SCF Official Review: 2008/09 Topps Hardwood

[Enigma]

First and foremost, a big thanks to Topps for providing us with this box to review.



Product Description
18 packs per box
5 cards per pack
MSRP: $110-$120


Introducing 2008-09 Topps Hardwood Basketball, a product that features all the action from the NBA with distinctive wood cards taken straight from the basketball court! All Autograph and Relic cards are featured on these unique wooden cards. Hardwood Basketball also features hand-drawn One-of-One Sketch Cards at a rate of 1 per case. AND, every box promises 1 Autograph or Autograph Relic and 2 Relic cards!

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:
- EVERY BOX PROMISES 1 AUTOGRAPH OR AUTOGRAPH RELIC AND 2 RELIC CARDS!
- FEATURES HAND-DRAWN ONE-OF-ONE SKETCH CARDS AT A RATE OF 1 PER CASE!
- ALL AUTOGRAPH AND RELIC CARDS ARE FEATURED ON UNIQUE WOODEN CARDS.!

EVERY PACK GUARANTEES:
- 1 Numbered Rookie Card
- 1 Numbered Parallel Card Printed on Engineered Wood Stock
- 3 Base Cards

EVERY BOX GUARANTEES:
- 1 Autograph or Autographed Relic Card
- 2 Relic Cards
- 18 Numbered Rookie Cards
- 18 Numbered Parallel Cards

EVERY CASE GUARANTEES:
- 1 Original Signed Artist's Sketch Card
- 1 Numbered Rookie Autograph Patch Card


PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
BASE CARDS
- Veteran/Retired (100)
- Rookies (25) - 1 per pack. Numbered.
- Rookie Variations (25) - Numbered.

HARDWOOD SKETCH CARDS (25) - 1 PER HOBBY CASE! 1 OF 1!

AUTOGRAPH & AUTOGRAPH RELIC CARDS - 1 PER BOX!
- Autographed Rookies (25) - #'d to 1 of 1, 5, 25, and 50.
- Rookie Signature Hardwood Patches (30) - #'d to 1 of 1, 5, 25, and 50.
- Signature Hardwood (30) - #'d to 1 of 1, 3, 10, and 25.

WOOD PARALLEL CARDS - 1 PER PACK!
- Hobby Exclusive Ebony (150) - 1 of 1.
- Redwood (150) - #'d to 25.
- Mahogany (150) - #'d to 99.
- Maple (150) - #'d to 499.
- Hardwood (150) - #'d to 999.

RELIC CARDS - 2 PER BOX!
- Hardwood Relics (35) - #'d to 1 of 1, 25, 50, and 99.

PRINTING PLATES - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE!
- Base Cards (100 subs/400 plates) - 1 of 1.
- Autographed Cards (60 subs/240 plates) - 1 of 1.

VIDEO BREAK



WHAT WE PULLED

Base (50/100) - 50%
Rookies /2009 (18/25) - 72%
Dupes - 0



Topps Hardwood is a new set and busts on to the scene with an eye-pleasing base card. The main background is white with a secondary background for the player's picture done in grey and white. The player's photo leaps out from the card due the the background imagery in vibrant colors. All the information is at the bottom, consisting of the set's logo, player's name, position and team.

The rookie cards are all numbered with only 25 subjects. They have the same basic design as the base cards with the RC logo in the top left corner. The only difference is the rookie cards do no have the secondary background like the base cards.



The parallels are named for types of wood. They are Hardwood, Maple, Mahogany, Redwood and Ebony. The parallels run from lighter (higher serial number) to darker (lower serial number). These parallels match the base cards in design, except the background is done like a wood paneling with different colors of wood.

Hardwood /299 (8) - Chris Bosh, Gerald Wallace, Rashard Lewis, Stephen Jackson, Mike Miller, D.J. Augustin, Brandon Rush, Marreese Speights
Maple /175 (4) - T.J. Ford, Tyson Chandler, Magic Johnson, Marreese Speights
Mahogany /75 (3) - Carlos Boozer, Steve Nash, Danilo Gallinari



On average, each box is expected to yield 1 auto and 2 relics with a possibility of a case hit.

The Relics have 35 subjects with different parallels, causing a wide range of numbering. The player's photo dominates the card with the relic swatch die cut into a picture of a basketball. The player's team and name are at the bottom.

Hardwood Relic /175 (2) - Tony Parker, Eric Gordon

There are separate autograph series for the rookies and veteran/retired players. The rookies comprise of the 25 rookies featured in the base set while 30 retired/veterans make up the other set. As with the relics, there are many parallel versions which makes for a wide range of numbering. The player's photo is displayed offset to the right with his name appearing in a vertical black border and the team name below it on the left. The sticker auto is placed at the bottom of the card.

Signature Hardwood /39 (1) - Isiah Thomas

There are two case hits this year, a rookie auto/patch card or a sketch card 1/1. Fortunately, we we able to pull a Sketch Card. The card is a hand-drawn pencil sketch of a player. The sketch is from the top of the player's head to below his neckline. The player's name and team are at the bottom. The sketch also shows the artist's signature on the card. On the back, the 1 of 1 is not hand stamped, just printed on the back.

Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base set: 4/5
Fun: 4.75/5
Overall design: 4.5/5
Value: 4.5/5
Re-buy: 5/5

Overall: 22.75/25 (91%)

This is the first year of Topps Hardwood and it's a shame it won't be around now that the exclusive deal with another company was announced by the NBA. This product has everything you can imagine and is a slam dunk when trying to decide on something to buy.

Getting half the base cards and most of the rookies is a plus and makes you want to go out and get more. Unfortunately, a lot of retailers have raised their prices on this product as rumors came out about only being 684 total cases produced.

The use of the different wood colors to make the parallels is refreshing because of the wodd design. If it had only been the colors, they wouldn't have been nearly as impressive, so kudos to Topps.

The relics are appealing, especially the design of where the relic is placed. Really like the infusion of a basketball into the design instead of a cookie cutter area for it. The autos are nice and would have been a complete knockout if the auto was hard signed on the hardwood background.

Hats off to Topps for getting one right. This was probably the most fun I've had opening a box in a while and not because of the case hit or the auto. I really enjoyed opening a pack that had more than base cards in a pack. You get a rookie and a parallel or hit in each pack. There's something for everyone each time a pack is opened.

Once again, a major thanks to Topps for providing us with this box and the opportunity to review it.

[Captngeetch]

Nice looking product...I like the window of the GU cards too...and while I don't collect BB..the hits per box look like a winner to me...decent auto you oulled there too...thanx for the review Tony

[JKC]

Very nice break and review, Tony! While I do not collect basketball, I like the looks of these cards.

Thanks Topps!

Darin

[garnett_21]

WOW! What a pull! Huge thanks to Topps for allowing us to review this box! And a great review Tony! I really like the way the cards are different shades of "wood color" depending on the serial numbering. Nice product!

[RenegadeLonghorn]

Nice product. I like the wood design to the cards. Guess thats why its called Hardwood. :)

Pretty good hits. The sketch card speaks for itself.

Thanks Topps!

[htwheelz01]

Nice case hit.

[TheTGB]

Nice break and review and awesome to get a case hit and an auto from a legend!

I love the aspect of these cards and am totally disappointed that another company has the exclusive rights. We're going to miss you for at least one season Topps.

[spuds1961]

Nice review and box TONY,Thanks topps for the great product.Take care Steve

[trevorp121]

Thats a SWEET Sketch card! Thank you Topps!

[etmill01]

nice break and review, I also do not collect basketball but really like the look of the cards..Thanks Ed