2011 Topps Monopoly Preview Images

PART ONE:

Today Topps released preview images for yet another 2011 debut release. Topps Monopoly will be the last set released for the calendar year, and is tentatively scheduled to be released in mid-December. Obviously, this set is a nod to both the classic Parker Brothers board game, and a tongue-in-cheek jab about Topps’ status as the only licensed producer of MLB trading cards.

Joey Votto New York Ave. parallel #'d /50

This looks like it’s going to be a fairly high-end product, with a limited print run. Every single card in the set is a refractor, and they’re all serially numbered. The base set is complicated, as each of the addresses in the iconic board game are represented in card form, and work as a series of parallels. The more expensive and exclusive the property, the lower the numbering on the card will be.

Cliff Lee Baltic Ave. base #'d /199

Jose Bautista Park Place parallel #'d /10

Along with plenty of shine, collectors can also look forward to an impressive, although yet to be determined autograph checklist. All autographs with the exception of the 1/1 Free Parking parallels will only be available via redemption, and there’s also another catch… you won’t know who you have pulled an autograph card of until you redeem it online.

Chance Card autograph redemption

Community Chest autographed relic redemption

This is also the first ever set to feature game-used memorabilia from baseball’s barnstorming era, as all of the railroad cards feature exhibition game worn memorabilia of some of the game’s most iconic players including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Satchel Paige!

Babe Ruth Reading Railroad relic

Topps got cute with the Water Works theme, and turned it into a relic set featuring game used home run balls from shots that splashed themselves into San Francisco’s famous McCovey Cove.

Pablo Sandoval Waterworks relic

Each box of Topps Monopoly will include 4 packs of 4 cards, 3 of which will be base cards, and one game used, redemption card or 1/1 autograph. That’s 4 pretty nice hits per box, but from the looks of it, this set is too rich for my blood, especially since some of the redemption cards are actually for nothing at all. In fact, Topps is now flaunting the fact that some boxes will be shorted hits.

Chance Card Go To Jail/shorted hit

Along with these risky redemptions are some of the most beautiful, on-card 1/1 autographs I have seen in a long time. Topps didn’t mention the insert ratios for any of these cards yet, but if the set is only as large as the number of properties in the game, I can’t imagine these being more than one per 4 or 5 cases. I’m already drooling over this one, but there’s no way I’ll ever be able to afford it, and we all know I’m not gonna pull it.

Brooks Robinson Free Parking 1/1 parallel autograph

What do you guys think? Does this set look like a winner? I think the idea, while being extremely arrogant, is also pretty cool. The cards look great, and who wouldn’t want that Ruth relic, even if it does look fake! Topps has already announced about 45 baseball sets this year, so why not add one more to their Diamond Anniversary for good measure?

-b

*Yes, this is a joke. Topps, Parker Bros.,  please don’t sue!

PART 2:

On Friday, Topps released a few more preview images for their upcoming Monopoly release. This is really starting to look like a very high-end set, and definitely one that’s too rich for my blood. I can already tell you that I’ll definitely be gunning for a few of the Orioles autographs though, especially since they’re all on card.

Ichiro Electric Company Bat Relic

I’m guessing the unnumbered Electric Company bat relics are the ying to the Railroad jersey relic from last week’s teaser images’ yang. They look really good, and I’m especially fond of the rough, hand-drawn look that the light bulb window has to it. It really does look almost exactly like the original from the Monopoly game itself.

Luxury Tax Redemption

This is interesting… so not only are a certain number of boxes going to be shorted a hit, but you may end up owing Topps additional money as well? I wonder if this is some sort of secret redemption card? Otherwise, why would anyone log on and actually send Topps more money?

Stan Musial Monopoly Bucks

Rumor has it that these will be one per case rip cards that actually contain cash money that matches the denomination on the front. I wonder if this will be a 1/1, since $500 bills are pretty tough to come by. It’s all about the McKinleys baby! Topps has done this before, a few years ago, with Topps Treasury Basketball. I like the idea, and would definitely be amped to immediately recoup some of my purchase in the form of cash money, but these will probably be worth much more if they’re unripped, just like with Allen & Ginter.

Albert Pujols Electric Company Bat Relic Auto Booklet 1/1

Oh my! Look at that glorious autograph! It’s freaking huge! It finally looks like Topps is giving collectors what they want, even though most of us won’t be able to afford it. I’d imagine this beast would fetch a pretty penny on eBay. Guess we’ll get to find out early next year.

Jason Heyward base parallel autograph #'d /25

For base autographs, these look fantastic. When you pull a base autograph redemption, you don’t know who the player is, or what the card will be numbered to. It could be a Park Place #’d /10, or a Baltic Avenue #’d /199. I think this is a pretty big risk on the part of Topps, and yet another example of redemptions gone too far. Can’t you let us know who’s in a set before it’s released? Regardless, these cards are so nice looking, that I doubt a lot of collectors will mind, especially if the checklist is strong.

A lot is still unknown about this set, like its exact release date, full checklist, or pack-out configuration, but from what I’ve seen it looks absolutely incredible. There’s also no word yet on MSRP, but it would surprise me if a box of this stuff was less than $300-$400. Definitely too much for this collector, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As with every high-end set, I’m sure there will be some singles for sale on the cheap.

-b

*Yes, just like last time, this is still not a real card set. Once again, Topps, Parker Bros., please don’t sue!

PART 3:

Topps was kind enough to drop us a few more preview images of their upcoming Monopoly release, so we figured we’d return the favor and be kind enough to share them with you. The 3 err…. 7 cards (technically) that you are about to see are all from the all one-of-one Top Hat Cut Signatures insert set. Topps really went all out here, and from what I’ve heard, every single cut auto in this product will be a double booklet, or more. That’s right, no solo cuts in the whole product.

Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef & Eli Wallach "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" triple cut

I realize the cuts are kind of hard to see here, so the individual scans of each card are below. We received a file that was quite large, but WordPress compresses everything to the max size it can display upon import. Lucky for us, we know how to chop images up in photoshop.

Clint Eastwood "The Good" cut auto

Lee Van Cleef "The Bad" cut auto

Eli Wallach "The Ugly" cut auto

Wow. This has to be one of the nicest cut autographs I’ve ever seen. Not only is this one of mine (any my wife’s) favorite movies of all-time, but the card is also well designed. Finally, someone listened to collectors and included a freaking image of the player(s), or in this case, actors. As to what a triple cut of one of the best western movies ever is doing in a baseball set based on the Monopoly board game, well, two of the guys on this particular card are wearing hats, and that has to count for something. I guess.

Michael Eisner/John D. Rockefeller dual cut auto

When I opened my email, I thought this card was a joke. It has to be, right? I mean who would be brazen enough to actually brand themselves as a Monopolist? Granted, the comparisons to Rockefeller, especially from a business standpoint, are definitely flattering, but to me, this smacks of pure arrogance. Sweet Mickey ears though.

Jesus Christ/Bryce Harper dual cut auto

Rarer than rare 1/1 error card of a 1/1, or sad but true statement about the modern hobby? You tell me Topps, you tell me. I think this one was made just for dayf. Since he won’t pull it from Gintacuffs, he’d better be holding out hope that someone comes up with Monopowars or something, and fast.

I’m kind of getting tired of this set and it’s boring concept. I mean, the cards look nice, but people don’t really want an all-refractor, all on-card autograph baseball set, do they? I mean, there aren’t any flower cards in it, and I don’t even think Guy Fieri is even on the checklist.

Lame.

-b

*Yes, still a joke, and a funny one that that.