Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Gold Label 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 Gold Label baseball cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 33
Class 1 set completion: 
16 of 100 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Cal Ripken Jr., Willie Mays, Don Mattingly, Frank Thomas, Nolan Ryan, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, Max Scherzer

Rookie Cards (8) – Ian Anderson, Ryan Mountcastle, Tarik Skubal, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Casey Mize, Jake Cronenworth, Jarred Kelenic, Nate Pearson

Insert/short-print cards: 16 (all cards from box in gallery below)
Class 2 (6) – Gleyber Torres, Brady Singer (RC), Kyle Lewis, Austin Meadows, David Ortiz, Chipper Jones
Class 3 (3) – Ryan Mountcastle, Jarred Kelenic (RC), Nolan Ryan
Class 1 Black parallels (4) – Walker Buehler, Sam Huff (RC), Nick Madrigal (RC), Luis Garcia (RC)
Class 2 Black parallels (2) – Gleyber Torres, Brady Singer (RC)
Class 2 Purple parallels (1) – Javier Baez (/75)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Framed Autographs (1) – Trevor Rogers

What's Buzz-worthy: The approach here is simple -- a small basic set with tiered versions of the cards as a chase and then parallels atop that with a small array of hits that most often means a framed auto. That was the case here. The only glaring flaws I saw here? The class notations in the striping in the upper right are hard to read on foilboard if they're not parallels and then the Black parallels seem to be losing their ink in that bottom left corner and the card backs look like it was a wider problem based on what I saw in my box. (They're all that way for Class 1 ... very slight issues on backs for Class 2. See gallery.) The approach makes this one key upon Rookie Cards and then the hit perhaps more than anything else though there may be slightly more hidden value with the tiers and then numbering stuff in play for those doing player/team runs or sets. The Rogers auto here isn't a bad thing based on performance -- he's got potential -- but in the right now this one wasn't that big of a box. I think the design is crisper and better than some in the past for sure here and that's why it got an A- from me ... the approach seems a little hit and miss but at least it's a small one-hit box. I liked my RC volume and a number of past greats here, too, but I don't think the overall checklist/approach is one where I'll be digging in heavily. It might be interesting to see this approach tried for other sports like Formula 1 or WWE but in years of it from MLB I have tastes elsewhere. There are definitely some autos to chase, though, on the checklist (link above) and another reason to consider this is that it's hobby-only with only this version of packs -- no Sapphire-type other versions or retail to spread out where the big cards might be.

Product Grade: A- (design feels stronger than last year)
Box Grade: B
Fun Grade: B

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