Here we are in 2021, still collecting Panini Donruss

 

Don't you hate it when someone asks you a question in the comments of your post and you can't answer it? By the time you're able to find the answer, it's the next day or whatever and it seems pointless to answer in the comments, unless that person has that notifications thing going (I don't).

John asked me a question about the Bob Bruce '67 Topps card I put at the top of last night's post, was it the error version or correct version? I was at work when I saw the comment and the card was at home.

So I'll just post it here: It's the regular version, John, not the "RBAVES" error. Now that's service for you!

 

I'm also going to show off the cards that he sent me just the other day. It was mostly a bunch of newly released Dodgers, particularly stuff from this year's Panini Donruss offering.

These were all also pulled for me in a Nachos Grande group break, which is the perils of being a popular blogger who enters a group break.

But there were a couple of the Donruss cards that didn't show up in the break. The Mookie Betts up top is one.

These are the other two. I believe the Kershaw is a variation from the earlier one I showed, or maybe vice versa, who knows, who cares, it's Donruss.

There have been many, many mentions of the similarity between the 2021 Donruss design and the 2021 Topps flagship design and, yup, they are definitely similar.

While, naturally, I prefer cards with logos, I think I like the Donruss design better. I prefer the smooth slashies over the angular slashies. Also the design elements that move into the picture, which both card sets have, aren't interfering with the image as much as the Topps slashes do.

And you can read the damn names in the Donruss set.

OK, that's all being very cordial about Panini Donruss -- have I mentioned that I really like the green Donruss logo on the blue backdrop, too? -- but I haven't changed my stance on this set. I still think there's no need for anyone to buy it and that it probably shouldn't exist.

I'm definitely on the record on this, going back to when Panini resurrected the brand in 2014 with this atrocity:

That's just gross. I actually bought a pack of this. And featured it on the blog.

Never would I have imagined then that people would still be collecting this brand seven years later. I figured Donruss would fizzle out in a couple of years. I was so wrong.

Admittedly, Donruss has mixed up the photos a little better since 2014 and the designs have improved over the last few years. But they're still not great. There are still no logos. The backs are still unreadable and puzzling -- Justin Turner's card back says that he "dents the orb," what the hell?

 

 

Then there is this that makes me want to rip up all my Panini cards and scatter them outside so birds can build nests with the bits.

No, I am not upset about new cards of Garvey and Hershiser to collect, in fact, I'm thrilled. However, I am almost certain that there is some sort of weird copyright rule that forced Panini to transform its tribute to the 1987 Donruss set from the only redeeming aspect of that original set -- the black borders -- into boring ol' white borders. Otherwise, why would you do this? At least make them that maroon Opening Day color from that year.

Here is another thing that baffles me with Panini's '80s Donruss tributes. I have mentioned this before. I am the only one who I am aware of who has ever mentioned it. I don't understand why nobody else cares or doesn't see it or -- HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE IT, IT'S SLAPPING ME IN THE FACE!

It's the white bar that Panini places at the bottom of the photo for all of its retro cards in the Donruss set. It's been there the last three years even though it's never been there in any of those original sets.

Let's review:

 

 1985-2019

 

 

 1986-2020

 

 

 1987-2021

 

White bar in the tribute, no white bar in the original.

 

Also, in 2018 every 1984 retro card in Donruss had that black ceiling of impending doom:

 

 I just stare at these cards and my brain goes, "why, why, why?" I know the answer is "U.S. copyright law is completely out of control," but maybe it's just inexplicable Panini weirdness.

Anyway, I'll get off Donruss now and show a few other current Dodgers that John sent:

Those are the first 2021 Opening Day Dodgers in my collection. Guess it's time to add another want list to the blog!

 

The yellow Turner is the Walgreen's version.

 

It's always nice to get some 2020 and 2021 cards that were never available on the store shelves around me. Even if it's Panini.

 

Panini's Donruss set is still around for a few reasons:

 

1. It's the only alternative to Topps

2. Some people don't care about the logos, I guess

3. Donruss has added a lot of bells-and-whistles to the set, lots of inserts, a bazillion variations, many of which are ridiculous but that liven up a box break and distract you from the plainness of the pictures.

 

But I still haven't purchased a pack since 2015.