Topps Living Set

[astrotrevor]

The Living Set is chronicling mlb history and I love that I can see players such as Cole , Correa etc as they change teams throughout their careers. I feel it’s a huge missed opportunity not to apply the same for retired legends.

Jared’s work has blended beautifully with Seto’s. Perhaps reverting back to 3 cards a week (with the help of an additional artist) would get us more of the players/cards we would like to see.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

The Living Set is chronicling mlb history and I love that I can see players such as Cole , Correa etc as they change teams throughout their careers. I feel it’s a huge missed opportunity not to apply the same for retired legends.

Jared’s work has blended beautifully with Seto’s. Perhaps reverting back to 3 cards a week (with the help of an additional artist) would get us more of the players/cards we would like to see.

I agree.

If I had my druthers, I would like to see every player featured with every team they every played for, no matter how unrealistic that is. Haha.

I would love to see a third artist added, provided their artwork is in the same vein as Seto and Kelley.

Jared, has there been any discussion with Topps about adding a third artist and going back to three cards per week?

[astrotrevor]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

I agree.

If I had my druthers, I would like to see every player featured with every team they every played for

Can you imagine! So many ways to collect this set. Full set , team sets, HOFers, rookies. Individual Legend sets would be the icing on the cake.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

Can you imagine! So many ways to collect this set. Full set , team sets, HOFers, rookies. Individual Legend sets would be the icing on the cake.

Couldn't have said it better!

Living Set has easily been my favorite set ever.

[BoofBonser26]

Add me to the list of folks who wish retired players could get more than one card. I think of even someone modern, like Sabathia - he holds a special place in Cleveland history, but ended up a Yankee. Now, if you're only doing one card, as much as it pains me, that's the right call. But you're leaving a big part of his career on the table. And hell, if they ever issue a Milwaukee card as #10,000 or something, I bet we'd all buy it.

[Fsegaud]

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

Agree. The one rule I wish they would change. It would be different if current everyday players were only eligible for 1 card as well, but it makes no sense to have multiple Marte , Garcia etc and only 1 card of legends.

I've probably mentioned it before many pages ago....Nolan Ryan as a youthful Met, maturing Angel and Astro, old bad ass Ranger. Same for Rickey Henderson and others. They don't necessarily have to be issued back to back so soon either...put a few years in between is fine. Anyway, I'm dreaming.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

Jared, has there been any discussion with Topps about adding a third artist and going back to three cards per week?

I've never had that conversation with Topps but I really like that idea. I am 100% in favor of Topps changing the rules to the Living Set and allowing for retired players to be featured once for each team they played for. When I came aboard in 2021, I was really bummed to see the amount of great retired players that Seto had already portrayed, since that meant I'd never get the opportunity to paint those athletes.

I love the idea of adding a 3rd artist too! It would give more options to collectors each week and help the set grow, I think.

[ewokpelts]

I’m a Fisk fan, ON THE WHITE SOX. so you can imagine my joy when his living set card came out in a Boston uniform.

The one card per retired player rule is dumb.

[astrotrevor]

Let’s go Topps. Make it happen! Jared is on board. Imagine an Angles team collection without Nolan Ryan and Vlad. A mariners team collection without the Big unit. The list goes on…

[Silas Barnaby]

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

Perhaps reverting back to 3 cards a week (with the help of an additional artist) would get us more of the players/cards we would like to see.

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

I would love to see a third artist added

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

I love the idea of adding a 3rd artist too! It would give more options to collectors each week and help the set grow, I think.

I suggest Fucci.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by Silas Barnaby

I suggest Fucci.

I do love that card. It might be my favorite card from all of Project70.

[astroshane]

While I'm all for Retired stars on different teams ; I suggest we focus on the number of top retired stars still without a card. We are a long way from even being close to a fair representation.

Topps desperately needs to get on this. I beg of them to spare us anymore C and B grade modern players, especially those repeated in different uniforms.

Almost 50 of the top 100 all time greats according to the latest ESPN rankings still do not have a card !!! Let's get this going. Please no more filler.

