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

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion: 
280 of 300 (93 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Bo Bichette, Anthony Rizzo, David Ortiz, Pete Alonso, George Brett, Mariano Rivera, Willie Stargell, Reggie Jackson, Frank Thomas, Mike Schmidt, Pedro Martinez, Nolan Ryan, Chipper Jones, Ryne Sandberg, Ronald Acuña Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Cy Young, Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Christy Mathewson, Mike Piazza, Stan Musial, Honus Wagner, Ichiro Suzuki, Mike Trout, Randy Arozarena, Rogers Hornsby, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Rod Carew, Roy Campanella, Rickey Henderson, Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente, Larry Walker, Ozzie Albies, Fernando Tatis Jr., Al Kaline, Eddie Mathews, Don Drysdale, Harmon Killebrew, Giancarlo Stanton, Charlie Blackmon, Kyle Lewis, Trea Turner  ... and many more notables and many more Hall of Famers

Rookie Cards (32) – Notables include Andrew Vaughn, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ian Anderson, Deivi Garcia, Jo Adell, Sixto Sanchez, Shane McClanahan, Mickey Moniak, Cristian Pache (selected at least one per year here)

Inserts/short-prints: 18 (all inserts in gallery below with some base)
Photo variations (1) – Bo Bichette (with Dante)
Movie Poster Cards (4) – Uncle Larry, The Family, My Oh My, The Swingin' A's
Movie Poster Cards Mini Poster (1) – The Killer B's (box-topper)
1963 Topps Peel-offs (5) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Aaron Judge, Jarred Kelenic, Alex Kirilloff
1991 Topps Bazooka Shining Stars (5) – Bobby Dalbec, Dylan Carlson, Akil Baddoo, Brailyn Marquez, Nate Pearson 
1994 Topps Draft Picks (1) – Ryan Mountcastle
Blue Foil parallels (1) – Yermin Mercedes (/25)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Fan Favorites Autographs 2002 (2) – Orlando Cepeda, Joe Carter 

What's Buzz-worthy: This one pretty much follows the familiar formula of recent years and includes some surprises on the autograph checklist front on the affordable side as well as some long shot chances at some elite names in MLB history but it's also a lower-end release that banks on the history and fun factor of the past mixed with the present and even the future with a "preview" of 2091 Topps that most of us probably won't be around to see. On a lighter note, this box was strong in a few ways that would have made for a monster box had this arrived at the start of the season rather than afterward. The Yermin Mercedes RC parallel -- one in 94 packs -- would have been a monster early in the year. Another nice find is the Bo Bichette variation at one in 115 packs (or 305 if it's among the rarer ones ... I'm not checking as I'm a bit over image variation chases) and then the Joe Carter ink is nice as he's not a super-heavy signer along with a Hall of Famer auto aside that one. The set is a deep one with several past designs used (one per decade) and then the 2091 cards imagined. The set size sort of creates tiers here -- you don't get all years equally -- and the stock and styles are generally accurate with some tweaks here and there with a boatload of Hall of Famers and Rookie Cards in play. (I'm not sure there's a set with more of those combined.) The insert lineup here is OK but most everything is standard cardboard here, letting the variety of designs carry the way for the most part. I'd like to see more tricks on that front to help vary the break some. If I see more of this one in the retail wild, I'll probably sample it here and there more -- it's fun but pretty much low-risk, low-reward there but you get two autos in every box here with ink also paralleling some inserts. (I went out and flat-out bought the one auto here that was my must-have.) I like it but I won't overload on this one like I have in past years -- I feel like it needs some more "big" or oddball inclusions but if you are a collector or fan of the game's past and present this is one to rip.

Product Grade: B+ 
Box Grade: A- (Mercedes parallel is rare as is Bichette variation but otherwise a bit dry)
Fun Grade: B (like approach but break feels lean on non-base cards)

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