Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome Ben Baller Edition MLB cards

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The pack: 2021 Topps Chrome Ben Baller Edition baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Cards per pack: 4
Base set completion: 
4 of 219 (2 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Nelson Cruz, Mookie Betts, Rafael Devers (all in gallery below)

Rookie Cards (1) – Ian Anderson

Insert/short-print cards: None

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: For years, I didn't rip a lot of Chrome packs because you just don't get a lot inside -- four cards -- for a premium price compared to regular cardboard but when buying by the box I have had some of my better results for color and autos (even 15 years ago) with often more ink in the normal boxes than even Bowman Chrome back then for a fraction of the price. But influencer-branded parallel editions of Chrome? Well, that's different. This one is in its second year and this is my first look -- a single pack because I'm just not feeling it in volume at a premium price given the typical results. (I guess I'm just not a baller.) A normal box of 24 packs here will include four inserts and then five Refractors with color possible but not easy. On the odds above, thats's one in 16 for Green, the easiest color, and only one other color is guaranteed in a box. Autographs are one in 422 packs so, really, you're looking at base and then a couple of color Refractors per box and then standard Refractors and inserts. With some luck things will line up well for you here in a box (they likely are built that way but I have not watched or ripped much of this) but they're not my thing to rip in here in volume. This pack included two veterans and one Rookie Card that I might have wanted to land -- I seem to get him in everything and I like the photo -- with rough centering and a tweaked corner as it was on the back. The names here were fine but there being nothing but base was, at best, average in feel. That happens with one pack. I may do more pack breaks for releases like this in the coming months but they are more hit and miss than ripping by the box. If you want to go here, definitely do it by the box (link above) as that gives you more safety in numbers.

Product Grade: B+ (last year's seems stronger)
Pack Grade: B (Ian Anderson works for me, but Betts and Devers is a good veteran pairing)
Fun Grade: C (average results here)

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