SCF Official Review: 2014 Topps Series 1

[Enigma]

First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at Topps for providing us with this box. In addition, my apologies to Topps for the delay on this as I noticed this box earlier today buried in a stack of cardboard boxes.



36 packs per box
10 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): $54.99 - $69.99

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

BASE CARDS (330)
Featuring Veterans, Rookies, League Leaders, 2013 Baseball Highlights, World Series Highlights, and the return of Future Stars.

PARALLEL CARDS
Parallel versions of all 330 base cards in the following varieties:
- Gold Parallel sequentially numbered to 2014.
- Camo Parallel sequentially numbered to 99.
- Black Parallel sequentially numbered to 63. HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY
- Pink Parallel sequentially numbered to 50.
- Platinum Parallel numbered 1/1.
- Red Hot Foil Parallel inserted 1:6 packs.
- Clear Parallel Printed on clear stock! Sequentially numbered to 10. HOBBY ONLY - NOT FOUND IN JUMBO PACKS!
- Base Card Printing Plates Numbered 1/1. HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY
- Silk Collection Partial parallel - 100 subjects. Sequentially numbered to 50. HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY

Commemorative Relic Cards - 1 per hobby case; 1 per hobby Jumbo box

Topps All Rookie Cup Team Rookie Cup Relics (10)
Cards featuring Topps' selections for the all-time All-Rookie Cup team, with a replica Rookie Cup embedded in the card.
- Sequentially numbered to 99.

Topps All Rookie Cup Team Rookie Cup Relics Vintage Parallel (10)
The above subjects, but featuring a replica of the original Topps Rookie Cup Trophy.
- Sequentially numbered to 25.

Topps Rookie Cup All-Stars Rookie Cup Relics (25)
Additional players who have received the Topps Rookie Cup designation, with a replica Rookie Cup embedded in the card.
- Sequentially numbered to 99.

Topps Rookie Cup All-Stars Rookie Cup Relics Vintage Parallel (25)
The above subjects, but featuring a replica of the original Topps Rookie Cup Trophy.
- Sequentially numbered to 25.

Class Rings Silver (25)
Featuring 25 of the greatest players of all time, with an embedded commemorative ring top celebrating the year of his rookie class.

Class Rings Gold (25)
Featuring a gold ring.
- Sequentially numbered to 99.

Class Rings Gold Gems (25)
Featuring a gold ring with replica gems embedded in the ring.
- Sequentially numbered to 25.

Class Rings Gold Gems Autographs (10)
The same cards as above, but also with an autograph.
- Sequentially numbered to 10.


INSERT CARDS

- The Future Is Now (30) Cards featuring the top 10 young players and each of their 3 best moments in the League so far. Inserted 1:4.
- Upper Class (50) Cards recognizing the best rookie classes of all time. Inserted 1:4.
- 50 Years of the Draft (10) Cards celebrating the 50th incarnation of the draft, with some of its most memorable past moments and selections. Inserted 1:18.
- Topps All Rookie Cup Team (10) Cards featuring Topps' selections for the All-time All-Rookie Cup team. Inserted 1:18.
- Before They Were Great (30) Premium cards featuring the top 30 active and retired stars, with images from their early playing days. Inserted 1:18. HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY
- Before They Were Great Gold Parallel (15) Numbered to 99. HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY
- 1989 Topps Minis Die Cut (50) Mini cards using the 1989 Topps design and die-cut around the perimeter. Inserted 1:18.


AUTOGRAPHED CARDS

- Trajectory Autographs Autograph cards illustrating the player's progression from his rookie season to now.
- The Future Is Now Autographs (30) Numbered to 25.
- Upper Class Autographs (25) Numbered to 50.
- Topps All Rookie Cup Team Autographs (5) Numbered to 50.
- Before They Were Great Autographs (15) Numbered to 10. Signed On-card! HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY
- 1989 Topps Minis Die-Cut Autographs (10) On-card! Numbered to 10.
- World Series Champion Autographs (5) Featuring members of the 2013 World Series Champions with an autograph. Sequentially #'d to 50.
- Postseason Performance Autographs (10) Featuring other standout performers from the 2013 Postseason with an autograph. Sequentially #'d to 50.


RELIC CARDS

- Trajectory Relics (40) Relic cards illustrating the player's progression from his rookie season to now.
- The Future Is Now Relics (30) Numbered to 99.
- Upper Class Relics (25) Numbered to 99.
- Topps All Rookie Cup Team Relics (5) Numbered to 99.
- Before They Were Great Relics (25) Numbered to 25. HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY
- 1989 Topps Minis Die-Cut Relics (15) Numbered to 25.
- World Series Champion Relics (15) Featuring members of the 2013 World Series Champions with a relic. Sequentially #'d to 100.
- Postseason Performance Relics (25) Featuring other standout performers from the 2013 Postseason with a relic. Sequentially #'d to 100.
- In the Name Relics (65) Cards featuring the letters from the name plate on the 2013All-Star Work-Out Jerseys. One card for each letter. All cards are numbered 1/1. HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY

STRATA CARDS HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY - NEW
- Strata Signature Relics The breakout hit comes to Topps Baseball! Featuring stars, both active and retired. On-card! Numbered.
- Strata Cut Signatures Numbered 1/1.

