Choo Choo...

Suzy likes to send me eBay links of things from time to time of either cool cards, or ridiculous ones that are funny or overpriced, etc. This particular time was no exception. Now, I will admit I had no knowledge of these cards prior because I have been studying the last few days and not really paying attention to cardboard.

Apparently 2011 Topps included not only the regular Leather Name Plate cards, but also nickname versions that are serial numbered 1/1. First I will run down the list of current auctions in case you want to bid on one of these.

We will start with my personal favorite.

- Shin-Soo Choo who may have never even heard of that gum.

- Ryan Howard

- Ichiro

- Trevor Cahill

A couple of the completed cards went for crazy money.

- Tim Lincecum

- Roy Halladay

So if there is a card of your favorite player or the player you have as your PC will you chase it? I can tell you right now I will not be hunting down an "El Hombre" pleather card.

2011 Topps Leather Nameplates

We all crave new designs, themes or sets from Topps when it comes time for new releases. However, sometimes they put out something awesome and other times they have something that just tanks.

While 2011 Topps Series 1 has plenty of great inserts and designs, the Leather Nameplates cards just tank with me. I promise I am not just looking for something to pick on here. I will admit I love the idea, however the execution of the idea is awful.

Now for those of you who have actually held one of these cards in your hand you already know that they feel like "pleather". Add to the fact that the stitching looks like a kid at the mall working at a hat stitching stand did it, and viola! craopla.

Don't get me wrong, I think this was a great plan on the drawing board, solid idea, fun for collectors, etc. How would I do it differently? Well, if getting the players real glove and using their stamped/branded name in the card wasn't possible I would have used something that actually felt like a glove on perhaps 180 pt. stock, and had the name stamped/branded so it was a more accurate and realistic representation of the real thing.

Now honestly, it doesn't even need to be a glove that was used by the player. A glove like this Mauer one would serve the purpose without cutting up a game used one that someone would like to own in one piece.

I do understand that cost is an issue with production, it's only series 1, and it's not one of their high end sets. But, maybe... just maybe... someone will hear my idea and translate that into something cool for future high end sets. Something more like the Sweet Spot leather glove autos would be great to see again, and I think Topps has every resource and player contract to make a set similar to that, market it, and produce it successfully. Check out this sweeeeeeet Wade Boggs auto, this is something I would love to be able to afford. I love Wade Boggs and the card.

In the end, as much as I want every card of Cano this may be one of those that I will never bother with. There have been plenty of other cards I just don't care to spend money on because I don't like them. The Cano Leather Nameplates aren't selling for much, but the Pujols are just because his name is on it. I definitely won't be buying that.

Perhaps someone will pull a Cano or Pujols and be willing to trade me for it, or maybe I will cave and buy it at some point.

Do you guys like the Leather Nameplate cards? Anyone buy one or pull one and agree with me about how they feel/look?

2011 Topps Series 1 Jumbo Case Break Results

Well, here is the breakdown of the hits from the case of 2011 Topps Series 1 baseball we opened last night live on UStream. You can view the video break here on the blog if you would like to or just scroll down to see the better cards of the bunch.

Special thanks to Chris from Blowout cards for hooking us up with the case.




We'll start with the game used cards:



Leather Name Plates, including a Mat (LAY-TOES) Latos black /99:



Autographs:



Case hit, Silk card Peter Bourjos /50:



SP (this was the only one I noticed, but when I sort the base cards I will post any others if I notice them):



Black parallels /60:



Kimball Champions mini:





I didn't look through the base cards yet, I am going to start that tonight. If I notice any of the "sparkle" cards I will scan them and post them. I have no interest in these cards so I can't promise I will be looking out for them amidst 500 cards here.