SCF Official Review: 2010 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: 24.99 - 34.99 (online)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

BASE CARDS
220 players, including a preview of 74 base card subjects from Topps Baseball Series 2, plus a checklist card

OPENING DAY EDITION PARALLEL CARDS
A parallel version of the base set numbered- to 2010

PRINTING PLATES
The four printing plates from each of the 219 base card subjects.

ONE OF ONE INSERT CARDS
- SUPERSTAR CELEBRATIONS: Each of these 10 cards capture notable home plate or dugout player celebrations

- MASCOTS: "Lucky charms" from 26 Major League teams!

- WHERE'D YOU GO, BAZOOKA JOE?: Search for Joe in the stands or on the field!

- TOPPS ATTAX OPENING DAY: 25 playable Topps Attax game cards in a foil version featuring a 2010 Opening Day logo.

- TOPPSTOWN.COM STARS: 25 superstars are featured with a code good for use at ToppsTown.com

- AUTOGRAPH CARDS: Today's hottest players appear with their signature!

WHAT WE PULLED

Part 1:


Part 2:


Base: 202/220 (91.8%)
Dupes: 7
Parallel /2010 (8): Adam Lind, Jayson Werth, Todd Helton, Jose Lopez, Ubaldo Jimenez, Scott Rolen, Ryan Zimmerman, Evan Longoria



Mascots (9)
Superstar Celebrations (4)
Topps Attax (5)
ToppsTown (12)
Where'd You Go, Bazooka Joe (5)



FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4/5
Design - 3/5
Fun - 5/5
Value - 4/5
Rebuy - 4/5

Total - 20/25 (80%)

Traditionally, Topps releases Opening Day to coincide with the opening of Spring Training and this year is no exception. The base cards match the design of Series 1 other than the Opening Day Logo on the front of each card. Some of the subjects found in Opening Day are not in Series 1, but will be seen in Series 2. Also, there are 14 rookie subjects in Opening Day and the final card of the base set is a checklist card. Only 1 parallel numbered to 2010 can be found.

Numerous insert sets surface in Opening Day. With a kid-driven tone, there's a 26-card set featuring the various Team Mascots around MLB. Superstar Celebrations show off some of the most exciting events in baseball in 2009. As a promo for Topps Attax, there are 25 possible playing cards interspersed. To differentiate from the cards from Topps Attax, the Opening Day Logo adorn the cards. ToppsTown cards continue to appear in the low-end releases from Topps with a slight change of having the codes on the front. Rounding things out is Where'd You Go, Bazooka Joe. This 10-card series is not so much about the players as it is about locating Bazooka Joe on the front (think Where's Waldo). Each card does provide a clue on the back.

Topps Opening Day delivers on its most important quality, being a product for kids. From its price point to the added goodies, kids will enjoy opening each and every pack. Even though there are autographs in Opening Day, they are rare enough to make them exciting to chase and will bring excitement when one does pop up in a pack. One negative would be the checklist card in the base set. A checklist should be an optional card, not a necessary card to complete a set. And then the bigger slap in the face is a duplicate of it appearing in a box. At least make the duplicates of a player so that the kids can have more fun opening and trading

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 their products, you can check them out at www.topps.com.

[avstars]

Opening Day is a great product for young fans. There's nothing to expect out of it, just fun breaking.