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: 
36 of 264 (14 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Pete Alonso, Rafael Devers, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rizzo, Francisco Lindor, Dansby Swanson, Cal Ripken Jr., Andre Dawson, Larry Walker, Fergie Jenkins, John Smoltz

Rookie Cards (5) – Joey Bart, Deivi Garcia, Triston McKenzie, Nate Pearson, Andres Gimenez

Insert cards: 14 (a sampling of everything in gallery below)
Variations (5) – Fernando Tatis Jr., Gerrit Cole, Brandon Lowe, Alex Rodriguez, Paul Molitor
Variation Holo Orange parallel (1) – Babe Ruth
Holo Orange parallels (5) – Bo Bichette, Fernando Tatis Jr., Charlie Blackmon, Kris Bryant, Mike Piazza
Liberty parallel (1) – Rickey Henderson
Diamond Trending (1) – Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Diamond Unleashed (1) – Aaron Judge

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: It's been a long time since I ripped one of these and it's still a pack that is loaded with variety and star power from the past and present as well as with the inserts. In this one, the base cards were pretty light save for Diamond Kings and maybe a couple of names in the Rated Rookies. The inserts delivered well, though, on big names past and present and even some names I like. ... 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. 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 and they arrive together inside the pack among the inserts portion. Some here are very subtle (Molitor has a different crop, Ruth has a different text break on the back) but the others are pretty obvious. All in all, these boxes are not bad if you land them on the cheap. Hit the link up top for hobby boxes that will guarantee you this and more as well as hits.

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

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