Topps’ Ultra Premium offering, Tier One Baseball, returns
this year with the same configuration as last year. Not everyone gets the
chance to open one of these types of boxes so we gave you the opportunity last
year to open our box of Tier One... virtually. If you didn’t get a chance to do this virtual box break, use this link to get to it before you continue this review.
If you look at our post “How we review and classify cards,”
by definition, collectors who go for an Ultra Premium box of cards should
understand “these are "High Risk, High Reward" cards” and “not every
box will be a winner.” After
viewing a healthy amount of case breaks, the biggest hits of Tier One seem to
be falling about 1 every 6 boxes, with one large case hit per 12 boxes, a nice
ratio for ultra premium cards.
Bat knobs and cut signatures once again will rule the day
from a secondary market perspective, some pulling in mid four figures. Some of
the other cards can be picked up in the after market for a few dollars and that
is how the ‘high risk, high reward’ equation comes into play. So when you bust, you can bust big, at
least from a monetary value standpoint.
Still, this is well within reason for an Ultra Premium product. What
seems to be on the rise this year are redemptions which limits the shelf life
of this year’s Tier One to mid 2016.
But all in all, this is a great quick hit of a product, allowing those
normally out of the price range of an Ultra Premium product to get in and those
with deeper pockets to bust cases to spread the risk.
Each box of Tier One Baseball contains 3 cards, two
autographs and one relic card.
Every fourth box contains an extra relic hit for a total of 4 cards.
Here are the cards we found in our box.
Justin Verlander Relic #/50
Josh Rutledge Autograph #/399, redemption for Carlos Gonzalez Auto Relic
Overall Look
There are some nice design elements here that seem like a
cross between Triple Threads and Tribute. The use of open space for the
autographs works very well and feels familiar. I appreciate that Topps took the time to do a proper write
up on the back of these cards.
Quality and Variety of Players
This is a strong checklist and the ratios are pretty similar
between the rookies, young players and proven stars. While this doesn’t ensure everyone walks away a winner, this
falls well within the range of an Ultra Premium product.
Thrill Seeking Fulfillment and Experience
In some ways this is like an amusement thrill ride where you
wind up waiting close to an hour for a 90 second ride. For some, it is worth the wait and an
experience to remember. For
others, not so much. But make no mistake; there is much anticipation before the
break, exactly what you want out of an Ultra Premium box. But win or lose, at 3 cards it is a
short ride.
Buyers Remorse or Speculator's Delight
With a full understanding of this product and the fact that
even the Crowd Pleaser and On The Rise level hits are still desirable, at least
from a player level if not a monetary one, collectors should be satisfied. Unless, of course, you are “one and
done” and pull a rough box. That can be brutal but that is the risk you take. That is why, for those with deeper
pockets, this is definitely a product to open by the sealed full 12 box case to
spread the risk. But one must also
keep in mind the amount of Redemptions this year in making your final decision
as to whether this year’s Tier One is for you.
Rating
4 out of 5
2012 Topps Tier One Baseball is short break but one with some
really nice upside potential.
Review box provided by Topps
Review box provided by Topps
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