2016 Topps Finest Baseball Cards
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$279.95 |  |
Product Details
UPDATE: Topps announced that the Mystery Redemption Autograph card would be good for three subjects: Trevor Story, Nomar Mazara and Julio Urias. Collectors don't have to choose if they have they redemption as they get all three autographs.
Continuing a tradition of big designs and colorful Refractors, 2016 Topps Finest Baseball also has a heavy focus on veteran content. Each master box includes two on-card autographs.
The 100-card base features top veterans and rookies on Chrome technology. Among the many options, collectors can find parallels in the form of Refractor, Purple Refractor (#'d), Blue Refractor (#'d), Green Refractor (#'d), Gold Refractor (#'d), Orange Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/5), SuperFractor (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1). In addition, ten Base Short Prints include more names and Orange Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/5) and SuperFractor (1/1) parallels.
Relying on hard-signed content, Finest Autographs also feature Chrome technology and a variety of parallels. This includes Blue Refractor (#'d), Green Refractor (#'d), Gold Refractor (#'d), Orange Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/5), SuperFractor (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1).
Honoring the Finest autograph debut for rookies, Finest Firsts Autographs offer Green Refractor (#'d), Gold Refractor (#'d), Orange Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/5), SuperFractor (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1) parallels. There are also basic Finest Firsts inserts.
Finest Greats Autographs feature retired players and average one per case. Again, a mix of parallels join in with Gold Refractor (#'d), Orange Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/5), SuperFractor (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1). Looking to the past, Finest Originals Autographs features buybacks from the history of Finest with on-card signatures.
Part of theme in 2016 Topps products, the career of Ken Griffey Jr. is honored with the Finest Careers Die-Cut insert. Averaging one per case, the ten-card set includes Orange Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/5) SuperFractor (1/1) and Autograph (#/5) parallels.
Standard inserts in 2016 Topps Finest Baseball include Franchise Finest, which highlights the key player from each team, and 1996 Finest Intimidators, which features top players of the past and present on the 1996 design. Both inserts are also available as Orange Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/5) and SuperFractor (1/1) parallels.
Although Topps originally solicited 2016 Topps Finest Baseball as a traditional product, it was announced several weeks before release that it would be switched to an online exclusive that would be only available from Topps MVP direct stores and online at Topps.com. A pre-sale was in effect from April 27 to May 9 with boxes priced at $99.99 and cases going for $799.89.
Release Date: 5/18/2016
Product Configuration: 5 cards per pack, 12 packs per box (6 per mini box), 8 master boxes per case
2016 Topps Finest Baseball Master Box Break
- 2 Autographs
- 4 Franchise Finest Inserts
- 3 1996 Finest Intimidators Inserts
- 1 Finest Firsts Insert
- 4 Refractor Parallels
- 2 Prism Refractor Parallels
- 60 Total Cards
2016 Topps Finest Baseball Case Break
- 1 Finest Greats Autograph
- 1 Finest Careers Die-Cut
| 2016 Topps Finest Baseball Hobby Box | $279.95 | |
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Set Checklist
2016 Topps Finest Baseball Set Checklist
Base Set Checklist
2 Ryan Howard - Philadelphia Phillies
3 Edwin Encarnacion - Toronto Blue Jays
4 Dee Gordon - Miami Marlins
5 Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays
6 Jake Arrieta - Chicago Cubs
7 Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox
8 Frankie Montas - Los Angeles Dodgers RC
9 Matt Harvey - New York Mets
10 Ichiro - Miami Marlins
11 A.J. Pollock - Arizona Diamondbacks
12 Ian Kinsler - Detroit Tigers
13 Salvador Perez - Kansas City Royals
14 Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
15 Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
16 Jose Peraza - Cincinnati Reds RC
17 Greg Bird - New York Yankees RC
18 Trea Turner - Washington Nationals RC
19 Joc Pederson - Los Angeles Dodgers
20 J.D. Martinez - Detroit Tigers
21 Carl Edwards Jr. - Chicago Cubs RC
22 Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
23 Cole Hamels - Texas Rangers
24 Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
25 Kenta Maeda - Los Angeles Dodgers RC
26 Dellin Betances - New York Yankees
27 Ketel Marte - Seattle Mariners RC
28 Brian McCann - New York Yankees
29 Troy Tulowitzki - Toronto Blue Jays
30 Dallas Keuchel - Houston Astros
31 Byron Buxton - Minnesota Twins
32 David Ortiz - Boston Red Sox
33 Rob Refsnyder - New York Yankees RC
