Triple Threads 2015 MLB Box Break/Review

Triple Threads is another of those lines of products where base cards are almost an afterthought. As I mentioned in a recent review, my personal belief is down the road many of these base cards will be in comparatively short supply and add yet another layer of value to these releases. During a Facebook discussion with a friend of mine, he pointed out that instead of base cards Topps (and the other companies with issues such as this) would be better off with one low serial numbered cards and parallels to very low numbers. His point was, if these cards are really that difficult, then numbering every card collectors receive would be the best possible world. After all, how many collectors are putting together base Triple Thread sets?

Well, although we disagree on that, I still think base cards in these type of products have a nice future even if it takes 15-20 years for the hobby to go through the supply and then everyone realizes just how tough they are.

With that discussion out of the way, the box of Triple Threads we received sort of proves both sides of this conundrum. The first thing we noticed is that nearly 43 percent (6 of 14) were base cards.

Triple Threads has taken some flak for the continuing use of sticker autographs on a higher-end product but we were fortunate to have both our autographs on-card.

Not a lot has changed with TTT this year but the product does seem to be of better quality than the last couple of years. A lot of collectors love breaking it while others say they’re tired of the die-cut messages that can sometimes make sense but other times seem contrived.

When I stopped into my local shop, the owner reported good sales of Triple Threads at approximately $200 per master box. Each master box contains two mini boxes of seven cards which include three base cards, two serial numbered parallels, one relic card and one signed relic card. Both of our signed cards featured on-card autographs.

The owner also mentioned that one of the cases had five Kris Bryant cards ranging from base to autographs. His collectors all seemed to enjoy opening up their boxes which is a good sign when the average cost is around $15 per card.

Box prices online have settled between $170 and $200.

Here’s what we pulled:

Base Cards: 6 (100 in the set). I will say because of the mix of active players and retired greats there is no such aspect as a common in this group. When your “weakest” common is Andrew McCutchen, that’s a pretty good group of players.

Amethyst Parallel (#d to 354): Rickey Henderson, Chase Utley

Emerald Parallel (#d to 250): Carlos Gonzalez

Amber Parallel (#d to 125): Anthony Rizzo

Unity Relics (#d to 26): George Springer

Relics Emerald (#d to 18): Alex Wood

Unity Relics Autographs (#d to 99): Mark Grace

Sighed Jersey Card (Serial numbered to 99 and numbered as part of the base set): Dellin Betances

Well, if our relic cards had featured as good as players as our base cards we’d certainly have had a great box but two on card autos numbered under 100 isn’t too bad.

Overall, 2015 Triple Threads MLB is pretty much what you’d expect. It’s is a decent product for box breakers and snapping up cards you like on eBay’s secondary market for a few bucks is also a good way to go.

As underrated as I think the base cards may be, it might not be a bad idea to tweak it going forward so a product with this high of a price point can serve up a little more value.