As most know, I love to read the boards of various internet sports card communities and check up on hot prospects (which I know nothing about) and little bits of sports card news that should be spread like wildfire. Well this is another one.
If you don’t remember the information about the Topps Gold Rush that headed to hobby shops last year, you missed out on a pretty cool promotion from Topps. It got people out the hobby shops and helped drive sales to shops and to new Topps products. One of the coolest features were several “Golden Tickets” that were put into these promo boxes which entitled the winners to a “gold infused” baseball signed by Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Ken Griffey Jr. How awesome is that?
As you can see on that link to a thread on Freedom Cardboard, those shops and people ended up getting royally screwed. Allegedly, Topps now claims they are unable to fulfill the winning ticket prizes for those items and have in return sent them cases of 2012 Topps Archives. Admittedly, Archives is a fun product to bust. But a case of Archives over a specially signed ball from three of the greatest home run hitters of all time? One of their cheapest products of the year?
My God, Topps. At least send them autographs of the individuals who were supposed to be on the ball. Maybe make a special print run of cards where they can sign the special cards for those people. Or maybe give them a chance at pulling an autograph from those guys…send them a case of Tribute or something worth something. I especially feel bad for those that bought those “golden tickets” on eBay expecting a great piece of memorabilia and instead got Archives.
Thanks Topps! I know your customer service had been crappy as of late, but that doesn’t help your cause. Step up, be the big man, and do something good for your hobby shops and customers who were affected.
Update: I like to think that the pressure from collectors made a difference here. It looks like things are starting to move forward!
Either of those players aren’t your cup of tea? This $320 per box product also features autographs from the great Sandy Koufax, Willy Mays, Albert Pujols, and Hank Aaron. In fact, I’m impressed with the majority of the autographed checklist. I mean, 
With 3 autographs and 3 game used relics per box, it’s a risky buy at $320 as this product is kind of hit or miss for the most part. But with an impressive on-card autograph checklist, if you can afford it, it looks like a very fun break. If you do wish to try it out, good luck to you!
