Topps notes in its news release about Apex soccer that the product “has made its debut with a splash.”
My thoughts exactly, but for a different reason. Topps’ main point on this Major League Soccer card set is that there are no redemptions in the inaugural set. And that certainly is great news. With soccer growing in popularity in this country — particularly among younger players and collectors — announcing that the product has no redemption cards is a smart move.
My thoughts exactly, but for a different reason. Topps’ main point on this Major League Soccer card set is that there are no redemptions in the inaugural set. And that certainly is great news. With soccer growing in popularity in this country — particularly among younger players and collectors — announcing that the product has no redemption cards is a smart move.
The splash I noticed was from Topps’ design for this set. The colors are vibrant, and the action shots are, well, splashy. The bottom half of every base card makes it seem as though the player is competing in a wading pool, splashing water as they run, kick, tackle or save. It’s not a bad look, to be honest. It’s just a first impression on my part. Others may see it as artistic license, and that’s cool, too.
A hobby box of Topps Apex has two mini-boxes, with 32 cards to a box. Topps is promising one autograph per mini-box and a total of three hits per hobby box— two autographs and a memorabilia card.
The base set contains 100 cards, plus 10 short-printed cards. There are parallels, too: gold, numbered to 50; orange (25), red (5), black (1/1) and printing plates (1/1). There are two different insert sets: Captains, a 20-card subset that pays tribute to the team leaders; and Alliances, a 15-card offering that features two top players paired together on the same card.
A hobby box of Topps Apex has two mini-boxes, with 32 cards to a box. Topps is promising one autograph per mini-box and a total of three hits per hobby box— two autographs and a memorabilia card.
The base set contains 100 cards, plus 10 short-printed cards. There are parallels, too: gold, numbered to 50; orange (25), red (5), black (1/1) and printing plates (1/1). There are two different insert sets: Captains, a 20-card subset that pays tribute to the team leaders; and Alliances, a 15-card offering that features two top players paired together on the same card.
Between the two mini-boxes I pulled 51 base cards and a gold parallel of Fanendo Adi of the Portland Timbers. There were two Captains inserts: Bobby Boswell (D.C. United) and Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC). The one Alliance insert also included a pair of Sounders — Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey.
As Topps promised, there were two autographs to be found. The first one was a base autograph parallel of Colorado Rapids midfielder Dillon Powers. It’s a sticker autograph, and the signature is penned right above the player’s name on the card.
As Topps promised, there were two autographs to be found. The first one was a base autograph parallel of Colorado Rapids midfielder Dillon Powers. It’s a sticker autograph, and the signature is penned right above the player’s name on the card.
The second one is a little more out of the ordinary, a hobby exclusive Match Day Die-Cut Autograph Relic of Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers). This card combines a sticker autograph with a match-used piece of a soccer ball. This card is on thick stock and is cut in the shape of a parallelogram (who says I don’t remember my geometry?). Very nice looking card; it’s one of 21 different offerings in the subset.
The memorabilia hit is also printed on thick card stock. It’s a Crest Jumbo Relic card of Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Darren Mattocks, numbered to 99. This card incorporates a jersey swatch and the MLS logo.
Other hits that can be found in this set are Now and Then dual autographs, Dual Autographs and Dual Relics.
For soccer fans, Apex is definitely a splashy debut.
Other hits that can be found in this set are Now and Then dual autographs, Dual Autographs and Dual Relics.
For soccer fans, Apex is definitely a splashy debut.
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