by Rich Klein
The third and final box we received from Topps’ late 2010 releases was 2010 Unrivaled Football. Each box consists of 24 packs with 5 cards in each pack. Boxes have been bringing a wide range of prices, but $65 seems to be a fairly accurate average at present.
This product was an interesting concept with a deceptively simple design. The framing of the player’s photo against a white background with the team’s color and the silver sides highlighting the photo. The player’s name and then his team and position are on the bottom. The back has biographical information, an informational blurb and stats from 2005 to the present.
In reality, this is a product that may well be better than the apparent sum of its parts.
Here’s what Topps was promoting in its pre-release literature:
AUTOGRAPH ROOKIE CARDS – 50 Rookies (two per hobby box)
Base Card Variations – 50 subjects (Numbered)
– Platinum – 50 subjects (1/1 Hobby Exclusive)
– Red – 50 subjects (Numbered to 10)
– Black – 50 subjects (Numbered to 99)
Six Sigs – 6 subjects/1 card (Numbered to 10 Hobby Exclusive)
Quad Rookies – 12 subjects/3 cards (Numbered to 10 Hobby Exclusive)
Triple Rookies – 15 subjects/5 cards (Numbered to 10 Hobby Exclusive)
Dual Rookies – 30 subjects/15 cards (Numbered to 25)
AUTOGRAPH PATCH CARDS – 40 Rookies/20 Veterans (1 per HOBBY BOX)
Patch Relics – 60 subjects (Numbered)
– Platinum – 60 subjects (1/1 Hobby Exclusive)
– Red – 60 subjects (Numbered to 10)
– Black – 60 subjects (Numbered to 50)
Jumbo Patches – 60 subjects (Numbered to 15)
Dual Jumbo Relics – 20 subjects/10 cards (Numbered to 10 Hobby Exclusive)
Dual Jumbo Patches – 20 subjects/10 cards (Numbered to 10 Hobby Exclusive
Topps promises one autographed patch relic or a dual autograph card as well as two rookie autographs per box. There are, as you see in our breakdown, several extras which really help the value of the box.
Here’s what we pulled:
Base Set: 99 of the 100 cards with 5 duplicates
Rookie Cards (#d to 999): Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy, Demarvius Thomas
Parallel (#d to 759): Dallas Clark, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Kellen Winslow
Gold (#d to 499): Shonn Greene, Percy Harvin, Taylor Price
Blue (#
d to 10): Philip Rivers
Unrivaled Veterans: Sidney Rice
Unrivaled Greats: Gale Sayers
Rookie Autographs: Bryan Bulaga (#d to 780), Taylor Price (#d to 680)
Autograph Patch (#d to 149): Adrian Peterson
Thus, an almost complete base set, several parallels, several serial numbered rookie cards, and three total autographs in a box makes this reviewer very happy with the experience of opening up the box of 2010 Topps Unrivaled. Pulling a Peterson auto patch was a big score and Bulaga looks like a potential Hall of Fame lineman in the making.
Rich Klein can be reached at [email protected]
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