Baseball Card Collecting in 2012
Baseball card collectors should be looking forward to collecting in 2012.
One of the reasons why I am excited about card collecting in 2012 is all the great promotions that Topps has developed.
The most prominent is the signing of a future Hall of Famer and two current Hall of Fame players.
For the first time 13-time All-Star Ken Griffey Jr.
has signed with Topps.
In addition, after a two-year absence from new products, Topps has agreed to a multi-year deal with the estate of legendary Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente.
The Hall of Famer's cards will again appear in selected Topps sets.
Finally, Topps has formally announced they've come to an agreement with all-time great, Willie Mays.
Under the multi-year agreement, Mays' autograph and memorabilia will be used in Topps products.
The first Mays signature cards under the deal will be in 2012 Topps Series 1 Baseball, which releases in February.
He will also have autographs in other early-season releases such as 2012 Topps Tribute and 2012 Gypsy Queen Baseball.
Three Mays cards were recently voted among Topps' best 60 cards of all-time; 1952 (10), 1953 (46) and 1954 (22).
Junior's first autographed baseball cards will appear in the Topps will be 2012 Topps Tribute and 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen sets.
Since 1989, Griffey was always associated with Upper Deck products.
From his classic rookie card through to him becoming a company spokesperson, Griffey and Upper Deck were always connected in the hobby.
Up until this point all licensed MLB autograph cards of the 1997 American League MVP have come from the single company.
Griffey has over 1,000 different autograph cards, however, his autograph remains one of the most sought after in the hobby.
His 1989 Topps Traded card is number 5 on Topps 60 Greatest cards of all time.
For most of the 1990s, Griffey's cards were the standard in which all others were compared.
Even after injuries shortened his career, he remained one of the hobby's favorites.
Demand for Topps Griffey autographs should be high due to the fact that these autographs are all on a new product.
Topps has a long history with Clemente, going back to his rookie card in 1955.
In 1998, Topps honored Clemente with an insert set reprinting the cards from his playing days.
Collectors can expect to find several types of Clemente insert cards, including cut signatures and relics, throughout the company's 2012 products.
Topps Series 1 will be the first product to offer a sampling of these cards.
Three Clemente cards were recently voted among Topps' best 60 cards of all-time; 1955 (33), 1956 (35) and 1973 (9).
Here are some other Topps 2012 offerings that I'm looking forward to: 1963 Topps Design in Heritage - Topps Heritage has been a staple for Topps for more than a decade.
In 2012 collectors will delight in the 1963 design in which the set is based.
If you're a fan of color, you're going to love the bold look of 2012 Topps Heritage.
2012 Topps Museum Collection - In 2011 Topps released a new product called Topps Marquee.
This year, it's being replaced by 2012 Topps Museum Collection, a high-end release that features legends as well as current and future stars of the game.
Topps Archives - After a ten-year absence, Topps Archives returns in 2012 placing legends and current players on cards with designs from the 1954, 1971, 1980, and 1984 sets.
The set follows a similar pattern to 2011 Topps Lineage.
Fan Favorite autographs are bound to be a huge draw for the set.
Featuring on-card autographs from many of the game's most popular retired stars, the signature cards fall two per box.
2012 Topps Gold Rush - Both 2012 Topps Series 1 Baseball and 2012 Topps Series 2 Baseball will feature Golden Giveaway online redemption codes, minis based on the 1987 design, Golden Greats Coin cards.
The Topps Gold Rush program that, like the 2011 Diamond promotion will encourage collectors to buy more cards.
Series 1 is scheduled to be released on 2-1-2012.
Quantities are limited, so place your orders now to help ensure you get your first set.
2012 Topps Bowman - 2012 Bowman will include one Chrome autograph per 24-pack hobby box.
New this year will be Bowman Black autographs, autographed Rookie Originals, signed buybacks of players who never had Bowman autographed prospect cards in the past, Aflac All-American autographs and a wrapper redemption program.
