Buzz Break: 2019 Bowman Platinum baseball cards (blaster)

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: 2019 Bowman Platinum baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Initially only at Walmart; Click here (when available)

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard, one parallels)
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 32
Base set completion: 
16 of 100 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mike Trout, Andrew Benintendi, Nolan Arenado, Javier Baez, Aaron Judge, Clayton Kershaw, Buster Posey

Rookie Cards (3) – Austin Dean, Kolby Allard, Eloy Jimenez (SP)

Insert cards: 16 (some highlights in gallery below)
Short-printed Rookie Card (1) – Eloy Jimenez
Ice (2) – Yasiel Puig, Willy Adames
Ice Prospects (2) – Seth Beer, Pablo Olivares
Blue parallel (1) – Miguel Cabrera (/150)
Renowned Rookies (1) – Corbin Burnes
Prismatic Prodigies (1) – Carter Kieboom
Platinum Presence (1) – Ronald Acuña Jr.
Prospects (7) – Jonathan India, Victor Mesa Jr., Cristian Javier, Owen Miller, Alex Royalty, Logan Gilbert, Miguel Amaya

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: I probably should have done a collector's box with its two guaranteed autos for the price of four blasters, but I opted for a taste-test of this one instead -- and it delivered pretty well with a short-printed Rookie Card and a numbered parallel that is listed at one in 166 packs. That said, these packs (and the box) seems on the small side here -- just four cards per pack -- and that means just one prospect per pack. The Ice parallel pack includes two prospects and two veterans and are blaster-only. This box included a good mix of big names among the base and inserts -- we'll see over time how the prospect list shakes out. The stock here is skinny but the cards seemed clean and free of issues you might see for foilboard save for some lines on a few of the base cards, notably on Trout and Judge. There are other potential finds here like photo variations and ink but they were not here this time. One thing that did jump out at me? How oddly color-free most of the card backs are here -- it's pretty striking to be be only in black and white for all but two cards in this box. Not a big deal, but it seemed odd for a brand that should have a good demand as a Walmart-only release loaded with prospects and rookies that can truly deliver big. If you can swing it, play it safe with the pricier boxes with guaranteed ink. This format does have ink -- just not every time -- see the odds below.

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

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