Buzz Break: 2018 Topps Heritage Minor League baseball cards

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 Heritage Minor League baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Keep reading for a full gallery and breakdown of what was in this one.

Packs per box: 19 (18 standard, one box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 142
Base set completion: 
123 of 200 (62 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Pete Alonso, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Corbin Burnes, Jazz Chisholm, Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, Dylan Cozens, Gavin Lux, Randy Arozarena, Brent Rooker, Royce Lewis, Mitch Keller, Brendan Rodgers, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Cavan Biggio, Nick Senzel, Keston Hiura, Shane Bieber, Mickey Moniak, Adolis Garcia, Eloy Jimenez, Nick Gordon, Luis Garcia, MacKenzie Gore, Brandon Marsh, Jeter Downs

Insert/short-print cards: 17 (gallery of these and more below)
Glossy parallel (3) – Michael Barash, Aramis Garcia, MiLB Runs Leaders (box-topper pack)
Short-prints (Nos. 201-220) (3) – Brendan McKay, Seuly Matias, Keston Hiura
1969 Topps Collector Card (3) – Brendan Rodgers, Jesus Luzardo, Luis Urias
1969 Topps Deckle Edge (4) – Jesus Luzardo, Mickey Moniak, Genesis Cabrera, Matt Manning
Black parallel (1) – Aramis Garcia (/50)
Blue parallel (1) – Shaun Anderson (/99)
Make Your Pro Debut contest card (2) -- expired 

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Real One Autographs (1) – Jeter Downs
Clubhouse Collection Relics (1) – Corey Ray

What's Buzz-worthy: It's been a few years since I ripped into one of these and I opted for this as the price was right given the variety and potential of what could be found here vs. new stuff ... and not new MiLB stuff as this brand has vanished from the Topps lineup in recent years. That said, I still dig Heritage Minor League ... even with its quirks that sometimes don't work. This time? A lot of familiar names -- some who panned out, some who didn't -- with a pair of standard hits for names who had their shots but probably didn't pan out ... it happens. ... The autograph checklist might be missing some of the bigs -- an important thing but not the only thing -- but this one is a simpler release to chase everything than its MLB counterpart as it's a smaller set with fewer things to chase. There are still variations to hunt for (labeled on the back for some, including the short-prints, but not all) and some challenges as the print runs on everything are smaller. If I could rewind the clock a few years and stockpile a few boxes, this brand would be among them as the boxes that were plentiful and cheap in the past simply aren't now. Not all years of the MiLB take on Heritage worked -- some team names just clashed with designs (hello, 1964) -- but this one is pretty strong.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: B (I've opened better boxes ... but didn't mind revisiting and finding unusual looks for big names)
Fun Grade: B (see above)

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