Wednesday, July 31, 2013

2014 Topps Olympic Hopefuls - Sneak Peak


2014 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team & Hopefuls

This is not a scoop and probably not the first place you have seen this information, but I wanted to mention it because if fits in with this blog. I am excited about this set because I loved the summer set, and the Winter Olympics is my favorite of the two. I will be sending these cards out in TTM attempts when they come out.

Lindsey Vonn - Autographed Base 

The base autographs will again be sticker autos. Nothing really different. I know the overall opinion of sticker vs on card autos, but I may be in the minority. I don't really mind, although I am not really looking for them. Autograph parallels will again have Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Rainbow.

J.R. Celski - Base 

David Wise - Base 

The base card design is a bit more dramatic than the 2012 set. I like the designs, but I think I prefer the Summer sets designs. Maybe it will grow on me. I believe they will continue to include Bronze, Silver and Gold parallels.

 Mike Eruzione - Champions on card Auto

They stayed close to the base designs for the Champion on card autographs for this set. I like this design over the 2012 Champion cards, by a wide margin. 

Champion list:
  • Bonnie Blair
  • Dick Button
  • Mike Eruzione
  • Jim Craig
  • Dan Jansen
  • Kristi Yamaguchi
  • Scott Hamilton
  • Brian Boitano
  • Picabo Street
  • Peggy Fleming
  • Nancy Kerrigan
 
Gracie Gold - U.S. Olympic Team Patch

There will be two different patch cards, the official USOC Team Patch, and the 2014 USOC Team Patch (above). All athletes in the base set will have both patch cards. In addition to the patch card, each athlete will also have a Pin card.
 
Steven Holcomb - Relic Card 

Another improvement on the 2012 set, is the relics. I prefer this design over the 2012 relics.  Each relic will have a Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Gold Rainbow parallel.

Other inserts are: Games of the XXII Winter Olympiad, Venues of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and Olympic Heritage

The set is due out in November and most of the online stores are already taking pre-orders.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

TTM: Nick Symmonds

Nick Symmonds - 5

The last return from this weekend came in from Nick Symmonds. More specifically, from his mother. She sent back a nice letter, he left a number of signed cards for her to respond with while he was over seas. From his website, it appears the 'over seas' she is refering too, is the Monaco Diamond League in which he is competing in the Men's 800.

Thanks Nick



Monday, July 29, 2013

TTM: Diana Lopez

Diana Lopez - 6

This weekend I received three Olympic TTM returns. When I got home from work on Friday, Ariel Hsing's TTM was awaiting me. On Saturday I received two more. The first came from Diana Lopez.

Diana and two brothers, Mark and Steve, are all Taekwondo Olympic Athletes. Steve actually has a card in this set, and competed in London as well. Diana's run in the London Olympics didn't end in a medal, as she fell in a 1-0 overtime bout with two-time world champion Hou Yuzhuo of China. (ESPN)

Glad to get Diana's card back.

Thanks Diana



TTM: Ariel Hsing (Silver)

Ariel Hsing - 75 - Silver

When Ariel signed and returned her Olympic hopefuls card, she also signed the Silver version I had sent as well. I am keeping this a separate post for organizational reasons.

Thanks again Ariel.



Friday, July 26, 2013

TTM: Ariel Hsing

Ariel Hsing - 75

The second return for the 2012 Olympic set is Ariel Hsing. Ms. Hsing played, what she considered her best performances at the London Olympics. Losing to the eventual Gold medal winner. She was kind enough to send a kind thank you letter with the our TTM return.

Thanks Ariel



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

TTM: Dotsie Bausch

Dotsie Bausch - 41

The first return for the 2012 Olympic set is Dotsie Bausch. Ms. Bausch took silver in London, and won numerous world championships. Great return.

Thanks Dotsie