2019 Topps Archives Signature Series Baseball (Active Player Edition) Hobby Box Break & Review

“Wouldn’t this card look nice with an on-card autograph?”.  That’s the question Topps answers each year with the release of Archives Signature Series.  That goes for the Active Player and Retired Player Edition.  I’ve had quite a bit of luck with this brand before.  In 2017 I pulled a Mike Trout autograph #’ed 1/1.  Last year I got a Starling Marte autograph #’ed 1/1.  No duds for me.  Now I didn’t get another 1/1 autograph this time, but it is a decent card of a pitcher doing well this year.

Buyback autographs are what keep the heart of this product beating.  Each box contains (1) encased buyback autograph of a currently active MLB player.  Just under (100) different MLB players have autographs in here.  Many with multiple cards.

For those of you unfamiliar with what a buyback autograph is, here’s a little refresher.  Topps will buy up a ton of cards they issued in the past.  They then get players to sign those cards.  Topps then foil stamps the cards with the “Archives Signature Series” logo.  The cards are then placed in BCW holders for their protection.

A single box will cost just under $50.  If you think that’s too expensive for one card, I’d recommend sticking to picking up singles on the secondary market.  Its amazing how far an on-card autograph on a simple base card can go.  Lots of past Topps designs are improved with an on-card autograph.

Very simple and to the point.  I’ve always said cards with a simple design are the most attractive.

Wondering if your favorite player has cards in here?  Take a look.  The amount of cards per player and the serial numbering varies.

Here is what I pulled:

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• Michael Soroka 2015 Bowman Draft Buyback Auto #’ed/79

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Futera To Launch Limited Edition Memorabilia Card Presentation Sets

Futera is one of those card companies I wish collectors in the United States would pay more attention to.  This company makes some awesome looking cards.  Here in the U.S., we have new card products coming out all the time.  Futera is the total opposite.  They produce a handful of high-quality card sets each year.

The collector services that Futera offers is incredible.  Every time I talk about this company, I have to mention their Code for Collectors and Memorabilia Colour Grading services.  Code for Collectors enables you to see the detailed process of how your favorite memorabilia card came to be.  Memorabilia Colour Grading is a service in which you can use to tell how many 1-color, 2-color, 3-color, etc… relic cards were made of a specific card.  This is very helpful when it comes to cracking down on fake patches.  U.S. collectors would love to have services such as these.

Futera is preparing to launch it’s latest round of products.  This time its all about a series of Limited Edition Memorabilia Card Presentation Sets.

• There is a total of (10) quality football (soccer) memorabilia cards in each set, comprising a complete 9-player memorabilia card set plus an ultra-rare centerpiece memorabilia card of one of the featured players.
• The release features game-used and training-used memorabilia – information about the player’s memorabilia is written on the back of the card.
• Every card features a 24ct gold-plated element framing the player’s memorabilia.
• Each card is individually foil numbered and has a unique security code.
• Enter card codes on the FUTERA APP to digitally sort and store the cards in an online Card Album and get information about the rarity and features of each card and Portfolio/card values based on actual card sales (powered by PriceGuide.cards).  These are free information services active shortly after the launch.

Manchester City FC (10 sets), Liverpool FC (29 sets for each title), and World Football (27 sets for each title) cover this new product.  Each set cost $499.  According to Futera, the Liverpool FC sets are completely sold out already.  Sets should start shipping near the end of the month.

Click on each picture for that set’s sales sheet.

Manchester City FCLiverpool FCWorld Football

Phillies Just Minors Auto Contest! – NOW CLOSED

Nope.  This isn’t Bryce Harper either.  This contest is for a Joe Savery 2008 Just Minors – Just Stars Black Edition Auto #’ed/25.  He was the Phillies’ 1st round pick in the 2007 MLB draft.  Fans had high hopes for this dude, but it just didn’t amount to much.  After a short stint with the Athletics and White Sox, he announced his retirement.  The last I heard he was selling insurance in Minnesota.  Good luck!!!

