Thoughts on 2014 Finest

[James52411]

I bought a box today. I plan on getting inappropriately drunk and filming the break. I'll post it here if I can figure out how to post it online.

Imagine Drunk History crossed with Bob Eucker in Major League. It'll be a ******* disaster

So other then ripping Finest, it's the usual.

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[JoshHamilton]

So other then ripping Finest, it's the usual.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Freedom Card Board mobile app

I don't really drink much anymore. I prefer more herbal stimuli.

But when I do, I drink like I did a few years ago

 

[lisu]

I bought excel_b's Mark McGwire - so I'm happy - spent less on two cards than I would have on a case.

 

[AmishDave]

Sucks. No JMJ.

 

[nkdbacks]

I really like the look of the Greats inserts, as many others do. But, I can't stand the rest of the set, I think all those colors are ugly as heck. Won't be picking anything up unless it's super cheap.

Sure wish Topps would balance Randy Johnson in both a Mariners and D-backs uniform, I'd love that Greats card. Oh well, I guess I save money.

 

[cgilmo]

heres the deal guys

this is exactly what collectors told topps to do. They should get a metric ton of credit for making this set and even more if they can sustain it.

 

[James52411]

heres the deal guys

this is exactly what collectors told topps to do. They should get a metric ton of credit for making this set and even more if they can sustain it.

Agreed. Tough to be upset that the autos are almost all on card, there is a strong auto checklist, there are nice rookies, and the inserts look great. One could quibble with the base design, but it seems like a modern take on the busy designs of the first few years of Finest. I like it. Seems like Topps' version of what UD has done with their Metal Retro sets. Finest stepped forward last year with the 1993 reprints. This year, it is a legit contender for product of the year.

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[JoshHamilton]

One thing I don't understand is why Springer and Polanco autos are base chrome, yet every other player is a refractor

 

[David Anthony]

I just noticed that a lot of these cards have chipping issues on the back. Sucks for graders.

 

[MisterT]

I think the auto checklist is great. Promising rookies, current and past stars and even some HOF guys. Designs are solid. It appears that the only redemptions are the Mystery ones, which need to be redemptions by definition.

Price point is still a little high per box (IMHO), but all around a very solid release. Given the auto checklist, I think sealed boxes will likely hold value pretty well also.

 

[RStadlerASU22]

With more time gone by since product started listing on eBay , I took another look at the Greats Autos. It seems that each player was made in only certain versions for some reason. Here is what I have seen, I didn't look at the 1/1s and some more of the /5 could pop etc but here is the rundown as of now... Only the Golds /50 have every player represented , which stinks because the color patterns would look better on some players w missing versions

Bo - only Blue /125 and Gold /50 have been listed. No Black /99, XFractor /149 , Red /25 etc

Banks - Has everything but XFractor /149

Griffey - Only Red /25 and Gold /50

Brock - Has XFractor /149, Gold /50, Red /25

McGwire - Same as Griffey (Saw a mock up pic of the Blue)

Rivera - Gold /50 , Red /25, Black /99, XFractor /149 . No Blue /125

Schmidt - Has Black /99, Red /25, Gold /50 and Blue /125. No XFractor /149

Ozzie - Has all except XFractor /149

Randy - Only Gold /50, Red /25 and Atomic /5

Yount - Has Black /99 , Gold /50, XF /149 and Atomic /5. No Blue or Red

Carlton - Has everything except XFractor

Koufax - Has Black /99, Gold /50 and Ref /25 . No Blue or XFractor

If you see any versions that is different than this list , please post. I think they should have condensed the versions and had comets runs for each player in those versions. Like a Blue, Gold and Atomic of each , scrap the rest

Thanks
Ryan

 

[predatorkj]

I'm not sure why they hacked it all up only giving certain players certain types of parallels. But from what I've seen, all of the cards look very solid. It's all very nice looking. It's better than a lot of the junk topps puts out. I know a lot of folks gripe about everything, but I'll gladly buy a few singles of this. I think between this and the five star on card autos, topps is starting to put out some decent looking stuff that's not killing my wallet.

 

[clarkzac]

I was hoping to grab a box at the LCS but he was out. He's getting some on Wednesday but that doesn't do me any good since he's about 90 miles away from me. The guy that bought his entire case was in the shop at the same time and showed me some of his hits. He had a couple of springer autos, one being an xfractor, then there was a Jose abreu gold refractor insert, a gold randy Johnson auto, and then he pulled out a masahiro tanaka atomic refractor /5

 

[bigunitcards]

With more time gone by since product started listing on eBay , I took another look at the Greats Autos. It seems that each player was made in only certain versions for some reason. Here is what I have seen, I didn't look at the 1/1s and some more of the /5 could pop etc but here is the rundown as of now... Only the Golds /50 have every player represented , which stinks because the color patterns would look better on some players w missing versions

Bo - only Blue /125 and Gold /50 have been listed. No Black /99, XFractor /149 , Red /25 etc

Banks - Has everything but XFractor /149

Griffey - Only Red /25 and Gold /50

Brock - Has XFractor /149, Gold /50, Red /25

McGwire - Same as Griffey (Saw a mock up pic of the Blue)

Rivera - Gold /50 , Red /25, Black /99, XFractor /149 . No Blue /125

Schmidt - Has Black /99, Red /25, Gold /50 and Blue /125. No XFractor /149

Ozzie - Has all except XFractor /149

Randy - Only Gold /50, Red /25 and Atomic /5

Yount - Has Black /99 , Gold /50, XF /149 and Atomic /5. No Blue or Red

Carlton - Has everything except XFractor

Koufax - Has Black /99, Gold /50 and Ref /25 . No Blue or XFractor

If you see any versions that is different than this list , please post. I think they should have condensed the versions and had comets runs for each player in those versions. Like a Blue, Gold and Atomic of each , scrap the rest

Thanks
Ryan

Nice work - I agree with everything you said as well, doesn't make sense to list so many variations if not every player has them, makes more sense to have a base pattern with assorted print runs & let the low #d colors be universal. Would have been nice to snag an RJ X-Fractor as I like the design best of all the options. Already got my Gold /50 & I avoid doing rainbows of autos since they're so pricey. But should I come across the superfractor, let's go

 

[Brewer Andy]

Weird. Wonder if it had anything to do with actively limiting redemptions. Cost per player may be a factor as well. Like they contracted for blank# of autos and just sent the greats the parallels that added up to that #? Either way, it beats the hell out of redemptions.

 

[nevermore]

The design and color scheme of the base cards reminds me of the old Devil Rays logo/colors for some reason.

 

[blanning71]

I have to question the base card design when opening the product. It is a little loud but all in all, not TOO bad. The on card autographs is a huge plus and opening a box and not having to worry about pulling a damn redemption is a HUGE plus in my book. I really like the old Finest Sterling and Competitors inserts. The only real negative I have is the differentiation of the refractors. Its kinda hard to tell just what color you have. If you don't know the color based on the serial numbering, then its gonna be a head scratcher.

My favorite thing is the Greats autos. The player selection is top notch as well. I have to give Topps 4 out of 5 stars for it.

 

[nkdbacks]

I've seen a little more since I commented (mainly the Competitors insert set, which I'd somehow skipped over the first time) and I like it a lot better now. Still can't get behind those base cards, but most of the Insert sets are really nice.

 

[blanning71]

I agree. The base are simply meh at best. The inserts are where its at!