If you have been reading my site for any extended period of time, you know how I feel about Topps Triple Threads. All of its incarnations, all sports, its all one of my least favorite products ever conceived in this industry. That’s saying a lot considering how I feel about most of Panini’s awful football products, but to me, Triple Threads is on that level. Tomorrow, Triple Threads baseball hits shelves, and its time for my yearly bash session rant on my review of this year’s offering.

Before I start, Topps has made a conceded effort to improve the product. Because its such a polarizing product – you either love it or hate it with no in between – they have to keep the theme constant to please the people who like it. Outside of that, they are at least trying to incorporate some elements that everyone can appreciate. However, that doesn’t mean the product is on a level that would even resemble something worth buying or collecting in my opinion.

The worst part of the release isn’t the normal jersey and auto cards with the stupid sayings, or even the price of a box this time, although both have contributions. The worst part is the design of these “Unity” cards that included in every box. Not only do they have one of the most hideous designs I have seen this year (Panini included), but they are seemingly worthless additions to a product filled with worthless additions. The design is tetris like, something that I have come to despise, where each part of the card has its own “compartment”, thus making it look like tetris. Panini has opted for this look on so many of their football cards that it makes me wretch.

Here is what I am talking about:

2012 Triple Threads Doc Gooden Unity Relic Auto

2012 Triple Threads David Murphy Unity Relic Auto

That’s not to say that the normal crap of this set isn’t back for the millionth time. Weird sayings abound, and though the player pics are better, and they have included some on card content, I just don’t see anything special that makes this product worthwhile. If you enjoy the dumb things that Topps has become infamous for diecutting into the swatch windows, please, go knock yourself out with an 18 box (!) case. However, with Five Star now on the horizon, and Museum Collection putting a really nice touch on higher end baseball, Triple Threads isn’t novel anymore.

They have included more “OMG SICK MOJOZ!!!!!11!!” patches, as well as bat knobs and barrels to match, but I have to wonder why anyone would choose these ones over the other 3 sets that offer the same thing with better design work.

Overall, I am never going to like Triple Threads as long as it is still named Triple Threads. We just have too long of a history. But ill say this, as long as the design and theme are done the way they have been, it will continue to be a dividing factor rather than uniting one.