Update From Nick

Today may be November 1st, but it still feels like October to me.  After all, the Dodgers came back on the Astros late last night to extend the World Series to Game 7.  While it has been this way for a few years now, it seems strange to have baseball's championship series extend into the calendar's eleventh month.  The Fall Classic is inching ever closer into becoming the winter classic.  Furthermore, Topps' Update series hit the shelves in October and I still don't have my hands on any of it; so, can I really move on to November without any of the third series of Flagship in my posession?

Thankfully, Dimebox Nick let me know that he dropped a PWE in the mail for me a couple of days ago, somehow knowing that I'd need help transitioning into the month of football, turkey, and awkward family dinners.  In this mailing, Nick promised almost all of the Cubs cards from this year's annual Update. 

Brian Duensing was one of my two main targets from this year's checklist, along with Jose Quintana; both of which are the respective player's first, pack-based Cubs card.  Although, I must admit, I was expecting to have a few more targets.  As Nick, Night Owl, TSR, and others have detailed in their screeds against what Update has become, what was once a set based around updating the ever-changing MLB rosters has now largely become a rookie and stars set.

For example, instead of getting big-time trade deadline acquisitions (which usually made it in, despite print deadlines, before) like Alex Avila and Justin Wilson, we're treated to rookie cards of Mark Zagunis (7 games) and Pierce Johnson (1 game), who were barely there in 2017.  What do key veteran pieces like Tommy La Stella and Mike Montgomery have to do to get a Flagship card these days?  Eddie Butler and his 11 starts on the mound would like a word, as well.

Nope, invest in these rookies instead!

We've covered the rookies, so now here's the stars portion.  Thankfully for card-collecting me, the Cubs' rough first half lead to Wade Davis being the club's only All-Star; thus, I only have one checklist-fluffing All-Star card to chase.  On the other hand, Wade'[s base card also accompanied the AS version and his dominant run as Cubs' closer definitely deserved cardboard representation; although, I am a bit surprised he didn't rear his bearded head in Series Two.  After all, he did appear (Photoshopped) in Cubs colors in the factory team set.

Finally, I don't know how to truly feel about this card.  On one hand, these event-marking cards (and combo cards) are yet another way to fluff the checklist and pushing lesser known veterans and their new duds out of the product.  Furthermore, now that we live in the era of Topps Now paying tribute to Aaron Judge every time he catches a ball, do we really need such things in Update?  On the other hand, it's really, really, really hard for me not to enjoy any card that honors the defending World Series Champion Chicago Cubs.... I'm going to miss being able to say that, very much so.

Don't take my jaded slant as being ungrateful - I'm thrilled that Nick was generous enough to send these cards my way.  I'm also a bit of a hypocrite too, as I gladly slipped the Duensing, Johnson, and Davis All-Star into my marquee CATRC binder... and does anybody have a lead on a Quintana?  However, I just fear the direction that this product is heading - I want an "Update" set that actually does a thorough job of "updating."  Novel, right?


But, enough ranting about Update -  with Nick being the kind soul that he is, that was far from the only product that showed up in his PWE.  While Update was the anchor of the package, the Dimebox King also made sure to include some intriguing bonuses, as well:

Among those bonus cards were a trio of singles from 2017 sets that are underrepresented in my collections.  This year (well, really every year), I haven't bought much Allen & Ginter, as the price point drives me away; so, I'm always thankful when they show up in trades.  Furthermore, the envelope's third Davis represents my very first Fire card as, again, the price point on this popular new release has kept me from pulling the trigger.  I must admit, from what I've seen of Wade here, Fire is quite visually exciting.

Lastly, on the other end of the pricing spectrum, we have a blue parallel of Jon Lester from '17 Bunt.  I've bought a couple packs of this low-end set; but, my luck in pulling Cubs base cards has been non-existent, let alone parallels.

Speaking of parallels, here's a colorful and reflective one from the 2001 edition of Bowman Chrome.  I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong) this is the X-Fractor parallel and, boy oh boy, does this baby look good in hand.  I don't believe I have a lot of these types of cards floating around in my cardboard stash, so this was an easy choice to take up Kelton's representation in my CATRC.  Hard to believe that this card is now old enough to drive - it seems like just yesterday that David was considered to be the third baseman of the future for the Cubbies.

Speaking of prospects, here's another one who could yet work out for the North Siders.  Stinnett was absolutely filthy in his first taste of AA (0.61 ERA with 14 K's in 14.2 innings) and may yet deliver on the top prospect status that earned him a slot in 2014 Panini Draft Picks. Here's hoping that, in a system devoid of pitching, Jake takes another step forward in 2018 - I'd love to be able to add this card to the CATRC binder.

Before we turn back the clock a little further, here's another pair of cards from the 21st century.  I'll spare you the obligatory "bring back Topps Total" rant - I try to keep to a strict limit of no more than one rant per post -  but, if anyone has a lead on the Kent Mercker from this 2005 edition, I'd be happy to take it off your hands.  Accompanying the Total Dempster, we have a mini 2012 Rafael Dolis.  Who doesn't love a baseball card with a clear view of a palm tree?

Spring training is only... 104 days away.  🙁

Back to the mid-to-late 90's we go, a time when there were so many products on the market, it was almost impossible for a baseball player to go unrepresented on cardboard for an entire season.  Of this bunch, I think my favorite has to be the "play at the plate" Scott Servais from 1998 Upper Deck, although a rare shot of Gracie galloping around the bases in the oft-forgotten Bazooka product is a tough competitor.

And, finally, we wrap up this post with an authentic, vintage 1968 Topps single featuring the unsung hero of the late-60's Cubs, Bill Hands.  I have a great love for the burlap set that seems to be largely shunned across the blogosphere; but, I've always thought that the tan borders played well off of the Cubbie blue uniforms and blue skies in the background.  This "Handsy" card is no exception.

Now, before I put a nice little bow on this blog entry, notice my wording in the previous paragraph - I said that it was time to "warp up this post" and not that Bill was the last card in Nick's PWE.  That was a purposeful choice of words because the last card in the envelope will be getting it's own post.  This card was a great mystery to me when it fell out of the mailing and I thought my journey in tracking down information on this oddity was worthy of it's own chronicling.  So, look for that write-up in the next few days.

Holy cliffhanger, Batman!

via GIPHY

My thanks go out to Nick for easing me into November with a thorough injection of 2017 Update into my collection, as well as the generous bonus cards from various sets and eras.  While I share his feelings on the product overall,  I'm thrilled to be able to update my Duensing CATRC rep with a Cubs Update.  I'll be sure to compensate his generosity with a proper return package in the near future.

I'll conclude with a question - what are your feelings on this year's edition of Topps Update?  Do you agree with Nick, Night Owl and I?  Or perhaps you feel quite the opposite and have a proper defense?  Please feel free to express yourselves in the comment section below!

In the meantime, while the calendar has officially flipped over to the first of November AND I have a healthy selection of Update in my hands, I don't yet feel quite ready to embrace the eleventh month of the year.  I think, in order to fully move on, I'll need the Dodgers to finally put the Astros away in Game Seven (former Cub, Rich Hill, needs a ring).

The World Series is an October thing, after all.