2024 Archives: Always excited to see Archives hit the shelves and we saw them hit ours last week. We'll kick it off with The Sultan of Swat who put up numbers nothing short of video game worthy stats.
I'm a big Topps Archives fan. I enjoy the variety and the look back at past designs on new cardboard. This first look has me a little disappointed. The designs just don't speak to me. Not a knock against the brand. It's just the 1994, 1970 and 1961 designs just don't wow me even in this new look.
Plenty of rookies to show off including Yoshinobu Yamamoto who started 18 games for the Dodgers in his rookie season and helped them win the 2024 World Series winning game two against the Yankees.
Love the backs of these cards. We get the awesome career stats of Stan the Man with lots of color on this 1994 card back. The man could hit.
I pulled 11 retired greats which was double what was in my other blaster. That Fernando is one of my four black parallels that come in each blaster. Retired greats are always fun.
A back from the 1970 design. Love seeing the stats for these old timers.
The Wrecking Crew and Own the Game inserts feel a bit out of place considering the set is about retro, and those don't look retro. And neither look that great to me. At The Break cards don't look bad.
These talk to how a batter was doing at the break in the 2024 season. Different. Not bad. Just different.
The back of the '61 design. And more greatness. Just ignore the Yankee years. .328 for his career and even hit .301 in his final year. Great way to go out.
Not gonna lie, I'm still a bit underwhelmed but I'll roll with it. I'll pick off singles and maybe fat packs if I see them but this and the other blaster may be my last in that format. Again, not bad cards just designs that don't excite me.
BREAKDOWN:
56 – Total Cards
18 – 1961
18 – 1970
17 – 1994
16 - RC
11 – Retired Greats
1 – At the Break
1 – Own the Game
1 – Wrecking Crew
56 – Total Cards
18 – 1961
18 – 1970
17 – 1994
16 - RC
11 – Retired Greats
1 – At the Break
1 – Own the Game
1 – Wrecking Crew
Had no idea Archives was out. I like that 1994 is included.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize it was hitting the shelves either but it was a nice surprise. The 1970 design is my favorite of the three.
DeleteI did get some Archives last weekend and it did not excite me like previous editions of the product. I am torn if I want to get more or wait to see if I can find some of the cards I am looking for at card shows or flea markets this summer.
ReplyDeleteIt is tough. The excitement with this year's Archives is just not there for me this year.
DeleteI guess they have to eventually include boring card designs unless they just repeat the good ones.
ReplyDeleteYou're right and they tend to go in order. Usually with three different designs, there is at least one that'll excite me.
DeleteNice Fernando! My archives post is coming next week. Hugely disappointed with the 1970 cards as they ignored the cursive name text even as they used the cursive font for 1994.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of that card and Fernando is always a fun pull.
DeleteWhat did they do to the 1970 design? Why aren't the names in script? They had it right in Heritage just 5 years ago, so it's not like they can't do it. Looks like one of those knockoffs they used to put in magazines in the junk wax era. Heck, there are plenty of custom makers on the blogs who do a MUCH better job!
ReplyDeleteOh... the script. That's it. I knew something wasn't right. Nice call Brett.
DeleteI missed it as well. Good catch.
DeleteNot the biggest fan of these three designs, but the 1961 and 1994 turned out okay. There's something that seems off with the 1970 design. I think it has to do with the text, but I'd have to see them side by side.
ReplyDeleteWish this year's set had been more exciting but it can't be a home run every year.
DeleteGot a couple Fat Packs and a blaster. Don't know if I'll get more. It's not bad overall but releasing a 2024 set in January a month before 2025 comes out seems like milking it. I wonder if the old Own The Game cards featured players that weren't on the back.
ReplyDelete