2012 Topps-Surf's Up!

Well, I went back to Kmart yesterday and there in the aisle were jumbo hanger packs of 2012 Topps Baseball. So, I went ahead and got 2 packs of them and brought them home.

I'm here, Huckleberry

When I opened the first pack I had a feeling my thoughts on this set would change a bit. Not a complete 180 degrees(they need to add that to keyboards*)but about a 100 degree change.

When I first saw them on all the other blogs I really let the surfboard get to me.

But...........

...as I got going through the cards I realized that the surfboard did, in fact, screw up the composition of some of the cards. But it also helped the composition of a whole bunch of cards.
That was a nice thing to see after all the dread I had felt before actually buying any.

I'm going to go over what I got and keep a running tally of whether the surfboard made a card one of the following:

Wipeout!(bad)

Wipeout!

Bodhi!(good)(Point Break reference)

Bodhi

Low Tide(meh)

Low Tide

First card:

Chad Billingsley #152

This card is a Low Tide simply for the fact that the picture is the part of this card that is off. It just has an angle that needed to be zoomed out just a bit. Chad looks crunched.

• W=0
• B=0
• LT=1

Next:

Derek Jeter #30

This card is a Bodhi because it makes it appear as if Jeter is avoiding somebody else's wipeout.
And it also looks like Jeter just saw Texieira step on his puppy.

• W=0
• B=1
• LT=1

Next up:

Mickey Mantle #7

This works for me. Bodhi.

• W=0
• B=2
• LT=1

And...

Tom Gorzelanny #204

Bodhi! Bodhi! Bodhi!

• W=0
• B=3
• LT=1

You there...

Chris Sale #149

Nothing wrong here. Good picture, surfboard blends, and looks like he has eaten recently(skinny, skinny guy). Bodhi.

• W=0
• B=4
• Lt=1

Right this way...

Grady Sizemore #96

Guy can't catch a break. Already banged up coming into camp from a balky back(that happens when you overcompensate for an existing injury). Was heading toward Indian greatness until 3 years ago. This card is just a nice, clean card. Bodhi!

• W=0
• B=5
• LT=1

Keep it moving....

Geovany Soto #56

This could have been a classic card if Topps had just zoomed out a bit. And hadn't overexposed it. There are a lot of instances of this in this set. I still like the card. Bodhi-not the surfboard's fault.

• W=0
• B=6
• LT=1

My second favorite card is.....

Eric Young, Jr. #242

Snap...Krackle......POP!!! How can you not love this card? Surfboard blends well but you don't really notice it. Bodhi!

• W=0
• B=7
• LT=1

And, being a cubs fan, what could possibly be my favorite card?......

Alfred Hitchcock.......I mean Reed Johnson #172

And the surfboard is holding Reed up out of the bird crap. Rodhi Podhi Bodhi!

• W=0
• B=8
• LT=1

This next one is creepy.....

redrum-Tommy Hanson #115

Somebody got brushed off or polished off after this pic was snapped. The accused showed no remorse. Surfboard is in the way on this card. But the pic makes the card. I guess there won't be grindage today because it is.....Low Tide. Now I need to lock this card outside.

• W=0
• B=8
• LT=2

Hey there....

Allen Craig-World Series #329

The surfboard enhances the photo to where it makes everything seem to point toward the hole that Allen hit the ball through. Totally Bodhi dude! Rad!

• W=0
• B=9
• LT=2

Speaking of squirrels.....

Mark Teixeira #110

Stock up after the season is over, Alvin. He must be a member of a 100 different nut of the month clubs because this is how he always looks. Good looking card except for that face. It's a Bodhi.

• W=0
• B=10
• LT=2

Extreme hernia in 3...2...1....

Michael Taylor #36

What exactly is going on with his stomach? Except for that gut thingy it's a nice card and the surfboard is balanced out by the RC logo. Bodhi.

• W=0
• B=11
• LT=2

This card sucketh....

David Freeze-World Series #291

What a crap card. Video still. probably. Surfboard in the way. Absolutely, dude. Some no name guy that got lucky to have another and another and another fastball grooved right down the middle in that game.  Texas forgot how to pitch in this game and it was ugly and lucky for the Curdinulz.

