SCF Official Review: 2011 Topps Opening Day

[Enigma]

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



36 packs per box
7 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): 24.99 - 34.99

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Fun, Easy-To-Collect Brand Attracts Kids Early in the MLB Season
- 7 Entertaining Insert Sets - One Per Pack!
- March 19th Street Date Delivers in the Midst of Spring Training

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

BASE CARDS
220 players, with 13 rookies, including a preview of 74 base card subjects from 2011 Topps Baseball Series 2

PARALLEL CARDS
- OPENING DAY: A parallel version of the base set numbered* to 2011

PRINTING PLATES
The four printing plates from each of the 220 base card subjects.
ONE OF ONE!

INSERT CARDS
- SUPERSTAR CELEBRATIONS: 25 cards capturing notable home plate or dugout player celebrations
- MASCOTS: "Lucky Charms" from 25 Major League teams!
- TOPPSTOWN.COM STARS: 25 playable Topps Attax cards in a shiny version featuring a 2011 Opening Day logo.
- NEW! SPOT THE ERROR: These cards present 2 card fronts. Compare the fronts of each card and look for the very subtle differences!
- NEW! UNDER THE LIGHTS: Glow-in-the-dark cards, featuring night game photography, showcase shimmering lights and key game elements.
- NEW! OPENING DAY STARS: Popular 3D cards showing the biggest stars
- NEW! PRESIDENTIAL FIRST PITCHES: Presidential first pitches from throughout baseball history. HOBBY ONLY!

AUTOGRAPH CARDS
Today's hottest players appear with their signature.

WHAT WE PULLED



Base: 202/220 (91.8%)
Dupes: 0
Mascots: 9
Gold /2011 (7): Tommy Hanson, Dan Uggla, Josh Beckett, Dustin Pedroia, Drew Stubbs, Andy Pettitte, Matt Garza



Opening Day Stars (3)
Presidential First Pitch (6)
Spot The Error (6)
Stadium Lights (Under The Lights) (4)
Superstar Celebrations (9)
ToppsTown (6)



FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4.5/5
Design - 4.5/5
Fun - 3/5
Value - 3/5
Rebuy - 2/5

Total - 17/25 (68%)

Opening Day has been around for a few years. It is a lower-end version of Topps' Series 1 product. There are less base cards in the set as well as a lower price point. Mainly, the target of this product is for the kids as the box clearly states for ages 6 and up. The base design is virtually a mirror image of the regular Topps cards. One glaring difference though i the Opening Day logo displayed on every card in bright colors and the date.

I am a big fan of the Mascot cards. This is not the first year they were issued, but it really connects to the target audience. The Spot The Error series adds a bit of fun for those who acquire them. I did find some where harder to spot than others but did manage to figure it out on all the cards in the box. Topps switches up the parallel name and border going with a blue version instead of gold. Some collectors will be in the same boat as me and just identify them as gold cards, so be prepared to be confused.

In the end, this is primarily for kids. Not being a kid, I can only evaluate it as an adult and based on that, it is not an enjoyable product for me. Even at a low price point, I cannot foresee picking up more than one box. If I were buying it for a child, it would more than likely be one of those things where I would give a pack a day and let the magic last for a month or so than hand over the box. It's nice to see products out there that do not guarantee a hit (auto or relic), but when it is a direct copy for the most part of a product already released it really loses it's luster.

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

[TheTGB]

I agree with your second to last paragraph about it being primarily for kids, which is the reason why I'm not interested in the product. I suppose set builders see it as a cheap and easy set to build too.

[TurdFerguson]

Nice review Tony. I've never really been a fan of Opening Day, primarily for the reasons you've already stated, I'm an adult and it just doesn't appeal.