REVIEW:2018 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball

2018 releases are piling up fast on an almost weekly basis now. I like the sound of that.

I don't like having the gaps between each week waiting for the next release or waiting a month and more for the first of the season. That wait for Series 1 feels like an eternity.

So here is the next release, 2018 Topps Gypsy Queen. Let's give a hobby box a glance.

In each box of 2018 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball there are 24 Packs with 8 Cards Per. Boxes come with 2 on-card autographs and a box topper like no other. Boxes currently run $120.

Coming off a successful 2017, the Glassworks box topper looked amazing last year and is even more improved this year. Picture chromed Gypsy Queen base. A very thick version of it. With anything chromed comes parallels and one I found in my break. There are Indigo /150 (below), Red /25, and Black 1/1.

The base set sticks to its basics in terms of design and I like it. It actually looks even better in person than I thought it would. This years I think looks better than years past. The base cards also lack gloss so they would be great for TTM (through the mail) autographs. I bet some blue, red, or silver ink would look great off of these.

There are 300 cards in the main base set with rookies and veterans.

I thought I would also show off the card back for those of you who haven't seen them. I know many like backs with stats on them but these don't have that.

Some of the key rookies found in my break.

Along with the 300 cards, there are also 20 SP cards. These fall 1:24 packs or one per box. So if you are looking to build a base set, well, it could be bit tough.

The Sp cards are players of the past.

One of the crazy things with Gypsy Queen is the huge amount of Sp base card variations there are. Crazy, crazy amount of them. Most are easy to spot especially in packs because they are backwards compared to the rest of the pack. I will tackle the ones I pulled first before talking about base card parallels.

These are missing Missing Nameplate, notice how the team name is gone, these fall 1:16 packs,

Now I thought this was a Capless Variation, players without their "hats on", but upon looking at the checklist it appears it's just a base? Either way, players without their hats on are usually these variations that fall 1:121 packs.

Falling at 1:43 packs are Bazooka back cards. Pretty self explanatory.

There is also Jackie Robinson variations as well featuring players wearing 42.

Even the The Sp cards get the treatment for the variations and they are tough to find. There are Missing Nameplate, Bazooka Back, Black 1/1 and GQ Logo Swap that I found in my box of Honus that falls 1:843 packs. The logo swap takes the logo from the top corner and switches it with the players position at the bottom lower corner.

 

Now that we got through that. Let's talk about the base card parallels. I only found one in my box so i assume they are not plentiful like in other products.

Parallels for the product include, Green (Retail), Indigo /250 (below), Black & White /50 (Hobby), Red /10, and Black 1/1. I found the Indigo of slugging Stanton. What a debut for him on Opening Day!

Onto the GQ inserts. There are only two so it's pretty straight forward.

Tarot Of The Diamond fall 1:8 packs. Pretty cool looking cards and fits the theme of the product.

Another part that fits the theme is the popular Fortune Teller inserts. These fall 1:6 packs.

Both inserts have the following parallels, Indigo /250, Green /99 (Retail), and Black 1/1.

Now onto the autographs from my box.

Not the strongest of boxes, but here are my pulls.

This is a GQ logo swap autograph.

 

Other hits not in my box but could be in yours include,

• Jackie Robinson Day Variation Autographs
• Mini Rookie Autographs
• Autograph Garments
• Autograph Patch Book
• Bases Around the League Autograph Relics
• Pull-Up Sock Autograph Relics
• Fortune Tellers Mini Autographs
• GQ GlassWorks Box Toppers Autographs

You can find the complete checklist for 2018 Topps Gypsy Queen HERE.

OVERALL: I liked opening Gypsy Queen. The base cards look nice, the parallels do and the inserts as well. My only issue with it was the overdone variations. There was way too many and some un-needed. I do like the Jackie Robinson ones and the Bazooka Backs and maybe even the logo swaps, but didn't feel team logo and capless were really needed.

There are some big hits to be found in Gypsy Queen even some cool ones with buttons and pull up socks. How awesome is that? 

Please take a minute out to thank Topps for providing the box to review. Some of the cards you see above will be included in the Fantasy Baseball contest! Follow Topps on all social media sites and check out their website HERE for cards and more! 

TMNT Episode 2: Sticker And On-Card Autographs

Deep in the sewers of NYC, lived the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Most have forgotten about them living there. Some remember and shrug it off. Others still recognize them as heroes that saved their city from the foot-clan.

What have the turtles been doing all of these years in hiding.....

Sorting sports cards.

Does it truly ever end?

Nobody knew of the turtles and their collecting sports cards except for Casey Jones who would bring the turtles packs to open and card supplies to store their items.

Once in awhile the turtles run into a card-related problem that could use some help solving before it got messy.

Today Donatello and Leonardo were comparing autographs when a discussion broke out about sticker autographs and on-card autographs.

Leo: Check out this totally rad on card autograph Donnie.

Donnie: Does it really matter that you point out it's on-card every time. That's no better than my sticker autograph dude.

Leo: Are you kidding me right now? This is on-card. Ooooooonnnnnnn caaaaaaaarrrddd. This athlete totally touched this card.

Donnie: As if! The dude touched this sticker autograph as well.

Leo: Talk to the hand! There is no way that card is equal with mine.

Soon Mikey and Raph joined in and each of them took sides. Mikey agreed with Leo that on-card autographs are so bangin as opposed to sticker autographs because the athlete had to hold the card in hand. He also liked the fact that on-card autographs can't be messed up by companies sticker autograph messes they have.

Raph on the other hand, was very vocal in his agreement with Donnie and saying that all autograph cards are created equal.

 

The turtles continued to be at a standstill on the topic. 

Leo: I am sorry but I am right on this.

Donnie: Well, we like what we like but there is no way you are right this time. 

So not all was calm in the sewers as the turtles continued to take sides on who was right. What they needed was some guidance, some help from some knowledgeable collectors. That's where you guys come into play.

The Turtles need your help to solve this problem. Let them know in comments which side you choose and why. Hopefully by the time the next episode happens there will be a solution.