It arrives much closer to the regular season’s first games than its baseball brother and the Topps Football 2013 flagship product is giving collectors the chance to use 
training camp and pre-season to decide which players in this year’s rookie class might be worth pursuing. Boxes have already arrived at some retail outlets and the official release date at hobby stores is Wednesday.
As usual, this year’s Topps flagship football cards are packed ten to each pack with 36 packs per hobby box, with a guarantee of one autograph or relic card and one base rookie card in each box. There will be 50-card jumbo boxes as well as retail boxes of 10 packs and individual packages in Walmart and Target stores.
Photo variations return on some popular veteran base cards including Adrian Peterson, who is #1 in the set and is featured on the front of this year’s packaging.
Six different parallel sets have been issued including a return of camo and pink-bordered cards, all numbered.
Topps is using the Legends and Legacy themes for its 2013 football product and if you’re ambitious enough to collect a special 110-card Build Your Legacy parallel set (#to just 99), you will be eligible to win prizes including a chance to attend next year’s NFLPA Rookie Premiere.
Rookie autographs will appear on a new group of throwback designs including 1965 Topps, 1986 Topps and 1959 Topps. All will be hand signed according to Topps.
Among the highlights for 2013 Topps Football:
Topps 1959 Rookie Autographs: Retro autograph rookie cards featuring the 1959 Topps Design. Promising playmakers such as Vikings WR Cordarelle Patterson and Texans WR Deandre Hopkins, among others, are included.
Topps 1965 Rookie Mini Autographs: Signed mini cards featured in the 1965 design showcase first year hopefuls such as Bengals RB Giovani Bernard, Rams WR Tavon Austin, and Packers RB Eddie Lacy.
Topps 1986 Rookie Autograph Cards: Broncos RB Montee Ball, Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell and 49ers RB Marcus Lattimore, coming off that horrific knee injury, are among those included.
NFLPA Rookie Premiere Single Auto, Dual Autos and Quad autos: Autograph cards from 40 of the rookies who attended the 2013 NFLPA Rookie Premiere are in this group. The Quad Auto features autographs from Matt Barkley, Mike Glennon, Geno Smith and EJ Manuel.
In The Name Premiere Autograph Relics: Jumbo Relic Patches from the top 40 Rookies at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. Each letter has an autograph. Look for Cowboys RB Jospeh Randle and TE Gavin Escobar, Seahawks RB Christine Michael, and Jets QB Geno Smith.
–Truly Legendary Autograph Cards: These feature autographs of retired legends, all sequentially numbered. Look for some of the greatest players of all time including Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson and Brett Favre.
–Legendary Achievement Medal Cards: Commemorative relic cards featuring the greatest achievement of the game’s most legendary players. Look for Joe Greene, Jerry Rice, Kurt Warner, Jim Kelly and more.
–Legendary Club Coin Cards: The greatest players of the game honored with a commemorative coin embedded in the card. Look for Dan Marino, Tom Brady, Warren Moon, Peyton Manning and more. Cards feature Bronze, Silver and Gold coins
–Legendary Captains Patch Cards: Jumbo Patch Relics featuring the Legendary Captains of the game.
–Gridiron Legends: The Legends of the gridiron, immortalized on an awesome card with a BIG Commemorative relic such as a Busts and replica rings. Look for great players such as Bruce Smith, Joe Montana and Emmitt Smith.
Rookie Premiere Autographed VIP Passes – Authentic NFLPA player credentials featuring hard signed autographs.
New insert sets for include: Gridiron Legends, Legends in the Making, Future Legends, 1,000 Yard Club and 4,000 Passing Yard Club.
See a gallery and the final Topps Football 2013 Checklist below. Check current sales on eBay here.
[View the story “2012 Topps Valor Football” on Storify]
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