Buzz Break: 2023 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes (mega)

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The box: 2023 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes baseball cards (mega)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 60
Longevity base set completion: 
49 of 100 (49 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards — see everything in gallery.

Insert cards: 7 (all cards from box in gallery below)
Silver parallel (1) – Sebastian Norman
Stars parallel (3) – Dylan Crews, Carson Bolemon, Stunner Gonzales
Stripes parallel (3) – Blake Mitchell, Colt Emerson, Brayden Taylor

Autographs/Memorabilia: 4
U-18 World Cup - USA Materials (1) – Maxwell Clark
15U National Team Signatures (1) – Alexander Mercurius
National Team Development Program Signatures (1) – Landon O'Donnell
Collegiate National Team Training Camp Signatures Materials (1) – Chase Davis

What's Buzz-worthy: This one is an interesting format as it's one of two at retail and it's one that delivers half of an all now-Optichome base set for USA for the first time -- and also packs four hits with the full array of possibilities. Hobby boxes (link up top) give you nearly double the the hits every time but are smaller boxes at a higher price to go with the additional hits. Blasters are small, of course, but still pack two ... and between the three is this sweet spot box if you're one who wants to load up on base (again, on Optichrome) with some flashy but simple parallels (Silver, Stars, Stripes). There are also other possible finds -- lots of possible finds --so check out the panel from my box in the gallery along with everything that was in this one card-wise. My box included three autos among the four hits but nothing all that advanced on any front ... but for the price and volume this was still good ... good enough I have another box incoming and will likely dabble with some hobby, too, to see if it wows me at all beyond this format. It likely will in the big picture with hobby boxes having prices substantially lower than pretty much all MLB stuff this year -- at least of the stuff that's not on the lean/non-existent front in terms of hits. I expect hits and don't like paying over a certain price plateau for any boxes, so a box like this might get my attention more often than not ... and it might pay off down the line, too, with so much young talent here. There are some big possibilities in megas ... check out today's Board Buzz to see one big find over on the forums. That was a nice find at any box price.

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Product Grade: A  (all that USA potential with more depth than ever ... and an all-Optichrome base set is a win)
Box Grade: A  (for the price, this delivers a lot ... with good potential)
Fun Grade: B+  (not a ton of variety here beyond the hits)

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