Per box items:
2 mini boxes per master box
7 cards per mini box
1 autographed card per mini box
1 triple relic card per mini box
The standard sized base set cards are thicker than normal and depict a color action shot of the player super-imposed onto a grey and white background. The border-less cards have gray and white graphics on the card bottom that list the player name and team. The set name is in silver foil. The card backs are photo-less and are horizontal in design. The black, grey and white backs detail moderate biographical information, last year and career statistics and moderate career highlights.
What I pulled:
14 unique cards, no duplicates
6 base set cards, 6/100, 6% of the base set
4 serial numbered parallel cards
2 relic cards
2 autograph relic cards
Base card front and back:
The parallels:
Bronze #/625 Jones and Rivera
Green #/250 Howard
Blue #/50 Holliday
The Hits:
Ryan Howard unity relic #36/36
David Freese triple relic #27/36
Kirk Nieuwenhuis auto triple relic #5/50
David Justice auto relic #19/25
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2012 Topps Triple Threads is an always popular release with all types of collectors. Whether you are a player collector, set collector or a prospector you will find something you like in TTT. This year’s version feels like a ‘jack of jack of all trades.’ It is a little good at everything, but not really good at anything. The base cards and serial numbered parallels look great, but completing the set will get expensive even if you trade a lot. There is a good mix of veteran players and retired stars, but this feels a little watered down with high serial numbering of low level rookies and low serial numbering of semi-stars. The hits do look very good though. I also enjoy the creative ‘windows’ that are cut out to spell things with the relics. Obviously, every box will not produce a 1 of 1 white whale card, but for the price point, I would offer the product name. 2012 Topps Tempting (lottery) Ticket.
The Bottom Line:
Even with the cool looking hits, I give 2012 TTT a shop around rating. Not a product for set collectors as you will have an expensive time completing the base set. Buy the singles you want. If you do buy a box, trade your Rickey Henderson cards to me!
The Final Score:
Final Ratings (Out of 10):
Base set collect-ability: 1/10
Big-hit Hunter: 7/10
Prospector Hunter: 7/10
Value: 7/10
Overall Quality: 9/10
Overall: 31/50 (62% = D)
The biggest drawback being that set collectors will need lots of help or money to complete a base set.
Thanks to Topps for making this review possible!
Until next week, keep collecting, collect for the joy of the hobby and collect for the fan in all of us.
The Official card collecting site of Full Spectrum Baseball
