How should topps celebrate finest anniversary?

[BBCgalaxee]

I would assume topps is planning something to celebrate 20 yrs of finest. But what do you think they should do?

I think the base set should use the original design & sp some of the base refractors, buy don't announce it until a while later.

Would also like if they did buy backs & stamp them, like in heritage.

Obviously, original refractors & packs would be great but the cost factor would be huge & eat into the reg content.

 

[hive17]

I don't know if it would work, but but-back, autographed versions of the original refractors would be INSANELY collectable. You'd have Topps-freaks and player collectors going after them, and the could be hand serial-numbered to 20 of course.

 

[smapdi]

I've been thinking of starting to collect the set, but I realized the 20th anniversary is coming up and that might drive prices up as other people catch anniversary fever. Worse if they take some off the market with buybacks. But 241 copies doesn't mean what it once did, even if there is some hoarding and short-prints. 93 Finest refractors aren't really super-expensive except for the top players (Ripken, Griffey, Ryan, Bonds). A Ripken just sold for a little over $300, compared to a book value in the mid-90s of $2500-3000. So putting even one set into packs wouldn't be prohibitively expensive compared to the interest it might generate.

I'd like to see a really nice new base set design, with original designs as a 1-per-box parallel, and original design refractors 1-per-case or something like that, maybe different varieties of "textural" parallels like ice, diamond, etc., not so much the colors. And original design 1/1 Supers.

 

[Philip J. Fry]

How about Topps go old school on Finest and use detailed etching like the first few years of the product? Maybe a "Finest Heritage"-like product that does just that; create only one refractor parallel in the set, and inserting just one per box, making the chase for refractors, you know, fun.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Hookers and blow.

WEll, redemptions for hookers and blow. With the Rip Girls. Littlehands would like that.

 

[James52411]

Use the 1993 Finest design as a two per mini-box refractor insert that parallels the entire set. Create "metal & gem based" refractor versions of the base and all-star 1993 design: sapphire blue /150 bronze /100, diamond sparkle /75, gold /50, platinum light blue /25, ruby red /5, and superfractor /1. Be sure to have a mix of current players, 1993 stars, and old-timers. Toss in some buyback autographs (that are difficult to forge). Include a nice, modern Finest design for the true base set with all the usual goodies. Don't screw up the throwback cards with jersey swatches or sticker autos.

 

[jbhofmann]

19 Different refractor background versions.

1 per year

 

[deaconblues63]

How about Topps go old school on Finest and use detailed etching like the first few years of the product? Maybe a "Finest Heritage"-like product that does just that; create only one refractor parallel in the set, and inserting just one per box, making the chase for refractors, you know, fun.

My first thought was a Finest Heritage issue as well. At the time they were released, I thought the technology that went into producing that first Finest set was amazing.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Finest = first chrome brand.

I'd like to see a 2013 Finest set with double sided chrome/refractors and, as mentioned above, tons of detailed etching.

Also put in a ton of color that refracts well - like the '98/'99 Topps Chrome insert sets.

 

[markakis8]

19 Different refractor background versions.

1 per year

This would actually be kind of cool if most of the players in 2013 didn't have cards in Finest the previous 9 years.

So let's say they do a 2013 unique design, then inserts for each player of the 1993 through 1999 design. I think at this point, there would only be a couple players in the 1999 design (Jeter, Arod).

So 8 different designs for each player....then each design has a refractor #'d/241 - the only ones NOT serial #'d are the 1993 version. And later we find out there are NOT 241 copies...but only 50...making the more valuable than the others.

Have the 2013 version with their typical color parallels - blue, orange, gold, red, xfractor, etc.

Have all the other designs with a gold version #'d/50, again, except for the 1993 version which is not #'d and only had 5 copies of each player.

Superfractors of each design. Yes, 8 superfractors for each player. BOOOYAH.

 

[All In Cards]

Finest Originals, kind of like Donruss Originals from a few years ago. Use every design. Would be crazy

 

[markakis8]

Finest Originals, kind of like Donruss Originals from a few years ago. Use every design. Would be crazy

I know this, it would be the first time I ever busted more than 10 cases of a product. Finest has always been my favorite set (2006 being my absolute favorite). But I have never busted more than 4 cases of a product and that was for a group break. I would go all out on this product. Especially if it was done right.

 

[markakis8]

Is there a way we can tag Topps from twitter to this thread? I think at least one of their reps should read everyone's ideas. I'm sure they already have production rolling along but it's not too late to change a few things.

 

[All In Cards]

sent @topps a link on twitter

I would not be surprised if we say a direct buy for a Mini Set or something like that

 

[NECpilgrims8]

The best way they know how.....

Overproduction
20+ parallels
High price point
downgrade in technology

Isn't that the recipe for success?

 

[Philip J. Fry]

 

[Austin]

Finest Originals, kind of like Donruss Originals from a few years ago. Use every design. Would be crazy

Yes, that would be awesome!

 

[cbrandtw]

I don't know if it would work, but but-back, autographed versions of the original refractors would be INSANELY collectable. You'd have Topps-freaks and player collectors going after them, and the could be hand serial-numbered to 20 of course.

I like this.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

REMIX!!!!!!!!!!

 

[flightposite]

A. I doubt they probably do anything.
B. If they do something, I'm sure it will be terrible. Like use the original design, but alter it in some way, make some crappy die-cut, or somehow make a booklet out of it.

There are some great ideas posted in the thread, but the consumers have had great ideas for years that just go by the wayside as we are fed XXXXty product after XXXXty product.