2023 Topps Chrome Sapphire EQL

[BayAreaChris]

Originally Posted by BabaORiley

I've updated the list of Image Variations that I've seen on Ebay. There have been 18 Strider IVs listed/sold and none of his actual Sapphire base.

Beginning to think all of these guys ^^^ got an alternate image instead of image variation (which would imply some sort of scarcity). If anything, it certainly appears that there are no SPd IVs.

Do these IV’s have different codes or just different images from flagship?

[cj828282]

Originally Posted by BayAreaChris

Do these IV’s have different codes or just different images from flagship?

Different codes. 13 for base and 30 for the IV.

[theredmenace]

Originally Posted by BabaORiley

I've updated the list of Image Variations that I've seen on Ebay. There have been 18 Strider IVs listed/sold and none of his actual Sapphire base.

Beginning to think all of these guys ^^^ got an alternate image instead of image variation (which would imply some sort of scarcity). If anything, it certainly appears that there are no SPd IVs.

There are no listed image variations on the checklist which supports your theory. The odd thing is these IVs do have a different code than the "base" TCS cards.

Great job Topps, and RIP to the guy who paid $500 for a Spencer Strider "short print".

[DonnieBBall23]

Looking forward to opening one of my sapphire boxes, but I have no idea when they're going to arrive. Topps says it has shipped and supplied a UPS tracking number, but it's not actually a tracking number- but it appears it's just a series of random numbers. Anyone else have a similar situation?

[cj828282]

Originally Posted by DonnieBBall23

Looking forward to opening one of my sapphire boxes, but I have no idea when they're going to arrive. Topps says it has shipped and supplied a UPS tracking number, but it's not actually a tracking number- but it appears it's just a series of random numbers. Anyone else have a similar situation?

Yes, the package will eventually be delivered by USPS. Tracking is not current and the package will just show up one day. Really screwy they way Topps is doing some of this shipping now. No UPS tracking and takes a few days before USPS tracking shows any movement.

[DonnieBBall23]

Originally Posted by cj828282

Yes, the package will eventually be delivered by USPS. Tracking is not current and the package will just show up one day. Really screwy they way Topps is doing some of this shipping now. No UPS tracking and takes a few days before USPS tracking shows any movement.

ah weird. It's a series of 26 numbers. Ok, i'll keep a look out!

[LVDan]

Originally Posted by theredmenace

There are no listed image variations on the checklist which supports your theory. The odd thing is these IVs do have a different code than the "base" TCS cards.

Great job Topps, and RIP to the guy who paid $500 for a Spencer Strider "short print".

That's the most Topps thing I've seen in at least a few days

[DJ Wenz]

Originally Posted by DonnieBBall23

Looking forward to opening one of my sapphire boxes, but I have no idea when they're going to arrive. Topps says it has shipped and supplied a UPS tracking number, but it's not actually a tracking number- but it appears it's just a series of random numbers. Anyone else have a similar situation?

A similar thing happened to me, where clicking on the number or searching the number got me nowhere. Go to the UPS website and copy/paste the tracking number into the tracker on their site.

UPS is handling the package from the warehouses to the regional distribution centers, and then handing them off to USPS for final delivery.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by theredmenace

There are no listed image variations on the checklist which supports your theory. The odd thing is these IVs do have a different code than the "base" TCS cards.

Great job Topps, and RIP to the guy who paid $500 for a Spencer Strider "short print".

How #@#@#@#@ing stupid. As bad as the missing wood minis.

[DJ Wenz]

Originally Posted by theredmenace

There are no listed image variations on the checklist which supports your theory. The odd thing is these IVs do have a different code than the "base" TCS cards.

Great job Topps, and RIP to the guy who paid $500 for a Spencer Strider "short print".

The $500 sale on 9/8 was actually a best offer accepted for $150, per 130point.

But still, the point stands. If it's just a base card that guy got smoked. Thanks Topps

[halflife78]

Originally Posted by cj828282

Best card in the break. Any one see the damage? LOL. Sending back to Topps for replacement. By the time I get the card back it will be worth a lot less. Thanks Topps.

In for Topps saying it's an 8.

[theredmenace]

Originally Posted by DJ Wenz

The $500 sale on 9/8 was actually a best offer accepted for $150, per 130point.

