Unleashed Again

  *sits down on this cloudy fall day to get ready for the latest post on Cards Over Coffee. Cup is full, cards are next to me and the time has come*

I don't usually re-visit cards on this blog. I try to aim for new content and new cards every time, but today is an exception.

I enjoy the 2021 Donruss Unleashed cards so much that I wanted to give an update on how far my collection has gone with them so far. 

Thanks to a recent mail day from blog reader Grady M, I have added quite a few more.

*takes a sip before showing off the cards*

Overall there are 26 base inserts to collect in the Unleashed set. 

So far, I have 7 of those.

There are also multiple parallel levels to them as well, Diamond, Pink Fireworks, Rapture, Vector, Silver /349, Blue /249, Red /149, Gold /99, Green /25, and Black 1/1.

 

I can't tell the difference with some of the unnumbered parallels, but I at least can sort them by the design.

So far, I haven't seen a better designed insert this year in baseball. I do challenge you in comments to prove me wrong.

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

Thanks to Grady M for adding to my collection and if any of you have any available for trade that I don't have above, feel free to reach out. We can have some online coffee and do some trading.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break: 2020 Topps Inception Baseball

 

*a product I didn't get to open last year combined with a fresh cup of joe is all I need today. Well, the sunshine and melting snow helps as well*

I know I said it may be some time before I post on here again ,but here we are. I guess I can't keep all of my promises and I am hoping none of you are hurt from me sharing a new post. I don't think you will be.

Today, I have a box of 2020 Inception baseball, which was roughly released a year ago, to share with you....in more than one way. But you will have to keep reading to see what I mean.

In order to do that, I must open this box up first. So let's get to it!

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

In every box of 2020 Inception baseball cards there is one pack. That one pack comes with 7 cards in which one of those cards is an autograph. Boxes are still running high with them holding around $200-$225. So it's a gamble for sure at $33 a card in here.

You open the box up and you find the pack on the inside.

Here is what the pack on the inside looks like. 

*takes another sip to do another rip*

There are 100 cards to collect in the base set for 2020 Topps Inception baseball.

This years design features a bold, vibrant full of color touch. Up until this break I hadn't seen any of these base, but these may be the best ones I have seen from Inception. It took me some time to grow a liking to products that use art, but this design is a home run.

Back of the base card isn't quite as vibrant as the front. I do wish there was expanded stats on these. I am a man of numbers.

Here were the other base in my break,

The base set consists of veterans and rookies. I think it would be fun to see some legendary stars make their appearance in this set. Ken Griffey Jr base card like this....yeah...wow.

*takes a sip before tackling the parallels*

Parallels in this set come in a variety of colors such as, Green, Purple /150, Magenta /99, Red /99, Orange /50, Blue /25, Inception 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.

I pulled two greens in my pack. Both players not too bad.

And now onto the autograph of the pack....

Mike Tachman on-card autograph. It is also a eBay 1/1 with 50/50 because it's an orange parallel.

*takes a sip before summing up. Well, takes a few sips to be honest because honesty is the best policy*

My overall thoughts is that the product looks really nice, but man, it's hard to swallow landing a Tauchman autograph for the $200. Though as a Yankees fan it's exciting to see a PC card. The overall checklist though has some huge names and some really nice looking autograph patch, button, etc hits. So I guess it depends on what kind of gambler-type-collector you are.

Ratings (ratings based on 1-5 🍵)

Design 🍵🍵🍵🍵
Photography 🍵
Inserts: Not Applicable
Hits 🍵
Price 🍵
Value 🍵

(my ratings on this product looks bad because of the way I break things down, but I actually enjoyed opening this)

*takes another sip before announcing some exciting news...and may or may not have taken a bite of a raised donut that just happens to be sitting next to me*

I said earlier something about sharing...well... I will be announcing a contest in the next few days for a chance to win some cards from this break and my Series 1 break! I haven't decided if the contest will be held on this blog, Matt's Wonderful Blog Of Hobbies or on Twitter. But stay tuned!

