2021 Topps vs 1954 Bowman

 Yeah, I did it anyways. I said for months that I wasn't going to buy the traditional Hobby Jumbo box of Topps because I hated the design. And after seeing it in person, I still hate the design. But I bought it anyways because... Tradition. But unlike my usual tradition, I've lost interest in showing a pack by pack breakdown. There simply wasn't 9 cards in each pack that I wanted to talk about. 

At the same time, another "new" product appeared at the card shop that caught my eye. So I came up with a plan... I'd buy an equal amount (in dollars) between the two lines, and let them battle it out for my affection! 

With that said, I present:

2021 Topps vs 1954 Bowman!

A few months ago, I wrote about a similar promotion where a 1955 Bowman set was broke into packs. This time around, a 1954 Bowman set was broke.

As the sticker states, these are not mint condition. If they were, they'd likely all be graded and a common would go for the price of this pack. Since I'll never open an original pack of 1954 Bowman, this is as close as I'll ever get. The top possible prize being the Mickey Mantle card, but there are plenty of other Hall of Famers and stars that could be had at a great price.

I keep asking Pal's about buyback autographs and SuperFractors, but they have yet to show up...

Obviously I'd be seeing a lot more cards out of the 2021 Topps box, with Juan Soto on the lid. I would take a lot more time to get through them, and decide what was scan-worthy. Unlike 1954 Bowman. All of those cards got scanned. Narrowing all that 2021 Topps down to the 59 cards that made the cut, was far too tedious. 

Pay no mind to that small stack of Darryl Strawberry cards, next to the 17 year old Mac G4 Powerbook.

Those are for a future story.

You probably wont like it...

The 2021 Topps Hobby Jumbo box displays nice...

I should have kept it sealed.

Okay, opening the first pack.

Who will be featured on the first 2021 baseball card I see?

Sixto Sanchez of the Miami Marlins. 

Not bad... Rookie card of a highly ranked player. Sanchez pitched well for the surprising 2020 fish, and regression is always a possibility for prospects, but I'm hoping he helps solidify their staff.

But damn do I hate this design...

All the extra unneeded shapes and gradients are a busy distracting mess.

That "70 Topps" silver foil box is too large.

The player name is criminally small. 

Names should be the easiest thing to read on a baseball card. But this font is smaller than even the Topps logo. Is Topps really trying to say their brand is more important than the player featured? Seems like a pretty Topps thing to do...

Congrats on the $340 million. This surprised me. Especially coming from the Padres. Actually, if Tatis continues to develop, this was a very shrewd move by San Diego. 

Here's another son of a former Montreal Expo. Hopefully all the weight he dropped this offseason will mean a bigger 2021. Statistically, not stomachly.

But even a slimmed down Vladdy Jr. should have no problem taking out Ronald Acuna Sr.'s son.

Speaking of...

I got one serial numbered parallel in this box. A dingy looking shade of green with sparkly effects, numbered out of 499. At least it's a star, since it's for a team I don't like. And haven't liked ever.

But did I like them 21 years before I was born?

1954 Bowman would offer up three examples, including Jim Wilson... A pretty average pitcher for the Red Sox, Athletics, Braves, Orioles and White Sox, between 1945 and 1958.

Longtime Boston and Milwaukee Brave, Del Crandall, showing off that rather huge Brave sleeve patch...

Finishing off the Braves three-way with Joe Adcock. Another Braves star from the 1950's. About the time they left Boston for Milwaukee, they had some pretty stacked teams. Even without Ted Turner beaming them nationwide on TBS! Since these are the MILWAUKEE Braves, instead of the Atlanta Braves, I don't hate them nearly as much! 

So that's a clear cut win for 1954 Bowman!

And all Topps can do is rub the damn Dodgers in my face...

But I'm cool with Kershaw. Even the teams you can't stand the most, should have a player you collect.

Unless it's the Braves.

