Topps Living Set

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by Comiskey2001

The Buehrle card looks great. So happy we finally got one. The Top 100 list is really getting down there. I hope the entire list is made by the time the set ends.

Woof on the print run though:

Mark Buehrle - MLB Living Set® - Card 835 - PR: 1,144

The power of the RC shield outdid him:

Trey Sweeney - MLB Living Set® - Card 836 - PR: 1,236

[MtnAg08]

Surprised the Buehrle doesn't have a higher print run. I feel like he was very popular during his playing days and was one I was really happy to add to the collection.

I do wonder if getting rid of the combo pack is hurting print runs in general. It was definitely nice being able to just buy the combo the weeks I wanted both players. It also definitely swayed me to get both a few times when one of the players I for sure wanted and the other I was on the fence about grabbing.

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by MtnAg08

Surprised the Buehrle doesn't have a higher print run. I feel like he was very popular during his playing days and was one I was really happy to add to the collection.

Well, several sellers on ebay still have it for $6-ish dlvd.

I think I'm ready to admit I was wrong about non-HoF fan favorites. Seeing this, what do I think Twins legend (but MLB nobody) Kent Hrbek is going to pull? Surely under 1200 ...

I guess the card needs an RC shield or MLB HoFer to move. :shrug:

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Well, several sellers on ebay still have it for $6-ish dlvd.

I think I'm ready to admit I was wrong about non-HoF fan favorites. Seeing this, what do I think Twins legend (but MLB nobody) Kent Hrbek is going to pull? Surely under 1200 ...

I guess the card needs an RC shield or MLB HoFer to move. :shrug:

I think this speaks to the current state of the hobby, where prospect hunting and rookie cards are all the rage, with a select handful of veteran stars receiving the rest of the attention.

The upside, there's plenty of other sets for those that want to only collect prospects, rookies, and/or the Nth parallel of another Ohtani card.

I don't expect the Living Set to ever reach the heights we initially saw, but it's a great niche set for team and/or set collectors.

I would also like to see Hrbek in the set.

[RaceDog]

I actually think it has to do with collector base for teams as well. I think there are probably more Tiger team collectors at this point then a team like to White Sox.

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by RaceDog

I actually think it has to do with collector base for teams as well. I think there are probably more Tiger team collectors at this point then a team like to White Sox.

I know this isn't a perfect 1:1 but it's hard to find meaningful data on collectors otherwise: The Tigers rank lower in valuation than the White Sox ... and they both have similar revenue though ($315M White Sox vs $328M Tigers). I'd probably guess their collectors markets are quite close and if I had to pick I would probably go with the most recent WS win ... which would be white sox in 05? I think?

[Chihuahuas]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

I think this speaks to the current state of the hobby, where prospect hunting and rookie cards are all the rage, with a select handful of veteran stars receiving the rest of the attention.

The upside, there's plenty of other sets for those that want to only collect prospects, rookies, and/or the Nth parallel of another Ohtani card.

I don't expect the Living Set to ever reach the heights we initially saw, but it's a great niche set for team and/or set collectors.

I would also like to see Hrbek in the set.

Agree. Would be great to have Hrbek im this once in a lifetime set. Long live the Living Set.

[Natsfan32]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

I think this speaks to the current state of the hobby, where prospect hunting and rookie cards are all the rage, with a select handful of veteran stars receiving the rest of the attention.

The upside, there's plenty of other sets for those that want to only collect prospects, rookies, and/or the Nth parallel of another Ohtani card.

I don't expect the Living Set to ever reach the heights we initially saw, but it's a great niche set for team and/or set collectors.

I agree completely. The Living Set appeals to traditional collectors like me. It has no appeal to the gamblers that currently dominate this hobby because you know exactly what you are buying. No adrenaline rush from that!

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by Natsfan32

It has no appeal to the gamblers that currently dominate this hobby ...

Black Bio Text has entered the chat.

[Fsegaud]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Black Bio Text has entered the chat.

Has it really taken hold of the set though? It's not like LOOK FOR AUTO with only a 1/1 available and the PR blows up considerably more than what a base card alone would manage, even at an inflated price.

It's so inconspicuous, there has to be a percentage of people who don't know they have the black bio text card in their possession.

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One day though...Fanatics will f' this all up and introduce colored border parallels...you know it's coming.

This part of the message will self destruct by Monday, June 9th, 2025
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[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by Fsegaud

Has it really taken hold of the set though?

No. It very clearly has not.

But I object to "no dopamine to be mined in this one" statements on that technicality.

Yeah, like Topps Now & even the Project 2020 -> Project 70 -> Project 100 ... we all have only so many days left before the en$hï++ification of this set. Unfortunately.

[Dukefett]

Originally Posted by Fsegaud

Has it really taken hold of the set though? It's not like LOOK FOR AUTO with only a 1/1 available and the PR blows up considerably more than what a base card alone would manage, even at an inflated price.

It's so inconspicuous, there has to be a percentage of people who don't know they have the black bio text card in their possession.

******************************
One day though...Fanatics will f' this all up and introduce colored border parallels...you know it's coming.

