- Get link
- Other Apps
I posted Part I of my Topps Diamond Giveaway experience previously, now it's time to see what I ended up paying to have shipped to my house. As I mentioned at the end of the last post, I had seven cards sent to me, here they are in increasing order of "coolness" as decided by me.
#7:
1975 Topps:
604. Oscar Zamora
I don't know anything about Zamora, other than the fact that he was a Cub (and, according to the cartoon on the back, he led Chicago in ERA in '73). Of course, I say that tongue-in-cheek because Zamora didn't play for the Cubs in '73 like the card claims. Instead, he had a 3.11 ERA in 1974 (not 1973) for the Cubs. In '73 he pitched in 38 games for Denver and posted a 9-7 record with an ERA just over 3.50. If Topps doesn't care* enough about Zamora to get his card right, why should I?
*Just kidding. Most of us collectors seem to care way more about our cards than Topps does. It's sad, but seemingly true.
#6:
1973 Topps:
234. Bill North
I liked this card for one reason, and one reason alone. It looks like North's photo was taken in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Seriously, look over his right shoulder - can you see the pyramid? He is also pictured in his Cubs uniform from the previous year...and how about that Photoshopped hat...aye aye aye that's bad.
#5:
1975 Topps:
363. Carmen Fanzone
Three cards, three Cubs (ok, one was technically an Athletic but he was in a Cubs' uniform). What happened to all the Reds?! Well, it turned out that people don't seem to want Cubs cards...but they do want Reds cards. It was pretty much impossible to turn these into Reds so I went with what I could get. Carmen Fanzone gets the award for best mustache out of all the players whose cards I redeemed.
#4:
1969 Topps:
62. Chico Salmon
I don't have much to say about this card, it's quite boring actually. However, anytime you get the opportunity to get a pre-1970 Topps card for "free" you take it. It's also fun that it's a player on the defunct Pilots team.
#3:
1965 Topps:
51. Billy Bryan
If I ever try to complete a vintage Topps set, the 1965 set would be one of my first choices. For some reason, I really like the set! I even like this card of Bryan, even if it is beat up, bent, and generally scuffed up everywhere. It's got character, and if I ever do work on the 1965 set, I'll certainly have a set with character (whether I want to or not of course, I'm too poor for nice vintage cards)!
#2:
2011 Topps:
Die Cut
DDC-17. Johnny Cueto
The Die Cut cards are surprisingly nice. Online, they appear to be nothing more than the Target or Wal*Mart Diamond insert cards, but in reality they have a nice sheen, the diamond is almost holographic, and the card itself is thicker than the average relic card. I am quite impressed!
#1:
2011 Topps:
Die Cut
DDC-149. Scott Rolen
And the best card of the package? My second Reds' die cut, this one featuring Scott Rolen. At the time when I redeemed my package, I had all the Reds die cut cards (all two of them). However, since then I see Topps has added a Jay Bruce die cut. Unfortunately for me, all I have is a single 1994 Topps card left in my account, so I have a funny feeling that I won't be seeing that Bruce die cut any time soon...
In the end, the Diamond giveaway was fun - so thanks Topps. I wouldn't recommend anyone get too excited over the condition of the cards, but if you treat them as "free" (plus shipping of course), it's like a nice little bonus at the end of a collecting season. I'd be happy if Topps continues to offer a similar program next year (which I believe they are with some sort of Gold theme...it's going to be a game changer, remember that!)
#7:
1975 Topps:
604. Oscar Zamora
I don't know anything about Zamora, other than the fact that he was a Cub (and, according to the cartoon on the back, he led Chicago in ERA in '73). Of course, I say that tongue-in-cheek because Zamora didn't play for the Cubs in '73 like the card claims. Instead, he had a 3.11 ERA in 1974 (not 1973) for the Cubs. In '73 he pitched in 38 games for Denver and posted a 9-7 record with an ERA just over 3.50. If Topps doesn't care* enough about Zamora to get his card right, why should I?
*Just kidding. Most of us collectors seem to care way more about our cards than Topps does. It's sad, but seemingly true.
#6:
1973 Topps:
234. Bill North
I liked this card for one reason, and one reason alone. It looks like North's photo was taken in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Seriously, look over his right shoulder - can you see the pyramid? He is also pictured in his Cubs uniform from the previous year...and how about that Photoshopped hat...aye aye aye that's bad.
#5:
1975 Topps:
363. Carmen Fanzone
Three cards, three Cubs (ok, one was technically an Athletic but he was in a Cubs' uniform). What happened to all the Reds?! Well, it turned out that people don't seem to want Cubs cards...but they do want Reds cards. It was pretty much impossible to turn these into Reds so I went with what I could get. Carmen Fanzone gets the award for best mustache out of all the players whose cards I redeemed.
#4:
1969 Topps:
62. Chico Salmon
I don't have much to say about this card, it's quite boring actually. However, anytime you get the opportunity to get a pre-1970 Topps card for "free" you take it. It's also fun that it's a player on the defunct Pilots team.
#3:
1965 Topps:
51. Billy Bryan
If I ever try to complete a vintage Topps set, the 1965 set would be one of my first choices. For some reason, I really like the set! I even like this card of Bryan, even if it is beat up, bent, and generally scuffed up everywhere. It's got character, and if I ever do work on the 1965 set, I'll certainly have a set with character (whether I want to or not of course, I'm too poor for nice vintage cards)!
#2:
2011 Topps:
Die Cut
DDC-17. Johnny Cueto
The Die Cut cards are surprisingly nice. Online, they appear to be nothing more than the Target or Wal*Mart Diamond insert cards, but in reality they have a nice sheen, the diamond is almost holographic, and the card itself is thicker than the average relic card. I am quite impressed!
#1:
2011 Topps:
Die Cut
DDC-149. Scott Rolen
And the best card of the package? My second Reds' die cut, this one featuring Scott Rolen. At the time when I redeemed my package, I had all the Reds die cut cards (all two of them). However, since then I see Topps has added a Jay Bruce die cut. Unfortunately for me, all I have is a single 1994 Topps card left in my account, so I have a funny feeling that I won't be seeing that Bruce die cut any time soon...
In the end, the Diamond giveaway was fun - so thanks Topps. I wouldn't recommend anyone get too excited over the condition of the cards, but if you treat them as "free" (plus shipping of course), it's like a nice little bonus at the end of a collecting season. I'd be happy if Topps continues to offer a similar program next year (which I believe they are with some sort of Gold theme...it's going to be a game changer, remember that!)
Comments
Post a Comment