2011 Topps Update Series
Per Box Items:
36 packs per box
10 cards per pack
1 Autograph or 1 Relic Card per Box
Topps Sell Sheet
The Update Series set is identical in design to Series One and Two. The standard sized cards have a full color action shot of the player on the card fronts. Bordered in white, the card fronts also show the player name, position and team name and logo. A simple colored strip matching the team color and silver foil trim the fronts. The card backs are all horizontal in layout. A small, cropped head sot of the player is the only photo on the back. Moderate biographical information, modest career highlights and complete career statistics highlight the backs. The card backs are also trimmed with a the team's primary color.
What I pulled:
360 unique cards, no duplicates
255 base set cards. 255/300 = 77.27% of the base set
44 Diamond Cognac
10 Diamond Anniversary
15 Gold #/2011
1 Hope Diamond Blue #/60
5 Diamond Duos
4 Topps Town
6 Diamond Giveaway
9 Topps 60
1 relic
1 silk
Base card front and back:
The Inserts: (not all scanned)
Gold #/2011: 14, 18, 31, 47, 63, 109, 162, 163, 192, 193, 230, 242, 247, 278, 293
Hope Diamond #/60 Tim Hudson
minis: 44, 103, 110, 119, 125, 126, 136, 147, 148
The Hits:
Howie Kendrick AS relic
Adrian Beltre Silk #/50
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Identical in design to Series 1 and 2, I absolutely love this year's base card design. It is simple and clean. I also really like the horizontal backs and the occasional horizontal fronts. The shot selection is great with some good actions shots and some candid moments. Another plus for me is the tri-picture league leader cards, the team cards and AS cards. This is a perfect example of what collectors have come to expect from a Topps base set. In my opinion I feel that there are way too may inserts. A couple of insert sets to chase is fine, but there are over 70 cards that could be regular base set cards. The gold parallel cards look good, and I really like the Hope Diamond blue parallel. The Silk card is really cool as well. This was the first Silk card that I have ever pulled. Also being above the stated odds on hits does not hurt either
The Bottom Line:
I give 2011 Topps Update Series a buy rating. It will be very easy to complete a base set with a box, a few extra packs and some light trading. There are lots of inserts and parallels to chase. Buy a box and trade your Rickey Henderson and Tigers cards to me!
The Final Score:
Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base set collect-ability: 4/5
Big-hit Hunter: 4/5
Prospector Hunter:3/5
Overall Design: 5/5
Fun: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Re-buy: 5/5
Overall Quality: 5/5
Overall: 36/40 (90% = A)
Topps sent me this box to review for Baseball Digest. As always I am offering base and insert cards to members of The Bench for a SASE
Thanks to Topps for making this review possible!
Tal
