This. Is. Awesome.

I think you know me by now.

I don't try to break card news here (mostly because it's impossible).

I don't much go for the "here's the latest and greatest" hype that pops up on other online sites.

And I'm not really a fan of "what's new" anyway. I think the vast number of vintage posts and the nostalgia that permeates this blog prove that.

And, finally, I can not STAND it when the same card appears on 46 different blogs.

So, with all of that out of the way, I must be showing this image for a reason.

As you know, it is the design for 2013 Topps.

And the reason I am showing it is that ...

...

...

IT ... IS ...

FANTASTIC.

Good god, I love this design.

It could be the most interesting and cleverly simple design in decades. Perhaps ever.

I like it because it's in keeping with the last few Topps designs (2010 excluded) in which we seem to be in the midst of an era of simplistic baseball card designs.

Simplistic. But not simple. (or weird, like 2012 Topps).

My favorite part of the design is it has whimsy. You've got home plate and the entire diamond on the card and then the outfield opens up to display the player. It's quirky and clever. Love it. And the logo without any mention of the team name is nice, and should receive appreciation from 1987 Topps fans. It's got a slick, modern feel, but is undoubtedly "baseball."

I like white card borders, and the inner color border reflecting the respective team colors is always smart (the only saving grace of 1982 Fleer).

Yes, there's no position designation on the front. But that's quibbling.

Basically, I think it's tremendous.

And you know how difficult that's been for me to say about 2012 cards.

Well done, Topps. Well done.


(Beckett has details here. But I saw it first here).