Today I got an unexpected surprise in a new product that will be making its debut later this year. It’s a set that was not on the calendar last year, and looks to be one that could end up being a very nice looking addition to Topps’ offerings this year. It is a product that looks to be blending more veteran and rookie content than has been seen for the first few sets, and personally, I love the way many of these cards are done.
Gridiron Legends, from the looks of it, uses just about every trick that I enjoy when doing middle calendar products. Simplistic and yet beautiful design work, white cards, and in game photos. It also uses the signed reprint card as a special add on, something I wish was used more frequently by Topps, as their library is filled with iconic cards that would look amazing signed. I also like the way the rookies are incoroprated into a set that seems geared more towards the legends currently on the field and in the hall of fame. You don’t want to end up like Panini’s “Canton Absolutes” set featuring players that are DEFINTELY not even close to being HOF worthy. Future Legends is a bit of a stretch, but it works in the confines of the set.
The highlight of this preview is definitely the Topps legends cards, that look absolutely amazing in the design work and composition of the card. Simply named, simply designed, simply awesome. These are so well done that I would even go so far as saying that they could be one of the best veteran/retired autographs of the entire year. We havent seen Five Star yet, but until that point, I am in love with these cards.
Funny enough, I even think the single jersey cards look great, even though I am about to write a post about how I think they need to go away. As long as they are designed well, I wont have as much of a problem with them, especially in the case where they are their own set, and not done like Panini always does them.
Lastly, I think we need many more white cards. I love white cards, I love the way they look, and when you have the colored tinted background behind the game shots, it works to a T. Although I think that eventually, sets like this will be overshadowed on the secondary market by the big dogs that should be released by Topps around the same time, it’s a nice addition to a 2011 card calendar dominated by products like Rookies and Stars, Gridiron Gear and other horrific products like that.
Here are the cards:
God I hope the rookie reprints are hard signed. The ones in chrome last year looked horrible. First they were chrome so they looked nothing like the original rookie and then just to make them as ugly as possible they used stickers for the autos.
I’m so tired of hearing about how they have to use stickers so they can get the autos and make them affordable. They didn’t use stickers in the late 90’s, they got some great players in those sets, and the costs of the boxes sure weren’t that bad, especially when you consider were paying more now for crappy boxes that are loaded with sticker autos.
Yes I know they autos were harder to pull and not guaranteed back then, but I’d much rather have that than the super high-end sets we have now made for the rich cry baby collectors that didn’t like that they had the same chance at pulling the big hits as some kid.
Love the veteran-centric concept, hate the cards. Too much white. It’s overwhelming. The inserts aren’t bad but the base and Cam auto look washed out. Honestly, if this were Panini, you’d be ripping the base and rookie auto design to shreds.
has an srp/pack count a box been released?
Love the white, we need more cards like this.
4 hits per box from the sheet, didnt really check it out.
Holy shit. I think I will put together this base set. A name, team logo and a nice action photo with a washed out b&w background. It’s like… like.. well, just keep listening to whatever former UD design team member you hired.
If that is foil font on those base cards, I cannot ask for much more. Well, an on-card auto. subset would have just been silly!
Watch this get cancelled, or something stupid…
Each box will contain 18 packs with 8 cards per pack and I have only seen cases for pre-sell but it breaks down to $75/box.
Good-looking cards, although I think they would be better with a border to frame the photo. Also, Topps, PLEASE STOP PUTTING PLAYER NAMES IN FOIL!!! It adds nothing to the design, is very hard to read, and causes eye-strain among your older collectors like me who have less than stellar eyesight.
If you don’t think that it’s important, consider that it’s the ONLY reason why I have not bought any of your base products over the last few years despite their otherwise stellar design.