Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome Black baseball cards

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 Chrome Black baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here

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

Packs per box: 1 (and one encased autograph)
Cards per pack: 3
Cards in this box: 4
Base set completion: 
2 of 100 (2 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Trey Mancini, Jarred Kelenic

Insert/short-print cards: 1 (everything from box in gallery below)
Refractor parallels (1) – Stephen Strasburg (/199)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Gold Refractor Autographs (1) – Byron Buxton (/50)

What's Buzz-worthy: Buzz will end today's ripping with a higher-end box that delivered pretty well this time. The RC is a good name to find (for potential ... not how he's looked this year) as he's not in every release for last year's lineup, while the Refractor is one in four boxes (though it seems every box has some type of parallel) and the biggest draw, the ink, is a tougher find of a notable veteran. That Buxton is one in 14 boxes -- a win vs. some other boxes I have opened and seen. As I noted previously, aesthetically speaking all of the various blacked-out approaches at cardboard (everybody has done them) haven't really grabbed me -- but this approach might if it were in a slightly less high-end release. All in all, I do think this one is worth the look if you're chasing hits and rarities and not worried about the price tag. (I do more than you might.) Over time, the basics from hobby-only releases with guaranteed hits like this will be tougher to find as the sheer volume of cards made won't compare to the standard stuff -- the RC here is a good example of that. (It should be tougher to find than others he has and that will matter if the demand is there later.) If you find this one on the cheaper side of things, it's worth the look as there's solid potential with some luck.

Product Grade: B
Box Grade: A- (rare auto helps out a ton vs. others I have seen opened)
Fun Grade: B (feel like two packs and an auto would be safer ... or tweak parallels more dramatically)

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