Quesions on 2004 Topps Shoebox

jrdolan

Are the 96 reprint cards the same in each box? If so, I can't imagine why the immortal Greg Luzinski or Lance Parrish would be part of this set.

Anyone heard of any signficant cards in those screwdowns? Mine has 59 Joe Cunningham, 68 Larry Brown, 74 Dave McNally, 88 Ozzie Smith. The 59 and 68 would get an OC qualifier. Maybe from the Topps Vault of cards that were pulled by quality control at time of issue?

jrdolan

I've just chewed every stick of gum in the 2004 Shoebox set and suddenlyIdontknowwhatshappeningtomeIcantthinkstraightandtheroomisspinningIthinkImhavingheartpalpitations

ohmygod, in this exalted mental/spiritual state, the meaning of life has come to me .... it's so simple and beautiful I can hardly express ....

sh*t it's gone now.

BobGreasey

Yes, I believe they are all the same. The Bull was one of the better power hitters of the 70s, and Parrish was an 8-time All-Star in the 80s. Can't have a decade-based set without them.

jrdolan

In the box I opened, Mantle and Aaron and Koufax (and other baseball legends) are nowhere to be found in any of the decades. Walt Weiss and Harold Reynolds are there, Ripken is not. I guess it has to do with permissions and royalties as much as deserving to be part of the set.

Oddly enough, some of the stars are represented on cards later in their careers. It makes sense with those who were rookies before 1952 to have them on their first Topps card in '52. But some of the modern players are represented in strange years. I really like the way they turned multi-player rookie cards into one card with just the star.

Anyway, thanks for the info. I guess no point in opening another box looking for a 52 Mantle reprint.

Why are the vintage cards in screwdowns called Buybacks? Topps bought them back when issued because they were off-center or had some other problem?