Contest Details:

• This contest will end Friday, March 15, 2019 @ 8:00 p.m. EST.
• To enter, please leave a comment in this post.
• You can enter once per day.
• The winner will be selected at random.
• Please provide a valid e-mail address when entering.
• The winner will receive an e-mail when the contest is over.
• The winner has one week to send me their contact information or the contest will be held again.
• Once the contest is over, I will need the winner’s mailing address so I can ship them this card for FREE!!!

Card of the Day: Wade Boggs 1987 Classic Update Yellow Travel Edition Green Back #105

2018 Topps Archives Signature Series Retired Player Edition Baseball Hobby Box Break & Review

2018 Topps Archives Signature Series Retired Player Edition.  Wow!  That’s quite a mouthful.  Buybacks are awesome.  Especially when you have a company like Topps who has such a rich history of classic sets to choose from.  I don’t think a buyback product such as this could exist without that long history to draw upon.

Round #2 of this brand covers a wide array of retired stars and Hall of Famers.  Back in July we got the version full of active players.  Its a very quick-thrill box to bust.  A single box costs just under $40 and contains (1) encased buyback autograph.  Players have multiple buybacks with each varying in numbering.  Cards can be numbered anywhere from (1) to (99) copies.  Signed relics and special buyback autographs of deceased players can also be pulled.

As I mentioned before, Topps dives deep into their vault and gets these players to sign lots of neat stuff.  Not just cards from the mainstream sets either.  Its not uncommon to find Topps cards that were made for Kay Bee Toys, Toys “R” Us, and even Cap’n Crunch cereal.  Any set can bring back memories, but sometimes these really make collectors feel nostalgic.  And that’s a feeling that drives the industry today.

Here is what I pulled:

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• Bo Jackson ’89 Topps Royals Leaders #789 Buyback Auto #’ed 1/1

When it comes to opening boxes, I’ve had a lot of luck this year.  This card goes right up there with some of my other awesome pulls.  Bo Jackson is one of the greatest athletes of all-time.  If he hadn’t gotten hurt, there is a good chance he would’ve made it into both Canton and Cooperstown.  I like that Topps chose this card for him to sign.  Bo Jackson’s name isn’t anywhere on the card other than his signature.  ’89 Topps featured these “Team Leaders” cards.  On the back they list batting and pitching leaders from the previous year.  The person pictured on the front doesn’t necessarily have to be mentioned on the card.  It makes for a nice conversation piece.  You couldn’t ask for a better picture.  And no.  That isn’t a picture of Bo Jackson throwing out Harold Reynolds at home plate.  That game was played inside the Kingdome where Bo wouldn’t have needed sunglasses.

Card of the Day: Andre Dawson 1987 Classic Update Yellow Travel Edition Green Backs #124

2018 Topps Archives Signature Series Active Player Edition Box Break & Review

Upon opening a box of Topps Archives Signature Series Active Player Edition last year, my head almost exploded.  Not only did I pull a card numbered one-of-one, but it was an autograph of Mike Trout too.  Its not everyday that you get to pull one of those.  That was the second Mike Trout autograph I’ve pulled.

Topps Archives Signature Series Active Player Edition has returned for 2018.  Housed inside each $50 box is (1) buyback autograph of a current player.  The version of this product that focuses on retired stars will be released in October.

To some collectors, $50 might seem like a lot of money for just one autographed card.  Especially when you have no clue as to who you might get.  That’s why the secondary market is a great place to pickup singles if you don’t feel like taking the $50 gamble.  Over the years, Topps has created some amazing looking sets.  On-card buyback autographs amplify some of those awesome base sets.  I know when opening Gypsy Queen or Allen & Ginter I’ve said to myself “Wouldn’t this base set look cool with autographs?”  Products such as this do exactly that.  Something as simple as an on-card autograph on a base card can be quite eye appealing.  Just look at how well Stadium Club has been received the last few years.  Simple is almost always better when it comes to card design.

The checklist covers (67) active MLB players.  Each player has multiple cards, and the serial numbering varies.  Risk takers hoping for a big pull should have fun.  So should those player collectors picking up cards on the secondary market.  In some way everyone can enjoy it.

Another 1/1!  I’m on a roll with this product.

Here is what I pulled:

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• Starling Marte 2016 Gypsy Queen Walk-Off Winners Buyback Auto #’ed 1/1