Buzz Break: 2018 Topps Holiday Box 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 Holiday Box baseball cards
Where to buy: Initially at Walmart ($19.99)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 98
Base set completion: 
92 of 200 (46 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Andrew Benintendi, Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge, Manny Machado, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, Trea Turner, Christian Yelich, Adrian Beltre, Corey Seager, Blake Snell, Albert Pujols, Gary Sanchez, Dansby Swanson, Jose Ramirez, Kyle Schwarber, Alex Bregman

Rookie Cards (19) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Miles Mikolas, Fernando Romero, Tyler Mahle, Joey Lucchesi, Walker Buehler, J.P. Crawford, Gleyber Torres, Amed Rosario, Scott Kingery, Christian Villaneuva, Mike Soroka, Jordan Hicks, Willie Calhoun, Nick Kingham, Jack Flaherty, J.D. Davis, Chance Sisco

Insert cards: 5 (all in gallery below with some base)
Metallic Snowflake (5) – Mookie Betts, Dustin Fowler, Christian Villanueva, Joey Votto, Gregory Polanco

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Holiday Relic (1) – Nolan Arenado

What's Buzz-worthy: "If you're going to go there, go there" might have been said in the Topps offices this year when the snowflakes were discussed for this one -- they're a lot heavier this year than in the last two releases but I think it works. The overall format of this one is in line with past versions -- a 200-card, rookie- and star-packed base set with glittery parallels to mix things up and then a hit. The parallels could end up being a longer-term sleeper here as it will take 40 boxes with perfect collation to build a set -- see the checklist here -- and you can do the math when it comes to finding any particular card. The key rookies here will be the bigs for the parallels while the basic cards should be relatively available as you get almost half of a set in a box. There are some much-rarer gold parallels and the hits also have parallels and autograph versions at long odds. Your easiest autograph is one in 297 packs (30 boxes) so those might make for interesting auctions as there is ink from Adrian Beltre, Anthony Rizzo, Bryce Harper, Jose Altuve, Juan Soto, Kris Bryant, Mike Trout, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr., Rhys Hoskins, Shohei Ohtani and Walker Buehler among others. The auto Relic list is also strong with a Santa Claus card worked in alongside the likes of Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Trout, Albies, Bryant, Acuña and others. This box worked for me with the Acuña (I've liked that photo but never sprung for the Series 2 short-print) though there's a chance I'll pick up more of this one if it presents itself as the best option out there at retail in the coming weeks. It's a relatively safe low-risk buy for fun as a collector with that strong rookie crop and potential for more.

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

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