Buzz Break: 2019 Topps Series 1 MLB (three hanger boxes)

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The box: 2019 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (three hanger boxes)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby and other formats)
Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 67
Cards in this lot: 201
Base set completion: 
153 of 350 (44 percent)
Duplicates: 30

Base cards of note – Mookie Betts, Brandon Nimmo, Kris Bryant (2), Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani (2), Christian Yelich (2), Dansby Swanson, Max Scherzer, Joey Votto, Corey Seager, J.D. Martinez, Carlos Correa, David Price, Francisco Lindor

Rookie Cards (15) – Kolby Allard, Kohl Stewart, Danny Jansen, Pablo Lopez, Francisco Arcia, Enel De Los Santos, Nick Burdi, Ryan O'Hearn, Brad Keller, Ranger Suarez, Luis Urias, Jake Bauers, Duane Underwood Jr, Brandon Lowe, Steven Duggar, Sean Reid-Foley

Insert/short-print cards: 18 (all in gallery below with some base)
Photo variations (1) – Michael Kopech
Gold parallel (1) – Logan Morrison (/2,019)
Rainbow Foil parallel (2) – Brian McCann, Willie Calhoun
150 Years parallel (1) – Paul Goldschmidt
150 Years of Baseball (1) – Ted Williams
Home Run Challenge (1) – Ozzie Albies
Evolution of The Game (1) – Bob Feller & Francisco Lindor
Iconic Card Reprints (1) – Jackie Robinson 1952 Topps
1984 Topps (3) – Jesus Aguilar, Cody Bellinger, Starling Marte
Ronald Acuña Jr. Highlights (6) – Ronald Acuña Jr. (five different)

 Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: The curiosity of the Ronald Acuña Jr. cards found here (Walmart boxes) got me to dig in along with the curiosity of how the insert cards might fall. You get six insert cards per box here -- not a lot -- but this small run did deliver a photo variation and a Gold parallel along with a few other parallels and inserts. Not the flashiest mix but, like I said, I ripped to see the Acuña cards. For the price, these are a decent way to sample things and be assured of some inserts. Two of my packs started with the same run of cards, hence the duplicates here, and the rookie crop wasn't great here, though this series may not be that sought after for RCs, anyway. ... As said before, the non-traditional framing of the fronts gives it a good Stadium Club meets 1982 Topps feel, though I think some of the photos could be stronger with this approach (I expected more cards to have more photos that wowed me). The 1982 feel is reinforced more on the backs. Is the basic design perfect in my mind? No, but all of the overall inclusions give it a feel that is new and flagship all at the same time. I think this design should translate for Chrome, and especially Refractors, very well. I'd still like to see more inserts per pack and box, though this move should help the value of some sets more as they are tougher to build. Basic Topps is a brand that they don't really need to tinker with -- it has the built-in demand no matter what -- but I'm glad to see Topps change and adjust things here and there. Once later series hit this year, hopefully with a strong rookie crop -- perhaps Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the mix -- we could see some fun stuff that builds upon this one's start.

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

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