Buzz 8 in 8: Busting 2019 Topps Series 1 MLB (Hour 1)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 1.

The box: 2019 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hobby box)
The cost: Click here (several formats)

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

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 14
Cards in this box: 328
Base set completion: 
298 of 350 (85 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Kris Bryant, Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Joey Votto, Miguel Cabrera, Buster Posey, Josh Donaldson, Corey Seager, J.D. Martinez, Carlos Correa, Kyle Schwarber

Rookie Cards (27) – Daniel Poncedeleon, Kolby Allard, Kohl Stewart, Danny Jansen, Michael Kopech, Justus Sheffield, Adolis Garcia, Pablo Lopez, Francisco Arcia, Enyel De Los Santos, Nick Burdi, Ryan Borucki, Jonathan Loaisiga, Cedric Mullins, Ryan O'Hearn, Dennis Santana, Brad Keller, Ranger Suarez, Luis Urias, Jacob Nix, Duane Underwood Jr., Ramon Laureano, Jeff McNeil, Chance Adams, Brandon Lowe, Steven Duggar, Touki Toussaint

Insert/short-print cards: 29 (all in gallery below with some base)
Photo variations (2) – J.D. Martinez, Zack Greinke
Gold parallel (4) – Mookie Betts & Albert Pujols, Boston Red Sox, Mookie Betts & Enrique Hernandez (/2,019)
Vintage Stock parallel (1) – Reynaldo Lopez (/99)
Advanced Stats parallel (1) – Chase Anderson (/150)
Rainbow Foil parallel (3) – Yasiel Puig, Adam Ottavino, Anthony Rendon
150 Years parallel (4) – Miguel Cabrera, Miles Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, Whit Merrifield
150 Years of Baseball (3) – Mike Trout, Ernie Banks, Bill Mazeroski
Home Run Challenge (1) – Shohei Ohtani
2018 Topps Now Review (1) – Mike Trout
Evolution of The Game (1) – Cleats
Iconic Card Reprints (1) – Ty Cobb
Greatness Returns (1) – Todd Helton & Charlie Blackmon
1984 Topps (6) – Mookie Betts, Robin Yount, Ozzie Smith, Chance Adams, Trevor Bauer, Luis Urias

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
150 Years Commemorative Medallions Autographs (1) – Bob Gibson (/10)

What's Buzz-worthy: Holy cow, what a crazy box. That hit? It's one in 10,255 packs (428 boxes). Meanwhile, the Advanced Stats cards are one in 75, Vintage Stock cards are one in 97. None of them should be in any two boxes, let alone the same box. (Remember, it's 24 packs per box this year.) ... As said in my previous break of this one, you get a lot more Gold parallels here than last year, which gives you more shots at notable names and there are a number of parallels and other variations to look for. Photo variations are one in 15 packs, while you can find other parallels that we're used to such as Black, Vintage and Rainbow stock. All in all, this one felt like a comfortable rip -- perhaps because of fewer packs -- though a few didn't have any inserts and others had a couple. (Check the codes on the backs of base cards to spot your variations as usual. The gallery in the First Buzz preview has many of them.) The 150 Years of Baseball set leads the way here with inserts and parallels -- a good feel for a brand that's known for looking back to the past while also presenting the here and now. We'll get even more of this in Series 2 as well. The non-traditional framing of the fronts gives it a good Stadium Club meets 1982 Topps feel, though I think some of the photos could be stronger with this approach (I expected more cards to have more photos that wowed me). The 1982 feel is reinforced more on the backs. Is the basic design perfect in my mind? No, but all of the overall inclusions give it a feel that is new and flagship all at the same time. I think this design should translate for Chrome, and especially Refractors, very well. I'd still like to see more inserts per pack and box, though this move should help the value of some sets more as they are tougher to build. Basic Topps is a brand that they don't really need to tinker with -- it has the built-in demand no matter what -- but I'm glad to see Topps change and adjust things here and there. Once later series hit this year, hopefully with a strong rookie crop -- perhaps Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the mix -- we could see some fun stuff that builds upon this one's start.

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

What's next? Be back in an hour ...

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