Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Chrome Platinum (blaster)

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: 2022 Topps Chrome Platinum baseball cards (blaster)
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: 8
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 35
Base set completion: 
30 of 500 (6 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Stan Musial, Mike Piazza, Dennis Eckersley, Sparky Anderson, Mike Mussina, Jim Rice, Edgar Martinez, Bruce Sutter, Alan Trammell, Alex Bregman, Trea Turner, Ozzie Albies, Dontrelle Willis, Gary Sanchez, Gio Urshela, Luke Voit, Brandon Lowe, Jackie Bradley Jr., Kevin Gausman, Carson Kelly, Mitch Moreland, Kenta Maeda, Starling Marte

Rookie Cards (6) – A.J. Alexy, Colton Welker, Edward Cabrera, Vidal Brujan, Jackson Kowar, Emmanuel Rivera

Insert/short-print cards: 6 (all cards from box in gallery below)
Refractors (2) – Luis Gil, Brandon Crawford
Prism Refractors (2) – Bryce Harper, Zack Greinke
Blue Prism Refractors (1) – Jose Siri
Yellow RayWave Refractors (1) – Pete Alonso (/250)

Autographs: None

What's Buzz-worthy: This recently released follow-up to the also-delayed debut version of this line keeps with the tradition of revisiting a past set (this time, 1953 ... last time, 1952) and offering up a decent amount of parallel color and some longer odds at ink unless it's a hobby box. The ink still flows here relatively well, starting at one in 98 packs, while this box delivered a pretty standard mix you should expect. The only rarer card is the Yellow at one in 41 packs. The kicker? A cool 500 cards in the set and only four cards per pack -- that means long odds at finding any particular name you might be looking for here ... in any color. That's down from a 700-card monster last year -- one that I ripped several mega boxes for with prices slashed below blaster prices -- while this time I am probably a one and done. Why? The images here can be quite hit and miss with some newer ones looking perfectly fine in their lessened-detail filter form but others, particularly vintage photographs, really don't work. Now, I get why this was tried -- 1953 Topps was a painted set -- but I'd offer the thought that all that isn't ultimately necessary. Just using the frame alone gives that feel and, well, it's not 1953 anymore, either. I'd rip LITE boxes right now for the best break and potential for the price -- unless you solely want autos. If ink is your thing then rip hobby boxes for sure, though the checklist there is wide ... so picking off particular singles might be the best way to go even on that front. If you like some retro feel but modern flash -- things that don't always jive -- this is one to consider. As a collector, I don't mind it ... though this box wasn't the best first impression.

Product Grade: B
Box Grade: B+ (Alonso might pay for decent part of box ... but rest felt kind of flat)
Fun Grade: B

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