Per Master Box items:
2 mini boxes
6 packs per mini box
5 cards per pack
1 autograph per master box
1 autograph/jumbo relic per master box.
The standard sized base set cards feature a full color action shot of the player. Bordered on the top and bottom with silver and white graphics, several of the action shots almost seem to break out of the “frame.” The card fronts also show the set name, team name and position of the player. The fronts are also trimmed with team colors. The card backs are photo-less. The white backgrounds are also trimmed with team colors. The backs list moderate biographical information, moderate career highlights and career statistics.
What I pulled:
60 unique cards
46 base set cards = 46/100 = 46% of the base set
4 inserts
8 refractor parallels
1 autograph
1 autograph/relic
Base card front and back:
Inserts and parallels: (not all scanned)
Refractors: Romine, Rosario, Bruce
X-factor:Moore, Pacheco
Gold Refractor #/50 Hosmer
Green Refractor #/199 Hendirks
Finest Moments Die-cut: Kennedy, Moore
Game Changers Gonzalez
Faces of the Franchise Die-Cut Verlander
The Hits:
Jordan Pacheco Autograph X-factor #/299
Matt Moore Autograph/relic X-factor #/299
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I love Finest products, I really do. Regardless of sport, the design, photography, the refractors, all make Finest the one brand that I will buy over and over. A mid-range product that combines value, innovation, and quality in a very popular product. Some of the action shots really make you feel like you are part of the game. The serial numbered refractor parallels look awesome. My scanner hardly does them justice. Some of the base refractors were hard to identify and I actually had to look at the back of every card to locate them all. This product does have my biggest pet peeve and the bane of many a collector, redemption cards! The auto is a sticker auto, and after what, like 19 years, you would think someone would have figured out how to make these cards without ‘chrome curl.’ The curl was very evident as many of the sealed packs were warping! However, for all of your quirks Finest, I love you, I really do.
The Bottom Line:
I give 2012 Topps Finest a buy rating. It should easy to complete the base set with a couple of master boxes and some trading. It will be a little more of a challenge to chase the parallel sets. The hits are look great! Buy a box and trade your Tigers to me!
The Final Score:
Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base set collect-ability: 2/5
Big-hit Hunter: 3/5
Prospector Hunter: 3/5
Overall Design: 5/5
Fun: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Re-buy: 5/5
Overall Quality: 4/5
Overall: 32/40 (80% = B)
Until next week, keep collecting, collect for the joy of the hobby and collect for the fan in all of us.
The official card grading service of Full Spectrum Baseball
