SCF Official Review: 2009/10 ITG Between The Pipes

[Enigma]

First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at In The Game for providing us with this box.



18 packs per box
9 cards per pack
Current Retail Price: 84.99 - 94.99 (online)

Product Description

More Cards, Bigger Memorabilia, More Inserts!

Goaltending is the most important position in hockey and Between The Pipes is the most important hockey card set to thousands of goalie collectors. Coming off a previous sellout year, the 2009-10 Between The Pipes is even better with 18 packs per box and a hefty nine cards per pack. Game-Used Memorabilia cards are 1:8 packs along with GoalieGraphs and the hugely popular Masked Men II. Don't forget four more Non-Memorabilia Inserts and the He Shoots-He Saves point cards and that's a lot of hits per box.

Base Cards
It's true! We make base card sets that people want to collect and this is a great one. The 150 base card set features many of the best goalies of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Only In The Game can deliver a collection like this.

Non-Memorabilia Inserts (1:8 PACKS*)
There are 4 different Non-Memorabilia Insert sets to collect including AHL Rookies, CHL Rookies, Tribute and Net Brawlers.

Masked Men II (1:8 PACKS*)
Featuring the men behind the masks!

Authentic GoalieGraph Cards (1:8 PACKS*)
Over 100 GoalieGraphs with their own distinct design are made up of 4 sets including Future Stars, Stars of the Game, Greats of the Game and The Rival League.

Game-Used Memorabilia Cards (1:8 PACKS*)
The rules may have made goalie equipment smaller but we break the rules by making the equipment even bigger on Game-Used Memorabilia cards (complete with parallel versions). Wait until you see the card-filling memorabilia on the likes of Pad Save, Glove Save, Stick Save and Mega Stars. Check out the eye-popping swatches on Game-Used Jersey/Emblem/Number cards - many with a signed version. Don't forget old favourites like Complete Jersey, Complete Package, Complete Logo, Made To Order and many more!

*Ratios are based on the entire production run and are not guaranteed in any box or case.

WHAT WE PULLED



Base: 137/150 (91.3%)



AHL Rookies (1): Alex Stalock
Martin Brodeur Tribute (1)
Masked Men II Silver (2): Jeff Zatkoff, Carey Price
Net Brawlers (1): Michael Leighton/Jimmy Howard


Garrett Zemlak Auto
Peter Delmas Auto
International Crease Black Martin Brodeur/Roberto Luongo/Patrick Roy Triple Jersey (1 of 60)
Mega Stars Silver Chris Osgood 3-color Jersey (1 of 9)



FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4.75/5
Design - 4/5
Fun - 4/5
Value - 4.5/5
Rebuy -4.5/5

Total - 21.75/25 (87%)

Coming off the heels of what was considered one of the best products of the 2008/09 season, ITG has released Between The Pipes with a lot of hype and expectation behind it. The base set comprises of 150 subjects. They are divided over a series of four subsets: Future Stars, Stars Of The Game, Greats Of The Game and The Rival League. Goalies honing their skills in the AHL and CHL are located in Future Stars. Today's goalies in the NHL can be found in Stars Of The Game. Greats Of The Game features past goalies who left their mark on the NHL. Finally, The Rival League is devoted to the goalies who were on display in the now-defunct WHA (World Hockey Association).

There are five insert sets in Between The Pipes. AHL and CHL Rookies dominate two of the sets. Considered one of the greatest goalies in NHL History, a Tribute set can be found for Martin Brodeur which encompasses his career. Love the idea of two goalies dropping the gloves and mixing it up, you can find them in Net Brawlers. And then there's the chase set that has been around for years and keeps going strong, Masked Men II. This set features a Silver and Gold version.

On average, you can expect 2 autographs and 2 relics per box. The base autographs are divided up like the base cards into four subsets. There are a multitude of game used relics to be found. Some of which are the basic Game Used Jersey (or Number) series, International Crease (which features three countrymen) and Mega Stars (highlighted by a gigantic swatch). Following last year's success, there's also the Glove Save, Pad Save and Stick Save series.

ITG had a lot of work to do to attempt to surpass the highly successful release of Between The Pipes last year. The 150 card base set works as each box does not yield a duplicate and collectors are able to complete most of the set. The cards also have a wide variety of subjects, lending itself to a great opportunity for IP of TTM signatures. Year in and year out, the Masked Men series offers a wonderful chase set. The vibrant pictures of the goalie masks create a wonderful display. The autographs (like H&P) have a tendency to stick to the card in front of it in a pack. This is due to the tight seal of the pack as well as the fact they are sticker autos. Bringing collectors closer to the game are enormous swatches as well as relics such as swatches from gloves, pads and sticks. It will be amazing should pieces of an actual mask get added someday.

Between The Pipes is obviously devoted to goalies only, but that shouldn' turn anyone away from it. There's a lot for everyone who enjoys hockey. With a base set full of bright colors and a mix of players from today to yesteryear and the right amount of chase sets, collectors can find a lot of excitement and enjoyment in every box. Also back is the He Shoots He Scores redemption. Collectors receive a HSHS point card in every pack not containing a relic. Once amassing 200 HSHS point cards, you can send them in to ITG and pick up a specially made relic card. There are typically only 30 cards with a production run of 20.

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at In The Game for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For more information on all their releases, you can check them out at www.itgtradingcards.com.

[PPPanthersGM]

Very cool, nice triple GU!

[mikesilvia]

Looks like a lot of value for the money!

[Pheebs888]

Very nice review T. How are the cards from the break going to be used?

[JKC]

Nice break and review! Product looks good!

[Inferno]

Excellent value in this product! Busted a 10-box case and pulled some incredible cards, including the #1 card on my PC want list. Had even more fun busting this case than I did with my case of Between The Pipes last year. Product of the year for me once again!

[MadMan1978]

Another great review

[hossa18sens]

Just an amazing break. 2 great GU hits.

Thanks for the box ITG

[doniceage]

I love btp as I ordered a case. I just truly wish they would have made the net brawler insert set a game used or auto set. To me that would be awesome.

Don

[fyretiger]

Nice break and great review! Love the design!