AUTOGRAPHED RELIC CARDS HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY
- The Future Is Now Autograph Relics (30) Numbered to 10.
- Upper Class Autograph Relics (25) Numbered to 25.
- Topps All Rookie Cup Team Autograph Relics (5) Numbered to 25.
- Before They Were Great Autograph Relics (10) Numbered to 5. Signed On-card!
- World Series Champion Autograph Relics (5) Featuring members of the 2013 World Series Champions with an autograph and a relic. Sequentially #'d to 50.
- Postseason Performance Autograph Relics (10) Featuring other standout performers from the 2013 Postseason with an autograph and a relic. Sequentially #'d to 50

FRAMED ROOKIE REPRINT CARDS HOBBY & HOBBY JUMBO ONLY
Framed in the style of the stunning Museum Collection Autograph cards, the top Rookie cards of all time will be reprinted and framed in the following colors:
- Black Framed
- Silver Framed - Numbered.
- Gold Framed - Numbered.

ROOKIE BUYBACKS
- Top 50 Rookie Buyback Redemptions The top 50 Rookie cards in Topps history will be up for grabs!

PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMS
- The Pennant Chase Every team will have a Pennant Chase card in product. If the club wins the pennant, it can be redeemed for a prize.
- Spring Fever The popular in-store redemption program from 2013 returns. 1 per Hobby and HOBBY Jumbo box.

WHAT WE PULLED

Base - 302/331 (91.2%)
Dupes - 5



Red Hot Foil (6)
Gold /2014 (4) - Alfredo Simon, Vernon Wells, Ryan Vogelsong, Chris Getz



Buybacks (2) - 1957 Topps Hersh Freeman, 1968 Topps Buddy Bradford/Bill Voss RC



50 Years Of The Draft (2)
Before They Were Great (2)



Future Is Now (9)
Power Players (3)



Topps All Rookie Cup Team (2)
Upper Class (9)



Topps Minis (1989 Topps) (4)



Topps Relics Andy Pettitte Jersey



As seen over the last few years, Topps divides its basic release into three products (Series 1, Series 2 and Update). When all is said and done, it turns into almost a 1000-card set. Familiar to collectors is the white border. Each year, Topps attempts to chance up the look a bit. Thus, the inclusion of the tab design with the team name on the side. The Rookie Cup is back for another year, a Topps mainstay.

Looking for parallels, well, you are in luck. There are seven parallels plus printing plates. All are serial numbered except for the Red Hot Foil cards. Previously, these were green, so I assume this is to set them apart. In addition, some players were given special treatment and added to the Silk Collection set. These cards are framed with the silk swatch that looks like the regular card encapsulated within the frame.

Buybacks are typically used as box toppers in various Topps releases, but to commemorate their 75th Anniversary, Topps has added two buybacks per hobby box. In addition, they have redemptions for what they consider their Top 50 Rookies of all time as well as their Top 25 Rookie Reprints.

A staple of the basic releases, there are a bounty of insert sets. Some fall as little as twice per box while others show up nine times. The sets feature a myriad of rookies, prospects, veterans and legends. The Mini set has featured former card designs over the last couple of years. This year pays homage to the 1989 release. Another code program has surfaced. Power Players is an actual card set with a code on the back of each card. You can go to a specific website and enter the codes. These codes will unlock opportunities at various virtual items as well as real prizes. In addition, there are 110 cards in Series 1 and another 110 in Series 2. Collect all 220 and you could get a chance to obtain some exclusive autographs.

Each box yields one relic or autograph. There are a multitude of sets which include patches, combinations of autos and relics as well as cut signatures. Happy Hunting!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Base - 4.75/5
Design - 3.5/5
Fun - 3.5/5
Value - 4/5
Rebuy - 4/5

Overall - 19.75/25 (79%)

NPN INFORMATION

NPN 2014 Topps BB Series 1
PO Box 764
Pittston, PA 18640

Limit 1 Request Per Household

Postmarked By: 4/30/14
Received By: 5/7/14

Canada Skills: 13 x 2 + 26 - 3 = ?

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at Topps for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For information on all of their products, visit them today at www.topps.com.

Base and inserts are available for request. Please PM me with the cards of interest, including card numbers for base. Cards will remain available for 30 days from the time this review is posted. As always, only VIP members may make a request for the first 48 hours.

[richardsnydernc]

Canada skills? what is that all about?

[Enigma]

It's a requirement for anyone in Canada to be able to participate based on the laws in Canada. Someone in Canada can explain it more specifically.

[richardsnydernc]

I thought it was going to be some kinda joke or something along those lines.

[pwaldo]

Canada skills? what is that all about?

It is considering gambling or something in Canada. So they have to answer a simple math problem so it is "skill" rather than gambling or something like that.