WIPEOUT!!!!!!!!!!

• W=1
• B=11
• LT=2

Hey! You!....

Addison Reed #183

Addison closed for zee Strasburg at San Diego State. This guy might be a beast for the ChiSox soon. Minor league totals:0.74 WHIP, 1.41 ERA, 7.5:1 BB/SO ratio, 108 innings with 20 walks and 155 strikeouts. Made 5 stops last year. This card has everything pointing toward the plate. Surfboard is used effectively here. Bodhi.

• W=1
• B=12
• LT=2

Jason Vargas #269:

Everyone seems to like this card with the retro uni. I was surprised to find he was a pitcher since the picture suggested shortstop. The surfboard kind of gives the whole card an off kilter feel. Low Tide for me.

• W=1
• B=12
• LT=3

Brett Anderson #104:

This card is a great card. The batter actually is the focus of this card because calls attention to the unfocused part of the card. Surfboard is not an issue. Bodhi.

• W=1
• B=13
• LT=3

Drew Pomeranz #42:

Once again, the RC logo balances out the surfboard. And your eyes are drawn up to his glove and then where he is looking.

The Rockies stole this guy in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade.  Bodhi.

• W=1
• B=14
• LT=3

Michael Young #55:

Not a good picture and it looks grainy and the surfboard is way too prominent.

WIPEOUT!!!

• W=2
• B=14
• LT=3

Jayson Werth #295:

Many things wrong here. The surfboard gets in the way. The picture is, once again, too zoomed in, and the dumbest thing is the photographer being positioned BEHIND the safety netting.

WIPEOUT!!!

• W=3
• B=14
• LT=3

Kevin Slowey #111

Uninspiring card. He's going to get a 'cutter' on that Topps logo. Low Tide.

• W=3
• B=14
• LT=4

Brian Matusz #84:

The fact that the surfboard seems to be pointing to where his hand is draws all the attention up and right and blends the card all together. Bodhi.

• W=3
• B=15
• LT=4

Yadier Molina #174:

Yadier's catching pads seems to be an extension of the surfboard. a SurFormer. Shut up, that's all I could think of calling it. Bodhi.

• W=3
• B=16
• LT=4

Nick Hundley #312:

Was up for Wipeout! contention until the catcher in the rye broke up the monotony. But the surfboard enhanced the overall look even more. Low Tide.

• W=3
• B=16
• LT=5

Ivan Nova #133:

Great composition shot. surfboard not a factor as his cap matches and moves the shape to the top of the card. Bonus points for the name. It flows smoothly without any hard pronunctiation sounds. Just like Salome Barojas. Or Jesus Alou. Or Bodhi.

• W=3
• B=17
• LT=5

Ike Davis #24

I like how the arms fan up from the surfboard. It creates two halves to this card. You have a clear shot of the card's subject to the right and an impromptu team ballet to the left. Bodhi.

• W=3
• B=18
• LT=5

Adam Dunn #199

The card number is in direct proportion to his strikeout totals in 2010 with the Nats before they benched him so he wouldn't pass the 200 K plateau. Meesa thinks Topps did that on purpose.

The design of this card doesn't matter because the subject is right where he should have stayed all year.

The surfboard IS the best part of the card.

WIPEOUT!!!

• W=4
• B=18
• LT=5

Jose Altuve #187:

I have a hard time believing Jose is 5'7". I've got him at 4'9". I also believe he is going to be the Astros second baseman for 15 years. The surfboard gives Jose a good booster step to use. Not much else about this card is too special so it is a Low Tide.

• W=4
• B=18
• LT=6

Sergio Santos #244:

1 year closer for the ChiSox has been stolen out of town with the rest of the players(and manager) as Kenny Williams tries to see how low he can drag a team and then come back and win it all. Again. The surfboard seems to looks the best on the White Sox cards and this card is no different.

The photo could have been centered though. Bodhi.

• W=4
• B=19
• LT=6

George Kottaras #143:

Topps really f***ed this card up.  This card should have been horizontal and zoomed out to catch the ump.

But instead it's just another zoooooomed in shot with the surfboard being better than the shot because of the composition.

Low Tide.

• W=4
• B=19
• LT=7

Starlin Castro #270:

Same thing here. Horizontal! It's just crowded vertically. Plus zoomed in to far-AGAIN!

