2009 Topps Chrome Box Break Review- Part 2 The Grades

Hey guys, Drew back here, finishing up the final part of my box break reviews, then after a post of trades and new cards tomorrow, I should be set for Saturday. I already filled my needs out on there so I'll be ready to go! Anyway, finishing up the grading, here goes:

Design: The 2009 Topps base design was simple yet terrific, and it certainly does not disappoint in the Chromey version. The design is cool, but I sorta wish they had a clear foil covering coating the cards so they wouldn't be so thumb print attracted. Wouldn't you agree? They chose some great base card photos too so it isn't boring (aka 2006/2007/2008 Topps). The refractors look great, and I am in love with the colored border parallels. They are sweet! One rule, I need to have at least one of those blue borders at all time, gotta get the Cano and then I'll trade the other 2 I pulled, Roberts & Kinsler. Anyway, I love the design and will most definitely try to build this set. Design Grade: A

Price: The price is pretty solid I most say. Around 50 to 60 bucks you'll see for this product, for 2 rookie autos and some greatly designed cards. Certainly worth it for the fun, and although they don't have a great rookie class, you can get a few decent rookie autos, like the AL Rookie of the Year, Andrew Bailey, or Nolan Reimold. Price Grade: A

Hits: Well, I consider the Gold WBC Fu-Te-Ni, and the 2 blues as the hits of the box, cuz these autos didn't do much for me. Will Venable & Trevor Crowe are some pretty brutal pulls. I'm pretty sure that Venable had some un-signed autos when it first came out so I wonder if that card had to be sent back for the signature. I don't know to be honest. There are certainly some better autos in the set but not much better. This is the one down side to the set, hopefully they do on card autos next year so we can hope for a better rookie class. Hits Grade: C

Overall: This is not a set for collectors that look for the big mojo hit, this is a product for those middle class guys, the guys that don't go all out like me, and still get some awesome cards in the process. I was pretty happy with the box, I actually opened it while Grandpa Roy came over for a little while a few days after Christmas. I think Topps did another great job with this set, and I give it a thumbs up! Overall Grade: B+

Thanks for reading, and comment with your opinions! But for now, later!

2009 Topps Chrome Box Break Review- Part 1

Hey guys, Drew back here, again. I know, you're probably sick of my box reviews, but TOO BAD!!! You're gonna have to read one (or two...) more of them, well, Part 1 and Part 2 for this break. So, this one is fairly new, when I say fairly I mean kinda sorta a little new. Anyway, here's the break. Enjoy!

PRODUCT CONTENT
- 24 Packs Per Box
- 4 Cards Per Pack
- 96 Cards Per Box
- World Baseball Classic Inserts Fall at 1 in 4 packs (6 per box)
- 2 Rookie Autographs Per Box (on average)

The base set consists of 220 cards, the first 170 being veterans, the next 50 being rookies. There are refractor versions of each card plus x-fractors (only retail exclusive), and other bordered parallels. There are many World Baseball Classic inserts and while most are annoying, I like the ones of players I've heard of. Here's what I got in my box:

MY BOX BREAK RESULTS

Base Set: 76/220 (34%)

Short Sets:
- Veterans: 59/170 (34%)
- Rookies: 17/50 (34%)

World Baseball Classic Inserts:
- Chenhao Li (China)
- Luca Panerati (Italy)
- Bryan Engelhardt (Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Akinori Iwamura (Japan)
- Manuel Corpas (Panama)
- Alex Liddi (Italy)

World Baseball Classic Refractors:
- Kenji Johjima (Japan) /500

World Baseball Classic Gold Refractors:
- Fu-Te Ni (Chinese Tapei) /50

Base Refractors:
- Jorge Posada
- Jason Giambi
- Grady Sizemore
- Michael Young
- Jeremy Bonderman
- Jason Jarimillo RC
- Trevor Crowe RC

Base Blue Parallels: (/199)
- Brian Roberts
- Ian Kinsler

Rookie Autographs (Base Auto):
- Will Venable
- Trevor Crowe

Aside from the autos (and Trevor Crowe), this was a pretty nice box! A lot of nice color and was fun to break. More on that tomorrow. See Ya!

My Card Company Awards

Hey guys, Drew back here, I felt like sharing my thoughts on the 2009 products with you. Very soon the nominees for the blog awards will be announced, but for now, here are my standings on some of the awards based on card companies & products from 2009, baseball and football:

Card Company of the Year:

5. Other: Not really much other than the 4 big companies to pick.

4. Tristar: Obak was a big hit, and of course Projections is a big seller with the prospectors.

3. Panini/Donruss: These guys kinda came back, it looks like they have done well in football & basketball thus far.

2. Upper Deck: The folks at Upper Deck didn't have a stellar year like 2008 but some big products were released, Goodwin Champions, O-Pee-Chee, and I really like Ballpark Collection.

1. Topps: Let's just say that Topps outdid themselves this year, almost every product this year came out on top. Their flagship set was the best in forever, including Turkey Red and Legends of the Game inserts certainly helped that. Products like Allen & Ginter, Triple Threads, 206, Unique, Finest, Heritage, Topps Chrome, and I don't know about you but I liked Ticket to Stardom too! Other than Topps Attax, all the products were thought out really well and Topps deserves an A for effort this year!

Baseball Product of the Year:

5. O-Pee-Chee: This set didn't have big expectations, but going to Target to find a nice, well designed 1.59 pack made me happy. Some of the cards looked a little scary but I think it gets in my Top 5.

