09 May 2013

2013 Topps MLS Preview

Earlier today I came across news of Topps releasing a 2013 MLS soccer product. This will be Topps' first ever incursion into the realm of MLS cards, although Topps does have a track record of English football cards with their 'Footballer' cards from the 70's and early 80's. These were some of the the first ever football trading cards as Panini only produced sticker albums at the time. News of this upcoming product came as a bit of a surprise to me since Upper Deck had been the sole manufacturer of MLS sets from the first UD MLS collection back in 1997 to last year's 2012 UD MLS.

After having a look at the product info, preliminary checklist and the images (all posted below) that have been released thus far, I'm thinking the autograph checklist looks extremely weak. No big names at all, namely Thierry Henry and Landon Donovan who each had autos in the 2012 UD product. No autos from Alessandro Nesta, Juninho Pernambucano, Tim Cahill, Marco Di Vaio or Robbie Keane either who are pretty much the most recognizable names in the league.

While we're speaking of recognizable names, with the possible exception of Maradona, Pelé has the most name recognition of anyone out there and Topps did secure his signature... but for 2 fucking baseball products, 'Five Star' and 'Allen and Ginter'. To add insult to injury 'O Rei' is featured in his NY Cosmos uniform rather than the more famous, representative and appealing Brazil or Santos kits. You would think the logical thing to do would be to incorporate Pelé into 2013 Topps MLS and ensure the product generates some buzz but I guess Topps didn't see it that way.



As for the other kind of cards in the collection, the jersey cards (or relics as Topps calls them) seem decent enough. The mini cards I don't care for at all. I'm not keen on any of the other inserts either, except for the vintage 1978 'footballer' inspired cards which are a nice touch.

"Topps has secured a licensed with Major League Soccer and will produce its first MLS cards this summer.

Each hobby box will have 24 packs with 10 cards in each pack. In addition, there will be two autographs and three relic cards in every box.

Autographs will include players from the MLS SuperDraft and top stars from the league on cards called MLS Maestros Autographs. Each autograph will feature four different parallels, including a Golazo parallel numbered 1-of-1.

Other autographs include Golden Boot Die-Cut Autographs with current and former goal scorers.

In addition, the set will include Extra Time Redemptions for transfers who make their debut during the 2013 season.

Some relic cards will also bear signatures with different levels of parallels.

The set is scheduled to come out in mid-July."

2013 Topps MLS Checklist
BASE
Veterans and Rookies
Thierry Henry New York Red Bulls
Robbie Keane LA Galaxy
Tim Cahill New York Red Bulls
Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes
Graham Zusi Sporting Kansas City
Dwayne De Rosario D.C. United
Alessandro Nesta Montreal Impact
John Bostock Toronto FC
Osvaldo Alonso Seattle Sounders FC
Omar Gonzalez LA Galaxy
Chris Pontius D.C. United
Will Bruin Houston Dynamo
Eddie Johnson Seattle Sounders FC
Mike Magee LA Galaxy
Juninho LA Galaxy
Kyle Beckerman Real Salt Lake
Brad Davis Houston Dynamo
Austin Berry Chicago Fire
Jimmy Nielsen Sporting Kansas City
Aurelien Collin Sporting Kansas City
Matt Besler Sporting Kansas City
Victor Bernardez San Jose Earthquakes
Nick DeLeon D.C. United
Darlington Nagbe Portland Timbers
Tally Hall Houston Dynamo
Federico Higuain Columbus Crew
Alvaro Saborio Real Salt Lake
Brian Ching Houston Dynamo
Mauro Rosales Seattle Sounders FC
Jose Villarreal LA Galaxy
Juan Agudelo Chivas USA
Kenny Cooper FC Dallas
Nick Rimando Real Salt Lake
Chris Rolfe Chicago Fire
Sean Johnson Chicago Fire
Joel Lindpere Chicago Fire
Steve Zakuani Seattle Sounders FC
Ramiro Corrales San Jose Earthquakes
Drew Moor Colorado Rapids
Jairo Arrieta Columbus Crew
Chad Marshall Columbus Crew
Justin Morrow San Jose Earthquakes
Zach Loyd FC Dallas
Carlo Cudicini LA Galaxy
Patrice Bernier Montreal Impact
Davy Arnaud Montreal Impact
Heath Pearce New York Red Bulls
Jeff Parke Philadelphia Union
Michael Gspurning Seattle Sounders FC
Darren Mattocks Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Michael Farfan Philadelphia Union
Ryan Johnson Portland Timbers
Fabian Espindola New York Red Bulls
Kevin Alston New England Revolution
Dan Kennedy Chivas USA
Robert Earnshaw Toronto FC
Claudio Bieler Sporting Kansas City
Jack McInerney Philadelphia Union
Sebastien Le Toux Philadelphia Union
David Ferreira FC Dallas
Diego Valeri Portland Timbers
Deshorn Brown Colorado Rapids
Edgar Mejia Chivas USA
Joaquin Velazquez Chivas USA
Mario de Luna Chivas USA
Bobby Burling Chivas USA
Eric Avila Chivas USA
Walter Vilchez Chivas USA
Laurent Courtois Chivas USA
Oswaldo Minda Chivas USA
Tristan Bowen Chivas USA
Dilly Duka Chicago Fire
Gonzalo Segares Chicago Fire
Jalil Anibaba Chicago Fire
Jeff Larentowicz Chicago Fire
Patrick Nyarko Chicago Fire
Sherjill MacDonald Chicago Fire
Atiba Harris Colorado Rapids
Brian Mullan Colorado Rapids
Diego Calderon Colorado Rapids
Dillon Powers Colorado Rapids
Hendry Thomas Colorado Rapids
Marvell Wynne Colorado Rapids
Matt Pickens Colorado Rapids
Agustin Viana Columbus Crew
Andy Gruenebaum Columbus Crew
Danny O’Rourke Columbus Crew
Dominic Oduro Columbus Crew
Glauber Columbus Crew
Josh Williams Columbus Crew
Tyson Wahl Columbus Crew
Bill Hamid D.C. United
Brandon McDonald D.C. United
Chris Korb D.C. United
Dejan Jakovic D.C. United
Lionard Pajoy D.C. United
Perry Kitchen D.C. United
James Riley D.C. United
Andrew Jacobson FC Dallas
George John FC Dallas
Jackson FC Dallas
Matt Hedges FC Dallas
Raul Fernandez FC Dallas
Fabian Castillo FC Dallas
Michel FC Dallas
Bobby Boswell Houston Dynamo
Boniek Garcia Houston Dynamo
Corey Ashe Houston Dynamo
Jermaine Taylor Houston Dynamo
Kofi Sarkodie Houston Dynamo
Ricardo Clark Houston Dynamo
A.J. DeLaGarza LA Galaxy
Jack McBean LA Galaxy
Marcelo Sarvas LA Galaxy
Sean Franklin LA Galaxy
Todd Dunivant LA Galaxy
Andrea Pisanu Montreal Impact
Felipe Martins Montreal Impact
Hassoun Camara Montreal Impact
Jeb Brovsky Montreal Impact
Marco Di Vaio Montreal Impact
Matteo Ferrari Montreal Impact
Troy Perkins Montreal Impact
A.J. Soares New England Revolution
Andrew Farrell New England Revolution
Clyde Simms New England Revolution
Jerry Bengtson New England Revolution
Jose Goncalves New England Revolution
Juan Toja New England Revolution
Lee Nguyen New England Revolution
Matt Reis New England Revolution
Saer Sene New England Revolution
Dax McCarty New York Red Bulls
Jamison Olave New York Red Bulls
Luis Robles New York Red Bulls
Brandon Barklage New York Red Bulls
Eric Alexander New York Red Bulls
Juninho New York Red Bulls
Amobi Okugo Philadelphia Union
Brian Carroll Philadelphia Union
Keon Daniel Philadelphia Union
Raymon Gaddis Philadelphia Union
Sheanon Williams Philadelphia Union
Zac MacMath Philadelphia Union
Andrew Jean-Baptiste Portland Timbers
Diego Chara Portland Timbers
Donovan Ricketts Portland Timbers
Michael Harrington Portland Timbers
Mikael Silvestre Portland Timbers
Will Johnson Portland Timbers
Jack Jewsbury Portland Timbers
Chris Schuler Real Salt Lake
Khari Stephenson Real Salt Lake
Kwame Watson-Siriboe Real Salt Lake
Luis Gil Real Salt Lake
Robbie Findley Real Salt Lake
Sebastian Velasquez Real Salt Lake
Tony Beltran Real Salt Lake
Jason Hernandez San Jose Earthquakes
Jon Busch San Jose Earthquakes
Rafael Baca San Jose Earthquakes
Sam Cronin San Jose Earthquakes
Ty Harden San Jose Earthquakes
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado Seattle Sounders FC
DeAndre Yedlin Seattle Sounders FC
Mario Martinez Seattle Sounders FC
Andy Rose Seattle Sounders FC
Benny Feilhaber Sporting Kansas City
Oriol Rosell Sporting Kansas City
Paulo Nagamura Sporting Kansas City
Seth Sinovic Sporting Kansas City
C.J. Sapong Sporting Kansas City
Ashtone Morgan Toronto FC
Danny Califf Toronto FC
Darren O’Dea Toronto FC
Hogan Ephraim Toronto FC
Joseph Bendik Toronto FC
Reggie Lambe Toronto FC
Richard Eckersley Toronto FC
Terry Dunfield Toronto FC
Alain Rochat Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Andy O’Brien Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Daigo Kobayashi Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Gershon Koffie Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Joe Cannon Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Jun Marques Davidson Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Kenny Miller Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Young-Pyo Lee Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Jay DeMerit Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Edson Buddle Colorado Rapids
Danny Mwanga Colorado Rapids
Logan Pause Chicago Fire
Blas Perez FC Dallas
Steven Beitashour San Jose Earthquakes
Steven Lenhart San Jose Earthquakes
Teal Bunbury Sporting Kansas City
Danny Koevermans Toronto FC
Landon Donovan LA Galaxy
Obafemi Martins Seattle Sounders FC
Giles Barnes Houston Dynamo

