Topps Triple Threads NFL 2014 Box Break-Review

Sometimes for fun, in writing these reviews, I like to go back to see the beginnings of a product. While some issues come and go and then return 15 or so years later in a different iteration (Topps High Tek), others have been part of the product line since the day they were introduced to the buying public. Triple Threads has been a constant since the first baseball set hit the market in 2006. As a nod to what was a very popular hobby term, the very first Triple Threads box even mentions how some cards are “white whales.”

Topps Triple Threads NFL 2014 is the latest in this long-running series with two mini boxes inside a master box. My local card store (Triple Cards in Plano TX) reported not selling any mini-boxes at $110 or master boxes at $200. Leading online retailers are currently at $150-160 for master boxes but are holding steady at $100 per mini box. Of course, that brings up an interesting dilemma because if you are willing to pay $100 for a mini-box why not spring for the extra $50 or so to buy a full box? As usual, we wish there were some way for store owners to be more competitive as the constant barrage of new releases selling at a discount does not help the hobby on a long-range basis.

You can get the breakdown of what’s promised inside each box along with a checklist here.

Topps sticks with the familiar Triple Threads format of relics and autographs but it’s a little disappointing to see so many sticker autographs being pulled from the boxes as well as some rookies who probably aren’t worthy of being in a higher end product.

Still, Triple Threads does deliver its usual die-cut messages, Triple Relics and low serial numbers, ensuring at least some long-term demand for the hot rookies and superstars that emerge. You just hope you pull a couple from your boxes.

Here’s what was in the box we received from Topps:

Base Cards: 6 of 150 or 4 percent. While Triple Threads is a hit based product I wonder if long-term these base cards are not going to end up like many of the more difficult 1990’s inserts. How many times do you shake your head at some of the prices some of them attain on eBay? Player and team collectors will always chase them and many are almost as hard to find as the ‘hits’.

Purple Parallel (d to 399): LeSean McCoy, Alfred Morris

Emerald Parallel (#d to 199): Wes Welker

Gold Parallel (#d to 99): Patrick Peterson

Rookie Jumbo Relics Emerald Parallel (#d to 50): Aaron Murray

Relics Sapphire Parallel (#d to 3): Tony Gonzalez

Rookie Autographed Relics Gold Parallel (#d to 25): Jimmy Garoppolo

Autographed Relic Pairs: (#d to 27): Johnny Manziel/Blake Bortles (it’s a booklet card but we’ve shown both sides separately here).

Topps did deliver what they promise here in terms of hits. You can see what else has been pulled and placed on eBay by clicking here.

In our case, the Manziel/Bortles dual autograph relic card was the icing on a very nice grouping of cards which includes a future Hall of Famer like Tony Gonzalez with a card serial numbered to 3. Now if Johnny Football can actually get his act together…