Late to the 2016 Topps Party

2016 Topps Series 1 has not been out for 2 weeks yet, but it seems like longer than that by looking at all the breaks and posts about it.  I did not have any luck finding packs/boxes at my Wal-Mart the first couple days after release, so I went the trade route to get my team set.  I cannot tell you the last time I bought a hobby box, but I will purchase the occasional blaster every now and then.  A home loan and 2 children makes for a small hobby budget in my household.

The Cardinals have 9 cards in the base set.  My favorite shot is the Matt Holliday sliding into home.  I like the action photos, but the cards seem a little to up close.  The full bleed photos are also nice, but I do not know what to think of the white cloud/smoke.  On some cards it is ok, but others like the Molina card it takes away from the background.

Topps always features Musial in a few insert sets.  Pressed into Service cards feature position players who pitched in a MLB game.  You may not have known that Musial was a pitcher in the minor leagues before he hurt his shoulder.  I think his career turned out ok. 

The rainbow foil parallels are back this year.  Not a bad looking card, but is it necessary with the other parallels like Gold, Black, etc?  I can do without the wacky sticker inserts.  The Perspectives are excellent looking cards.  They have the full panoramic feel of being in the ball park.