Night Owl Cards

  Upon first opening 2025 Topps, I realized that this set was going to be a lot like the others from the last five, 10, 15, 20 years. Perhaps even farther back.   Topps still plays it numbingly safe with flagship. The pictures look mostly the same year-to-year. The backs look mostly the same. The inserts are a mindless excuse to utilize their legends licenses. The short-prints are "interesting photos we don't put in flagship." The league leader cards are a lineup of three action shots in a row (except 2016-21 when separate individual cards were made and not my idea of improvement).   If you get the feeling it's all been seen before, you are justified. I'm not one of those collectors shouting "where's the innovation?!" I don't think cards need bells and whistles, that's not why I collect. I just want to see things changed up a little bit.   Here's an example that's been going on in Topps flagship longer than everything I just mentioned...

I heard a rumor that 2010 Topps packs had made it to my Target. I was shocked that cards that I normally don't see in person, until a week or two after they've been plastered all over everyone's blog, would be available. So, I took a detour during my errands, pulled into Target, and picked up a single pack of 2010 Topps . That's right, a single pack. I showed remarkable restraint. What? You don't believe me? Then I'll show you the cards. And I have to tell you, I must have gotten a mutant pack with all the inserts. First the base cards: Woo- hoo , a Dodger! OK, onto the inserts. The '51 Topps retro card. The Turkey Red insert. Oops, there's that blasted Toppstown card. Here's one of those "When They Were Young" cards. And here's one of the "Tales of the Game" inserts. Finally, two of those "Cards Your Mother Threw Out." There you are, one pack, 12 cards, of 2010 Topps .* Barenaked Ladies, play us out...