4. Upper Deck Ballpark Collection: One of the best high end products available, because you will get at least one good hit in the box, unlike taking chances at Triple Threads or Sterling. Although the players paired on the same card have no meaning to be with each other, I must say that it helps with player collectors, more cards of their player in the set. I haven't bought the product at all but have bought 2 Cano dual jerseys, a 6 swatch with Cano, a Swisher Auto jersey, and I traded with Beardy for a Swisher 8 swatch.

3. Topps 206: Although I have been at Target/hobby shop 1 time in the past like, 3 months, and haven't purchased any packs of this stuff, I bought a Cano jersey and it is really nice. The design is untouchable and although it has it's flaws, we can't expect perfection. The photography is hit or miss but the hit's look incredible. The SECOND best retro set this year for me.

2. Topps Chrome: Hopefully, at some point in the future I can complete this set. (Speaking of completion, I'm gonna have a set completed very soon) I haven't put up a wantlist yet, but haven't really bought enough yet to try. The design is sweet and although most of us hate the World Baseball Classic kindling, the refractors are SWEET! And on card autos, how can you go wrong?

1. Topps Allen & Ginter: One word to describe this product: Wow. This was by far the best release of this product so far, and Topps hit a walk off, grand slam, out of the park home run on this set. Beautiful photography and the design can not be denied. Add in a nice relic/autograph design plus the possibility for rip cards and red ink autos, and wood cards, wow.

Football Product of the Year (so far)

gotta go a little faster now...

5. Topps Mayo: Sweet old school design and great relics. Plus the inclusion of NFL legends makes the second year in a row release a hit. But, the reason it isn't higher is the horrible autograph design, but let's not talk about that now.

4. Absolute Memorabilia: The high end product everybody wants. Again, it's hit or miss, but it is way popular with the collectors and is a best seller, so why not.

3. Topps Flagship: Yeah, I should've put this in baseball too, but, the football design was pretty nice this year, glad they didn't use the same design as baseball, it would get old. Great job again Topps!

2. Upper Deck Philadelphia: Sweet set, bought one pack only so far, but pulled a D-Bowe auto, now in the hands of the bearded wonder. The design again is very cool and there are some very nice on card autos.

1. Topps Chrome: Now, this is how to make a product kiddies! I love the chromified design of the base, plus the great refractors, this is a hit!

Baseball Insert of the Year: Propaganda Posters, from Topps Updates and Highlights

Very unique set, I don't think it's ever been done before.

Football Insert of the Year: National Chicle, from Topps

Again, cool retro design, I think 2009 was the year of the retro(ness)

Baseball Autographed Set of the Year: Allen & Ginter framed autographs

Simply.... amazing

Football Autographed Set of the Year: Gridiron Gems from Gridiron Gear

These are case hits in this product, and the autograph pulls out, and they are really cool. I managed to pull one of Dexter Jackson in last year's version, and it is sweet!

Ok, those are the product awards we will be running. These may not be our nominees, they're just my votes. I'm gonna have some mail up from Saints of the Cheap Seats tomorrow or Tuesday, we'll see. See Ya!

Opinions on New Sets...

Hey guys, Drew back here. It's now time for the new product reviews. Here they are:

2009 Topps Ticket To Stardom Baseball: Well, not as nice as expected, but it has its ups and downs. The autographed relics look fantastic as Mario said, and so do the base. Many people are hating on the product but I only only have 2 problems: 1) the World Baseball Classic cards of non current MLB players, like some random guys that will never play in the bigs. Maybe a Pedroia, Jeter, Tejada, Cano whatever jersey from it would be OK but random guys from Team Puerto Rico won't cut it. 2) The price. When it goes down I may consider buying a box, but $80 for 3 cheapish hits- not gonna happen. But the great things, the auto relics, the base, the tickets, the parallels, and more! Non-in my collection grade: B+

2009 Bowman Chrome Baseball: Well, it's definitely not my type. I like to know the players in my packs, although I opened a pack a while back of 2004 Bowman and pulled a Brian McCann, Hanley Ramirez, Dan Haren rookies, and more! So, it's a fun one for those prospecters, and although I'm not a prospect guy I think the product looks better in Chrome. Plus, the on card autographs are pretty nice! Non-In my collection grade: B

2009 Upper Deck Ballpark Collection Baseball: Again, not too shabby. Better than last year, but after watching a few boxes on Youtube I did notice the collation is horrible again. The quad relics, 6 ways, 8 swatches don't really go together. The design is nice, the Upper Deck Spokesmen cards are nice, and the player timelines are cool too. Overall, a ripoff for the price, but if it was lower I think it could be a fan favorite: Non-in My collection grade: B

2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Baseball: See my review here Non-In my collection grade: C+

2009 Bowman Sterling Football: Some guys will love this set, some will hate it. From what I've seen so far, it is a complete waste of $219.99 dollars. Topps/Bowman needs to remember if they run high end products, that rookie jerseys are pieces of garbage. They aren't even used in games, they put them on at the Rookie Premiere! Practice jerseys would sound better, or maybe college jerseys, but at an Event. I dont think so! More autographs, less jerseys, and this would be nicer. The design is great by the way! Non-in my collection grade: D

2009 Absolute Memorabilia Football: Very nice design, but yet again, football companies shouldn't even consider the rookie photo shoot jerseys to be in $100 + boxes. If you know someone that actually likes these please let me know, because they are completely ridiculous. As for the other hits, this is a great product and is much better than Sterling. Be prepared to come close to getting your money back. Non-In my collection grade: B-

2009 Topps Chrome Football: Not too bad, really like the Topps design this year, and they did a good job with this set. Nice on-card autos is always a plus, and the refractors look fabulous. There isn't much to say about this set, but overall it is a nice cheap, fun break. Non-In my collection grade: A-

Thanks for reading, and be sure to chime in and share your opinions! See Ya!