2005 Topps Retired Signature Series Gold Parallel

Year: 2005

Manufacturer: Topps

Set: Retired Signature Series

Card Number: 77

Card Type: Parallel

Parallel Set: Gold

Card Attributes: Serial Numbered

Serial Number: 149/500

Topps put out it's Retired Signature Series for 3 years starting in 2003 and ending with this year. Each box had 5 packs.  There was a slabbed (non-circulated) autograph card in each pack and a parallel card plus 3 base cards.  The design follows the flagship design from that year like in years past.  It was an interesting concept that's been tried again here and there.  If Topps was to bring this back I'm sure it would be a single pack/box product like the Archives Signature series was.  

The big difference between this and the flagship inserts, other than the price per pack was the parallel numbering.  Gold parallels were numbered to 500 instead of 2004.  It's a sharp looking card in hand with bright colors and a nice gold sparkly border.  And the serial numbering was still done in foil.

2003 Topps Retired Signature Series

Card Manufacturer: Topps

Card Set: Retired Signature Series

Year:  2003

Card Number: 62

Card Type: Base

My favorite Topps design from the 2000's is the 2003 set. I just think it's a well done layout. I love the inset headshot inside a baseball diamond.   I also love the blue borders of the flagship set and I love the fact that Topps carried over the design to it's Retired Signature release.  It was an interesting product. Each box contained 5 packs. Each pack had 5 cards that included an encased uncirculated autograph card.  Plus there were Black bordered parallels numbered to 99, Chrome Autos, and Chrome Refractor Autos to be had.

Here we have Robin's base card from the set. The base cards look really nice in that titanium white border. There's no room on the back of the card for anything but Robin's 19 years of stats.  I also love the great action shot of Robin from when he was still playing shortstop.  It's also interesting to note that the inset photo is probably the most used photo by MSA for a lot of the food issue and other oddball cards from the 80's.  Nice to see it with the Brewers logo on it for a change. It's also a nice touch that the back of the card has the Brewers colors featured.