Topps Living Set

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by kidfan9

I would think if you send in a specific pen and request him to use it and even send a note requesting the specific location for the signature it should be doable.

Thanks for the tip.

I'll give that a try.

I've never mailed anything in for an absentee signing.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

Is there usually on option for signature color, or does the athlete sign everything with the same pen?

Good question - I've had a lot of success over the years using Staedtler Lumocolor Permanent pens and Stabilo OHP Universal pens. Both come in multiple colors and tip sizes, but I would think Blue Medium Point would be perfect for the Rick Monday prints. They are archival safe, meaning they won't bleed through the paper over the years like oil-based paint pens and Sharpies will. Keep in mind, as a color option, Reds fade much faster over the years than darker colors, like blue or black.

As a size reference, all my artist-signed prints are signed using a fine tip Staedtler black pen.

I found a couple links to medium point pens for both Staedtler and Stabilo on Amazon.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

Good question - I've had a lot of success over the years using Staedtler Lumocolor Permanent pens and Stabilo OHP Universal pens. Both come in multiple colors and tip sizes, but I would think Blue Medium Point would be perfect for the Rick Monday prints. They are archival safe, meaning they won't bleed through the paper over the years like oil-based paint pens and Sharpies will. Keep in mind, as a color option, Reds fade much faster over the years than darker colors, like blue or black.

As a size reference, all my artist-signed prints are signed using a fine tip Staedtler black pen.

I found a couple links to medium point pens for both Staedtler and Stabilo on Amazon.

I appreciate you taking the time to provide recommendations and links.

I'm going to see what I can find at my local art store, and then resort to Amazon as a backup if all else fails.

[Fsegaud]

Originally Posted by kidfan9

Heads up to the others that bought Jared’s Rick Monday American flag painting. If you go to theocdugout.com they will be hosting a public signing with Rick. You can mail in your print and get it signed by Rick for $35 plus shipping. Orders are due by 8/28!

Great find, thanks for sharing. I bought two artist signed prints (no flag) with the intent of getting one signed at Dodger Stadium but this might be the way to go for many reasons. Keeping my "flag version" clean...thought about getting two of those but self control won for once at time of purchase...perhaps I regret that.

I'd love a Fernando Valenzuela print with a Mexican flag behind it...Jared would have a good time with the eagle/snake symbol.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by Fsegaud

I'd love a Fernando Valenzuela print with a Mexican flag behind it...Jared would have a good time with the eagle/snake symbol.

I love the Mexican flag embellishment idea! I was raised an Auburn Tigers fan, so I'm always down for painting an eagle

[jaredkelley]

Meant to post this update on Thursday, but life's been crazy this week. Thank you to everyone who picked up a Senga print and congrats to the giveaway winner!

[Fsegaud]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

I love the Mexican flag embellishment idea! I was raised an Auburn Tigers fan, so I'm always down for painting an eagle

LOL, just don't put an elephant in the eagles claws!

[eldavojohn]

Oh man love today's Bill Mazeroski! Amazing work again for both artists -- well done Jared!

[Joliet Jake]

Topps MLB® Living Set® Card #649 - Spencer Steer - PR: 2135
Spencer Steer is the Cincinnati Reds 21st franchise and team member, and 201st rookie featured.


Topps MLB® Living Set® Card #650 - Bill Mazeroski - PR: 1878
Bill Mazeroski is the Pittsburgh Pirates 19th franchise and team member, and 76th Hall of Fame member featured.

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

Immortalized the card artists with "Seto-Cola" and Kelley & Aviles in the boards and also the players nickname Maz and even squeezed Living Set in there. Nice

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Oh man love today's Bill Mazeroski! Amazing work again for both artists -- well done Jared!

Maz is another HOF inductee that the autograph collectors have requested. It's great to see Topps "seizing the day" and adding these fan favorites and HOF legends to the set this year. 2023 has been very fun indeed, at least from an artist's perspective.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

Maz is another HOF inductee that the autograph collectors have requested. It's great to see Topps "seizing the day" and adding these fan favorites and HOF legends to the set this year. 2023 has been very fun indeed, at least from an artist's perspective.