I should also point out that Topps somehow decided Robbie Ray who won a Cy Young last year wasn't deserving of a card but yet we keep getting cards of players who are not even average . Please no more pain !! I love this set but focus on the quality players.

1.Lou Gehrig
2.Barry Bonds
3.Walter Johnson
4.Pedro Martinez
5.Joe Dimaggio
6.Roger Clemens
7.Mike Schmidt
8.Frank Robinson
9.Rogers Hornsby
10.Cy Young
11.Tom Seaver
12.Christy Matthewson
13.Alex Rodriguez
14.Sandy Koufax
15.Pete Rose ( NOT A CHANCE BUT CAN DREAM)
16.Tris Speaker
17.Joe Morgan
18.Jimmie Foxx
19.Satchel Paige
20.Wade Boggs
21.Warren Spahn
22.Nap Lajoie
23.Oscar Charleston
24.Lefty Grove
25.Reggie Jackson
26.Pete Alexander
27.Steve Carlton
28.Whitey Ford
29.Mel Ott
30. David Ortiz
31. ..............................Manny Rameriz removed so I'll personally add Juan Gonzalez
32.Harmon Killebrew
33.Al Kaline
34.Willie McCovey
35.Juan Marichal
36.Cap Anson
37. Hank Greenberg
38.Eddie Collins
40.Roy Campanella
41.Paul Molitor
42. .......... Jim Palmer removed so I'll add Tom Glavine
43.Shoeless Joe Jackson ( Another not a chance sadly)
44.John Smoltz
45.Duke Snider
46.Charlie Gehringer
47.Phil Niekro
48. Barry Larkin

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by astroshane

While I'm all for Retired stars on different teams ; I suggest we focus on the number of top retired stars still without a card. We are a long way from even being close to a fair representation.

Topps desperately needs to get on this. I beg of them to spare us anymore C and B grade modern players, especially those repeated in different uniforms.

Almost 50 of the top 100 all time greats according to the latest ESPN rankings still do not have a card !!! Let's get this going. Please no more filler.

I should also point out that Topps somehow decided Robbie Ray who won a Cy Young last year wasn't deserving of a card but yet we keep getting cards of players who are not even average . Please no more pain !! I love this set but focus on the quality players.

1.Lou Gehrig
2.Barry Bonds
3.Walter Johnson
4.Pedro Martinez
5.Joe Dimaggio
6.Roger Clemens
7.Mike Schmidt
8.Frank Robinson
9.Rogers Hornsby
10.Cy Young
11.Tom Seaver
12.Christy Matthewson
13.Alex Rodriguez
14.Sandy Koufax
15.Pete Rose ( NOT A CHANCE BUT CAN DREAM)
16.Tris Speaker
17.Joe Morgan
18.Jimmie Foxx
19.Satchel Paige
20.Wade Boggs
21.Warren Spahn
22.Nap Lajoie
23.Oscar Charleston
24.Lefty Grove
25.Reggie Jackson
26.Pete Alexander
27.Steve Carlton
28.Whitey Ford
29.Mel Ott
30. David Ortiz
31. ..............................Manny Rameriz removed so I'll personally add Juan Gonzalez
32.Harmon Killebrew
33.Al Kaline
34.Willie McCovey
35.Juan Marichal
36.Cap Anson
37. Hank Greenberg
38.Eddie Collins
40.Roy Campanella
41.Paul Molitor
42. .......... Jim Palmer removed so I'll add Tom Glavine
43.Shoeless Joe Jackson ( Another not a chance sadly)
44.John Smoltz
45.Duke Snider
46.Charlie Gehringer
47.Phil Niekro
48. Barry Larkin

I think ending each season by releasing cards for award winners would be a good approach. It would allow Topps to strike while the iron is hot for players like Robbie Ray that might not have a hobby following otherwise. Even if they stuck with the MVP and CYA winners, that would only be two weeks of cards, and that's assuming the winners don't already have cards. Another great time to release a duplicate of a player if they won the award with a different team, too.

