Set X is released
I look at Set X and either like or don't like
If "Like" either Like Enough or Don't Like Enough
If "Don't Like Enough" keep cards as they come but don't actively pursue
If "Like Enough" Complete entire team set (excluding parallels).
With National Chicle, I changed the end game. I liked it enough (or thought that I would) to chase the team set, and decided that I'd go after the autographs and relics too. The one thing that I decided not to chase was the "Rookie Renditions" SP. I hate it. I think it is stupid. And it doesn't match the rest of the set at all.
So, that's what I mean when I say I've gotten almost all the cards I want. I could take or leave the Cobb SP, but since there are 8 base cards, he would make an even 9 and fill up a page nicely. I picked up the relics and autographs--not caring what kind of back variation they had and am now quite happy with how things have turned out.
This set was made on two things: On-Card Autographs and Hank Greenberg. Beyond that, the Tigers pretty much fail to impress.
Base Set I've talked about this ad nauseam, but the more I look at the cards the more flaws I find with the Tiger base set. I'm just going to flat out say it: It's not good. Sure, there are good bits here and there, but I'm really disappointed about how it turned out. I think the Tigers got the short end of the artist stick. The big exceptions are the Greenberg and the Kaline. The Porcello is pretty good too and everything else upsets me. sigh.
The one thing that I've said before and will say again: I hope that Chicle did well enough to warrant a 2011 re-do. I think that it has so much potential and has a uniqueness that is difficult to replicate. A mulligan could go a long way, especially if Topps decides to employ someone who has stricter design sensibilities and can nix some of the poorer artistic attempts.
As for the checklist: 8 base cards, 1 "Retired Stars Revisited" Short Print of Ty Cobb looking "Modern" with a helmet and batting gloves, 1 "Rookie Renditions" Short Print of Brent Dlugach in a card made up to look like Al Kaline's 1954 rookie card. It is stupid and horrible and I'm being to hard on it but I don't care.
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#26 Rick Porcello by Mike Kupka | #40 Johnny Damon by Dave Hobrecht | #47 Brandon Inge by Jason Davies |
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#71 Miguel Cabrera by Dave Hobrecht | #85 Justin Verlander by Jason Davies | #206 Hank Greenberg by Brian Kong |
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#224 Al Kaline by Monty Sheldon | #271 Brent Dlugach RC by Paul Lempa | #287 Ty Cobb SP by Dave Hobrecht |
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#327 Brent Dlugach SP By Brian Kong |
Relics There is only one and it is fantastic on all levels without exception. I love it so.
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| 2010 Topps National Chicle #NCR-HG Hank Greenberg |
This here version is the Bazooka Back (#/99) which has some nice paper-pulp granulations for that premium tactile experience.
Autographs They are On-Card, which is good. Really good. They include a picture of a deformed Brent Dlugach, which is bad. They also include Rick Porcello, which is good. His Bazooka Back version lacks
Update: There is a dual autograph Miguel Cabrera & Ryan Howard card that I just saw for the first time. Numbered to 25 copies, it is very nice minus the aforementioned horrible Cabrera drawing.
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#NCA-BD Brent Dlugach | #NCA-RP Rick Porcello | #NCDA-2(?) M. Cabrera/R. Howard (#/25) |
Why is the back different from the Greenberg? Why is the serial numbering in a different spot? All questions that are never to be answered (and don't really matter)
Inserts etc. The inserts in this set are basically non-existent. (YAY!) The only exceptions are the Topps Logoman continuity patch set that is running across all product lines and the set's oversized Box Topper Cabinet Cards. Ty Cobb has one of each.
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| 2010 Topps Logoman Continuity LM-30 Ty Cobb (from National Chicle) |
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| 2010 Topps National Chicle #NCC-TC Ty Cobb Cabinet Card |
And that's all she wrote! Close but no cigar. Good effort. Nice Hustle, and so forth. This is a set that had warning track power. It looked like it had a chance to knock one out of the park, but really, it was just a fly out. Hit the weightroom Chicle and you'll be able to get it over the fence next year.
