Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Topps 2012 Series One Complete Set

This marks the 44th year of complete Topps sets for me, going back to 1969. I know there are those who have been hammering Topps over the 2012 set. Be it the design, the rally squirrel card, or the photography, Topps has been taking a beating from some bloggers.

But not from me. I'm hardly a Topps apologist, but when it comes to the flagship set, I'm going to buy it no matter what. I'm a baseball card collector. Like it or not, Topps makes THE baseball card set. And that set will always be in my collection.

As with all of my sets, this one goes into a 3" binder. Each binder has a label I've created. The past couple years the label has been based on the wax wrappers, and here is what I came up with for 2012:



The design of the cards is fine for me. It's not anything too splashy or distracting. Topps has left off the player's position, something they haven't done for a few years. I do prefer cards with a position listed. I mentioned my only complaint last week and I'll do it again: the names, printed in silver, are hard to read, especially the last name on the black band. I wish they would just do the names in white. I'll bet Opening Day will be printed that way.

There are several subsets including Record Breakers, Post Season Highlights, League Leaders, and Active Career League Leaders. It's been a while since they've had active career leaders.

Missing from this year are team cards and manager cards. Eliminating those two cards should have freed up more cards for players. But since only six Cubs got cards, I guess it didn't turn out that way for them.

Now, a few random thoughts on some of the cards....



....did the rookie cup experience some shrinkage? It seems smaller to me.



The 2012 Cup is on the left; Starlin Castro's 2011 cup card is on the right.

"I was in the pool!!"

"It shrinks?" "Like a frightened turtle!"



....Is Kyle Blanks "The Natural"?



Is Glenn Close in the stands?









Several cards showed players in throwback unis. I love the throwback concept, but am often disappointed in the execution. They need to match not only the design of the uniform, but also the tailoring. Old school players didn't wear baggy jerseys or pajama pants.



Unless he gets picked up by someone soon, this may be Derrek Lee's final appearance on a Topps card; and it's not even his own card. If it is, its appropriate that he's not facing the camera; it looks like he's going away.

Finally, I've got the complete series one checklist below. The list is arranged by teams, so you can see how many cards there are for your favorite team.

