Quick Peek: 2015 Topps Star Wars Masterwork

*EDIT- A "Thank you" to Sooz, from Cardboard Problem and Topps, she left a comment with a link to Topps Star Wars Facebook which includes the checklist for Masterwork along with some very cool preview images. Here is the Topps Star Wars link

Once again Topps is turning to Star Wars, the first of 5 Star Wars releases this year, but this time going high-end with their 2015 Star Wars Masterwork release scheduled for a mid-February release. Each $250-275 box will include 4 packs for a total of 20 cards. Each box will include an on-card autograph, a sketch card and two other “Premium” inserts (read this as manufactured relics).

There are some positives like autographs of the main characters including Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, multi-signature autograph booklets, limited sketch cards and movie prop and costume relics. But like your typical Topps release there are plenty of parallels (4 per base card while inserts have 6 parallels each.) and no matter how “Groundbreaking” Clay Luraschi claims it to be manufactured relics are not “taking collectability to new heights”. Some of the manufactured relics include stamps and weapon medallions plus for some reason they decided to create autograph cards that contains a fragment of the pen used to sign the cards. I don’t know why anyone would want a cool autograph with the nib of a pen attached.

In the end this is the type of product where you leave others to pay the upfront price of the box and instead hunt down the singles that interest you when they begin to flood the secondary market. I love Star Wars releases and I am sure that even at such a high price point people will still purchase boxes I think companies are definitely going about creating value the wrong way when they insert fake relics and autographs of Background Stormtrooper #2 in to a product like this.

Base:

Inserts:
Defining Moments base, Rainbow Foil parallel #/299, Metal parallel #/10 & Gold parallel #1/1

Inserts

Hits
Manufactured relics

Hits

I Think I Will Pass

The other day when I was working on the Lynch inscription card I came across an Isiah Pead inscription card that just seems disturbing.

In 2012 Pead was my Albatross card, the player that seems to always show up as the “Hit” in a box and hangs around your neck like dead weight. I have nothing against him as a person but I am just sick of seeing him in card form and this just doesn’t seem to help the cause.

Trade Completed II

A couple of trades to add to my year, second and third, which I think ties me with all the trades I made all last year.

First up is Caitlin, formerly of Yankees and Jays (she closed the blog due to lack of time to blog). She contacted me late last year regarding some Jeter cards that I had up for trade on Zistle and we worked out a trade that we completed in January. In return I received this very cool 2001 Pacific Private Stock Matt Williams relic with purple stripe. Williams, currently the Nationals manager, was one of the original Diamondbacks and spent 6 years in Arizona where he won a World Series title in 2001.

 

Next up comes from the blogsphere’s most generous blogger Jaybarkerfan and includes a collection of Phoenix Suns with a couple of Seattle Supersonics to add to the flavor. The cards include base cards, inserts and even a dual relic and autograph…sweet…

A couple of 1990s Suns

A couple of 1980s Suns in short shorts, including Jeff Hornacek the current Suns coach.

Even going back to a 1970s Sun, Walter Davis from the 2000-2001 UD Legends release

A couple of Sonics including one of the greats, Nate McMillian who later went on to coach the Sonics.

The Suns who will always be loved around these parts are the core group that took the Suns to the 1993 NBA Finals; Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle.

A dual warm-up relic of Shawn Marion-Stephon Marbury

An authentic on-card autograph of Wes himself as the Hamburglar

Closing Out The Playoffs

Time to close out the 2014-15 NFL Playoffs with posting my playoff predictions. In the end I was correct with the Seahawks but missed on the Cowboys beating the Packers, the Steelers beating the Ravens and the Colts beating the Patriots.

All That Is Left V

Now that I am done yelling at my television and I have come to the point of acceptance that the Seahawks lost on a dumbass pass play call it is time to look at “All That Is Left” where I review what is best of the rest of the Championship packs.

A 2012 Prestige Nick Foles RC, I always enjoy pulling a University of Arizona product

A 2012 Score Greg Jennings, this card isn’t a MOJO pull or anything like that but I felt this is a cool photo of Jennings doing the Lambeau Leap

A 2013 Prizm Jarvis Jones Rookie Autograph redemption, only 2 ½ months before the redemption expired too. I looked and it doesn’t appear that any of these cards have been filled, I submitted it anyway and will wait and see.

