just like fire would

as the saints sang, it burns out. ("all fools day" is one of my favorite albums. it's really good stuff.)

back to cards...

fanatics announced earlier this year that the "fire" release would not be returning to shelves in 2023 which is fine by me. it was kind of a throwaway set that i would pick up singles from in bargain boxes at shows later in the calendar year. 

here are some 2022 topps fire cards that i've had sitting around in my scanned folder for awhile.

clayton kershaw

and clayton kershaw, flame parallel

and also, clayton kershaw (and walker buehler), gold minted parallel

more gold minted dodger parallels - cody bellinger, andre jackson, justin turner

i guess those are now non-dodger gold minted parallels.

i assure you all of those cards are from 2022. fire used different designs in the same set, but in a way more annoying fashion than what we see in archives or back in 2001 with topps fusion. the only real comparisons i can make are to 1995 fleer and fleer's 2003 fall classic release. it's like they couldn't decide on a single design and just said "screw it - use 'em all".

for me, i have way more blue chip and gold minted insert parallels than i do base inserts, and maybe that's what retail will do for you instead of hobby. anyway, here's a trea turner "fired up" gold minted insert parallel

that uses the same main photo seen on his "on fire" die-cut insert.

turner's card also has a "liar, liar, pants on fire" vibe to it, while walker buehler seems largely unscathed by flames.  those two inserts are the rare exception to my blue chip/gold minted insert success. case in point, here's mookie betts' "on fire" insert all gold minted up:

hard to tell if he's burning or not.

another easy pun for an insert in a fire themed release is "flame throwers", and walker buehler was included

i can't say that i will miss topps fire as it was fairly repetitive year after year. i guess i got burned out on it. just like fire would.