Buzz Break: 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby)

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 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 25 (24 plus box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion: 
130 of 300 (43 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Derek Jeter, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Roger Maris, Lou Gehrig, Roberto Clemente, Paige Spiranac, Method Man, Scott Rogowsky, Tyronn Lue, H. Jon Benjamin, Stugotz, Lincoln Riley, Sonny Fredrickson, Champ Pederson, Theo Epstein, Jim Thome, Chipper Jones, Willie McCovey, Roger Clemens, Ted Williams, Ryne Sandberg, Wade Boggs, Andre Dawson, Johnny Bench, Dave Winfield, Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Justin Verlander, Buster Posey, Mark McGwire, Ozzie Smith, Carlos Correa, George Brett, Trea Turner, David Ortiz, Manny Machado

Rookie Cards (14) – Shohei Ohtani, Rafael Devers, Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres, J.P. Crawford, J.D. Davis, Amed Rosario, Jack Flaherty, Ryan McMahon, Garrett Cooper, Tyler Mahle, Sandy Alcantara (SP), Jen-Ho Tseng (SP), Dustin Fowler (SP)

Insert cards: 62 (most in gallery below along with some base cards)
Short-prints (Nos. 301-350) (12) – Sandy Alcantara, Jen-Ho Tseng, Dustin Fowler, Andy Pettitte, Joe Mauer, Mitch Haniger, Todd Frazier, Brett Gardner, Corey Dickerson, Sean Newcomb, Julio Urias, Will Clark
Mini parallel (12) – Austin Rogers, Frank Thomas, Max Scherzer, Chance Sisco, Albert Almora, Mike Zunino, Domingo Santana, Maikel Franco, Jacob deGrom, Kenta Maeda, Salvador Perez, Tommy Pham
Mini short-print parallel (2) – Ender Inciarte, Jay Bruce
Mini short-print Black parallel (2) – Rafael Devers, Theo Epstein
Mini Allen & Ginter back parallel (5) – Kris Bryant, Andre Dawson, Albert Almora, Josh Donaldson, Brian Dozier
Indigenous Heroes (1) – Chief Pontiac
Baseball Superstitions (1) – Curse of The Bambino (Babe Ruth)
Flags of Lost Nations (1) – Texas
Fantasy Goldmine (6) – Hideki Matsui, Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, Ryne Sandberg, Ichiro Suzuki, Frank Thomas
World Talent (6) – Ichiro Suzuki, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Jose Altuve, Francisco Lindor, Yasiel Puig, Carlos Correa
World's Greatest Beaches (4) – South Beach, Bondi Beach, Bora Bora, Bay of Angels
Magnificent Moons (4) – Enceladus, Europa, Mimas, Miranda
Baseball Equipment of the Ages (4) – Radar gun, modern baseball sunglasses, vintage baseball, vintage cleats
Topps Home Run Challenge (1) – Nelson Cruz
Cabinet (1) – Shohei Ohtani (box-topper)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2 (yes, shorted a hit)
Full-size Relic Version B (1) – Trey Mancini
World's Greatest Beaches Relics (1) – Bay of Angels (/10)

What's Buzz-worthy: The best of times, the worst of times -- that simple phrase sums things up with this one. The beach Relic isn't just a rarity that's found one in every 8,086 packs (one in 337 boxes ... or every 29 cases) it's also among the rarer cards in that set with only 10 copies made. Most other Beach Relics are limited to 25 copies. My box was shorted a third hit from a case that was over-delivering on the Rip Cards (it had four) so I'm leaning toward I was missing an auto based on what was in the case so that's the worst of times. Despite this, it still feels like an A box. The base cards are improved over last year and the inclusions in this one are fun as long as you're a Ginter fan. Card No. 204 in the set is one place to start if you want to run down the rabbit hole of possibilities here. The Rookie Cards in this one were solid and some of those notables can be found in the autograph list that can be great moneymakers. This sand card? It could command some strong bucks, too, with master set collections who need it to collect 'em all. The simplicity and cleanliness of the lineup this year in Ginter makes it one I'll dig into at least once more on the hobby side, though probably more than that once I see more boxes in person at the NSCC. Whatever I rip, you'll see it here as Ginter has been an annual favorite of mine since before it even arrived. It's not easy to have a missing hit and still get an A grade in my book but a one in 29 cases card helps that one happen. It's quite the anomaly -- and that's Ginter for you.

Product Grade: A
Box Grade: A- (missing a hit didn't help -- but it would have been an A+ box with it)
Fun Grade: B

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