2010 Finest
Description
The 2010 edition of Topps' Finest Baseball was released, exclusive to Hobby outlets, in late-March 2010. Finest’s base set is comprised of 165 cards (125 veterans, 25 rookies and 15 Autographed Letter Patch Rookies).
New for 2010 are one-of-one signed on-patch In the Name X-Fractor Rookie Book Cards.
Also back are Finest Moments autographs, a 20-card checklist that includes key players during key moments in the 2009 season. These will be found with Red Refractors (25) and new Purple Refractors (1/1s).
Distribution
As has been the case since 2002, Finest will be distributed in six-pack, five-card, "mini-boxes," with two mini-boxes per master box. Each mini-box will deliver one serial-numbered signed-on-patch Rookie Card and five serial-numbered Refractor parallels. Every master box will yield one 2010 Rookie Card redemption.
Each mini-box has an MSRP of $50.
Even though it explicitly says on the wrapper of each pack, "not for resale", some dealers will sale individual packs for roughly 1/6th the cost of a mini-box.
Reviews
Insertion Ratio Matrix
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Odds per Mini-Box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 165 | - | ? |
| short-set | 150 | - | ? |
| Autographed Rookie Letter Patches | 15 | varies | 1:2 |
| MLB Rookie Logo Patch Variations | 25 | varies | ? |
| MLB Rookie Logo Patch Purple Refractor | 25 | one-of-one | ? |
| Refractor | 150 | 599 | 3:1 |
| Blue Refractor | 150 | 299 | ? |
| Green Refracor | 150 | 99 | ? |
| Gold Refractor | 150 | 50 | ? |
| Red Refractor | 150 | 25 | ? |
| Purple Refractor | 150 | One-of-One | ? |
| Framed Printing Plates | 150 | four-for-each | ? |
| Autographed Letter Patch Rookie Refractors | 15 | 75 | ? |
| Autographed Letter Patch Rookie Blue Refractors | 15 | 25 | ? |
| Autographed Letter Patch Rookie Gold Refractors | 15 | 10 | ? |
| Autographed Letter Patch Rookie Red Refractors | 15 | 5 | ? |
| Autographed Letter Patch Rookie Purple Refractors | 15 | One-of-One | ? |
| Autographed Letter Patch Rookie Printing Plate | 15 | four-for-each | ? |
| In the Name X-Fractor Rookie Books | 15 | one-of-one | ? |
| Rookie Card Redemptions | 10 | ? | 1:2 |
| Rookie Card Redemptions Blue Refractor | 10 | 199 | ? |
| Rookie Card Redemptions Gold Refractor | 10 | 50 | ? |
| Finest Moments Autographs | 20 | ? | ? |
| Finest Moments Autographs Red Refractor | 20 | 25 | ? |
| Finest Moments Autographs Purple Refractor | 20 | one-of-one | ? |
Checklist
Base Set
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 2010) AND (setname = 'Finest') AND (num < 151); </sql2wiki>
Autographed Rookie Letter Patch
NOTE: All cards feature a manufactured (not game-used) letter patch that is made to appear as if it came from the back of the player's home uniform. There are multiple patches for each player, and when all are collected spell out either the player's last name or team name, listed below. All autographs are on-patch and are serial-numbered to various scarcities, also listed below.
For players with more than one of the same letter in their last name, then multiple letters (with corresponding serial numbers) were produced. For example: Card #159 has three different "C" patches, all serial-numbered to 106 copies.
Because the Boston Red Sox do not place player names on the back of their home jerseys, all of Dustin Richardson's letter-patches spell out "RED SOX." Like the Red Sox, the San Francisco Giants have player names on their road jerseys only, and the letter-patches of Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, and Dan Runzler (who all play for the Giants) are made to look like an away jersey.
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info,serial FROM cards WHERE (year = 2010) AND (setname = 'Finest') AND (num > 151); </sql2wiki>
Parallels
Each of the first 150 base cards available in the following Refractors:
- Refractor (Numbered to 699)
- Blue (Numbered to 399)
- Green (Numbered to 99)
- Gold (Numbered to 50)
- Red (Numbered to 25)
- Purple (One of One)
- Framed Printing Plates (four of each)
Rookie Logo Patch
Rookie Logo Patch is a de facto parallel of the 25 non-autographed Rookie Cards (Cards #126-#150), featuring a manufactured patch done in the style of MLB's "Rookie Card" icon. Each card is serial-numbered to 50 copies with a one-of-one Purple Refractor also available.
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player FROM cards WHERE (year = 2010) AND (setname = 'Finest Rookie Logo Patch'); </sql2wiki>
Autographed Letter Patch Rookie Refractors
Each of the 15 Autographed Rookie Letter Patches are available in the following Refractors:
- Refractor (Numbered to 75)
- Blue (Numbered to 25)
- Gold (Numbered to 10)
- Red (Numbered to 5)
- Purple (One of One)
- Printing Plate (four for each)
In the Name X-Fractor Autographs
Each of the 15 Autographed Rookie Letter Patches are available as an In the Name X-Fractor. Each card features all possible manufactured letter patches spelled out, and folded into a "book". Each individual letter is individually autographed, and each book is a one-of-one.
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info,serial FROM cards WHERE (year = 2010) AND (setname = 'Finest In the Name X-Fractor Autographs'); </sql2wiki>
Inserts
Rookie Card Redemptions
As had been the case the last few years, Topps announced over the course of the 2010 season the identity of the 10 players to be featured in this set. Despite featuring the standardized "RC" icon, none of these cards are considered "true" rookie cards.
Each is available in the following Refractor parallels:
- Blue (numbered to 199)
- Gold (numbered to 50)
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info,serial FROM cards WHERE (year = 2010) AND (setname = 'Finest Rookie Redemptions'); </sql2wiki>
NOTE: 10% of all Jason Heyward and 100% of all Andrew Cashner Rookie Card Redemptions featured an on-card autograph.
Manufactured Relics
MLB Logoman Patch
See 2010 Topps Manufactured MLB Logoman Patch
Autographs and Game Used
Finest Moments Autographs
Each is available in the following Refractor parallels:
- Red (numbered to 25)
- Purple (one-of-one)
<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info,serial FROM cards WHERE (year = 2010) AND (setname = 'Finest Moments Autographs'); </sql2wiki>