Box Break: 2010 Topps Platinum Football Hobby

After not pulling a patch auto out of a handful of Platinum blasters I figured I would cut my losses and go for the guarantee in a hobby box. I sold some cards some eBay so the box was basically free (you know, since paypal money isn't real money) and I wasn't too concerned about making my money back on it. Thankfully, I beat the odds and ended up with a stellar box. Here's how I did:

Jahvid Best RC Refactor #338/999: The refractors from this set look very sharp in person and I was happy to pull one of a top rookie in Jahvid Best. He's slowed down a little bit after a quick start but looks like he should be a big part of the Lions rebuilding project. I also pulled a refractor of Jermaine Gresham (TE-Bengals) and a white refractor (#/499) of Jimmy Graham (TE-Saints).

Carlton Mitchell RC Auto #573/1099: I pulled this out of the second pack of the box and figured my break was doomed. Despite his intense concentration, Carlton Mitchell isn't a top receiving prospect in the NFL, and playing for the Browns won't help at that either.

Eric Decker RC Auto Patch #207/800: You know if the patch/auto isn't the last card featured in the break, I must have pulled something good (be patient, it's next). Even though Eric Decker isn't one of the big names from this set, I was happy with a nice three-color patch and mildly inappropriate signature (I won't go into great detail, you can see it for yourself). Decker had a great career at the University of Minnesota and was talented enough to be drafted twice by Major League Baseball teams. Here's hoping he's a hidden gem.

Sam Bradford/Colt McCoy Dual RC Refactor Auto #13/25: And boom goes the dynamite. It's always nice to pull a card that leaves you speechless, and this beauty did exactly that to me. I saw the refractor shine when I opened the pack and figured I had a basic autograph, nothing special. When I slid the other cards away I saw the serial number and thought, wow that's pretty rare. Then I saw both Bradford and McCoy a new I had myself a real winner. The dual autographs from this set are 1:4,288 packs so I certainly beat the odds. With both rookie quarterbacks playing well, this card should net me a pretty penny when I decide to part with it.

Overall Thoughts: Although not as nice as the recently released Topps Finest, Platinum delivers two rookie autos and one patch auto per box at a decent price. With two rookies per pack you get over 50 a box, and I sold those along with the Mitchell auto for $25 bucks. It's a fun break (especially if you like shiny cards as much as me) and gives you a decent chance for a good ROI. It's a nice break from the monotony of baseball, and as seen in my break, a chance at pulling a big hit. Thanks for looking!

Box Break: 2010 Platinum Football (Blaster)

I fell in love with Topps Platinum last year when I pulled not one, but two, patch/autograph cards from blasters of the product. Though I don't but nearly as much football, baseball cards are a wasteland right now (unless Target starts carrying Triple Threads) so it was a no-brainer to grab a couple blasters (keep in mind I am just showing the best of multiple blasters) of Platinum. While I didn't pull a patch this time around, I was still happy with my blaster:

Anthony McCoy White Refractor RC #122/499: As a part-time Seahawks fan (I also follow the Titans and Packers) I was happy with this pull, even though McCoy is yet to produce on the football field. The refractors in this product look amazing in person and the rarer white refractors are just jaw dropping. I would recommend picking up some of these off eBay of your favorite team--refractors are one thing Topps does right.

Tim Tebow RC Variation SP: Well, I pulled a card of the "it" guy, even if we don't really know what "it" is. I'm not sure what to make of Tebow yet, I'd like to see him succeed, but I just don't know if he will ever be a top tier NFL quarterback. In the meantime, his cards have a good resale value, so I've got that going for me.

Gerald McCoy Rookie Refractor Auto #267/400: It only took (x) blasters, but I finally pulled my first auto from this year's Platinum. Gerald McCoy is set to become the next Warren Sapp (he's already got a preliminary agreement to join Dancing with the Stars in 2020) after he was drafted 3rd overall by Tampa Bay. This card hails from Group A, which is the most difficult group at over 1:300 packs. Defensive lineman don't usually sell that well, but it's still a nice card.

Thoughts: Though I wasn't nearly as lucky with Platinum as last year, I still enjoy the product and it offers some huge hits for retail. My advice? Try one blaster and see if you can't catch lightning in a bottle. Thanks for looking!