Random Card of the Day

Solid Hitter

 I agree with Carthage.   Seems like every year is the 50th anniversary of 50 years ago for Topps.   Which it is, I'm just saying it's a bit redundant.

I love the 2001 Topps set.  It was the year I came back to the hobby after a 10-year hiatus.  I didn't get the Traded set until only a couple of years ago due to it's large pricetag.  The only problem with these cards is that if you didn't open your boxes while they were still new, your cards are probably ruined.  I purchased a couple of sealed factory sets within the past few years for set upgrades, only to find that the cards had to be pulled apart, resulting in half the set being damaged.  If anything, 2001 Topps cards in nice condition may increase in value because anything currently unopened is pretty much ruined.

When Topps hit its golden anniversary in 2001, it earned the right to celebrate a new anniversary every year.  2016 will be the 50th anniversary of Topps's 1st year as the sole baseball card company (with exceptions) since bowman folded in 1955.  2016 will also be the 50th anniversary of Topps' last year manufacturing oversized cards and the 50th set manufactured using the modern card size dimensions.    

This gold foil lettering doesn't bother me. It's the gold on gold that just kills me. 1993, I think. Useless. 2001 is a legitimate 50 year anniversary for Topps, so I don't begrudge them this at all. The next real anniversary is probably the 75th in 2126, though. Not too far away, really...Hope to see the 100th anniversary cards as an 86 year old.

I've been going through my entire collection for the six months or so. I'm looking through 2003 now, so I just looked through 2001 a week or two ago. They really aren't bad at all. I liked the unique border color, the subsets. I think I went back and upped my ranking of 2001 after I finished getting through them. The early 2000s could have been worse. Some nice features. I had forgotten that Topps had card for every Gold Glove winner in 2002 and 2003, for example. 2001, too? I already forget. But very cool.

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