This part of the message will self destruct by Monday, June 9th, 2025
********************************

I'm kind of surprised eBay sellers still buy these up hoping for a black bio text, they go for mostly $50-100 looking at past sales. There's only 10 in the whole print run compared to Topps Now parallels in the dozens at least. Maybe if the front was different they'd be more popular? Most people don't care or even know they exist. The Living Set cards don't seem to increase in value much after the preorder window closes to even break even buying/selling them.

[CanadaShane]

This is the set for the true old school collector who likes the history of baseball and uniformity. I don't mind the low prints runs and I consider that a good thing as long as the set keeps going. The idea that only 1000 or so complete sets can exist is really unique.

I'm now up to a few cards short of having 300 PSA 10s. I have yet to chase the entire set in PSA 10 and only focused on the legends, retired favourites, current rookies, and major award winners. Sourcing 300 PSA 10s has taken a lot of time and money. I've been enjoying the challenge.

For anyone looking to build a PSA 10 set now good luck! It won't be easy.

This is the best set out there in my opinion. As I posted before, I really want that ESPN top 100 to be represented.

[Chihuahuas]

Originally Posted by Dukefett

I'm kind of surprised eBay sellers still buy these up hoping for a black bio text, they go for mostly $50-100 looking at past sales. There's only 10 in the whole print run compared to Topps Now parallels in the dozens at least. Maybe if the front was different they'd be more popular? Most people don't care or even know they exist. The Living Set cards don't seem to increase in value much after the preorder window closes to even break even buying/selling them.

I agree. Black Bio text has zero ($0.00) value for me. The uniqueness of this set and the ART make the value.

The collector here who has all the prints he shared his original binder set has gold that library worth collection.

Long live the Living Set

[tdubs1010]

Do not want to turn this into a buy/sell thread however I do not think anyone looks at these in the B/S/T section. Is anyone sitting on any of the prints that they would want to sell? I am up to 165 unique ones signed (about 300 total), and there are a couple early ones I didn't buy that I should have.

Shoot me a DM if you have any you would be open to sell.

Thanks all!

[Natsfan32]

To me the black bio text is too subtle of a variation to be significant. Again, this is a collector's set and the hobby seems to be moving away from collectors.

[eldavojohn]

Joliet Jake gets Kyle Tucker as a cub today and we also get Angel Martinez RC.

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Joliet Jake gets Kyle Tucker as a cub today and we also get Angel Martinez RC.

I’m excited about that one.

I’m out of town this week, family vacation, but I’ll have the new releases posted this weekend.

Hoping to grab a Gold /2 from Angel for the Tucker print.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by Dukefett

I'm kind of surprised eBay sellers still buy these up hoping for a black bio text, they go for mostly $50-100 looking at past sales. There's only 10 in the whole print run compared to Topps Now parallels in the dozens at least. Maybe if the front was different they'd be more popular? Most people don't care or even know they exist. The Living Set cards don't seem to increase in value much after the preorder window closes to even break even buying/selling them.

I bet the bulk guys have recurring customers. Maybe monthly mailings to reduce costs.
I also assume that there are guys that work shows and just buy local team cards. The buehrle or konerko is an easy $5-$10 at a Chicago area show or vendor fair at the local church on the south side.

[eldavojohn]

Healthy PR on the Roki: Roki Sasaki - MLB Living Set® - Card 838 - PR: 7,603

[Joliet Jake]

Topps MLB® Living Set® Card #839 - Kyle Tucker - PR: 1,287
Kyle Tucker is the Chicago Cubs 32nd franchise and team member, and 52nd duplicate and 58th repeat player featured.
Baseball Reference


Topps Living Set® Fine Art Print #839 - Kyle Tucker


Topps MLB® Living Set® Card #840 - Angel Martínez - PR: 1,211
Angel Martínez is the Cleveland Guardians 26th franchise and 11th team member, and 273rd rookie featured.
Baseball Reference


Topps Living Set® Fine Art Print #840 - Angel Martínez

[Fsegaud]

So Devers will likely take another treasured spot in the Living Set as a Giant. Hopefully it will be done with a proper portrait without the silly facial contortion even though I realized later that he does make that face (and not just because of the picture Mayumi Seto had to work with).

[Joliet Jake]

Topps MLB® Living Set® Card #841 - Hayden Birdsong - PR: 1,284
Hayden Birdsong is the San Francisco Giants 32nd franchise and 30th team member, and 274th rookie featured.
Baseball Reference


Topps Living Set® Fine Art Print #841 - Hayden Birdsong


Topps MLB® Living Set® Card #842 - Garrett Crochet - PR: 1,192
Garrett Crochet is the Boston Red Sox 37th franchise and team member featured.
Baseball Reference


Topps Living Set® Fine Art Print #842 - Garrett Crochet

[Chihuahuas]

New cards are up. 2 solid pics IMHO. Long Live the Living Set

[jdandns]

Agree wholeheartedly, but I wonder if they'll change the design after #999 and restart the numbering. A four digit number on the back of these would odd.