World Famous Comics: 2005 Topps Baseball Cards Complete Factory Set (733 Cards + 5 Bonus Rookie Cards) - Set Includes all the top stars like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Albert Pujols, Hideki Matsui & more!
2005 Topps Baseball Cards Complete Factory Set (733 Cards + 5 Bonus Rookie Cards) - Set Includes all the top stars like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Albert Pujols, Hideki Matsui & more!
From: Topps Average Rating: Binding: Toy Feature: Set Includes ALL cards from Series 1 & 2 Topps Baseball + 5 bonus rookie cards not available in packs!! Label: Topps
Features:
Set Includes ALL cards from Series 1 & 2 Topps Baseball + 5 bonus rookie cards not available in packs!!
Barry Bonds finally rejoins the Topps family in time for the 2005 set In the wake of the explosion in the number of baseball card sets that are produced each year I have, like Anne's father in Jane Austen's father, retrenched. The only set I pick up each year is the "basic" set put out by Topps. I do not do this because Topps provides more "First Year" players and prospects in the eternal quest to have the official "rookie" card for some future Hall of Famer, but because I currently have a complete run of Topps baseball card sets going back to 1968 (I also have complete sets for 1956, 1961, 1964-66, with four Hall of Famers to go to finish the 1953 and a couple dozen high numbers to complete the 1967 set). All of these sets are arranged in binders beginning with the Leader Cards, then the Highlights, Post Season and World Series cards. Then all the teams are arranged in they finished, beginning with the World Champion Red Sox, with all of those aforementioned First Year and Prospect cards in the back. So I am here for the history and not for the gum (not that there is gum anymore, but you get the point).
The 733 cards in the 2005 Topps set are broken down into 534 veterans, 30 Managers (267-296), 35 First Year Subjects (297-326) and Future Stars (327-331), 17 Season Highlights (332-336) including the postseason (349-55) and World Series (731-34) 12 League Leaders (337-348), 24 Sporting News All-Stars (356-367, 719-730), 30 Team Photos (638-67), 25 Draft Picks (668-87) & Prospects (688-92), 2 Combos (693-94) and 24 Award Winners including Rawlings Gold Gloves (695-712), Cy Young (713-14), MVP (715-716), and Rookie of the Year (717-18). Then you also get 5 cello-wrapped Prospect cards featuring players who are not part of Topps Series 1 or 2. Be aware that you can get the set with those five cards being prospects for a few select teams, namely the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Nationals. I supposed such cards might be considered a key inducement for buying a complete set, but the fact that you get the complete set without having to open dozens of packs from Series 1 and then waiting to do the same for Series 2 should be enough (unless, of course, you like opening a pack to see if you might find the Rocket, A-Rod, or Ichiro).
Two things to remember about the 2005 Topps set. First, the reason there are 733 cards but the last card is numbered 734 is because Topps retired card #7 in honor of Mickey Mantle after he passed away. It made sense since Mantle's 1952 Topps rookie card (which was also a high number) is the icon of baseball card collecting. The Honus Wagner T206 is the Holy Grail and just getting to see one would be a thrill but forget about every owning one (whereas you can sell you card and get a 52 Mantle). Second, between the release of Series 1 and Series 2, Barry Bonds made a deal with Topps. That is why he does not appear on front (nor is he mentioned on the back) of the 2004 National League Batting Average Leaders card (343), even though he led the NL in batting (his name does appear on the back of the NL Home Run Leaders card (345)). But you will find that this year he has both a regular card (500) and as the 2004 National League MVP award card (716). He should be in the shot of the Giants team (662), but I would not swear to it. Bonds must have gotten a swear deal since his logo appears below the MLBPA logo on the bottom of the box.
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