One of the reasons why I am excited about card collecting in 2012 is all the great promotions that Topps has developed.
The most prominent is the signing of a future Hall of Famer and two current Hall of Fame players.
For the first time 13-time All-Star Ken Griffey Jr.
has signed with Topps.
In addition, after a two-year absence from new products, Topps has agreed to a multi-year deal with the estate of legendary Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente.
The Hall of Famer's cards will again appear in selected Topps sets.
Finally, Topps has formally announced they've come to an agreement with all-time great, Willie Mays.
Under the multi-year agreement, Mays' autograph and memorabilia will be used in Topps products.
The first Mays signature cards under the deal will be in 2012 Topps Series 1 Baseball, which releases in February.
He will also have autographs in other early-season releases such as 2012 Topps Tribute and 2012 Gypsy Queen Baseball.
Three Mays cards were recently voted among Topps' best 60 cards of all-time; 1952 (10), 1953 (46) and 1954 (22).
Junior's first autographed baseball cards will appear in the Topps will be 2012 Topps Tribute and 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen sets.
Since 1989, Griffey was always associated with Upper Deck products.
From his classic rookie card through to him becoming a company spokesperson, Griffey and Upper Deck were always connected in the hobby.
Up until this point all licensed MLB autograph cards of the 1997 American League MVP have come from the single company.
Griffey has over 1,000 different autograph cards, however, his autograph remains one of the most sought after in the hobby.
His 1989 Topps Traded card is number 5 on Topps 60 Greatest cards of all time.
For most of the 1990s, Griffey's cards were the standard in which all others were compared.
Even after injuries shortened his career, he remained one of the hobby's favorites.
Demand for Topps Griffey autographs should be high due to the fact that these autographs are all on a new product.
Topps has a long history with Clemente, going back to his rookie card in 1955.
In 1998, Topps honored Clemente with an insert set reprinting the cards from his playing days.
Collectors can expect to find several types of Clemente insert cards, including cut signatures and relics, throughout the company's 2012 products.
Topps Series 1 will be the first product to offer a sampling of these cards.
Three Clemente cards were recently voted among Topps' best 60 cards of all-time; 1955 (33), 1956 (35) and 1973 (9).
Here are some other Topps 2012 offerings that I'm looking forward to: 1963 Topps Design in Heritage - Topps Heritage has been a staple for Topps for more than a decade.
In 2012 collectors will delight in the 1963 design in which the set is based.
If you're a fan of color, you're going to love the bold look of 2012 Topps Heritage.
2012 Topps Museum Collection - In 2011 Topps released a new product called Topps Marquee.
This year, it's being replaced by 2012 Topps Museum Collection, a high-end release that features legends as well as current and future stars of the game.
Topps Archives - After a ten-year absence, Topps Archives returns in 2012 placing legends and current players on cards with designs from the 1954, 1971, 1980, and 1984 sets.
The set follows a similar pattern to 2011 Topps Lineage.
Fan Favorite autographs are bound to be a huge draw for the set.
Featuring on-card autographs from many of the game's most popular retired stars, the signature cards fall two per box.
2012 Topps Gold Rush - Both 2012 Topps Series 1 Baseball and 2012 Topps Series 2 Baseball will feature Golden Giveaway online redemption codes, minis based on the 1987 design, Golden Greats Coin cards.
The Topps Gold Rush program that, like the 2011 Diamond promotion will encourage collectors to buy more cards.
Series 1 is scheduled to be released on 2-1-2012.
Quantities are limited, so place your orders now to help ensure you get your first set.
2012 Topps Bowman - 2012 Bowman will include one Chrome autograph per 24-pack hobby box.
New this year will be Bowman Black autographs, autographed Rookie Originals, signed buybacks of players who never had Bowman autographed prospect cards in the past, Aflac All-American autographs and a wrapper redemption program.
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