I haven't spoken in detail about ToppsNOW, because I don't have a hell of a lot to say about it. Yeah, they're marketing individual cards of highlights for ten bucks a pop- big whoop. The problems are kind of on the surface, it's not like I need to go very in depth. It's a cash grab that Topps is trying to hawk instead of regular Topps base cards, so in 3 or 4 years time they'll be completely obsolete.
That isn't to say I've been outwardly negative about EEEEVERY aspect of ToppsNOW, because they people in charge do some really nice things. They give spotlights to players who don't get it every day, and they don't really go out of their way to give 50 cards to one person, or fawn over a new rookie star. I mean, they'll do a Bryant or a Harper every once and a while, but only if they do something to warrant it. It's not like the '2007 Highlights' thing Topps did in '08, where they went by every day in the season just to be excessive. They don't go out of their way for surplus star cards- if somebody does something cool, they make a note of it. Simple as that.
Today, with their 'here's who we're putting on cards for the next 24 hours' announcement, Topps detailed a card about the Orioles' hitting in the last few games, featuring a few players, including Mark Trumbo, Jonathan Schoop, and...
No...
It couldn't be...
Matt Wieters is going to be on a ToppsNOW card. So.... (puts two and two together). Matt Wieters can be on Topps Cards. Matt Wieters signed a contract with Topps....
Ever since 2009 when he came into the big leagues, he'd signed an exclusive contract with Upper Deck, and eventually Panini- from then on, Matt Wieters couldn't appear on a Topps card. It was depressing for completists like me who saw Adam Jones and Manny Machado get tons of cards, and to be stuck with one insert from 2010 Upper Deck, and a few Donruss base cards of Wieters.
But now Topps can make Wieters cards, albeit late, but still- I don't think any huge-time current players are barred from appearing in Topps products, now that Ichiro's back with Topps (big time), and they can apparently make Nomar Garciaparra cards again (but mostly from the Red Sox era, in vintage-esque products).
I don't think this especially brings ToppsNOW to legitimacy or relevancy, but it's nice to have Wieters in Topps products. It'd be great if they could do what they did with A-Rod, and make reprints of what Wieters Topps issues would have looked like in '09-'15 Topps flagship, but I imagine that's what us customizers are for.
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