2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball Cards
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Product Details
2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball was released at a time when revisiting vintage card designs was in its prime. Topps had already had successful releases based on T206, T205 and Cracker Jack sets of the past. The highly acclaimed, and still popular Allen & Ginter was still a year away from its inaugural release and a big chunk of collectors were excited to see the hobby taking things in this direction. So imagine collector excitement at the release of a vintage release based on T3 Turkey Red.
Design
The design of the reinvented Turkey Red cards stayed true to the original set with the player photos taking on a more painted or lithographic look. Even the cardboard stock that was used was heavier and lacked any sort of UV coating. This allowed the added texture that was incorporated onto the front of the cards to have a distinct feel while giving them an even more antiquated look.
2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball Short-Prints, Variations and Parallels
The 2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball set consists of 330 total cards, even though the cards themselves were only numbered to 315. The reason for this anomaly is that 15 cards in the set have short-printed variations of their regular issue cards. To make completion of the set even more challenging, there are 40 short prints that are inserted 1:4 packs. Of these, there are eight variations that have an even smaller supply.
The photo variations in the set include different backgrounds, players in different colored uniforms, players in different poses and some missing the nameplates on the fronts of the cards. While variations have become a bit maligned in the minds of many collectors today, their inclusion was more a novelty at the time.
Another aspect of 2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball that helped set the stage for many future baseball card sets was the number of parallels available. In all, there are five different colored border cards, each with increasingly difficult levels of scarcity. White and Red border cards are not serial numbered, Black cards are numbered to 142, Gold borders are limited to 50 numbered copies each and Suede are one-of-ones.
Checklist
While not an overly impressive collection of rookies, there are a total of 31 in the 2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball. The most recognizable names include Justin Verlander, Ian Kinsler and Melky Cabrera. Stephen White is the lone rookie card that is a short print.
The last 15 cards in the set (#301-#315) feature retired greats including Cal Ripken Jr, Reggie Jackson, Duke Snider, and Ernie Banks.
One inclusion that stands out is Josh Gibson, a Negro League All-Star who would have undoubtedly helped re-write the MLB record book if it weren’t for segregation. He is an under utilized asset in trading cards. Also included in the base set are five reprints of original Turkey Red subjects: Hal Chase (#6), Fred Clarke (#8), Red Dooin #(14), Kid Elberfeld (#15) and Hughie Jennings (#18).
Autographs and Relics
Autographs and relics are quite plentiful in this release. A total of 23 players are on the autograph checklist and an additional 31 players have relics. Each box of 2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball would yield two autographs or relics, on average. Each of the autograph and relic cards are available in the same parallels as the base set, with varying degrees of scarcity as evidenced by their serial numbering. Relics included a variety of game-used material including bats, jerseys and pants.
An interesting note regarding the autograph checklist is that Barry Bonds signed just one of each color parallel card. Contrast this to Mariano Rivera who has a total of 33 autographs throughout all the parallel sets, which were only available via redemption and have since expired.
As a value-added incentive, Topps included box-toppers in each 2005 Turkey Red Baseball hobby box. These came in the form of Cabinet Cards measuring 5 3/4" x 8". Rare autographed and relic versions do exist and include current players as well as a few original buy-back Turkey Reds from 1911. Also included are the famous B-18 Blankets. The originals were produced in 1914 and made of cloth. These are about the size of a cocktail napkin.
In many ways, 2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball should be credited with developing the formula for the successful creation of newly inspired tobacco era products in the years that followed. For more information and commentary on 2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball, catch the replay of the December 4, 2013, episode of the Cardboard Connection Radio Show.