And this card doesn't bother me as much as it should either. It would be better if that luxury SUV was running over Corey Seager, but I can accept it as just a backdrop.

I'm not aware of any luxury SUV's making a cameo in 1954 Bowman. That set does have some Dodgers, but these ones are from Brooklyn instead of Los Angeles. Since it would be nearly 40 years before they'd become a thorn in the Rockies side, I'm okay with liking these two cards.

Even Billy Loes, with the crease running through the sky and his hat. While holding the whitest baseball known to man.

I knew that Furillo was one of that era's more solid, yet unspectacular, players, from 1946 to 1960. But I didn't know the story behind the end of his career. He sued the Dodgers, after they released him while rehabbing a calf injury, claiming the team cut him due to the higher pension and medical expenses he would cost. Furillo won $21,000 in the suit, but never found another job in baseball.

Stark contrast from 1960, to how today's Player's Union wouldn't allow such a thing to happen.

Still, another point for 1954 Bowman!

So 2021 Topps brings out the big guns!

It's a good thing that Mike Trout is so easily recognizable, since his name is really hard to read. 

(Have I mentioned how much I hate these cards?)

And because Topps simply can't get over itself, for their 70 year anniversary...

Hold on, wait for it....

They are going to do something INCREDIBLY innovative!

Never before has Topps made a card set so bold and original!

They're taking the top stars of the last 70 years!

And putting them on different Topps designs of the last 70 years!

Oh my God!!

How did they ever come up with an idea like this one?

Today's stars on yesteryear's card designs?

I've never seen anything like this in the history of anything!

Now way! He played in the 1960's... But that's a 2019 Topps design!!

That's WEIRD!!

This is the most original, mind blowing, wacky zany nutty bonkers coo-coo thing Topps has ever done!

The thinking outside the box is so outside the box, it's in ANOTHER box!!

Anyways...

Tough to tell by the painted blurry photo, but I'm wondering if this is an early 1950's Forbes Field, or a Spring Training ballpark, behind Cal Abrams. That scoreboard is making me think of Pittsburgh.

Definitely not Pittsburgh, where Sid Gordon is standing. A lot of these photos appear to be shot in the Polo Grounds, in New York. This one does as well. 

Anyone have any other ideas?

This round isn't even a contest. Another point for 1954 Bowman.

Even considering Topps biggest innovation of the past 70 minutes.

Next up, baseball in our nation's capital!

As much as I hate to say it, I do have to compliment 2021 Topps on the photography. On the whole, the colors are a lot brighter and less muted as the 2019 and 2020 sets were. It's just too bad the design is so terrible that I immediately have to deduct any points I thought about giving them.

Of course, Topps Pitcher Face is back for 2021. Another chance to make Scherzer's multi-colored eyeballs look even freakier. Although, not more than his nipple, which is threatening to puncture his Nationals jersey.

Found this advertisement when Laura and I were in Washington DC, in September 2019. 

Those eyes are insane.

Starting to think Topps accidentally dipped into the Stadium Club photo pool by accident. Pictures this nice shouldn't be wasted on a design this awful.

What does 1954 Bowman have to offer in terms of Senators baseball?

Jerry Snyder doesn't know how to sign his name, so Bowman typed it out for him. That was nice of them to do. 

I like the big block W on the Senators jerseys. Almost as much as that zipper going up the front. That's a lot more innovative than anything in 2021 Topps...

Think I need a vintage Senators jersey. That W is awesome.

And it could stand for anything...

Washington...

Wallace...

Wasted Quarter...

Weetpenervittles...

When the 1961 season started, these Senators had moved to Minnesota, to become the Twins. Although, none of the Senators in 1954 Bowman were still around in 1961. 2021 Topps has the Twins pretty well covered.

Including a team card featuring the outfielders pretending to shoot hoops.

