2010 Finest
This article is about a set that was just released.
Some information may change as more facts become known.
Description
The 2010 edition of Topps' Finest Baseball is scheduled for release, 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
1 Tim Lincecum
2 Evan Longoria
3 Alex Rodriguez
4 Ryan Braun
5 Grady Sizemore
6 David Wright
7 Albert Pujols
8 Derrek Lee
9 Ichiro
10 Justin Morneau
11 Johan Santana
12 Matt Kemp
13 Daisuke Matsuzaka
14 Derek Jeter
15 Mark Buehrle
16 Chipper Jones
17 Prince Fielder
18 Ryan Howard
19 Vladimir Guerrero
20 Alexei Ramirez
21 Joba Chamberlain
22 Russell Martin
23 CC Sabathia
24 Adam Dunn
25 Jose Reyes
26 Michael Young
27 Joe Mauer
28 Mark Teixeira
29 Jason Bartlett
30 Johnny Damon
31 Miguel Cabrera
32 Adam Wainwright
33 Brandon Webb
34 Carlos Pena
35 Jorge Posada
36 Pablo Sandoval
37 Manny Ramirez
38 Robinson Cano
39 Nick Markakis
40 Justin Upton
41 Adrian Gonzalez
42 Ian Kinsler
43 Ryan Zimmerman
44 Mark Reynolds
45 Raul Ibanez
46 Jason Bay
47 Kendry Morales
48 Todd Helton
49 Dan Uggla
50 Adam Lind
51 Victor Martinez
52 Mariano Rivera
53 Chase Utley
54 Kevin Youkilis
55 Carlos Lee
56 Josh Hamilton
57 Brad Hawpe
58 Brandon Inge
59 Bobby Abreu
60 Nelson Cruz
61 James Loney
62 Jason Kubel
63 Russell Branyan
64 Curtis Granderson
65 Ken Griffey Jr.
66 Troy Tulowitzki
67 Jermaine Dye
68 Paul Konerko
69 Josh Johnson
70 David Ortiz
71 Hideki Matsui
72 Dustin Pedroia
73 John Lester
74 Joey Votto
75 Josh Beckett
76 Billy Butler
77 David DeJesus
78 Nick Swisher
79 Brian Roberts
80 Felix Hernandez
81 J.A. Happ
82 Marco Scutaro
83 Hanley Ramirez
84 Lance Berkman
85 Dan Haren
86 Yunel Escobar
87 Justin Verlander
88 Carlos Beltran
89 Shane Victorino
90 Carl Crawford
91 Adam Jones
92 Jason Marquis
93 Everth Cabrera
94 B.J. Upton
95 Ted Lilly
96 Ubaldo Jimenez
97 Aaron Hill
98 Kousuke Fukudome
99 Jorge Cantu
100 Jose Lopez
101 Rick Porcello
102 Matt Cain
103 Chone Figgins
104 Tommy Hanson
105 Jacoby Ellsbury
106 Clayton Kershaw
107 Miguel Tajada
108 Yovani Gallardo
109 Andrew McCutchen
110 Felipe Lopez
111 Asdrubal Cabrera
112 Roy Halladay
113 Hunter Pence
114 Gordon Beckham
115 Cole Hamels
116 Brian McCann
117 Michael Cuddyer
118 Cliff Lee
119 Roy Oswalt
120 A.J. Pierzynski
121 Jayson Werth
122 Mike Lowell
123 John Lannan
124 Luis Castillo
125 Andy Pettitte
Rookies
126 Neil Walker
127 Brad Kilby
128 Chris Johnson
129 Tommy Manzella
130 Sergio Escalona
131 Chris Pettit
132 Kevin Richardson
133 Armando Gabino
134 Reid Gorecki
135 Justin Turner
136 Adam Moore
137 Kyle Phillips
138 John Hester
139 Dusty Hughes
140 Waldis Joaquin
141 Jeff Manship
142 Dan Runzler
143 Pedro Viola
144 Craig Gentry
145 Brent Dlugach
146 Esmil Rogers
147 Josh Butler
148 Dustin Richardson
149 Matt Carson
150 Henry Rodriguez
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.
