So with the first Topps product a little more than a month away, I have begun thinking what to collect in 2011.
I remember thinking last spring, that I was going to be all aboard the USS 2010 Flagship, that I was going to complete the set and maybe tackle the SP variations. But, after I busted a hobby box, the design just didn't wow me. As an art director (graphic designer), seeing this recycled design really put me off. Really? Really? Topps? What were you thinking? You were the only kid on the block now and you're gonna go with this retread?
I just felt it was a significant let down from the 2009 set. The one redeeming aspect was the Topps Million promotion. I felt that was a good way to keep the collector interested in your product the whole year and it allowed collectors to interact with other collectors.
So with that in mind, I find myself a little wary of the upcoming release of 2011 Topps Baseball. So far, it's got my interest with the design, a far cry from what was thrown against the wall last year.
What I would really like to see Topps do is get back to it's bread and butter. Topps pulls out all the stops on the retro product gravy train but overlooks what could really reel in more collectors. Take the existing flagship issue, with it's great photography, and put in a better engine so to speak.
- go to a four or five-series release, thus give us collectors a better and more current roster
- bring back the coaches cards (see '09 Heritage)
- bring back the 3-player, team prospect cards ala early 1980's
- more bench player cards (I don't need to see 4 different Strasburg's in my base set)
- where did the team picture cards go? Bring 'em back (a favorite of mine as a kid)!
Here's hoping the 2011 Topps is as good and hopefully better than the 2009 version. Maybe this is the year that I try building a set with my 6 year-old son ....
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