Random Blaster Box- 2011 Topps Opening Day

In my 2011 Topps Opening Day blaster I feel that I am experiencing deja-vu. The base set is the same 2011 Topps Series 1 design with the addition of the Opening Day logo. Now I like the design but I guess I don’t fully comprehend the Opening Day release. Why release the same set twice unless the intent is to get collectors to buy in for the opportunity to get cards specific to that release.

Like I said, the set is nicely designed and fortunately they only added in two parallels, the Blue parallel #/2011 and Printing Plates. Cards of note that I pulled include a Felix Hernandez base and 3 Blue parallels (Rickey Romero, Brian Wilson and Tyler Colvin). I pulled 3 Superstar Celebrations, which seem like they would have been a better fit in the Series 1 release because they are not tied to Opening Day. The Presidential First Pitch cards are a nice addition chronicling famous first pitches, but why limit it to a 10-card subset?

I am not a fan of Topps gimmick cards, they may be “fun” so I can see the idea behind their inclusion and some collectors probably like the Mascots subset, I know I would grab up a Mariner Moose if I came across one, but the Spot The Error cards make me just go “Huh?” I got the Teixeria error (His jersey #25 is reversed on his wrist band) but I cannot figure out the error on David Wright’s card.

The best cards of the blaster were the Votto Opening Day Stars, I really like the 3D cards, and the series covers the players Opening Day stats. Unfortunately it is only a 10 card subset and no Mariners or D-backs on the list. The other card, one that I was really looking forward to, is the Stadium Lights card. As much as I like 3D cards I am crazy about glow-in-the-dark card. Again a 10 card subset but oddly contains 2 Mariners (Ichiro and King Felix), I pulled the Troy Tulowitzki card.

2011 Topps Opening Day

Schedule Release Date: March 19, 2011
Box Configuration: 7 cards per pack, 36 packs per box
SRP: $36/box

Box Break:
1 Insert Per Pack

My Thoughts:
A set called Opening Day being released 2 weeks before the actual opening day, it just does not seem right.

This set is made for 2 specific types of collectors, children and set collectors and at roughly $1 per pack you can get quite a bit for your money. I am not certain about what is included in each box but Topps has come with some interesting hits in such a budget box. This does take me back to the 1990s when boxes were loaded with baseball cards and ugly inserts and a collector wasn't worried about getting an auto or relic card that would pay for the box.

Some of the interesting inserts in this set include parallels #/2011, printing plates (Hobby boxes only), Superstar Celebrations and Luck Charms (Team Mascots). 3D cards are making a return in the Opening Day Stars sets and glow-in-the-dark cards are back in the Under The Lights insert along with Presidential First Pitches featuring presidential first pitches throughout history (Hobby boxes only).

Another oddity making an appearance in the set are the intentional error cards in the Spot The Error insert, another gimmick card by Topps… who would have figured?


Pros:
Affordable

Interesting Inserts (3D cards, Glow-In-The Dark cards, Error cards and “shiny” cards)


Cons:
Another baseball set showcasing the same exact players as the base sets.

Team logos, Topps logos, Opening Day logos... to many logos hurts a design and this proves it

Gimmicky


Rating:
The World Series is still to begin and we are 5 months away from Opening Day's release a lot may change before this set sees the light of day so I will not be rating the review since it is still to early. There are some nice opportunities here, I am a fan of the glow-in-the-dark cards, but I am not a fan of building a release totally on gimmicks.