2015 Topps Strata Football Box Break & Review

One of my favorite mediums that I like to see card companies use is acetate.  Some collectors think it might be overused today, but I can’t get enough of it.  There are right and wrong ways a company can use acetate.  Topps for the most part has always seemed to use it correctly.

When you’re making an autographed card using acetate, you almost always want to make sure the card is hard-signed.  Stickers on acetate just don’t mix.  Even the clear ones.  Inserting signed chunks of acetate into a card as a replacement for stickers is no better.  You simply cannot use acetate in the design process and treat it as if its just another card.  A lot of time and thought needs to go into how the acetate will be used.  If this isn’t done, the cards will come out terrible.

From a design standpoint, the acetate cards found in 2015 Strata Football are right up there in quality.  Especially when it comes to the auto/relics.  Strata Football this year follows it’s baseball counterpart when it comes to configuration.  Gone are all the base cards.  Boxes now contain (2) autographs and that’s it.  It gets straight to the point very fast.  I always wanted to try a box of Strata Football before, but I just didn’t want the excess base cards.

The price point is right on target, with boxes costing less than $60.00.  Its one of the most affordable, quick thrill, on-card autograph products you can buy.  The reason why its not that expensive is because of the checklist.  Its comprised mainly of rookies.  Two of the biggest rookies, Amari Cooper and Todd Gurley, are redemptions.  The last few redemption cards I’ve redeemed have gone very smoothly, so it shouldn’t take that long for these to start shipping.

I think the biggest problem collectors have been complaining about is what the box states.  It says “1 Strata Signature Patch Card + 1 Strata Signature Card”.  Not everyone will be pulling a patch.  A jumbo jersey is more likely.

2015 Strata Baseball has a nice feature that allows you to lookup when and where that specific relic was used.  This did not migrate over to football.  I bet this would’ve been implemented if Topps and the NFL planned to continue their relationship.

An expanded checklist with more veterans would’ve made this last version of Strata Football a little better.  Visually the cards look great, and I like the reconfiguration.

Here is what I pulled:

Auto/Relic

• Dorial Green-Beckham Clear Cut Auto/Jersey Black Parallel #’ed/50

Auto

• Tre McBride Auto #’ed/800