Topps ups the ante in 2012 Topps Tribute with bonus Hank Aaron autos & more
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
Topps Tribute was one of the surprise hits of 2011 with the high-end brand’s inclusions sparking a run on wax almost immediately after its release.
This year, Topps is upping the ante with some additional bonuses not previously unveiled.
The company announced on Thursday that every Tribute Autograph and Tribute Relic card will now come encased with a Tribute authentication sticker attached, but that’s not the real bonus for buyers of the brand.
The big extra in this one is that former home run champion Hank Aaron will be signing 100 buyback cards for inclusion in Tribute — all as bonus cards in boxes when they are found beginning on March 7.
In addition, the company announced that many of the 1/1 autographs will now include inscriptions to go with the sigs as well as an enhanced autograph checklist that includes Albert Pujols, Cal Ripken Jr., Frank Thomas, Carl Yastrzemski, Ernie Banks and Ken Griffey Jr.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
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wow, on a classy product like Tribute, that authentication sticker over the seam of the case looks crass!
BTW, Topps should have boughtback Aaron autos, not cards. It almost makes me cry to see a modern Hank Aaron auto as age is taking its toll on his writing.
Robert: It’s a move to make the pulls seem more impressive right out of the package. Taking cards out of the cases probably wouldn’t be that big of a deal value-wise, but some collectors would probably prefer them kept in the cases.
I can understand why the seal is there. I was just trying to say the seal should be more classy looking. Right now, it looks like something hastily created in paint and slapped on the slab rather than something that was given some design thought fitting of a product like Tribute.
Topps should just stop MAKING Tribute. Every year they trot out some new idea to make it ‘more interesting’ to collectors/investors. Now they are adding ‘Uncirculated’ cards into circulation. Look at the past and you’ll see what I mean.
Heck, you can just look at Panini’s 2011 Plates and Patches NFL release to see the exact same thing. Cards encased in a $1-2 one-touch magnetic case sealed with a sticker is NOT innovation, nor does it add any intrigue.
Unless it is a 1/1, there is no reason to encase it and add it to boxes, UNLESS you are that unhappy with your Quality Control AND Customer Service!
Yip, I totally agree with Robert. If they used gold on black instead of blue on white it would’ve looked much better. The case cheapens the look of the card.
I like the incased idea. I never handle my cards I buy online. That just gives people a chance to damage them. I’m also a huge fan of Topps. Ever since I quit buying Panini I haven’t received 1 redemption. And that’s over 20 boxes. Go Topps.
Adam: When it sells well, it sticks around … when it doesn’t, it vanishes.
why didn’t they use a protector with corner cut outs, oh i know they probably got a good deal on a bulk of the old ones ,if they this will keep all the damage to a minimum they need to start QC when the cards are first produced, Will be passing on this release too
[…] I beleive Ken Griffey Jr. auto's will appear in Tribute too…Beckett News Topps ups the ante in 2012 Topps Tribute with bonus Hank Aaron autos & more […]