SCF Official Review: 2010 Topps Prime

**Enigma** · 01-06-2011, 03:26 PM

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

10 packs per box
6 cards per pack
Current Retail Price: $74.99 - $84.99

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
- 4 Numbered Hits in Every 10-Count Hobby Box!
- Every Card Features Super Thick Slick 36-Pt. Card Stock
- Hobby Exclusive Numbered Rookie Base Cards
- Hobby Exclusive Numbered Base Card Parallel Sets
- Four Levels of Insert Cards
- 150 Base Cards

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

AUTOGRAPH RELIC CARDS - 4 OR MORE RELIC PIECES PER CARD! 1 PER BOX!

Prime Relics - Five levels of exciting multiple relic cards featuring 4,5 or 6 different uniform/equipment relics in combinations such as: wristband, glove, football, home/away jersey on each numbered card! Prime Levels 1-4 spotlight thirty 2010 NFL Rookies each on a single card, while Prime Level 5 highlights Rookies and Veterans.

AUTOGRAPH CARDS - 1 PER BOX!

Rookies - 50 of the most promising 2010 Rookies along with their signatures on cards sequentially numbered.
Prime - 1 of 1 HOBBY ONLY, Gold - Numbered to 25.

RELIC CARDS - 2 PER BOX!

Prime Rookie Relics - 35 top rookies with a relic and numbered to 499.

Combo Relics - 3 levels of popular Combo relic cards with 2, 3, or 4 rookies, veterans and rookies/veteran players showcasing 2, 3, or 4 relic pieces on each numbered card.

All relic cards are paralleled:
Prime Patch - 1 of 1 HOBBY ONLY, Gold - Numbered to 25.

WHAT WE PULLED

Base: 42/150 (28%)
Rookies /999 (3): Eric Berry, Joe Webb, Ryan Matthews
Gold Rookie /699 (2): David Reed, Sean Canfield
Gold Veteran /199 (1): Jon Beason
Red Rookie /75 (1): Riley Cooper

1st Quarter (3)
2nd Quarter (2)
3rd Quarter (2)
4th Quarter (3)

1st Quarter Toby Gerhart Jersey /420
4th Quarter Carson Palmer/Tom Brady/Jordan Shipley/Taylor Price Quad Jersey /124
Jerry Hughes Auto /599
Sam Bradford Level 5 Quad Jersey/Auto /150

FINAL RATINGS

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

Total - 21/25 (84%)

Topps rolls out its football line with Prime. The base set is 150-card strong and intersperses rookies (numbered to 999) along the way. Each card encapsulates the player with a full-body color photo with simplistic overtones to show the team logo and player's name while keeping it eye-catching. On top of that, the card stock is just a bit thicker which helps to bring the photos to life.

There are four levels of inserts named after the four regular periods in football. 1st Quarter contains one player, 2nd Quarter contains two players, and so forth. The picture quality also the focus to be on the players, not on the card itself. Most, if not all, in each subset are devoted to the rookies of 2010.

Each box yields four autographs or memorabilia pieces with one being guaranteed to be an auto/relic of some sort. The auto/relics come in five levels and can be determined by looking at the card number on the back (PL1, PL2, etc.).

Topps Prime is solid as a first-year release. The base cards shine and is easy to put together since it is 150 cards including rookies. By making the player the focal point of the card, each one breathes its own life. Outside of the aforementioned four "hits" per box, there's a lot of additional value within the inserts. Since rookies dominate them, they are easily collectible, tradable and sellable which is a hobbyist and mini entrepreneur's dream. This is easily a product people will want to keep picking up until interest moves to future releases. The biggest knock is the enjoyment factor. Having to go through the hassle of the cellophane and the box to get to each pack is a bit over the top for a product in this price range. Save the special packaging for the high-end products.

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