I didn't appreciate Topps Total like I should have in the early to mid 2000's. It shows up plenty of times in my collection, but at the time of release it was more of an afterthought. Maybe it just seemed weird that a set would honor the likes of Bobby Hill. It was hard enough to find a set that was giving more notable Pirates like Jack Wilson Love.
As I got older and my collecting habits have changed and I crave releases like Topps Total. Every set features guys like Cutch and Gerrit Cole, but I get more pumped when players like Sean Rodriguez and Tony Watson get a card. I think this is why I like Topps Update so much as you get a nice mix of short stay players. I feel like the collective heads of the blogging world would explode if this set was brought back.
Let's take a look at the simple, but yet great set. Here is the 2004 team set.
I think the Salomon Torres card is my favorite. He looks to be signing the rare red Pirates alternate hat from that era. Also of note is the Ryan Vogelsong card. I just showed off his latest Pirates card.
Vogelsong is pulled the poor mans Aramis Ramirez this year by coming back to the Pirates. Although I don't think he is quite ready to call it quits next year so he'll likely move on to another team.
If Topps were to bring back Total I would worry how they would construct it. It wouldn't be much of a shock if they added sp's or tons of parallels. I'm fine with a little tweaking, but sp's would be a big turn off. How about just one parallel like Opening Day? That wouldn't be so bad. Maybe the auto collectors could get a nice checklist of more obscure veterans. That would be a nice change of pace from rookie overload.
Either way I would be happy if this set made a return. Get to work Topps.
Thanks for reading!
Weird to think that when this set was out, Jose Bautista was having a season where he was a Oriole/Ray/Royal/Met/Pirate.
ReplyDeleteHe was definitely a late bloomer. Just wish the Pirates would have reaped the rewards. He has been quoted of saying that he would have never turned into the player he is today if he had stayed in Pittsburgh.
DeleteThey did Total twice for the NBA, and I loved both years. They were the only sets ever to include assistant coaches, many of whom were former players. The first set had only one standard parallel, one per pack silvers, but also printing plates. I pulled my first plate from that set. The second year had the same breakdown but added a gold parallel SN to 10.
ReplyDeleteThat is perfect for a budget set. I'm fine with parallels as long as they don't sp the base cards.
DeleteI love the Topps Total NFL sets, and was fine with the split cards with two or three players on the football card just to have cards for some of those linemen or special teams players.
ReplyDeleteI really like some of the action photos on some of the Pirates cards above.
Oh yeah....kicker cards!!!!
DeleteSince Topps would never do it with their flagship... it would be cool if they produced Topps Total and made it a 1,200 card set with no inserts, parallels, or hits. Just base with a very affordable price tag. Heck... don't even include subsets. Straight up players, coaches, and managers.
ReplyDeleteYou know me... I love the shiny stuff, the signed stuff, and even the cards with swatches of stuff embedded into it... but the bottom line is if Topps produced this product the way I stated above... I'd be all over it.
I'm fine with a few bells and whistles to keep all types of collectors happy. The big thing is don't SP the base cards. Look how much of a pain in the ass Heritage is now. Even Ginter and Gypsy Queen can be a pain.
DeleteI'd like a Topps Total revival with a twist: only players who played in the major leagues with the team that year get a card, but also EVERY player who played for the team gets a card. Even if they appeared for 1 at bat in the final game of the season.
ReplyDeleteAnd put it on the old cardboard card stock -- for the autograph collectors. Or have one parallel of cardboard card stock.
I like that idea. It would be the ultimate team collector set. Just bring it out over the winter before flagship comes out.
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