The surfboard is once again the best part. Low Tide.

• W=4
• B=19
• LT=8

Brandon Belt #141:

This card is perfect! Composition! Angles! Bodhi!

• W=4
• B=20
• LT=8

Mariano Rivera #180:

Card number will also be his ERA this year. Albert Pujols is a dominant player. But he would carry this guy's bags for him. The best player of this generation. And this card isn't to shabby, either.

Bodhi.

• W=4
• B=21
• LT=8

Mike Minor #227:

It looks like Mike would rather be doing something else. So would I. Low Tide.

• W=4
• B=21
• LT=9

Jason Bourgeois #321:

Crap. That goes for the card and what is going to happen to Jason after he snags that ball. You don't pull a Rodney McCray with a brick wall staring at you. And the surfboard looks stupid here.

WIPEOUT!!!

• W=5
• B=21
• LT=9

Colby Lewis #18:

Ilike how his shirt fans out from the surfboard. Then you gravitate to his eyes and then the ball. Cool card. Bodhi.

• W=5
• B=22
• LT=9

Melky Cabrera #15:

Boy, I bet the Braves would have loved to have had him around last year. I didn't know he had pulled a George Brett in K.C. until I saw the back of this card. I think this is one of those cases where a guy lands on a team that fits his mentality. I always thought he was to low key for N.Y. and was platooned in the ATL. I'm happy for him. Hope he does it again.

The card might have been nicer if the sun was shining but it just looks murky and blah. Surfboard doesn't goof the card up though. Low Tide.

• W=5
• B=22
• LT=10

Ben Zobrist #195:

The Tampa Bay surfboard works really good with the design. Good, solid batting shot. Local guy who has gone on to the Show. He's from Eureka, Illinois, about 30 miles from where I live.

He seems to have the Bret Saberhagen syndrome. One good year, then one bad. Wax on, wax off.

Here's to him breaking that trend this year! Bodhi.

• W=5
• B=23
• LT=10

Stephen Drew #248:

Here's a shot that is right at the edge of too zoomy. But the surfboard gets in the way. I always wanted to know what Stephen Drew. Horses? Cars? Girls? I guess he gave it up, apparently.

Low Tide.

• W=5
• B=23
• LT=11

Kevin Gregg #326:

A journeyman closer? That's a first. He doesn't suck. He just doesn't suck more often.

But he has led 4 different clubs in saves the last 4 years. The surfboard makes this card off kilter a bit. Low Tide.

• W=5
• B=23
• LT=12

Josh Hamilton #300:

Just a relapse. I have done it many times with cigarettes. the last time I smoked was two and a half years ago. I hope it will be at least that long before Josh takes a step back( my favorite Springsteen song).

This is a good shot and the surfboard doesn't block any action. Bodhi.

• W=5
• B=24
• LT=12

Ricky Nolasco #322:

Say hello to Mr. Photoshop. I don't really feel this logo and I can't even begin to tell you what is on his hat. It looks like a mouse playing a violin. The angle of the picture is the only thing good here.

WIPEOUT!!!

• W=6
• B=24
• LT=12

Texas Rangers-World Series #217:

Hate it. Surfboard blocks 20% of the action. Cruz might still be feeling that wedgie.

WIPEOUT!!!

• W=7
• B=24
• LT=12

Jason Bay #251:

It's a card. No feelings either way. Low Tide.

• W=7
• B=24
• LT=13

Brennan Boesch #166:

Excellent picture. Could have moved the pic to the right to get all his hand in. Looks good overall.

Bodhi.

• W=7
• B=25
• LT=13

Antonio Bastardo #287:

I will not touch that name. You have a mind. Use it. Here, it looks like the 'jerk' is being wheeled around in some kind of scooter. Hover-round...d..dd...d...d....d!! Good photo position, though.

Bodhi.

• W=7
• B=26
• LT=13

Matt Moore #129:

I like the way this card is set up. But the surfboard appears to be pushing him from behind. The RC logo would have looked better in the top right corner. Bodhi.

• W=7
• B=27
• LT=13

Domonic Brown #98:

This is another perfect card. Those angles are aligned right to where he is going to slide to. It would have been awesome if the ball was right behind the Topps foil. Bodhi.

