Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary (mega)

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 Platinum Anniversary Edition baseball cards (mega)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby/LITE)
First Buzz preview with checklist: Click here

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

Packs per box: 9
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 36
Base set completion: 
27 of 700 (4 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Yogi Berra, Jackie Robinson, Eddie Murray, Don Drysdale, Tom Glavine, Ralph Kiner, Ivan Rodriguez, Brandon Nimmo, Roger Maris, Sammy Sosa, David Justice, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams

Rookie Cards (5) – Daulton Varsho, Dean Kremer, Monte Harrison, Alex Vesia, Tejay Antone

Insert/short-print cards: 8 (all in gallery below with some base)
Refractors (2) – Dwight Gooden, Willi Castro
Prism Refractors (3) – Don Mattingly, Tyler O'Neill, Jon Gray
Blue Prism Refractors (1) – Ryan Braun
Aqua Wave Refractors (1) – Mitch Garver
Orange & Yellow 70th Anniversary Refractors (1) – Trevor Bauer (/25)

Autographs: 1
Autographs (1) – Jim Thome

What's Buzz-worthy: I'll admit this box didn't start off well even after the rarest card here arrived from a pack -- that Bauer card is one in 230 packs but is a dud -- but the star power picked up quite well after that one but with the centering issues that are all over the place with this one, making my box that was at a deep sale price a bit rough until the autograph arrived. So, again, the ink makes the box here as they are one in eight boxes and that's a modern Hall of Famer 'graph I can dig. This was my third of five of these at a steep discount and it once again over-delivered well. At original price? It was still good but I'm not a fan of these at all at original price -- buy hobby or even the other format as there are guaranteed inclusions that might make them safer in the most-average circumstances. (Are my average boxes to come in my last two boxes? We'll see ... I opened them all but don't actually remember what was in them. It'll be a surprise to me, too, when I break those down here soon.) ... As I noted before, this release is a landmark one in that it's a massive 700-card Chrome checklist -- likely the biggest Chrome set ever made -- and it's one that meshes plenty of Heritage vibes as it includes stars from the past and present on a modern re-do of the iconic 1952 Topps set but on a modern finish. The main chase elements here are parallels -- a meaty lineup was initially announced but with its delays there are fewer in hobby packs, though other formats exclusives -- and then autographs. The Prism parallels are only found here and there are also Prism Golds to be had among several parallels found here. (I landed a few in my run.) ... The parallels here are nice and should draw people in -- and if you want any one player on a parallel be sure to multiply those odds by 700 to figure your chance on your guy's one particular card. ... The lone chase card beyond ink and parallels is a re-do on the 1952 Mickey Mantle -- that one is one in 11,416 packs in hobby but easier here at one in 8,046. So ... they made a lot of this one -- but that's a good thing if you're a collector wanting to rip something with long-ball potential.

Product Grade: A- (nice twist on a classic ... and a challenge if one wants to collect it all)
Box Grade: A+ (ink and a rare parallel)
Fun Grade: A+ (good box this time ... not all like this one)

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