Collectibles Reviews

This model is so detailed, like all other Maisto models. I am very satisfied.

Last Word:
Makes you feel rich.

To be clear, if you are looking for the first Barry Bonds card with Topps, then that would #11 in the 1986 Topps Trade set. What you have in this complete set of 1987 Topps Baseball Cards is the first regular Topps card for Bonds (#320), which is usually priced at about 60% of the other card (or a bit more than one-fifth of the price for this entire set). After that we drop down in price big time to the next card, which would be the rookie card for Rafael Palmiero (#634), although I suspect that will change (and do not think the irony of that is not obvious to everyone). Other notable rookie cards in the set are for Devon White (#139), Bo Jackson (#184), B.J. Surhoff (#216), Jamie Moyer (#227), Ruben Sierra (#261), Will Clark (#420), Chuck Finley (#445), and Barry Larkin (#648). Most of them are still around, but besides Bonds the only other serious candidate for Cooperstown will be Larkin, whose chances might actually suffer because since that time to prototype has changed from Ozzie Smith to Cal Ripken. Compare Larkin to the Wizard of Oz and he looks good; compare him to the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra and Miguel Tejada.

You need a three inch binder to showcase this set because it has 792 cards, which was the standard size from 1982 to 1993, when it jmped to a massive 825 cards, and then started dropping down. The design of the cards is reminiscent of the 1962 set with a the wood-like borders. The upper left and lower right frame of the photograph of the player have diagonal cut into them. The team logo appears in the upper left, with the Topps insignia and the player's name in a box, color-coded by team, on the bottom. Regular players have their batting records on the back (all of the basic stats), and if room there are trivial points (e.g., Howard Johnson was co-winner of a rib-eating contest aong professional athletes after the 1985 season) and a "On This Date" feature (e.g., May 1, 1966: Sam McDowell pitched 2nd consecutive one-hit game to tie record. Sam's 1966 Topps card was #470).

With 792 cards you can come up with the starting lineups for most of these teams. For example, with the World Champion New York Mets, you have a Mets Leader card and one for Manager Dave Johnson, and then cards for 27 players. The Boston Red Sox who lost the World Series have 30 players. The Topps All-Star Rookies have their signature yellow trophies on the front (e.g., #465 Todd Worrell), and some of the rookies are designated "Future Stars" (e.g., #512 Dave Magadan). There are also seven '86 Record Breaker cards (e.g., #1 is Roger Clemens for Most Strikeouts, 9-inning Game). There are eleven All-Star cards for each team (lefty and righty starting pitchers to go with a reliever and eight position papers). Then there are five "Turn Back the Clock" cards (#311-15) for Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Roberto Clemente, Carl Yastrzemsnki, and Maury Wills, and six checklist cards.

Of course, almost two decades down the road the speculative value of this set is a minor concern. Gary Carter (#20), Eddie Murray (#120), Sparky Anderson (#218), Reggie Jackson (#300), George Brett (#400), Tom Seaver (#425), Mike Schmit (#430), Bruce Sutter (#435), Kirby Puckett (#450), Tommy Lasorda (#493), Earl Wevaer (#568), Ryne Sandberg (#680), Phil Niekro (#694), Steve Carlton (#718), Paul Molitor (#741), Ozzie Smith (#749), Carlton Fisk (#756), Nolan Ryan (#757), Dave Winfield (#770), and Robin Yount (#773) are already in the Hall of Fame. That is twenty-two so far, with Clemens (#340), Tony Gwynn (#530), Greg Maddux (#539), Rickey Henderson (#735), and Cal Ripken (#784) are going to make it for sure. The real oddity might be how many players in this set had their reservations in Cooperstown cancelled, or at least postponed, because of gambling and steroids (no clue as to what Topps set has the most Hall of Famers: for example, the 1969 set has 41 Hall of Famers so far, with at least Joe Torre to be added to the list down the road).

This car would be really cool if the convertable-looking top would open. I purchased this car at a local store and when i first opened it actually BROKE the top trying to open it. Don't make the same mistake I did!!! p.s. Maisto is a gr8 company and i recommend their cars to any die cast enthusiast.