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Set Checklist
2005 Topps Turkey Red Baseball Set ChecklistBase Set Checklist
315 cardsSPs - 1:4 packsPARALLEL CARDS: Red Border, White Border, Black Border #/142, Gold Border #/50, Suede 1/1
Base Set Checklist
2 Michael Young
3 Jim Edmonds
4 Cliff Floyd
5 Roger Clemens SP
6 Hal Chase
7 Shannon Stewart
8 Fred Clarke
9 Travis Hafner
10 Sammy Sosa SP
11 Jermaine Dye
12 Lyle Overbay
13 Oliver Perez
14 Red Dooin
15 Kid Elberfeld
16 Mike Piazza SP
17 Bret Boone
18 Hughie Jennings
19 Jeff Francis
20 Manny Ramirez SP
21 Russ Ortiz
22 Carlos Zambrano
23 Luis Castillo
24 David DeJesus
25 Carlos Beltran SP
26 Doug Davis
27 Bobby Abreu
28 Rich Harden SP
29 Brian Giles
30 Richie Sexson SP
31 Nick Johnson
32 Roy Halladay
33 Andy Pettitte
34 Miguel Cabrera
35 Jeff Kent
36 Chone Figgins
37 Carlos Lee
38 Greg Maddux
39 Preston Wilson
40 Chipper Jones
41 Coco Crisp
42 Adam Dunn
43 Out At Second Miguel Tejada CL
44 Gary Sheffield At Bat CL
45 Play At the Plate Javier Lopez CL
46 Scott Rolen Diggin' In CL
47 Todd Helton With the Slap Tag CL
48 Roger Clemens Bringing Heat CL
49 A Close Play Jimmy Rollins CL
50 Ichiro Suzuki At Bat CL
51 Cliff Floyd CL
52 Pulling String Johan Santana CL
53 Mark Teixeira
54 Chris Carpenter
55 Roy Oswalt SP
56 Casey Kotchman
57 Torii Hunter
58 Jose Reyes
59 Wily Mo Pena SP
60 Magglio Ordonez SP
61 Aaron Miles
62 Dallas McPherson
63 Javy Lopez
64 Luis Gonzalez
65 David Ortiz
66 Jorge Posada
67 Xavier Nady
68 Larry Walker
69 Mark Loretta
70 Jim Thome SP
71 Livan Hernandez
72 Garrett Atkins
73 Milton Bradley
74 B.J. Upton
75 Ichiro Suzuki SP
76 Aramis Ramirez
77 Eric Milton
78 Troy Glaus SP
79 David Newhan
80 Delmon Young
81 Justin Morneau
82 Ramon Ortiz
83 Eric Chavez
84 Sean Burroughs
85 Scott Rolen SP
86 Rocco Baldelli
87 Joe Mauer SP
88 Tony Womack
89 Ken Griffey Jr.
90 Alfonso Soriano SP
91 Paul Konerko
92 Guillermo Mota
93 Lance Berkman
94 Mark Buehrle
95 Matt Clement
96 Melvin Mora
97 Khalil Greene
98 David Wright
99 Jack Wilson
100 Alex Rodriguez SP
101 Joe Nathan
102 Adrian Beltre
103 Mike Sweeney
104 Brad Lidge
105 Shawn Green
106 Miguel Tejada SP
107 Derrek Lee
108 Eric Hinske
109 Eric Byrnes
110 Hideki Matsui SP
111 Tom Glavine
112 Jimmy Rollins
113 Ryan Drese
114 Josh Beckett
115 Curt Schilling SP
116 Jeremy Bonderman
117 Kazuo Matsui
118 Chase Utley
119 Troy Percival
120 Vladimir Guerrero SP
121 Gary Sheffield
122 Jeromy Burnitz
123 Javier Vazquez
124 Kevin Millar
125 Randy Johnson
126 Pat Burrell
127 Jason Schmidt
128 Jose Vidro
129 Kip Wells
130 Ivan Rodriguez
131 CC Sabathia
132 Carlos Delgado SP
133 Bartolo Colon
134 Andruw Jones
135 Kerry Wood
136 Sidney Ponson
137 Eric Gagne
138 Rickie Weeks
139 Mariano Rivera
140 Bobby Crosby
141 Jamie Moyer
142 Corey Koskie
143 John Smoltz
144 Frank Thomas
145 Cristian Guzman
146 Paul Lo Duca
147 Geoff Jenkins
148 Nick Swisher
149 Jason Bay SP
150 Albert Pujols SP
151 Edwin Jackson
152 Carl Crawford
153 Mark Mulder
154 Rafael Palmeiro
155 Pedro Martinez SP
156 Jake Westbrook
157 Sean Casey
158 Aaron Rowand
160 Johan Santana SP
161 Gavin Floyd
162 Vernon Wells
163 Aubrey Huff
164 Jeff Bagwell
165 David Wells
166 Brad Penny
167 Austin Kearns
168 Mike Mussina
169 Randy Wolf
170 Tim Hudson SP
171 Casey Blake
172 Edgar Renteria
173 Ben Sheets
174 Kevin Brown
175 Nomar Garciaparra SP
176 Armando Benitez
177 Jody Gerut
178 Craig Biggio
179 Omar Vizquel
180 Jake Peavy
181 Gustavo Chacin SP
182 Johnny Damon
183 Mike Lieberthal
184 Felix Hernandez SP
185 Zach Day SP
186 Matt Cain
187 Erubiel Durazo
188 Zack Greinke
189 Matt Morris
190 Billy Wagner
191 Al Leiter
192 Miguel Olivo
193 Jose Capellan SP
194 Adam Eaton
195 Steven White RC SP
196 Joe Randa
197 Richard Hidalgo
198 Orlando Cabrera
199 Joel Guzman SP
200 Gar Anderson
201 Endy Chavez
202 Andy Marte
203 Jose Guillen
204 Victor Martinez
205 Johnny Estrada
206 Damian Miller
207 Ken Harvey
208 Ronnie Belliard
209 Chan Ho Park
210 Laynce Nix
211 Lew Ford
212 Moises Alou
213 Kris Benson
214 Mike Gonzalez SP
215 Chris Burke
216 Juan Pierre
217 Phil Nevin
218 Jerry Hairston Jr.
219 Jeremy Reed
220 Scott Kazmir SP
221 Mike Maroth
222 Alex Rios
223 Esteban Loaiza
224 Terrmel Sledge
225 Mark Prior SP
226 Hank Blalock
227 Craig Wilson
228 Cesar Izturis
229 Dmitri Young
230 Derek Jeter SP
231 Mark Kotsay
232 Darin Erstad
233 Brandon Backe SP
234 Mike Lowell
235 Scott Podsednik
236 Michael Bart
237 Chad Tracy
238 David Dellucci
239 Brady Clark
240 Jorge Cantu
241 Wilfredo Ledezma
242 Morgan Ensberg
243 Omar Infante
244 Corey Patterson
245 Matt Holliday
246 Vinny Castilla
247 Jason Bartlett
248 Noah Lowry
249 Huston Street
250 Russell Branyan
251 Juan Uribe
252 Larry Bigbie
253 Grady Sizemore
254 Pedro Feliz
255 Brad Wilkerson
256 Brandon Inge
257 Dewon Brazelton
258 Rodrigo Lopez
259 Jacque Jones
260 Jason Giambi
261 Clint Barmes
262 Willy Taveras
263 Marcus Giles
264 Joe Blanton
265 John Thomson
266 Steve Finley SP
267 Kevin Millwood
268 David Eckstein
269 Barry Zito
270 Todd Helton SP
271 Landon Powell RC
272 Justin Verlander RC
273 Wes Swackhamer RC
274 Wladimir Balentien RC
275 Philip Humber RC
276 Kevin Melillo RC
277 Billy Butler RC
278 Michael Rogers RC
279 Bobby Livingston RC
280 Glen Perkins RC
281 Michael Bourn RC
282 Tyler Pelland RC
283 Jeremy West RC
284 Brandon McCarthy RC
285 Ian Kinsler RC
286 Chris Roberson RC
287 Melky Cabrera RC
288 Ryan Sweeney RC
289 Chip Cannon RC
290 Andy LaRoche RC
291 Chuck Tiffany RC
292 Ian Bladergroen RC
293 Bear Bay RC
294 Hernan Iribarren RC
295 Stuart Pomeranz RC
296 Luke Scott RC
297 Chuck James RC
298 Kennard Bibbs RC
299 Steven Bondurant RC
300 Thomas Oldham RC
301 Nolan Ryan
302 Reggie Jackson
303 Tom Seaver
304 Al Kaline
305 Cal Ripken Jr.
306 Josh Gibson
307 Frank Robinson
308 Duke Snider
309 Wade Boggs
