Monday, January 25, 2016

Topps mum on 2016 #1 and Where does the Derek Jeter 2015T #1 rank

Topps recently released their 2016 Series 1 checker....without card numbers. Doesn't sound like much of a checklist, but I do understand the attraction to withholding the info until the date of release. Bryce Harper who is this years cover boy and has already sat at #1 is a legit candidate as are Mike Trout, Matt Harvey and possibly a Kansas City Royal. 

2015 Topps #1
When 2015 Topps was released last year there was some discussion on the choice of Derek Jeter for the #1 Slot on the checker.

2015 Topps Chrome #1 Derek Jeter

Those unhappy with Jeter at #1 were mainly concerned that a retired player took the top spot in the set. In my opinion this is boloney. I think those that didn't like the Captain at number one were Jeter/Yankees Haters.

Retired players have been part of Topps sets for years - Mickey Mantle occupied the #7 slot on a half dozen sets between 2006 and 2012. George Brett has a 1994 card after announcing his retirement the previous September, Roberto Clemente was issued a card in 1973 Topps following his death in a plane crash the previous year. In 2000 Hank Aaron occupied his uniform number (#44)

In my opinion this is a great card. It captures a moment that every baseball fan knows. It is a career moment rather than a big postseason play.The picture has action, excitement and emotion. The 2015 design is a good one - throughout the set it helps show of a photo without detracting from the shot.

Just for the sake of accuracy I would like to note that the above card is from 2015 Chrome. Jeter occupied the #1 slot in both sets last year


2015 Topps Chrome #1 Derek Jeter (b-side)

Check the upper right of the card and yes it is card #1, also note the Chrome designation



Where does the Jeter #1 Card Rank
I am a little surprised that Derek Jeter has never* appeared as Card #1 in Topps, he has been the last card and been the subject of a noteworthy variation but never #1. 

We took a look at the history of Topps #1 and broke down the cards to figure out which cards we liked best. Charted below are the results - For each card I list the subject Jeter is competing with, and then two columns Jeter and Field. If I felt that this years card was better, The Jeter column gets noted, otherwise the Field Column is labelled the winner.


Subject
Jeter
Field


Subject
Jeter
Field
2014
Mike Trout
Jeter


2006
A-Rod
Jeter

2013
Bryce Harper
Jeter


2005
A-Rod

Field
2012
Ryan Braun
Jeter


2004
Jim Thome
Jeter

2011
Ryan Braun
Jeter


2003
A-Rod
Jeter

2010
Prince Fielder
Jeter


2002
Pedro
Jeter

2009
A-Rod
Jeter


2001
Cal Ripken

Field
2008
A-Rod
Jeter


2000
McGwire
Jeter

2007
John Lackey
Jeter















1999
Clemens
Jeter


1989
George Bell RB
Jeter

1998
Tony Gwynn
Jeter


1988
Vince Coleman RB
Jeter 

1997
Barry Bonds
Jeter


1987
Roger Clemens RB

Field
1996
Gwynn Sub
Jeter


1986
Pete Rose

Field
1995
Frank Thomas

Field

1985
Carlton Fisk RB

Field
1994

Field

1984

Field
1993
Robin Yount

Field

1983
Tony Armas RB
Jeter

1992

Field

1982
Steve Carlton RB

Field
1991
Nolan Ryan

Field

1981
LL BA Brett Buckner

Field
1990
Nolan Ryan

Field

1980
HL 3000 Hits Brock Yaz

Field









1979
LL BA Carew D Parker
Jeter


1969
LL BA Yaz Cater Oliva
Jeter

1978
RB Lou Brock SB Car

Field

1968
LL BA Clemente 

Field
1977
LL BA Brett Madlock
Jeter


1967
WSC Robinson Robinson

Field
1976

Field

1966
Willie Mays

Field
1975

Field

1965
LL BA Oliva B Robinson

Field
1974

Field

1964
LL ERA Koufax

Field
1973

Field

1963
LL BA NL

Field
1972
WSC Pirates

Field

1962
Roger Maris

Field
1971
WSC Orioles

Field

1961

Field
1970
WSC Mets

Field

1960
Early Wynn
Jeter










1959
Ford Frick
Jeter


1955
Dusty Rhodes
Jeter

1958
Ted Williams

Field

1954
Ted Williams

Field
1957
Ted Williams

Field

1953

Field
1956
William Harridge
Jeter


1952
Andy Pafko

Field


There are nine grey blocks that I felt were debatable, A good argument could get me to switch my allegiance on any of those columns.

For the life of me I have no idea what I was doing with the yellow blocks.

2015 marks the 64th edition of Topps. Of the 63 previous I felt as the the Derek Jeter #1 Card was better than 27 of them. The field took the remaining 36. HOWEVER, if you were to give Jeter all 6 of his borderline that would elevate this years card to 33 Wins versus 30 for the field.

That puts 2015 Topps #1 Derek Jeter pretty close to the middle of the 63 #1 Cards all time.

The Green Blocks are links to postings on the specified card. See "Topps #1 Project" below for additional info. 

Topps 2005 #1
In 2005 the top spot was occupied by Alex Rodriguez - Above I mentioned that Derek Jeter has never been Card #1, this is mostly true, I am pretty sure he has a guest cameo on the 2005 Alex Rodriguez Card

I am curious on feedback on any of the lists, a lot of these cards you may be familiar with, for others I would suggest going to the Topps Baseball Card Database

Topps #1 Project
We have an index of the Topps #1 cards here. Just another of the many features that we plan on starting for 2016, who knows how far we will get into the project. Also cards listed in green link to a posting discussing the specific #1 card. Some of these cards are from past columns. Hopefully the future will have additional posts. 

Derek Jeter vs other #1 Polls
Shortly after I posted this column I started running Polls to see which card folks preferred Jeter or another #1. Hopefully this will give us a picture of where the 2015 #1 card ranks. The results of these polls are below:

2016 Mike Trout 4: 2015 Jeter 3 (2016 01 28)
1982 Steve Carlton 8: 2015 Jeter 1 (2016 01 27)


Sources, Links and Updates
Phungo Topps #1 Index
Phungo 2015 Topps Index
Lawrence Jounal World
A Cardboard Problem
Cardboard Connection
Baseball Card Database

Update: 2016 01 31 - added Derek Jeter vs other #1 Polls section

2 comments:

Jim from Downingtown said...

Prior to the 1990s(?), Topps was not in the business of knowingly including retired players in their sets. The one exception I can think of is a tribute card to the deceased Ken Hubbs in the 1964 set.

The '73 Clemente card was probably already included prior to his death.


For the record, I don't like the inclusion of retired players, or non-baseball subjects, in a particular year's card set. Even their infatuation with Mantle cards over the years (and I am a Mantle fan!)

IMO, current year baseball card sets should be exactly that - sets of (ideally all) the current players. As you can imagine, I have no A&G cards.

Fuji said...

Furthest thing from being a Yankees fan... but I had no issue with Jeter earning the #1 spot last year. He earned it. Great card.

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