*takes a final sip of the current cup, moves onto cup number 2. Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Update

*it's time for some update, coffee and cards. Sounds like a good start to a "warm" 30 degree morning. Almost T-Shirt and shorts weather! Takes a sip, begins to start today's post*

The title of today's post is update and I have a few. Let's start with these,

1. The blog is still snail paced growing after much promoting of it. Not sure what steps to take to get this blog going more.
2. Trying to build up this blog more has cost my other two blogs better content. I may take some time off from here to work on them. No worries about my coffee though, there won't be a break from that.
3. I had my virtual non alcoholic fatty liver appointment. The Liver Specialist is going to send me for multiple blood work, possibly put me on some medications (that's all I need is another medication) and have me come down to her in May to run a test on my liver to see if there is any scarring from having this issue for years. Just hoping all of that goes well. She did say however, keep on drinking coffee as coffee is good for the liver! Woo Ha!
4. My kidney check-in is for the 23rd of this month to see if the medications they gave me helped the blockage in my right kidney. I will be getting an ultrasound before that appointment to check. If the medications didn't work, they will test me further and who knows what happens from there.
5. Have any cards to trade? Well, I do to. I am always up for a good trade!

One more update....

Some 2020 Topps Chrome Update baseball.

Each 2020 Topps Chrome Update Mega Box comes with 28 cards which is 7 packs of 4 cards. There are no guarantees in here but I have seen some pull 1/1 Superfractors and autographs from the product. I was hoping for the same. Each box roughly costs $30-$50 depending on when and how you buy it.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

The base set is built up of 100 cards. Players featured are from the past and present.

I found a few PC guys in this break including the Tino above, Gleyber here

Aaron Judge (awesome photo)

Cal Ripken Jr (well not really PC, but dig a 90's guy find)

And Ken Griffey Jr, still my biggest PC I have.

*takes another sip before moving onto the rookies*

My rookies started off rough.

Not many big names to see in the first six packs.

That's not until I got to the last pack. Where I found this Bo Bichette.

And Luis Robert.

So not too bad of a start to this box. Let's check out the inserts next.

*takes another sip, hopes that his readers are joining in on the coffee today*

I found it odd that I didn't pull a single parallel in my break but they must be hard to find. There are these offerings to be had if I had pulled one,
Pink, Pink Wave, Refractor /250, X-Fractor /99, Gold /50, Red /25, SuperFractor 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.

I did land some insets though, all of which I really liked the designs of.

Decades Next 2020 with Yordan Alvarez and Pete Alonso.

There are 25 cards in this set and they fall 1:4 packs.

Numbers Game Tony Gwynn

And my favorite card of this break, Numbers Game Jackie Robinson. I cannot tell you in words how great this card looks and my picture doesn't even touch it's beauty. It's like that perfect cup of coffee you can only taste, but can't describe.

There are 25 cards in this set and falls 1:4 packs.

*takes a sip, definitely not the perfect cup for this morning but is at least something to keep me going*

I am sure I will have updates on my updates to post when the time comes to do so, that way I won't leave you all hanging.

As for now, I am going to finish this cup of coffee and get going on the day. As you get older you come to realize more and more you don't want to waste a single minute of your day and I have lots to accomplish.

*takes another sip, coffee blogger out*

The Holidays Are Late

*takes a sip of coffee, yup, it's time for Cards Over Coffee*

Sorry about the hiatus on this blog and don't worry, I didn't take any breaks from coffee in the meantime. How can anyone do that and be sane?

A couple of weeks ago, my father timed it right and arrived at Walmart when the vendor was there. It never happens and is once in a blue moon when it does. So he called me and asked if I wanted anything and listed off a few of the products.

There wasn't much to choose from in terms of variety or even amounts brought, but here were my options.

• 2020 Panini Contenders Football both blasters and rack packs (great hobby, but terrible retail product with autograph offerings from undrafted free agents)
• 2020 Topps Heritage Baseball Hangers (bleh, not really a huge fan of that product)
• 2020 Donruss Football Hangers (already opened some)
• 2020 Topps Holiday Baseball ( hold on say what?!)

Yes, 2020 Topps Holiday baseball. Exactly what the Dr ordered. That's Dr. Cards of course.

So he grabbed me a box of holiday and I worked out a trade for it. Of course nothing in life comes easy and I had to sell my soul to the devil for the box, but knowing how much I like Topps Holiday, I happily obliged and signed on the dotted line. In other words, I gave up a decent card to land this box so it better be worth it.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

There are 10 packs of 10 cards to be found in every 2020 Topps Holiday Mega Box. Each box comes with a guaranteed autograph, autograph relic or relic card. 9 times out of 10, be ready for that relic card. Boxes go for $25-$30.

