Topps Project 2020 is the worst product since 1991 Fleer

[Bleu Falcon]

Highlights of last night's unboxing:

Fucci Brett
Jamieson Gooden
Chang Gooden
JK5 Gooden
JK5 Thomas
Cartoon Ichiro

Amazing cards in hand, all but the Chang Gooden really exceeded my expectations.

As the Project approaches its end, I've actually come to feel that player sets might actually end up being cooler than artist sets, or maybe collecting sets even just gets in the way of collecting your favorite cards. I say that because while I generally like some of the artists' work better than others, they all have their hits and misses. Cartoon is not a big fave of mine but his Ichiro is truly sublime. Siff was an early favorite but I feel he's become less consistent over time. Fucci and Shore seemed boring to me at first but again, they both have done some amazing stuff. I considered doing a JK5 set but decided against it and am now second guessing that because so many of his cards are top shelf. That Thomas really pops in hand! I also think maybe I should have stretched for the Gooden set (main obstacle$ are Vide$ and Erm$y). It has a lot of sentimental value for me, and so many of the interpretations are excellent.

Anywho, I've had moments, especially when the cards weren't rolling in, of thinking I was crazy to spend as much money as I have on this set, but when I unbox these cards and get them in hand I feel very satisfied.

[AirplaneDon]

^ excellent read

[hammertime]

Originally Posted by Bleu Falcon

Highlights of last night's unboxing:

Fucci Brett
Jamieson Gooden
Chang Gooden
JK5 Gooden
JK5 Thomas
Cartoon Ichiro

Amazing cards in hand, all but the Chang Gooden really exceeded my expectations.

As the Project approaches its end, I've actually come to feel that player sets might actually end up being cooler than artist sets, or maybe collecting sets even just gets in the way of collecting your favorite cards. I say that because while I generally like some of the artists' work better than others, they all have their hits and misses. Cartoon is not a big fave of mine but his Ichiro is truly sublime. Siff was an early favorite but I feel he's become less consistent over time. Fucci and Shore seemed boring to me at first but again, they both have done some amazing stuff. I considered doing a JK5 set but decided against it and am now second guessing that because so many of his cards are top shelf. That Thomas really pops in hand! I also think maybe I should have stretched for the Gooden set (main obstacle$ are Vide$ and Erm$y). It has a lot of sentimental value for me, and so many of the interpretations are excellent.

Anywho, I've had moments, especially when the cards weren't rolling in, of thinking I was crazy to spend as much money as I have on this set, but when I unbox these cards and get them in hand I feel very satisfied.

Agreed on pretty much all counts...I'm finishing up my Siff, jk5, and Ermsy runs but there are definitely some Siffs I won't be keeping long-term. I also started collecting Naturel along the way and I've started grabbing random cards from Fucci, Shore, Cartoon, Thiele etc that catch my eye along the way.

[Shinjoy]

Originally Posted by AirplaneDon

I mean it’s not as if there aren’t bisected cards in the set, as well as base cards like the Koufax rookie. (Edit: you also have an entire artist set of shrunken images with additional characters added to the card, and those all “work”).

It’s fine you disagree, I just think it’s totally inconsistent thinking that bisecting a card would render it unworkable as a baseball card given all the examples within baseball card history of bisecting, dual players, dual images, etc.

The card has life. And I know exactly who is on it at a glance whether my eye goes to the score board or the main player image (name ties right in with the main image to my eye). Shrug.

One last edit: If your complaint is mostly around how dark an area is, and colors being used to bisect, then I can’t really argue. A lot of his cards are dark. I think it gives off a really cool white Sox vibe to the card, specifically the bottom half. So for me, that works, but I understand the too dark complaint, and I know Silas agrees with you.

On bisection: The horizontal Koufax and Clemente cards in this set look disproportionally small to me. This could be because my eyes have been trained from looking at 1955 Topps in its original dimensions for 30 years, but the extra square inch makes a difference when you're looking at something so small. There's a reason
A) The artists that have the best intuition on baseball card design go for a simpler vertical image on their Koufax and Clementes in this set (Shore, Beck, possibly Blake but I'm not sure about his Clemente)
B) Topps hasn't used a fully bisected image since they reduced their card size (you could count 1960 Topps, but the second image is much smaller)

Dual images are something else entirely! My baseball card golden rules allow for dual images.