34 Tyson Ross - San Diego Padres
35 Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox
36 Charlie Blackmon - Colorado Rockies
37 Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
38 Sonny Gray - Oakland Athletics
39 Jose Altuve - Houston Astros
40 Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox
41 Brian Dozier - Minnesota Twins
42 Luis Severino - New York Yankees RC
43 Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
44 Josh Donaldson - Toronto Blue Jays
45 Adrian Beltre - Texas Rangers
46 Jose Fernandez - Miami Marlins
47 Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates
48 Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
49 Noah Syndergaard - New York Mets
50 Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
52 Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
53 Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
54 Andrew Miller - New York Yankees
55 Eric Hosmer - Kansas City Royals
56 Peter O'Brien - Arizona Diamondbacks RC
57 Wil Myers - San Diego Padres
58 Corey Seager - Los Angeles Dodgers RC
59 George Springer - Houston Astros
60 Brandon Crawford - San Francisco Giants
61 Jacob deGrom - New York Mets
62 Alcides Escobar - Kansas City Royals
63 Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets
64 Gary Sanchez - New York Yankees RC
65 Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
66 Gerrit Cole - Pittsburgh Pirates
67 Kyle Schwarber - Chicago Cubs RC
68 Jorge Soler - Chicago Cubs
69 Miguel Sano - Minnesota Twins RC
70 Brandon Phillips - Cincinnati Reds
71 Maikel Franco - Philadelphia Phillies
72 Craig Kimbrel - Boston Red Sox
73 Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox
74 Matt Holliday - St. Louis Cardinals
75 Henry Owens - Boston Red Sox RC
76 Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
77 David Wright - New York Mets
78 Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
79 Nolan Arenado - Colorado Rockies
80 Kyle Seager - Seattle Mariners
81 Mark Melancon - Pittsburgh Pirates
82 Raul Mondesi - Kansas City Royals RC
83 Carlos Carrasco - Cleveland Indians
84 Matt Carpenter - St. Louis Cardinals
85 David Price - Boston Red Sox
86 Todd Frazier - Chicago White Sox
87 Rusney Castillo - Boston Red Sox
88 Madison Bumgarner - San Francisco Giants
89 Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates
90 Zack Greinke - Arizona Diamondbacks
91 Hector Olivera - Atlanta Braves RC
92 Kolten Wong - St. Louis Cardinals
93 Christian Yelich - Miami Marlins
94 Max Kepler - Minnesota Twins RC
95 Jason Kipnis - Cleveland Indians
96 Prince Fielder - Texas Rangers
97 Stephen Piscotty - St. Louis Cardinals RC
98 Jorge Lopez - Milwaukee Brewers RC
99 Jon Lester - Chicago Cubs
100 Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
Base Short Prints Set Checklist
102 Aroldis Chapman - New York Yankees
103 Aaron Nola - Philadelphia Phillies RC
104 Matt Harvey - New York Mets
105 Wade Davis - Kansas City Royals
106 Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
107 Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
108 Michael Conforto - New York Mets RC
109 Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
110 Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
Finest Autographs Set Checklist
FA-AJ Andruw Jones - Atlanta Braves
FA-AM Andrew Miller - New York Yankees
FA-AP A.J. Pollock - Arizona Diamondbacks
FA-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
FA-BPA Byung-Ho Park - Minnesota Twins
FA-BPO Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
FA-BS Blake Swihart - Boston Red Sox
FA-CB Craig Biggio - Houston Astros
FA-CC Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
FA-CD Carlos Delgado - Toronto Blue Jays
FA-CDI Corey Dickerson - Colorado Rockies
FA-CE Carl Edwards Jr. - Chicago Cubs
FA-CKL Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
FA-CM Carlos Martinez - St. Louis Cardinals
FA-CR Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles
FA-DK Dallas Keuchel - Houston Astros
FA-DN Daniel Norris - Detroit Tigers
FA-FF Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
FA-FL Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
FA-HO Hector Olivera - Atlanta Braves
FA-I Ichiro - Miami Marlins
FA-JD Jacob deGrom - New York Mets
FA-JKR John Kruk - Philadelphia Phillies
FA-JR J.T. Realmuto - Miami Marlins
FA-KB Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
FA-KC Kole Calhoun - Los Angeles Angels
FA-KMA Kenta Maeda - Los Angeles Dodgers
FA-KW Kolten Wong - St. Louis Cardinals
FA-MC Matt Cain - San Francisco Giants
FA-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
FA-OV Omar Vizquel - Cleveland Indians
FA-RB Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
FA-RF Rollie Fingers - Oakland Athletics
FA-RM Raul Mondesi Jr. - Kansas City Royals
FA-RR Rob Refsnyder - New York Yankees
FA-SM Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates
FA-SMA Steven Matz - New York Mets
FA-SP Stephen Piscotty - St. Louis Cardinals