INSERTS
This Is Soccer Insert
Dwayne De Rosario D.C. United
Victor Bernardez San Jose Earthquakes
Aurelien Collin Sporting Kansas City
Ramiro Corrales San Jose Earthquakes
Deshorn Brown Colorado Rapids
Obafemi Martins Seattle Sounders FC
Justin Morrow San Jose Earthquakes
Austin Berry Chicago Fire
Jose Villarreal LA Galaxy
Dan Kennedy Chivas USA
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado Seattle Sounders FC
Hassoun Camara Montreal Impact
Mario Martinez Seattle Sounders FC
Robert Earnshaw Toronto FC
Fabian Espindola New York Red Bulls
Brian Ching Houston Dynamo


Topps 1978 EPL Soccer Insert
Thierry Henry New York Red Bulls
Robbie Keane LA Galaxy
Tim Cahill New York Red Bulls
Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes
Graham Zusi Sporting Kansas City
Dwayne De Rosario D.C. United
Alessandro Nesta Montreal Impact
John Bostock Toronto FC
Osvaldo Alonso Seattle Sounders FC
Omar Gonzalez LA Galaxy
Chris Pontius D.C. United
Will Bruin Houston Dynamo
Eddie Johnson Seattle Sounders FC
Mike Magee LA Galaxy
Juninho LA Galaxy
Kyle Beckerman Real Salt Lake
Brad Davis Houston Dynamo
Austin Berry Chicago Fire
Jimmy Nielsen Sporting Kansas City
Aurelien Collin Sporting Kansas City
Matt Besler Sporting Kansas City
Victor Bernardez San Jose Earthquakes
Nick DeLeon D.C. United
Darlington Nagbe Portland Timbers
Tally Hall Houston Dynamo
Federico Higuain Columbus Crew
Alvaro Saborio Real Salt Lake
Brian Ching Houston Dynamo
Mauro Rosales Seattle Sounders FC
Jose Villarreal LA Galaxy
Juan Agudelo Chivas USA
Kenny Cooper FC Dallas
Nick Rimando Real Salt Lake
Chris Rolfe Chicago Fire
Sean Johnson Chicago Fire
Joel Lindpere Chicago Fire
Steve Zakuani Seattle Sounders FC
Ramiro Corrales San Jose Earthquakes
Drew Moor Colorado Rapids
Jairo Arrieta Columbus Crew
Chad Marshall Columbus Crew
Justin Morrow San Jose Earthquakes
Carlo Cudicini LA Galaxy
Patrice Bernier Montreal Impact
Davy Arnaud Montreal Impact
Heath Pearce New York Red Bulls
Jeff Parke Philadelphia Union
Michael Gspurning Seattle Sounders FC
Darren Mattocks Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Michael Farfan Philadelphia Union
Ryan Johnson Portland Timbers
Fabian Espindola New York Red Bulls
Kevin Alston New England Revolution
Dan Kennedy Chivas USA
Robert Earnshaw Toronto FC
Claudio Bieler Sporting Kansas City
Jack McInerney Philadelphia Union
Sebastien Le Toux Philadelphia Union
Landon Donovan LA Galaxy
Jay DeMerit Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Topps Minis
Thierry Henry New York Red Bulls
Robbie Keane LA Galaxy
Tim Cahill New York Red Bulls
Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes
Graham Zusi Sporting Kansas City
Dwayne De Rosario D.C. United
Alessandro Nesta Montreal Impact
John Bostock Toronto FC
Osvaldo Alonso Seattle Sounders FC
Omar Gonzalez LA Galaxy
Chris Pontius D.C. United
Will Bruin Houston Dynamo
Eddie Johnson Seattle Sounders FC
Kyle Beckerman Real Salt Lake
Landon Donovan LA Galaxy

