Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Update baseball cards (hobby box)

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The box: 2021 Topps Update baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview: Click here

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

Packs per box: 25 (24 standard, one Chrome)
Cards per pack: 14 (four in Chrome)
Cards in this box: 334
Base set completion: 
303 of 330 (92 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Albert Pujols, Bo Bichette, Ronald Acuña Jr., Jazz Chisholm, Shohei Ohtani ... and guys who threw no-hitters. (A bit of a dry crop for a base set this year.)

Rookie Cards (118) – Notables include Andrew Vaughn, Akil Baddoo, Jonathan India, Yermin Mercedes, Jarred Kelenic, Huascar Ynoa, Jo Adell, Jake Cronenworth, Brady Singer, Tarik Skubal, Ryan Mountcastle, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Luis Garcia, Deivi Garcia, Jazz Chisholm, Casey Mize, Tyler Stephenson, Ian Anderson, Alec Bohm, Dylan Carlson, Cristian Pache, Bobby Dalbec, Joey Bart

Insert/short-print cards: 30 (all in gallery below with some base)
Photo variation (1) – Alek Manoah (RC)
Holofoil parallel (2) – Bo Bichette & Marcus Semien, Chi Chi Gonzalez
Gold parallel (2) – Tyler Nevin, Matt Moore (/2,021)
70 Years of Topps (3) – Francisco Lindor, Alec Bohm, Cristian Pache
1986 Topps (6) – Ken Griffey Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., Javier Baez, Kyle Isbel, Eric Hosmer, Hyun-Jin Ryu
1986 Topps Black (1) – Logan Gilbert (/299)
Platinum Players (1) – Eddie Mathews
Cards That Never Were (1) – Stan Musial (1954)
Black Gold (1) – Pete Alonso
All-Stars (8) – Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Carlos Correa, Max Muncy, Shane Bieber, Jared Walsh, Aaron Judge
1986 Chrome (4) – Andrew Vaughn, Jazz Chisholm, David Ortiz, Aaron Judge

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Silver All-Star Stitches Relic (1) – Nolan Arenado (/50)

What's Buzz-worthy: This year's Update set is a little different than the norm -- it's still loaded with Rookie Cards but all of the All-Star stuff from this year isn't in there. It's a deadline thing for sure -- we're still waiting on plenty of other 2021 sets that have been delayed -- so I'm grading it a little lower than it might be. Yet, let's be real here ... this year's highlights should be in next year's set. It's something I've always really wondered about but not deeply. I do miss the volume of stars that would always be seen here but this is how a set should be. (Topps Now is where you should get cards for in the now.) This one had a rare parallel Relic -- one in 1997 packs -- as well as a variation (one in 63) and then some other finds that are not one per box ... but some are not on the wrappers. The rookie volume here is nutty -- that number includes the dual-cards that do not have RC logos but should -- but it's heavy on Rookie Debut cards with guys back to Series 1 helping that out. The crop is deep, though, so that could make it a better l0nger hold as guys emerge beyond this season success-wise. This one seemed to have less variety but more volume than Series 2 on the insert front, which helps to some degree with more names but less surprise-factor when ripping a box. It didn't seem as fun due to that but the stuff is in there -- I'd do a jumbo box if you're sold to get more inside and a guaranteed auto to boot.

Product Grade: B+ (some slight changes vs. past years drop it here a little)
Box Grade: A (Relic parallel is one in 997 packs)
Fun Grade: B- (tons of RCs in this one ... but perhaps more of a long-term potential crop here)

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