Checking Out The Checklist

Topps's latest base set comes out this week, and the list of player has recently been released. Of course, I had to check out what Red Sox would be showing up in my packs.

From The Cardboard Connection:

Boston's Boys - Boston Red Sox
David Price - Boston Red Sox
David Price - Boston Red Sox WSH
Eduardo Nunez - Boston Red Sox WSH
Fenway Park - Boston Red Sox
J.D. Martinez - Boston Red Sox LL
J.D. Martinez - Boston Red Sox WSH
J.D. Martinez - Boston Red Sox
Jackie Bradley Jr. - Boston Red Sox
Mitch Moreland - Boston Red Sox
Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox
Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox LL
Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
Rick Porcello - Boston Red Sox
Steve Pearce - Boston Red Sox WSH
Xander Bogaerts - Boston Red Sox

Not a bad lot of cards at all. I'm excited by the World Series Highlights obviously.

I also like to look at the list and see who will already be wearing an outdated uniform. From what I can gather, here's a list of all the Series 1 players who have been traded or became free agents this off season:

Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles
Adam Ottavino - Colorado Rockies
Andrew Miller - Cleveland Indians
Avisail Garcia - Chicago White Sox
Billy Hamilton - Cincinnati Reds
Blake Parker - Los Angeles Angels
Brad Boxberger - Arizona Diamondbacks
Brian McCann - Houston Astros
Charlie Morton - Houston Astros
Christian Villanueva - San Diego Padres
Cody Allen - Cleveland Indians
Derek Dietrich - Miami Marlins
Edwin Diaz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Encarnacion - Cleveland Indians
Ervin Santana - Minnesota Twins
James McCann - Detroit Tigers
James Paxton - Seattle Mariners
Jean Segura - Seattle Mariners
Jonathan Schoop - Milwaukee Brewers
Josh Donaldson - Cleveland Indians
Josh Harrison - Pittsburgh Pirates
Justus Sheffield - New York Yankees RC
Logan Morrison - Minnesota Twins
Matt Davidson - Chicago White Sox
Michael Brantley - Cleveland Indians
Mike Zunino - Seattle Mariners
Nick Markakis - Atlanta Braves
Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
Russell Martin - Toronto Blue Jays
Tanner Roark - Washington Nationals
Tim Beckham - Baltimore Orioles
Yan Gomes - Cleveland Indians
Yasiel Puig - Los Angeles Dodgers
Yonder Alonso - Cleveland Indians

35 players! Initially, seeing 10% of a set showing outdated uniforms would seem like poor planning on Topps part, but I'm willing to give them a pass here. A lot of these guys were traded. Among the free agents, Topps wisely avoided the bigger name free agents like Harper and Machado. Also, I usually have no problem with guys that were traded mid season last year getting at least one base card with their last team, even it they only played with them a few months. Those Indians collectors deserve their Josh Donaldson card! Still, that leaves roughly half of these guys who Topps should have waited until Series 2 to include. Not horrible, but could be better.

As far as the set and inserts go, I'll add a few random thoughts:

• I like the design for this year, it's almost got that retro 80's feel to it.
• 10 parallels is way too many.
• Yay! No more Salute inserts!
• The 150 Years Of Professional Baseball tribute set looks pretty sharp!

 

• That being said, I find Don Mattingly and Mark McGwire odd choices for one of the 50 greatest players. Everyone else is either in the Hall of Fame or a good bet to make it. You couldn't get 2 more legendary guys to round out the set? Mays? Griffey? Schmidt?
• I wish Topps would stop dedicating insert sets to one player, especially if said player has one year of service time. Gleyber Torres makes the 3rd Yankee-centric insert set Topps has done recently.
• The Evolution Of insert set has potential.I can't wait to see what it looks like!
• The 1984 tribute set looks good too, but to be honest I'm getting bored of these.

Overall, I'm eager for some new product to come out! I feel like I'll be buying a good amount of this set!