Product Review: 08/09 Topps Murad Basketball

This product is just a ton of fun to open - for a certain type of collector.  And I'm that type of collector.  It's an unabashed retro looking release.  In the world of HD and super-pixelation, it's a bit of a change of pace to see cards that aren't in step with that type of image.  The cards have an 'artsy' feel to them, on a good card stock.

And with no further ado, here's the what the base look like:

The only thing to indicate the rookie is the tiny lettering on the side of the RC's.  And I personally like that.  I don't need the ROOKIE symbol on all of my cards to know I'm holding a rookie card.  The Roy and Kobe cards are just really good looking cards.  And the backs of the cards feature the Allen and Ginter type of letter-written stats.  Copycat?  Probably, but it still works here.

The minis - also a retro fixture - are the exact same as the regular base.  But they're mini's. So we collect them.  Only we collect them at a slower pace because they fall one per pack.

Still, the art work, especially on the classic players, gives the base and the minis alike a real vintage feel without feeling like you've been roped in by a gimmick.  The base really is the charm of this set and makes it worth collecting.

The negative aspect of this set is the checklists.  If you've never opened a pack of Murad, let me explain.  In this hit-chaser world, all packs have the standard dummy card to throw off pack searchers.  The Murad solution to this was to make the dummy cards into action shots with with the checklist on the back.  The problem?  There's 30 or them.  And the checklist just keeps repeating itself over the 30 cards.  So just being numbered means they're part of the set - and therefore I have to collect them. 

Now, they only fall one per pack, so they're actually as rare as the minis.  I don't really like that idea.  Make checklists or make dummy cards.  But don't make me have to track down the third version of the same checklist just because it has a different action shot on the front.  Here's the example:

And it just keeps repeating on and on.  The problem is that they made the hobby box with 24 packs.  And there's 30 checklists.  Not cool.  Now I have to potentially track these bad boys down.  But that's really the only negative.  And it's not a major thing, but there are only six cards a pack, so chasing checklists isn't a real thrilling prospect.

Now for the hits.  The auto and game used check list for this product is actually quite strong.  You get one auto and one game used a box.  This will be one of the sets I complete this year, so I do have my work cut out for me to get this done this year.  I pulled a redemption of Robin Lopez (for the auto) and a Kevin Martin game used.  I'm actually not too dissapointed with the pulls.  Kevin Martin's jersey piece is that nice deep purple that the Kings wear.  I'm actually looking forward to completing the game used and auto sets.  They should look really sharp when completed.

But that's not the end of this box.  First off, the cabinet card, as you can see in the previous post was of Lebron James.  I'm sure that would be one of the spendier cabinet cards to have to buy.  But that's not the reason that this box will forever be endeared to my heart.

This box gave me my first ever pull of a 1/1 printing plate.  I've seen them pulled online, seen them offered on ebay, but have never come close to sniffing a printing plate in any of my boxes I've ever purchased.  In fact, I don't know if I've ever pack pulled anything lower that a /35 parrallel.

And my pull was a rookie printing plate.  Which is like an extra bonus.  Here it is:

And, even though it's special, I'm not a D.J. Augustin collector.  Nor am I a Bobcats collector.  And I'll need some extra funds to complete the auto set for this.  So I've decided to sell it.  I do feel a bit of remorse for having to sell my first ever, but I'd rather put that money to completing the set - or fortifying the Batum RC collection. 

All in all (and printing plate aside), I have to give this product an A.  I can't do the A+ because of the checklist shenanigans.  But it's a solid retro effort.  It's what Topps does well.  It's not pretending to be high-end or something it's not.  It's a solid release.  I got this box for 50$ shipped.  If, right now, I had to steer anybody to maybe buying their first box of basketball, I'd say this is your best bet for the money.

By The Numbers:

24 packs - 6 cards per pack

$50 dollars shipped (from ebay)

94 of 230 base - 40.8% complete

--7 SP's (from 201-230)

--2 Base variations (#171 D. Rose & #173 O.J. Mayo)

--No dupes

24 of 230 minis - 10.4% complete

--3 SP's (from 201-230)

--No dupes

Auto - Robin Lopez (redemption)

Relic - Kevin Martin

Printing Plate - D.J. Augustin