I thought that Topps only recently started reissuing chrome versions of all their sets. Turns out they have been doing it for longer than I thought. Actually, from shortly after they patented the chromatising technique.
Card Number 656: Topps Chrome Milestones, 1998; #MS6
This is the Chrome version of a card I blogged about back in February. This is actually less shiny than that card, because the regular version was printed on foilboard.
Here's a top tip for everyone. When this card arrived, the front was filthy. Like, really grimy with dust particles stuck to it. My wife Cathy suggested I use some glasses cleaner on it, so I sprayed some of the solution onto the soft glasses cloth and gently wiped the surface of the card. It lifted the dirt clean off and restored the card to a nice sheen.
The back didn't need cleaning. Tony appears to be gritting his teeth in the photo.
Card Number 657: Topps Stadium Club Chrome, 2000; #137
This was issued as a standalone set in 2000 instead of chrome parallel cards being included in the regular release of Stadium Club. This was also the last standalone Stadium Club Chrome release until the 2020 release last year - which also featured a Tony Gwynn card!
The front is the same picture as the regular Stadium Club card.
The back almost indistinguishable from the regular release. It doesn't even have the Chrom logo on there. The card stock is a bit different and that's it.
In one sense adding parallels to the collection is a bit dull. But Chrome cards are probably the shiniest dull cards to add.
Total: 657 cards
I'm kinda torn on Stadium Club Chrome. On one hand... I like Stadium Club and having a Chrome version usually means there are refractor versions. That's why I don't mind the 2000 set. But these days Topps continues to just release product after product after product without taking the time to consider quality. That's why I wish they would have just kept it as an insert in 2020. I know why they don't... they can print just about anything and people will buy it. But not sure it's the best thing for collectors in the long run.
ReplyDeleteIt's the joy of living through Junk Wax II: The Revenge of Chrome.
Delete