As for the list provided, I've been keeping track of the same ESPN: Top 100 MLB Players of All Time list, adding team, card no., and PR. There's a handful of players not in LS that have recently been featured in other Topps products. I understand not wanting to do them all at once, but one a month would be nice. They also have a laundry list of HOF players and managers that haven't been featured.

[jdandns]

Originally Posted by Fsegaud

I've probably mentioned it before many pages ago....Nolan Ryan as a youthful Met, maturing Angel and Astro, old bad ass Ranger. Same for Rickey Henderson and others. They don't necessarily have to be issued back to back so soon either...put a few years in between is fine. Anyway, I'm dreaming.

Photo refs for Ryan as a Ranger...

[Silas Barnaby]

I am happy we got Rizzo as a Yankee even though he had a Cub card.

[byronscott4ever]

Anyone without a card but with a retired number should be a priority…and I’d suggest anyone with their number retired by multiple teams can have multiple Living cards. I’d also like to see managers included in some way.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jdandns

Photo refs for Ryan as a Ranger...

That would've been funny.

This is the actual card we got.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by Silas Barnaby

I am happy we got Rizzo as a Yankee even though he had a Cub card.

I'm happy I got Rizzo with the Cubs early in the set. As one of my favorite players, it's great to see him featured again.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

Anyone without a card but with a retired number should be a priority…and I’d suggest anyone with their number retired by multiple teams can have multiple Living cards. I’d also like to see managers included in some way.

I like all of these ideas.

For example, the first two managers elected to the HOF were John McGraw and Connie Mack in 1937. Obviously both managers also played earlier in their careers, and eventually served as player managers later on. I would love to see Mack featured in his suit and hat.

[Fsegaud]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

I've never had that conversation with Topps but I really like that idea. I am 100% in favor of Topps changing the rules to the Living Set and allowing for retired players to be featured once for each team they played for. When I came aboard in 2021, I was really bummed to see the amount of great retired players that Seto had already portrayed, since that meant I'd never get the opportunity to paint those athletes.

I love the idea of adding a 3rd artist too! It would give more options to collectors each week and help the set grow, I think.

I think a fair rule would be for multiple cards allowed for retired players using different teams but they must all be done by different artists (and a certain amount of years between releases).

It's fun making rules.

[Fsegaud]

Great list Astroshane but I'm guessing Topps doesn't have rights to some portion of these former players. But yes, we are talking a lot about issuing 2nd cards for retired players when there are a lot of guys out there to be done.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by Fsegaud

I think a fair rule would be for multiple cards allowed for retired players using different teams but they must all be done by different artists (and a certain amount of years between releases).

It's fun making rules.

I would've liked to see Jared's take on Rizzo, but I can also understand why Seto would want an opportunity to improve on her initial portrait. While a Cubs fan, I think Seto captured Rizzo's personality better in her Yankees piece. Granted, some of that comes down to the reference photo, which was also an improvement. For a guy that's constantly smiling and goofing around, using a reference photo where he's not smiling was a missed opportunity the first time. Another reason it's nice to get a second card, even if I am admittedly biased.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by Fsegaud

Great list Astroshane but I'm guessing Topps doesn't have rights to some portion of these former players. But yes, we are talking a lot about issuing 2nd cards for retired players when there are a lot of guys out there to be done.

This is the complete list, including players released and print runs.