Did you get any pushback from Topps with all of the Easter egg ads in the background?

[Joliet Jake]

Jared - can you ask Topps about the missing print runs for 637 Riley Greene and 638 Rick Monday?

[Joliet Jake]

There's an error on the Mazeroski card, too.

Born: July 7, 1956 is his debut.

He was born September 5, 1936.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

Did you get any pushback from Topps with all of the Easter egg ads in the background?

Topps is very supportive of the Easter eggs, as long as I give them advanced notice. I think Mazeroski is the 13th or 14th card out of the 147 portraits I've created with something in it that could be considered an Easter egg. While Topps strongly supports moderation with my Easter eggs I would personally love to see one in every card, but I may be in the minority among the TLS community in that regard.

A cool compromise would be if every player's Black Bio Text card shared the same Easter egg or subtle portrait variation (e.g. three trees in the background versus two trees in the non-SP card). It would at least be a visual marker on the front of the card that it's a SP variation on the back.

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

Jared - can you ask Topps about the missing print runs for 637 Riley Greene and 638 Rick Monday?

I think there were some recent personnel changes at Topps that caused the print runs in the archive to be disrupted. Here are those print runs:

Rick Monday - 1612
Riley Greene - 2553

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

There's an error on the Mazeroski card, too.

Born: July 7, 1956 is his debut.

He was born September 5, 1936.

Thanks for catching that error. I've let Topps know.

[Comiskey2001]

Great work on the Maz, Jared. What is the significance of the P logo on his hat? It almost looks like a patch. Is there is a source photo that shows the hat like that?

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by Comiskey2001

Great work on the Maz, Jared. What is the significance of the P logo on his hat? It almost looks like a patch. Is there is a source photo that shows the hat like that?

I was digging into this the other night and I couldn't find anything. I would also like to know when they wore such a hat.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

Topps is very supportive of the Easter eggs, as long as I give them advanced notice. I think Mazeroski is the 13th or 14th card out of the 147 portraits I've created with something in it that could be considered an Easter egg. While Topps strongly supports moderation with my Easter eggs I would personally love to see one in every card, but I may be in the minority among the TLS community in that regard.

A cool compromise would be to include an Easter egg or very subtle portrait variation in every Black Bio Text short print.

I like the Easter eggs, provided they are unobtrusive and don't stand out to the uninitiated.

The chase aspect of the black bio text with a subtle portrait variation sounds fun, but for me, the main draw to this set is the collectability of it for all levels of collectors. I typically like the numerous parallels in Topps other offerings, especially when chasing player collections. However, I don't think that would translate to the Living Set. I personally gave up on chasing the black bio text after three orders from Topps earlier this year because of the lack of QA. I've gone back to ordering from trusted eBay resellers that will deal with Topps on the buyer's behalf, and all for a cheaper price.

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

I think there were some recent personnel changes at Topps that caused the print runs in the archive to be disrupted. Here are those print runs:

Rick Monday - 1612
Riley Greene - 2553

Thanks for the print runs. My spreadsheet was lacking.

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

Thanks for catching that error. I've let Topps know.

Glad to help.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by Comiskey2001

Great work on the Maz, Jared. What is the significance of the P logo on his hat? It almost looks like a patch. Is there is a source photo that shows the hat like that?

Nothing significant about the P patch on the hat. It was in the reference image I received from Topps.



The palm trees behind a player wearing Pittsburgh garb was throwing me off so I decided to add a '53 Topps-esque background instead. The inspiration for the Mazeroski background came from another Pirate's card, Carlos Bernier (card no.243)

Interestingly, looks like UpperDeck used the palm tree photo for a Mazeroski card in 2005

[Joliet Jake]

This appears to be the reference photo.


I assume these were both taken during Spring Training in Florida.

