SCF Official Review: 2011 Topps Tribute

[Enigma]

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



6 packs per box
5 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): $429.99 - $469.99 per box ($75-$85 per pack)

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
- 6 HITS PER BOX!
- Enhanced Retired Player Checklist!
- 3 Autograph Relic Cards Per Box
- 3 Multi-Relic Cards Per Box
- All Autograph and Relic Cards are Numbered 99 or Less
- 6 Parallel Cards Numbered to 399 or Less Per Box
- HOBBY EXCLUSIVE!


CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS

RELIC CARDS 3 Per Box - 1:2 Packs
New! Roll Call Book Cards - Multi die-cut relic book cards spelling out a player's first and last name. Ten subjects in all and numbered to 9. Available in a 1/1 Red Parallel version.

New! Tribute Rookies Book Card - A book card featuring 10 dynamic 2010 Rookie players with a relic swatch from each. Available in a 1/1 Red Parallel version.

New! Pastime Patches Dual Relics - Each of the cards acknowledges one of 25 current Superstars or Legends along with 2 game-used patches from the player. Numbered to 24. Available in a 1/1 Red Parallel version.

New! Quad Relic Cards - Each of 10 subjects is complemented with 4 relics on his card numbered to 99, and are available in parallels listed below.

Triple Relic Cards - 15 subjects appear with 3 relics, numbered to 99, and are available in parallels listed below.

Dual Relic Cards - 100 subjects with 2 relics, numbered to 99. All Relic variation cards are available in the following refracted and numbered parallels:
- Red: Numbered 1/1
- Gold: Numbered to 25
- Black: Numbered to 50
- New! Green: Numbered to 75


AUTOGRAPH & AUTOGRAPH RELIC CARDS - 3 Per Box - 1:2 Packs
New! Tribute Cuts - 1/1 cut signatures from 10 Hall of Fame honorees.

New! Tribute to the Stars Triple Autographs - Three star players and 3 autographs highlight these cards numbered to 24. Available in a 1/1 Red Parallel version.

New! Tribute to the Stars Dual Autographs - Fifteen duos appear with their autographs. Numbered. Available in a 1/1 Red and Gold numbered to 25 versions.

Autograph Triple Relic Cards - 10 subjects honored with an autograph and 3 relics, numbered to 99.

Autograph Dual Relic Cards - 15 players with their signature and 2 relics, numbered to 99.

Autograph Relic Cards - 100 subjects, numbered to 99. All Autograph Relic variation cards are available in the following refracted and numbered parallels:
- Red: Numbered 1/1
- Gold: Numbered to 25
- Black: Numbered to 50
- New! Green: Numbered to 75


BASE CARDS - 100 Subjects
Veterans & Legends - Topps pays homage to the 100 best rookie, veteran, and legendary baseball stars on hobby-popular "Tribute" technology.


PARALLEL BASE CARDS - 6 Per Box
The 100 base cards subjects are Rainbowed and Numbered.
- Red: Numbered 1/1
- Framed Printing Plates: Numbered 1/1
- Gold: Numbered to 50
- New! Green: Numbered to 99
- Black: Numbered to 99
- Blue: Numbered to 199

WHAT WE PULLED



Base: 6/100 (100%)
Blue /199 (2): Buster Posey, Rollie Fingers



Manny Ramirez Auto/Relic /75



Albert Belle Triple Relic /99 (Faux Auto)



FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4/5
Design - 5/5
Fun - 3.5/5
Value - 2/5
Rebuy - 1/5

Total - 15.5/25 (62%)

Topps Tribute has been around a couple of years and stands as one of their highest-end products (if not the highest). It condenses a base checklist of 100 to include a mix of rookies, veterans and legends throughout the history of baseball. The cards themselves are eye-pleasing with the chrome foil adding a nice rainbow effect to the photos. However, you will not find any serial numbering on the base cards, which is really a shame when you are expected to shell out this kind of money on a pack or box. And then there are five parallel levels, plus the four printing plates. Just seems like overkill for a limited product.

Each pack yields and auto or relic. In fact, each box should contain 3 autographs and 3 multi-relic cards on average. But as a consumer, we should expect more out of a product with such a lofty price tag. No offense meant to Albert Belle, but he should not be in this product, especially as a relic or auto hit. Now I do not expect every pack or box I open of anything to contain amazing and heart-stopping bonus cards, but I do expect a better chance at a bang for my buck when plopping down this much at the counter. Why would I spend this amount, when I could spend the same on a box (if paying a the pack price) or multiple boxes (if buying a box/case) of another product and have a lot more enjoyment as well as potential of finding something nice?

In the end, there are cards in Topps Tribute that definitely make it worthwhile to pay this steep price. But there aren't enough to get most people to the counter. I feel that Topps needs to really take a look at their higher-end lines as they are falling behind the curve with their competitors. Other manufacturers create boxes at this price point that deliver multiple "hits" and all the cards are numbered to reflect a limited production and people go after them in droves. That is not the case with Tribute and if that keeps up, we may be paying tribute to the end of this product.

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.