The 2009 Topps Finest set debuted late in the fall in the customary master box configuration with two mini-boxes, each containing 6 packs per mini-box. 5 cards are included in each pack. An autographed hit is included one per mini-box.

Collectors will be hard pressed to finish the 130 card checklist as there are only 124 cards available. Card #'s 104, 111, 118, 125, 126, 127 do not exist. The base set is comprised of 60 veterans and 40 rookies. Tacked on as short prints of the base set are 24 autographed patch cards.

According to Topps marketing, each master box will contain two numbered rookie autograph letter and/or patch cards (one per mini-box), three pigskin refractor cards, and ten parallel cards.

This release is all about refractor variations. Refractors, Pigskin Refractors, Blue Refractors /429, Green Refractors /199, Gold Refractors /75, Red Refractors /25, Pigskin Gold Refractors /25, and Xfractors /1 along with the usual printing plates are offered. Unfortunately a basic insert set of Finest Moments is missing, though Finest Moments Autographs (with Red Refractor and White Xfractor variations) available.

The lack of true insert set with odd "pigskin" refractors and manufacturered letterman autographs make the 2009 release a bit of an odd duck compared to past and future offerings.