Jackie Robinson
224 Roy Campanella
231 CC Sabathia
234 Grady Sizemore
237 Christy Mathewson
254 Johnny Mize
262 Tommy Hanson
268 Aaron Poreda
271 Lou Gehrig
274 Colby Rasmus
286 Tim Lincecum
287 Babe Ruth
299 Albert Pujols
300 George Sisler

Information can be seen here.

Just like the Topps 206 cards in the early part of the decade, these cards will also come with mini parallels with backs featuring many of the old cigarette brands that the original T206 cards were inserted:

Polar Bear, Old Mill, Piedmont will be the more common backs
Cycle numbered /99
Carolina Brights are one of ones and Hobby Exclusive.

Product checklist is here, but remember, it is always subject to change.

Bring on November!!!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Is Topps Back in the Hockey Game with the NHL???

Yes, I know this is not a baseball card post. But I thought this was kind of interesting.

I don't know if it's because this product is more of a CCG (collectible card game) than it is a trading card (although it can be argued as such since it's predecessor in baseball is not included in the 17 product limit with MLB). But with Topps putting out a hockey version of Topps Attax known as Topps Puck Attax, fully utilizing NHL Players and NHL Logos, and is licensed by both the NHL and the NHLPA, does this mean that Topps is back in the NHL Hockey trading card business?

I guess it would make sense since they are no longer licensed to produce NBA trading cards. And when I started collecting 22 years ago, Topps only made baseball, football, and hockey cards. But there has been nothing formally announced about a deal with Topps and the NHL. And I'm pretty sure that the other company isn't going to stand for this if they still have the official "exclusive" license to produce NHL trading cards. Then again, their five-year agreement ends coming into this season right???

You have to admit, these cards looks pretty cool, even if they are round. But how does one store them???

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

And the 2009 Topps Red Hot Rookie #'s 8 & 9 Cards Go To...‏

Those holding those Red Hot Rookie Redemption cards better get them logged in to Topps quickly as it has just been announced that card #'s 8 and 9 belong to none other than Julio Borbon of the Texas Rangers and Jhoulys Chacin of the Colorado Rockies.

Borbon, an outfielder for the Rangers, made his major league debut on June 29 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 18 games, he is hitting a decent .370, with 1 home run, 8 runs batted in, and 11 stolen bases (as of August 31, 2009).


Chacin, a pitcher for the Rockies, made his major league debut on July 25 against the San Francisco Giants. In 5 games, one of them a start, he is 0-1 with an ERA of 5.87, and 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work (as of August 31, 2009).

Although neither card is autographed, fans of both the Rangers and Rockies will want to add these cards to their collections. Ladies and Gentlemen, START REDEEMING!!!

The checklist currently includes:

• #1 Fernando Martinez
• #2 Gordon Beckham (1 in 10 will be autographed)
• #3 Andrew McCutchen
• #4 Tommy Hanson
• #5 Nolan Reimond
• #6 Neftali Feliz
• #7 Mat Latos
• #8 Julio Borbon
• #9 Jhoulys Chacin

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Cards That Make You Go...What??! of the Week: 2009 Topps Finest Rookie Redemption #10 Tommy Hanson

Okay, I know what you're thinking. "This card is from Topps Finest. You don't collect Topps Finest. Why do you care? What are YOU thinking??!"

Well, you're right, it's a Topps Finest card that I'm not planning on getting any time soon, so it doesn't matter to me one way or another. But, this is worthy of a What??! because I don't understand the mindset of the creative types at the Topps Company some times.

This year's Topps Finest product had it's own rookie redemption program. And the cards look really nice. So if you have your complete set of Finest, let me first say, "Good on you!" and you should consider getting these cards as a good addition to your complete set.

As announced this morning, card number 10 in the Topps Finest Rookie Redemption program is Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson. Hanson, as of August 27, 2009, is 9-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 86 innings. Serious contender for rookie of the year so far. Anyway, if Topps couldn't make this deal any better, this card is also autographed!!! And you're probably thinking, "Hey, this is awesome! An autograph card in this set." Then you look at the checklist with the first nine cards:

#1 Matt LaPorta
#2 Tommy Hanson
#3 Andrew Bailey
#4 Julio Borbon
#5 Colby Rasmus
#6 Kyle Blanks
#7 Neftali Feliz
#8 Nolan Reimold
#9 Rick Porcello

Wait...Hanson's also card number 2 here.


Did I fail to mention that the first nine cards are not autographed? That means Hanson will have two cards, one regular, and one autographed card within the same set. That will make people holding the number 10 card really happy, and those holding the number two card pretty miffed, don't you think? Now the "value" of card #2 has dropped because #10 now is perceptually worth more.

Could they not find another player to put in this set, and have his cards autographed? They couldn't get another player to include here? I have to believe that Topps plans with enough lead time that they HAD to know that they would use Hanson as the auto subject, couldn't they have picked another player for card 2?

Set collectors are not going to care much about this situation. They just know that the final prize is going to be bit more expensive than the first nine. But if they are intent on completing this set, nothing will stand in their way of doing so. But for player collectors, and for those trying to sell unused redemptions, or those who are trading with someone who relies on "value," you have to wonder...

