Buzz Break: 2021 Donruss baseball cards (hanger 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: 2021 Donruss baseball cards (hanger box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for this one.

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 50
Set completion: 
34 of 264 (13 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Jack Flaherty, Anthony Rizzo, Mike Trout, Juan Soto, Mookie Betts, Yordan Alvarez, Pete Alonso, Javier Baez, Paul Goldschmidt, Gary Carter, Mark McGwire, Jim Thome, Pedro Martinez

Rookie Cards (4) – Casey Mize, Tyler Stephenson, Clarke Schmidt, Leody Taveras

Insert cards: 16 (a sampling of everything in gallery below)
Variations (6) – Mike Trout, Bo Bichette, Josh Donaldson, Yadier Molina, Roger Clemens, Jim Thome
Variation Holo Orange parallel (1) – Keston Hiura
Red parallel (1) – Brandon Belt (/2,021)
Liberty parallel (1) – Nick Madrigal
Holo Orange parallels (5) – Bryce Harper, Dustin May, Brian Anderson, Barry Larkin, Tim Anderson
Diamond Trending (1) – Ozzie Albies
Diamond Unleashed (1) – Mookie Betts

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: This small box seemed to deliver pretty big and that might be the norm here with the top of the pack the base and then the last two-thirds or so being the inserts, parallels and variations. It appears hits are possible here but it shouldn't be a regular expectation and that might work out well here for a cheaper price than blasters if you're not merely chasing ink or mem. The insert volume is high -- that aspect I like a lot -- and it makes for a much stronger rip of a basic Topps Series 1 box this year, though I have seen strong pulls from hanger boxes there this year (have not ripped any, myself). The Trout, Bichette and some other notables being found here along with an Unleashed insert with the Diamond parallel look, which appears to be a rarer pull. ... As I noted last time, I think this might be the strongest overall package of Donruss baseball to date because it breaks away some from the old in favor of some new. The Diamond Kings design, for example, is a little funky but it's not locked into a 1980s framework of the past so it gets points from me for trying something new. The main design is crisp and clean -- better in-person vs. mocks -- and it is so strong I think it helps make this one perhaps the best release in the return of the brand. (It will be strong when it gets an Optic treatment, too.) There doesn't appear to be a tell to know which cards are SPs unlike past years, but the nicknames for players or their cities are the most-common way to find nearly all of them.

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

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com