FA-TT Trea Turner - Washington Nationals
FA-WD Wade Davis - Kansas City Royals
FA-YD Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
Mystery Redemption Autographs Set Checklist
2 Nomar Mazara
3 Julio Urias
1996 Finest Intimidators Set Checklist
96FI-BJ Bo Jackson - Kansas City Royals
96FI-CS Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox
96FI-DO David Ortiz - Boston Red Sox
96FI-EE Edwin Encarnacion - Toronto Blue Jays
96FI-EG Evan Gattis - Houston Astros
96FI-FT Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox
96FI-GS Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
96FI-I Ichiro - Seattle Mariners
96FI-JC Jose Canseco - Oakland Athletics
96FI-MM Mark McGwire - Oakland Athletics
96FI-MP Mike Piazza - New York Mets
96FI-NR Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers
96FI-PF Prince Fielder - Texas Rangers
96FI-RC Roger Clemens - New York Yankees
96FI-RJ Randy Johnson - Seattle Mariners
96FI-VG Vladimir Guerrero - Montréal Expos
96FI-YC Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets
96FI-YD Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
1996 Finest Intimidators Autographs Set Checklist
96FIA-MM Mark McGwire - Oakland Athletics
96FIA-NR Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers
96FIA-RC Roger Clemens - New York Yankees
96FIA-YD Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
Finest Firsts Set Checklist
FF-CS Corey Seager - Los Angeles Dodgers
FF-HO Hector Olivera - Boston Red Sox
FF-HOW Henry Owens - Boston Red Sox
FF-KS Kyle Schwarber - Chicago Cubs
FF-LS Luis Severino - New York Yankees
FF-MC Michael Conforto - New York Mets
FF-MS Miguel Sano - Minnesota Twins
FF-SP Stephen Piscotty - St. Louis Cardinals
FF-TT Trea Turner - Washington Nationals
Finest Firsts Autographs Set Checklist
FFA-CS Corey Seager - Los Angeles Dodgers
FFA-HOW Henry Owens - Boston Red Sox
FFA-KS Kyle Schwarber - Chicago Cubs
FFA-LS Luis Severino - New York Yankees
FFA-MC Michael Conforto - New York Mets
FFA-MS Miguel Sano - Minnesota Twins
Finest Greats Autographs Set Checklist
FGA-CR Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles
FGA-DM Don Mattingly - New York Yankees
FGA-EM Edgar Martinez - Seattle Mariners
FGA-HA Hank Aaron - Atlanta Braves
FGA-JG Juan Gonzalez - Texas Rangers
FGA-MP Mike Piazza - New York Mets
FGA-NR Nolan Ryan - New York Mets
FGA-RC Rod Carew - Minnesota Twins
FGA-SK Sandy Koufax - Los Angeles Dodgers
FGA-VG Vladimir Guerrero - Montréal Expos
Finest Careers Die-Cut Set Checklist
FCA-KG2 Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
FCA-KG3 Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
FCA-KG4 Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
FCA-KG5 Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
FCA-KG6 Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
FCA-KG7 Ken Griffey Jr. - Cincinnati Reds
FCA-KG8 Ken Griffey Jr. - Cincinnati Reds
FCA-KG9 Ken Griffey Jr. - Cincinnati Reds
FCA-KG10 Ken Griffey Jr. - Chicago White Sox
Franchise Finest Set Checklist
FF-AM Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates
FF-AR Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
FF-BD Brian Dozier - Minnesota Twins
FF-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
FF-BM Brian McCann - New York Yankees
FF-BP Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
FF-CK Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
FF-CS Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox
FF-DO David Ortiz - Boston Red Sox
FF-EH Eric Hosmer - Kansas City Royals
FF-EL Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays
FF-FF Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
FF-FH Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
FF-GS Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
FF-JD Josh Donaldson - Toronto Blue Jays
FF-JV Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
FF-MB Michael Brantley - Cleveland Indians
FF-MC Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
FF-MCA Matt Carpenter - St. Louis Cardinals
FF-MH Matt Harvey - New York Mets
FF-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
FF-NA Nolan Arenado - Colorado Rockies
FF-PF Prince Fielder - Texas Rangers
FF-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
FF-RB Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
FF-RH Ryan Howard - Philadelphia Phillies
FF-SG Sonny Gray - Oakland Athletics
FF-WM Wil Myers - San Diego Padres
Franchise Finest Autographs Set Checklist
FFIA-CK Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
FFIA-EL Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays
FFIA-FH Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
FFIA-JA Jose Altuve - Houston Astros
FFIA-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
FFIA-WM Wil Myers - San Diego Padres
Originals Autographs Set Checklist
Product Review
2016 Topps Finest Baseball Product Review
Reviewed by Trey Treutel
Good: On-card autographs, solid insert variety, overall autograph checklist has good mix of young stars and retired greats.