151 Brandon Allen (A-L-L-E-N, /284 each, /1420 total)
152 Tyler Colvin (C-O-L-V-I-N, /217 each, /1302 total)
153 Daniel Hudson (H-U-D-S-O-N, /217 each, /1302 total)
154 Juan Francisco (F-R-A-N-C-I-S-C-O, /106 each, /954 total)
155 Drew Stubbs (S-T-U-B-B-S, /217, each /1302 total)
156 Michael Brantley (B-R-A-N-T-L-E-Y, /134 each, 1072 total)
157 Tobi Stoner (S-T-O-N-E-R, /217 each, /1302 total)
158 Josh Thole (T-H-O-L-E, /284 each, /1420 total)
159 Daniel McCutchen (M-C-C-U-T-C-H-E-N, /106, /954 total)
160 Eric Hacker (H-A-C-K-E-R, /217 each, 1302 total)
161 Madison Bumgarner (B-U-M-G-A-R-N-E-R, /106, /954 total)
162 Buster Posey (P-O-S-E-Y, /284, /1420 total)
163 Dan Runzler (R-U-N-Z-L-E-R, /170 each, 1190 total)
164 Ian Desmond (D-E-S-M-O-N-D, /170 each, 1190 total)
165 Dustin Richardson (R-E-D-S-O-X, /217 each, 1302 total)
MLB Rookie Patch Variation
Each MLB Rookie Patch variation is also available as a one-of-one Purple Refractor.
126 Neil Walker
127 Brad Kilby
128 Chris Johnson
129 Tommy Manzella
130 Sergio Escalona
131 Chris Pettit
132 Kevin Richardson
133 Armando Gabino
134 Reid Gorecki
135 Justin Turner
136 Adam Moore
137 Kyle Phillips
138 John Hester
139 Dusty Hughes
140 Waldis Joaquin
141 Jeff Manship
142 Dan Runzler
143 Pedro Viola
144 Craig Gentry
145 Brent Dlugach
146 Esmil Rogers
147 Josh Butler
148 Dustin Richardson
149 Matt Carson
150 Henry Rodriguez
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)
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 Rookie Books
Each of the 20 Autographed Rookie Letter Patched is available as an In the Name X-Fractor. Each card features all possible manufacturered letter patches spelled out, and folded into a "book". Each individual letter is individually autographed, and each book is a one-of-one.
IN-BA Brandon Allen
IN-TC Tyler Colvin
IN-DH Daniel Hudson
IN-JF Juan Francisco
IN-DS Drew Stubbs
IN-MB Michael Brantley
IN-CC Carlos Carrasco
IN-EY Eric Young, Jr.
IN-TS Tobi Stoner
IN-JT Josh Thole
IN-MD Michael Dunn
IN-DM Daniel McCutchen
IN-EH Eric Hacker
IN-LD Luis Durango
IN-CR Cesar Ramos
IN-MB Madison Bumgarner
IN-BP Buster Posey
IN-WD Wade Davis
IN-ID Ian Desmond
Inserts
Rookie Card Redemptions
As has been the case the last few years, Topps will announce 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)
1 Jason Heyward
2 Ike Davis
3 Starlin Castro
4 Mike Leake
5 TBA
6 TBA
7 TBA
8 TBA
9 TBA
10 TBA
NOTE: 10% of all Jason Heyward Rookie Card Redemptions will feature an on-card autograph.
Manufactured Relics
MLB Logo Man Patch
NOTE: Each card features a manufactured (not game-used) "Logo Man" patch and is serial-numbered to 50 copies. These are the fourth series of cards of a unique 100-card set that can be collected throughout the year. The first 10 cards can be found in 2010 Topps Series 1, cards 11-15 in 2010 Topps Heritage and 16-20 in 2010 Topps Opening Day. The remaining 75 will be seeded in Topps’ other 2010 baseball products.
LM-21 Joe Mauer
LM-22 David Ortiz
LM-23 Tim Lincecum
LM-24 Andrew McCutchen
LM-25 Miguel Cabrera
Autographs and Game Used
Finest Moments Autographs
Each is available in the following Refractor parallels:
Red (numbered to 25)
Purple (one-of-one)
FMA-AH Aaron Hill
FMA-CCS C.C. Sabathia
FMA-CF Chone Figgins
FMA-CG Curtis Granderson
FMA-CK Clayton Kershaw
FMA-CY Chris Young
FMA-DP Dustin Pedroia
FMA-DS Denard Span
FMA-DW David Wright
FMA-GB Gordon Beckham
FMA-HR Hanley Ramirez
FMA-JC Johnny Cueto
FMA-JJ Josh Johnson
FMA-MR Manny Ramirez
FMA-PF Prince Fielder
FMA-RB Ryan Braun
FMA-RH Ryan Howard
FMA-TH Tommy Hanson
FMA-TT Troy Tulowitzki
FMA-UJ Ubaldo Jimenez