Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hobby box)

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 Series 1 baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview with checklist/SPs/more: Click here

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

Packs per box: 25 (24 standard, one four-card Silver Chrome topper)
Cards per pack: 14
Cards in this box: 338
Base set completion: 
317 of 350 (91 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Fernando Tatis Jr., Pete Alonso, Vladimir Guerrrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Max Fried, Juan Soto, Max Scherzer, Jarred Kelenic, Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo, Anthony Rizzo, Albert Pujols, Mookie Betts, Kris Bryant, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Bobby Dalbec, Wander Franco (team card)

Rookie Cards (44) – Notables include Wander Franco (RC), Jarren Duran, Jake Burger, Brandon Marsh, Lars Nootbaar, Gavin Sheets, Chas McCormick, Kyle Muller

Insert/short-print cards: 19 (all in gallery below with some base)
Rainbow foil parallel (2) – Wade Miley, Justin Dunn
1987 Topps (6) – Tim Anderson, Austin Meadows, Anthony Rizzo, Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson
1987 Topps Black (1) – Jazz Chisholm Jr. (/299)
1987 Topps Chrome (3) – Shohei Ohtani, Jose Ramirez, Tylor Megill (box-topper pack)
Home Run Challenge (1) – Wander Franco
Generation Now (2) – Jarred Kelenic, Joey Bart
Welcome to The Show (2) – Hank Aaron, Mike Piazza
Flashiest Feet (1) – Bryce Harper
2021's Greatest Hits (1) – Joey Votto

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Major League Material Relics (1) – Willson Contreras
1987 Topps Chrome Mojo Refractor Autographs (1) – Rickey Henderson (/10) (box-topper pack)

What's Buzz-worthy: Does one card make a box? It did in this case -- the rare Henderson auto in the box-topper immediately made this box a winner. It didn't matter what I landed after that ... but then I landed a Wander Franco base card, a Franco Home Run Challenge card, a Black parallel of one of last year's interesting young stars, some Ohtani and Hall of Famer appearances, my second hit and then all that base with plenty of notables in play. ... As I noted last time, this one has a crisper and cleaner design than last year -- and it's one that emphasizes the photographs well with a number of oddball images that get a good ride here -- but speaking as an old-timer but not an old old-timer I think this one needs a lot more flash and dash via inserts. There are packs in hobby boxes without inserts -- I don't think that should happen in 2022 -- and without the topper pack that's just 17 inserts in 24 packs. For more thoughts on that, check out my other breaks. ... The odds on the topper pack parallel autos aren't listed but this one has to be a tougher find and it's a perfect card save for the vertical centering. The Black 1987 card also should have some longer odds, too, but I admittedly forgot to save a wrapper after ripping into this one. The lack of good insert volume this year really struck me in all my previous breaks and I still feel that way ... but I think it can feel better if you land something big among the lower volume of stuff here. There's a lot of good stuff in this one that's on the rare side, though, and that's what should keep some people ripping while others perhaps prudently battle it out on the auction block. If anything strikes my eye I'll probably pick off singles. I went the wall art route for some rarer Francos -- they're all sold out now but I'll mention that on a future Buzz Buys. All in all, it's comfortable but needs a little more. I suspect Series 2 will have some strong stuff coming and as long as there's a complete season (or at least something close), Update should/could be a banger.

Product Grade: B+ (better design than last year -- just needs something more)
Box Grade: A+ (first card made box ... then it kept delivering)
Fun Grade: A (see above)

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