I’ll start by saying that I realize that I have left both of the major marketing demographics desired by companies that sell products. I’m no longer 18-34, or even 35-50 anymore.
I’m also aware that there’s probably no one my age working at Topps, unless it’s in the top office. I come from a different era: a Gen-Xer who is quite easily pleased.
The most interesting changes in cards for me as a child and even during my teenage years was that the design changed every year. I also enjoyed seeing players with their new teams. That’s all it took to make me happy… and I was happy with that for years.
I didn’t need constant change, which seems to be a basic requirement for many in the younger generations. But that’s also my personality. I’ve never been ‘on to the next’. I prefer to collect cards like I did in the 70’s.
That’s why I don’t understand Topps’ continued tinkering.
The latest puzzling development appeared in the 2025 Topps Update. For some inexplicable reason, some of the inserts are foil — and I’m not talking about any of the parallels. The basic inserts his foil. For example, the two 1990 Topps-themed cards at the top, both of which I pulled from an Update box, are glossy foil. As far as I know, there is no regular version without foil. So the 1990 Update appendices are not the same like the 1990 inserts in the regular set. ?
Here are two more examples I recently received Cards on cards. We went through the 1990 supplement, but the All-Star Game supplements that have appeared in Update in recent years (not foiled) have now been foiled! Every Dodger insert from this set that has arrived so far is foil.
Why?
And also, and perhaps most importantly, do you know how confusing that is?
Nothing irritates me more when I look at new maps than having to go on a fact-finding mission. This was a big problem with the 2025 Topps cards, as all their parallels look identical. As I’ve said many times before: I ALREADY HAVE A JOB. This is what I want to happen when I file my cards: look at the front of the card, check the number on the back, find that number on that year’s checklist, and check the box. Instead, I scroll through the drop-down menu on TCDB, and then up again, and then down again, and then up again, and click on what could be the parallel, then click back because IT’S NOT THAT and then try another one, and.. oh damn, I have to clean up the driveway before I go to work.
It’s interesting that when I was a kid with lots of time, cards were simple and now that I’m an adult with no time, cards couldn’t be more complicated.
I know that companies have to progress and move forward to stay ahead of the competition and grow, I understand that. And since I don’t interact with the breaker crowd, or the novice mojo crowd, there are probably things Topps needs to continually do (and change) to keep buyers happy.
But I wish everyone would slow down the F. (By the way, not all ’25 Update inserts are foil. I recently got a Bleacher Reachers insert and it’s not foil).
The question is of course: why do I still collect this modern stuff? I’ve covered this, but that’s because I still like the basic part of the hobby: what’s the design going to look like this year? – and I like to stay in touch with the current game. It would also be extremely sad if I stopped collecting current cards before the Dodgers won the World Series in a row.
I just wish the tinkering would stop, because I’m getting old and old people get confused.
Anyway, here are the other modern Dodgers who sent Cards on Cards:
Some 2025 Archives Dodgers needs – much appreciated as I will never buy this again.
Some Bowman 1st. Let’s see how long these guys stay in my Dodgers folders, because as soon as they show they can’t make it to the majors, they get pigeonholed.
Also a few Bowman Chromeys. Along the lines of what I discussed, when Bowman made his move to Prospects and Chrome Prospects and Drafts and Draft Chromes, I lost myself. We were clicking at a pace that I could keep up with in the 90s and early 00s.
Heritage Minor Leagues is much more my speed when it comes to prospect sets. None of these guys have had a significant impact in the majors, but they are safely in the binders for now.
And finally a Wicked Curve Kershaw. It’s nice to see Kershaw make a final tribute in Topps this year. It won’t be enough to fill in all the missing Topps designs for my Through The Years project, but I’ll probably put together a post about what I have and the designs that never featured Kershaw.
Perhaps the smartest thing you can do is simply ignore the cards that confuse me; putting them on TCDB to trade or even throwing them away. That’s a thought. But I would have to let go of my “collect them all” mentality that I have had since 1975. That’s not easy to do.
Anyway, sorry about the old-man-yelling-at-cloud post. But honestly, if you were in my life in person every day, it would be really weird to see a guy my age get excited about Topps foiling attachments for no reason at all.
#tinker