Bad: Main design not as distinct or unique as previous years, box price a little steep considering the output.
The Bottom Line: While all products do not need a wild design, I expect it from Finest and it usually goes that route. However, 2016 doesn’t quite have that same eye-catching ability as the last few designs. Those that thought it went too far in 2014 or 2015 may appreciate the new look, but it was more of a letdown for me. Having said that, the quality of the cards combined with hard-signed content and Refractor parallels still make it an intriguing product.
Card Design: 3.5/5.0
In my mind, Finest is the crazy cousin of Topps Chrome. This year, the design is subdued in a way that I would never expect from the brand. Tightly-packed horizontal lines and a thick banner up the side is the only real addition other than a faint team logo. Love or hate it, Finest has normally pushed the envelope for design and that has let it carve out an identity in a hobby that already has a fair amount of chromium sets. This year, I just don’t feel it does enough. That’s not to say I think it looks bad, but it’s just not as memorable for me.
The rest of the release largely goes with the normal Finest pattern of inserts and parallels. There is a retro-inspired insert — 1996 Finest Intimidators — which I think looks great, while Griffey is honored on a die-cut insert. Although the insert variety is solid, nothing really stands out as being exceptional. I do think the Finest Firsts design should have been the main base design as I feel it has more of a personality while still keeping to the lined look they were going for this year.
Refractors are a favorite of mine and although I would always love a little more color in each box, I do feel the box yield offered an appropriate amount that is neither too much or too little. They also seemed easier to spot this year.
Checklist: 3.25/5.0
Mixing prospects, rookies, young stars and former players, 2016 Topps Finest Baseball is a nice overview of baseball and great for collectors who aren’t looking for one specific thing from an autograph checklist. However, it is easy to view that as a product that does not want to pick a path and the weaker names are plentiful.
Base short prints are back for another year with ten cards. I don’t have an issue with it and I am glad that was the option taken versus yet another set with variations. Still, at odds of 1:5 mini boxes, it does make building the set quite a bit more challenging, which can be good or bad, depending on your collecting preferences.
Value: 3.0/5.0
On-card autographs, Refractors, base short prints and case hits all help the 2016 Topps Finest Baseball value. Despite this, Finest is still a tougher value option at its current price of $100 to $120 and that is not helped this year given the “meh†design. Plus, there is the fact that base autographs are not numbered so there is no way to be sure how common the low-level signers are in relation to the short prints.
The Fun Factor: 3.5/5.0
Finest is normally an example of my ideal product given the more moderate cost, on-card autographs and Refractors. The design did end up decreasing the fun for me somewhat but the overall variety and quality helped offset that to an extent. Admittedly, given that the Finest Greats Autographs are also a case hit, an unsigned die-cut is not nearly as impressive. Still, it was a nice surprise to hit the Griffey Career insert.
2016 Topps Finest Baseball Box Hit Gallery
The box used for this review was provided by Topps.
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Steve DeWitt
I really ike this product, but cannot tell the difference between base card and refractor (not numbered or color). Anyone have a trick they use to tell them apart?