SCF Official Review: 2009 Topps Updates & Highlights

[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: 39.99 - 49.99

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:
- 1 Autograph Or Relic Card Per Hobby Box!
- 80 Traded Players And 55 New Rookies!
- Legends Of The Game Updates!
- Original Artist Sketch Cards!
- 2009 All-Star Game Relic Cards!
- Stadium Stamp Cards!
- Rookie Chrome Refractor Box Loaders!
- Ticket To Toppstown.Com!

BASE CARDS - 330 cards
180 Traded Players, 55 Rookies, 10 Season Highlights, 67 All-Stars, 8 Home Run Derby Contenders, 10 Classic Combos cards

PARALLEL CARDS - 2410 total cards
- Topps Silk Collection: (100) - #d to 50! Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only
- Platinum (330) - 1 of 1!
- Black: Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only! (330) - #'d to 58! 1 per Hobby & Jumbo Box!
- Gold (330) - #'d to 2009! 1:4 Packs!
- Printing Plates: Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only! (330 subj/1320 plates) - 1 of 1!

SKETCH CARDS - TBD subjects
- Sketch Cards: Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only! 1 of 1!

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC STARS - 125 subjects/50 cards
- WBC Stitches Dual Relics - 50 subjects/25 cards - #'d to 25!
- WBC Stitches Triples Relics: Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only! 75 subjects/25 cards - #'d to 25!

INSERT CARDS - 155 total cards
- New! Propaganda Posters (30) - 1:6 Packs!
- Ring of Honor: Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only! (25) - 1:6 Packs!
- Turkey Red (50) - 1:4 Packs!
- Ticket to Toppstown.com (25) 1:Pack!
*First Class Ticket Parallel (25)

AUTOGRAPH CARDS - 51 subjects - 1 Auto or Relic Card per Hobby Box!
- Ring of Honor (11)
- Career Best Veterans (19)
- Career Quest Rookies (11)
- American Legends Cut Signature Cards (10) - 1 of 1!

RELIC CARDS - 11 subjects - 1 Relic or Auto Card per Hobby Box!
- Stadium Stamp Collection (10) - #'d to 90
- 1960 Topps Mickey Mantle Reprint (1) - #' d to 60

ALL-STAR GAME 2009 - 295 subjects - 1 Auto or Relic Card per Hobby Box!
- All-Star Stitches (60)
1. Platinum Parallel (60) - #'d to 1!
2. Gold Parallel (60) - #'d to 50!
- All-Star Stitches Autographed Relics (15) - #'d to 25
- All-Star Jumbo Patches (50) - #'d to 6 - Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only
- All-Star Jumbo Patch Autographs (10) - #'d to 6 - Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only!
- All-Star Stitches Dual Relics (20 subj/10 cards) - #'d to 25
- All-Star Stitches Triple Relics (20 subj/10 cards) - #'d to 25 - Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only

LEGENDS OF THE GAME - 150 total cards
- Insert Cards (25) - 1:6 Packs!
- Platinum Parallel (25) - #'d to 25
- Gold Parallel (25) - #'d to 99
- Relic Cards (25) - #'d to 20
- Cut Signatures & Autographs (25) - 1 of 1!
- Team Letter Patch Cards (25) - #'d to 50 - Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only!

CHROME REFRACTOR BOX LOADER - 55 total cards - 1 per Hobby Box!
- Rookies: Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only! (55)

BASEBALL CARD HISTORY BUYBACKS - TBD subjects - Hobby & Jumbo Boxes Only!

COMBINED INSERTION RATE FOR AUTOGRAPHED/RELIC- CARDS - Inserted 1 Per Hobby Box!

WHAT WE PULLED





Base - 277/330 (84%)
Dupes - 0
Chrome Refractor Rookie (1) - John Mayberry Jr.
Topps Legends Gold (1) - Reggie Jackson
Topps Black /58 (1) - Carl Pavano
Topps Gold /2009 (12) - John Grabow, Laynce Nix, Adam Kennedy, Xavier Paul, Edwin Jackson, David Eckstein, Edgar Renteria, Guillermo Quiroz, Mike Rivera, Omir Santos, Aaron Bates, Ryan Franklin



Legends Of The Game (6)
Propaganda Posters (6)
Ring Of Honor (6)
Turkey Red (9)
ToppsTown Blue (25)
Dupes (7)
ToppsTown Gold (4)



Legends Of The Game Team Letter Patch Honus Wagner "E" /50
Legends Of The Game Team Letter Patch Roy Campanella "G" /50



FINAL RATINGS

Base Set - 4.75
Overall Design - 3.5
Fun - 4
Value - 4.5
Rebuy - 4
Total - 20.75 (83%)

Though not numbered in sequential order with them, Updates & Highlights continues were Topps Series 1 & 2 left off. Players featured in this release mostly comprise of those that were either traded, signed or called up as rookies in 2009. As a continuation, the base cards maintain the design of its predecessors. Accordingly, the Topps Gold and Black series are also continued. But an added feature is the Chrome Refractor Rookie Box Loader that is found in every box.

There are a few insert sets, most of which start up where they previously left off. However, there is a new set called Propaganda Posters. There is one for each team that showcases an integral player on a card that promotes the team. Between the parallels and the inserts, you will find something extra at least in every pack on average.

Update & Highlights, sometimes referred to as Topps Series 3, is a great capper to a run of releases. There's a lot of enjoyment in every box. Opening a box with this many cards and not getting any duplicates while completing most of the base set is a huge plus. This is a nice, inexpensive set to put together and enjoy. Topps continues its ToppsTown program, which is geared toward kids. To participate, you enter the codes at www.toppstown.com and a virtual world is opened. The manufactured patches continue to be pushed, but I do have to admit it is nice to see something different with the use of letters from the team name on the front of the jersey.

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sposnors at Topps for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For more information on all their products, be sure to check them out at www.topps.com.

[Captngeetch]

I know some people don't like manufactred patch cards...but I ove the look of the Legends Of The Game Team Letter Patch's..the rest of the set though seems pretty plain....Thanx to Topps for providing the box !

[JKC]

Nice break and review! Thanks for providing this, Topps!

Darin

[etmill01]

Nice break and review..Thanks Topps...Ed

[andrewcstein]

Nice break. I love how the letter is in script from the team name, rather than the normal player name letters.

[mikesilvia]

Agh ... more manufactured patches. For the price it does seem like a good value!

[quiet-things]

Not bad for the price - it's not something I would pick up but it's something cheap that younger kids might get a kick out of

[Fisk-Factor75]

I like the Updates and Highlights...you get some first cards of guys in new uniforms and late breaking rookies. I am not a huge fan of those manufactured unutographed patches. I like a little more bang for my buck. Anyway thanks for the box Topps!!!

[TysonX504]

I know some people don't like manufactred patch cards...but I ove the look of the Legends Of The Game Team Letter Patch's..the rest of the set though seems pretty plain....Thanx to Topps for providing the box !

Agree 100%. Thanks to Topps for the box

[garnett_21]

Nice break and review! Pulling 2 letter patches, regardless whether they are manufactured or not, out of a sub-$50 box is very impressive! Thanks Topps!