On images that are too dark for a baseball card: I 100% agree that it's cool how he tied the black from the White Sox team colors, but this is going to be shown better in the art print with better production. I can't support baseball cards that are too dark (compare '89 UD vs Topps Traded Griffey)

[mwheeler27]

Originally Posted by Bleu Falcon

Anywho, I've had moments, especially when the cards weren't rolling in, of thinking I was crazy to spend as much money as I have on this set, but when I unbox these cards and get them in hand I feel very satisfied.

This ^^^^ can't be more true.

I've said it before how I SO enjoy shipping these cards to buyers. They look amazing in hand, and even more so in groups.

This set has staying power, and I don't think we've come close to its potential.

[Kek5270]

Originally Posted by Shinjoy

Is that a 1987 Buick Regal? [Caddy?] He's really going to be struggling to fill his 1980 to 1990 companion cards. I'd consider a 1989 Nissan 300ZX or 1990 Miata companion.

Monte Carlo Aero Coupe.
These are very nice in hand.
Hope I can afford to continue this set.

[RyanSwinger]

My idea:

Project 2020 REMIX. Each artist recreates 3 of their favorite players over again. Mixed in are remix autos and random foil inserts of the original 20.

[AirplaneDon]

Originally Posted by Shinjoy

On bisection: The horizontal Koufax and Clemente cards in this set look disproportionally small to me. This could be because my eyes have been trained from looking at 1955 Topps in its original dimensions for 30 years, but the extra square inch makes a difference when you're looking at something so small. There's a reason
A) The artists that have the best intuition on baseball card design go for a simpler vertical image on their Koufax and Clementes in this set (Shore, Beck, possibly Blake but I'm not sure about his Clemente)
B) Topps hasn't used a fully bisected image since they reduced their card size (you could count 1960 Topps, but the second image is much smaller)

Dual images are something else entirely! My baseball card golden rules allow for dual images.

On images that are too dark for a baseball card: I 100% agree that it's cool how he tied the black from the White Sox team colors, but this is going to be shown better in the art print with better production. I can't support baseball cards that are too dark (compare '89 UD vs Topps Traded Griffey)

On the vintage dimensions changing that’s fair, but it’s not like Topps doesn’t shell out dual player Topps Now cards, or that patch cards aren’t essentially dual image cards which are often bisected. I don’t understand what makes them different in your mind (I prefer images to not compete for attention, but for them to support each other). They are your golden rules, so I cant really argue what works for you. And we all break our own rules anyway (as I told Ugli in a conversation that I’m strongly considering picking up this Thiele as an AP as opposed to a print).

I just don’t see this as problematic as my eye always settle on the main player image here. I have more issues with the Siff Trout where my eyes always settle on the name/autograph box. So I view this card as well composed and effective, where as Siffs poorly composed. I just think the bisection helps tell a story in the card; the career and then the celebration of the career. My eyes end up on Frank batting and his name on the lower right every time, so it works for my odd rule for well composed P2020 cards.

Anyway, always good to disagree with people you often agree with; keeps the group think at bay.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by RyanSwinger

My idea:

Project 2020 REMIX. Each artist recreates 3 of their favorite players over again. Mixed in are remix autos and random foil inserts of the original 20.

and free for those that have bought from Topps!

[Bleu Falcon]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

This ^^^^ can't be more true.

I've said it before how I SO enjoy shipping these cards to buyers. They look amazing in hand, and even more so in groups.

This set has staying power, and I don't think we've come close to its potential.

Hey Matt, I also forgot to thank you for the package and your discount bundling--I'm sure you've saved collectors a ton of money. And it may be a coincidence but not one of the 32 cards I received was poorly centered.

[mwheeler27]

Originally Posted by Bleu Falcon

Hey Matt, I also forgot to thank you for the package and your discount bundling--I'm sure you've saved collectors a ton of money. And it may be a coincidence but not one of the 32 cards I received was poorly centered.

You're welcome. Thank YOU for your kind words.

Centering is more luck of the draw. I can't give everyone great centering on every card because they don't exist in my inventory, but I have noticed Topps is doing a much better job with these.

I hope people understand that I don't pay any attention to those that leave me notes stating "only well-centered cards please", etc. Some people send me that note with every order. Some demand perfect centering with every order for $15.95 or less.

