Review: 2010 Topps Chrome Football – 1 Box Break

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Product Information

24 packs per box. 4 cards per pack. One Rookie Autograph per Hobby Box. Box prices have been around the $40-$60 neighborhood now, but was as high as $70 at release.

The Break

Topps recently released the follow-up to their initial football release – 2010 Topps Chrome. The product features Topps patented Chrome and Refractor technology. The set features 110 veteran cards and 110 rookie cards from the 2010 NFL Draft. Each box contains one rookie autograph card. Those come in a base, refractor (numbered to 50), black refractor (numbered to 25), gold refractor (numbered to 10), and superfractor (numbered to 1) versions. There is also an alternate rookie patch autograph (numbered to 25) version available for some of the rookies.

Additionally, each non-rookie autograph card has multiple parallel versions. Refractor (not numbered), blue refractors (numbered to 199), gold refractors (numbered to 50), red refractors (numbered to 25), and superfracotor (numbered to 1) versions are avilable for each base version.

Drawbacks

Much like previous releases, the 2010 Topps Chrome Football release features sticker autographs on their rookie autographs. Unlike their baseball counterpart who was able to move to on-card autographs for the 2010 release. A very hopeful sign that the football release will be doing the same in future releases.

The cards were produced far better than the baseball release and do not have the rampant bowing and off-center that was very prevalent in the baseball release. The surfaces of the cards are very condition sensitive and seem to have issues with scratches and roller marks.

Added Value

My box featured 9 parallel cards: 1 Blue Refractor, 7 Refractors, and 1 Rookie Autograph. Topps also added Rookie Retro autographs as added hits in some boxes. These cards features a reprint of some of Topps most famous rookie cards from over the years, featuring an autograph (sticker) on the card. A definite added bonus, that seem to be a very valuable addition.

Final Thoughts

Every year, Topps Chrome Football is a staple on the release calendar and the product rarely fails to provide a fun time breaking and collecting the set. With lots of parallel’s and chases cards inserted per box, the value of product is great around the $40-$50 area. As always, Topps uses their tiered rookie autograph system, so the chance of pulling some of the top rookies are slim.

I will be looking forward to more of the 2010 product, and I am already looking forward to the 2011 Topps Chrome Football set.

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