In the wake of the 2014 Topps Chrome Football
debacle, it’s hard to imagine that anyone would be interested in anything Topps
Chrome. But, those who know me can vouch that I am a sucker for mini cards. So
when I saw that Topps was releasing a mini version of 2014 Chrome Football, I
knew I would be getting a box.
Prior to purchase, I did a bit of reading on this
product. The reviews were mixed. A few collectors loved the idea of the mini
version, while a lot of collectors hated that Topps wasn’t changing the player
pictures (making this a mini-me clone of the failed regular Topps Chrome
Football). Love it or hate it, the overall concern was the production numbers.
If the print run wasn’t a fraction of the original Topps Chrome run this
product was going to be a titanic bomb. Early rumor had this product at about
6000 cases, but was adjusted later on to 1600 cases. I don’t know what the
official number of cases produced was, but I have it from a good source that
Topps produced 65% less of the mini cards then they did of the full sized
regular set. Because of the reduced production number, collector expectation
was and is that Topps Chrome mini Football should be a loaded product. Loaded
or not, boxes have a strong breakdown. Each box guarantees one rookie autograph
from a slimmed down list of 38 possible cards including Odell Beckham, Sammy
Watkins, Derek Carr, and everyone’s favorite (sarcasm) Johnny Manziel. In
addition to the rookie auto, each box should contain the following hits:
One Rookie Die-Cut One 1985 Topps Football Insert One Pulsar Refractor Two Fantasy Focus Inserts Three Regular Refractors
My box was a fun break and it met expectations.
Here is the box breakdown.
Rookie Auto (1): Davante Adams Pink Auto Refractor
#ed /75 Rookie Die-Cut (1): Paul Richardson 1985 Topps Football Insert (1): Derek Carr Pulsar Refractor (1): Timmy Jernigan RC #ed /102 Fantasy Focus Insert (2): Dez Brayant and
Demaryius Thomas Regular Refractors (3): Tony Romo, Arian Foster,
and Blake Bortles RC
The following cards are the extra hits that I
pulled:
Darqueze Dennard RC Black Refractor #ed /15 Von Miller Pink Refractor #ed /25