ESPN: Top 100 MLB Players of All Time
2/1/2022
1. Babe Ruth - New York Yankees #100 /14976
2. Willie Mays - New York Giants #300 /4787
3. Hank Aaron - Milwaukee Braves #46 /11233
4. Ty Cobb - Detroit Tigers #255 /3691
5. Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox #55 /10927
6. Lou Gehrig
7. Mickey Mantle - New York Yankees #407 /14028
8. Barry Bonds
9. Walter Johnson
10. Stan Musial - St. Louis Cardinals #154 /4575
11. Pedro Martinez
12. Honus Wagner - Pittsburgh Pirates #244 /3707
13. Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners #193 /8369
14. Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves #341 /2851
15. Mike Trout - Angels #200 /22017
16. Joe DiMaggio
17. Roger Clemens
18. Mike Schmidt
19. Frank Robinson
20. Rogers Hornsby
21. Cy Young
22. Tom Seaver
23. Rickey Henderson - Oakland Athletics #28 /6851
24. Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks #160 /3318
25. Christy Mathewson
26. Alex Rodriguez
27. Roberto Clemente - Pittsburgh Pirates #76 /10922
28. Derek Jeter - New York Yankees #10 /10692
29. Johnny Bench - Cincinnati Reds #373 /3164
30. Albert Pujols - Angels #22 /9403, Los Angeles Dodgers #462 /2242
31. Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees #136 /8945
32. Sandy Koufax
33. Bob Gibson - St. Louis Cardinals #354 /3428
34. Pete Rose
35. Josh Gibson - Homestead Grays #500 /4095
36. Tris Speaker
37. Joe Morgan
38. Jackie Robinson - Brooklyn Dodgers #42 /13147
39. Yogi Berra - New York Yankees #400 /4440
40. Jimmie Foxx
41. Satchel Paige
42. Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers #118 /6745
43. George Brett - Kansas City Royals #287 /3385
44. Tony Gwynn - San Diego Padres #214 /3783
45. Wade Boggs
46. Ichiro Suzuki - Seattle Mariners #25 /10713
47. Warren Spahn
48. Nap Lajoie
49. Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox #133 /4163
50. Bob Feller - Cleveland Indians #381 /2357
51. Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs #217 /5406
52. Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers #95 /5872
53. Oscar Charleston
54. Lefty Grove
55. Reggie Jackson
56. Dave Winfield - San Diego Padres #477 /2094
57. Pete Alexander
58. Steve Carlton
59. Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers #446 /2989
60. Whitey Ford
61. Carl Yastrzemski - Boston Red Sox #271 /3129
62. Mel Ott
63. David Ortiz
64. Eddie Mathews - Atlanta Braves #379 /2226
65. Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals #52 /6277, Los Angeles Dodgers #450 /2512
66. Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles #106 /6423
67. Brooks Robinson - Baltimore Orioles #483 /2384
68. Manny Ramirez - Boston Red Sox #475 /2014
69. Ozzie Smith - St. Louis Cardinals #471 /2450
70. Harmon Killebrew
71. Al Kaline - Detroit Tigers #184 /4278
72. Justin Verlander - Houston Astros #145 /3855
73. Willie McCovey
74. Juan Marichal
75. Rod Carew - Minnesota Twins #202 /3295
76. Cap Anson
77. Vladimir Guerrero - Montréal Expos #223 /2992
78. Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves #497 /3428
79. Hank Greenberg
80. Robin Yount - Milwaukee Brewers #469 /2336
81. Mike Piazza - New York Mets #235 /2984
82. Eddie Collins
83. Roy Campanella
84. Paul Molitor
85. Jim Palmer - Baltimore Orioles #175 /3252
86. Roberto Alomar - Toronto Blue Jays #395 /2286
87. Carlton Fisk - Boston Red Sox #533 /*
88. Willie Stargell - Pittsburgh Pirates #410 /2700
89. Shoeless Joe Jackson
90. Ivan Rodriguez - Texas Rangers #148 /3177
91. Ryne Sandberg - Chicago Cubs #64 /7212
92. Roy Halladay - Toronto Blue Jays #267 /2504
93. John Smoltz
94. Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals #13 /9515, Philadelphia Phillies #163 /8233
95. Duke Snider
96. Charlie Gehringer
97. Adrian Beltre - Texas Rangers #90 /4585
98. Jim Thome - Cleveland Indians #124 /3753
99. Phil Niekro
100. Barry Larkin

[astroshane]

Love the running list. Hopefully Topps is reading and looking at that list . We know Jared is so there is hope !!

[kidfan9]

Another Mantle print is on EBay...#50/100