New Product Review – 2017 Gypsy Queen

When it comes to baseball cards, I generally stick to full boxes of my tried and true “Junk Wax”.  I usually buy lots of packs for modern stuff but rarely pick up a box.  I decided to step out and buy a box of Gypsy Queen today when I went by the LCS.  I went by just to pick up a few packs to see what they were like, assuming that they hadn’t changed much.  It has been a fairly stagnant design for me over the last few years.  I like them, don’t get me wrong, but they’ve never been very “colorful” and that’s Topp’s intent I believe.  They tend to get lost in a vortex of Gypsy Queen and Allen & Ginter for me each year.  They are a very nice classic looking card but I’ve never been blown away.When I showed up at the LCS today, the first thing I noticed was a change in the packaging.  The box had a more colorful design and featured a couple of Cubbies (Bryant and Schwarber).  There is also a new banner that is being used that has a vibrant tint of green that sets off the look.  I know, this is probably nerdy, but the appearance of the box has led me to buy or avoid in the past.  The previous year’s boxes just had a dull feel to me but this one really got my attention.  I then saw that box toppers had taken the place of the mini box that was previously a standard.  I never really got excited about the mini’s.Then I saw that they had opened a couple of packs so I was able to preview the cards.  I was impressed.  I had previously picked up six packs to buy and explore.  After seeing the box and the cards that had been opened, I put the six packs up and opted for the box.  The product really got my attention.  The box continues to offer 8 cards per pack, 24 packs and 2 on card autographs per box.  The on card autograph is always a plus for me with GQ.  The set checklist is 300 base cards with 20 additional base short prints of legends of the game.  Another habit I have when buying a new box is to slowly break it over a few days to make it last.  I decided this time that I was just going to rip this box and see what happened.  I did save the box topper for last though.Base Card – The base card, like the box, has a new inclusion of various green tints in the Gypsy Queen logo, giving it a fresh new look.  The backs of the cards are similar to previous years with no stats and only text about an accomplishment or strength.  I had to show Buster Posey some love because he is the hometown boy here in Leesburg.Young Superstars – As you can see, the set is loaded with the biggest young names in the game.  I pulled a solid collection of young stars.Rookies – Like years past, the rookies are identified with the small RC in the bottom corner of the card.  A nice Benintendi RC was hidden in this box.Legends – These cards are numbered 301-320.  I pulled the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth, and a sweet Jackie Robinson.  I still desperately want a vintage Jackie Robinson if any of my readers have one lying around collecting dust.Missing Blackplate – These cards are lighter than the base cards, due to removal of the blackplate in the print.  I pulled four of these in the box.  They are found at a ratio of 1:9 so I had pretty good luck with four.  The players included Zack Grienke, Starlin Castro, Melky Cabrera and the previously mentioned Jackie RobinsonMissing Nameplate – These are found1:21 packs and are variations of the base version of the player with the name on the front of the card missing.  In my case, I pull a Jake Arrieta.  The card has an interesting look without the nameplate.Black and White Parallel– These are serial numbered on the back to 50.  This Wilson Ramos was numbered 22/50.Purple Parallel – These are serial numbered on the back to 250.  Trevor Story was numbered 82/250 and Joe Mauer was numbered 189/250.Fortune Teller – This insert is a mini (but larger than the usual mini) that reads like a fortune on the back.  For example, Yoan Moncada reads, “The 22 year-old Yoan will open 2017 by making his Triple-A debut, then impress in later action with the White Sox and be an AL Rookie of the Year candidate in ’17.”  The card is about 2/3 the width but is the same height of a standard card.  I also pulled a Fortune Teller of Aaron Judge, Adrian Beltre and Adrian Gonzalez.Hand Drawn Art Cards – Most people know my weakness at this point is an artist sketch or a hand drawn card.  These are reproductions of a hand sketch of a player in the set.  I pulled Bryce Harper, Anthony Rizzo and Cole Hamels and when I first saw them, they took me back to 1991 Score!  These are early favorites for insert of the year!  I know, a little premature.Autographs – The first autograph was Luis Severino.  I pulled his ’87 Topps version over the weekend so maybe the baseball card spirits are giving me some sort of hint on a new PC.  The second autograph was that of Blake Snell, a Tampa Bay Rays young arm.Box Topper – I saved this one for last because I love box toppers.  The box toppers are called “GQ Glassworks” and are a thick chrome card.  Mine was Carlos Correa and was a beautiful card!

Additional inserts and parallels that are present in the set that I did not pull include: Capless (players without their hats) found 1:158, Throwback Uniforms found 1:420 and Gum Ad Backs found 1:629.  All of these can come with missing blackplates and in black parallels.  Black parallels are 1:1 in the set.  Check out www.cardboardconnection.com for more information on the parallels and variations.

I had a really good time with this box.  Part of it is because it’s a brand new product and I hadn’t seen any of the inserts yet.  There is always added intrigue when you’re seeing a product for the first time.  I also love the hand drawn inserts and on card autographs.  The addition of a box topper this year in place of the mini’s is a big positive move for me.  I would have to say that this is the best GQ design I have seen thus far as well.  Overall, I plan to buy more of this product and potentially try and put the set together with parallels and variations.  It has potential to be a fun and challenging one!  I have to give it a 5 on the Dub-O-Meter.  I recommend this product for anyone who enjoys GQ, A&G or any other classically designed card.

Dub Score – 5

Scoring Scale

1. Let me be the sacrificial lamb so you don’t have to buy these cards.  Just read the post and thank me later.

2. There is worse but there is much better – not worth the effort though.

3. Middle of the road – I wouldn’t talk you into buying these but I certainly wouldn’t talk you out of them.

4. You should probably go out and buy a box and enjoy the rip – I did!  It has some downside but worth the ride.

5. Stop reading and find a box to buy and get to Breaking!  What are you waiting on?