This summer, I watched a 2013 Topps Toys R US Purple Manny Machado sell on ebay for around $50 bucks. I looked at the prices of these on ebay....I was puzzled to say the least, but I have been going crazy about these cards ever sense.
THE STORY ....I visited my local Toys R US and found around 20 packs of Series 1. That was a total of 60 cards. I was hooked. Over the next three weeks, I was all over the country traveling. I visited tons of Toys R Us locations. I found some stores sold out, I found some with a few packs. I spoke with clerks and management on how long these had been for sale. I found that Series 1 had been out for awhile, but series 2 was put out that week. The manager said the merchandiser had come that afternoon: I looked at the shelf.... four packs of series 2. I asked them to check the back, they did...the store received four total blasters!!! 12 Total Series 2 Purples. This was the story at just about every store. I did find a store with 10 Series 2 blasters....it blew my mind!
CONDITION....These cards were packaged in a single blaster package. The topps pack and three loose purple bordered cards. There was tons of room for these cards to slide around in the package. The first 60 cards that came out of my first buy....probably all NRMT/MT or less in condition. The purple borders make these crazy to find in MINT condition.
SERIES 1...Highlighted with Derek Jeter, Manny Machado, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Dylan Bundy, and Jurickson Profar. Series 1 comprised of 330 cards, #1-330. Tough Finds/Rare: Manny Machado Baltimore Orioles #270, Jeter #2
SERIES 2...Highlighted with Miguel Cabrera, Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Derek Jeter (record chaser). Series 2 #331-661. Tough Find/Rare: Derek Jeter #373, Chris Carpenter St Louis Cardinals #631
PRODUCTION...3 cards per pack ....876 Stores..15 blasters per store....only about 700 stores probably sell sports cards....so 700x15=10,500 Packs x 3 cards per pack.....31,500 cards / 330 Card Set = About 95 to 100 Cards of each player. Given the condition sensitivity maybe only a handful of mint cards!!!!!
OVERALL TAKE...with players like Machado, Bundy, Darvish, Profar, Ruf, and Ryu having rookie cards this set may sizzle in the future. Why pay big money for the Black or Pink of the regular issue....pick these up while you can....I know opening 110 blasters with perfect collation would get you a set of Series 1, but I doubt it will be that easy. Series 2 in my opinion will be even harder to complete. I would love to have any of the Rookie Cards in a high grade at the house...as well as trout...harper.....jeter!
Check back next week...I will be writing about the Opening Day Purple Set....
