Topps Living Set

[Chihuahuas]

Originally Posted by Fsegaud

Not gonna lie either, I just like the simplicity of this set and the PR's aren't inflated by some people that are chasing something shiny with no regard for the base cards. That is refreshing.

Does it last this way forever? I have my fears.

I too like the purity and artistry without the chases, gimmicks, etc. Keeping to original concept of following old card set with original works of each makes this set unique and classy IMHO.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by TenaciousJDD

Not gonna lie, I'm a little bit jealous that NBA is getting chrome parallels.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

I suspect Topps has been stewing on changes to the MLB Living Set to increase interest for a while now. After all, the set is rapidly approaching its 10th year and card no.1000! The NBA Living Set, with its chase elements, may be Topps' (i.e. Fanatics) way of testing the waters for future changes to the rest of the Living Sets.

I know the MLB Living Set started with a list of cardinal rules for the set, namely no chase elements. But let's be honest, Topps has already broken nearly all of the core "rules" for the set. They've allowed non-players in the set, featured retired players more than once, had weeks where only 1 card was available, and added the black bio variations, which are, like it or not, a chase element.

While I personally wouldn't be a fan of chrome parallels making their advent in the set, I do think Topps should consider a few changes, like randomly inserting player signed Living Set cards (at least for the rookies and active players to whom Topps contractually has access), alternate background cards (similar to NBA Living Set; perhaps even limited to only the black variation cards), adding fictional players to the set (i.e. Roy Hobbs, Sidd Finch, etc.), and bringing back the 2-card bundle. Also, I think it would be fun to start a yearly Santa card each Christmas season (could alternate between artists).

Speaking of the player autos, I've introduced this idea to Topps before with regards to driving up sales of the fine art prints. I think Topps should offer a limited number of player signed fine art prints. I also think the fine art prints is a perfect platform to test out other chase elements. Player autos look the best on the fine art prints, in my opinion.

As I said, the MLB Living set is coming up on some big milestones and it's the perfect excuse for Topps to shake things up to grow interest in the set.

Do you guys have any other ideas for changes? (I don't want to hear about mascot cards )

[astrotrevor]

Not a fan of mascot / fictional cards. A mini card set would interest me. Think topps 206 but with the same aspect ratio of the current cards prints. You would get the full unobstructed art but in a smaller format compared to the fine art prints and cards.

The shorts prints could be artist designed backs (ie Seto , Kelley , Aviles , Faber) in the style of piedmont/old mill etc.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

Not a fan of mascot / fictional cards. A mini card set would interest me. Think topps 206 but with the same aspect ratio of the current cards prints. You would get the full unobstructed art but in a smaller format compared to the fine art prints and cards.

The shorts prints could be artist designed backs (ie Seto , Kelley , Aviles , Faber) in the style of piedmont/old mill etc.

Love the mini set idea. That would be very cool.

[fred85]

With the one week buying period, I would assume any autos would be redemptions. On card with a MLB hologram would obviously be better than a sticker auto.
Maybe they could use another year as the template for a 1 per month all star or highlight set, but those sound too much like Topps Now TBTC and Game Within the Game

[Chihuahuas]

Originally Posted by Chihuahuas

I didn’t do it

[jaredkelley]

FYI - I updated my artist-signed print run list. Thanks to all the collectors who purchased a Nick Kurtz and Joe Jackson print. The Kurtz print ties DiMaggio and Jace Jung for my no.1 artist-signed print this year, each with 18 copies sold! Joe Jackson is the next highest print run.

Much appreciated!

[Fsegaud]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

FYI - I updated my artist-signed print run list. Thanks to all the collectors who purchased a Nick Kurtz and Joe Jackson print. The Kurtz print ties DiMaggio and Jace Jung for my no.1 artist-signed print this year, each with 18 copies sold! Joe Jackson is the next highest print run.

Much appreciated!

Damn, sorry Jared...I totally missed out on securing a copy so it could be #1. My bad. I'll get on that Horton for sure!

Hi Gabe,

Did the Alcantara print get a artist-signed print?

[Asian62150]

I like the Living Set just being a straight forward set. No frills. If people want to get artists or athletes to sign cards, they can do that on their own at shows or through the mail (as I've done with the Star Wars Living set).

I enjoy collecting autos and parallels and all the rest. But it's nice to have just one set that stands alone on its own.

For the prints, go wild.

[CanadaShane]

I’m find with Topps doing whatever they think will pull more collectors to the set as long as they keep the 1953 design going as the base.

