Topps Update – PaulHadsall.com

2014 Topps Update Mets inserts

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Paul

Yesterday we looked at the Mets cards in the 2014 Topps Update base set. Today it’s time to focus on the inserts.

All-Star Stitches is my favorite long-standing insert found in Topps Update because it’s the last relic card that actually makes any kind of claim about what game or event that the relic it contains is from. The Mets had one All-Star representative this year, and it was Daniel Murphy. There are versions of his card with red and blue jersey material swatches… since they were relatively inexpensive, I picked up one of each.

There are also a few more limited All-Star Stitches cards featuring Murphy: a gold parallel serial numbered to 50, a unique platinum parallel, a jumbo patch card serial numbered to 6, and a combo card featuring jersey swatches from both Murphy and Derek Jeter serial numbered to 25.

Continue reading “2014 Topps Update Mets inserts” →

Uncategorized

2014 Topps Update Mets baseball cards

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Paul

It’s been a few weeks since Topps Update came out. In one sense, Topps did a nice job with their selection of Mets players – six of the nine had not appeared on a regularly-issued baseball card as a Met before. In another way, the player choice was terrible – just three of the nine are still part of the Mets’ organization.

Here’s a look at the Mets cards in the Topps Update base set:

Continue reading “2014 Topps Update Mets baseball cards” →

Uncategorized

Baseball Card of the Day: 2014 Topps Update Michael Choice

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Paul

I finally managed to find Topps Update cards today, including this pair of Michael Choice cards.

Choice, a former Oakland Athletics prospect, played in 86 games for the Texas Rangers this year after being acquired in an offseason trade for outfielder Craig Gentry and pitcher Josh Lindblom.

He didn’t really have an impressive rookie year – Choice hit .182 with nine home runs, 36 RBI and one stolen base. It’s unclear if he’ll ever be more than a supporting player in the major leagues.

Nevertheless, Topps decided to make him one of the multitude of players with a short-printed photo variation card in this year’s Update set. I don’t think I would have paid any attention to it except for finding both versions in the same pack.

If there’s a Rangers fan out there who wants the short print (or the pair), please let me know – I’ll be happy to trade for anything off of my wantlists or any 2014 New York Mets card.

Bobby Abreu waves a farewell to the fans at Citi Field after his 2,470th and final major league hit on Sunday. Sept. 28, 2014. (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)

Uncategorized

Topps Update gives Mets cards to Daisuke Matsuzaka, Bobby Abreu & Jacob deGrom

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Paul

Topps Update baseball cards were officially released this week, marking the traditional end of the collecting season that started when Series 1 came out back during spring training.

I wanted to pick up a couple of packs when I stopped in Target this afternoon, but they hadn’t made their way to the retail shelves yet. So I’m left looking at the pictures of other people’s cards online instead,

HELLO! SP PHOTO VARIATION AUTO #d /5 #METS pic.twitter.com/CT8h5wtIGU

— Brent Williams (@brentandbecca) October 16, 2014

(I’m not likely to see one of these in person anyway.)

Continue reading “Topps Update gives Mets cards to Daisuke Matsuzaka, Bobby Abreu & Jacob deGrom” →

Collin Cowgill's 2013 Topps Update Chasing History autographed insert baseball card

Autographs, Baseball Cards, Uncategorized

New Mets autograph: Collin Cowgill

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Paul

I really wanted to like Collin Cowgill. Sure, Sandy Alderson didn’t pick up any big name outfielders last off-season and the Opening Day lineup of Lucas Duda, Cowgill and Marlon Byrd inspired more apprehension than confidence. But I think most of us wanted them to surprise us and succeed.

On Opening Day, Cowgill obliged. He became the only player in Mets history to hit a grand slam in a season opener that was also his first game with the team. Of course, we probably should have paid attention to the calendar – it was April Fool’s Day after all – and Cowgill’s career numbers. By the time the Mets traded him in June, Cowgill had lost his starting job and was hitting just .180 / .206 / .311 in 23 games.

Cowgill had a bizarre autographed insert card with a badly Photoshopped picture in Topps Series 2 that showed him in a style of uniform he never wore as a Met. This card, commemorating Cowgill’s Opening Day Grand Slam, is likely to be the only one that legitimately depicts him as a Mets player.

Note: If this card appears to have rounded corners, it is an artifact of my blog theme. The actual card has standard 90 degree corners.