Topps Project 2020 is the worst product since 1991 Fleer

[gmarutiak]

Originally Posted by bronxburner24

I'm not interested in artistic interpretations of existing cards. That said, I realize some people are and that's fine.

But I just saw the Rickey Henderson card. I don't even see how that qualifies as art. I mean it looks to me like the guy just took the original card, and then outlined it sloppily in black sharpie. And Topps paid that guy to do it. I feel like anyone with hands and a sharpie could take a reprint Henderson and create that in a minute and if you put it side by side with the one the "artist" did, it would be a crapshoot picking which was which. Congrats to the people that pay $20 for that.

I agree with every single word.

If this is considered art, I'm pretty sure I have the ability to become a Topps "artist." Now to come up with a clever artist name...I'm thinking something along the lines of "ripoffarti$t."

[salthill]

“I could do that” is always said by someone who didn’t.

But there’s not much to that Henderson.

[gmoney328]

That 1984 Mattingly is embarrassing.

[gmoney328]

I get the appeal of some of these. Not for me personally, but I can see it for some collectors.

Some of them are just laughably bad though.

[dani0100]

I don't get why the entire set seems to not just be a "revisioning" of these cards, but a totally c-grade avant-garde trash heap re-do of the cards. It's almost as if Topps said to the artists "we want you to do some really far-out, abstract, messy garbage" with all the designs. There no variance from this instruction.

Why not let actual designers re-do the cards with a new feel to them, instead of this nonsense? Or why not lest artists do whatever they want instead of, presumably, telling them all the cards have to look as strange and goofy as possible?

[mwheeler27]

I like them. I’ll collect them all. I’m looking forward to displaying them on a wall in a 20 x 20 mural.

I think Topps did it right by asking the artists to do the same 20 different cards. Having them displayed in groups, both by card AND by artist, will be something to behold. At least in my opinion. I can hardly wait.

[Eldun]

There are a few where I didn't get what the artist was doing until I looked at their instagram, webpage, store, etc.

Once I did though the style choices they used make a lot more sense.

For example, I was nonplussed by the Henderson but when I looked up the artists work it was pretty crazy what he can do with black outlines. It didn't translate great the the Henderson but I understand why it was done the way it was now.

[thebrett]

Unfortunately I’ll be buying at least 1 and likely 5 of all 20 George Brett cards

[Comix Guy]

Originally Posted by thebrett

Unfortunately I’ll be buying at least 1 and likely 5 of all 20 George Brett cards

Only one card per player.

[okumeister]

Originally Posted by Comix Guy

Only one card per player.

All 20 artists will make the 20 subject cards.
So George Brett will have 20 different cards done by 20 different artists.
This is a 400 card "set" as a whole.

[BayAreaChris]

Sorry I've searched all over, but can't find this info:

1) I know every business day they launch two new cards. Is it always 10 AM Pacific?
2) Do we know in advance what the two cards or it's always a surprise?

[JLEICHTER35]

Think they'll release all 20 before cycling back through?

Still have McGwire, Thomas, Ryan.....Jeter was in the original list

[Eldun]

So far it seems like its always right about 1pm but there has been some small variance.

I haven't found any official release schedule. From some of the artists social media accounts they seem to have an idea of when their first card would release and what it would be but I haven't seen any previews from the 2nd group of 20 yet.

My guess would be that after the group of the first 20 Topps would either follow the same order of artists or of players. Will be able to tell on Wed if its, Ichiro and Koufax or Big Baller and Rochester.

[ThoseBackPages]

any word if these will be delayed?

[Tasupi]

I like the Mays today.

[Eldun]

On Wed the 1st I received an email from Topps stating my order for Cards 1-2 had shipped and tracking has them en route. Haven't received any word on orders for cards 3-4 or later.

[ThoseBackPages]

isnt it "funny' that todays Tony Gwynn LOOKS like 1991 fleer?

and Mays looks like 1990 Fleer

[UGLI baby]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

I like them. I’ll collect them all. I’m looking forward to displaying them on a wall in a 20 x 20 mural.

I think Topps did it right by asking the artists to do the same 20 different cards. Having them displayed in groups, both by card AND by artist, will be something to behold. At least in my opinion. I can hardly wait.

Man, I've been tempted to do the same, but so far just buying a few I really like. Would love to see what a mural of all these would end up looking like!

[smapdi]

I'll probably end up getting all the Thomases and Trouts and random ones I like rather than going for a full set. I appreciate the idea of this project, but just too many are turning out to be uninspired. And coming out with 2 cards each weekday is just too many dollars too fast. It would be way more appealing if they came out like the Living Set, 2-4 per week, and those weren't $17.50-$20 each, either.

I do find it interesting that the proofs are selling out fast each day. That seems to be where the money people have zeroed in. I wonder if it's one person buying them out or a group.

[Glebe]

The first release was the best so far. Griffey card was simply awesome. Trout was a nice spin on the card too.. I think it's a cool way to bridge the gap between art and cards.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by salthill

“I could do that” is always said by someone who didn’t.

But there’s not much to that Henderson.

My goodness you just can't stop white knighting these garbage releases

[mwheeler27]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

My goodness you just can't stop white knighting these garbage releases

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

There’s a chance these do better than some people think.

[Eldun]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

My goodness you just can't stop white knighting these garbage releases

Not sure how you compare this to the majority of releases Topps put out. It's not a yearly set, it doesn't focus on hits, it doesn't use stock photos, it doesn't rely on border color parallels to determine if one card is better than the other, it's not based on a chase of prospects/rookies, and the production amount is exactly what it should be as determined by the market.

I would say as far as garbage releases go this does not qualify. You can not like it but it is a welcome change from most new sets that are released.

[jdandns]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

isnt it "funny' that todays Tony Gwynn LOOKS like 1991 fleer?

and Mays looks like 1990 Fleer

Superb troll job on the artist's part to swipe that infamous design.
I hope someone uses '91 Fleer Football which is even worse.

Sometimes, art is not about what the artist did on the card, but rather, with the card, and there really is a difference, as silly as I know that sounds.

Topps has ventured into cards by avant-garde artists before, most notably with a die-cut series of original art sketch cards in an official Star Wars set about 10 years ago. They proved very popular. At least one artist who did pack-issued sketch cards for the Star Wars set, JK5 (aka Joseph Ari Aloi), is working on this new baseball set.

Of course, these baseball cards are only prints of the work, not original pieces of art like the Star Wars cards were.
Topps should randomly give away the originals made for this series to a random purchaser of the regular cards. That would fit the aesthetic of the art.
They should also ask Banksy to do some. Why not?

[Bob Loblaw]

The prosecution rests.

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