MLS Rivalries
LA Galaxy vs. Chivas USA
Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers
D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls
Colorado Rapids vs. Real Salt Lake
Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact
New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls
D.C. United vs. Philaelphia Union
Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas

AUTOS
SuperDraft Auto
Kyle Bekker Toronto FC
Emery Welshman Toronto FC
Ryan Finley Columbus Crew
Taylor Kemp D.C. United
Dillon Powers Colorado Rapids
Andrew Farrell New England Revolution
Carlos Alvarez Chivas USA
Mikey Lopez Sporting Kansas City


MLS Maestros
John Bostock Toronto FC
Danny Koevermans Toronto FC
Federico Higuain Columbus Crew
Danny Mwanga Colorado Rapids
Nick DeLeon D.C. United
Chris Pontius D.C. United
Drew Moor Colorado Rapids
Teal Bunbury Sporting Kansas City
Aurelien Collin Sporting Kansas City
Graham Zusi Sporting Kansas City
Matt Besler Sporting Kansas City
Jimmy Nielsen Sporting Kansas City
Michael Farfan Philadelphia Union

RELICS
MLS Kits
Osvaldo Alonso Seattle Sounders FC
Will Bruin Houston Dynamo
Brad Davis Houston Dynamo
Tim Cahill New York Red Bulls
Jimmy Nielsen Sporting Kansas City
Chris Pontius D.C. United
Jack Jewsbury Portland Timbers
Sean Johnson Chicago Fire
Michael Farfan Philadelphia Union
Nick Rimando Real Salt Lake
Matt Besler Sporting Kansas City
Steven Beitashour San Jose Earthquakes
Graham Zusi Sporting Kansas City
Chris Wondolowski San Jose Earthquakes
Teal Bunbury Sporting Kansas City
Mauro Rosales Seattle Sounders FC
Blas Perez FC Dallas
Nick DeLeon D.C. United
Steven Lenhart San Jose Earthquakes
Alvaro Saborio Real Salt Lake
Zach Loyd FC Dallas
Heath Pearce New York Red Bulls
Kyle Beckerman Real Salt Lake
Drew Moor Colorado Rapids
Eddie Johnson Seattle Sounders FC
Chris Rolfe Chicago Fire
Brian Ching Houston Dynamo
Austin Berry Chicago Fire
Thierry Henry New York Red Bulls
Danny Koevermans Toronto FC
Dwayne De Rosario D.C. United



Some samples of the cards.

Depending on the box price I'll see if it's worth my while to break some of this product. If I'm to open some boxes I'll definitely post my results here on SCB so be sure to stay tuned.

2 comments:

  1. I can't believe MLS gave their license to Topps. After what they've done to baseball cards over the last five years, I can only imagine the kind of bullshit they'll come up with for soccer. Bad, bad, bad.

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    Replies
    1. Well so far I can't say I'm too excited about this product. That's mainly down to the crappy preliminary auto checklist. Not a single auto of a big name foreign import or any of the reigning MLS champs, LA Galaxy.

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