But still, the point stands. If it's just a base card that guy got smoked. Thanks Topps

Makes me feel a bit better. Still feel bad for the guy who paid $2.5k for a JRod Planetary Pursuit Uranus before everyone figured out that Topps overprinted the card by x25. Same card was sold yesterday for $350.

[BabaORiley]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

How #@#@#@#@ing stupid. As bad as the missing wood minis.

From a company whose recent Greatest Hits also include such entries as Missing Wood Minis/ Missing J-Rod/Witt SPs/21 Bowman's Best and Bowman Heritage/entire boxes of 2022 Topps 1st Edition with ZERO RCs and on and on, I realize this is a minor f-up. But it would be nice if someone at that company pulled their heads out of the rectums long enough to ensure that customers were even remotely satisfied with their products, or, failing that, that their products delivered what the marketing materials laid out.

Here's what I posted on 9/5 on the Monty Club thread (shortly after they went up for presale): "Also initially said hard pass but the description mentions Image Variations and I bought in. The "super limited Sapphire Selections" cards may actually mimic the Golden Mirror concept. I fully expect to get crushed on this break but snagged 2.

I at least nailed the bolded part. As it turns out, the Sapphire Selections aren't Super Limited and the image variations are some sort of alternate images of players that most collectors don't consider to be that collectible (albeit with different codes that would point toward some sort of other plan on Topps' part).

Nothing like going through $450 worth of cards (64 of them) only to find that 4 of your 59 base cards are "Image Variations" of Josh Naylor, Josh Naylor again, Michael Brantley & Will Smith that actually have no regular image to vary from. Again, from a product that you're charging $7/card on direct B2C orders!

[CircleTheWagon]

Had a buddy open the one box he ordered and it had zero parallels in it! Fanatics FTW!

[BabaORiley]

Originally Posted by CircleTheWagon

Had a buddy open the one box he ordered and it had zero parallels in it! Fanatics FTW!

Maybe he lucked out with a Kolten Wong Image Variation instead.

I kid, that's awful.

[Picklepete]

First box sucked bad.
Wasn't going to open 2nd but no patience.

Hit an Adley /25 RC box 2.
Woo..

[speedyjg13]

May have missed it? Checklist? Who are the auto subjects?

[LVDan]

Originally Posted by speedyjg13

May have missed it? Checklist? Who are the auto subjects?

Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, mantle. Jackie
1 per pack

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by LVDan

Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, mantle. Jackie
1 per pack

No rookie autos?

[BabaORiley]

Originally Posted by speedyjg13

May have missed it? Checklist? Who are the auto subjects?

If this product had autos, I'd guess Fanatics would have selected the scoreboard operators of half the teams and bullpen catchers for the other half.

[cj828282]

Originally Posted by speedyjg13

No rookie autos?

Nope, maybe in Topps Chrome Update Sapphire later this year.

[NYBBFAN]

Originally Posted by BabaORiley

If this product had autos, I'd guess Fanatics would have selected the scoreboard operators of half the teams and bullpen catchers for the other half.

Hahaha alright this made me laugh

[BabaORiley]

Here's the (updated) full list of Image Variations that have been listed as such on eBay:
Will Smith
Josh Naylor
Michael Brantley
Alejandro Kirk
Sonny Gray
Kolten Wong
Carlos Rodon
Alex Verdugo
Gleyber Torres
Nelson Cruz
Aaron Nola
Spencer Strider
Jeff McNeil
Yoan Moncada - Moncada IVs have surfaced.

I'm trying to find a common thread among this group of players. Most of them would have been what Beckett Magazine called "semistars" back in the 80's. For those of you saying "what's a semistar?" - it's when 100 players out of a 700 card set who weren't worthy of being listed on their own got a 1-page roll call out as being "semistars", signifiying that their base cards were worth 8 cents instead of 5 cents for commons (or whatever).

Most of these guys have at least 1 all-star appearance but not all. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what's happened with these "Image Variations" but seems like the most basic explanation is just Topps doing Topps things...

[Redbandit]

Just ripped and these are the best hits. PM me if interested in the /5 or /50


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[Rooftop]

Hard to see em. Can you enlarge them?