Written by If you have been watching Twitter and the message boards, its easy to see that Five Star elicits a pretty dramatic reaction. So far, in my opinion, Five Star is one of the most well put together products I have seen in a long time. Topps took collector feedback from their interactions, and used it to make the content of the set better. Although there are some flat areas, one specific thing screams to me that Topps has added an extra fifty feet to their home run with this stuff.
Over the last few years, I have commented on this site about my desire to see redemptions for full sized memorabilia in products. I wasn’t the only one making these statements, and Topps looks to have taken our suggestions and ran with them. Not only are there redemptions for full sized Jerseys signed by the rookies, but helmets, footballs, and other stuff as well. New surprises pop up every day, and I am like a kid in a candy store.
Here are some of the Jersey redemption cards that have popped up so far:
2011 Five Star Julio Jones Autographed Jersey
2011 Five Star Jake Locker Autographed Jersey
Five Star has content that puts it on a level with Chrome for product of the year. Because they are aimed at such different audiences, I would have to go as far as saying there might have to be a split award. I mentioned before that the aim of a high end product should be to force an audible reaction out of the customer when they open the box, and Five Star definitely succeeded in doing so. Not only that, when someone ilke me is trolling a general eBay search just to see the cool new listings that pop up, its a success.
I think these full sized redemptions are going to be highly sought after, and chased by player collectors everywhere. Aside from driving huge prices, these types of things bring collectors closer to the players they love, and that is a main reason as to why we do what we do.
Collecting has always been about our own idolatry manifested in connection to the game, and Five Star is one of the first products in years to take that mantra to heart.
That is fucking awesome and if I may be so bold, what every redemption should be from here on out.
Some of those prices are bordering on game used territory. While I applaud Topps for adding some variety to the mix, these are still event worn/used items.
I wouldn’t even go so far as to say they are event worn. There’s nothing on the redemption that says it was worn at all. It could just as easily be an autographed replica jersey. Which while still cool, does not justify the prices these people are asking.
They are event worn per the product solicitation.
The first meaningful innovation in the hobby since Upper Deck introduced Shadowbox cards in 2009.
Full-sized pieces of memorabilia are much more collectible than jersey swatches, although once they start including game-worn pieces from older players and HOFers, companies are going to have to start being very careful about establishing authenticity.
Uh, there have been redemptions for autographed memorabilia in the past. Nothing “innovative” about this at all.
Are there any game used full size in this product? The cost of an autographed jersey, even an official jersey, doesn’t cover the cost of a box. If it was game used, then that would drive sales.
These aren’t investments. If you’re that worried about a return on whatever you pull, you really don’t belong in the hobby man.
I have been collecting for 30 years, on and off, and have never treated this hobby as an investment. When you do that, it is no longer fun. My original point is that an auto jersey is really no big deal and would not drive the sales on boxes that are $400 a box. If these redemptions were in the flagship product, then maybe that would help drive sales. Asking $4k in an auction is crazy.
Not that new. Remember Scoreboard? How about the more recent 2001 Topps Reserve mini helmets? Just saying, don’t go crazy.
I was at a show this weekend and was over taken by 5 Star insanity. Was about as disappointed as I could be with the fact that I saw a redemption card in there. I’m thinking, “F-ing great. Drop this kind of coin on a box & get a scrub rookie redemption.”
I about pooped myself when it was for an auto’d Cam Newton Rookie Premier jersey. The guy standing next to me, ironically wearing a Newton jersey, gave me $3000 cash for it. I then bought 2 more boxes, pulled a Newton patch/auto, sold it to the same guy for $500. I went home with a tonof older wax to bust, a boatload of cards I’ve wanted for my PC and an extra $1500 in the bank.
My vote for product of the year is Five Star!! lol
Wow! That is incredible!
Not sure why someone would pay 4 figures for a replica auto jersey or football. You could go to nfl.com and buy game used jersey for 4 figs…. 2001 Fleer did the same thing with jerseys
Hope the hype and busting continues, Im sitting on 3 cases…
And from what I gather, the same wax seller had 4 other different redemptions pulled from him ALONE that same day. That’s 5 redemptions from roughly 8-10 cases.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that’s really beating the odds.
The Julio Jones jersey redemption was pulled at my LCS…they owner put the card on Ebay for him and is taking offers! Listed it with a crazy Buy It Now just to get some attention for it!