The Topps Company today officially announced the release of the 10th anniversary edition set of Allen & Ginter® cards, the most unique and eclectic set of trading cards the company produces. This year’s set includes autographs from world champions, famous fictional sports characters, musicians, actors and – of course – baseball players.
“The Allen & Ginter cards have something for everyone, from pop culture fans to passionate collectors, and have become some of the most sought-after products the company creates because of their unique design and personality,” said Clay Luraschi, Topps’ Vice President of Product Development. “From actors and authors to Olympians and baseball players there is something for everyone here.”
Allen & Ginter is one of the most eclectic sets collectors can find. It is based on a tobacco set from the 1800s that included flags of the world, birds, boxers, and other world champions. Topps has kept with the spirit of the original set bringing people from all walks of life onto cards, and also including a bit of extra fun in the process.
Actor Aaron Paul, who was on the hit show Breaking Bad, is included in the set, as are characters from the original series of “Rocky” movies including Sylvester Stallone signed cards with an image of his Rocky character along with Hulk Hogan as Thunderlips, and Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago will be one of the most sought after autograph cards in the set. There are also a host of media members in Allen & Ginter, from author Malcolm Gladwell to ESPN personalities Michelle Beadle and Darren Rovell among many others.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Topps since I was a child,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “I still have boxes of sets from the 80s when I could identify the different year designs on sight like they were classic cars. So it’s a thrill and an honor to be included in the Allen and Ginter set.”
This year’s Allen & Ginter also includes the first Topps certified autograph of baseball superstar Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro has signed cards for all three teams he has played for in the MLB with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.
Allen & Ginter also has six different basketball 2015 rookies who are signing including Justise Winslow, Kelly Oubre, R.J. Hunter, Sam Dekker, Stanley Johnson, and Willie Cauley-Stein.
With this being the 10th anniversary, Topps has culled some of the most popular subjects from the past 10 years to sign cards using all 10 designs starting in 2006. Those subjects include Bonnie Blair, Danica Patrick, Greg Louganis, Hulk Hogan, Joey Chestnut, Jennie Finch, Jeanette Lee, Kerri Strug, Mario Andretti, Mia Hamm, Mark Spitz, and Wendy Guey.
New York Yankees star Bernie Williams made his name as the centerfielder for several World Series championship teams. But Williams has also become a successful musician and the set includes a guitar pick from Williams