Pack Rip - 2010 Topps Baseball Jumbo Pack

After watching yet another Bruins loss this afternoon (now the longest losing streak for the team since 1925) I needed to get out for some fresh air. I still had $20 in my budget for this paycheck so I decided to hit the only hobby shop I ever really visit (probably the only one within half an hour of my house). I've been featuring a lot of hockey cards lately so I decided to focus on baseball during today's trip. I hadn't picked up any 2010 Topps yet so I decided to grab a jumbo hobby pack to see what all the fuss was about. 50 cards (41 base cards and 9 inserts) for $10. Everyone is probably getting sick of seeing these by now but here you go...

#1 - Prince Fielder - What an awesome card to lead off the set. I think this card is symbolic of the baseball card landscape. Prince is Topps. Craig Counsel is Upper Deck. Ryan Braun is Donruss...

#51 - Eric Young Jr. - I agree with Night Owl's recent sentiments that while Upper Deck is all about the photo, Topps generally does a much better job designing the cards. I wasn't floored by this design when I saw all the scans on other blogs, but it's definitely growing on me...

#143 - Omar Vizquel - The first couple of Topps base sets when I got back into collecting (2007 & 2008) left a lot to be desired in my opinion. I think last year's flagship set was a dramatic improvement and the 2010 set seems to continue that upward trend. This Vizquel card is a prime example.

#174 - Mike Gonzalez - Topps may be about the design, but their photography has gotten significantly better as well...

#183 - Jonathan Papelbon - One of two Red Sox I pulled...

#252 - Ronny Cedeno - I really like the way this photo is positioned relative to the border of the card.

#268 - Juan Pierre

#273 - Pat Neshek - Great shot.

#295 - Kevin Youkilis - Kevin making a leaping throw in front of the W.B. Mason office supply sign. How funny would it be if you were one of those people pictured in the crowd?

#325 - Julio Lugo - I think this is my first post-Red Sox Lugo card. Now, the inserts...

#236 - Andrew Bailey - Gold Parallel (#'d/2010) - 2009 All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year. Not bad for a 6th round draft pick!

#FCTTT12 - Miguel Tejada - ToppsTown Free Cards - I called this one a "ToppsTown Free Cards" insert because the card number starts with FC. Since there's a banner on the front advertising a free digital pack (give me a break) I can only assume that's what the FC stands for...

#CMT-32 - Ryne Sandberg - Cards Your Mother Threw Out - I like this subset. Of the "big three" rookies in the '83 Topps set, this is the one I'm still missing in my collection.

#HOTG24 - Interleague Play Introduced - History of the Game - Could I have pulled a more boring History of the Game insert? I don't think so...

#LL3 - Babe Ruth/Alex Rodriguez - Legendary Lineage - A-Rod ruined what would've been a perfectly nice Babe Ruth card...

#PP-21 - Jimmie Foxx - Peak Performance - I'm not feeling this insert set at all. Snooze...

#94 - Ernie Banks - Reprint Thingy - Anyone know what the name is for this insert set? The back seems to mirror Banks' '54 Topps rookie as well (except for some of the small legal print of course). Ernie's Topps rookie is on my "top 10 white whale" list. Someday...

#TOG-15 - Ozzie Smith "Flips Out" - Tales of the Game - Now that's a cool insert. I was mesmerized by Ozzie's flipping as a child and he's always been one of my favorite 80's players.

#TR37 - Chase Utley - Turkey Red - I have to admit I'm getting a bit tired of the Turkey Red inserts at this point. There are lots of other vintage sets out there.

Well, there you go. When it comes to baseball there are basically 3 verdicts I give sets:

Chase: I love the set, time to power on the scanner and track down some Ultra-Pro pages. Accumulate: I like the set. While I won't actively chase it I certainly won't scoff at any cards that come my way. I'll pick some up when there's nothing else at the shop I want more. No Thanks: Red Sox and a few select favorite cards are scanned and saved, the rest goes into the trade box.

So, what's my verdict for 2010 Topps? Accumulate. There's a chance this set could grow on me. The design is solid but I just don't need another set to chase right now. For now I'll keep any base cards I run across in case I change my mind. The 2 Cubs inserts are going to Lonestarr and I'm keeping the Ozzie. The other inserts are all up for trade. If I find some time tomorrow I'll show off the rest of my loot from the hobby shop.