SCF Official Review: 2011 Topps

[Enigma]

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



36 packs per box
10 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): $44.99 - $54.99

Product Description

TOPPS FOOTBALL looks eagerly towards the upcoming NFL season with an all-new 2011 edition featuring star veterans, highly-touted rookies, on-card autographs, and one-of-a-kind relic cards.

1 Autographed OR Relic Card per Hobby Box!
2 Autographed and 1 Relic Card per Jumbo Box!


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
NEW and Hobby Exclusive!
- In the Name Rookie Letter Patch Cards
- Autographed ON-PATCH Rookie Cards
- Game Day Jumbo Relic & Autograph Relic Cards

Also Hobby Exclusive!
- Popular Rookie Premiere Autograph Cards
- Rare Original Sketch Cards
- Rookie Red Zone Autographs Continuity Program

And Best of All!
- Celebrating Super Bowls I to XLV, and the champion players who made sports history, with the most unique and varied Super Bowl-themed cards ever created for a trading card product!


CARD SETS

NEW! SUPER BOWL LEGENDS - The heroes who made the biggest plays in the biggest game and were honored with the Super Bowl MVP award.

New! Super Bowl Legends Coins - These unique cards feature an exclusive coin, which incorporates the Championship MVP with the respective Super Bowl Logo. Each card is numbered to 99. Available in Gold, Silver, and Bronze Bordered Parallels numbered to 5, 35, and 60 respectively.

New! Super Bowl Legends Manufactured Championship Rings - They won the MVP award and the Championship Ring and these exciting cards highlight both with a bas relief featuring the top section of the ring! Numbered to 100.

Replica Ring Redemption Card - Featuring an online code with a chance to win a replica Super Bowl ring.

New! Super Bowl Legends Portrait Stamps - Talented MVPs commemorated in a limited edition manufactured stamp version and numbered to 100.

New! Super Bowl Legends Logo Stamps - The same outstanding players with their stamp and complemented with the appropriate Super Bowl logo and numbered to 100.

Super Bowl Legends Ticket Stub - These numbered to 3 cards feature an authentic, original ticket stub piece from the greatest games in Super Bowl history!

Super Bowl Legends Manufactured Patch - The Big Game represented in 45 iconic patch logo treatments numbered to 50.

Super Bowl Legends Venue Relics - Relic cards, including grass, turf, and stadium seats, from iconic Super Bowl host stadiums and numbered to 50.

Super Bowl Legends Autographs - Super Bowl MVPs commemorate their award with a signature on cards numbered to 25.
Available in Gold and Rainbow Parallels numbered to 10 and ONE of ONE respectively.

Super Bowl Legends Relics - The same Super Bowl champions with a relic on cards numbered to 45.
Also look for Red, Rainbow, and Gold Parallels numbered to 5, 15, 35 respectively.

Super Bowl Legends Inserts - These players made the biggest plays in the biggest game and were honored with the Super MVP award.


BASE CARDS (440 cards)
- Veterans - 262 NFL pros including traded players and free agents in their new uniforms
- Rookies - Topps greets 110 new NFL players on cards featuring the Rookie Card logo. 1 per hobby pack
- All Pro - 2010 NFL First Team All-Pros.
- Teams Cards - 32 cards featuring each team in the league.
- Record Breakers - Cards featuring plays that made the record books.
- Rookie Premiere - Over 30 elite 2011 NFL Rookies come together for an exclusive team photo.
- Super Bowl Champions - The Packers once again fittingly capture the Lombardi Trophy!
- League MVP - Tom Brady.
- Rookies of the Year - Sam Bradford & Ndamukong Suh


PARALLEL CARDS - The entire base set is in the following versions:
- Platinum - 1 of 1!
- Black - Numbered to 56; Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only
- Gold - Numbered to 2011
- Base Card Printing Plates - 1,760 card front plates. Each is a 1 of 1; Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only


NEW! 1950 BOWMAN
The first full-color, and classically stunning football card set is reproduced in a 1-1/16 x 2-1/2" format showcasing 144 players in portrait-like poses just like the original!
Available in a numbered to 50 parallel version featuring a Bowman 1st logo


SKETCH CARDS
These mini-masterpieces feature 100 of the biggest current and past names in the NFL. Each is an original drawing penned by an artist and numbered One of One! Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only!


