2012: New Year, New Banner, New Cards

First off, I put up a new banner that I'm a fan of, now I have to get my hands on some of those Mets mini '86 2012 topps inserts.

I also finally got my first taste of 2012 Topps as a result of the group break over at Cardboard Collections.

I did not end up with too many inserts, but I did get the full Mets 2012 Series One Team Set out of the break so that was a plus.  So here they are, all 13 Mets base cards from 2012 Topps Series One:

Much has been made over the photograph in Series one, and I thought there were some hits and some misses among the Mets cards.  I really like the Ike Davis, Thole, and Izzy cards but I thought the Niese card was a bit strange (it doesn't even look like him) and I also think that too many celebration cards (the Turner and Duda) kind of takes away from the point of a celebration card.

On the bright side, I do like the design a lot more in person than I thought I would.  I like that the boarder inside the white boarder is orange to match the "surfboard."

Anyone want to pool your Topps 2012 wrappers?

Hi all. I know there are a lot of negative feelings toward Topps 2012 Series one out there and the wrapper redemption program has not been well received, but if you are like me you will probably end up getting some hobby packs anyway.  Why just throw away those wrappers?

I was thinking maybe those of us who will only buy a couple of hobby packs could get together, pool our wrappers and then I could randomize off each of the cards we get back from the redemption and then send them out to each of the winners.  Each pack wrapper you send me would get you one randomization spot.

I'll likely buy a Jumbo pack if my LCS has them, and if not I'll probably pick up a couple of regular packs.

Who's in?