Twins fans can breathe easier knowing that Nelson Cruz will be back for 2021. He may be closer to my age the rest of the team, but his production has been extraordinary since signing with Minnesota before the 2019 season. If he keeps going at this pace, he could play until he's my (current) age. I'd just advise Minnesota to continue with the 1 year contracts. 

After all, they still have 3 more years of paying this guy almost two Nelson Cruzes, each season. Donaldson was fine when he played, but he didn't play enough to justify that salary. Hopefully he's healthy for 2021, and we can see at least 135 games from him at third base.

It's probably asking too much for 135 games in center field from this guy. But if that were to happen, along with Cruz and Donaldson putting up numbers they're capable of, those scary White Sox wont stand a chance.

That's a big if...

Buxton always has really nice cards each year. Even with this ugly border trying to ruin it.

See... Awesome photo that should be on a much nicer looking card.

I wont have overly massive expectations and expect Kenta Maeda to win the 2021 Cy Young Award. Just another second place finish would be just fine by me!

I feel sorry for Jake Odorizzi. He was a good pitcher over the last few years in Minnesota. After the 2019 season, he hit free agency, but accepted Minnesota's qualifying offer, instead of trying for a multi-year deal for the big cash. Looking at the 2021 free agents, he gambled at a better chance after another year. Unfortunately, his 2020 season was sabotaged by injuries, and his desired 3 year deal for $15 million a season, has not materialized.

As of this writing, he still hasn't signed with a major league team. (Sure, as I'm getting ready to post this, he signs a 2 year deal with the Houston Astros... Boooooo...) Minnesota has moved on to other pitchers, so he wont likely be back. Which sucks because I liked him, and thought he was a good fit with the Twins.

2021 Topps Series One included most of the Twins veteran stars. Unfortunately, this group of veteran stars has continued the Twins new tradition of losing every game in the postseason. Dating back to 2004, Minnesota has lost 18 consecutive playoff games.

Too many of which, were to the New York Yankees...

Uh-Oh!!!

Look out Max! Here comes big bad Aaron Judge of those evil New York Yankees! Suckerpunching the Twins -yet again- with a new card review run-in!

And Judge is bringing a swarm of his 2020 Panini Chronicles friends with him! With a whole buncha new arrivals to the collection, from my second favorite baseball card set of 2020. 

Like these sparkley Aristides Aquino and Francisco Lindor parallels.

Don't count out Jonathan Hernandez and David Bote... Both in autographed form!

Tyrone Taylor with a brilliant gold jersey swatch…

And his future Milwaukee teammate, Tristen Lutz, shows up with a sweet 4 color patch autograph.

Yes, at first glance, it’s only 3 colors. However, if you look very close, you can see a tiny sliver of gold at the bottom of the cut out window.

But Max Kepler powers up for all of Germany, and immediately shuts down all of the unlicensed logoless interlopers, with this beautiful autographed Topps Chrome Black Green Refractor. A set too cost prohibitive to buy ($160 for a 4 card pack??), but singles like this are a must have!

With the insurgency squashed, 2021 Topps picks back up with it’s big Hobby Jumbo Box hit…

WHO?!?!?!

It’s so much easier to talk about any cards that are NOT 2021 Topps…

More 1954 Bowman then!!!

If Keegan Akin was 66 years older, he could have debut for the Orioles with these two as his teammates:

Shortstop William Hunter, batted only .219 over six Major League seasons, between 1953 and 1958. But he's the first 1954 Bowman card of a player that is still alive today! William will turn 93 in June. The stories he could tell...

Here's an interesting one... Johnny Groth (who is also still alive, and 94 years old) played for the St. Louis Browns in 1953, but was traded to the Chicago White Sox in early February, 1954 (for future Twins manager, Sam Mele). The Browns moved to Baltimore after the 1953 season, so Groth never wore the Orioles uniform he is pictured wearing. 

You know what that means...

Bowman was the baseball card pioneers in the field of Photoshoppery! I thought that no legged Oriole on Groth's cap looked rather weak...

But if the real Orioles were playing against the Detroit Tigers, they may end up facing Ned Garver. 

Who used to play for the Orioles, back when they were known as the St. Louis Browns. 1954 was probably Garver's best season, when he went 14-11 with a 2.81 ERA, for the Tigers.

But 2021 Topps counters that with a Detroit Tigers Short Print:

(Hint: It's the card on the right...)

Duelling Miggey’s are cool, but there’s one question that I’m sure you’re all dying to know…

Just how many times can Topps cram the word Topps onto a single baseball card?

That’s six, just on the front side alone!

Fevered ego much Topps?

2021 Topps closes out this arbitrary round with a Mike Piazza card, die-cut to look like the number 70. Should be interesting and/or novel, but it just kind of bores me. 

That being said, an autograph of a rookie pitcher I've never heard of, combined with a Short Print of a future Hall of Famer (and player I collect) and a little low level narcissism, is enough to beat two 1954 common Orioles and a Tigers semi-star. 

Sorry 1954 Bowman, this wont be a clean sweep. Which is fair.

The New York Mets didn't exist in 1954, but the New York Giants did. 

They are represented by Ebbe St. Claire. A backup catcher for the Braves and Giants, between 1951 and 1954.

And second baseman, Dave Williams. Who is stuck inside a cartoon version of the Polo Grounds. One with no seats. Just a big green bar blending into the upper deck, in one of the weird interpretations of perspective I've ever seen on a vintage baseball card. Reminds me of the Polo Grounds that was adapted for the famous Bugs Bunny baseball cartoon around this time...

2021 Topps offers up a pair of San Francisco Giants catchers, neither of whom are Buster Posey:

First up is Chadwick Tromp.

Rather unfortunate surname, given the current economic climate of the country... 

And Joey Bart. Who made his highly anticipated Major League Debut in 2020, but didn't set the world on fire. He also (so far) hasn't been traded to the Colorado Rockies, as I've spent the last two plus seasons lobbying for. 

I blame Jeff Bridich. The trade was right there! Instead, Bridich released Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw, Ian Desmond decided he didn't want to play anymore, leaving just this guy...

Wade Davis turned in his third awful year of a three year contract. One that paid him in upwards of $50 million. Unlike McGee and Shaw, Davis lasted the full partial 2020 season in Colorado, and it was his worst of the three. I'd say it was a no brainer to not re-sign him, but I wouldn't put anything past Bridich. Davis ended up back with the Royals, on a minor league contract.

If only Bridich just made the trade I suggested, Colorado might be in better shape today...

Not like the Giants were going to turn down an offer Davis, McGee, Shaw and Desmond for Bart. I'm certain they would have even paid the rest of the money on their contracts.

Such a terrible General Manager...

I didn't pull any Colorado Rockies from the packs of 1954 Bowman (no Expos either), so it'll be tough for that set to earn another point in this round. 

But the Rockies weren't around in 1986 either, yet I got Topps cards for them...

That Arenado makes me sad, while that Trevor Story card is all sorts of awesome, with all the cardboard cut-out Rockies cheering him on.

Story will be a Texas Ranger at this time next year. That seems to be the most likely spot for him after his final lame duck season in Denver. 

Unless Bridich trades him to the Royals for Wade Davis...

It's almost like 2021 Topps is trying to rub the Arenado trade in my face by putting him on as many cards as they could. He even gets more space on Charlie Blackmon's card than Blackmon does. Good thing I got two! Strange that Nolan didn't appear on the Rockies team card. Even Topps knew Arenado wasn't going to be around in 2021...

Sure would have helped the team had Gray developed into a competent Major League pitcher. I still have hope that he'll put it together one season, but that likely will never happen in Denver. I wouldn't complain if he ended up on the Twins...

Hey Bridich, Minnesota is offering Joe Mauer's old hat for him!

Jump on that!

There's Nolan again, this time on his own 2021 Topps card. With that stupid design reaching down and strangling him. I'm glad Topps included him in Series One. Just so I can have one final Arenado Rockies card, with all of his Colorado statistics on the back.

That same principle applies to Francisco Lindor. Cleveland trading him after the 2020 season was a foregone conclusion, with where being the only question. The New York Mets ended up winning that prize, but Topps still made a final Lindor Indians card, with all of his Cleveland statistics on the back. That way he can start fresh with a Mets card in Series Two.

Which I will say right now that I'm not going to buy...

But I probably will anyways...

Poor Lindor wont get to be teammates with the Major Leagues only Stick Figure anymore...

Wonder how McKenzie will hold up over a full 162 game season, weighing only a buck o' five?

Hopefully he can use some of his per diem to buy himself a sammich!

1954 Bowman didn’t offer up any Cleveland Indians, but they did provide Bill Pierce of the White Sox! Pierce was a top starter for the Sox from 1949-1961, bookended by a couple seasons in Detroit and San Francisco. He pitched to a 211-169 record, over 18 seasons.

Bill Serena was a power hitting backup infielder for the Cubs, between 1949 and 1954.

Both of whom are better than those 2021 Indians.

1954 Bowman also didn’t provide any Boston Red Sox, which is fine. Because 2021 Topps had plenty of them.

Including top prospect Bobby Dalbec, with a nice empty stadium shot.

And new Kansas City Royal, Andrew Benintendi. Shown here in another photo that would have been better served for a Stadium Club card. But since he was traded in February, they wouldn’t be able to use this picture without Photoshopping the living crap out of it. 

Which I would not put past Topps…

What does 1954 Bowman have to say? 

A Smokey Burgess!

I really like this card. The catching pose in front of the stands at a ballpark I can’t recognize. Plus, Burgess is a longtime catcher that played 18 Major League seasons. I mainly knew him as a Pirate, didn’t know he spent 3+ seasons in Philadelphia.

Those trees look straight out of Super Mario World...

Speaking of Philadelphia, the Athletics played their final season in Philly in 1954. They’d move west to Kansas City for the 1955 season, which would be Marion Fricano’s last season in the Major Leagues. Although he bounced around the minor leagues until retiring after the 1961 season.

The Kansas City Athletics lasted only through 1967, before they continued their westward migration, all the way to Oakland in 1968.

Two years later, the expansion Kansas City Royals began play. They’re still around, and I don’t think there’s ever been any strong rumors of them leaving Kansas City. Unlike their 1969 expansion brothers in Montreal and Seattle, but that’s another story for another day...

2021 Topps gave Royals catcher Salvador Perez one of my favorite cards in the set. Excellent use of framing and not allowing any space on the card to be wasted.

Also have to voice my approval for the Alex Gordon. The longtime Royal played his entire 14 year career in blue. And it’s nice to have a final Topps card with his entire career statistics listed. Much like the Arenado and Lindor card, but not like them because their careers are moving onto other cities.

At least for a few games in 2020, Gordon got to be teammates with Kris Bubic!

Bubic is pronounced BOOB-itch. 

Think I’m starting to like the Royals…

Still, gotta award the points to 1954 Bowman before we move onto the next round…

Yes, it's the real reason I bought the box… The two 4 card Silver packs!

Something tells me that 1954 Bowman won’t be competing with the Silver packs. After all, I didn’t get even a single refractor out of 1954 Bowman…

But these two are not a very good start for 2021 Topps.

These two are better. And the Twins fan in me is VERY happy to see Lindor out of the American League.

Talk about a thorn in the side...

Up and coming Brewers second baseman will be moving to first, since Milwaukee signed a better second baseman this winter. I don’t think I got any Kolten Wong cards from 2021 Topps. If I did, I certainly didn’t scan them.

I’ve gone this far without even mentioning the insane offseason the San Diego Padres just went through. Patino went from being one of the Padres top prospects to the youngest Tampa Bay Ray starting pitcher. They got former Cy Young winner, Blake Snell for him.

And they needed Snell (and Yu Darvish… And Joe Musgrove…) to replace Mike Clevinger (and his hair cape) who came down with an acute case of Tommy John Surgery. 

Since the Rockies have gone deep down the toilet, I’m actively rooting for the Padres to knock the Dodgers out of first place. You guys got your World Series, now just go away!

Final card from the Silver packs…

A Reds catcher…

Okay…

1954??

Ken Raffensberger!

This would be his last card, after a 15 year pitching career. Cincinnati released him in June 1954, but he’d been pitching with the Cardinals, Cubs and Phillies since 1939. Several of those years were spent with fellow rotation mate:

Joe Nuxhall!

Forever known as the youngest player to ever appear in a Major League game, Nuxhall pitched 2/3 of an inning for the Reds in 1944, when he was only 15 years old. However, it took all the way until 1952 before he made his second appearance in the majors. At the ripe old age of 23. He lasted in the big leagues until 1966, when he retired at 37 years of age.

That kind of significance makes this round an easy win for 1954 Bowman!

I really like this photo. There's nothing special or notable about it, but I like the color and contrast. In general, 2021 Topps has overall better looking photos than the last couple of years. Too bad they're ruined by the shapes invading them.

Imagine how much better this card would look without all that crap going on around it...

Topps did a good job with the Major League Material set. This is actually one of the better looking designs Topps has used recently for their base jersey hits.

I'm almost tempted to award 2021 Topps this round, but I'm going to call 1954 Bowman the home team, on the basis of I want to.

The battle that I haven't been keeping score of, seems to be pretty close. But we'll see what happens in the bottom of the 9th. Are we in the 9th? I should have formatted this better... Point being, unless 1954 Bowman drops the ball on an almost 2021 Topps level, they should pull this one out.

A nice looking card of a Yankees star! In 2021 Topps, this would cause an eye roll. In 1954 Bowman, it's exciting! Vic Raschi was probably the Yankees best starting pitcher from 1948-1953, going 106-57 in those years. But how come, in a dugout full of Yankee players, Raschi's uniform is the only one that is white? 

But if Vic Rasche isn't enough, 1954 Bowman has some Cardinals to show off...

Leading off with Solly Hemus, an On-Base machine, that put up a .390 OBP between 1949 and 1959.

Then there's Joe Presko, a flaming out former top prospect. He posted an unsightly 6.91 ERA, in 71 innings in 1954, and was let go after the season. Presko resurfaced in Detroit, in 1957, but didn't find much success there either.

Unlike the last trick up 1954 Bowman's sleeve...

Enos Slaughter! A Hall of Famer!

(No chance 2021 Topps beats this card!) 

I'd only associated Slaughter with the Cardinals, so I was surprised to see that 1953 was his last season in St. Louis. 1954-1959 was spent with the Yankees, Kansas City A's and Milwaukee Braves. So it's extra cool to have his last Cardinals card.

And it's a pretty good shape considering...

So yeah, 1954 Bowman wins this battle handily.

I knew going into opening this box, that I already hated the product. But I was willing to give it a chance. I was hoping for good stuff out of the Silver packs, and got... Meh... I was hoping to be slightly surprised, but I still hated the design.

Far too Donrussey, and not in a good way. I haven't seen what 2021 Donruss is going to look like, but I really hope Panini makes it look EXACTLY like 2021 Topps without the logos. (Although they already did in 2019.) That would some expert level trolling...

But I will give Topps a shred of credit. The photos look better than 2019 and 2020 Topps! But not 2018. And that's as far as I'll go.

As far as my favorite card to come out of the 2021 Topps Hobby Jumbo box...

Yup, it looks like 1986, but at least I got one Expos card!

Now go wash your hands, you filthy spreader!