Buzz Break: 2020 Bowman Platinum 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: 2020 Bowman Platinum baseball cards
Where to buy: Initially at Walmart (here when/if available)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and a gallery.

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 23
Cards in this box: 23
Base set completion: 
10 of 100 (10 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Cody Bellinger, Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Eloy Jimenez, Alex Bregman, George Springer, Tim Anderson, Trey Mancini, Starling Marte

Rookie Cards (1) – Aristides Aquino

Insert cards: 12 (everything from box in gallery below)
Chartreuse base parallel (1) – Paul DeJong
Chartreuse prospects parallel (1) – Dominic Fletcher
Prospects (10) – Riley Greene, C.J. Abrams, Anthony Volpe, Michael Toglia, Logan Wyatt, Hogan Harris, Peyton Burdick, Ryan Jeffers, Joe Ryan, Devin Mann

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Prospect autographs (1) – Bo Naylor

What's Buzz-worthy: These were a surprise arrival at retail today with a different format than past years and perhaps it being the only format for this Walmart-exclusive brand but I'm not sure ... let me explain. These are mega box in their proportions but more blaster in their inclusions. Inside these $45 boxes are just one silver jumbo pack of 23 cards that includes two parallels, one auto an then a split of cards from the base and prospect sets. An online scan of the UPC took me to a listing of a mega box at the standard $79.99 level with two autos and a boatload of base cards but those don't appear to have surfaced. Could this format be a late adjustment due to coronavirus delays just to clear the product from production or are mega boxes still to come? (The silver pack here makes me think that may not be happening ... and the fact that these include an autograph every time. Blasters did not do that in the past.) I suspect we'll get more info on this one once the checklist is officially unveiled ... it's not out there yet that I have seen via Topps. Did I land anything of note here? Probably not and it could be closer to an average box. The design is simple and perhaps a little cleaner than some years for this brand but the foilboard may or may not help things here -- check out the top right corner of my Bellinger card  -- but I like the fact that this format is used. What do I mean? Price-wise, it's a little more reasonable than an $80 box at the retail aisle and still guaranteeing an auto here is good. If you land a notable player like perhaps Jasson Dominguez (I'd bet he's in it, but we'll see) then you come out ahead. If you don't land a top auto then at least it wasn't as painful of a break. While this approach feel like it might be an adjustment to get things out and on shelves, I think it's an approach that might do OK and could be considered for more releases from all companies. Hopefully we'll see some clarity on what's in this one soon. Oh, and another thing that makes me think there were some late changes in play here? No odds panel anywhere.

Product Grade: B
Box Grade: B-
Fun Grade: B (one-pack box = hit and miss)

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