Buzz 12 in 12: Busting 2002 Topps 206 Series 2 (Hour 8)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 8.

The box: 2002 Topps 206 Series 2 baseball cards 
The cost: Varies depending on where found

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 160
Base set completion: 
76 of 127 (60 percent)
Duplicates: 7

Notables on base cards – Roger Clemens, Kaz Ishii, Roberto Alomar, Lance Berkman, Adam Dunn, Nomar Garciaparra, Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones, Randy Johnson, Johnny Damon, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Vladimir Guerrero, Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez, Larry Walker, Pedro Martinez, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, Todd Helton, Ken Griffey Jr., Joe Mauer, Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt, Joe Morgan, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan, Dave Winfield, Willie Mays, Brooks Robinson, Honus Wagner, Sherry Magee, Frank Chance, Buck Herzog, Sam Crawford

Inserts/variations: 74 (sampling of all in gallery below)
Photo variations (36) – Notables include Nolan Ryan, Reggie Jackson, Robin Yount, Tom Seaver, Ichiro Suzuki, Mike Piazza, Barry Zito, Barry Bonds, Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, Chipper Jones, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Albert Pujols, Johnny Damon, Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield, Adam Dunn, Mark Mulder, Roger Clemens
Carolina Brights mini parallel (1) – Chipper Jones
Piedmont Red mini (1) – Tom Seaver
Piedmont mini (6) – Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Adam Dunn, So Taguchi, David Wells, Colt Griffin
Polar Bear mini (12) – Cy Young, Sherry Magee, Chipper Jones, Reggie Jackson, Bret Boone, Rafael Palmeiro, Freddy Garcia, Maggio Ordonez, Brian Jordan, J.D. Drew, Paul LoDuca, Tino Martinez
Team 206 (18) – Nomar Garciaparra, Chipper Jones, Shawn Green, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, Roberto Alomar (2), Bret Boone, Eric Chavez, Derek Jeter, Sammy Sosa, Ivan Rodriguez, Luis Gonzalez, Barry Bonds, Randy Johnson, Todd Helton, Ichiro Suzuki, Mike Piazza

Autographs/Memorabilia/Buybacks: 2
Framed Relics (1) – Bernie Williams
Framed T206 Buybacks (1) – 1909-11 T206 Chief Meyers

What's Buzz-worthy: Buzz wasn't intending to run this one here but pulling a buyback that's been entombed in a pack since 2002 pretty much demands it appear here. The Meyers card is one that would probably sell for $100 or more if it were in a PSA slab and not a buyback frame, though the back does appear to have some ink from another red-rich T206 showing on its back. Who is Chief Meyers? He caught Christy Mathewson for much of his career, which spanned nine seasons for the New York Giants, Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves. He hit .291 for his career and was third in the 1912 MVP voting after he hit .358 for the season. Finding a buyback in Series 2 wasn't easy -- one in 179 packs -- which is harder than both autographs (1:46) and Relics (1:12). Among the possible notable autographs here? Albert Pujols, Kaz Ishii, Moises Alou, Scott Rolen, Joe Mauer, Mark Prior and Ben Sheets as well as Team Topps cards of Tom Seaver, Bobby Thomson, Ralph Branca, Andy Pafko and Warren Spahn to name a few. ... The base set is a complicated one -- it's card Nos. 181-307 -- with some players having as many as three versions thanks to T206-inspired photo variations as well as a few variations inspired by the originals. Oddly, none are short-printed. This approach is detailed in a box-topper sheet from Keith Olbermann. Also in the box? A printed checklist where you can see the Relic lineup includes Honus Wagner, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, Sam Crawford and Ty Cobb (to name a few) alongside Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Jim Thome, Tony Gwynn and so many more. ... The minis here also have a number of versions -- something we've become more familiar with in sets since this one's arrival -- and that's about it. There were three series of this one made and this one had the hardest odds for landing a buyback (110 in first set, 101 in third) so that makes this box a win to me. The only things that might top it in my book? Ink from Pujols for sure, maybe one of the bigger Hall of Fame Relics. (Maybe.)

Product Grade: B+
Box Grade: A+
Fun Grade: A-

What's next? Be back in an hour ...

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