Just Like '79

I haven't been picking up many football cards the past twelve months. Mostly because my Topps team sets are pretty much finished and I've lost what little interest I had in Panini products. But that's what happens when you're a self-proclaimed "Topps Homer." Why settle for second best?

My football abstinence came to an end a couple of weeks ago after browsing eBay for some Buccaneers Tampa Bay cards from the recently-released 2024 Topps Chrome Football. The lack of logos and team names might be a deal breaker for some collectors, but not for this one. As long as it's done well and Topps can use team colors, that is. And with this new set being the same design as 2024 Topps baseball, I was all in on the rookies. 

Not only did Topps do a bang-up job on the card fronts (granted, it's a small sample size), but the card backs are second to none. That football shape in the top right corner looks great and the use of the team colors above and below the stats...*chef's kiss*

Though my football card journey began in 1976 and my Buccaneer fandom in 1978, it wasn't until 1979 that picking up Bucs cards became a priority. Part of that had to do with the first card of QB Doug Williams, who, by the way, is included in the 2024 Chrome product. Williams, along with a great young defense, turned around the fortunes of a sorry franchise and gave the fans hope for brighter days. 

Which leads me to another reason I wanted to pick these cards up: GM Jason Light and staff once again hit it out of the park in this past year's draft. Of the four players pictured above, only Chris Braswell failed to impress. A fifth rookie included in the Chrome set- center Graham Barton- was also impressive and his card should arrive in my mailbox soon. I only wish that Topps would have included current veteran players in the set (rookies and retired players, from what I can tell). I would have loved to get my first Topps cards of Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin et al. Soon enough, I suppose

Brighter days ahead, indeed.