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as part of winning one of the "card of the year" contest prizes, i was asked to do a show & tell of 2012 gypsy queen...so here goes.
first things first, the set is a pretty one. sometimes the high contrast/HDR style of photography used can be distracting - i seem to remember it popping up randomly in the 2011/2012 topps base sets & it looked out of place (or maybe i'm imagining that?). however, using it for a full set makes for crisp, striking images with all the attention being placed on the player. another neat side-effect from the photography style is a grittier looking image; which, intentional or not, plays into the legend of the hard-nosed baseball player, and makes the modern players look like they fit along side the greats of the past.
the three non-fictional insert sets (glove stories, moonshots, & sliding stars) give a glimpse of a specific moment and/or game for the player pictured on the card. sliding stars in particular has some really neat action shots. i also, for the most part, like the alternate short print cards in the base set. when the variations aren't obvious though, which happens multiple times, i don't see the point - it can't be hard to find another picture, or short print a different player.
the fancier - autograph, relic, numbered - inserts are another bright spot; the autographs look particularly nice. i don't know if it's the paper-stock, or the ink used to print the cards, but the autos (at least the ones i pulled) are smooth and sharp and almost look printed on. Photobucket album: 2012 Gypsy Queen
but where things go off the rails is with the mini cards. not only is there an extra 50 players featured, but additional short prints that differ from the base set. PLUS green borders, black borders, sepia tinted cards, gypsy queen backs, "straight cut" backs, and the insert sets. it's a bit of overkill to me - but that seems to be topps' current approach to inserts, which unfortunately makes it difficult/tiresome to complete sets.
i'm not entirely sure if it's necessary with the Allen & Ginter set - unless it's meant to attract collectors who want a baseball-only retro-styled set. however, overall it's a very nice looking collection; and while i wasn't originally planning on putting the set together, one i think i'm going to enjoy finishing (minus the mini card craziness).
first things first, the set is a pretty one. sometimes the high contrast/HDR style of photography used can be distracting - i seem to remember it popping up randomly in the 2011/2012 topps base sets & it looked out of place (or maybe i'm imagining that?). however, using it for a full set makes for crisp, striking images with all the attention being placed on the player. another neat side-effect from the photography style is a grittier looking image; which, intentional or not, plays into the legend of the hard-nosed baseball player, and makes the modern players look like they fit along side the greats of the past.
the three non-fictional insert sets (glove stories, moonshots, & sliding stars) give a glimpse of a specific moment and/or game for the player pictured on the card. sliding stars in particular has some really neat action shots. i also, for the most part, like the alternate short print cards in the base set. when the variations aren't obvious though, which happens multiple times, i don't see the point - it can't be hard to find another picture, or short print a different player.
the fancier - autograph, relic, numbered - inserts are another bright spot; the autographs look particularly nice. i don't know if it's the paper-stock, or the ink used to print the cards, but the autos (at least the ones i pulled) are smooth and sharp and almost look printed on. Photobucket album: 2012 Gypsy Queen
but where things go off the rails is with the mini cards. not only is there an extra 50 players featured, but additional short prints that differ from the base set. PLUS green borders, black borders, sepia tinted cards, gypsy queen backs, "straight cut" backs, and the insert sets. it's a bit of overkill to me - but that seems to be topps' current approach to inserts, which unfortunately makes it difficult/tiresome to complete sets.
i'm not entirely sure if it's necessary with the Allen & Ginter set - unless it's meant to attract collectors who want a baseball-only retro-styled set. however, overall it's a very nice looking collection; and while i wasn't originally planning on putting the set together, one i think i'm going to enjoy finishing (minus the mini card craziness).
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