Topps Series 1
36 packs - 10 cards per pack
Hobby box - Look for 1 auto or relic in each box
I received the following:
Base
311 unique base - 88.5% of the base set of 350
Interesting note in this issue - card #7 is in the set.... it was previously retired for Mickey Mantle - curious????
Topps Series 1 is the first installment for the year. The cards have a different design this year. The front is glossy as well as the reverse. The cards will be condition sensitive because the photos are full bleed and cover the entire card - be careful should you decide to have one or more graded.
I am pleased that I received 89% of the base set with no duplicates. I did not get any SP's or variations to the best of my knowledge -- all of my cards had the same microprint number on the reverse 021730.
Inserts -- Parallels
Gold/ Foil
2 Golds - both numbered to 2017 -- Is it just me or are the gold parallels getting harder and harder to pull?
4 Foils
Black Parallel
Northern Highlights #ed to 66
Salute / 5 Tool
Salute - 4 Mothers Day, 2 Fathers Day, 1 Memorial Day, 1 Legend, 1 Rookie
5 Tool -- 3x
30th Anniv - 87 Design
9x - each with 30th Anniversary silver foil logo
Rediscover Topps
6x - each with Rediscover Topps in foil on right of card
Then & Now / MLB
Then and Now - 5x
MLB 1x
First Pitch
4x
Game Used Relic
Matt Holliday - game used relic
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As in the past, this is a must for the Topps set builder. One should be able to complete the base set with 2 hobby boxes with numerous cards left over for trading. I will say that whoever decides to build the gold parallel or the black parallel - kudos, there will be a substantial hill to climb on either one of those builds!!! I am making the assumption that there are other parallels - i.e. pink, cammo, as in the past, but I have not seen one -- could very easily be wrong.
The number of inserts is good and the quality of the inserts is strong. In some boxes, one will receive a manufactured relic - I have seen 2 different kinds on the 'bay!
Overall grade A+
Go buy several boxes and send the Rays inserts to me!
Duane