Each box also comes with new-to-the-product cool ornament as well. I will say its not as awesome as the ones in the late 90's-early 2000's Pacific but I really like this addition to the product. I pulled the recently traded Nolan Arenado.

*takes a sip excited to have a new ornament for the tree next year, not sure how the wife will feel about it but I will sneak it on*

The base set for Topps Holiday is a spruced up version of the base with touches of Christmas joy and some snowflakes. Not bad to fish this out of the first pack.

Topps All-Star Rookie Cup. I would expect another big year from Tatis Jr and the Padres could make a run with the team they have assembled.

A couple of Yankees for my PC. I was especially happy to find Aaron Judge.

A few solid rookies as well in this break.

Overall, there are 200 cards in the base set to collect. I know a lot of collectors like to land the base set but with the product release so late this year will be interesting if it is as popular of chase as it was in years past.

I like the base cards and design this year, but for me, it's not the base cards I was after. I wanted the short prints with the unique Santa Hats, Presents, Stockings, Ice Skates and other Christmas related items that aren't as plentiful this year.

 

I only pulled two in my box which was disappointing. There was this Pete Alonso, the one on the right is the base and the one of the left is the Rare Presents Above The Dugout that falls 1:20 packs. If it wasn't for the codes, I never would have seen this one. Its really hard to see those presents.

Then there was this Super Rare of Alex Bregman that falls 1:161 packs. Candy Cane stockings, kinda cool. The card was backwards in the pack so I had a feeling this one was an Sp before I turned it around to see it

*takes final sip of cup one, immediately pours cup two and continues on with today's post*

The metallic parallels, unless you have Super Vision, are really hard to spot. I didn't think I pulled a single one when I was opening the packs, that was until I read they landed 1:2 packs so I checked back through and found some.

 

This Tim Anderson is one believe it or not.

I tried to capture it in the sunlight...nope.

So I tried the sun again, blew up this picture a little more and added a red circle to try and show it. I think if you click on the image you might be able to see it. Years past they were a bit more glittery so they stood out more.

There is one card left to this break to show off and that was my hit of the box.....

Danny Jansen relic. I like the design but not tootles of excitement with the player pull.

That was fun, but felt a little weird opening up a holiday themed product after Christmas. I may have tried to trade for another but with it being past Christmas it's not as tempting to.

Not sure I got my soul's worth out of this box in terms of value, but the fun I did and that's what matters most.

*takes a gulp of delicious coffee before closing*

Now that this post is done, I need to grab some breakfast. I promise the next post won't be too far down the road. 

I hope you enjoyed this break with some breakfast and a cup of coffee yourself.

Coffee Break:2020 Topps Series 2 Baseball Blaster Box

*sits down with a cup in hand of fresh brew, well it's actually his wife's cup but it's the biggest one in the house so it will due even though it says sisters on it. But with lack of sleep, the big cup is needed*

You wanna know what's hotter than my first cup of coffee? Topps Series 2 that is!

This stuff is flying off of the shelves!! Mainly because of one card on the base checklist that everyone wants in Luis Robert. The problem is, it's really hard to find any at least in the retail level. I prefer retail over hobby when it comes to flagship as you pay $20 for a blaster with one hit or $90 for a hobby box with one hit and most of the time the hit from the blaster (though manufactured) will be better than the hobby one color swatch.

So my father was texting me what was new from Walmart and mentioned Series 2 and how the distributor must had just filled the shelves because they were empty the prior day. So I told him to grab me a blaster and I would trade for it. I sometimes look back and wonder if I should had grabbed two.

And I did trade for it. Luckily for me he needed a 2011 Topps Chrome Cam Newton rookie for his rookie collection, those things have gone up since he became a Patriot, and I had three to spare so it was a win-win for me.

So he shipped it a few days later and it took a few days to arrive even though we are only one state away from each other. The USPS system right now is in a weird place. Fortunately I haven't had to ship much this year with my trading being down.

With it in hand right now finally, this mornings cup of coffee will go great with this break of 2020 Topps Series 2 baseball.