[Bleu Falcon]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

You're welcome. Thank YOU for your kind words.

Centering is more luck of the draw. I can't give everyone great centering on every card because they don't exist in my inventory, but I have noticed Topps is doing a much better job with these.

I hope people understand that I don't pay any attention to those that leave me notes stating "only well-centered cards please", etc. Some people send me that note with every order. Some demand perfect centering with every order for $15.95 or less.

Seems like the only fair thing to do would be to pretty much randomize the distribution.

[1977 Cloth]

Originally Posted by Bleu Falcon

\
As the Project approaches its end, I've actually come to feel that player sets might actually end up being cooler than artist sets, or maybe collecting sets even just gets in the way of collecting your favorite cards.

I agree that the player sets are what I have found more enjoyable to piece together. What I realized further is that it isn't necessary to complete the player run. A 5 card or 10 card player set is excellent as well. I intend to work with ctcardexchange to create some of these smaller frames. His 20 card one is great by the way. However, most of my friends that are into sports are not into the card collecting like us nut jobs. Therefore a smaller sample of Fucci, Shore, Jamieson, Baller, and Naturel (substitute the artist you want) of their favorite player will be a fun way to display without having that large frame that I want.

This set is so simple to collect in the way that you want. If I were a Yankee fan I would choose 3 artists and do a 3X3 frame with each of the players. Siff's Yankees fit this format well.

As most of the folks on here have stated, collect how you want and stop being a complainer like me when the card doesn't go the way you want it to go.

[ThoseBackPages]

the long weekend, is here

[Bleu Falcon]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

the long weekend, is here

You make that sound like a bad thing.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by Bleu Falcon

You make that sound like a bad thing.

it is lol

[mwheeler27]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

the long weekend, is here

Not so fast...

JK5's next companion is now available!

https://jk5shop.com/

[UGLI baby]

I hope we get print runs before the weekend

[AlexHunter]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

Yes, of course. The card is physically different.

This has been stated in this thread numerous times. I understand people not wanting to understand it. I get it.

I was basically laughed/ridiculed off the thread for trying to talk about that in detail the past couple months.

The people who instantly #@#@#@#@ all over APs are the ones who have never bought and held one. They are completely different and beautiful and suck your eyes in for 10x the amount of time spent looking at a “normal” version of the card.

But it’s all good. They can all sit on their cases of cards 51-95 while I revel in my APs sitting right in front of my cards 1-10s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AirplaneDon]

Originally Posted by AlexHunter

I was basically laughed/ridiculed off the thread for trying to talk about that in detail the past couple months.

The people who instantly #@#@#@#@ all over APs are the ones who have never bought and held one. They are completely different and beautiful and suck your eyes in for 10x the amount of time spent looking at a “normal” version of the card.

But it’s all good. They can all sit on their cases of cards 51-95 while I revel in my APs sitting right in front of my cards 1-10s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry, they need to suck you in at least 15x more than a normal card for the thread to be okay with the pricing.

[Shinjoy]

Originally Posted by AirplaneDon

I just don’t see this as problematic as my eye always settle on the main player image here. I have more issues with the Siff Trout where my eyes always settle on the name/autograph box. So I view this card as well composed and effective, where as Siffs poorly composed. I just think the bisection helps tell a story in the card; the career and then the celebration of the career. My eyes end up on Frank batting and his name on the lower right every time, so it works for my odd rule for well composed P2020 cards.

This also explains why I don't like yesterday's Nolan Ryan card: to me, the grainy black and white image of Nolan Ryan is too large and dominates the flow of the card. Clean up that main image, replace the background tint with something that's less of a grape juice spill, and that's a decent card.

But, I totally agree on the Siff <breathes sigh of relief after finding a place of harmony>

[BigEd]

The prints have been widely (and deservedly, IMO) panned, but WOW. Did they resurrect this thread or what?

[mudflap02]

Originally Posted by BigEd

The prints have been widely (and deservedly, IMO) panned, but WOW. Did they resurrect this thread or what?

Wasn't so much the prints, it was the frames that really brought this back to life.

[Silas Barnaby]

Originally Posted by mudflap02

Wasn't so much the prints, it was the frames that really brought this back to life.

[Oliroller]

OMA 's website opens Monday. Special Griffey and Jeter autos and other "bundles". Just wanted TBP to have something to look forward to over the long weekend.