2011 Variations...Topps is going overboard

[Gonzaleznut]

Every year, I love seeing what variations Topps comes up with. I like that they use the same picture for them because when I put them in pages it looks cool. As a player collector of Josh Hamilton, I try to get all of the variations, but this year it is more difficult because it is the 60th Anniversary for Topps. Just another way to squeeze every nickel out of us poor player collectors.

I am doing good so far. There are at least 10 1/1s I still have not even seen, much less bought.

I have put all of the ones I have and a few I don't in the album below. Let me know what you think and how you do it for your player.

http://s887.photobucket.com/albums/ac79 ... ?start=all

 

[subpop77]

Sadly the player I collect is not in Chrome so I don't have all the headache as some have with getting all of my guy. :?

 

[srstetler]

Yeah, I'm glad that Topps uses the same picture for their player parallel cards because it ensures that the printing plates are true 1/1's for that particular Topps set, but some Topps sets have so many variation cards for a specific player that even the most ardent player collector can't possibly collect them all.

I suppose collectors target specific sets to collect based on their specific collecting needs, or goals.

 

[subpop77]

I have some plates of Sweeney but don't go after them if I see one and it is cheap I will pick it up. That's like I have all of Sweeney's Minor league but a few.

 

[oiccup41]

They look great together on the same page!

 

[Gonzaleznut]

They look great together on the same page!

Thanks. I think so too.

 

[TGutta]

I really like how they are all on the same page as well. Looks very sharp! I was a little disappointed that Denard Span didn't make Topps Chrome or Bowman Chrome this year so I only have the base of each to get.

 

[CraigsCards1]

Wow I started going for the Markakis variations and then stopped. That page is making me feel pretty good about that decision, but if you can get them all it's an awesome collection.

 

[marterburn]

I'm almost as far with my Kemp variations (the card 375 picture only), it's been lots of fun! They do look great next to each other, I haven't done scans yet though.

I didn't realize the series 1 & 2 parallels were in update (baby being sick then going into the hospital for surgery can do that)....already missed out on a Hope variation, will pick up the cognac when it's convenient...

I've had no luck with plates, as for some reason they've all gone for 2-3x (not hyperbole) what I had thought they would and I just don't have the money...superfractor was never in my plan, although I do have the blank back.

 

[olerud363]

I've started collecting 2011 Topps Ricky Romero variations as a side project for the same reason people have mentioned. I thought they'd look neat lined up side by side by side (by side by side etc etc). Ricky's not quite as big a star as Hamilton, but I've found 40 variations. I've only bought a small handful so far from COMC, so this'll be more of a leisurely pursuit. I'm calling it the 2011 Ricky Romero "Rainbow Project".

 

[PujolsCollector]

It is crazy how many sets some players are in. I collect Descalso he hasdifferent cards in Topps Finest, Topps update, Topps Allen & Ginter, Topps opening day, Topps base set, Topps Marquee, Bowman platinum, Bowmn, and Heritage. Not to mention the A&G glossy set, red border factory set, diamond anniversary set. I started collecting Descalso because he was a player I liked that was cheap, well guess what when I have to buy a millin cards in one year it sucks. Topps is making cards like they did in the 80's there are so many cards and they will mostly all be worthless in 20 years, some are worthless now. They are not limited anymore. They can call a printing plate a 1/1 but really it is a 1/4. Cards that are lowly numbered are stupid when they put out a card with the same numbering in the next set with a different picture. It is just a hassle to keep up with all of these sets.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

It is crazy how many sets some players are in. I collect Descalso he hasdifferent cards in Topps Finest, Topps update, Topps Allen & Ginter, Topps opening day, Topps base set, Topps Marquee, Bowman platinum, Bowmn, and Heritage. Not to mention the A&G glossy set, red border factory set, diamond anniversary set. I started collecting Descalso because he was a player I liked that was cheap, well guess what when I have to buy a millin cards in one year it sucks. Topps is making cards like they did in the 80's there are so many cards and they will mostly all be worthless in 20 years, some are worthless now. They are not limited anymore. They can call a printing plate a 1/1 but really it is a 1/4. Cards that are lowly numbered are stupid when they put out a card with the same numbering in the next set with a different picture. It is just a hassle to keep up with all of these sets.

You're right, the same number of cards are being produced today as twenty years ago. Although I'm not one of them, there are still people who want more sets/cards.

 

[Dice-K Collector]

Sadly the player I collect is not in Chrome so I don't have all the headache as some have with getting all of my guy. :?

The players I collect arent in any topps products this year... which is especially frustrating with Dice-K, seeing how he plays in the majors, and played some part of every year of his career. So count your blessings

 

[ffgameman]

That is impressive. I wish I had that passion for my (dwindling) David Wright collection. It's hard to maintain that desire when you limit yourself to trading only as I do.

 

[17ROCKIES12]

I lost all desire to attempt a "rainbow" when they produced the cognac cards in the update set (ex: [ebay:1vm347o6] 200662580193[/ebay:1vm347o6]). They are super common, but also look like the really popular canary 1/1s (ex:[ebay:1vm347o6] 270829499819[/ebay:1vm347o6]).

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I lost all desire to attempt a "rainbow" when they produced the cognac cards in the update set (ex: [ebay:2b4cad3g] 200662580193[/ebay:2b4cad3g]). They are super common, but also look like the really popular canary 1/1s (ex:[ebay:2b4cad3g] 270829499819[/ebay:2b4cad3g]).

I believe many people will think of more parallels as 'added value'...but after a while all the 'added value' loses its appeal.

 

[Gonzaleznut]

At some point there is a law of diminshing returns for collectors.

I do like the "Ultimate Rainbow" idea though. It is a huge challenge for this years Topps and any Player Collector who has a player in both Topps and Topps Chrome.

 

[tribefan26]

There is also the Diamond Giveaway Factory Set edition. For series two there are unnumbered Red-bordered Target exclusive variations and Blue-bordered Walmart exclusive variations. (The black and Retro versions weren't enough I guess).

 

[Gonzaleznut]

There is also the Diamond Giveaway Factory Set edition. For series two there are unnumbered Red-bordered Target exclusive variations and Blue-bordered Walmart exclusive variations. (The black and Retro versions weren't enough I guess).

I actually have on the page the Diamond Giveaway Factory Set card. I have not ever seen the Red Border Target card of Josh.