Yes, I Had To

I haven't opened up a lot of products this year, with no sponsors and lack of funds, it's been a real tough go for me. 

One of my favorite things to do in this hobby is ripping packs. I would rather open up packs of cards before adding a PC card or finishing up a set. 

I can see you shaking your heads at that last sentence, I get it.

With this year being so tough, I have had to change my perspective and how I collect and enjoy the hobby. So instead of being able to open up packs, I have been using stamps and making small pwe trades on occasion. Not quite the thrill of opening up a pack, but I am getting adjusted to being more excited about it.

However, with the recent release of Topps Chrome baseball, the itch got the better of me.

I haven't missed a single year of opening some form of Topps Chrome from one or multiple sports since its inaugural year of 1996. Could I really let that streak end this year? It's my favorite product release ever and not being able to open up at least a pack was getting to me.

But so wasn't the price.

I told myself after finding out blaster boxes at Walmart were $40, twice what they used to be, that I wouldn't fork out that cash for a blaster whether I had it or not.

That's until I found out I had money leftover on a Walmart gift card, then I pulled the trigger.

Regrettably so.

You will see why below,

Every 2023 Topps Chrome baseball blaster box comes with 7 packs of 4 cards. So, you're paying $40 for 28 cards. Meaning each card better be worth $1.50 each. I am sure you can find better cards in a dime and quarter box and bring more home for the cost.

 

I kicked off with my first card of the new Topps Chrome with Jose Altuve.

I won't bother showing rest of the base cards as this was the biggest name I found, so let's skip to the rookie portion.

Not a lot going on here. Rookie pitchers are not my thing.

Final rookie card wasn't too bad. I would rather have found Volpe but I will take it.

Next up, let's take a look at my favorite part of Chrome, the shiny stuff.

Meh base silver finds. These are 1:3 packs.

Pink Outman was the highlight of this box. Two Pink Refractors are per blaster.

Ugh. Two Sepia Parallels fall 2 per blaster. Not a fan of either player.

And another not-so-exciting find. The Prism parallels fall 1:6 packs so only one-per-blaster so my one shot wasn't great.

The inserts for my box break weren't much better,

Let's not discuss any further on these most hated inserts. These fall 1:6 packs.

And finally, 1:24 packs falls Technicolor. Tougher pull when you think about these falling 1:3 blasters but still player wise not so great.

I guess I should have let my streak come to an end this year, but, I am a traditionalist, so I had to keep it alive. It was still fun having the thrill of the rip, but I should have not spent the money still. Hopefully I can trade some of these off for something I need more.

With future finances not looking any better, I am sure next year I will be facing the same thought process when Topps Chrome releases next year.

Thoughts on my break, Topps Chrome in general and the prices for this year's product welcomed in comments.

I hope everyone has a Thirsty Thursday, in coffee form of course and has a great day as well.

Speaking of Thirsty Thursday, this coffee card blogger needs another cup.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Finally Found One!

*sits down, cup of coffee, box of cards in hand, it's time for a new Cards Over Coffee*

\

I finally found one!

 

My reaction (same one I have with my first cup of morning coffee)

For some reason or another, 2022 Stadium Club Chrome became a hot product and took off like it was Prizm, Mosaic or Optic football. Shelves were cleaned, product was being flipped, you know the bad old days of Covid.

Fortunately, in my area, I was able to find a blaster just sitting there on the shelf and even though I technically didn't really have the funds to do so, I couldn't leave and grabbed it and tossed it in the cart with no glare from the Mrs...this time. Of course, explaining to her how hard it is to find this product helped as well.

*takes a sip, rips the plastic off the box, stacks the packs, takes a sip and gets ready to rip*

Each blaster box of 2022 Stadium Club Chrome comes with 4 packs of 7 cards. So there really isn't a lot of cards in a box so you are hoping to score on one of them. Blaster boxes are $24.98 which makes the packs $6+ each.

Let's hope this gamble was worth it. I am just hoping for some cool looking inserts, some base for my PC's and some rookies. Maybe get lucky and land a Julio.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

Not a bad start on my base, which was one of the best base cards I pulled from the box. Not a single Judge, Jeter or Griffey Jr for my PCs.

Guess I will be on the hunt for those.

As for the card itself, I like this version of Chrome more than Topps Chrome. The photography is much better because of the Stadium Club branding.

