First look: 2009 Topps Triple Threads baseball

Topps released the basic product  information and preview images for its 2009 Triple Threads baseball set on Thursday.

The fourth installment of the high-end memorabilia-loaded set arrives in October and is a hobby-exclusive product which will include bat knob Relic cards as well as some surprising triple-book cards that include hat logo patches — and more — on the same card.

Each pack (mini-box) contains three numbered base cards and two numbered parallel cards plus one Triple Relic card. An Autographed Triple Relic card replaces the Triple Relic card in every other pack — or one per display box.

Every case will contain one 1/1 autographed Triple Relic card and one Triple Relic autograph card numbered to 36 or less.

See more images and information after the jump.

Among the autographed Relic cards are Rookies & Rising Stars pairs — three-book cards that have two players, two autographs and six swatches on the same card. These will be limited to 50 copies and have Platinum (1/1), Sapphire (1/10) and Gold (1/50) parallels.

Also to be found are autographed Relics —  three swatches and a signature per card — with three versions of the card limited to 18 copies. These will have White Whale printing plates as well as a 1/1 Wood and 1/1 Platinum parallels along with the other two parallels listed above (Sapphire, Gold).

The Autographed Relic Pairs are three-book cards featuring two players, six swatches and two autographs with the same parallels as above (no Wood or White Whales).

Autographed Relic combos will have three players, three autographs and three Relics per card. These will be limited to 36 copies with the full range of parallels.

Autographed Relic double combos are three-book cards with six players, six Relics and six autographs per card. These will be limited to three cards apiece but also will have a 1/1 Platinum parallel.

The new bat knobs Relics will feature a single player — each card a 1/1 — with a knob and two patch swatches.

XXIV Legends will feature five Topps exclusive legends, each with a 1/1 booklet card that features 24 Relic pieces.

XXIV cards will feature 24 pieces per card for 15 different players. These cards will be limited to 18 copies apiece with Platinum, Sapphire and Gold parallels.

New All-Star Jumbo sleeve patches are 1/1 book cards that showcase a player’s All-Star jersey sleeve patch on three jumbo cuts.

World Baseball Classic patches will be limited to nine copies apiece with three patches per player on each card. These, too, will have a Platinum parallel.

WBC Logo cards will be 1/1s, while All-Star Logo Man cards will feature All-Star patches and the MLB logo from their jersey.

Jumbo Letter/Number/Hat Logo Relics also have a large presence in the product with have three Relics from the same player — a jersey letter, a jersey front letter or a uniform number and a hat logo on the same card.

Jumbo Patch Combos will have three players’ jumbo patches on the same booklet card, while Jumbo Plus Relics and Letter Plus will have a Jumbo or Letter Relic on one side and additional swatches on the other side of the card.

Bat Name Plates will showcase the player’s bat barrel along with two other Relic pieces, while there will be standard Relics, Legends Relics, Relic Combos and Double Relic Combos to round out the offerings.

Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.