2017 SPIRIT BOX BREAK - PACK 1

165. Noah Syndergaard

82. Drew Pomeranz

131. Jake McGee

170. Alec Asher

35. Nate Karns

63. Rob Zastryzny (RC)

149. Logan Forsythe

188. Matt Wisler

295. Delino DeShields

57. Odubel Herrera (Gold Parallel)

TL20. Evan Longoria - Team Leader (TBR Hits)

Since this is the first look at the base design, I’ll dissect it a little bit. As usual, each card is borderless with full-bleed photos and team-color design elements. The team logos are placed in a baseball diamond-like square and player names are in bold, white lettering for readability. Having the color fade behind the last name helps keep things from getting too boxy or claustrophobic. Along the right, next to the logo diamond is the player position as well as a repeating 2017 pattern fading towards the edges to help balance things out. 

There are a couple of elements that come and go depending on who’s card it is. For players that made the 2016 All-Star squads, they get an extra fade of color above the solid bar with their respective league honor listed. Pomeranz’s may look weird because he made the NL squad before being traded to the Red Sox. And for guys that made their MLB debut after the July 1, 2016 deadline, the RC logo makes an appearance (Zastryzny up there.) There’s at least one RC on average per pack.

Additionally, each pack contains a Gold Parallel card as well as an insert. You can see on the Odubel that the solid color portions of the regular base design get a gold foil stamping, along with the player name and position. The Pack 1 insert is a rather expansive insert set featuring the team leaders of each club in four different stat categories (2 pitching, 2 hitting.) So that 120 cards. Needless to say, these will be the most-featured insert of the box. Design-wise, I structured it so the bold type works kinda like a drop-down menu or something. The three categories not featured are screened back as to not impose too much on the player image. Since this is the “Hits” card, the HITS type and Longoria’s total are solid white along with his name, team, and the card title. You’ll see how the other stat cards look in subsequent packs.

2014 Spirit Base: 591-600

After these last 10 cards, I have a little 'contest' to reward those of you that have endured this flood of repetitive posts. But first...

#591 - Kyle Kendrick
Kendrick actually had his highest innings pitched total this season, falling just 1 short of 200. It would have been the first time since 2011 that the Phillies had three pitchers with 200 IP. That was back in the "Four Aces" days, which seem much longer ago than 3 years.

#592 - Gaby Sanchez
I bet the Pirates wish they could've had a full season of Justin Morneau instead of Gaby's sub-.300 OBS.

#593 - Lance Lynn
Lynn had a pretty great season, lowering his ERA a full run from last year and totaling over 200 IP again.

#594 - Carlos Quentin
Kind of a weird angle but definitely unique enough for me to use it without a second thought.

#595 - Joaquin Arias
As much as Bruce Bochy drove me crazy by overplaying Arias during the regular season, I'm surprised and relieved that he's yet to have a plate appearance in this postseason.

#596 - Charlie Furbush
I wouldn't be shocked if he ranks high on the Mariner's jersey sales list.

#597 - Logan Forsythe
So glad to have him out of the NL West.

#598 - Alexi Ogando
Whichever role he finally ends up in, I hope Ogando's able to stick there and thrive.

#599 -  Juan Francisco
I've never noticed how much he looks like a perfect cross between Juan Uribe and Pablo Sandoval. It's uncanny, really.

#600 - Tyler Clippard
That's pretty much how I feel posting card #600 here.


So Series 2 is finally finished! My original plan was to do another 10 cards of each team featuring the season call-ups and traded players but I'm not sure if I have the determination. The way I've been unloading these the last month or so has kinda burned me out a bit. And I imagine it hasn't been that much fun for you "readers" either. So what do you think? Should I soldier through and whiz through Series 3? Or save my time and your time and close the books on the 2014 Spirit base set?

Oh yeah, about that contest. Since I've made 600 different cards here and nobody in their right mind would have feedback on every one of them, I'd like to hear from you which card(s) in particular you think turned out the best. What's your favorite card from Series 1 or 2? Leave me a comment or tweet it to me and you'll be entered to win this 2014 Topps Archives Bill Russell Fan Favorites Autograph.

I'll randomize all respondents and send this one free of charge to one lucky winner. Just give me the card number and player name by the end of Thursday, October 9th and I'll announce the winner on Friday. Thanks for your patience with this project. I look forward to your responses.