Buzz Break: 2020 Topps Heritage baseball cards (hobby box)

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 Topps Heritage baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview, SPs & checklist: Click here

Packs per box: 25 (24 standard, one topper)
Cards per pack: 9
Cards in this box: 217
Base set completion: 
198 of 400 (50 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Aaron Judge, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Gary Sanchez, Mike Soroka, Joey Votto, Will Smith, Javier Baez, Michael Conforto, Willson Contreras, Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Gerrit Cole, Freddie Freeman, Rafael Devers, David Price, Manny Machado, Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, Juan Soto, Stephen Strasburg, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Gleyber Torres, Mike Trout, Justin Verlander, Pete Alonso, Christian Yelich, Clayton Kershaw

Rookie Cards (14 cards, 32 rookies) – Brendan McKay, Mike Brousseau, A.J. Puk, Seth Brown, Jesus Luzardo, Bryan Abreu, Abraham Toro, Rogelio Armenteros, Hunter Harvey, Dillon Tate, Trent Grisham, Mauricio Dubon, Nick Solak, Brock Burke, James Marvel, Dario Agrazal, Logan Webb, Ryler Rogers, Dom Nunez, Sam Hilliard, Josh Sborz, Tony Gonsolin, Junior Fernandez, Randy Arozarena, Zack Collins, Dylan Cease, Adbert Alzolay, Nico Hoerner, T.J. Zeuch, Jordan Romano

Insert/short-print cards: 18 (all in gallery below with some base)
Short-prints (Nos. 401-500) (8) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Stephen Piscotty, Matt Olson, Lorenzo Cain, German Marquez, Yu Darvish, Eddie Rosario, Dwight Smith Jr.
Then and Now (1) – Joe Torre & Anthony Rendon
Willie Mays' 20 Gigantic Seasons (2) – 1951, 1961
New-age Performers (2) – Gio Urshela, Lucas Giolito
News Flashbacks (1) – Jim Morrison
Baseball Flashbacks (2) – Nolan Ryan, Carlton Fisk
Action variation (1) – Aristides Aquino
Chrome (1) – Aaron Nola (/999)
Baseball's Greatest Moments (1) – Hank Aaron (box-topper)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Real One Autographs (1) – Paul DeJong

What's Buzz-worthy: After some lackluster first impressions from the retail aisle, this hobby box is a reminder of how a Heritage break feels -- albeit with a lean star list among the basic-card pulls here as the biggest stars seem jammed into the SPs section of the set. That said, this box was still a strong one with an autograph and a key newcomer on my (typically) one-per-box action variation as well as some stuff that isn't found in every box. The box-topper also was not the norm here, which was a plus. My SPs were a little lean on names save for Acuña, while my RCs also felt a little light while including some of the notables -- but all in all this felt like a comfortable break due to the pack volume. It still felt like there needed to be more on the insert card front -- a trend cross the board for this release in all formats in my book -- but the volume here made everything comfortable. I'm sticking with my pick as the safest format being hobby this year as long as the price remains modest. If that picks up, then blasters are probably safest with the expectation that some would be good and some won't be depending on how things fall. As said in my breaks last week, I think this year's Heritage is a definite upgrade over last year's first series, though the black borders will create challenges if you do the whole grading game. (They are relatively cleanly done ... but still could be tough in top grades.) Hit that link up top to see the variations galleries -- there's some fun stuff this year -- and see more of what I like in this one by clicking here. I'll rip more but I have a feeling you will have more safety in numbers -- in box formats with more packs like hobby (or megas to come). This box was a solid one ... but also one that can be topped.

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

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