One of Topps’ most buzzworthy products has hit the shelves in the form of 2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball. The collecting community has engaged in a spirited debate over the set’s inclusion of celebrities, entertainers, and even an egg alongside Major League Baseball stars. Whether it is entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, Yahoo Sports personality Mike Oz, or former Double Dare host Marc Summers, this year’s Allen and Ginter Baseball has plenty to keep a wide range of fans happy.
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball Base Set, Short Prints, and Checklist
Allen and Ginter’s exceptional design is the main reason why the set remains popular with collectors. The painted posed shots position the players in an attractive way that stands out against the rest of Topps’ releases. Our review box yielded this year’s four top upstarts—Pete Alonso, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jeff McNeil, and Fernando Tatis Jr.
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball / Topps
The 350-card set contains 50 short prints, numbered 351-400. The numbering gap is a quirk that collectors should be aware of when collating their sets. The base cards only have two parallels—Gold Hot Box parallels and 1/1 Glossy cards.
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball Minis / Topps
Each pack also contains one mini card. These minis are where Allen and Ginter hide the variations. Base and short-print minis feature the following variations - A&G Logo Back, Black, No Number, Brooklyn Back (#/25), Gold, Wood 1/1, Glossy 1/1, Framed Printing Plates 1/1.
To rip or not to rip? That is the question for collectors who land a serial numbered rip card. Inside these rip cards are short-printed stained-glass minis, metal minis, or red mini autographs. The lure of what hides behind the rip cards are enough to push collectors to carefully tear apart the sealed card in search of a bigger hit.
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Inserts / Topps
Full-sized baseball-themed inserts include the Baseball Star Signs and Ginter Greats cards. Incredible Equipment, Mares and Stallions, and History of Flight are some of the non-sports insert sets. Mini inserts highlight Collectible Canines, Trains, Blue Ribbon Contests. As an added twist, some In Bloom Mini cards can be planted and grown. How’s that for a collectible?
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Inserts / Topps
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Inserts / Topps
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball Relics and Autographs
Each box guarantees a mix of three relics or autographs, with most being framed minis. A select few have standard signed cards, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Yusei Kikuchi. Serial numbered single and dual autographed book cards make for great display pieces.
There are two different standard sized MLB relic cards, and hobby boxes contain framed mini relics of players matched up with subway tokens, as well as fossil and arrowhead relics.
The box provided for this review yielded three relics, one of which was from Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Relics / Topps
2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball Box Break and Final Thoughts
Collectors have been loud on social media voicing their love or hate for this set. Some have embraced the diversity of Allen and Ginter; however, others can’t fathom non-baseball players with cards alongside their cardboard heroes. Despite the noise, this set gives collectors a welcome diversion from the hardcore prospecting of Topps’ other releases. Listening to Mike Oz share the joy of being in the 2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball set is a compelling reason enough to add a box to your collection.
Heading to the National Sports Collectors Convention? In our latest for Forbes, we break down some often-overlooked survival tips for attending the collecting "World Series" that is known as the National.
Do you have some tips for first-timers, as well as veterans who are checking out the National? Feel free to leave them in the comments below.
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Base Set and Parallels
The 301-card base set contains an array of interesting parallels. Collectors will find red and black logo parallels, as well as toned (sepia or black and white) cards. Scarcer variations contain Members Only or First Day Issue insignias. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Pete Alonso rookie cards set alongside the fabulous legends cards will create intrigue for collectors of all ages.
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Base Set / Topps
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Base Set / Topps
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Parallels / Topps
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Inserts
Ninety different subjects make up the Chrome Insert set (1:16 packs), with these inserts coming in scarcer colored refractor versions (Orange #/99, Gold Minted, and 1/1 SuperFractors). The Chrome inserts feature different photos than the base set, giving collectors a second attractive card of their favorite player to track down. Other insert sets include Beam Team, Emperors of the Zone, Power Zone, and Warp Speed—all coming with multiple colored parallels.
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Inserts
Another bonus is the oversized box topper cards. Measuring approximately 4”x6” these blowups make a beautiful display for a desk or a shelf.
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Box Topper / Topps
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Autographs
Topps guarantees two on-card autographs in each box. A majority of collectors will wind up with autographed base cards as pictured below; however, some with extreme luck will find signed versions of Stadium Club inserts, or Co-Signers Autographs that are serial-numbered to 10 or less.
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Autographs / Topps
2019 Box Break and Final Thoughts
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball / Topps
While the baseball card manufacturer has returned to a familiar set of Hall of Famers for 2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball, the rarely seen photos keep the legends fresh. When they are paired with the current players, the set is masterful in capturing their excitement, grace, and skill. The combination makes 2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball the high-water mark for Topps' annual releases.
Don Mossi, one of the last living members of the Cleveland Indians 1954 American League Championship team, died July 19, 2019 in Nampa, Idaho as per his daughter Linda Mossi Tubbs. He was 90.
Mossi signed with the Indians in 1949 from Jefferson High School in Daly City, California. They immediately placed him with their Class C team in Bakersfield, keeping the California native within the confines of his home state to develop his talent. The move paid off, as Mossi worked his way to the big league club five years later, right in time for a pennant run.