The rookies I pulled from the box. Not any big names.

Overall there are 400 base cards in the set to collect with rookies, legends and present players.

Up next are my parallels,

Base refractor, never heard of this guy. But, a rookie refractor seems like a PC fit I suppose.

X-Factors, one fell per pack. 

Overall, there are X-Fractor, Base Refractor, Wave, Blue /199, Green /99, Gold /50, Orange /25, Red /5, and SuperFractor 1/1 parallels to be found.

Now onto my inserts...fingers crossed on landing Trophy Hunter card of Griffey, Judge and Jeter.....

Nope, Beam Team of Oneil Cruz and Pete Alonso. These fall 1:6 packs and has 25 cards to collect.

Team Of The Futuer of Fernando Tatis Jr. Whatever happened to this guy, goes from hobby sweetheart with Acuna Jr and now both guys are way out of sight. These fall 1:6 packs and have 20 cards in the set to collect.

*takes a sip to build up two other finds in the break*

Then came a couple big surprises....

In Pack 2, I found this Brandon Marsh autograph!

Then in Pack 3, another autograph!!! 2 retail autos!! I don't know who this is but this is a green parallel autograph /99.

 

Overall, I am feeling like this after the break....and after two cups of coffee.

*takes as sip before finishing up today's post*

I didn't quite get the PC cards I had hoped for, but pulling was pretty cool. One of the best retail breaks I have had in a while.

Thoughts on my break welcomed in comments. Most of the cards including the autographs will be available for trade as well.

I hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2021-2022 Panini Hoops Basketball Blaster Box

*these repulished posts make for a good weekend read don't they? time for another break*

You ever have one of those so-called "blonde moments"? Well, I can admit that I did recently.

And I am far from blonde unless you call dark hair and growing bald just that.

I saw a box of 2021-2022 NBA Hoops sitting on the shelf at Walmart and thought I saw it as the NBA Hoops Winter edition that comes with a Christmas Sweater so I snagged it. Everyone knows how much I love my Christmas cards.

I never noticed that I grabbed the wrong box until I opened it and saw no holiday sweater card. 

Then I read it. UGH.

Well, regardless, I still got to open some basketball cards something you couldn't do a year ago.

Let er rip!

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

In every blaster box of 2021-22 Panini NBA Hoops basketball, there are 8 packs of 11 cards. Each blaster has no guarantee other than some inserts and possible parallels and hits. Blasters currently run $27.98 each.

The base card set is Hoops like. Good photography along with an outside white border.

270 cards make up this year's Hoops checklist. There is some incredible photography used in this set such as this Zion and the main base set is built up of 200 veterans

And 70 rookies. My box was weak rookie card wise.

There are plenty of photography packed inserts as well.

You can find the following parallels in this years Hoops,Anniversary Edition, Blue, Green Ice, Hyper Blue, Neon Green, Purple, Purple Winter, Red Backs, Teal Explosion, Winter, Yellow, Silver /199, Green /99, Hyper Red /99, 75th Anniversary /75, Red /75, Blue Explosion /59, Artist Proof /25, Hyper Green /25, Orange Explosion /25, Red Explosion /15, Artist Proof Gold /10, Hyper Gold /10, and Artist Proof Black 1/1.

 

These are blue and purple.

Inserts can come with the following parallels, Holo, Hyper Red /99, Artist Proof /25, Hyper Green /25, Artist Proof Gold /10, and Hyper Gold /10.

There are 30 cards to collect in Lights Camera Action

15 cards make up the Frequent Flyers set.

Arriving Now is 25 cards deep in its checklist featuring rookies.

25 cards in the Class of 2021 insert set.

Sky View has 25 cards to collect.

The Slam inserts return featuring the basketball covers from the magazine.

My favorite card from this break was the holo version. This card looks amazing. Would make for a great set chase.

Not too much excitement in this break other than that last card. But, maybe a buddy of mine needs some more set help and I am willing to help out.

