Last Piece of the Pie

When Topps T-206 came out earlier this year, collectors were treated to a very nice framed autograph set for the second year in the row. The Tigers had four autograph cards...and a redemption.

Now I used to be fearful of redemptions. Used to think that if I got a redemption card that my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow would never really come. That I'd end up with some crappy replacement card that I wouldn't care about. That it would take forever. So I've avoided redemptions up until this year, when I cashed in three. Now, within a couple months all three have been delivered safely to my home, including this, the last piece of the T-206 autograph set:

2010 Topps T-206 #TA-RPO Rick Porcello

Rick Porcello!

Is this the year for Rick? He's only 22, had a bit of a sophomore slump last year but appeared to rebound well. I think that he makes the leap this year to legitimate big league starter (and hope that our infield's defense doesn't betray him).

Admittedly, this card is not as nice as the other autographs in the set--the solid blue background is in stark contrast to the sunset/ball field backgrounds in the rest of the cards. But, it's also happens to be of Rick Porcello, which makes it the best (2nd best?) card in the set.

But now the real question. What do I do with it?

I'll Be Waiting

Humph, December 26th seems like a long time to wait. But lo! The miracles of modern technology:

@topps_support: The Following 2010 Topps T206 Redemptions Will be sent out SOON: Cal Ripken, Dustin Pedoria, Rick Porcello, Shin Soo Choo

Soon sounds like October or so. SOON sounds like any day now which, awesome.

I'm glad that this was @topps_support and not that unreliable @toppscards fellow who spouts off with nonsense like this:

@GrandCards Sorry for the delayed response. The T206 hat cards (SPs) do have bronze and mini parallels.

@GrandCards Jackson may have been a redemption in T206. I know he signed late. I don't have the list yet.

Um, no. SP Minis and Bronzes and Austin Jackson autographs don't exist until I see one. Anywhere. Just one. If you need to send me these cards to prove their existence then so be it. So is Topps Support to be trusted, or am I stuck waiting for a card that is scheduled to arrive on the most anticlimactic day of the year to receive a gift?

USA! USA!

Yes, I know that these are all "commemorative 4th of July edition" cards, but this is a National Holiday you know and these just came out. Also, I can't believe how many of them there are. As far as I can tell, this is all of the Tigers in the set, but you never know what else might pop up.