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: 
29 of 700 (4 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Honus Wagner, Jim Rice, Paul Molitor, Max Fried, Jose Abreu, Gary Sheffield, Darryl Strawberry, Tommy John

Rookie Cards (6) – Alejandro Kirk, Anderson Tejeda, Jojo Romero, Jonathan Stiever, Franklyn Kilome, Taylor Widener

Insert/short-print cards: 7 (all in gallery below with some base)
Refractors (2) – A.J. Puk, Kyle Hendricks
Prism Refractors (3) – Jim Abbott, Adam Eaton, Luis Severino
Blue Prism Refractors (1) – Luis Arraez
Green & Yellow 70th Anniversary Refractors (1) – Al Kaline (/99)

Autographs: None

What's Buzz-worthy: It's back to reality with this one after my first four boxes included two autos and some rarities. The best card here? The Kaline is one in 58 packs and that's good as an iconic Hall of Famer and he's also arguably the best card in the box here ... but at the original box price? Rough. Even at my discounted price as part of a sale ... also rough. Overall, though, I'm ahead with my other boxes ... so it's not one I'll dwell on too heavily. ... 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 though this box shows how that might not deliver that well. 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. I'd rip hobby at its present price for guaranteed ink or the other format that has some unique looks only found there.

Product Grade: A- (nice twist on a classic ... and a challenge if one wants to collect it all)
Box Grade: C (after some strong ones I fall back to reality here ... only saved by the Kaline)
Fun Grade: C (pretty average results here ... and I might be nice saying that with this box)

--

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com