It’s Back...and Topps Total(ly) Sucks
A few days ago the Topps twitter account teased Topps Total.
Topps Total was a product that was produced more than 10 years ago. It was a low-end product with a huge checklist that approached 1,000 cards.
As a team collector I absolutely loved Topps Total because it featured players from the Cubs roster that didn’t get many cards from the other releases. Think relievers and bench guys.
So, as a Cubs super collector I was excited to hear that Topps was bringing back Topps Total.
And then I wasn’t. Topps Total has a huge checklist and should be a low-end product. It’s a pretty bland design....and it features bench guys.
But Topps screwed this return big time. Topps has released the 900-card set as an online-only product, which is fine. What is not okay is how it’s being released. In 10-Card packs for...$10. That’s right, $1 per card. Ouch!
Not only that, there will be serial numbered cards inserted into packs, so it will take more packs than normal (even with perfect collation - and like that ever happens) to get the complete set.
Topps Total will also be a limited release in nine different waves of 100 cards.
I can’t think of a worse way to release a low-end product like this. Absolutely horrendous. I will certainly not be buying any of this direct from Topps, and will only seek out Cubs if I can buy them for $1 per card on the secondary market. This product gets a grade of F.
Wave 1 Checklist (Cubs in BOLD)
1. Mike Trout
2. Fernando Tatis Jr.
3. Odubel Herrera
4. Will Smith
5. Reyes Moronta
6. J.D. Davis
7. Greg Allen
8. Zack Wheeler
9. Patrick Corbin
10. Dan Straily
11. Matt Festa
12. Anthony Rizzo
13. Marco Gonzales
14. Adam Morgan
15. Daniel Stumpf
16. Clayton Kershaw
17. Trevor Rosenthal
18. Byron Buxton
19. David Robertson
20. Tyler Thornburg
21. JT Riddle
22. Steve Cishek
23. Ben Gamel
24. Matt Andriese
25. Trevor May
26. Justin Smoak
27. David Freese
28. Nick Margevicius
29. Melky Cabrera
30. Austin Barnes
31. Daniel Descalso
32. Tyler Glasnow
33. Hanser Alberto
34. Tyler Austin
35. Kyle Hendricks
36. Max Stassi
37. Adalberto Mondesi
38. Chris Stratton
39. Devon Travis
40. Jordan Zimmerman
41. Zack Cozart
42. Dereck Rodriguez
43. Niko Goodrum
44. Wandy Peralta
45. Wilmer Flores
46. Jake Petricka
47. Trevor Bauer
48. Chad Bettis
49. German Marquez
50. Michael Brantley
51. Jordan Hicks
52. Ender Inciarte
53. Chris Davis
54. Pablo Lopez
55. Josh Phegley
56. Martin Perez
57. James McCann
58. Yusmeiro Petit
59. Raimel Tapia
60. Caleb Joseph
61. Sonny Gray
62. Dominic Leone
63. Jose Peraza
64. Victor Robles
65. Aaron Nola
66. Clint Frazier
67. Mike Tauchman
68. Neil Walker
69. Jose De Leon
70. Stephen Piscotty
71. Isiah Kiner-Falefa
72. Mitch Moreland
73. Blake Parker
74. Alex Colome
75. Willy Adames
76. Francisco Mejia
77. Joey Gallo
78. Kenley Jansen
79. Jaime Barria
80. Aroldis Chapman
81. Arodys Vizcaino
82. Travis d’Arnaud
83. Alex Gordon
84. Chris Devenski
85. Adam Engel
86. Jay Bruce
87. Brad Boxberger
88. Charlie Culberson
89. Ronald Guzman
90. Jason Martin
91. Jameson Taillon
92. Josh Harrison
93. Manuel Margot
94. Trevor Williams
95. Tyler O’Neill
96. Jesus Aguilar
97. Danny Jansen
98. Steve Pearce
99. Max Moroff
100. Ronald Acuna Jr.