When 2011 Topps Series 1 was first released I had two thoughts:
1) I like the base card design a lot.
2) What’s all this other crap?
I decided to focus on the second point, as you can see here and here. In fact, this is what I said:
“I should just wait for the factory sealed sets at the end of the year.
…
I’m sure I’ll pick up some Heritage and A&G (and honestly I’ll probably nab a couple packs of Topps base at the card shop despite my misgivings), but I’m certainly going to focus the vast majority of my hobby time on my Eddie Murray collection this summer.”
Uhh … whoops. I’ve made a liar out of myself and it’s time to come clean.
I have purchased more 2011 Topps Series 1 than any other card set in my life, except for 2:
• 1989 Fleer baseball (that wasn’t obvious enough?)
• 2010-11 Score hockey
Buy me.
But after ripping a ton of (mostly retail) packs, I have to amend my thoughts on several things.
First, I don’t think the insert bloat is NEARLY as bad as everyone made it out to be when Topps S1 was first released. Yes, there are a lot of inserts — including many that I don’t care anything about — but the balance of base to inserts is pretty solid. I’ve bought 2011 Topps in the form of hobby packs, HTA jumbo packs, retail packs, retail jumbo packs, retail hanger boxes and retail blasters, and the base-to-insert ratio is pretty good across the board. My initial fear when attempting to build the set (still 43 cards short … never build through retail) was that the alleged insert bloat would make completing the set far more difficult, but I’ve found that I still look forward to the various inserts in every pack.
I’ve also found that the hanger/cereal boxes are the best bang for your buck when buying Topps flagship, especially with HTA packs going for $17 or more. For $10 you get more cards than an HTA pack and a lot of the same perks, like a guaranteed Diamond Giveaway code card, a Platinum Diamond parallel, a Kimball Champions mini, a Ticket To ToppsTown, a Topps 60, etc. Granted, you’re far less likely to pull a “hit,” but when autographs are as tough to pull as they are in Topps flagship and most of the hits are manufactured leather plates, it’s really not worth the extra money. I’m sure others will disagree and they may have good reason, but that’s my take.
So as I prepare to pre-order a box of Series 2, consider this my apology to the Topps development team. But I still think Gypsy Queen is stupid.
Now that you’re going after the set, do you have a list of the cards you need? I put my set together through retail and a bit of trading so I have a ton of extras. Perhaps I could be of some help.
Hey here are the cards I need in 2011 Topps:
1, 10, 18, 20, 25, 53, 78, 80, 81, 86, 93, 95, 100, 104, 107, 114, 120, 128, 129, 133, 135, 142, 145, 148, 156, 162, 169, 178, 190, 196, 208, 219, 229, 240, 271, 285, 288, 292, 300, 311, 316, 327, 328
Are there any cards you’re looking for in trade?
I need three inserts to finish ’11 Topps: 60 Years of Topps #32, and CMG Reprints #9 and #30. But there are a bunch of other cards I’m interested in listed on my website (thiscardiscool.blogspot.com). If you had those three it’d make my day. I’m not looking for too much in return.
I looked through what I have, here’s what I’ll send you: 1, 10, 20, 25, 78, 80, 81, 86, 95, 104, 107, 114, 120, 128, 133, 145, 148, 156, 162, 219, 229, 271, 285, 292, 300, 316, 328.
Just looked and I don’t have any of those 2011 Topps inserts, and from what I can tell I don’t think I have anything on your want list (at least not with me in my apartment). You’re not doing 2011 Heritage at all?
Not doing Heritage, nope, but maybe you have a few oddballs/team issues sitting around for my sampler collection or a few of the players? I don’t need card-for-card or anything. Or we could do a trade-to-be-named later type of thing. Can you email me (through this site or mine) and we’ll knock something out?
HI, I’ve stumbled onto your blog (really like it!) and I’m also trying to complete the 2011 base set from retail packs. I’ve stopped buying packs because I get too many duplicates ugh. I’m in NYC which I think you are too from your posts, maybe we could work out a trade since I have a bunch of the cards you want? I can confirm which ones I have when I go home but I definitely have duplicates of braun, stanton, jennings, and chris young just from first glance. Here are my wants
14 randy wolf
41 freddy garcia
46 hong chih kuo
52 tampa bay rays
55 matt joyce
56 johan santana
73 james mcdonald
108 greinke
123 lowell
126 padres
134 votto, cargo, infante
149 aardsma
158 casey blake
161 white sox
165 hellickson
176 daniel hudson
181 magglio
184 brandon morrow
193 cory luebke
211 votto
218 victor martinez
242 lidge
246 john lannan
265 danks
276 miguel olivo
284 reid brignac
303 bonifacio
307 alex rios
323 cj wilson
I’m actually down to only needing one base card from Series 1 (and I’m still waiting from a package so I don’t even know which card that is yet). I do have these that you need:
46 – Hong-Chih Kuo
52 – TB Rays
56 – J. Santana
73 – J. McDonald
134 – LL Gonzalez, Votto, Infante
161 – White Sox
165 – Hellickson
181 – Magglio Ordonez
184 – B. Morrow
193 – Luebke
218 – Victor Martinez
242 – Lidge
246 – Lannan
276 – Olivo
284 – Brignac
303 – Bonifacio
307 – Alex Rios
323 – C.J. Wilson
Shoot me an email at cstoneno37@hotmail.com and we can figure something out.