So I’ve finally been able to track down some 2010 Topps. I had been trying to get it from Target, just because one of the cooler things I’ve seen from this release so far has been the Red Back inserts, which are exclusive to Target. For whatever reason, the local Target has not gotten 2010 Topps yet, but the local Toys R Us had, so I grabbed me a blaster.

For anyone who doesn’t know, the blaster box will net you 10 packs of 8 cards plus one commemorative catch card. I know a lot of folks thought the commemorative patches were a bit of a waste. I’m torn. Part of my wouldn’t mind forgoing the patch for 2 extra packs or something like that. Another part of me kind of likes the patches. I think as far as manufactured patches go, it’s a pretty cool set.

Before I get into the contents of the box however, let me just explain a bit of my expectations going into it. I’ve never come close to collecting a Topps base set, nor have I really been trying to do so. In the past, I’ve always just tried to nail down the Mets team set and maybe get some cool inserts. If a relic or auto happened my way, I’d be psyched about that as well, but since I don’t buy nearly enough product, and most of what I do buy is retail rather than hobby, I don’t hold my breath.

This years release is really no exception. I just want to nail down the Mets players and some of the cooler inserts, namely the Turkey Reds and the Red/Blue Backs. Obviously, since this blaster didn’t come from Target (or Walmart for that matter), the Red/Blue Backs are out the window.

Oddly enough, I’m also very intrigued by the whole Million Card Giveaway thing. I know the odds of getting anything other than late 80’s/early 90’s junk is about the same as pulling a Babe Ruth autographed game used cut signature DNA relic with a cherry on top out of my ear, but I’m intrigued by it none-the-less.

So let’s see what some of the cooler stuff was.

This is a sampling of the base cards I pulled. Three Mets out of 10 packs. Meh. The Franchise History cards are really interesting, with all sorts of interesting facts and figures about said franchise. The photography is pretty impressive, as far as what I’ve seen of it so far. Those Venable and Kemp have particularly cool action shots. Chris Coghlans card has the good old All-Star Rookie trophy, which I must say I’m a little disappointed with. I mean, it’s not even a gold cup anymore. Now it’s silver. What’s up with that? That trophy has just gone down hill from when they first introduced it in 1960. I included that Rangers card partly because it’s a team card, which I like, but mostly because those guys just look silly.

Lastly, there’s one of them Tales of the Game cards. I think that’s a really interesting concept, I’m just not sold on the execution based on the 2 that I pulled out of this box (the other one I got was Josh Hamilton breaking the Home Run Derby record).

I knew coming into this that I really had no use for those When They Were Young cards. Do I really need to see baby pictures of professional ball players? At least when they did it in 1972, they had Jim Fregosi playing the accordion. The peak performance cards, I can’t decide on. The design seems a little goofy to me, but I don’t mind these 2 cards. I suspect that’s because they’re Honus Wagner and Walter Johnson, though. If they had been Mark Teixeira and Curt Shilling, I probably would not have even wasted a scan on them. The Legendary Lineage cards were a very pleasant surprise for me. I had heard that it was supposed to be one of the insert sets, but I hadn’t seen it before this. Like a lot of folks, I think the Spahn/Hanson one makes more sense being that they both play(ed) for the Braves, but the other 2 are pretty nice as well. I don’t feel like I need to say much about the Turkey Reds, other than I like the addition of all the fancy do-dads on the frame.

I got to say, not a big fan of the Cards Your Mother Threw Out inserts. I think it’s a dumb name and I’m just not a big fan of reprint cards. I guess the Gibson is sort of cool, just because the ’59 design was so cool, but outside of that, no thanks. I was happy to see I got at least one Million card giveaway. I know it doesn’t work like this, but that’d be pretty awesome if I did get a ’63 Roger Maris out of the deal. I like the History of the Game cards. I’m a huge student of baseball history, and I think the cards look really well put together. I would’ve been so much more psyched about the Tales of the Game inserts if they were as nice as these. Actually, I don’t see why the two even need to be two separate inserts. They’re the same think really. Finally, there’s the manu-patch I got. Like I said, I like these. I know they’re not real or anything, but the ones I got from last years set and this one have all looked really cool, and I’ve lucked out with some pretty good players.

All in all, not bad for a blaster. Here’s a full break down of what I got.

Base Cards – 51
ToppsTown – 9
ToppsTown Gold -1
When They Were Young – 1
Peak Performance – 2
Legendary Lineage – 3
Turkey Red – 3
Tales of the Game – 2
History of the Game – 2
Cards Your Mother Threw Out – 4
Cards Your Mother Threw Out Original Backs – 1
Stupid Topps Attax Code Card -1
Million Card Giveaway – 1
Commemorative Patch – 1

Overall, I think I’m liking 2010 Topps. Initially, I was a little turned off by the base design. There’s something about that curving thing on the left that I just don’t get. There’s a few other little details that throw me as well, such as some teams just having the team name while others have the city and the name. I find the players name a bit difficult to read at times. The photography is excellent again though. There’s a few duds in the inserts department as far as I’m concerned, but on the whole, the y’re mostly really cool. Not my favorite Topps base set by far, but also not the worst.

Now if I could just get a pack or two from Target and get some damn Red Backs.

Tags: 2010 Topps, Alex Rodriguez, blaster break, Bob Gibson, Carlos Delgado, Chris Coghlan, Daniel Murphy, Frank Robinson, Frank Thomas, Hanley Ramirez, Honus Wagner, Jackie Robinson, Matt Kemp, Nolan Ryan, Roger Maris, Russell Martin, Ryan Howard, Tim Lincecum, Tommy Hanson, Vistor Martinez, Walter Johnson, Warren Spahn, Will Venable, Zack Greinke
Filed Under: Box Break by slangon
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