Topps Living Set

[astrotrevor]

Agree with Lee. Definitely deserves to be there. I wouldn’t object to him being featured a second time with Cleveland (Cy Young)

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

Agree with Lee. Definitely deserves to be there. I wouldn’t object to him being featured a second time with Cleveland (Cy Young)

After Topps approach to Paige, featuring him with Cleveland but not including Indians on the card, I think it will be awhile before we see another Indians card. I don't want to get too deep, but I think there will have to be a idealogical shift at Topps before we see that happen. I understand the name change, regardless of my opinion, but to ignore that piece of baseball history is sad.

[MtnAg08]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

After Topps approach to Paige, featuring him with Cleveland but not including Indians on the card, I think it will be awhile before we see another Indians card. I don't want to get too deep, but I think there will have to be a idealogical shift at Topps before we see that happen. I understand the name change, regardless of my opinion, but to ignore that piece of baseball history is sad.

I agree. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like Topps is willing to release any Indians cards anymore as we haven't gotten any since the official name change. I'm glad they got Thome and Lofton in before that happened. They can still just do like Paige and just say Cleveland on the card but I like seeing the city name and the team name on the card. Just like I don't like how they only say "Angels" for the current players (at least for retired guys they list out Anaheim or California depending on the era).

[astroshane]

Cliff Lee was a great selection. The art work is solid as well. However, Jared I'm curious about the plain black background and the glove. It looks great but something seems a bit off with this one in terms of your style.

[astrotrevor]

Is that an Easter egg? Halladay’s glove?

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

Is that an Easter egg? Halladay’s glove?

Good catch!

[Chihuahuas]

Originally Posted by astroshane

Cliff Lee was a great selection. The art work is solid as well. However, Jared I'm curious about the plain black background and the glove. It looks great but something seems a bit off with this one in terms of your style.

I think the background works in this case. Really makes player pop against team uniform colors.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by MtnAg08

I agree. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like Topps is willing to release any Indians cards anymore as we haven't gotten any since the official name change. I'm glad they got Thome and Lofton in before that happened. They can still just do like Paige and just say Cleveland on the card but I like seeing the city name and the team name on the card. Just like I don't like how they only say "Angels" for the current players (at least for retired guys they list out Anaheim or California depending on the era).

I’d rather have past Indians players in the set without the team name on the card if that’s the compromise.

I’ve always been curious about the Angels team name, and why Topps doesn’t use Los Angeles Angels. It never made sense to me. I do appreciate when they use Anaheim or California, as it’s historically accurate.

[astrotrevor]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

Good catch!

Lee wore 34 for the Phillies in ‘09. Halladay wore number 34 after. I don’t remember the backstory.

The style of glove looks like it would be Lee’s but it looks like a righty glove to me.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

Lee wore 34 for the Phillies in ‘09. Halladay wore number 34 after. I don’t remember the backstory.

The style of glove looks like it would be Lee’s but it looks like a righty glove to me.

Good point.

I agree, definitely looks like a right handed glove.

[Natsfan32]

Now that Topps has released the 2025 set with RCs of James Wood and Dylan Crews, it is time to end the Nationals 2-year drought.

[MtnAg08]

Originally Posted by Natsfan32

Now that Topps has released the 2025 set with RCs of James Wood and Dylan Crews, it is time to end the Nationals 2-year drought.

Hopefully that's the case! With the Astros year plus drought ending this week and the Rockies getting one each in Dec/Jan I think your Nats are the only team with a long drought now. I know the Dbacks got Lawler last year which I think ended a good drought for them. Hanley may have been the last Marlin, that was about a year ago so they would probably be the second longest.

It'd be fun to pair the Nats young rookies with some World Series winners from the Dbacks and Marlins teams. Luis Gonzalez, Steve Finley or Byung-Hyun Kim would be fun for AZ and Luis Castillo, Jeff Conine or Juan Pierre would be great for the Fish.

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by Natsfan32

Best week in memory

Originally Posted by Lawmaker

Huge print run this week

Lefty Grove - Topps MLB® Living Set® Card 803 - PR: 2,165
Barry Bonds - Topps MLB® Living Set® Card 804 - PR: 5,917

[jaredkelley]

Hello Living Set crew:

I've been absent for a few months is seems. Just wanted to let you know I am still alive and painting.

I took off a lot of time at the end of 2024 and I've been working to build up my lead on Living Set art since then. Most pressing for me presently is that I get far enough ahead of schedule so that I can take some more time off in March when my wife and I welcome our 4th ankle-biter into the world.