[Chihuahuas]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Immortalized the card artists with "Seto-Cola" and Kelley & Aviles in the boards and also the players nickname Maz and even squeezed Living Set in there. Nice

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

Nothing significant about the P patch on the hat. It was in the reference image I received from Topps.



The palm trees behind a player wearing Pittsburgh garb was throwing me off so I decided to add a '53 Topps-esque background instead. The inspiration for the Mazeroski background came from another Pirate's card, Carlos Bernier (card no.243)

Interestingly, looks like UpperDeck used the palm tree photo for a Mazeroski card in 2005

Looking at the palm trees in the background, and seeing that Upper Deck used the same reference photo without edits in 2005, makes me appreciate the custom backgrounds and nods to the set, player, and/or collectors even more.

Truly making the Living Set card a one-of-a-kind entry is far more enjoyable than seeing the reference photo recreated, only to come across the exact same image in another product.

[astroshane]

Topps has been doing an amazing job with the historic player selections this year. We still need the remainder of that original Hall of Fame Induction class. I kind of like the palm trees in the original reference photo as spring training is a special event.

Love the artwork but I can't help but repeat I'm not a fan of those Easter eggs when they come in the form or hokey obtrusive billboards in the background. It really distracts and pulls from what is otherwise amazing artwork. Please no more overly large and obviously out of place hokey insider billboards. Let this amazing art remain classy and stand on its own. Your work is amazing and speaks for itself. Adding the flag to Rick Monday was class and added the personal touch and perspective of the artist. Those are the things I personally prefer.

If you are looking for cheeky ideas, how about a Bobby Bonilla card on Bobby Bonilla Day? Canadian baseball fans not only celebrate Canada day on July 1st but we also turn our minds to and celebrate the anniversary of the greatest contract in sports history.

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ml...his%20contract.

[Fsegaud]

Originally Posted by astroshane

Topps has been doing an amazing job with the historic player selections this year. We still need the remainder of that original Hall of Fame Induction class. I kind of like the palm trees in the original reference photo as spring training is a special event.

Love the artwork but I can't help but repeat I'm not a fan of those Easter eggs when they come in the form or hokey obtrusive billboards in the background. It really distracts and pulls from what is otherwise amazing artwork. Please no more overly large and obviously out of place hokey insider billboards. Let this amazing art remain classy and stand on its own. Your work is amazing and speaks for itself. Adding the flag to Rick Monday was class and added the personal touch and perspective of the artist. Those are the things I personally prefer.

If you are looking for cheeky ideas, how about a Bobby Bonilla card on Bobby Bonilla Day? Canadian baseball fans not only celebrate Canada day on July 1st but we also turn our minds to and celebrate the anniversary of the greatest contract in sports history.

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ml...his%20contract.

It's all opinions and thats cool...it's not like the billboard is the size of the Green Monster with one ad...hardly obtrusive IMO.

Next Bobby Bonilla Day on a Wednesday is 2026.

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by astroshane

Love the artwork but I can't help but repeat I'm not a fan of those Easter eggs when they come in the form or hokey obtrusive billboards in the background. It really distracts and pulls from what is otherwise amazing artwork. Please no more overly large and obviously out of place hokey insider billboards. Let this amazing art remain classy and stand on its own. Your work is amazing and speaks for itself. Adding the flag to Rick Monday was class and added the personal touch and perspective of the artist. Those are the things I personally prefer.

Totally disagree on all counts. I'm confused as to how billboards distract from the player but a flag that makes this card appear to not belong in the 1953 set does not. I'm not a fan of managers on the cards, I'm not a fan of special entire frame artwork celebrating a player's pride of nationality or actions -- because they just weren't in the 1953 set. What was in the set? Billboard ads and legible words:

etc

Heck, even the iconic mantle has ads:


Yeah it's totally a matter of opinion and I know that Rick Monday correctly stopped a flag from being burned in the middle of a baseball game. But it would have totally stuck out in the set.