Don Mossi / Topps
The left-hander joined the Indians in 1954, integrating himself into a dominant pitching staff that included Hall of Famers Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, and Hal Newhouser. Mossi partnered with Ray Narleski to form a relief combo that sealed many of the Indians 104 victories.
“You'll never have a staff like that ever put together again,” Narleski said in a phone interview from his New Jersey home in 2008. “You had four 20-game-winners. Then you had Art Houtteman and Hal Newhouser; that's six of 'em. Then you had Mossi, myself, Hoskins, and Hooper.”
While most players would relish getting the Feller and Lemon off the mound, the site of Mossi and company coming in from the bullpen provided little relief for their opponents.
“Going into Cleveland—that was a tough weekend. You had a four-game series in Cleveland; you had Lemon, Wynn, Garcia, and Feller. Then they had Narleski and Mossi as their wrap-up guys. … It was a comfortable oh-for-twelve on that weekend,” Billy Hunter said to Gene Fehler in “When Baseball Was Still King.”
Mossi pitched four scoreless in three appearances for the Indians during the 1954 World Series. While the New York Giants prevailed, Mossi made a powerful statement to the rest of the league with a 1.94 ERA during his rookie season.
The lefty earned an All-Star selection in 1957 after he converted to a starting pitcher with the Indians. He pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in the Midsummer Classic. He was traded after the 1958 season with Narleski to the Detroit Tigers for Billy Martin and Al Cicotte.
Mossi immediately made an impact in Detroit, spinning a career-best 17-9 record on the mound in 1959. He played five seasons there before finishing his last two seasons with the Chicago White Sox in 1964 and the Kansas City Athletics in 1965. He posted a career record of 101-80 with a 3.43 ERA in 460 appearances.
Topps’ choice of Cal Ripken Jr. to headline 2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball is a bet on the product matching the Hall of Famer’s legendary consistency and reliability. Serving as a Topps staple for both design and intrigue, 2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball delivers a premium experience that offers a luxurious payoff.
2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball / Topps
2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball Base Set, Inserts, and Checklist
The 100-card base set is fitted with a silver design, offering an immediate pop when they come out of the pack. The set is a mix of rookies, veterans, and retired players that will please a diverse group of collectors. Each pack also comes with one parallel card in Copper, Sapphire (#/150), Amethyst (#/99), Ruby (#/50) and Emerald (1/1) versions. Click here for the complete checklist.
2019 Topps Museum Collection Base Set / Topps
2019 Topps Museum Collection Parallels / Topps
2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball Autographs
Each box of 2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball contains four mini-boxes, each with either a relic or an autograph. Two autographed cards comprised half of the hits in the box Topps provided for this review.
The base Archival Autographs set comes with an impressive lineup that includes Rookie of the Year favorites Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as well as Ichiro and Mike Trout. The case-hit Framed Autographs are even more impressive, with legends such as Hank Aaron, Derek Jeter, and Sandy Koufax dominating the list of signers. For the lucky few, a dual or triple autograph card if pulled from this product can easily be the centerpiece of any collection.
Our autographs included a Sean Manaea Archival Autograph, and an Eddie Rosario 2019 Topps Museum Collection Dual Jersey Autograph numbered to 50.
2019 Topps Museum Collection Eddie Rosario Gold Patch Autograph / Topps
2019 Topps Museum Collection Sean Manaea Archival Autograph / Topps
2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball Relics
Some of Topps’ most creative relic work comes in their Museum Collection set. The multi-player quad relics focus on four stars from one team, each with a small piece in the middle from each player. As an added twist this year, Topps slid in one quad relic of four Japanese players (Ichiro, Ohtani, Tanaka, and Matsui) on the same card. For the player collectors, Topps included quad relics from both active and retired players, as well as the single relic Meaningful Materials cards. Super collectors will be busy chasing down 1/1 bat relics from the Jumbo Lumber nameplate set.
Our two relics included a Johnny Cueto Gold Meaningful Materials patch numbered to 25 and a Yankees quad relic numbered to 99.
2019 Topps Museum Collection Quad Patch Relic / Topps
2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball Box Break and Final Thoughts
Topps has created a streak of exciting experiences with Museum Collection that would make Cal Ripken Jr. proud. Topps has upgraded from the 2018 set, making these cards look and feel even more like a collectible the moment they reach your hands. The patch and relic cards are a well-designed entry point for collectors who want a premium display that is within financial reach. With hobby boxes settling in at the $200 range, 2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball is a drive that collectors should strongly consider taking.
Mike Oz has a knack for keeping it fresh. Whether he is running his "Old Baseball Cards" show for Yahoo! Sports, organizing the Taco Truck Throwdown, or hosting his radio show on KFRR 104.1 FM, Oz has put quality content at a premium. He joined the Baseball Happenings Podcast to discuss how a kid who collected baseball cards starting in the 1980s finally came to have his own in 2019 Topps Allen and Ginter.
An idea that started from looking at sealed baseball card packs in his garage four years ago, led to the iconic baseball card manufacturer Topps taking major notice. As Oz grew "Old Baseball Cards," to include the likes of Andre Dawson, Randy Johnson, and Manny Machado chopping it up while opening packs, Topps made a move that Oz never envisioned.
In our 30 minute Baseball Happenings Podcast interview, Oz explains the surprisingly intense process of signing his official cards, what made "Old Baseball Cards" take off, and his love for hip hop music.
