Series 1 of the 2021 Calbee set is out in stores this week. It wouldn't feel like the start of spring without them.
This year there is exciting news about the new Calbee set.
Ha! Just kidding, its the exact same schlock they've been putting out every year for decades without anything but minor cosmetic changes here and there. Which I admire them for.
This bag containing two cards and a bunch of chips that I don't like set me back 88 Yen (like 80 cents US or so). Lets see what I got.
Lions second baseman Shuuta Tonosaki's regular card and an MVP card of Hawks slugger Yuki Yanagita from the Title Holder subset (which I had to glean from Calbee's website since the card itself doesn't actually say it is from a subset called "Title Holder"). Not bad I guess.
The cards are pretty standard in design. They went with Roman letters for the player names on the front of the regular cards instead of kanji, which is about the only thing they seem to vary much from year to year anymore. Backs of the cards are about the same as usual too.
Judging from the photos on the two cards I got, I predict that sometime in the next month or so I'll buy the whole regular set off one of the case breakers on Yahoo Auctions solely for the purpose of writing a post complaining about the mundane photography here. Its become an annual tradition for me.
On a side note, I've been posting a bit less than usual this month, work has been extremely busy so has been keeping me away from it, a situation that will likely last into April but I'll try to do a post whenever I can squeeze in a bit of time.
Chips and cardboard are a sweet (actually savory) combination. I'm so bummed that the Japanese grocery stores in my area don't get these.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they really should export them. Or American card makers should sell theirs with chips.
DeleteWhat are you talking about? These are TOTALLY different. The players names are in BLACK and it's a whole different font! This is revolutionary for Calbee!
ReplyDeleteI don't have my set yet but judging from the scans at Jambalaya you're mostly correct about the photos although there are a couple that show base runners and fielders rather than the standard "batters batting, pitchers pitching, catchers catching" poses.
Ha, that is funny because the change in font is real and was probably the subject of some discussion at Calbee's design office (if they have one)!
DeleteI'm looking forward to my complaint post already, been scouting out sets on Yahoo Auctions.
I like the rounded corners, and wish that more sets would be made with them.
ReplyDeleteThe ironic thing about the rounded corners is that their main benefit is they keep your cards from getting.....rounded corners. Blows my mind every time I think about that!
DeleteI really wish they would do these with sumo cards. Might have to seek some out at the Japanese stores here in LA, if they have any at all.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it would be cool if they did Sumo cards again, not sure why they just did it once in 1973!!
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