TOPPSTOWN.COM
The best 50 players in the League are highlighted on these cards featuring a code that can be entered on toppstown.com


RING OF HONOR
Inserts - Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers


CONTINUITY PROGRAM
Rookie Red Zone Autographs - The top Rookies from the 2011 NFL Draft pen their monikers directly to each of these cards. Red Zone Autograph Cards will be inserted throughout all 2011 Topps Football products as Hobby Exclusive value added program. Jumbo Boxes Only!


NEW! FACES OF THE FRANCHISE - Cards pairing veterans, retired and rookie stars from the same team
Autographs - Featuring the 15 most collectible teammate twosomes from NFL history with a signature from each. Numbered to 25

Relics - Ten duos each with a relic and numbered to 50.

Inserts - 20 notable combinations


NEW! GAME DAY - Honoring team rivalries with great moments from 50 great current and past players!
Autographs - 50 inspiring plays from a big game along with a signature from the highlighted star.

Autograph Relics - 15 of the subjects above will be showcased on cards with their signature and a piece of memorabilia. Numbered to 50. Hobby and Jumbo Boxes only

Jumbo Relics - The game day highpoint for 20 players in commemorated with an over-sized relic swatch on cards numbered to 20. Hobby and Jumbo Boxes only

Relics - A milestone play from 50 players, highlighted with a relic piece.

Inserts - 50 players


2011 ROOKIE PREMIERE - Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only! All Autographs Signed Directly ON EACH CARD!
New! In The Name Rookie Premiere Autographed Relics - Each ONE OF ONE card features a single letter nameplate from a player-worn jersey which has been signed on the letter.

New! Rookie Autographed Jumbo Patch - 35 players sign their name directly on each JUMBO patch. Numbered to 5. Hobby and Jumbo Boxes only

New! Rookie Autographed Patches - A top NFL Rookie paired with his autograph and a multi-color jersey patch, numbered to 10. Hobby and Jumbo Boxes only

NFL Rookie Premiere Autographs - Approximately 35 position players from the 2011 NFL Rookie Photo Shoot are featured on cards with their signatures and numbered to 90

NFL Rookie Premiere Red Autographs - The same 35 players sign their cards with red ink and numbered to 10

NFL Rookie Premiere Dual Autographs - 10 players who attended the NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot appear side-by-side on 5 cards with their signatures and numbered to 25. Red Parallel numbered to 5

NFL Rookie Premiere Quad Autographs - 1 card with 4 player's signatures numbered to 10


IN THE NAME
In the Name Relics - These 1/1 patch cards feature an entire single letter from a player-worn jersey. Collect them all and create the name of a favorite player. Hobby and Jumbo Boxes only

WHAT WE PULLED



Base: 303/440 (68.9%)
Dupes: 0
Gold /2011 (4): Brandon Jackson, Trent Cole, Cedric Benson, Darnell Dockett
Black /55 (1): Chris Johnson



1950 Bowman Mini (12)
1950 Bowman Mini 1st /50 (1): Santonio Holmes
Faces Of The Franchise (9)
Gameday (9)
Super Bowl Legends (6)
ToppsTown (6)
Super Bowl Legends Giveaway (6) - Not Scanned



Gameday Dwayne Bowe Jersey with stitching



FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4.5/5
Design - 4/5
Fun - 4/5
Value - 3/5
Rebuy - 3/5

Total - 18.5/25 (74%)

The base release in football for Topps mimics the design of its baseball product, which is typical every year. With a 440-card set that includes numerous rookies, you get a large chunk of the base set in one box. There are two main parallels, Gold (/2011) and Black (/55).

There are a handful of inserts this year. The top attention getter has to be the 1950 Bowman Minis. These are designed to replicate the look of cards from 1950 Bowman and are smaller than a regular card. There are 144 subjects and a parallel version /50. Faces Of The Franchise depicts two players with whom the team name and the players go hand in hand. In trying to bring the excitement of the Diamond Giveaway program in baseball to football, Topps has created the Topps Legends Giveaway promotion. Instead of getting a ring or prize and a card with each codes, you can either get a specially made die-cut card or other virtual items. The goal is to get all 45 rings, coins or jerseys. If you do, you will receive a specially autographed item from Joe Namath.

It's hard to find a lot of value monetarily with Topps Football, but it can be worthwhile for collectors. Each pack does yield at least 1 insert and 1 random pack will contain either a relic or autograph. Also, at least 1 rookie card is in every pack. This is a great product for set collectors or youngsters wanting to pick up a few cards at a decent price. The Topps Legends promotion is nice, but nowhere near as good as the baseball version. While there are those who will bust cases of the hobby and jumbo products, this release is usually a one and done purchase.

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 today at www.topps.com.