Coffee Break:2022 Topps Chrome Hobby Box

*takes a sip, gets ready to rip some newer Topps product. takes another sip. let's get on this*

It's Tuesday! Why is Tuesday exciting, well, I get to open my favorite Topps product since 1996. I haven't missed a year yet of opening at least a pack of Topps Chrome. I like Chrome so much that it has even become a household name. I can use Chrome in my jokes, I can use the word Chrome and everyone in the family will look at me. Chrome is a thing. I am a Chromie (groupie with Chrome love).

Today I am ripping the 2022 baseball edition so let's see how it goes!

*takes a sip, gets box in position*

Every hobby box of 2022 Topps Chrome baseball comes with 24 packs of 4 cards. Each box has 2 autographs, plenty of parallels and runs about $205 a box.

BASE:

The Topps Chrome base set is simple, chrome up the Flagship product. There are 220 cards in the base set including veterans and

Rookies.

I chase the Chrome base card sets, but the ones from the 90's. Not the newer ones as the prices are a tad high.

PARALLELS

As I said earlier, there are plenty of parallels.

Here are this year's options
Refractor, X-Fractor, Sepia, Pink, Prism, Negative, Magenta /399, Magenta Speckle /350, Purple Speckle /299, Purple /250, Aqua /199, Aqua Lava /199, Blue /150, Green /99, Green Wave /99, Blue Wave /75, Gold /50, Gold Wave /50, Orange /25, Orange Wave /25, Red /5, Red Wave /5, SuperFractor 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.

Base refractors fall 1:3 packs. And yes, that is two of the same.

Prisms are 1:6 packs, not to bad on the Cruz pull!

Purple /299

Sepia

Hmmm two Fraziers, start of a rainbow?

Club Plaques fall 1:24 packs and there are 25 cards to collect.

New Classics falls 1:12 packs, love this design, and there are 15 cards to collect. I lucked with the two players I landed, except does anyone even care about Wander anymore?

There are 15 cards in the Future Stars set.

There are 20 cards to collect in the Topps 1987 set. YES MORE OF THESE STINKIN' THINGS!! These fall 1:6 packs.

Heart Of The City falls 1:16 packs and probably is my favorite design in years for Chrome. I want this set. Have any? Contact me for a pwe trade at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com.

HITS:

Well, unless you like the Astros, there isn't much to brag about with my pulls. This is usually how my Topps Chrome breaks go.

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

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

As always, I am a Chrome fan. It was fun to open and see what I can find for refractors. However, I wouldn't pay the price of a hobby box this year. Really steep for what you get. I mean, yeah, there are huge possibilities, but this box wasn't it.

I also normally suggest retail as an option when hobby is unattainable prices, but this year retail shot up in price as well. It is $35 a blaster box and I have seen lots of them just sitting on shelves locally. Nobody wants it which is both good and bad.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Ratings (ratings based on 1-5 🍵 and on a per box basis. not for overall product)

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

Your thoughts on this product welcomed in comments!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Would You Rather? Autograph Edition

*takes a sip, sits down for today's latest post on Cards Over Coffee*

Welcome back to another Would You Rather? Today, I decided to go cardless on the topic and tackle one that's been on collectors minds for years.

The game is called, Would You Rather. In this series you will be given two choices and you must make one decision sort of like The Matrix. Each decision you make will also have a problem tied into it and you will have to decide which is the better of the two choices. 

You will also have to live with your decision for the rest of your life...so make the right one.

*takes another sip before starting today's new series*

*sits in the dark alone wearing all black clothing and sunglasses*

*in a deep voice sitting in the dark*Hello Readers, my name is Mattpheus. I am the leader of the sport card universe and can offer you the control of your future.

    

I have two pills to offer you *holds hand out with both pills* that will lead you on your path today. Each pill gives you both an reward and a penalty.

Today, you can take the Red Pill and be stuck with only pull/buy on-card autographs, but each card has crease in the middle.

Or you can choose the Blue Pill and you can only pull/buy sticker autographed cards, but each one has a bent corner.

  

Make your decision below in the comments.

I will be awaiting your choice with my cup of coffee in the dark.

DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Pill Does Not Turn You Into A Smurf

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

I hope you enjoy this new segment and I hope a lot of you join in on the conversation.

Have a great Friday.

*takes a final sip on today's post*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2022 Topps Tribute Baseball

*sits down, starts to download some older posts from The Product Breakdown as I have decided to do my box breaks back on here again and bring back my NY Giants blog. More on that another time. Uploads the content, 13 posts in all that will republish on here and takes a sip and gets the post coffee blog ready*

Today, I am diving into a box of 2022 Topps Tribute baseball. High end products and I don't usually equal success. Every time I have ripped a high end box the results have low end feels. Will today's product do that as well? Only one way to see.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

Every box of 2022 Topps Tribute baseball comes with 6 packs of 3 cards per pack. Boxes should have 3 on-card autographs along with 3 game used jersey cards per. Currently boxes are steep at about $450.

BASE:

The base set is beautiful. Well designed, the cards are really thick and the touch of rainbow foil along the border of the player really adds a nice look to the already clean card.

 

The card backs are stat-less but come with some tidbits on the player featured.

There are 90 cards in the base set featuring veterans,

and Legends of the game.

Here are rest of the base that I pulled in my break,

There are also 10 base rookie cards to find as well. They are card numbers 91-100.

These cards are shortprinted as they fall 1:18 packs. Would make it challenging to put together a base set.

PARALLELS:
Green /99, Purple /50, Orange /25, Red /10, and Black 1/1.

Not a lot of parallels to find in a box as I found only one. This is a Xander Bogaerts purple as you can define by the border around the player.

HITS:

Without any inserts to chase, here is what I pulled in this break,

Stamp Of Approval relics of Mullins and Rendon.

Triple Relic of Pedroia

Dual Relic of two Yanks, Pettite and Sabathia

Pitcher auto. ugh. I know Dodger fans would be happy with this one.

Winker autograph. Looks like a green parallel /99

And final hit, I assume an orange autograph /25 of another pitcher in Shane Bieber.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
Well, I think the product is stunning in design. I even like the design of the hits as well.

The tough part is seeing what a box goes for and what I got in return. That is hard to swallow.

There are though tons of AMAAAAAZING hits I left for you guys to find, however. If you can't afford a box, I suggest picking up singles or jumping in on a box break. I can't promise you value back every time, but what I can promise you is that the cards would look great in your collection.

Thoughts on today's product welcomed in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Tips On Investing In Sport Cards

*takes a sip of coffee, smiles behind the mug feeling a little better today and knowing that Christmas is only a week away*

Investing is a major part of the "New Hobby" as I call it.

Who's going to be the next big player? Who is already in a spot to turn things up to invest into in hopes of making big bucks?  Which product should be cleaned off shelves to invest in so I can flip it for more?

INVEST! INVEST! INVEST! MONEY...MONEY...MONEY!!!!! (picture Andy voicing the pig off from Toy Story)

I have never touched on my investing in this hobby so figured while the topic arose, I would.

So here are some of my HOT investment tips,

• INVEST YOUR MIND: Invest your mind into the hobby and decide which path you want to go in collecting. There are many roads to travel in what you want to collect and why you were brought into collecting. Invest your mind into what you like to collect and not follow the path of those most followed. Be yourself in the hobby by investing your mind into what you like, not what others do.
• INVEST YOUR TIME: Invest your time in your collection. Sort, trade, enjoy, and do it all over again. Investing your time into what you collect is the best investment you will make.
• INVEST IN OTHERS: Spending time with others online, if you have an LCS or store closer do that to, has been a great investment for me. I have made serious friendships over my time online and these friends have become better friends then the ones I supposedly have in real life. Not that these online friends are not real people.
• INVEST IN STORAGE: Investing in the way you store and showcase your collection will give you that happy feeling that your collection won't get ruined and gives you a way to "show off" your masterpiece.
• INVEST IN SHARING: There is no greater feeling than sharing your hobby with others and what you collect. On top of that, sharing can also mean sharing cards with others. If you have something that you don't want and you know someone else will enjoy, trade it or simply just send it to them. Putting smiles on others is a worthy investment that will make you and the other person feel amazing.
• INVEST IN CHILDREN IN THE HOBBY: The only way this hobby can continue to grow and survive is if we invest our time in the next generation. Telling them to collect to make money isn't the best approach. Share with them why you enjoy collecting. What collecting can mean to them. You know, memories, nostalgia, etc. Buy them cards, send them cards, help them learn and enjoy the hobby and all that it has to offer.

