2016 Gypsy Queen Cubs

As usual, I bought my set from Brentandbecca.  As usual, Brent was speedy with his delivery.

Gypsy Queen is the one major brand that Topps brought out after I returned to collecting.  I've been on it from the start.  I wasn't a big fan early on, but I've come to at least be ok with it.

The design of the cards for 2016 is the the most plain of the six years.  There are very few of the typical Gypsy Queen dippsy-dos in the corners.  The Gypsy Queen letters lack the flourish of previous designs.    The red lettering also seems out of place for this brand.

This year's Cubs set has grown from eight players last year to fourteen this year.  And thirteen of the fourteen are active players.  The Cubs, they are improving!

In addition to the regular cards, there are several photo variations.  In the past I've picked them up, since there were just one or two Cubs.  This year I'm skipping them because five of the fourteen Cubs have a variation. If the prices come down, especially for the Bryant variation, I may go back and get them.  But right now, pass.

Fergie is the only retired Cub.  No Ernie or Santo (I don't believe Topps has the rights to either); no Billy or Ryno either.

 

And we've seen this picture a few time before.

As far as the current players, there's only one curious addition...

...Carl Edwards.  He'll probably end up the the big club some time this season, but right now he is in AAA.

The selection of players left out the catchers and the bullpen, but the other regulars you would expect are there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Random Cubs Cards

I've got 14,189 Cubs cards from 108 different brands listed on a spreadsheet. A random number generator picked five cards, one each from the past several decades.

1900s - 1970s: 1969 Jewel Paul Popovich  The Cubs reacquired Popo in June of 1969 when Glenn Beckert got hurt.  He was always one of my favorite Cubs because we share the same first name.  Jewel must not have liked him as much because this isn't a very flattering picture.

1980s: 1986 Topps Superstar #6 Ryne Sandberg  This card comes from my Sandberg PC and shows Ryno with his porn-star 'stache.  

1990s: 1991 Fleer #427 Derrick May The gaudy yellow design is actually one of my favorite Fleer cards.  It's so bad its good.  It is also an easy design to replicate for custom cards.

2000s: 2005 Heritage #55 Carlos Zambrano  Psycho-boy before he went off the deep end.  He had a really nice year in 2005, going 14-6.  With Wood and Prior living on the DL, Zambrano was the ace of the staff.

2010s: 2016 Topps Stickers #195 Anthony Rizzo  Rizzo is starting to come out of a bit of a funk, having homered yesterday.  His average is up to .200.  The Cubs are 9-2 with Rizzo hitting only .200.  Just wait until he heats up!

2016 Legacies Vault Metal Billy Williams

Billy Williams was included in the high-end Legacies of Baseball.

This new brand is way out of my league since a box of four cards will run you about $135.  The box includes two autograph cards, one Vault Metal card, and one insert.

I picked up Billy's Vault Metal card for five bucks plus shipping

The cards are called Vault Metal because they are printed on metal...actually aluminum.

The base Metal card is /135.  There are also purple (/50), red (/25) and black (1/1) versions.  The black version is listed on ebay for $250...I'll pass!

The picture on the card is one I've never seen before.  Good for Topps for not dragging out the same few pictures!  It looks to be taken in Scottsdale in 1973 or 1974.

The Official 2016 Cubs Schedule

Last week I called the Cubs to place an order for a media guide.  At the same time I requested a few copies of the 2016 pocket schedule.  The schedules arrived yesterday.

The cover is almost identical to the schedule given away at the Cubs Convention in January.

Too bad they couldn't change things up a little bit.

This year's schedule is significantly smaller than the 2015 version.  Its actually just half the size.  Last year there were 14 different panels on the front and back.  This year its just seven panels per side.

This side has ticket information and the promotional schedule.  The seating chart shows all the different areas of the ballpark.  There are 24 different types of tickets to choose from.  Missing, however, are ticket prices.

Back in the days when I was a kid, the Cubs had just four ticket types...box seats, reserved grandstands, general admission, and bleachers.

The second side of the schedule has the actual game schedule.  Notice that there are five different game levels.  Only eight of their 81 home games are at the cheapest level, bronze.  And if you want to go to the bargain games, I hope you like the Reds.  Five of the eight bronze games are against Cincinnati.

My schedule collection goes back to my birth year, 1961.  I've now got 56 years worth...take a look

2016 Topps Factory Team Set

The 17-card Topps factory team set has arrived at the WW Headquarters.

This is the 11th year of these team sets.  Since 2010 the set has been made up of 17 cards.  I like the fact that there are 17 as it fits nicely into binder sheets.  I have my year card, then the 17 cards, completely filling two pages.

Of the 17 cards, only two players are not on the current Cubs roster.  Chris Coghlan was traded during spring training and Javier Baez is on the DL, but should be on the roster soon.  That is a big change from a few years ago and goes to show how things are really improving for the Cubs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Long As I Was Making 2016 Topps Cards...

...I thought I should make one more.

I'm not sure if he'll stick with the Blue Jays long enough to be included in series two or update.  So I went ahead and made a card.

2016 Media Guide

I called the Cubs on Thursday to place an order for a 2016 media guide.  I had to leave a message.  They called me back on Friday and I ordered my book.

It came on Monday.

Way to go Cubs concessions department!

Here's a look at the cover.

As they have since 2011, the cover has a blue cloth-like look to it.  Featured players are Heyward, Rizzo, Arrieta, Maddon, Bryant, and Lester.

There are 384 pages of Cubs facts and info.  That's a bump up of 16 pages over last year.  A winning team means more good things to write about.

With this book, my run of roster books / media guides is extended to 59 consecutive years.