Topps, what were you thinking??!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

In Honor of the 50th Anniversary of Hawaii Becoming the 50th State, Introducing the All-Time Hawaiian Baseball Team!

On August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted into the Union as the United States' 50th state. Fifty years later, even as the state commemorates (not celebrates out of respect to the Native Hawaiians) the upgrade from territory to state, there is still a lot of tension and controversy surrounding this historic event.

And while this humble little blog is not about to jump into the fray and discuss his opinions about these matters (not only am I unqualified to do so, but I do not feel that I am entitled to do so), to commemorate this event, I'd like to continue a tradition started earlier this May by presenting it's All-Time Hawaiian All-Star Team!!!

As of August 26, 2009, there are 35 players in the Major Leagues born in Hawaii. This pretty much means almost everyone Hawaiian born player is going to be on this list. The first Native Hawaiian to play in the Majors was pitcher Johnnie Williams, who played for the Detroit Tigers back in 1914. In four games, three starts, he sported a record of 0-2 with an ERA of 6.35. The first position player coming out of Hawaii was Tony Rego, a catcher who played a two seasons for the St. Louis Browns in the 1920's. He got into 44 games with the Browns, hitting .286 (26 for 91), scored 10 runs, and drove home eight more.

All total, as of August 26, 2009, Hawaiian players have hit 262 home runs, driven in 1,338 runs batted in, have a .241 batting average, stolen 193 bases with an OPS of .661. Hawaiian pitchers have a combined record of 740 wins against 722 losses, an ERA of 3.91, have struck out 8,866 batters, walked 5,442, and earned 105 saves. (All statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference).

So without further ado, introducing bdj610's All-Time Hawaiian All-Star Team:

Starting Pitchers

Charlie Hough, Honolulu, 216 (Hawaiian Leader)-216, 3.75 ERA, 2362 K's, 61 saves (Hawaiian Leader), All-Star



Sid Fernandez, Honolulu, 114-96, 3.36 ERA, 1743 K's, 2-time All-Star


Ron Darling, Honolulu, 136-116, 3.87 ERA, 1590 K's, All-Star, Gold Glove Winner


Milt Wilcox, Honolulu, 119-113, 4.07 ERA, 1137 K's


Relief Pitchers

Brian Fisher, Honolulu, 36-34, 4.39 ERA, 370 K's, 23 saves


Carlos Diaz, Kaneohe, 13-6, 3.21 ERA, 207 K's, 4 saves, 77 games finished


Catcher

Kurt Suzuki, Wailuku, .272 AVG, 24 HR's, 138 RBI's, .721 OPS, 7 SB's


Infielders

Joey Meyer, Honolulu, .251 AVG, 18 HR's, 74 RBI's, .716 OPS


Joe DeSa, Honolulu, .200 AVG, 2 HR's, 7 RBI's, .587 OPS, died on 12/20/1986 in a car accident while in Puerto Rico.


Lenn Sakata, Honolulu, .230 AVG, 25 HR'S, 109 RBI'S, .616 OPS, 30 SB'S


Mike Huff, Honolulu, .247 AVG, 9 HR'S, 75 RBI'S, .695 OPS, 19 SB'S


Outfielders

Mike Lum, Honolulu, .247 AVG, 90 HR's (Hawaiian Leader), 431 RBI'S, .689 OPS, 13 SB'S


Shane Victorino, Wailuku, .288 AVG, 43 HR'S, 217 RBI'S, .786 OPS, 104 SB'S (Hawaiian Leader), All-Star


Benny Agbayani, Honolulu, .274 AVG, 39 HR'S, 156 RBI'S, .807 OPS, 16 SB'S


Future Star

Kila Ka'aihue, Kailua, .286 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .804 OPS, 2 SB'S


There you have it ladies and gentlemen, hui maupaʻa ka 'oi pāʻani kinipōpō kanaka Hawaiʻi (A team consisting of the best baseball players from Hawaii.)


Mahalo na heluhelu (Thank you for reading). Aloha!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Off the Blogroll Go...

It's that time of the month again...one I don't particularly like doing. But, as keeper of the Sports Card Blogroll, it is my duty to remove inactive blogs off the big Blogroll while adding more to them.

You know the rules, I'll put links to the blogs on this post so you can see what each one was about. The Blogroll says good bye to:

• Break Open Another Box!
• Pack To The Future
• Cardboard Gods
• Basketball Cards Galore
• In The Game
• Sports Cards Rants & Reviews
• 1964 Topps Baseball - Lets Play 2
• 1987 Donruss Baseball - 1987 Donruss
• Rutgers University Scarlet Knights - Scarlet and White Cardboard
• Andre Dawson - Hawk to the Hall

This is the monthly reminder: if you have a sports card blog, or know of any new ones out there, please let me know so I can add them to the big Blogroll. Send me an e-mail at bdj610@hotmail.com, or leave me a comment somewhere. I'll know how to find it.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Topps on TV Talking About their MLB Exclusive License

For your viewing pleasure, (and mine, since I never got to see this), Warren Friss, VP/General Manager-Entertainment of Topps, talks about the new exclusive license with MLB in this video from Bloomberg News.Thanks to Sports Collectors Daily for sharing the Video.Sincerely,JayBee Anama