It only makes sense that they would do it and it goes to ensuring that the set runs for another 10 years. Go to town.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

FYI - I updated my artist-signed print run list. Thanks to all the collectors who purchased a Nick Kurtz and Joe Jackson print. The Kurtz print ties DiMaggio and Jace Jung for my no.1 artist-signed print this year, each with 18 copies sold! Joe Jackson is the next highest print run.

Much appreciated!

Dick Allen is listed with a print run of 4, but the print I received was numbered to 6.

[Joliet Jake]

Topps, if you're reading this, please add the print runs for the following checklists to the website.

CL-06 - Checklist Cards 501-600
CL-07 - Checklist Cards 601-700
CL-08 - Checklist Cards 701-800

Thank you.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

Dick Allen is listed with a print run of 4, but the print I received was numbered to 6.

I appreciate you catching that, Jake! The print run for Allen was indeed 6. I've corrected it.

The 5 players previous to Allen all had print run totals of 4. I got carried away in the data entry, I guess

[CanadaShane]

Here is the updated list of the missing ESPN Top 100 and their rankings. "Only 23%" to go:

1. Walter Johnson #9

2. Mike Schmidt #18

3. Cy Young #21

4. Sandy Koufax #32

5. Pete Rose #34

6. Joe Morgan #37

7. Jimmie Foxx #40

8. Nap Lajoie #48

9. Oscar Charleston #53

10. Reggie Jackson #55

11. Pete "Grover" Alexander #57

12. Steve Carlton #58

13. Whitey Ford #60

14. Mel Ott #62

15. Harmon Killebrew #70

16. Willie McCovey #73

17. Cap Anson #76

18. Hank Greenberg #79

19. Eddie Collins #82

20. Paul Molitor #84

21. Duke Snider #95

22. Charlie Gehringer #96

23. Phil Niekro #99

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by CanadaShane

Here is the updated list of the missing ESPN Top 100 and their rankings. "Only 23%" to go:

1. Walter Johnson #9

2. Mike Schmidt #18

3. Cy Young #21

4. Sandy Koufax #32

5. Pete Rose #34

6. Joe Morgan #37

7. Jimmie Foxx #40

8. Nap Lajoie #48

9. Oscar Charleston #53

10. Reggie Jackson #55

11. Pete "Grover" Alexander #57

12. Steve Carlton #58

13. Whitey Ford #60

14. Mel Ott #62

15. Harmon Killebrew #70

16. Willie McCovey #73

17. Cap Anson #76

18. Hank Greenberg #79

19. Eddie Collins #82

20. Paul Molitor #84

21. Duke Snider #95

22. Charlie Gehringer #96

23. Phil Niekro #99

I'm thinking we get one of these players for card #900. I'm hoping for Walter Johnson to close the book on the 1936 inaugural class.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by CanadaShane

Here is the updated list of the missing ESPN Top 100 and their rankings. "Only 23%" to go:

1. Walter Johnson #9

2. Mike Schmidt #18

3. Cy Young #21

4. Sandy Koufax #32

5. Pete Rose #34

6. Joe Morgan #37

7. Jimmie Foxx #40

8. Nap Lajoie #48

9. Oscar Charleston #53

10. Reggie Jackson #55

11. Pete "Grover" Alexander #57

12. Steve Carlton #58

13. Whitey Ford #60

14. Mel Ott #62

15. Harmon Killebrew #70

16. Willie McCovey #73

17. Cap Anson #76

18. Hank Greenberg #79

19. Eddie Collins #82

20. Paul Molitor #84

21. Duke Snider #95

22. Charlie Gehringer #96

23. Phil Niekro #99

My December lineup includes a player from that list. Just in time for Christmas. Thank you Topps!

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

My December lineup includes a player from that list. Just in time for Christmas. Thank you Topps!

The Hebrew Hammer for Hanukkah? December 17th is smack dab in the middle of the celebration this year.

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by CanadaShane

23. Phil Niekro #99

I hope they do the lowercase 'a' logo when they bring in Niekro. With my luck they'll probably make his first card a yankee

[Fsegaud]

So many players to be excited for in the future...truly appreciate this set.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

I hope they do the lowercase 'a' logo when they bring in Niekro. With my luck they'll probably make his first card a yankee

I nominate this picture as the reference photo.

