The year is winding down and there is yet another retro set on the market. Topps, who already put out a 206 set in 2002, has decided to mark the 100th anniversary of the original tobacco set with this tribute release.The cards themselves look smart and somewhat faithful to the original design. Purists will complain that the set feels forced and doesn't retain the look of the original T-206 set. I would have to agree to a degree.
If you want a true faithful rendition, purchase 2009 Goudey. This is not what's on display here. This set reminds me of the spectacular Obak release from a few months ago. The only differences lies in the backgrounds and the licensing of team logos.
There are eleven cards featuring White Sox players. That number may fluctuate slightly, as I see examples of every card. Jim Thome is still stuck in a White Sox uniform. I was wondering if Topps would sneak Thome into a Dodgers uniform, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
3 - Carlos Quentin
80 - Jim Thome
97 - Gavin Floyd
108 - Alex Rios
161 - Jermaine Dye
174 - Gordon Beckham
191 - Paul Konerko
193 - Jake Peavy
238 - Mark Buehrle
255 - A.J. Pierzynski
284 - Alexei Ramirez
Overall, the Topps T-206 base set is a winner. I have seen examples of sticker autographs as inserts and that feels completely wrong for a retro set. There is a Gordon Beckham short print back variation out there, which has "Rookie American League" and nothing else.
There are the usual mini parallels and back variations for every card in the set. Refractors, printing plates and other unnecessary evils of modern card collecting are present too. The exact information on all of that jazz will slowly leak out, as more boxes are opened. Going to the Topps website for help on any complete set checklist is a complete joke. The one thing that's not a joke? This excellent looking set!
It is crazy how many retro products their have been this year. Looking on eBay, Beckham's auto is a redemption. Arghh
ReplyDeleteAnd it's still selling high! This is why I am not a Gordon Beckham collector.
ReplyDeleteThese cards just don't do it for me. If T206, Allen Ginter, Goudey, Goodwin etc... were such great card sets why did they not last. They don't make the edzel anymore
ReplyDeleteA lot of the reasons why these types of cards didn't last had to do with war rationing during WWI & WWII. This is why you don't see a lot of sets between 1917 and 1945. In the middle of the two wars was the Great Depression.
ReplyDeleteBy the time sports cards saw steady production, they were marketed with bubblegum and candy confections instead of tobacco. Other companies were bought out by companies like Topps.
They don't make Tuckers anymore either. :)