Collecting The Cubs: Cubs Breakdown

2011 Topps Update
I think Topps Update is typically one of the best issues of the year based on the fact that it usually includes a lot of cards of players who don't have a lot of Cubs cards. That's because the set focuses on players who joined the team just this season. And this year's set is no exception in that it includes several lesser known players and fringe rookies for the Cubs. So in that regard, I am pretty happy with it.

The insert sets are mostly just continuations of the insert sets we saw in Series 1 & 2. Nothing to complain about there since this year's insert offerings were pretty strong. Topps also included extra Diamond Anniversary parallels of all of the cards from Series 1 & 2 in the Cognac Diamond and Hope Diamond (#/60) parallels. This is a nice addition to the packs, although I doubt I will be picking up any of the cards from these two sets. The now standard All Star Stitches workout jersey relics are also included and this year's design looks pretty good in my opinion.

I do have a couple of disappointments with the set. First and foremost, I am disappointed that we still haven't seen a card of Mike Quade. I know a lot of Cubs fans have a negative opinion of Quade. I don't share that negative opinion of him, but even if I did, I would still want to see a card of him.

Another thing that I am disappointed to see, and this is a real pet peeve of mine, is that Topps changed the format of the Target and Walmart parallel cards from what they were in Series 1 & 2. In Update, Target parallels are Red Bordered and Walmart parallels are Light Blue Bordered (similar color to the Topps Opening Day Parallels). By themselves, these parallels are reasonably good looking and I have no problem with a change. But I absolutely hate when card companies change something from one series to another within a set. And this change hits especially hard since I like the old Target grey back parallels and probably would have put together a set of them for Series 1, 2, and Update. But since I can't get all of the cards in that format, I will be abandoning that plan. How hard would it have been to wait until 2012 Series 1 to do this and keep the continuity between the series in 2011?

And one last thing that bothers me here. What's up with the Doug Davis Silk card? He has no regular card in any of the Topps Series from this year. Having him in the silk set just makes no sense. What a weird card.

The breakdown of the Cubs in this issue is below. I will also be updating the 2011 Topps Base Issue breakdown post to reflect the cards from this issue which are part of insert sets from Series 1 & 2.

Base Set - 12 Versions - Base, Target Red Border, Walmart Blue Border, Diamond Anniversary, Cognac Diamond Anniversary, Hope Diamond Anniversary (#/60), Canary Gold Diamond Anniversary (1/1), Gold (#/2011), Black (#/60), Platinum (1/1), Diamond Collection w/real embedded diamond (1/1), Silk (Partial Parallel #/50), plus 4 colors of printing plates
#13 Koyie Hill
#16 Welington Castillo
#57 Tony Campana
#90 James Russell
#115 Kerry Wood - Silk #225
#157 Reed Johnson - Silk #254
#205 D.J. LeMahieu
#249 Starlin Castro (All Star Game)
#291 Andre Dawson SP
#307 Casey Coleman
#315 Carlos Pena - Silk #207

Doug Davis Silk Parallel #241 - he has no regular cards in any of the Topps Series this year

Topps 60
Fergie Jenkins has a card in this set that shows him as a Ranger
#105 Rogers Hornsby
#123 Andre Dawson

Topps 60 Autos
#AC Andrew Cashner

Topps Next 60 Autos
#SC Starlin Castro

All Star Stitches Workout Jerseys - 6 Versions - Base, Diamond Anniversary (#/60), Canary Diamond Anniversary (1/1), Auto (#/25), Jumbo Patch (#/6), Jumbo Patch Auto (#/6)
Not all players have all versions
#51 Starlin Castro - Has Base, Platinum, and Jumbo Patch Auto versions

All Star Stitches Dual Jersey (#/25) - No Cubs Included
All Star Stitches Triple Jersey (#/25)
#3 Starlin Castro, Troy Tulowitzki, and Asdrubal Cabrera

Commemorative Patches
#FJ Fergie Jenkins
#RS Ryne Sandberg

Diamond Duos - 2 Versions - Base & Dual Relic (#/50)
Not all cards have the Dual Relic parallel
#7 Starlin Castro & Darwin Barney (has Dual Relic parallel)

Diamond Giveaway Code Cards - No Cubs Included

Kimball Champions
#138 Rogers Hornsby
#141 Andre Dawson

Leather Nameplates - 3 Versions - Brown Leather (Base), Black Leather (#/99), Brown Leather Nicknames (1/1)
Andre Dawson has a card in this set that shows him as an Expo (he has a Cubs version from Series 2)
Fergie Jenkins has a card in this set that shows him as a Ranger (he has a Cubs version from Series 2)
#RH Rogers Hornsby