Heritage, this is Bill.
Bill, this is…
Uh, I’m gonna stop you right there. We already know each other.
As I always say, I’m a mark for Heritage. But while they have me every year (the feel of the cards, the old school quality of the photos, etc.), this year I feel as though they’ve ramped it up. First, this is a more exciting design, or maybe a design that gets me more excited (and we’re really approaching a lot of those in the next several years). Second, they did such a good job with replicating “idea” of the 1971 set this year (i.e., Sanchez = Munson). It really makes 1971 and 2020 come together.
Yeah, there’s good and bad about the whole set, and I don’t think I have any groundbreaking thoughts that no one else has had before (uh, this isn’t a great way to get me to keep reading Bill), but I loved opening these packs. This isn’t even my most favorite design of the 70’s, but I still loved looking at it on some fresh cards.
No more pleasantries, let’s get to rippin’!
2020 Topps Heritage
As always start with a few of my favorites / bigger names. I really love the Votto card. If there was ever a guy who was old school who should be on an old school card, it’s that guy. Can I just say “eye black” and be done? I probably could but, but I could say “high socks” too. It’s just a bright card. Damn, it just makes me happy and it ain’t even a Mets card.
The Soto is a little bittersweet. I love the card, I like watching the guy, I like how much fun he has, but I can’t do the Nats you know. It’s against my religion. I have to say that this is a great set for Nats fans. I would love having these cards for the World Series and Playoffs and I would make sure to collect them all. I probably even find a way to display them.
As for Arrieta, that just seems like a classic. A classic pitcher pose. I wonder how they got him to smile.
Rookie Stars
I didn’t feel like I got much in the form of rookies, but these two cards fit the bill. I’ve been liking the multiple rookies on one card the last few years. Yes, it goes with the theme of the year, but it’s something else. I do wonder why they did the AL/NL for those guys. Maybe it was related to the fact that there aren’t other guys for those teams. I do think its funny that in a way Alvarez and Aquino had a kind of similar “burst on to the scene” quality last year.
Oh, and I saw Alzolay’s first outing… as they say in Coming To America, “that boy’s good.”
Blech!grounds
I’ve complained about this for a couple years now I feel like but those backgrounds are horrid in some cases. Yes, this was another kind of thing that they did back in those years, but it didn’t feel like this.
Springer looks like he’s on a football field. I don’t get it. We’re playing baseball right? What’s with those lines on the field? And what’s with the background of the Indians cards. “That tarp is neat with the holes for the air to pass through, perfect background.”
But the Padres cards are the worst. They could have at least found a more interesting parking lot, or industrial park building roof, or whatever they’ve been choosing for the background recently. We seriously can’t find a remotely “baseball” background for these?
Moving Around
This is another complaint I have for a lot of these sets, not just Heritage, but how player movement has been dealt with. I can forgive David Price. That was a later trade. I can forgive Eric Thames, to an extent, as that was a late move. But the bigger question is, “why do I need an Eric Thames card?” I could get it in high number right? I think there are plenty of other guys we could use for that card.
CC retired Topps? Did you not get that memo?
Maikel Franco was granted free agency and was signed by the Royals? Did you know that?
These first sets should have the biggest stars of the game. Not the middling guys who are moving.
Meet the Mets
On to a more positive topic for me… the Mets. I’m digging what’s been going on this spring. This certainly seem to be going well so far. But isn’t that what always happens in Spring Training for almost everyone.
Well, I only got two Mets but these are pretty nice. I like the low angle. And I don’t have many Lugo cards so it’s always nice to see him and his Spring Training-esque “67”. As for Robbie, that is a damn fine manicured beard.
Short Prints
These were my short prints. They are OK, but one was a cheater and the other is no longer on the team he has a card for. So… problematic is maybe a good way to describe them.
Oldies Inserts
I like the looks of the inserts this year for the most part. Although I’m not a Giants fan, I do like that insert set. Having a card for Willie’s catch is pretty sweet too. But that insert has a pretty cool design to it. I guess its the black that really makes it fit into this years set, but the design maybe seems like it should have waited a year.
The other two I like as well. The New Age Performers though I wish was all on the same line. It looks odd with Age at a different level. Still, I think the black borders on these are sweet and go well with the set. Sometimes the Baseball and News Flashbacks are a little two different from the set but these are good to me.
Big Pete and the Parallels
Of course I have to love the Polar Bear on a card. The picture they took seems to fit his personality too. A Big smile and a big swing fits him. And if I’m getting a Chrome card, this is not too bad of a one to get.
So yes of course I like this years Heritage. I don’t have any groundbreaking feelings that others might have already expressed. It has it’s positives and its negatives, but it’s always going to get me. If you want to read some more good thoughts about this year’s Heritage product, mosey on over to the Night Owl and read his post. Definitely resonated with me and he gives you a better look at the crossover of 1971 and 2020.