Opinions please?

elsnorto

My pursuit of autographed mini-helmets from the top 25 all time NFL rushers has slowed as I continue to hunt for the last few pieces I need.

In the interim, I decided it would be a nice compliment to the helmet collection to pick up a raw high(er) grade Topps base brand rookie card to go along with each of the helmets. This was not originally intended so much as building a rookie card parallel set to the helmets as it was motivated by the thinking it would be interesting to see different Topps designs through the years as the list spans from 1958 right up to 2001.

However, as I got further into the project I came to realize that there are no Topps rookie cards for a few players. For example, the Topps base brand did not include a rookie card for Tiki Barber in 1997. So what do you think, should I stick with the rookie theme and pick up another brand rookie card, or should I hold true to the original spirit of things and use the first Topps base brand the player showed up on? I keep going back and forth between the two, so what would YOU do?

Snorto~

jimq112

If no regular topps card is available, how about a topps product like topps chrome or topps stadium club? Then you're staying with topps products throughout the set.

MeteoriteGuy

I don't there is a Tiki in Finest, Stadium Club or Topps Chrome. In this case, perhaps go with the most valuable, the SP?

Mark

elsnorto

That is what I was thinking as well, Jim, another Topps product that perhaps looks like a base brand offering (rather than something that looks high tech and out of place). This works for guys like Tiki, but my collection has grown beyond the top 25 list and I am facing the same dilemma with guys like Gale Sayers, Hugh McElhenny, and others who have no rookie year Topps alternatives. For guys like these they only have one rookie card and it is not Topps.

Snorto~

TNTonPMS

Elsnorto . . . . I think that is a cool idea , the mini helmets .
How far along are ya ?
And which ones do ya still need ?
That sounds like a collection I would like to have too.

CDsNuts

If you're going to do a Topps RC theme, I would stick with the first Topps card of that player.

If you would consider changing it, I would do the player's most in demand regular issue RC, which would add value while also sticking with a rookie card theme. You'll still be able to see the Topps cards through the years up to about 1991 when regular issue Topps football became fairly insignificant.

Lee