The boycott is over

I have not purchased so much as a pack of Gypsy Queen in four years.

While I run around frantically trying to complete at least the team set for any card brand available in retail, I ignore Gypsy Queen. There are team set needs on my want list from GQ from 2014, 2015 and 2016 that I barely know exist. That's how undesirable this product is to me.

But I had spotted images of this year's GQ and for once the design didn't look like dog crap that's sat out in the sun too long. Topps had toned down the ornateness that gives me the creepy crawlies and had actually incorporated some color into the set.

It still isn't a set for me, but let's just say I noticed.

Yesterday I was running errands and arrived at the usual big box stores. I needed to get some printer paper so I could surrender all of my financial records to various institutions of higher learning just for the shot at some measly cents off of their ransom ... er, tuition ... demands. I needed to buy a greeting card for someone who is old enough to insist on a greeting card. And I had to look at some power saws because I practically live in a damn forest that rains tree branches every winter.

So with that rant out of the way, the rest of the story: I went first to Target, fully intending to finally use my coupons to nab a blaster of Heritage. I arrived at the card aisle and there was every configuration of Heritage available except blasters. Hmmm. The only other coupons available to me were Series 1, Opening Day and Stickers. No thanks.

Off to Walmart I went.

After acquiring my various errand-boy items, I stopped at the miniature card aisle and promptly spotted multiple Heritage blasters. Of course. Determined not to pay full price for that, I settled on a fat pack of Gypsy Queen.

From what I've read briefly on GQ, it's not as costly as in the past (it's still $9.98 for a fat pack, but maybe there are more cards in it these days). And GQ has done away with minis, which I am happy about because minis with GQ designs are not fun to collect.

Each fat pack contains three packs of 6 cards and retail-only green parallels. This is another reason I bought this -- the green isn't the usual basement green you get from GQ. It is brighter and more to my liking.

Let's see the three packs.


Pack 1

#56 - Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers

I have selected well.

There is the design. It features a neat border with most of the frufru shoved down to the bottom of the card. I appreciate this. The border color, while bland, is a lot better than some past GQ colors -- vomit yellow, dungeon green and stool-sample brown.

Even the backs look better. The faded look enhances the cardboard, as if it's a piece of parchment paper. And I like the line of color.

#2 - Edwin Diaz, Mariners

The dirty filter used on these cards remains. Toning down the design, however, does help draw out the photo. In past sets the crazy border squiggles clashed with the action image.

#184 - Austin Hedges, Padres
#78 - Robert Gsellman, Mets
#210 - Adam Jones, Orioles
#80 - Scooter Gennett, Brewers

There's no way every GQ card is getting its own image on this post. Please note that for most of these cards, the team is referred to by its city name only, Panini-style. I don't know why that is, but it's weird as Topps usually flouts its licensing ability every chance it gets.


Pack 2

#240 - Alex Bregman, Astros

As usual, many of the players in Gypsy Queen look like they need a bath.

#129 - Mike Napoli, Indians
#232 - Justin Bour, Marlins
#133 - Seung-Hwan Oh, Cardinals

#FT-MT - Mike Trout, Angels, Fortune Teller insert

I pull a lot of Mike Trout cards. This is one of the few (perhaps only?) inserts in Gypsy Queen this year. The card is the same height as a regular card but half as wide.

On the back it claims to tell the future.

Kind of nifty. GQ's strong point has always been its inserts.

#212 - Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees


Pack 3

#165 - J.A. Happ, Blue Jays
#87 - Jake Lamb, Diamondbacks
#14 - Matt Olson, Athletics
#273 - Ian Kinsler, Tigers

Please note that the Jake Lamb card does not list the team by the city/state, but instead says "D-Backs". I hope this isn't a variation. I'm a little sick of dealing with dumb variations.

#75 - Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

Woooooo! Somebody fire the laundry guy and get Kershaw a new uniform! This one is covered in filth!

#69 - Randal Grichuk, Cardinals


Green Parallel Pack

I expected just three green parallels based on past years, and was bracing for my Marlin, Mariner and Diamondback. But five cards came out.

I like these. They're kinda perty. I could do without the Giant, of course.

But that's only four. I had to scan the fifth separate.

A Dodger who is no longer one. At least he's foreshadowing his new Tampa Bay digs with a green border.


This was a pretty good pick up, especially for Gypsy Queen. I don't see myself buying much of this in the future, but if I do grab it randomly in desperation during a future big-box store visit, I won't hate myself while doing it.