I hope these tips were handy for you. It's how I abide in the hobby every day and strongly believe in my investments. 

Oh, wait, you wanted to know about how to make money off cards by investing in the hobby and which players or products will give you that. My bad, I don't do that here. I am a collector. I collect, trade and show off sport cards. I don't buy cards to flip. I don't sell cards even. I hoard little pieces of cardboard with players pictures on them and I enjoy doing so.

I may also invest my into blogging about the hobby, Tweeting about the hobby, Facebook pages I run about the hobby and coffee that I drink while I do all of that about the hobby. I invest so much into coffee. 

*takes a sip of the investment. So worth it*

I think the closest to that kind of investing, or what others may consider investing money wise, I get is grabbing some Bowman Chrome baseball every year. That's not to buy and flip, that's simply just to add some rookie cards to my collection. I try to have one of every player.

This year I was able to land a 2020 Bowman Chrome Mega Box. This is only the second Mega Box I have ever opened. The first one was very successful with 2020 Prestige football so hoping this baseball Chrome is just as lucky.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

 

Each box of 2020 Bowman Chrome comes with 35 cards. There are five 5-card packs of  Bowman Chrome baseball along with two 5-card packs of mojo refractors. Each of these boxes range from $45 to $60 per mega.

The base card design is just chromed up Bowman.

I pulled a Trout and Gleyber as my best base. Both are PC players so that works out perfect.

Now onto the rookies or as some may call them, investments.

Dubon

Aquino

And Robert. I was surprised to find him honestly.

 

and all of the rest

Now onto the two mojo refractor packs *takes a sip to rip again*

(Jackson is a name I have heard)

And I even pulled an autograph. Not sure if they are guaranteed but it was a nice find regardless.

 

Encarnacion autograph. On card. I don't know this player but looking at the team I can't imagine he is a very hot prospect.

*enjoyed the rip, so takes a sip*

To close, I don't want it to sound like I judge those that do choose to invest money in the hobby. That wasn't the point of this post. I just think my investments are less riskier and more rewarding for you in the long run. Take my advice or not, I will still be standing by it and be sipping on my biggest investment while I do so.

Coffee Break:2020 Onyx Vintage Premium

*sits down for a cup of coffee with a box of new product, smiles, let's do this*

I have been a long time follower of Onyx Authenticated on Twitter and have always been curious by their product offerings since I am a big time rookie card collector. Yes, not a prospector, a collector. There is a major difference.

So I have picked up a few singles here and there but have never opened a box of their product before. Well, for today's Coffee Break, that is going to change.

I hope you have your coffee in hand and are as intrigued to open this as I am.

*takes a sip of coffee*

The product from Onyx I will be opening today is their newly released 2020 Onyx Vintage Premium. This is a limited product offering as just 100 cases of the product was made from what I hear. The product is also not just all prospects, there is even a few legends/veteran stars are also on the checklist for both base and autographs which really drives my interest up.

*sip before the card breakdown*

Every box of 2020 Onyx Vintage Premium comes with 3 cards. One of those cards will be an on-card autograph. Boxes of the product run for $45. So you are expecting $15 value per card if you are into it for flipping or in my language as a collector, just some fun.

The back of the box gives us the info on what to expect inside and what to possibly expect for autograph hits

*another sip of coffee, then slowly peels off the plastic. Looks stupid for a minute trying to figure out how to open the box carefully, then realizes it just slides out from the side*

*slowly pulling the box out while sipping that refreshing warm brew in the other hand*

 Top card reveals us Alex Manoah. Let's actually open up this pack.

*takes another sip of coffee, sets mug down so it won't spill on the cards. Opens pack*

Here is a better look at our top card. Refreshing design and has a vintage touch to it both in looks and in feel. The card stock is a lot thicker than I expected it to be.

