Team MVPs: 2015 Topps

I was surprised to see that I haven't written a post from this series in a year-and-a-half. That's long enough that I probably need to provide a refresher on the mission behind these posts. 

The goal is to find the best card per team for sets that I have completed. I've been running this series since 2010. And as I update the series, I go farther and farther back in time -- the ultimate goal, to get to the 1956 Topps set, which is the oldest I have completed.

 

But whenever I complete a new set, I press the switch on the time machine that says "forward" and review whatever newer set I have completed.

 

Since I haven't done one of these in awhile, I've completed several sets that need Team MVP reviews. The farthest back I've gone is 1981 but there is so much more recent ground to cover. Heck, I've completed 2024 Topps and 2022 and, ick, 2021. And then there are mid-1980s sets that I've completed more recently, like 1985 and 1986 Fleer. It's gonna be awhile before we get to 1981 Donruss (I bet you can't wait). Especially if I'm running these every year-and-a-half!

 

Today I'm hitting 2015 Topps, just because it's the 10th anniversary of the set and I liked it so much. It was interesting going through the cards in this set -- I was surprised with some of the players who are still playing and it's a hoot to see who was branded a "Future Star".

 

OK, let's go:

 

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

 

Orioles: Steve Pearce, Red Sox: Jackie Bradley Jr., Yankees: Derek Jeter; Rays: Logan Forsythe; Blue Jays: Jose Bautista

 

Team with the best cards: Blue Jays, I guess, kind of a rough division.

 

Team with the worst cards: Red Sox

 

Team I should review again: Orioles. O's have a few wacky cards in this set, where I can't decide whether the card is cool or just awkward.

 

The Yankees' final tribute card of Derek Jeter was an automatic placement, no other Yankees card came close to matching it. 

 

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

 

White Sox: Paul Konerko; Indians: Lonnie Chisenhall, Tigers: Rajai Davis; Royals: Lorenzo Cain, Twins: Jordan Schafer.

 

Team with the best cards: Royals, by far. The team with the best cards in the whole set. Consider these two cards were runners-up:

 

The Yordano Ventura is one of my favorite cards in the whole set (Yeah, I know, then why didn't I pick it for the Royals?) The Mike Moustakas is a famous play and looks kind of like those distant 1971 Topps action shots.

 

Also, the White Sox have a lot of good cards in this set, but another final tribute card jumped immediately to the front.

 

Team with the worst cards; Twins. I know some collectors don't like the Schafer card, but they're wrong. It's a great shot and easily surpassed all of the other Twins.

 

Team I should go back and review: Maybe Cleveland?

 

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

 

Astros: George Springer; Athletics: Craig Gentry; Mariners: Fernando Rodney; Angels: Mike Trout; Rangers: Adrian Beltre

 

Team with the best cards: Angels

 

Team with the worst cards: Mariners

 

Team I should go back and review: A's and Rangers. I was immediately entranced by the Craig Gentry card because he was bunting -- could this be the most recent bunter on a card? -- then found two more bunters in the set. For the Rangers, the Beltre card is fun but isn't there something a little more riveting?

 

The Trout card shows the delicate balance of the horizontal photos in this set. The design takes up a lot of room with the horizontal cards and that leads to some not great photos. But if you get the right shot, it can work.

 

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

 

Braves: Andrelton Simmons; Marlins: Steve Cishek; Mets: David Wright; Phillies: Carlos Ruiz; Nationals: Jordan Zimmermann

 

Team with the best cards: Probably Phillies

 

Team with the worst cards: Mets

 

Team I should go back and review: The Mets. The Wright is fine but it can't be the best of the bunch.

 

I did not consider the team cards in this set, but I did allow the checklists that feature a player, such as the Zimmermann card celebrating his no-hitter.

 

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

 

Cubs: Javier Baez; Reds: Todd Frazier; Brewers: Khris Davis; Pirates: Andrew McCutchen; Cardinals: Kolten Wong

 

Team with the best cards: Cubs or Reds

 

Team with the worst cards: Cardinals

 

Team I should go back and review: Brewers. I kept coming up with candidates but they couldn't beat that ball settling into Khris Davis' glove.

 

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

 

Rockies: Nolan Arenado; Diamondbacks: Aaron Hill; Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw; Padres: Cory Spangenberg; Giants: Joe Panik

 

Team with the best cards: Giants in a walk

 

Team with the worst cards: Diamondbacks just edge the Rockies. Padres aren't great either.

 

Team I should go back and review: All except Giants and Dodgers.

 

 

All right, so 2015 Topps is done, which is one of the sets I mentioned was overdue for Team MVP treatment in the last Team MVP post!

 

So next time, if I want to follow the rules, I'll do 2024 Topps. But I often don't want to follow the rules, so you could be seeing 1985 or 1986 Fleer next. And I won't wait until September 2026 to do it either.