*takes a sip, begins to rip!*

This box was pretty heavy when it arrived. I was quite impressed for a retail box of 7 packs on how heavy it was. I also hope I don't get caught ripping this right now, it says for Ages 6+ and sometimes I may act or say things below that age. So please don't tattle on me.

In each blaster box of 2020 Topps Series 2, you will find 7 packs of 14 cards with a variety of parallels and inserts to chase. Each blaster also comes with 1 Player Medallion and is $20 a box.

The base set as always picks up where Series 1 ended. This time with a brand new 350 cards to chase. It includes players that were not in Series 1 and of course the hottest card out there right now in Robert. I was happy just to find a couple of Yanks for the PC.

(I assume this is another subset but it caught my eye)

Being a rookie card collector, I was excited to add six more rookies to the PC. But,  I will admit, I got halfway excited when I saw a White Sox in the corner only to find out it was Danny Mendick. Sorry Danny, didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

So if you're wondering and thinking I hid a Robert to post next, nope the wait is over, there was no Robert in this blaster. (seems like everyone but me has one)

 *takes another sip of coffee. Darn this is hitting the spot this morning*

Just like with Series 1, Series 2 has an array of parallels to find. Most at the hobby level but I have seen some surprises in retail before.

This is what you are looking for, Rainbow Foil , Gold Foil, Gold /2020, Advanced Stat /300, Vintage /99, Independence /76, Black /69, Mother's Day Hot Pink /50, Father's Day Blue /50, Memorial Day Camo /25, Platinum 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.

Usually in years past, you pull a couple of golds and a couple of Rainbow Foils but this was the only parallel I landed in this box at 1:10 odds. I like the added toughness to the chase and believe this is the first time in a long time I didn't pull a gold.

The inserts have their own parallels as well with Blue, Black /299, Gold /50, Red /10, and Platinum 1/1 to find.

1985 insert that seem to be a staple in this product since 1985, fall 1:4 packs. I could really do without these anymore. This time around there is 100 of these to collect. Wowzahs.

Empire State award winner Pete Alonso set only available in Walmart retail. There are 30 to collect. If you are wanting the Fernando Tatis Jr versions, they are limited to Target retail.

I have had my run on these Turkey Reds as well. These are a retail exclusive with 100 of them to chase. They seemed plentiful in my blaster compared to other inserts.

Same with the Chromed version, except they have refractors. Not sure I could get tired of refractors.

Decades Best makes another return this time with another 100 cards to collect. I do enjoy the design on these however.

And finally, I pulled this Player Of The Decade Mike Trout. It's a Trout dedicated set of 25 cards, though I think 27 cards should have been the number. Congrats to Mike by the way who just left on Paternity Leave.

All I know is that the face of MLB, yes you know it's true, will be missed until he returns.

*finishes up first cup, decides to wait on a second cup and finish up this post*

Okay, so we have reached that exciting moment as we have reached the Player Medallion card. I have seen these posted on Twitter so they look really cool.

What I didn't know was how much they weighed. It was the reason why the blaster was so heavy. Maybe I should do some wrist curls with it to strengthen my wrists and fingers for typing before I move on.

*one up, two up, three up, four up, five getting tired up, six barely making it up, sev......ten. Good enough* 

Same goes with my pushups and curl ups with my counting.

The player medallion checklist is pretty deep so you never know who you will pull with 50 cards to choose from

 But was pretty solid with this one. Can't go wrong with some Bo Bichette.

And come to find out, it was a black parallel /199. Must have to do with the darker color on the front. I wouldn't have known if I didn't look at the back and then looked up if they included parallels.

Overall they have Black /199, Gold /50, Red /10, and Platinum 1/1.

*decided to make breakfast first anyways, Asiago bagel toasting and fresh cup of coffee next to me awaiting it's partner in crime*

I was pretty pleased with my break overall. The only thing I want left from Series 2 is the Robert for my rookie card collection and may seek that out via trade instead of busting more. But, you never know with this blogger.

That's of course if I can find anymore of it as well.

Ratings (ratings based on 1-5 🍵)

Design 🍵🍵
Photography 🍵🍵🍵
Inserts 🍵🍵
Hits 🍵🍵
Price 🍵🍵🍵
Value 🍵🍵