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  • 2014 Topps Chrome Football Minis 

    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
    
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