2008 Topps Limited Edition Premium Team Set

Boy, that's a mouthful. But hey, that what they called it, not me.

One day I'll blog about my addiction to Topps cards and my inability to adhere to my repeated vows to never again purchase their products. It won't be today though.

There are two reasons that I was willing to purchase this set.

1. You get the entire 55 card set in the box. No crappy collation in here.

2. Let's just say that my "aluminum relocation program" was much more successful than that of Kramer and Newman. 

On to the set. 

I like it.

No, that's not a typo. As usual with Topps, there is plenty of room for improvement, but overall it's a nice issue. I think my only major disappointment with it is the lack of prospects/rookies included. There are a few of the "rookie cards" (cards with that little logo that means absolutely nothing, of course...) but no cards of any real prospects. (Are Topps or Upper Deck ever going to make a Rick Porcello card?)

Otherwise though, I like it. There are highlight, leader, and combo cards aplenty. There are cool cards of Paws and Comerica Park. I like that I get the bench players from my favorite team, and not from the other 29 teams. For a team set collector, this is a pretty good offering that I hope to see Topps continue in the future. 

Here's the checklist:

1 Jim Leyland

2 Curtis Granderson 20-20-20-20 Highlight

3 Magglio Ordonez

4 Team Leaders HR: Ordonez, Sheffield, and Granderson

5 Justin Verlander

6 Ivan Rodriguez

7 Dontrelle Willis

8 Miguel Cabrera

9 Silver Sluggers: Ordonez and Polanco

10 Team Leaders ERA: Verlander, Durbin, and Robertson

11 Nate Robertson

12 Carlos Guillen

13 Five Midsummer Classic Particpants

14 Kenny Rogers

15 Ryan Raburn

16 Justin Verlander No-Hitter Highlight

17 Placido Polanco

18 Jeremy Bonderman

19 Team Leaders Strikeouts: Verlander, Bonderman, and Robertson

20 Curtis Granderson

21 Classic Combos: Granderson and Guillen

22 Joel Zumaya

23 Team Leaders Batting Average: Ordonez, Polanco, and Granderson

24 AL Player of the Week: Curtis Granderson

25 Edgar Renteria

26 Andy Van Slyke

27 Todd Jones

28 AL Batting Title: Magglio Ordonez

29 Gary Sheffield

30 Fernando Rodney

31 Team Leaders Wins: Verlander, Bonderman, and Robertson

32 Vance Wilson

33 Bobby Seay

34 Gene Lamont

35 AL Player of the Month: Magglio Ordonez

36 Matt Joyce RC

37 Zach Miner

38 Team Leaders Hits: Ordonez, Polanco, Granderson

39 Brandon Inge

40 Macay McBride

41 Chuck Hernandez

42 Gold Gloves: Rodriguez and Polanco

43 Marcus Thames

44 Jason Grilli

45 Team Leader Innings Pitched: Verlander, Robertson, and Bonderman

46 MLB Triples Leader: Curtis Granderson

47 Team Leaders RBI: Ordonez, Guillen, and Sheffield

48 Ramon Santiago

49 Classic Combos: Cabrera, Guillen, Polanco, and Renteria

50 Armando Galarraga

51 Lloyd McClendon

52 Classic Combos: Rodriguez and Rogers

53 MLB Doubles Leader: Magglio Ordonez

54 Paws

55 Comerica Park

Ok, there are a couple of more small beefs I have, and since this is my blog, I'll list them.

1. There are three leaders cards that feature the same three players. I think one "Pitching Leaders" card would have sufficed, especially if it would have let a Rafael Belliard or a Rod Allen get his own card.

2. This is the 4th Topps issue this year that has the exact same design. (And I'm not counting the Opening Day set, which is probably close enough to count...) The base set, the chrome, the 14 card team sets, and now this all look exactly the same. Kudos to Topps for at least using different photographs for all those issues, but sets like this would be a perfect opportunity for Topps to unleash some new looks. It's not like they're blowing us away with the 2008 design.....

3. I should've been allowed to send 220 empty beer cans directly to Topps in exchange for this set, instead of having to take them to Michigan.