They're here!

 

Happy Halloween to those who celebrate, and that's a whole bunch, as I've never seen more Halloween lights displays in my entire life. Somebody is making a lot of money.

I've posted off-and-on for the holiday, depending on my schedule (and whether I'm fending off kiddies at the front door). In the early days of this blog, myself and others might try to dig up an orange baseball card for the occasion.

You remember when all you could find to represent the night of ghouls and goblins was a lousy 1988 Donruss Baseball's Best or some random orange parallel? Heck, it's all I could find last year.

Well, Topps has you covered this year.

For its Update set, which often comes out around Halloween (but not always), Topps has issued Panini-like parallels with Halloween themes. The background for individual players' cards have been replaced by dancing ghosts, Jack-o-Lanterns, black cats and other spookies. (They remind me of the Peanuts special). There are also plain orange-and-black striped foil parallels in keeping with the mood.

Obviously, this has caused a great to-do on that other social media site, but, really, who cares? Topps has an entire set dedicated to the Christmas holiday with snowflakes and bells inflicted upon a baseball scene, does a pumpkin parallel matter? It's not like I haven't given up chasing all parallels like eight years ago due to the bloat.

Besides, as a blogger, it's nice to have a card that's holiday appropriate. Finally. They're here.

I added one of the orange-and-black foil parallels recently. It's about all I could afford, prices on those damn pumpkins are too high, people are taking advantage of holiday shoppers.

It's very eye-catching, kind of jarring actually, and now that I have one, I don't need to get anymore.

Now let's get to the ridiculousness of the Update checklist again.

I have given up on trying to figure out the thought process on who gets into Update, outside of making sure "hot roookies" and a few high-profile team-changers are included. The rest of the set seems to be compiled through blindfolding and a dart board.

J.P. Feyereisen did not play for the Dodgers this year. At all. He was acquired last offseason from the Rays and he had shoulder surgery before this season even started. He was expected to come back at some point in 2023 but he had a setback in his recovery and didn't play the entire year.

 

 

Fingers crossed, Topps back, but nothing happened in 2023 period.

So, that's not really a Dodgers uniform he has on the front there. Why, oh, why is he in the checklist?

I took a look at the Dodgers' 2023 roster to see who else could have been included instead of Feyereisen. It didn't take me long. I don't expect people like Enrique Hernandez or Lance Lynn to be included, they were acquired too late. But what does Topps have against Evan Phillips? He pitched in 62 games and saved 24!

Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson each appeared in 68 games. Shelby Miller was in 36 games. None are in Update. You could say this is the usual bias against relievers but Alex Vesia (for F's sake) is included and SO IS J.P. FEYEREISEN!

 

Never mind, it doesn't matter anymore. Update's checklist has been a disaster for several years now but it's still mind-blowing every time I look at it.

 

All of Topps' Update attention is now being placed on ghost parallels I guess. At least for one day out of the calendar year they've gotten it right.

Hope you are enjoying your night, and haven't eaten all your kids' candy.