Buzz Break: 2018 Donruss baseball cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2018 Donruss baseball cards (hanger box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 8
Cards per box: 56
Set completion: 
38 of 270 (14 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ken Griffey Jr., Madison Bumgarner, Josh Donaldson, Nolan Arenado, Ian Happ, Jake Arrieta, Duke Snider, Byron Buxton, Manny Machado, Tony Perez, Aaron Judge, Joe Morgan, George Brett, Giancarlo Stanton

Insert/short-print cards: 22 (gallery of these and more below)
Variations (7) – Giancarlo Stanton (Mike), Andrew Benintendi (nickname), Andrew Benintendi (sepia), Cal Ripken Jr. (nickname), Andrew McCutchen (nickname), Roberto Alomar (Robbie), Yoan Moncada (1984 alternate photo)
Rated Rookie (2) – Victor Robles, Walker Buehler
Diamond Kings (3) – Paul Goldschmidt, Odubel Herrera, Wil Myers
Holo Blue parallels (4) – Jose Ramirez, Carlos Correa, Jordan Montgomery, Robinson Cano
Teal parallels (1) – Andrew Miller (/199)
American Pride (1) – Grant Koch (/999)
Crystal American Pride (1) – Ryley Gilliam
Crystal Foundations (1) – Cody Bellinger
Crystal Out of this World (1) – Mickey Mantle
Crystal Long Ball Leaders (1) – Giancarlo Stanton

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Signature Series (1) – Jimmy Sherfy

What's Buzz-worthy: This year's blaster boxes for Donruss don't have a guaranteed hit in them every single time like last year, but there are autographs and memorabilia cards that can be found in both these boxes and hanger boxes. What you will find in these every time? A boatload of inserts and variations -- they don't have to be rare to be fun or collectable -- and they're often featuring top players from today and the past. This new Donruss design is joined by a subset of 1984 cards as well as the typical somewhat short-printed Rated Rookies and Diamond Kings. Rounding things out is a selection of cards showing multiple players in the style of late 1980s and early 1990s Fleer's "Superstar Specials." You won't land a hit every time in these boxes but you will find this one relatively appealing if you were around for the years when errors and variations were part of the chase and the cardboard was a little simpler. A big reason to dig in on these and hobby boxes here? Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards, inserts, memorabilia cards and autographs, though (spoiler alert) I found none in the several hangers I've ripped. Nevertheless, I'll keep on ripping this one if it presents itself. About the only drawback is a simple base design that really feels like it's ready for being Optichromed later in the year. We'll see. One plus for these boxes? The wrappers should be eligible for the wrapper redemption program as there was no notification that they weren't in Panini's announcement. Just like hangers, you get at least six variation cards per box and the bonus pack here is filled with blaster-only Blue Holo parallels and Crystal insert set parallels -- extra ways to find Ohtani.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: A

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