Topps 2012 Series One Checklist

AngelsBobby Abreu188
AngelsErick Aybar78
AngelsPeter Bourjos46
AngelsAlberto Callaspo189
AngelsTyler Chatwood317
AngelsScott Downs123
AngelsJeremy Moore277
AngelsJoel Pineiro267
AngelsAlbert Pujols SP
331
AngelsMark Trumbo106
AngelsMark Trumbo281
AngelsJered Weaver250
AngelsVernon Wells13
A'sBrandon Allen283
A'sBrett Anderson104
A'sTrevor Cahill2
A'sAndrew Carignan202
A'sBrandon McCarthy73
A'sScott Sizemore139
A'sKurt Suzuki309
A'sMichael Taylor36
AstrosJose Altuve187
AstrosJason Bourgeois321
AstrosCarlos Corporan266
AstrosMark Melancon153
AstrosBrett Myers169
AstrosBud Norris246
AstrosBrett Wallace43
Blue JaysJ.P. Arencibia207
Blue JaysJose Bautista100
Blue JaysBrett Cecil86
Blue JaysYunel Escobar229
Blue JaysCasey Kotchman289
Blue JaysAdam Lind245
Blue JaysBrandon Morrow304
Blue JaysEric Thames293
BravesFreddie Freeman215
BravesTommy Hanson115
BravesJason Heyward85
BravesTim Hudson58
BravesChipper Jones305
BravesCraig Kimbrel20
BravesCraig Kimbrel87
BravesCraig Kimbrel113
BravesMike Minor227
BrewersJohn Axford294
BrewersYuniesky Betancourt57
BrewersRyan Braun1
BrewersCarlos Gomez146
BrewersZack Greinke210
BrewersMark Kotsay327
BrewersGeorge Kottaras143
BrewersShaun Marcum262
BrewersCasey McGehee136
BrewersNyjer Morgan66
BrewersNyjer Morgan272
Cardinals Cardinals World Series
53
Cardinals Cardinals Post Season
233
CardinalsChris Carpenter264
CardinalsAdron Chambers90
CardinalsAllen Craig329
CardinalsDavid Freese273
CardinalsDavid Freese291
CardinalsJaime Garcia3
CardinalsMatt Holliday320
CardinalsEdwin Jackson44
CardinalsJon Jay258
CardinalsKyle Lohse26
CardinalsYadier Molina174
CardinalsAlbert Pujols108
CardinalsSkip Schumaker93
CubsMarlon Byrd144
CubsStarlin Castro167
CubsStarlin Castro270
CubsMatt Garza114
CubsReed Johnson172
CubsGeovany Soto56
CubsRandy Wells278
DiamondbacksStephen Drew248
DiamondbacksDavid Hernandez101
DiamondbacksIan Kennedy76
DiamondbacksMiguel Montero288
DiamondbacksRyan Roberts173
DiamondbacksJoe Saunders223
DodgersChad Billingsley152
DodgersTim Federowicz253
DodgersDee Gordon69
DodgersDee Gordon161
DodgersJavy Guerra88
DodgersTony Gwynn284
DodgersMatt Kemp330
DodgersHong-Chih Kuo11
DodgersTed Lilly122
DodgersJames Loney39
GIantsBrandon Belt141
GiantsMadison Bumgarner103
GiantsMatt Cain155
GiantsJeff Keppinger298
GiantsBrett Pill70
GiantsPablo Sandoval185
GiantsNate Schierholtz63
GiantsEli Whiteside127
GiantsBrian Wilson260
IndiansMichael Brantley182
IndiansAsdrubal Cabrera130
IndiansNick Hagadone6
IndiansUbaldo Jimenez306
IndiansJason Kipnis216
IndiansMatt LaPorta314
IndiansJustin Masterson205
IndiansGrady Sizemore96
MarinersDustin Ackley315
MarinersBlake Beavan168
MarinersSteve Delabar263
MarinersFranklin Gutierrez286
MarinersAlex Liddi274
MarinersMiguel Olivo118
MarinersMichael Pineda225
MarinersBrendan Ryan197
MarinersJason Vargas269
MarlinsEmilio Bonifacio238
MarlinsJohn Buck27
MarlinsChris Coghlan222
MarlinsMatt Dominguez198
MarlinsEdward Mujica178
MarlinsRicky Nolasco322
MarlinsHanley Ramirez60
MarlinsJose Reyes SP
332
MarlinsAnibal Sanchez157
MetsJason Bay251
MetsIke Davis24
MetsR.A. Dickey279
MetsLucas Duda128
MetsJason Isringhausen323
MetsJon Niese49
MetsAngel Pagan191
MetsBobby Parnell83
MetsMike Pelfrey214
MetsChris Schwinden325
MetsJosh Thole177
MetsJustin Turner163
MetsDavid Wright240
NationalsIan Desmond131
NationalsTom Gorzelanny204
NationalsJohn Lannan186
NationalsStephen Lombardozzi134
NationalsTom Milone40
NationalsMichael Morse165
NationalsBrad Peacock275
NationalsWilson Ramos12
NationalsDrew Storen285
NationalsJayson Werth295
NationalsJordan Zimmermann75
OriolesJosh Bell121
OriolesChris Davis151
OriolesKevin Gregg326
OriolesJeremy Guthrie4
OriolesKyle Hudson218
OriolesAdam Jones125
OriolesBrian Matusz84
OriolesNolan Reimold176
OriolesMark Reynolds208
OriolesLuke Scott107
OriolesAlfredo Simon22
PadresKyle Blanks261
PadresLogan Forsythe94
PadresLuke Gregerson221
PadresJesus Guzman14
PadresOrlando Hudson147
PadresNick Hundley312
PadresMat Latos256
PadresCory Luebke23
PadresWill Venable132
PhilliesAntonio Bastardo287
PhilliesDomonic Brown98
PhilliesJustin DeFratus243
PhilliesRoy Halladay150
PhilliesCole Hamels190
PhilliesRyan Howard280
PhilliesMichael Martinez64
PhilliesHunter Pence120
PhilliesPlacido Polanco28
PhilliesCarlos Ruiz117
PhilliesMichael Stutes259
PhilliesVance Worley307
PiratesPedro Alvarez138
PiratesKevin Correia74
PiratesChase d'Arnaud102
PiratesJared Hughes175
PiratesJeff Karstens71
PiratesJames McDonald241
PiratesMichael McKenry99
PiratesJose Tabata236
PiratesNeil Walker25
RangersMike Adams8
RangersAdrian Beltre310
RangersJosh Hamilton300
RangersDerek Holland34
RangersColby Lewis18
RangersMitch Moreland299
RangersMike Napoli37
RangersAlexi Ogando301
Rangers Rangers59
Rangers Rangers217
RangersKoji Uehara171
RangersMichael Young55
RaysWade Davis48
RaysJohn Jaso271
RaysDesmond Jennings5
RaysDesmond Jennings16
RaysMatt Joyce196
RaysMatt Moore129
RaysJeff Niemann203
RaysDavid Price80
RaysKelly Shoppach193
RaysBen Zobrist195
Red SoxDaniel Bard61
Red SoxErik Bedard318
Red SoxClay Buchholz247
Red SoxJacoby Ellsbury170
Red SoxAdrian Gonzalez50
Red SoxJohn Lackey328
Red SoxJon Lester10
Red SoxJosh Reddick158
Red SoxJarrod Saltalamacchia137
Red SoxKevin Youkilis160
RedsYonder Alonso19
RedsJay Bruce220
RedsMiguel Cairo268
RedsAroldis Chapman265
RedsJohnny Cueto135
RedsRyan Hanigan226
RedsMike Leake308
RedsDevin Mesoraco41
RedsScott Rolen255
RedsDontrelle Willis89
RedsTravis Wood142
RockiesRex Brothers72
RockiesJhoulys Chacin45
RockiesDexter Fowler231
RockiesJason Hammel68
RockiesChris Iannetta21
RockiesJuan Nicasio112
RockiesJordan Pacheco219
RockiesDrew Pomeranz42
RockiesWilin Rosario184
RockiesSeth Smith257
RockiesTroy Tulowitzki140
RockiesTy Wigginton154
RockiesEric Young242
RoyalsBilly Butler145
RoyalsMelky Cabrera15
RoyalsAaron Crow67
RoyalsDanny Duffy194
RoyalsAlcides Escobar51
RoyalsChris Getz148
RoyalsKelvin Herrera211
RoyalsLuke Hochevar47
RoyalsEric Hosmer35
RoyalsFelipe Paulino38
RoyalsBrayan Pena296
TigersAlex Avila213
TigersBrennan Boesch166
TigersMiguel Cabrera200
TigersDoug Fister201
TigersJhonny Peralta54
TigersRick Porcello82
TigersRyan Raburn282
TigersMax Scherzer162
Tigers Tigers Post Season
32
TigersDelmon Young65
TwinsScott Baker276
TwinsJoe Benson235
TwinsNick Blackburn316
TwinsLiam Hendriks81
TwinsJustin Morneau230
TwinsChris Parmelee95
TwinsCarl Pavano164
TwinsTrevor Plouffe249
TwinsBen Revere62
TwinsBen Revere292
TwinsKevin Slowey111
TwinsDenard Span179
TwinsJim Thome97
TwinsDanny Valencia303
White SoxJohn Danks311
White SoxAdam Dunn199
White SoxPhilip Humber254
White SoxPaul Konerko105
White SoxBrent Lillibridge228
White SoxBrent Morel31
White SoxA.J. Pierzynski116
White SoxAddison Reed183
White SoxAlex Rios17
White SoxChris Sale149
White SoxSergio Santos244
YankeesDellin Betances252
YankeesA.J. Burnett209
YankeesCurtis Granderson290
YankeesPhil Hughes313
YankeesDerek Jeter30
YankeesMickey Mantle7
YankeesRussell Martin237
YankeesJesus Montero9
YankeesIvan Nova133
YankeesEduardo Nunez126
YankeesMariano Rivera109
YankeesMariano Rivera180
YankeesDavid Robertson206
YankeesAustin Romine79
YankeesMark Teixeira110
YankeesMark Teixeira234