Since I've been focused on painting, I've also neglected keeping current on shipping my signed fine art prints. If you've purchased any prints in December and January, I'll be mailing them out this week. I really appreciate the business and hope the delayed shipping hasn't been too inconvenient.

By the way, I updated my list of fine art print runs and 1/1 winning order numbers here, for those keeping track.

As always, thanks for your loyal support of the set! I look forward to some fun artwork in 2025.

[jaredkelley]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

After Topps approach to Paige, featuring him with Cleveland but not including Indians on the card, I think it will be awhile before we see another Indians card. I don't want to get too deep, but I think there will have to be a idealogical shift at Topps before we see that happen. I understand the name change, regardless of my opinion, but to ignore that piece of baseball history is sad.

For record, I do not support censoring history. The Paige artwork was not improved by hiding all references to the Indians. If a player played for the Indians, then the Indians logos should be featured on the card. Since all Topps art has to be filtered through MLB before it can be approved for sale, it's hard to tell whose "ideology" is responsible for this silly politically correct editing of historical figures; it could be Topps, could be MLB, or both.

Originally Posted by astroshane

Cliff Lee was a great selection. The art work is solid as well. However, Jared I'm curious about the plain black background and the glove. It looks great but something seems a bit off with this one in terms of your style.

I was rushed for deadlines. I keep a digital file filled with alternate backdrops for future paintings. The original Cliff Lee image reference showed him standing in front of a neutral backdrop. I improvised and used a stock dugout background image reference for the painting.

Originally Posted by astrotrevor

Is that an Easter egg? Halladay’s glove?

Not an Easter egg, really. While Lee played with multiple jersey numbers, I went with his first year's number (34) on the glove. But I missed it being a right handed glove. Ugh. You guys have the keenest of eyes. I love it.

[MtnAg08]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

Most pressing for me presently is that I get far enough ahead of schedule so that I can take some more time off in March when my wife and I welcome our 4th ankle-biter into the world.

Congrats on the upcoming 4th rugrat!!

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by jaredkelley

Hello Living Set crew:

I've been absent for a few months is seems. Just wanted to let you know I am still alive and painting.

I took off a lot of time at the end of 2024 and I've been working to build up my lead on Living Set art since then. Most pressing for me presently is that I get far enough ahead of schedule so that I can take some more time off in March when my wife and I welcome our 4th ankle-biter into the world.

Since I've been focused on painting, I've also neglected keeping current on shipping my signed fine art prints. If you've purchased any prints in December and January, I'll be mailing them out this week. I really appreciate the business and hope the delayed shipping hasn't been too inconvenient.

By the way, I updated my list of fine art print runs and 1/1 winning order numbers here, for those keeping track.

As always, thanks for your loyal support of the set! I look forward to some fun artwork in 2025.

Glad to hear you're still alive and doing well. Congratulations on the fourth coming blessing!

Thanks for the updated print runs, and I look forward to seeing all of these in person.

[jaredkelley]

I used to think that my Spencer Strider card was the first Living Set card with an Easter egg in it. But I recently discovered Mayumi placed an Easter egg in the background of her David Wright portrait in 2018. She's the best. I sure would love it if Topps could convince her to come back and then they could offer 3 cards per week.

[Chihuahuas]

Originally Posted by MtnAg08

Congrats on the upcoming 4th rugrat!!

Yes big congrats to your whole family. Who knows perhaps upcoming late nights will fuel your artistic fire in new, unexpected way.

Long live the Living Set!

[spw2214]

Originally Posted by Natsfan32

Now that Topps has released the 2025 set with RCs of James Wood and Dylan Crews, it is time to end the Nationals 2-year drought.

We almost had two Heliot Ramos cards in the time since the last Nationals card.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Lefty Grove - Topps MLB® Living Set® Card 803 - PR: 2,165
Barry Bonds - Topps MLB® Living Set® Card 804 - PR: 5,917

Wow -- so the Bonds is the highest print run of a non-rookie since Mickey Mantle (14,028; April 2021)?

[Lawmaker]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Wow -- so the Bonds is the highest print run of a non-rookie since Mickey Mantle (14,028; April 2021)?

Called it

[CanadaShane]

I think if they were ever able to do a Pete Rose the numbers would be higher than Bonds for sure.

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by CanadaShane

I think if they were ever able to do a Pete Rose the numbers would be higher than Bonds for sure.

Has Topps made a Pete Rose card since he was a manager in the late 80s?

[Natsfan32]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Has Topps made a Pete Rose card since he was a manager in the late 80s?

Yes, he had autographs in 2023 or 2024 Bowman (I don't recall which). Rose is one of the biggest omissions from the set. While I am not a fan of the person he is an integral part of baseball history (like Bonds and Clemens).