Topps Living Set

[steveinphilly]

Originally Posted by MtnAg08

Glad to see Schmidt for 900!!!

However, I was worried about this. Looks like checklist cards are a thing of the past? If so, just another horrible decision changing my favorite set.

I came on here to see whether the checklists were history (probably they are), and sadly I find out that the prints are as well. Boo, Fanatics! I absolutely would have gotten this wonderful Schmidt print signed, too.

[SoCal Topps Now]

NO CHECKLIST!? What is going on!!! This is not right! Fanatics has all but killed off Topps Now, nothing for collectors any more, unless you enjoy the gambling/lottery style purchasing they have created. I'll most likely never see another Topps Now Autograph again with this method but used to buy at least a couple a year. They're not even shipping in plastic cases for protection any more, now sending in foil wrapping with much less protection. Everything they have done is all about cutting costs at the expense of the collectors and making the most profit they can make...

Now, not only the fine art prints gone without a word but the checklist for The Living Set (I don't use MLB because this is the original Living Set). If you are a collector like me then you are probably considering stopping collecting now that Fanatics has taken over with their "Make as much $ as we can and F--K the collector" business practices. Very disappointed!!! I truly enjoyed collecting the online offering but now not at all in more ways than one. Fanatics needs to address these unacceptable changes if they want to keep collectors involved, they're chasing me off. They don't care where the $$$ is coming from an long as it's coming in... Sad days for Topps Now and The Living Set.

[steveinphilly]

Originally Posted by Fsegaud

And now the prints are gone...that was a good run. It went sideways when Topps absolutely F'ed up in glorious style on the Mickey Mantle print. That was unforgivable and that seemed the onus to change the selling format. It was fine with the 100 for sale but they were too lazy to put in preventative steps to keep that from happening again.

What exactly happened with the Mantle print—did one person buy up all of them? I remember getting on seconds after it went live and not being able to buy one. Next thing I saw is that one eBayer seemed to be the only source for them.

And then not too long after that, they went to unlimited. Since it seemed like they would stick around forever, I was in no rush to buy them. I have all of the “inner circle” HOFer art prints through Josh Gibson, and now it looks like I will never be able to add guys like Pedro, Frank Robinson, Gehrig, Paige, Spahn, Buck Leonard, Hornsby, Seaver, Grove, Bonds, DiMaggio, and Ott to my collection. Not to mention ones that will never be made, like Schmidt, Koufax, Carlton and more. Joke’s on me, I guess. Thanks, Fanatics.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by steveinphilly

What exactly happened with the Mantle print—did one person buy up all of them? I remember getting on seconds after it went live and not being able to buy one. Next thing I saw is that one eBayer seemed to be the only source for them.

And then not too long after that, they went to unlimited. Since it seemed like they would stick around forever, I was in no rush to buy them. I have all of the “inner circle” HOFer art prints through Josh Gibson, and now it looks like I will never be able to add guys like Pedro, Frank Robinson, Gehrig, Paige, Spahn, Buck Leonard, Hornsby, Seaver, Grove, Bonds, DiMaggio, and Ott to my collection. Not to mention ones that will never be made, like Schmidt, Koufax, Carlton and more. Joke’s on me, I guess. Thanks, Fanatics.

One buyer was able to purchase all 100 Mantle prints, and immediately listed them for resale on eBay.

A number of members on the forums pressed Topps to limit the prints to one per customer, but they instead opted to begin releasing prints as a print on demand product beginning with #501.

[steveinphilly]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

One buyer was able to purchase all 100 Mantle prints, and immediately listed them for resale on eBay.

A number of members on the forums pressed Topps to limit the prints to one per customer, but they instead opted to begin releasing prints as a print on demand product beginning with #501.

Thanks for the info. I suspected that was likely the case when I saw they were only ever sold from one eBay account. I also wrote to Topps about it and got no reply. The print-on-demand wasn’t great either because then there was never any scarcity at all. Until they discontinued them at which point they all became extremely scarce. Sigh. 100 per print (or 500, or some limited number) would have worked as long as there were purchase limits in place.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by steveinphilly

Thanks for the info. I suspected that was likely the case when I saw they were only ever sold from one eBay account. I also wrote to Topps about it and got no reply. The print-on-demand wasn’t great either because then there was never any scarcity at all. Until they discontinued them at which point they all became extremely scarce. Sigh. 100 per print (or 500, or some limited number) would have worked as long as there were purchase limits in place.

I never understood why they didn’t make the prints available for a week to match the cards. The resale value from the top prints comes from the forced scarcity. It also eliminates the resellers looking for a quick flip.

[rarthur]

Agreed that I really hope they continue with the checklist. Before I remember it being included into the 2 pack. Can anyone remember how the last couple were released?

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by rarthur

Agreed that I really hope they continue with the checklist. Before I remember it being included into the 2 pack. Can anyone remember how the last couple were released?

It was like a weird thing that just broke out the cards. I ordered 5 of the last one:

[TenaciousJDD]

They had just ditched selling the bundles but brought it back for one week for the checklist.

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[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by TenaciousJDD

They had just ditched selling the bundles but brought it back for one week for the checklist.

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Topps needs to be consistent and give collectors the checklist. It's the right thing to do.

Speaking of the bundles, I made my opinion clear to Topps long ago that axing the bundles would negatively affect the print runs, which it did by about 20-25%. But, I would like to see Topps, at the very least, in lieu of the bundle, start pairing "big" cards, like this week's Schmidt, with a player from the same team. At the very least, Topps could increase the sales for such weeks by 10-20% if both cards were from the same team, since many of those collectors already buying the big name would also be fans of the team and thus be inclined to buy both cards.

For example, in two weeks, Topps is scheduled to release one of my portraits, another Phillies fan favorite (not on par with Schmidt -- but a fan favorite nonetheless). The print run for that player would be much higher if they had planned ahead and dropped it this week, IMO.

What do you guys think? Is my logic stupid?

[MtnAg08]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

Topps needs to be consistent and give collectors the checklist. It's the right thing to do.

Speaking of the bundles, I made my opinion clear to Topps long ago that axing the bundles would negatively affect the print runs, which it did by about 20-25%. But, I would like to see Topps, at the very least, in lieu of the bundle, start pairing "big" cards, like this week's Schmidt, with a player from the same team. At the very least, Topps could increase the sales for such weeks by 10-20% if both cards were from the same team, since many of those collectors already buying the big name would also be fans of the team and thus be inclined to buy both cards.

What do you guys think? Is my logic stupid?

I could see it maybe helping. I'm a team collector so I buy every player from my team regardless. I can see those who aren't as crazy as me though feeling inclined to buy a player from their favorite team or two who they might be wishy washy on because he's paired with a favorite player.

I know with the bundle there were times I definitely opted for the bundle when the second player I was on the fence about. I have not done that as much this past year with the bundle gone.

[KingFisk]

Longtime lurker and infrequent poster here…. Do we know at this point yet if there is definitively no checklist? I’m assuming not but this seems so insanely stupid and insulting to TLS collectors as to be an oversight.

But then again it is Fanatics, so…


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[eldavojohn]

Well the NBA Living Set just had a new high of 169,041 for Cooper Flagg ... congrats Angel!!!

[Angel Aviles]

What can I say but WOW!!! I thought there was a possibility for a high PR but this is well beyond my wildest expectations. Thank you all for helping to make this set such a success and for all of the kind energies and support for my Art. I gotten to know a few of you personally and that’s a bonus to me. It’s amazing to hear how much many appreciate my Artwork but know that I appreciate you all even more… cheers!

[Chihuahuas]

Still no checklist card??? Hoping will be in the release this week. Better a little late than never.

[Fsegaud]

Originally Posted by Chihuahuas

Still no checklist card??? Hoping will be in the release this week. Better a little late than never.

I believe Joe May confirmed checklist is no longer a thing.

[Joliet Jake]

Rafael Devers - 2026 MLB Living Set® - Card 898 - PR: 1334
Paul O'Neill - 2026 MLB Living Set® - Card 899 - PR: 1760

[jdandns]

Originally Posted by jdandns

I hope Topps will do for this what they already could have been doing with regular ToppsNow which is to release an official dedicated padded binder for the line every so often, perhaps allowing ToppsNow buyers to vote on what player to feature on each, if any. A binder for the Living set using the 53 design elements would also be popular with vintage collectors, I think.

8 years down the line, and still, the gold I gave them the location to remains unmined.

How about that Living Set binder now with a bonus checklist card for 801-900?
Make 1,000 of the binders with bonus CL, sell them for $35 or whatever, then do it again next year with the checklist for 901-1000.
Topps wins again.

[jdandns]

Originally Posted by joejoemay

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...t=gregg+weider

Just figured I'd post this again as many collectors of the Living set have forgotten or don't know that Uptownsports is Gregg Wieder (editorgraw) the counterfeiter. I don't post this out of malice to Gregg but as a warning to his buyers. I have bought Now cards from Gregg as I feel they are hard to counterfeit but I would be weary of him.

This needs to be reposted every so often as a reminder, if only because the banned member in question remains a prominent pre-seller of Living Set cards.

On the other hand, maybe he can put his (hopefully former) skill set to work and whip up the missing checklist.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by jdandns

This needs to be reposted every so often as a reminder, if only because the banned member in question remains a prominent pre-seller of Living Set cards.

On the other hand, maybe he can put his (hopefully former) skill set to work and whip up the missing checklist.

It's great to revisit this stain on the Living Set so newer collectors are aware.

I can personally verify that Wieder directly contacts each Living Set artist asking to do business deals with them, citing his high volume sales on ebay (Uptownsports). He emails me a couple times each year, and I always ignore them. I simply can't trust a past counterfeiter and stay as far away from him as possible.

[Joliet Jake]

Beltrán, Andruw earn much-coveted Hall call

Two more previously featured players elected to the Hall, making them the 111th and 112th members featured in the set.

[fred85]

The least they could have done is offer the checklist for sale like the regular cards.
Huge shake-ups this month for Topps. None for the good in my opinion.

[Chihuahuas]

Originally Posted by fred85

The least they could have done is offer the checklist for sale like the regular cards.
Huge shake-ups this month for Topps. None for the good in my opinion.

Checklists have been a staple of baseball cards forever. Card collections without checklist cards is unheard of

[MtnAg08]

Originally Posted by fred85

The least they could have done is offer the checklist for sale like the regular cards.
Huge shake-ups this month for Topps. None for the good in my opinion.

I agree. It was great getting it for free with the bundle but if they made it a paid option I would gladly take that over just axing it completely.

[Fsegaud]

Topps shooting for a record low PR? Interesting strategy.