1983 Topps

Can you say....1963!!! Again, another set made by Topps where it's nothing more than a rehash of a previous set. Don't get me wrong, I like both, but originality here this is not. Not only do both sets look the same, but both years end in 3! Maybe Topps was starting to toss around the idea of Heritage at this time with using old card designs for current players. The world may never know. What I do know is that I wish for originality and creativity, which Topps had a little during the 80s with the 1985 set, but not when you look at the 1980, 1983, and 1987 sets in particular. I do like the fact that in the 1983 set you'll see Seaver and Bench wearing the Reds uniform, but it's a little bittersweet especially since this was Johnny's last year in the big leagues. Time marches on, and waits for no one.

2012 Topps

OK, so there's a lot of talk out there concerning the 2012 Topps product that's slated for release next year. Honestly, I think it's a nice product. Looking at some of the photos posted on Beckett, I think the base set is nice and clean with the white borders and I like how the info is displayed on the bottom left of the card with the team logo and player name. I just with Topps would have included the player's position within that area. I like the Bruce card showing him tipping his helmet to the camera. Inserts though, I'm not a big fan of and again, the 2012 set seems to be loaded with them. From Golden Greats to Golden Moments to Gold Parallels, there's more Gold in this set than what Glenn Beck would know what to do with! Anyway, I'm anxious to get my hands on these cards next year for my Reds Team set. Who knows, maybe this will be Topps next Gold Standard.

1982 Topps

Not a whole lot to say about this set. Pros and Cons, as I always do regarding any Topps set. I do like the facsimile autographs on the front of the card and the fact that Topps again used their "In Action" subset this year. The photography could have been better (especially from a Reds fan perspective...Johnny Bench portrait!) Standard white border as with any Topps set around this time period. Not that it's a bad thing but white borders year after year do get a little boring. I do like the green on the card backs, although I guess any color would do except for maybe black, but I'm no expert. It's funny really to look at the quality of these early 80s sets and then see how everything changed in 1989. Sometimes I think that if Topps were to take a year and print their base set on the stock they use to and package their cards with a stick of stale gum in an actual "wax" pack that many of us old school collectors would be willing to buy a box or two of the product for the chance of taking a trip down memory lane once more.

1991 Topps

Were any of you like me when Topps announced in 1991 that they would be giving away cards the company had produced for the past 40 years by seeding them in packs of their latest product? I knew I had to buy boxes of this stuff hoping to get a Mays, an Aaron, or even a Mantle card. Needless to say, I didn't get anything except maybe about three complete sets from the boxes I busted open. But it sure was fun! I like this set. From the simple clean white border to the "40 years" logo on the front and back of the card. All in all, I think Topps did a great job with this set compared to Fleer, Donruss, and Score at the time (although they couldn't touch Upper Deck...but then again who could?) In addition, Topps sent some of these cards over to our troops in the Gulf during Desert Shield, although the only difference with those cards and the regular issue are the gold leaf Desert Shield logo that graces the front of the card. Not sure if I want to try and complete that team set or not. Anyway, I still think about going on eBay one weekend and buying a box just to bust and see who I get. Sure, there's a ton of it out there and it's not worth much. But isn't that what makes this hobby fun? Just opening a pack of cards and seeing what you got.

2007 Topps

You can't go wrong with black! This set reminds me of the 1971 Topps set for some reason...probably because of the black border. But nevertheless, I like this set. Sure, there are those that argue that it's plain, bland, boring, or just an afterthought compared to Topps other products. But I see something totally different: smooth, suave, sleek, sophisticated, stylish. Need I say more? I do get a tear in my eye though whenever I look at this set and see Josh Hamilton in his Reds uniform and think about what might have been. Especially looking at the hot mess Volquez has become. Kinda reminds me of the Frank Robinson / Milt Pappas trade back in the 60s. For once I wish the Reds would come out on top when they decide to trade someone away. We can all hope, can't we?

1991 Topps Stadium Club

This is one of the few sets that I've ever had a desire to complete, and it's my favorite set ever produced by a company. When this set came out in 1991 (the year after the Reds won their last World Series) I knew I had to have it from the moment I opened my first pack of Series I cards. Sure it was expensive (around $10 a pack at my local card store) but I had never seen cards that were like this. Just look at the Chris Sabo card from this set. Full bleed kodak photography, gold foil, glossy finish on both the front and back of the cards, miniature picture of the player's rookie card on the back, and the list goes on and on. Sure it took a bit of money to put together and it's not as valuable as it was back in 1991, but I wouldn't trade my 1991 Stadium Club set for anything.

Shout Out for the Card Contest at My Sports Obsession

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