Trader's Retreat - 2 Box Break and Review!

2015 Topps Football and 2015 Topps Apex MLS Soccer

By Jim Van Nest

September 17, 2015

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2015 Topps Apex MLS Soccer

Configuration: 2 Mini Boxes per Box, 32 Cards per Mini Box

Set Breakdown

  • 100 Card Base set
    • PARALLELS: Green (Retail), Gold #/50, Orange #/25, Red #/5, Black 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1

  • 10 Card Base Variation Set
    • PARALLELS: Green (Retail), Gold #/50, Orange #/25, Red #/5, Black 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1

  • 48 Card Base Autograph Set
    • PARALLELS: Green (Retail), Gold #/50, Orange #/25, Red #/5, Black 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1

  • 15 Card Alliances Insert Set
    • PARALLELS: Green (Retail), Gold #/50, Orange #/25, Red #/5, Black 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1

  • 20 Card Captains Insert Set
    • PARALLELS: Green (Retail), Gold #/50, Orange #/25, Red #/5, Black 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1

  • 48 Card Crest Jumbo Relic Set - Serial #'d
    • PARALLELS: Gold #/40, Orange #/25, Red Patch #/5, Black Adidas Logo 1/1, Printing Plates Prime Patch 1/1

  • 15 Card Dual Relics Set
    • PARALLELS: Red #/5, Black 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1

  • 8 Card Dual Autographs Set
    • PARALLELS: Red #/5, Black 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1

  • 9 Card Now and Then Autographs Set - Serial #'d
    • PARALLELS: Red #/5, Black 1/1

  • 21 Card Match Day Die-Cut Autograph Relic Set
    • PARALLELS: Red #/5, Black 1/1



With the growing popularity of MLS soccer, Topps has added 2015 Apex to its MLS arsenal. Going for a more artistic design, Topps Apex is a fantastic addition to the soccer lineup, featuring two Autographs and one Relic per Box!

Base and Parallels

 photo 2015toppsapexmlssoccerbase_zpschfsvovd.jpg
 photo 2015toppsapexmlssoccerparallels_zpsfgy3xsus.jpg


Smell that? That's the smell of a brand new product hitting the shelves. Topps has made a splash in the MLS and international soccer market and Apex is another notch in the soccer (futbol) belt. I love this set. Topps has gone for a more graphic look in Apex and left the soccer pitch and fans out of the photos. These cards have the players isolated with an explosion of their team colors on the bottom half of the card. The back of each card features a group of facts or stats about the player on the front and really compliments the cool front card design. In our box, we pulled 53 of the 100 card base set. Advanced math tells me that's 53%.

This set does have parallels and in our box(es) we pulled two. We pulled a Gold Michael Parkhurst that is numbered 19/50. On the parallels, the color splash on the bottom of the card is changed to the color of the parallel. So you can see the awesome orange color on our orange parallel of New England Reviolution's Kelyn Rowe parallel #13/25.

Inserts

 photo 2015toppsapexmlssoccerinserts1_zpsphjuvhhd.jpg
 photo 2015toppsapexmlssoccerinserts2_zpsfli2uq7b.jpg
 photo 2015toppsapexmlssocceroffer_zpse9ddtspc.jpg


There are really only two insert sets in Apex soccer. The first is the Captains insert set. As you can see, we pulled two of the Captains: Chris Wondolowski and Robbie Keane. The back of these cards gives a blurb about the qualities that make these players good captains. The next insert set is the Alliances insert set. We only pulled one of these cards. It's a card of the DC United tandem of goaltender Bill Hamid and defender Bobby Boswell. The back of the card discusses a little of how these two players work together. While not an insert - each mini-box we opened featured an Apex 20% off code card to give you 20% off of value boxes and oversized wall art featuring the Apex designs.




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Relics

 photo 2015toppsapexmlssoccerrelic_zps3cqxqtqs.jpg


The promised relic card we pulled out of our box is a Crest Jumbo Relic card of Andrew Farrell. This horizontal card, as you can see, features an MLS crest that is half designed in the card and half jersey relic. This card is also #33/50, so it would seem that the relics are all rather short printed. I really like the design of the cards and I like the way the crest itself blends together, despite being made partially of cardboard and jersey material.

Autographs

 photo 2015toppsapexmlssoccerautos_zpsbss66pid.jpg


And the final two cards in our box (one per mini-box) are our autographs. First up is the base auto of Michael Parkhurst. They've faded out the color and pic at the bottom of the card and attached a sticker auto there. The auto is well centered and almost legible. Our second auto is a parallel auto. It's an orange parallel of Columbus Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark. Like the other oranges, this one is numbered 25/25. Again, a nicely centered neat looking signature adorns the bottom of the card.

Final Thoughts on 2015 Topps Apex MLS Soccer

You can pick up a box of Apex Soccer for the low low price of about $42. That's a awesome price for what you're getting here. One thing I would caution against, is going cheaper and only buying one mini-box. In our box, one mini box had an auto in it. The other mini box had an auto, a relic and two parallels in it. So, if you only buy one mini box - you take the chance of getting the bulk of the booty or very little. So buck up, guys, and buy the whole box. That all being said, these are really nice-looking cards and you do get three hits for your $42. If you're an MLS fan or a soccer fan, you really need to get some Apex into your collection.

If you'd like to see the live break of the box that accompanies this review, well, just click Right Here!

Ratings

Innovation: 5
Fun: 5
Value: 5
Rebuy: 5

Total– 20/20 - I'd rate 2015 Topps Apex a solid A! Fantastic soccer set!!

NPN Information

NPN 2015 Topps Apex Soccer
PO BOX 2220
Duryea, PA 18642

Limit – 1 Request Per Household

Postmarked by: November 25, 2015
Received by: December 2, 2015

For our Canadian collectors, your entry will need to be accompanied by the answer to this skill question: 5 x 2 + 4 – 1 = ?

Once again, thanks so much to our sponsors at Topps for giving us the opportunity to review these great new products. For more information on all of their products, you can check them out at www.Topps.com. You can also follow them on Twitter: @toppscards. For all the great new trading card updates coming to BOP, be sure to give me a follow as well: @vannestjc. 'Til next time, take care.


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