Official SCF Review - 2008 Topps Series 2 Hobby

**andrewcstein** · 06-03-2008, 03:10 PM

I want to thank Topps for sending us this 2008 Series 2 Hobby box to break.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:
• NEW! 2007 Highlight Dual Relic & Autographed Relic Cards!
• NEW! Historical Campaign Match-Up Cards and Cut Signatures!
• NEW! Silk Parallel Cards!
• Home Run Derby Contest Cards!
• 1 Auto or Relic per box!

Breakdown
36 packs per box, 10 cards per pack Dual Relic and Autographed Relic Cards!!
ALL NEW Campaign 2008 Historical Match Ups and Cut Signature Cards!!
Also look for various Autographed and Game Used Memorabilia Cards, Printing Plates, and Mini-Jersey Cards!!
The Topps Company has made plans to launch ToppsTown.com on June 1st. Inserts for ToppsTown will be inserted one in every two packs in the upcoming 2008 Topps Series 2 Baseball. Each insert card will unlock virtual cards and a new online world “where your cards come alive.”
2008 Topps Baseball Series 2 incorporates the best from Series 1 with many exciting new additions.
This year, Series 2 hits the Campaign Trail with famous presidential candidates offering NEW Historical Campaign Match-Up Cards and Cut Signatures and brings back the popular Presidential Stamp Collection Cards from Series 1. It also introduces NEW Hobby Exclusive Silk Parallel Cards and 2007 Highlights Autographed and Dual Relics!
In addition, 2008 Topps Baseball Series 2 features all the favorites from Series 1 including the Topps All-Rookie Team Anniversary cards, Baseball Card History, Year in Review and exclusive Mickey Mantle Cards! And, don’t forget the Home Run Derby Contest, which gives fans the opportunity to win the actual jersey from the Home Run Derby Champion!

Base Set:
265 Veterans
15 Managers
40 Rookies
5 Topps All-Star Team Players
5 Classic Combo cards
Parallels:
100 Topps Silk Collection – Hobby & HTA Boxes Only - numbered to 100
330 Platinum - numbered to 1
330 Black - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 57
330 Gold - numbered to 2008
330 Printing Plates - 4 diferent colors - 1320 cards total - each is a 1-of-1
Inserts:
25 Topps Stars 1:6
60 Year in Review 1:6
50 Baseball Card History - Hobby & HTA Boxes Only 1:6
15 2007 Highlights Auto Relics - numbered to 25
15 2007 Highlights Dual Relics - numbered to 25
49 2007 Highlights Autographs
25 2007 Highlights Relics
30 Commemorative Patch Relics - numbered to 100
55 Historical Campaign Match-Ups
55 Historical Campaign Match-Ups Cut Signatures - numbered to 1
1 Campaign 2008 Kids Vote
Presidential Stamp Collection
55 All Rookie Team 50th Anniversary 1:5
55 All Rookie Team 50th Anniversary Gold Foil Parallel - numbered to 99
20 All Rookie Team 50th Anniversary Autographs - numbered to 25
20 All Rookie Team 50th Anniversary Relics - numbered to 50
50 Home Run Derby Contest - numbered to 999
10 The Mickey Mantle Story
1956 Mickey Mantle Reprint - numbered to 56
Toppstown 1:2

Base:
301/330 (including a couple of dinged ones) = 91.2%
Duplicates: 0 - nice!

Inserts and Parallels:

Gold Foil - 18, no duplicates.

Gold #/2007 and Black #/57:

Year in Review:

Trading Card History:

Topps Stars, Mantle Story, and Rookie Redemption:

All Rookie Team:

Campaign:

Hit:

I broke the video into two parts. I'm sorry for seeming like I was rushing through the packs, but there's a lot of cards to sort through, and I didn't want to list all the base. And, just as a note, all the cards that I tossed aside were coupons, promotions, and the like, so I don't want anyone thinking I mistreated any actual cards.

Part 1:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qEhCu225WVQ

Part 2:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xUGbFlz98u4

Final Ratings (Out of 5):

Base Set - 4.5/5 (At first I didn't like the design, but it grew on me)
Fun - 4.5/5
Overall Design - 5/5 (The inserts look fantastic)
Value - 4/5
Rebuy - 3/5 (This would be higher if it wasn't so geared toward set builders. After you get a box, there's not much reason for another)

Final Grade - 21/25 ( 84%)

This is a perfect box for set builders. The base set is well within reach, and it was nice to see perfect collation. The gold foil cards can be difficult to distinguish (I found several after going back through the base cards), but the parallel set is plentiful and I can see a lot of collectors putting it together. Topps has continued the tradition of gold parallels, serially numbered to the year of the product, and getting so many out of a single box is nice. The Topps Stars design is excellent, and the player selection continues to be strong. I'm not too high on the political cards, but in an election year, they are to be expected, and they are aesthetically pleasing. I am excited to see what the Rookie Redemptions are for - supposedly they are going to be redeemed for cards made with the chrome technology, but nothing has been announced yet.

But seriously Topps, fathead coupons? Not cool.

All of the base and rookies are available (for a SASE) to all members. Most inserts will be available as well, with the rest going into the card cash store and for future contests.
A separate thread will follow with a list and more details.

**Ghumbs** · 06-03-2008, 03:45 PM

Thanks for the review. No Fukudome RC so no buy for me :p

**andrewcstein** · 06-03-2008, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ghumbs View Post

Thanks for the review. No Fukudome RC so no buy for me :p

Rumor has it he might be one of the rookie redemptions.

**Ghumbs** · 06-03-2008, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by andrewcstein View Post

Rumor has it he might be one of the rookie redemptions.

That's probably true. A part of me likes the whole RRC thing, like getting a to open a pack of cards after you're done, but for the Finest RRCs, they're making us wait until after August 31! What's the wait time on these?

**andrewcstein** · 06-03-2008, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Ghumbs View Post

That's probably true. A part of me likes the whole RRC thing, like getting a to open a pack of cards after you're done, but for the Finest RRCs, they're making us wait until after August 31! What's the wait time on these?

They haven't announced anything yet, but I'm sure Finest will take priority over these, just because it's a higher-end brand, and the redemptions were more of a selling point.