[Joliet Jake]

Topps MLB® Living Set® Card #884 - Marcelo Mayer - PR: 1,728
Marcelo Mayer is the Boston Red Sox 40th franchise and team member, and 295th rookie featured.
Baseball Reference



Topps Living Set® Fine Art Print #884 - Marcelo Mayer



Topps MLB® Living Set® Card #885 - Michael McGreevy - PR: 1,278
Michael McGreevy is the St. Louis Cardinals 36th franchise and team member, and 296th rookie featured.
Baseball Reference



Topps Living Set® Fine Art Print #885 - Michael McGreevy

[jaredkelley]

BLACK FRIDAY SALE - 50% OFF!

Sale officially starts Nov.20-30, but if you're seeing this post late tonight (Nov.19th) it's already active. Everything in the shop, except pre-sale items, will ring up 50% OFF at checkout. If not, please let me know which item isn't and I'll fix it.

I put together a new batch of artist-signed cards too. Six 2022 artist-signed card sets: Mark McGwire, Tommy John, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Spencer Torkelson, and Oneil Cruz.

A word about the 2022 artist-signed cards:
===========================
As some of you know, when I first started offering artist-signed cards in 2021, it was on the heels of the crazy Project2020 bonanza. I based my artist signed card quantities on what I saw Project2020 artists offering at the time, which was /100. However, signing 100 cards with 5 different color foils was extremely labor intensive. Because I signed nearly all of my 2021 cards at the /100 card quantity, I began signing my 2022 cards at the same quantity. I only completed signing 5 cards from 2022 at that quantity level -- Roger Maris, Josh Gibson, Jeremy Pena, Edwin Diaz, and Julio Rodriguez.

Unfortunately, /100 artist-signed cards was far too much and I held off signing anymore 2021 - 22 cards until my schedule lightened up.....which still hasn't happened.

That's why my artist-signed cards for more recent years have only been /25 and now contain mostly ink signatures with only a few foil hits.

All that being said, I hate to change course on the 2022 artist-signed cards, but I've decided to reduce the edition to /25 for the rest of my 2022 checklist. I know some of you purchased some of the first batch of 2022 players I signed at the /100 edition level, with its color chase inserts. I apologize for not being able to continue doing that -- I just couldn't find the time to squeeze it all in.

Hopefully, the 50% off sale on the new 2022 artist-signed cards will lessen any disappointment.

I appreciate the continued support and hope everyone is preparing to have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

BLACK FRIDAY SALE - 50% OFF!

Sale officially starts Nov.20-30, but if you're seeing this post late tonight (Nov.19th) it's already active. Everything in the shop, except pre-sale items, will ring up 50% OFF at checkout. If not, please let me know which item isn't and I'll fix it.

I put together a new batch of artist-signed cards too. Six 2022 artist-signed card sets: Mark McGwire, Tommy John, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Spencer Torkelson, and Oneil Cruz.

A word about the 2022 artist-signed cards:
===========================
As some of you know, when I first started offering artist-signed cards in 2021, it was on the heels of the crazy Project2020 bonanza. I based my artist signed card quantities on what I saw Project2020 artists offering at the time, which was /100. However, signing 100 cards with 5 different color foils was extremely labor intensive. Because I signed nearly all of my 2021 cards at the /100 card quantity, I began signing my 2022 cards at the same quantity. I only completed signing 5 cards from 2022 at that quantity level -- Roger Maris, Josh Gibson, Jeremy Pena, Edwin Diaz, and Julio Rodriguez.

Unfortunately, /100 artist-signed cards was far too much and I held off signing anymore 2021 - 22 cards until my schedule lightened up.....which still hasn't happened.

That's why my artist-signed cards for more recent years have only been /25 and now contain mostly ink signatures with only a few foil hits.

All that being said, I hate to change course on the 2022 artist-signed cards, but I've decided to reduce the edition to /25 for the rest of my 2022 checklist. I know some of you purchased some of the first batch of 2022 players I signed at the /100 edition level, with its color chase inserts. I apologize for not being able to continue doing that -- I just couldn't find the time to squeeze it all in.

Hopefully, the 50% off sale on the new 2022 artist-signed cards will lessen any disappointment.

I appreciate the continued support and hope everyone is preparing to have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Sorry to hear you won't be able to finish out 2021 and 2022 as intended, but I'm always happy to get more artist signed cards.

I appreciate the transparency and the sale.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

Sorry to hear you won't be able to finish out 2021 and 2022 as intended, but I'm always happy to get more artist signed cards.

I appreciate the transparency and the sale.

This change only affects my 2022 cards. I still plan on finishing out the 2021 cards with /100 editions for each player, along with the color foil chase elements.

[Joliet Jake]

Print runs added for Burks and Horton.

Burks is the 4th lowest print run to date, and one of four cards with a print run under 1,100.