• W=7
• B=28
• LT=13

Justin Masterson #205:

Isn't that an awesome card? Chief Yahoo sucker punched him during a pitch. Your own logo is against you. That ball ended up in the 21st row. Best surfboard usage in the whole set. Bodhi!

• W=7
• B=29
• LT=13

Brent Lillibridge #228:

Another Sox card. Another good card overall. I remember that game. He didn't catch it. A 30 year old donut salesman leaned over and caught it. That man's name was Jeffrey Maier. True story ;)
Bodhi.

• W=7
• B=30
• LT=13

Dontrelle Willis #89:

This card is solid and the surfboard isn't too bad here. Bodhi.

• W=7
• B=31
• LT=13

Trevor Plouffe #249:

The surfboard blocks most of the bottom action here, but, I think it helps put the focus on Trevor, and not the bright pants of Ryan Sweeney here. I'll give it a Low Tide for a push.

• W=7
• B=31
• LT=14

David Wright #240:

This might be the ugliest card in the set. The surfboard totally takes the eyes away from an unshaven, dirty, crappy uni-wearing David. But that is a good thing as that is just an awful pic.

WIPEOUT!!!

• W=8
• B=31
• LT=14

Wilson Ramos #12:

This card is a winner simply because the subject is still alive to be in the set and this isn't an 'in memorium' card. He probably walked into camp with the least worries of anyone there. If he can fight off armed kidnappers, then baseball is a breeze. Now he's going to focus on being the best catcher in the NL West(he's really close).

The surfboards blends well with his chest plate and overall red/gray theme of this card. Bodhi.

• W=8
• B=32
• LT=14

Chris Coghlan #222:

Nice, clean picture with the surfboard pointing toward Chris's popup. Solid card. Bodhi.

• W=8
• B=33
• LT=14

Luke Gregerson #221:

Cards 221 and 222 back to back in the pack. I wouldn't mind if packs were collated that way, actually. The dark background is the star of the show here. Negates the surfboard and lets Luke be the star of his own card. Bodhi.

• W=8
• B=34
• LT=14

These last 4 cards of the set part of the packs are what we call...WIPEOUTS!!!

Big, ugly surfboard on ugly, useless cards. And as somebody else posted about , the numbering is all over the map.

Plus some of these cards are just active leader cards.

• W=12
• B=34
• LT=14

Well, that is the end of the scoring for these packs. That is 12 Wipeouts, 34 Bodhis, and 14 Low Tides.

34 out of the 60 base set cards were solid, while 26 were meh...or worse.

I guess overall I might go for this set. Once you get the cards in hand, your opinion will change on them.

As for the backs:

I like them. Simple. Big number on the right. The only thing I would have preferred is a white background. The gray seems to be varied from card to card and how many years you have played. Jeter's card is a solid gray behind his stats and it doesn't look right.

As for the inserts I got:

Mark Teixeira Classic Walk-offs #CW-6:

Topps should have left the celebration alone and in color on these. Crap is crap.

Adrian Gonzalez Topps Minis #TM-33:

Yeah! Why settle for one when you can have two? Thanks, Topps.

Justin Upton Golden moments #GM-24:

Oh, Topps! This is the best day ever! I'm gonna cry.........ing out loud??!?!?!??! WTF? F you, Topps!

Garbage. No, literally. they are in the garbage right now. Next to the Teieieixexeira card.

Ivan Nova and Russell Martin Golden Moments Parallels:

I really like these. The finish is really nice and glossy if you look at it close enough. I thought they would give off that cheap Score Gold Rush vibe, but in person they are way better.

Golden Greats Nolan Ryan and Willie Mays:

Not too bad. A little cheap looking, but the vintage unis really help with this set.

Gold Futures Dustin Ackley #GF-6:

I have no problem with these. nice clean cards.

And lastly, these.....

.....got me these:

I can't wait to get these so I can cash in th.......What? They aren't real? Well, I guess your interest in your 18-60 demographic isn't real then either? Didn't think so.

Overall, I do seem to lean toward liking the base set. But I think after that, only the minis are going to be pursued by this collector.

Thanks for reading! Hello? Crap, I knew it was too long.