A couple of Eddie Lacy rookie cards out of 2013 Topps

A 2013 Strata Marquise Goodwin rookie card bronze parallel #/150

I close with a 2014 Sage HIT Ka’Deem Carey Next Level card, another Arizona Wildcat to bookend the post

Sports Cards Super Bowl V

Again, like last year, there is no question who I want to win but what the cards say may be something else.

Now on to Sports Cards Super Bowl V

 

I picked up two Championship Football repack boxes which contained 28 packs (with two being rack packs). Since last year I didn’t need the OT packs, which I would have used in case of a tie, I decided to just skip the extra cost and stuck with just the repack boxes. It should be noted that one of the packs is a 2012 Score New York Giants team set so I will only be opening 27 packs.

 

The products were made up of Topps, Panini and Sage HIT and range from 2010 through 2014. Five of the packs were clear cello, one 2013 Topps  and four 2013 Prizm, and the Prizm packs were some sort of “special” packs which contained 4 blue base Prizm cards, 1 blue insert and a Rated Rookie manufactured patch card. With Sage being a college product I will use any players drafted by the Seahawks or Patriots.

 

This is my fifth year doing Sports Cards Super Bowl and so far the cards are .500 as a predictor. Here are the previous results:

Sports Cards Super Bowl I

Sports Cards Super Bowl II

Sports Cards Super Bowl III

Sports Cards Super Bowl IV

 

The scoring system will remain similar to previous years. The system I will be using:
Extra Point (1 pt.)- For random cards that could be a sign or superstitious

Field Goal (3 pts.)- For any player from the Seahawks or Patriots

Touch Down (7 pts.)- For any Hall of Fame player from the Seahawks or Patriots (or if they are a HOF lock)

TD w/ 2pt Conversion (8 pts.)- For any Seahawks or Patriots autos or relics

 

2010 Panini Score

Seahawks- 0 pt.
 Patriots- 0 pt.

 

2011 Panini Prestige

Seahawks- 0 pt.
Patriots- 0 pt.

 

2012 Panini Prestige x2
Seahawks- 6 pts.
#178 Earl Thomas
#179 Golden Tate

 

Patriots- 3 pts.
#13 Gronk League Leaders

2012 Panini Score x2

Seahawks- 0 pt.
Patriots- 0 pt.

 

2012 Panini Score Giants team set (Not opened)

 

2013 Panini Prizm x4

Seahawks- 3 pts.

#213 Christine Michael

 

Patriots- 6 pts.
#201 Aaron Dobson
#250 Josh Boyce

2013 Panini Prizm Blue Prizm x4

Seahawks-3 pts.

#12 Richard Sherman Brilliance

Patriots- 3 pts.

#201 Aaron Dobson Rated Rookie

 

--HALFTIME--

Seahawks 12

Patriots 12

 

2013 Panini Prestige x2

Seahawks- 0 pt.
Patriots- 0 pt

 

2013 Panini Score x3

Seahawks- 3 pts.
#199 Richard Sherman

Patriots- 3 pts.
#124 Danny Amendola

 

2013 Topps x2
Seahawks- 0 pt.
Patriots- 0 pt.

 

2013 Topps Archives x2

Seahawks- 0 pt.
Patriots- 0 pt.

 

2013 Topps Platinum

Seahawks- 0 pt.
Patriots- 0 pt.

 

2013 Topps Strata

Seahawks- 0 pt.
 Patriots- 0 pt.

 

2014 Topps Bowman Rack Pack

Seahawks- 0 pt.

Patriots- 6 pts.

#5 Dominque Easley
#7 Steven Ridley

 

 

2014 Sage HIT Football Rack Pack

Seahawks- 3 pts.
#58 Kevin Norwood

Patriots- 6 pts.

#10 Jimmy Garoppolo
#32 Dominique Easley Red Sparkle parallel

 

--Final Score--

Seahawks 18      

Patriots 27

The game will go back and forth sitting at a tie at Halftime but New England will heat up and score a couple of second half TDs and pull away from the struggling Seahawks whose offense will only produce a couple of FGs. If this score holds out Tom Brady will win his 4^th Super Bowl which will elevate him to the level of Football God, tying him with Montana and Bradshaw for most championships.

I will be sad...