REVIEW:2017 Finest Baseball (CASE HIT)

Topps is always at it's Finest with Finest. Yes, that was a very corny opening but it's true. Since the mid to late 90's Finest along with Chrome has always brought their A-Game.

This product comes packing with on-card autos and lots of shiny goodness.

So let's take a quick glance at how the 2017 edition pans out.

In every hobby box of 2017 Topps Finest are two mini boxes. Each mini box comes 6 packs of 5 cards and with one autograph. Hobby boxes are running currently $140. I think baseball products are running a bit high right now due to the hot bat of one Aaron Judge among other impressive 2017 rookies as collectors are chasing down these guys.

The base card design for this years is similar to the past few. It's a player focused set meaning it's all about the featured player. It's printed on chrome technology like past years. I will admit I miss the days of the peel off. Sometimes surfaces like these are prone to scratching.

There are 100 cards in the base set, plus 25 more that are short prints.So you would need to collect all 125 cards to get the complete set if you chose to do so.

 

Like I stated earlier, rookies in this years class are HOT. I pulled most of the key ones in my box including a moment where I had to rise....

 

Cause the Judge was coming in! Judge base cards are fetching a lot right now just like the Yankee faithful catching his home runs.

 

Overall, key rookies in this product are, Yoan Moncada, Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Andrew Benintendi, David Dahl, Aaron Judge, Tyler Austin, Orlando Arcia, Alex Reyes, and Tyler Glasnow.

 

Couldn't be a chromed product without some refractor goodness. There was plenty of variety to find but not an overabundance. Which is also good for value per box. These are my base refractors. I pulled a couple of good ones with Verlander and Turner.

 

I also found a purple refractor of Beltre /250 and a green one of Segura /99.

 

Here is an overall look at the parallels: Purple Refractor /250, Blue Refractor /150, Green Refractor /99, Gold Refractor /50, Orange Refractor /25, Red Refractor /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

Finest Firsts inserts look like the base cards, but with just a tad change in design. I kinda wished they had just a bit more of a different look. But, they seem to only fall one-per-box. There are 10 to collect and they also have parallels of Orange Refractor /25, Red Refractor /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

 

Break Through is a pretty awesome looking insert set as the players are "breaking through". The checklist is 20 cards deep of upcoming MLB Stars. There are also more stunning looking parallels of Orange Refractor /25, Red Refractor /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

 

This has got to be one of the coolest ideas ever. Taking one of the most iconic, in my opinion, designs from the 90's of Finest basketball and turning it to a baseball insert set. Kudos Topps! These are based off from 94-95 Finest basketball and run 20 cards deep of players past and present. I know I totally need a Griffey one!!!!!!!!

These as well have parallels of Orange Refractor /25, Red Refractor /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

 

Other inserts not found in my box include, 

Finest Careers Die-Cut that is based this year on David Ortiz. These are only found 2 per case and have parallels of Orange Refractor / 25, Red Refractor /5 and of course SuperFractor numbered 1/1.

Now onto the autographs,

My first is a base card one of Nationals soon to be superstar Trea Turner. This is a blue /150 parallel. There are other autograph parallels to find as well including Green Refractor /99, Gold Refractor /50, Blue Wave Refractor /25, Red Wave Refractor /25, Orange Refractor /25, Red Refractor /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

 

And to my surprise, I pulled a case-hit auto in Finest Finishes Omar Vizquel which is based off from Game 4 of the '97 ALDS. The checklist for these is amazing from Griffey to Jeter and more.

These are not numbered, but do have parallels of Orange Refractor /25, Red Refractor /5, and SuperFractor 1/1.

 

Other hits not found in my box are, Finest Originals Autograph (buyback autograph set), Finest Firsts, 94-94 basketball design autographs and rare Finest Career Ortiz autographs.

OVERALL, I was pretty satisfied with this box break. I pulled top rookies, a case hit and a solid base autograph. Can't guarantee all breaks will do that but that's the same with any product. There is a really nice overall autograph checklist in the product and plenty of big names to find not to mention tough to chase parallels of inserts and base. I think if you can't afford a two-box mini break just try breaking one mini box if you can find them sold that way. I think you will be pleased.

The designs in the product are well done and with the added throwbacks and the 94-95 throwback design it adds some of that nostalgic factor we all strive for as well.

Please make sure to take a minute out to thank Topps for providing this box for me to review and to be able to add cards to the MLB Pick Em promotion. Follow Topps on all social media sites and visit their SITE, as well