A Look at 2016 Gypsy Queen

A new year, means a new release of Gypsy Queen from Topps. Since getting back into the hobby, Gypsy Queen has been my card of choice. The art/picture style is what hammers it home for me, I find it much more palatable than Topps other "old fashioned" release with Allen & Ginter who's watercolor style seems to be less appealing year after year, and I know Gypsy Queen suffers from the same draw backs that Allen & Ginter does.

Taking a look at the base card first (pictured above), Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins, unsure if he'll be the poster boy, it's possible as it seems like Topps like to alternate years between retired/current players, last year was Ozzie Smith and it's sensible to think that Stanton could be the cover boy.

Now for the card itself, the design I think the border takes up too much room from the card and really doesn't allow for the picture on the card to breathe at all, it's a problem that they had with 2012 and 2014 where the border just chews up too much scenery. Of course 2 things, this may not be the final product and they may look better in hand than on a monitor, so I'm talking out of my ass.

350 cards in the set, 50 of them short printed. Parallels are included for 100 of the cards, all serial numbered if that's your sort of thing, they include a Purple Paper, Green Paper and a hobby only 1/1 Black Paper, which I'm sure looks very sexy.

2016 Gypsy Queen Black Paper

 

2016 Gypsy Queen Mini

The Minis make their return one of all 350 of the full set, as well as hobby boxes featuring a 10 card box loader of Mini variations with 100 in total.

Parallels for the Minis include Purple, Gold and Red which are numbered out of 5 as well as 1/1 Leather and Clear Minis.

 

2016 Gypsy Queen Mini Purple

For inserts, Glove Stories and Walk Off Winners return to the fold in 2016 and Gypsy Queen introduces a new insert Power Alley, I would suppose looking at home run hitters.

2016 Gypsy Queen Power Alley

Also a new insert for 2016 MVP Minis, Autographed versions as well.

 2016 Gypsy Queen MVP Minis 

2016 Gypsy Queen MVP Minis Autograph

On card autographs also make a return and with parallels for each including a Green Border, Gold Border, Red Border which are /5 and Black Border which are 1/1.

2016 Gypsy Queen Autograph

2016 Gypsy Queen Gold Autograph

Mini Autographs and their Black 1/1 parallels are exclusive to box loaders found in hobby boxes.

Autographed Relic cards return and have parallels of Red which are /5 and Black Button which are 1/1

2016 Gypsy Queen Autographed Relic Black Button

 

Also returning are the Mini Auto Patch Books, again they are exclusive to the box loaders found in hobby boxes and also have a 1/1 Black parallel

 2016 Gypsy Queen Autographed Patch Book

Relics and Framed Mini Relics are also in the mix again, both featuring parallels of Gold, Red number to /5 and Black numbered to /1. Jumbo Patch Relics are number to /10, they feature no parallel. The new relic type from Gypsy Queen is Laces Around the League that contains a piece of a game used baseball.

2016 Gypsy Queen Relic

 

2016 Gypsy Queen Laces Around the League

And then finally, a few 1/1 items for those interested, they include Prime Bat Relics, Original Art Patch and Ancient Era Remnants.

Hobby boxes include 24 packs, 10 cards per pack. A total of 240 cards. 2 relic hits and 2 auto hits per  hobby box, so that's 4 total and a Mini Box topper.

2016 Gypsy Queen releases April 6th.

Come back Saturday for ListiaMania III.