SCF Official Review: 2011 Topps Finest

[Enigma]

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



2 miniboxes per master box
6 packs per minibox
5 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): 109.99 - 129.99

Product Description

2011 Topps Finest Football celebrates the most superlative gridiron competitors along with a special focus on the newly drafted 2011 NFL Rookie Class. Collectors will have a fine time as they uncover 1 Numbered* Rookie Patch Autograph and 1 Numbered* Autograph Jumbo Relic in every Master Box!


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:

Every Master Box Contains:
- 1 Numbered Rookie Autograph Patch Card
- 1 Numbered Autograph Jumbo Relic Card
- 2 Atomic Die-Cut Refractor Rookie Cards - 1 per mini box!
- 2 Finest Moments Insert Cards - 1 per mini box!
All Rookies will be Pictured in NFL Uniforms!


CARD SETS

AUTOGRAPH PATCH/RELIC CARDS - 2 PER MASTER BOX!

Autograph Patch Cards - 1:2 Mini Boxes

Rookie Autograph Patch Cards - 35 top Rookies from the base set displayed with a multi-color player-worn jersey patch and an autograph. Each card is numbered*.
Available in Parallels:
- Super-Fractor - Each is a 1 of 1!
- Gold Refractor - Numbered to 25
- Red Refractor - Numbered to 50
- Black Refractor - Numbered to 75
- Refractor - Numbered to 99

Rookie JUMBO Patch Autograph Cards - 20 Rookies are featured each with an over-sized jersey patch piece on cards numbered to 5

Autograph Relic Cards - 1:2 Mini Boxes

Autograph Jumbo Relic Cards - The same 35 top Rookies as above plus 15 star Veterans from the base set appear with a JUMBO relic and an autograph. Each card is numbered.
Available in Parallels:
- Super-Fractor Patch - Each is a 1 of 1!
- Gold Refractor - Numbered to 25
- Red Refractor - Numbered to 75
- Refractor - Numbered to 99

Dual Autograph Dual Relic Cards - 2 players, 2 relics and 2 autographs numbered to 10.
- Available in a parallel 1/1 Super-Fractor Patch version.

Triple Autograph Triple Relic Cards - 3 players, 3 relics and 3 autographs numbered to 10
- Available in a parallel 1/1 Super-Fractor Patch version.


AUTOGRAPH CARDS - At Least 1 Per Case!

On-Card Rookie Autograph Refractor Variation Cards
35 Rookies have signed their names directly to each of their cards at the 2011 NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot. Each player's numbered card displays a new phot, and the same number as his base Rookie card.
Available in Parallels:
- Super-Fractor - 1 of 1!
- Mosaic Refractor - Numbered to 10
- Red Refractor - Numbered to 25

Finest Moments Autograph Cards
25 top Rookies and Veterans are featured and highlighted with their signature.
- Available in a 1/1 Super-Fractor parallel.


INSERT CARDS - 4 PER MASTER BOX!

Rookie Finest Atomic Refractor Cards - 1 per Mini Box!
- Twenty-five outstanding Rookies on Refractor cards with a die-cut.
Available in Parallels:
- Autographed Super-Fractor Superior - 1 of 1!
- Mosaic Superior - Numbered to 10
- Red Superior - Numbered to 25
- Gold Superior - Numbered to 50

Finest Moments - 1 per Mini-Box!
Capturing a defining highlight in the careers of 25 Rookies and seasoned Veteran stars. Available in a Refractor parallel


BASE CARDS - 5 per pack!
35 newcomers from the 2011 NFL Draft along with 90 stand-out Veterans.


PARALLEL CARDS
The 125 Veterans and Rookies from the base set are featured:
- Super-Fractor - 1 of 1!
- Printing Plate - 1 of 1!
- Mosaic Refractor - Numbered to 10!
- Red Refractor - Numbered to 25!
- Gold Refractor - Numbered to 50!
- Black - Numbered to 99!
- X-Fractor - Numbered to 399!
- Refractor

WHAT WE PULLED



Base: 46/125 (36.8%)
Refractors (4)
Xfractors /399 (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tolbert, Mikel Leshoure
Refractors Blue /99 (1): Greg Jennings (01/99)
Atomic Rookie Die Cut (2)
Finest Moments (2)



Randall Cobb Jersey/Autograph /589



Andy Dalton 3-color Patch/Autograph /75 (75/75)



FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4/5
Design - 4.5/5
Fun - 3.5/5
Value - 3.75/5
Rebuy - 4/5

Total - 19.75/25 (79%)

The minibox phenomenon continues with one of the products to first use it, Topps Finest. Finest contains 125 base cards, mixing 90 veterans with 35 rookies. Players are featured on chrome-style card with a dot-matrix background. There are numerous parallel versions including the X-fractors, in which the subjects look like they are on top of a microchip due to the design.

There are only two insert sets this year, Atomic Rookie Refractors and Finest Moments. Each can be found once per minibox. The Atomic Rookie Refractors set features 25 rookies on a die cut card. In addition, there are four parallel levels. Finest Moments captures a mix of 25 rookies and veterans and denotes a huge on the field event in their career. There is a refractor version of each card.

The huge selling point of Topps Finest are the Rookie Autographs. Each autograph is paired with either a jersey swatch or patch (all from the Rookie Premiere). You will find one in every minibox. There are other variations of this concept throughout Finest such as dual and triple versions not to mention case hits like the Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot on-card autographs and the Finest Moments Autographs.

Finest continues to be a popular product among the masses, but has lost some of its appeal over the years. This all started when Finest dropped from 3 miniboxes to 2. While the price did come down some to match the minibox removal, it left collectors felling like they weren't getting as much. Each pack does yield a bonus card of some type, even the packs with a "hit". The design work is great and quite appealing. The colors play off well with the chrome.

There are issues though. While it specifically states on the packs, Not For Individual Sale, packs are still sold individually. That I do not put any blame on Topps, but when I see the exact same pack in each minibox contain the "hit", the Finest Moments, the Rookie Atomic Refractor, etc., it leaves little to the imagination when buying the individual packs. There's no enjoyment when you already know what you are about to pull from each pack in the second minibox if you are opening a master box. The value takes a beating when you match rookie premiere relics with sticker autograph. The consumers already have a distaste for sticker autos. And now with more revelations of the farce known as player-worn Rookie Premiere Relics, it spells disaster for these types of cards. If you can take the time to have a mock up ready for players to sign the Photo Shoot cards directly, do the same for the other cards.

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.