310 Tony Gwynn
311 Carl Yastrzemski
312 Ryne Sandberg
313 Gary Carter
314 Brooks Robinson
315 Ernie Banks
Base Variations Set Checklist
5 Roger Clemens - Orange/Yellow Sky
10 Sammy Sosa - No Name
16 Mike Piazza - Blue Jersey
75 Ichiro Suzuki - No Name
83 Eric Chavez - Purple/Night Sky
100 Alex Rodriguez - Glove
102 Adrian Beltre - White Uniform
120 Vladimir Guerrero - Swinging
125 Randy Johnson - Night Sky
130 Ivan Rodriguez - Batting Helmet
160 Johan Santana - Throwing
225 Mark Prior - Blue Sky
230 Derek Jeter - Night/Purple Sky
270 Todd Helton - Night/Purple Sky
Autographs Set Checklist
TRA-AS Alfonso Soriano #/142
TRA-BB Barry Bonds
TRA-BJ Blake Johnson
TRA-BM Brett Myers #/67
TRA-CC Carl Crawford #/17
TRA-CN Chris Nelson
TRA-DO David Ortiz
TRA-DP Dustin Pedroia
TRA-EG Eric Gagne #/142
TRA-GS Gary Sheffield
TRA-JPH J.P. Howell
TRA-JS Jeremy Sowers
TRA-JG Jody Gerut
TRA-JF Josh Fields
TRA-MR Mariano Rivera
TRA-MK Mark Kotsay #/17
TRA-MB Matt Bush #/17
TRA-MRO Mike Rodriguez
TRA-SE Scott Elbert
TRA-ZJ Zach Jackson
TRA-ZP Zach Parker
Cut Signatures Set Checklist
FR Franklin D. Roosevel
TR Theodore Roosevelt
WT William Howard Taft
Relics Set Checklist
TRR-AP Albert Pujols
TRR-AR Alex Rodriguez
TRR-AR2 Alex Rodriguez
TRR-AS Alfonso Soriano
TRR-BB Barry Bonds
TRR-CB Carlos Beltran
TRR-CJ Chipper Jones
TRR-CS Curt Schilling
TRR-DO David Ortiz
TRR-GS Gary Sheffield
TRR-HB Hank Blalock
TRR-JB Jeff Bagwell
TRR-JT Jim Thome
TRR-JD Johnny Damon
TRR-JD2 Johnny Damon
TRR-MO Magglio Ordonez
TRR-MR Manny Ramirez
TRR-MM Mark Mulder
TRR-MPR Mark Prior
TRR-MTE Mark Teixeira
TRR-MC Miguel Cabrera
TRR-MT Miguel Tejada
TRR-ML Mike Lowell
TRR-MP Mike Piazza
TRR-RP Rafael Palmeiro
TRR-RC Roger Clemens
TRR-RC2 Roger Clemens
TRR-SS Sammy Sosa
TRR-TH Todd Helton
TRR-VG Vladimir Guerrero
Cabinet Box Loader Set Checklist
TR-AR1 Alex Rodriguez
TR-AR2 Alex Rodriguez SP
TR-BB1 Barry Bonds
TR-BB2 Barry Bonds SP
TR-GB George W. Bush
TR-GW George Washington
TR-JT Jim Thome
TR-JS Johan Santana
TR-MR Manny Ramirez
TR-MT Miguel Tejada
TR-MP Mike Piazza
TR-RJ Randy Johnson
TR-SS Sammy Sosa
TR-SR Scott Rolen
TR-WT William Howard Taft
Cabinet Autographed Relic Box Loader Set Checklist
TRAR-AS Alfonso Soriano EXCH
TRAR-BB Barry Bonds #/5
TRAR-BM Brett Myers #/150
TRAR-CC Carl Crawford #/450
TRAR-DO David Ortiz #/75
TRAR-EG Eric Gagne #/75
TRAR-GS Gary Sheffield #/25
TRAR-JG Jody Gerut #/450
TRAR-MK Mark Kotsay #/450
TRAR-MB Matt Bush #/450
TRAR-MR Mariano Rivera EXCH
B-18 Blankets Box Loader Set Checklist
AR2 Alex Rodriguez Green
AS1 Alfonso Soriano Red SP
AS2 Alfonso Soriano Whit
BB1 Barry Bonds Red SP
BB2 Barry Bonds White
CS1 Curt Schilling Red SP
CS2 Curt Schilling White
DJ1 Derek Jeter Blue SP
DJ2 Derek Jeter Green
IS1 Ichiro Suzuki Green SP
IS2 Ichiro Suzuki White
RC1 Roger Clemens Purple SP
RC2 Roger Clemens White
TH1 Todd Helton Green SP
TH2 Todd Helton White
NNO Repurchased B-18 Blankets
