I came across these a few days back.
Those are from Topps 582 Montgomery Club Collection. Here is a description of that sold-out, $199.99 club collection:
Topps.com is excited to announce the launch of 582 Montgomery, an exclusive membership program that offers products inspired by our company's early days in Brooklyn. Members will receive exclusive benefits that are not available to the general public, including trading card products featuring recently discovered lost designs from our Brooklyn facility. There will be new products sent to members six times per year, and the exclusive opportunity to purchase the highest-end trading card release ever offered on Topps.com - The Brooklyn Collection.
The "recently discovered lost designs" they are talking about are the same mock-ups that I have been using to create the Alt-Topps sets for the last few months.
Here is that vintage mock-up that Topps used as a basis for the above set.
How about this design? Look familiar? It's part of Topps' Brooklyn Collection, available exclusively to 582 Montgomery Club members. It's a set of limited edition, foiled-up, autographed cards once again based on "recently recovered, lost Topps designs".
Here is another Brooklyn Collection card that is based on this vintage design:
By sheer coincidence, this is the design that I had just completed a set based upon. (I will still be posting it in the next few days.)
Topps has 25 cards in the 582 Montgomery base set (top). And another 105 of the gold-foiled autographed versions of the 2 lower designs as part of the Brooklyn Collection.
After hanging out on the sidelines because I felt the Cards That Never Were thing had kinda been played out, I thought I had something (semi) unique to contribute. Even so, I sat on this idea for over a year before jumping back in.
I am somewhat torn. I am glad that Topps is doing something with these designs. (Although dropping $200 for a 25 card base set and the "privilege" of buying even higher-dollar, exclusive cards is not my cup of tea.) I am also disappointed from a wholly selfish point of view that, once again, what I am doing is lacking uniqueness.
In case you are wondering, the base 582 Montgomery cards are currently selling on eBay (buy it now price) for $4.95 per card and up to $2000 for an autographed Ohtani. The Brooklyn Collection cards start at $139.99 and rise to $1995.00 for a Jeter card limited to 5 prints. Need I remind you that this blog is free?
Happy New Year to All!
Your stuff is much better!! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year's to you, as well!!
Isn't that Bubba Phillips on that last "Jim Weaver" card?
ReplyDeleteAgree with Deogolf that your stuff is better. I'm hoping that the Cards That Never Were thing does not play out.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Robert about Bubba Phillips on the Jim Weaver card. That's Bubba's picture from his 1964 Topps card.
If you noticed both of those cards are labeled Jim Weaver. You are correct that is Bubba from 1964. The Mets pitcher is Grover Powell also from the 1964 set. In many of these mock ups the Topps designers used names that mismatched the photo. Why they chose Jim Weaver, a marginal pitcher with a relatively short career, is a mystery. Could have been an inside joke of sorts.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Hogan, please don't be too crestfallen that Topps has partially stolen your thunder by piling in with their own revivals of these now antique designs. Be reassured that what you are doing is unique. First Topps can't seem to contain themselves and glitz and "foil" just about everything that they put out now. This is just another late 20th, and 21st century,nuisance. It spoils the "vintage feel". While I can only speak for myself, I've gotta bet that many people come to this site to re-experience the past, but with the "fresh twist" that you supply. Hence, I am really looking forward to your latest offering, and any more that you might have contemplated. I'm also going to bet that Topps will overwhelmingly fill these old designs with contemporary players,and offer just a few of our 50's, 60's, and 70's heros. And, at mega bucks (just like todays MLB salaries) who gives a "rip". Also, I got a bit of a chuckle out of the mutiple Jim Weaver "UER's". He was a "situational lefty" out of the "pen" for scarcely more than a year, but at 3 and 0 for my local ANGELS not too bad. Since 1968 was the only year he got any appreciable time I'm curious if these mock-ups were from then or 69. Finally, I'm glad that so many other guys recognized veteran utility man Bubba Phillips, this gives me hope that some fans still care about history. "Buzz" (Bryant)
ReplyDeleteKeep doing what you are doing. Topps is all about the money now, dishing out high end after high end product, and leaving true collectors with a sub-par base set with nothing unique. I have a feeling that in time, true collectors may abondon Topps and go for a custom set made by someone (or a group of people) online. Your work is way better than Topps, you come up with unique ideas, and there will always be a market of people who want to see your customs, me included. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if you've seen any rejected Topps football designs from the 60's or 70's.
ReplyDeleteYes. There were 2 football, 2 basketball and 5 hockey designs that I came across. I haven't researched them to see if the designs had been used yet. But maybe I'll include them, too.
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