Chaos and Kanji is the blog where I write about my adventures through Japan!

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

I think it's about time for a Blog Bat Around!

When was the last Blog Bat Around? The only one I'm aware of this year was the one started back in February - Chris Harris asked about Topps 2011 Series 1 over at Stale Gum. That seems like forever ago, even though it's only been long enough that if you conceived a child at that time, that child would have been born.
Play At The Plate brought up the concept yesterday afternoon, and I have decided to go ahead with a topic I was going to write on pretty soon anyway.

The 2011 baseball card collecting season is finally over - other than Bowman Sterling (coming out December 21st). What set or release stands out as your favorite from the year? What set or release brings your lunch back up to your throat?


Sure, it's a simple question, but it could mean many things to many people. We all know how successful Gypsy Queen was, but that doesn't mean it'll be your favorite release. The Beckett database currently lists 1109 baseball sets this year from Topps, TriStar, ITG, and Upper Deck - already about 150 more sets than last year without Bowman Sterling - so there is no lack of selection.

I'm wondering what kind of response I'll get from this topic! It's not going to bring about world peace (or even whirled peas), but it will be nice to see where everyone stands on this year's products. I don't pretend to be so creative that this is a question nobody else has asked, and maybe you already answered this question.

As with the other Bat Arounds, if you have a blog, you can post your response there - if you don't have a blog, you can write a comment below. Feel free to link to your posts once you've written your response!

I'll post my answer tomorrow (I may need to do a top five!). Until then, happy writing!

7 comments:

  1. For me it has to be the heritage set i just love the vintage look. But i could do without the variations and sp's though

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  2. Mmmm....whirled peas.

    I'll post a response tomorrow!

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  3. Personally the Topps set (1,2 and update) were my favorite(s). The Diamond Giveaway, SP variations of legends, sparkle variations, interesting inserts (Diamond Duos, 60 Years Of Topps), Topps did a lot for their 60th Anniversery and I'm pretty satisfied with what they put out.

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  4. Favorite cards were Heritage Chrome. I like the blend of old and new.

    Also, the Diamond Die Cuts are very cool and limited.

    I could have done without Gypsy Queen. Other than the framed paper, they are just not my thing and too much like Ginter, and I'm tired of Ginter.

    I really enjoyed the Lineage, but its disappointing how valueless all the base cards are. They should have short-printed the key guys like Mantle, Mays, etc.

    This has been my most active year in collecting maybe since 1991.

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  5. Sweet, I get to take part in a bat around! My favorite set of the year is Topps FrankenLineaStickAttaxMan...

    http://shlabotnikreport.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/frankenlineastickattaxman/

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  6. My post will be "live" on Monday (12/19) morning.

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  7. Thanks guys!

    dominic: The SPs in any release are always trouble for me. I still need a few singles from 2003 Topps Gallery!

    Zippy: Topps really did a great job with the flagship set. JayBee's post (linked here in the comments) does a great job discussing its strengths.

    Kyle: I sometimes get tired of all these throwbacks that have the same basic look/feel (Ginter, Gypsy Queen, Topps 206, etc).

    shlabotnik: Great post! I doubt Topps will ever get rid of Bowman, though many of us have fantasized the same thing!

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