Wednesday, January 23, 2008

1988 Topps Gallery of Champions

OK, folks. Here is the first big special item we're giving away.


This is a set of 12 replica cards, embossed into nice heavy aluminum. The cards are all taken from the 1988 Topps set, and were selected based on award winners, such as MVPs, batting champs, slugging champs, strikeout leaders, Cy Young, Firemen of the year, etc.

The cards are one-quarter the size of the regular cards, meaning instead of 3.5" by 2.5", they are 1.75" by 1.25", and they are embossed with both the front and back of the original cards.

Here is the front and back of the Tony Gwynn card to give you an idea:



Topps also made this set in a bronze & silver version, which is worth quite a bit more since it includes precious metals. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Topps made a similar set in 1986, but not in any other years.

Here's a photo showing the original box, the case itself, and the lamest certificate of authenticity you'll ever see.


Later today, I will post all the cards from the set. In the meantime, though, does anybody have any suggestions for a good contest to use to give THIS away?

11 comments:

Erik Wallace said...

Why not have people name their favorite set of cards and why from and set printed in the 80's. You can pick your favorite of the responses. I'll start: 1986 Topps. I'm a designer and I love the simple black background with the huge team names across the top. In my opinion this set still looks great today.

Andy said...

Thanks for the suggestion Erik, but I'd rather not leave it up to my personal opinion. At the very least, we'll do a random number guess like I did with cards 1-25.

Scott Mortimer said...

From a collector's standpoint, the 86 Topps were excruciatingly frustrating -- the black borders always showed the slightest scuff, dig, nick.

Personally my favorite is the 83 Topps. Great looking cards and cool subsets.

Andy said...

Although I've already said I'm not taking Erik's suggestion, I'll add that my favorite is also 1983 Topps. I always have thought the design was slick..in the 80s, in the 90s, and even now. That really says something. And yeah, 86 Topps sucked even more than 87 Donruss but not as much as 85 Donruss (from a collecting standpoint.)
I also like 88 Fleer, though, so who knows?

mmosley said...

How about some kind of scavenger hunt for info on the backs of the 1988 cards you have posted. You could have people find numbers and put them into some diabolical equation. Pick the winner randomnly from all those who take the time do it correctly.

Andy said...

I've got the contest in mind now. I'll post it tonight or tomorrow.

sruchris said...

If I remember correctly, Topps made these sets in 1985-1991.

Andy said...

Oh yeah? I'm not able to find any other than 1986 and 1988 on eBay. Anybody else have any info on this?

Andy said...

Lo and behold, I just checked eBay again, and Chris is right.

Unknown said...

I have a complete set of 12 mini cards in a box it came to me in. It's not bronze. No coa came with it. This a 1988 topps gallery of champions. I believe it to be aluminum set. What other way to identify this Set if it is the silver set? It would have been nice had they labeled it better.

Unknown said...

I have this Item and I am only 12 years old.