Official SCF Box Break & Review: 2008 Topps Chrome Baseball

[SingleDaddyof2]

First I’d like to begin by giving props to the great folks at Topps for generously providing us this 2008 Topps Chrome Baseball hobby box to break for a review. Thank you so very much Topps!




Here’s the product description:

24 packs per box, 4 cards per packLook for (2) Autographed Rookie Cards per box on average!! Also find Relic Cards, Topps Heritage Chrome Parallel Cards, and Hobby Exclusive 1-of-1 Printing Plates!!
Key Rookies: Joey Votto, Billy Buckner, Jeff Clement, Luke Hochevar, Nick Blackburn, Radhames Liz, J.R. Towles, Daric Barton, Clay Buchholz, more TBA.
2008 Topps Chrome Baseball is back and better than ever, showcasing players from Series 1 and 2, with all NEW images! And, this year Chrome Baseball is bringing you Topps Heritage Chrome Parallel cards! All this in addition to Autographed Rookie Base Cards, Baseball Card History, Topps All-Rookie Team and Topps Exclusive Mickey Mantle Insert cards. PLUS, every Hobby Box is guaranteed 2 Autographed Rookie Cards!
Features include:
More than 30 Autographed Rookie Cards- 2 per Hobby Box!
All NEW images on popular Chrome technology!
NEW! Heritage Chrome Parallel Cards!
Base Set:
170 Veterans
50 Rookies
35 Autographed Rookies

Parallels:
220 Super-Fractor - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 1
220 Red - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 25
220 Copper - numbered to 599
35 Autographed Rookies Super-Fractor - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 1
35 Autographed Rookies Red - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 25
35 Autographed Rookies Copper - numbered to 100
35 Autographed Rookies Blue - numbered to 200
35 Autographed Rookies Refractor - numbered to 500
220 Printing Plates - 4 diferent colors - 880 cards total - each is a 1-of-1
Inserts:
100 Topps Heritage Chrome - numbered to 1959
100 Topps Heritage Chrome Black - numbered to 59
100 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractor - numbered to 559
50 Baseball Card History
23 Topps All-Rookie Team
10 The Mickey Mantle Story
17 Mickey Mantle Home Run History
50 Baseball Card History Super-Fractor - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 1
23 Topps All-Rookie Team Super-Fractor - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 1
10 The Mickey Mantle Story Super-Fractor - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 1
17 Mickey Mantle Home Run History Super-Fractor - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 1
50 Baseball Card History Red - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 25
23 Topps All-Rookie Team Red - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 25
10 The Mickey Mantle Story Red - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 25
17 Mickey Mantle Home Run History Red - Hobby Exclusive - numbered to 25
50 Baseball Card History Copper - numbered to 100
23 Topps All-Rookie Team Copper - numbered to 100
10 The Mickey Mantle Story Copper - numbered to 100
17 Mickey Mantle Home Run History Copper - numbered to 100
50 Baseball Card History Refractor - numbered to 500
23 Topps All-Rookie Team Refractor - numbered to 500
10 The Mickey Mantle Story Refractor - numbered to 500
17 Mickey Mantle Home Run History Refractor - numbered to 500
100 Insert Printing Plates - 4 diferent colors - 400 cards total - each is a 1-of-1
Redemption cards expire 6/30/2010

Here’s what I pulled in the box break

Base - 57/220 26%
Missing/Needed - 163
Dupes - 9


Parallels

Refractors - 8


Copper - 2


Inserts

Topps Heritage Chrome - 5
Topps Heritage Chrome Black - 1


Trading Card History - 6


Topps All-Rookie Team 50th Anniversary - 3


Mickey Mantle Home Run History - 2
Mickey Mantle Story - 1



The Hits

Autographed Rookies - 2






Final Ratings (Out of 5):

Base Set - 3.5
Fun - 4
Overall Design - 4.5
Value - 4
Rebuy - 3.5

Final Grade - 19.5/25 (78 %)


Of the 63 base cards pulled from this box, nine were duplicates (14%!). That seems awful high to me. And one would need to buy at least four boxes to come close to completing the 220-card base set by hand. Still, the base cards and inserts are fantastic-looking cards and that was very nice and enjoyable to see. The base cards do feature photos that are different from those in the regular Topps baseball cards. The photo selection is very good too. I really love the look of the insert cards. The Trading Card History Albert Pujols was especially impressive.


All of the base and rookies are available to all members. There is a limit of 3 base or 1 rookie card per member. All you have to do is provide a SASE and if you wish, a top loader. The #'d and autographed cards are not available with a SASE. These cards will be used as contest prizes, go into the CC Store or perhaps go to our hard working staff. If you want to request a card that was pulled, just post in the separate thread that is now posted with the list of cards available for a SASE.

Once again, wed like to sincerely thank Topps for their sponsorship of SportsCardForum on behalf of the entire staff.

[RenegadeLonghorn]

Nice review Andy.

[andrewcstein]

Nice review Andy!

[FlaStorm]

I could use that longoria refractor wink wink

[Trucker]

Not a big fan of sticker autographs, it almost takes a half a card away.
Nice review by the way, thanks.

[spuds1961]

Nice review Andy,I like the trading card history set alot this year take care Steve.

[Allanon]

Can you give us a list of the base/RC cards you pulled??

[johan29lhp]

good work, i always have fun with Topps chrome

i built a master set from 2006 also, pretty nice! it took me little over a year to do it, but its complete!

[gpobulldog]

hey really liked it andy job well done

[br.ett]

Great Review! I might go out and get one!