Active Leaders AL Batting119

Active Leaders AL ERA232

Active Leaders AL Home Runs91

Active Leaders AL RBI324

Active Leaders AL Wins212

Active Leaders NL Batting124

Active Leaders NL ERA92

Active Leaders NL Home Runs192

Active Leaders NL RBI159

Active Leaders NL Wins29

League Leaders AL Batting239

League Leaders AL ERA52

League Leaders AL Home Runs302

League Leaders AL RBI33

League Leaders AL Wins319

League Leaders NL Batting181

League Leaders NL ERA297

League Leaders NL Home Runs77

League Leaders NL RBI224

League Leaders NL Wins156


6 comments:

  1. Congrats! I completed the set too and I always will. I don't apologize for it either. And you are right. It is THE set.

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  2. Props for the Seinfeld links. The throwbacks are fun. I'm in favor of all players on a team wearing their uniforms the same way. Isn't that kinda the definition of uniform. It bugs me when one guy has stirrups and another has baggy pants on the ground.

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  3. I'm with you on the uniforms....they need to be uniform. Do you read Uniwatch?

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  4. FYI - Scott Rolen is listed as a Phil here but should be listed as a Red.

    Thanks for posting the list - definitely convenient to have around.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks...I updated the list with your correction.

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  6. I think I've come across UniWatch in the past but I've bookmarked it now. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete