Random Rack Pack: 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen

I recently picked up a couple of rack packs of 2013 Gypsy Queen, I prefer the rack packs because they come with three packs and three White Framed parallels. I like this year’s Gypsy Queen, the only thing that I do not care for is the yellow backs, I would have preferred a more off-white color to keep with the “old time” feel of the set.

I pulled a nice selection of players ranging from rookies, to young stars and retired/Hall of Famers. I like that Topps mixed it up to include a bit of everything for collectors. One of my favorites being a couple of Fielders in Tiger stripes, well Tigers uniforms any way.

A trio of rookies, unfortunately the Padres Casey Kelley had Tommy John surgery in April and probably is out for the season and the D-Backs Adam Eaton is on the DL with an elbow injury and is expected to be out another 6-8 weeks. The Dodgers Paco Rodriguez is holding his own as a reliever with a 2.51 ERA over 14.1 innings and a 5-1 SO to BB ratio this season.

A couple of Mariners follow up. Kyle Seager is keeping the Mariners legit, he is leading the team (regular starters) with a .283 batting avg., 39 Hits and 17 RBIs. Jesus Montero on the other hand is having a difficult time right now. After a solid season last year big things were expected from him but if he keeps playing at his current level, .200 batting avg. I would not be surprised to see the team rush last year’s First Round pick (#3 overall) Mike Zunino in to the catcher spot.

I love the framed cards; the extra layer just adds something unique to the design. Each rack pack includes three White Frame parallels and these were probably the three best cards I pulled. Though any time that Reggie is pulled from a pack it is a good day.

What would a Topps release be without minis?

Hoes is currently playing in the Orioles AAA team in Norfolk and he is having another good season, the problem is that the Orioles outfield is pretty stacked with McLouth, Jones and Markakis.

Bill Buckner, what can be said about this guy? He played 22 seasons with 5 teams and had a very respectable .289 batting avg. and 2,715 hits but no matter how well he played he will always be remembered as the guy who misplayed Mookie Wilson’s single in the bottom of the 10th in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

Of course nobody remembers the two pitchers who gave up the 2 runs in the bottom of the 10th to tie the game with 3 singles and a wild pitch with two outs before Wilson’s hit (Clavin Schiraldi gave up 3 singles and Bob Stanley threw the wild pitch to tie the game).

I was lucky enough to pull a green mini (1:50 packs), these are #/99 each. I cannot complain about who I pulled too, this guy had an amazing career in Baltimore.

The mini backs are a similar yellow to the base cards; the green mini has a green back.

I close out with a random selection of inserts. I pulled six inserts total but I grabbed these three to give an idea of what comes in the packs.

Close Up: 2012 Gypsy Queen Original Art Patch Cards

Each year Topps puts out a solid Gypsy Queen set and this year is no different. Boxes are selling around $90 in most places and when you consider you get 24 packs per box and you are guaranteed 2 autographs and 2 relics you can see that this is really a pretty decent deal.

This year I am totally digging the Original Art Patch cards, this is a 50 card checklist and each card is a 1/1 so this is a very limited insert. The insert ratio breaks down to 1:11,880 packs. The same two artists who worked on this year’s set also did last year’s cards, Monty Sheldon and Dave Hobrecht. Both artists are well known for their sports art and have both worked with Topps previously. Sheldon works in paint and the 28 cards the he created are colored while Dave Hobrecht works with pencil, charcoal and pastel and created his 22 cards in his well-known black and white styling.

A number of these Original Art Patches have shown up for sale since Gypsy Queen went live and from what I have seen they are easily topping $300 each. Currently the Chipper Jones card is up for auction and it is at $76 with 21 hours remaining. Last week the Warren Spahn card sold at $464.98.

Some other recent cards include a Mariano Rivera and Tim Lincecum, both at $400, Justin Verlander at $380 and Felix Hernandez at $324.99. What is interesting is that of the 6 cards I have seen sell, 5 of them are Monty’s and only one, the Hernandez card, was from Hobrecht.

Here are a couple of other cards from both artists so you can take a look. I am also including a photograph of all 28 Monty Sheldon cards at the bottom of the post.

Random Packs Of 2012 Gypsy Queen

I picked up a value rack pack of 2012 Gypsy Queen, it came with three packs and three framed gold parallels.

I started off with a couple of 2011 AL ROY candidates, Mark Trumbo (#2 overall) and Michael Pineda (#5 overall). Trumbo had a solid year last year and has started off with a bang this season. Pineda started off well going 8-6 w/ 3.03 ERA before the All-Star break but ended up 9-10 w/ 3.74 ERA to finish off the season and he is done for this season after his shoulder surgery.

Next up are a couple more Yankees, a legend in Mariano Rivera, who may have played his final game after tearing his ACL though he has said he would like to return next season. Next up is Robinson Cano, who has settled himself in as the Yankee Second Basemen for many years to come. The Mariano Rivera is the SP version.

I close out the base cards with a Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. I also pulled Orlando Cepeda and Wade Boggs from the legends checklist.

I pulled a Freddie Freeman Future Stars and a Albert Pujols Moonshots.

The special framed gold parallels include Matt Moore, David Freese and Rod Carew.

I close out with the minis, Adrian Gonzalez and Albert Pujols regular backs and a Pablo Sandoval Gypsy back.

Overall I am happy with the product, Topps has been pretty consistent with putting out a quality Gypsy Queen set year after year. I am not big on the gimmicks included though. Last year it was the Gypsy cards and this year’s Gypsy King cards. Though if I had to choose one it would be the Kings because the baseball theme.