Thoughts on this break welcomed in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2020-2021 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Blaster Box

*coffee has awoken the beast, well, me. It's early but a few sips will get the blood flowing and the typing hands working. I will also need my hands to open up a hockey card product. I am not a huge fan of collecting hockey, but I am a huge fan of Upper Deck and have always been. Just ask Chris Carlin who knows this as well*

 

2020-2021 Upper Deck Series 2 Blaster Box

6 Packs, 8 Cards Per Pack

1 Jumbo Young Guns Per Blaster

$19.99 Per Blaster

Summary: Upper Deck Series 2 picks up where Series 1 ended. It includes a new batch of base cards which are cards 251-450, but most importantly Young Guns which is what the big draw is for Upper Deck's flagship product of hockey. Series 2 will include 50 cards,451-500, that fall 1:4 packs and includes the skaters not in Series 1.

You can find the following parallels as well for the base cards and Young Guns that includes, French, Clear Cut, Exclusives, and High Gloss.

The product also includes an Update Set for O-Pee-Chee that is rookie heavy alongside other inserts and Sp's. The Dazzlers insert continues to be my favorite and dazzling to say the least.

The autographs and relics are both rookie and veteran laden.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

Here are the key cards from my break:

 

(jumbo Young Gun)

 

*takes a sip before finishing up today's break and post*

I didn't land one of the top Young Guns but being a rookie card collector I was pretty happy with just one. The O-Pee-Chee Lafreniere was a solid find for an update rookie for O-Pee-Chee being the top rookie going into the season collectors were hunting for. Also being a Rangers fan of the past helps with that one as well.

*takes one final sip, well for the post more sips are coming today, Coffee Card Blogger out*

Heritage

*takes a sip of coffee on this cold 22 degree day. Wind chill and snow probably take that down a few more degrees. But, I have coffee and I have cards and that's all I am focused on right now. Time for some Cards Over Coffee*

Heritage is a noun that means "property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance: and also "valued objects and qualities such as cultural traditions, unspoiled countryside, and historic buildings that have been passed down from previous generations." 

I think I know what my heritage is, it's sport cards.

It's what will be passed down to me and what I will one day pass down myself. I just hope the hobby is at a better place when that day comes for me or I could see my once "valued possessions" not be passed down again. Most likely would be sold off.

The thought of that happening is mightily disappointing.

*takes a sip, wonders if my passion of coffee would be passed down as well*

Heritage is also a twice-yearly Topps baseball release with it's first release, Low Number, just hitting the shelves recently. I was fortunately lucky enough to find a blaster box at my Walmart, which also happened to be the last of anything left on the shelf as well. Either way, I wasn't leaving it there for someone to flip. I wanted something to rip.

I am not a huge fan of the product, but I do like to pick up a few retail offerings of it every year just to say I have some. Hobby box wise, I stay away. A little too costly for one hit that 9 times out of 10 will be a relic. Hobby Boxes this year are in the $140 range.

I haven't seen a lot of rips or previews of the product this year so this rip will be fresh for me. So there is only one thing left to do....

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

 

There are 8 packs of 9 cards in every blaster box of 2021 Topps Heritage baseball. There are no guarantees in each blaster other than having a good time ripping something new. Each blaster box not being flipped will run you $20.

The base set takes you back to the 1972 design which to me is a good one, though I wasn't around to collect it at the time. I do own a few cards from that set now.

It is also a pretty large set for modern day collecting.

There are 500 cards in the base set. FIVE....HUNDRED. That's 5 and two 00's.

The base set breaks down into Veteran Base and subsets of

League Leaders from 2020

In Action (I really like these because of the unique photography on the card. This Cutch was my favorite from the ones I found in this break)

 

2020 Postseason and World Series moments

Along with these Boyhood Photos.

You can't have a base set without rookie cards, so insert these Rookie Stars, which I did really well with landing Adell and Bohm.

I also pulled a Ruiz

 and a Yankees one for the PC.

There are also short prints, no surprise there.

Cards 400-500 are short printed and found 1:3 packs. It will be a challenge to complete this set, fortunately for me I have no interest in chasing it.

*takes a sip before moving onto the inserts*

Then And Now of Dick Allen and Luke Voit. Overall there are 15 cards in the set to collect.

 

New Age Performers. There are 25 of them to chase. I feel like I landed the best one.

And finally 1972 Topps Candy Lids insert. Can't complain about ever finding a Clemente in a break.

*takes a sip before finishing up the post*

As usual with my breaks of Heritage, nothing big but a few decent cards. I have seen many though hit it huge in retail Heritage with autographs of Acuna, etc. I don't have that kind of luck. Guess that's my Heritage, never finding the retail big hits. Hopefully that kind of luck doesn't get passed down.