Phungo 2 Cents: I like 2012 Topps

Notice I say Like - I don't LOVE it, it is a reserved like.  

So what if the design is stolen from 2002 Topps Football, I still ended up liking it. 

A lot of my opinons on everything seems to be based on expectationis, Movies, Music, Books, TV, Linsanity etc.  If something gets overhyped - my expectations will quash it.  Somethings ridiculously panned inevitably I find something about it to like.  I blame myself for this a little - I really enjoy reading reviews and opinions...on everything.   

But part of expectation setting is due to our overexposed world.  I will likely never again see a baseball card design that hasn't been teased on-line for the past 6 months.  I mean when did we first see 2012 Topps - probably before Thanksgiving - certainly prior to the Ryan Braun PED issue emerged.

2012 Topps #307 Vance Worley


Therefore I have seen the 2011 Topps design since clear back in the fall of 2011, which is roughly an eon in internet time.  I have also seen maybe two dozen of this years cards prior to release. 

In a word I initially thought the design was dull. 

This is where expectations come in - A few weeks ago when I got the actual cards in my hands, I liked them.  I had low expectations base on prelease materials and I think largely because of this, I was like hey these aren't bad looking. 


Typically I don't like minimalist design on cards, but some of these designs grow on me.  2012 Topps makes me think of 1961 Topps - There isn't much to it but it is funcitonal.  Maybe it didn't  require much imaginations - and it does make me wonder which designs were rejected.  Regardless I like it well enough.  I like the pictures and I like the fact the design carries quietly through to the card reverse.


I wanted to get this post up because in the future I will speak to some issues that I don't like about the set such as Foil, Gimmicks, and Inserts.  


Full Disclosure


Here is a look back at our previous 2012 Topps postings 


First Look
Hanger Pack Phils
Hanger Pack All-Stars
Topps Back-loading Stars into Series 2
2012 Topps v 2002 Topps Football

Check out 1979 Topps

Over at 1979 Topps today's Card is of Steve Carlton 



1979 Topps #25 Steve Carlton

1979 Topps will always be special to me as the set was given to me as a Christmas present when I was a kid - I still have the set in a nice box sorted by team.  I have a post about the set floating around in my head - just haven't commited it do a posting.

Wanted to give 1979 Topps a shout out and a thanks for recognizing our work over here at Phungo - also nice to get Bobby V off of the most recent post marquee. 

Happy Valentine Day: 2012 Phungo Cards - Bobby Valentine

To celebrate the holiday today we return to 2012 Phungo Cards

 2012 Phungo #8 Bobby Valentine 

 Not sure about this, but I believe this is the first Red Sox card for Bobby Valentine.

 

2012 Phungo #8 Bobby Valentine (Dodgers Variation)

And this year Phungo Cards have a few short printed variations.  This is a card that recognizes Bobby Vs stint as a player with the Dodgers back in the 1970s.  

2012 Topps and 2002 Topps Football - Separated at Birth?

Is 2012 Topps really just the offspring of 2002 Topps Football?

 2012 Topps #197 Brendan Ryan

2010 Topps Reprint of 2002 Topps Tom Brady

You Be the Judge (click to enlarge)

Both of them have the same Hindenberg in the bottom left and really not much else to the design - right up to the fact that neither card has the player position.   In this particular example Brendan Ryan and Tom Brady are in fairly similar poses, ball in hand and ready to throw.  The fact that Brady can be compared to Ryan may explain his performance in the final quarter of the Superbowl.

f.y.e closing and collecting

If anyone still buys CDs they may be interested that f.y.e is closing and they are having a pretty decent sale on CDs. (picked up a set of 3 Ramones discs for $4)

The think that may be of interest to collectors is they have some Pannini Products (non-sports cards/stickers) on clearance.  I think the number was roughly 60% off at our local store.  They had the sticker albums for the last 2 years of NFL stickers on sale for 49 cents.  They also had a bunch of oddball items - There was a Joe Mauer action figure mixed in there for some reason. 

For you tech geeks they were also cables and various gadget connectors etc on sale at about 1/2 off.

UD National Hockey Card Day

Heads Up for the Hockey Fans out there, today is National Hockey Card Day.  You can hit up your local card shop for a special free pack of UD Hockey Cards.  Here is the UD Info

Locally Carl's Cards in Havertown is participating.

Go Flyers!

Swag from Nachos Grande

In January Chris from Nachos Grande ran a group break involving a bunch of boxes from the early 2000s.  If you're a Phils Fan the early aughts is a pretty quiet time - typically this means a lot of Scott Rolen and Bobby Abreu - neither of which is a fan favorite.  Despite this the Nachos Grande break was a fun one and provided us with a bunch of nice cards.  Here are some of the highlights:

 A couple of Phils from my childhood.   These are from the UD Vintage set.  These are the cards that mimic 1975 Topps.

Fleer Vintage cards that homage 1954 Topps.

Topps Finest Bobby Abreu and Todd Helton - The NG break featured one random team, Team Phungo got the Rockies.  Not a great one if you like classic cards, I mean who are they going to put in the Vintage sets Larry Walker?   

 Fleer Inserts of Pat Burrell and Die Cut of Phungo Favorite Randy Wolf