Topps is starting to get in to the business of National Baseball Card day. Six card packs were given away at hobby stores, as well as a bonus Kris Bryant card with a certain purchase. The full set consists of 49 cards, but the packs also include random autographs as well. There’s not much too it, but for free, you can’t really complain. It’s a bit of a different design, and seems a little out of character for Topps. It’s a nice change of pace, though.
This is a new release for Topps, and I don’t think many people really knew what to expect. Bunt is a fairly successful app in which the user can buy virtual packs of cards, while they collect and trade these cards. It features a combination of free packs, but a dedicated player can also spend real money to buy virtual packs and even boxes to get themselves greater chances at the cards they want. Some of these virtual cards are even bought and sold for real money, but they’ve always remained virtual. Now, Topps is making a physical card set to go around with this release.
The Topps Chrome release has long been an alternative parallel to the flagship Topps set, but this one seems to take it even a little bit further. The base set is only 200 cards, but then you also see inserts matching the regular base set inserts, as well. I’m not sure if that’s really necessary. There are also a lot fewer inserts and parallels than from recent years. This lack of parallels leaves you with a question of value. Base cards don’t really seem to get a lot of respect, and now you get more of them.
The jumbo boxes advertise five autographs per box, but there isn’t much else. The boxes contain 12 packs of 13 cards.
One of my favorite releases of the year returns with more of the same. For me, Allen & Ginter almost isn’t a baseball card set, as much as an everything set. Sure, the set’s primary focus has always been baseball, but you also get an assortment of various other champions and unique insert sets. You can even find from movie characters this time.
It seems to me there is less flair this year than normal, however, for some reason. Maybe I’ve grown accustomed to more inserts or variety, but it feels a little lacking in this installment.
I’m glad to see Stadium Club as a regular offering. It really fills a niche that Topps otherwise doesn’t address. You get top not photography on full bleed cards, with a glossy high quality stock. There’s a lot to like about it. Add in that you’re starting to see recurring insert sets, and you really start to get a feeling of continuity, You get a nice mix of current stars, rookies, and stars from the past.
The full set is 300 cards, so it’s not a real easy set, but at least there are no SPs involved. Each box contains 16 packs of 8 cards, including 2 on card autographs per box.