Back of the card offers us just some personal information on the player. I do wished there was some stats but it's okay.

Manoah is a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and is ranked 4th on Major League Baseball's 2020 Top 30 Blue Jays prospects list.

The next card I looked at was actually on the bottom of the pack, I assumed the autograph was in the middle and didn't want to fully spoil it and also kept the Manoah on top so I wouldn't.

It's George Valera who plays in the minor league systems as an outfielder in the Indians organization. He also was signed as an International Free Agent and is only 19. So pretty raw player here.

Overall the base set has 34 cards to collect and you can find the following players on the checklist,

• Alek Manoah
• Alexander Canario
• Bobby Witt Jr. (I still don't have any cards of him)
• Carlos Colmenarez
• Cristian Hernandez
• Edward Cabrera
• Gavin Lux
• George Valera
• Gleyber Torres
• Greg Jones Jr
• Ichiro Suzuki
• Jean Casanova
• Joey Bart
• Julio Rodriguez
• Kristian Robinson
• Leonel Valera
• Luis Patino
• Luis Rodriguez
• MacKenzie Gore
• Marco Luciano
• Mason Martin 
• Nate Pearson
• Noelvi Marte
• Nolan Ryan
• Orelvis Martinez
• Randy Johnson
• Richard Gallardo
• Robert Puason
• Ronald Acuna Jr.
• Ronnier Quintero
• Ronny Mauricio
• Taylor Trammell
• Wander Franco
• Wilderd Patino 

Before I reveal the autograph, I am sure by now you have already cheated and looked, I wanted to mention there are different parallel levels of them to find and with 31 names to search for as well.

 

Autographs come as the following, Blue Ink (90 or less), Green Ink (20 or less), Red Ink (10 or less), and Black Ink 1/1. I bet these would look pretty sharp side by side as an ink rainbow.

 

Onyx also made a surprising, but late announcement that NY Yankees hot prospect Jasson Dominguez autographs would also be included in this product as a redemption. But, I believe they have the autographs already on hand now. Then there is the addition of International star signings of Cristian Hernandez and Carlos Colmenarez.

So enough chit chat, let's reveal.......

*slowly pulls off top card to reveal...*

 

Whoa! Nice! Gavin Lux auto! By far my best pull of 2020.

And it's green ink so it's numbered to 20.

Gavin Lux was a first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the Dodgers and made his major league debut in September 2019.There is a lot of hype that surrounds him.

In case you are curious, here is the overall look of the autograph checklist. There is some fire on there!

• Alek Manoah
• Alexander Canario
• Bobby Witt Jr.
• Carlos Colmenarez
• Cristian Hernandez
• Edward Cabrera
• Gavin Lux
• George Valera 
• Gleyber Torres 
• Greg Jones Jr.
• Ichiro Suzuki
• Jasson Dominguez
• Jean Casanova
• Joey Bart
• Julio Rodriguez
• Kristian Robinson
• Leonel Valera
• Luis Patino
• Luis Rodriguez
• MacKenzie Gore
• Marco Luciano
• Mason Martin
• Nate Pearson
• Noelvi Marte
• Nolan Ryan 
• Orelvis Martinez
• Randy Johnson
• Richard Gallardo
• Robert Puason
• Ronald Acuna Jr.
• Ronnier Quintero
• Ronny Mauricio
• Taylor Trammell
• Wander Franco
• Wilderd Patino

*the last sip, well, of cup number one*

 

Overall, I was quite impressed the more I looked into this product. For $50 or less, you could pull an Acuna, Randy Johnson, Gleyber or Ichiro autograph. Then you throw in the top prospects as well and the fact the autograph player pool is pretty condensed giving you a shot at those bigger names. Pretty solid product. It also is really simple one as well with just autographs and base cards. There is no Sp photo chases, no inserts, just as simple as it gets.

 

The design is also solid and the thicker base cards tops off the icing.

Sometimes simple is just better.

Ratings (ratings based on 1-5 🍵 cups)

Design 🍵🍵🍵🍵
Photography 🍵🍵🍵🍵
Inserts (not applicable)
Hits 🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵
Price 🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵
Value 🍵🍵🍵🍵