Let me start off by saying that of the three big companies in the hobby, Topps has made the most dramatic of a turn around both in terms of content and design. In just about every set previewed and released so far, there has been a vast upgrade for many of the cards that had issues last year. Even my hated Triple Threads has gotten incrementally better, although it is still not something I would touch. Last year and all the previous years that Bowman Sterling has been released, I have hated both design, content and many other aspects of this set. This year, the design has gotten better, but the overall product has miles and miles to go.

First, the design has greatly improved over last year’s horrendous vertical jersey autos where the swatch covered the players. Being the box hits, these cards need to be the best of the best in a super high end product, and this year, they look a lot better. When I say a lot better, the horizontal orientation gives a lot more room for the player picture and sticker to be accurately displayed, and I actually like the way they have composed the card to look almost like a belt buckle. It looks good. I also like the jumbo jersey autos, but honestly, there is no reason for crap jersey cards in a product like this one.

Moving on to the base autos, we are again getting the white block behind the sticker to highlight the autograph, and like it did in Panini’s sets, the results are not at all favorable. I dont really like the design of the card or that big white block, and I think there could have been a lot better results if there was more of a focus on game photos over the silver background.

It also seems as though Topps is trying out a new type of refractor, and let me say that both Topps and Panini need to get something through their heads. The 1990s are over, there is never going to be another type of insert like there was back then, and there is no point in trying to replicate it. This Pulsar refractor, like the hideous Longevity parallels in Rookies & Stars, looks to be a throwback to the gaudy and ugly inserts of the 1990s, and I am not a fan. I dont understand the appeal of atomic this or pulsar that, as the cards almost battle to see who can get more outrageous. Not sure why there is a focus on nostalgic junk like this.

Here is one other thing I dont get. Topps has moved towards on card rookie content in each of their lower end sets, but there are stickers in this product. THat makes no sense in this price point, and is completely unacceptable when you look at the precedence set by the other products that are going to be released in the coming months at cheaper prices per box. Honestly, if you charge as much as Bowman Sterling costs, there should be NO STICKERS.

Speaking of price point, if there is one set that has the worst price point of the year, you would expect me to say Triple Threads. But its Bowman Sterling by a landslide. Its not even close. At over 200 dollars a box, Topps doesnt have their head on straight for a card that delivers less valuable content than many of the products they sell. Instead of putting packs with autos and jerseys in a box at 205, just put one jersey auto, one regular auto, and a jersey and slap a 100 dollar price tag on it. Much more acceptable in this economically downturned market.

I would have to say that Sterling is the type of product I would expect from Panini, not Topps, and it is very disappointing to see the lack of adjustment that I would have expected considering Topps’ track record this year.

Here are the images: