Buzz Break: 2023 Topps Allen & Ginter 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: 2023 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: 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 of highlights.

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 48
Base set completion: 
28 of 300 (9 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ken Griffey Jr., Andre Dawson, Tim Hudson, Rafael Devers, Kyle Schwarber, Freddie Freeman, Timmy Trumpet, Hoodie Allen, Olivia Pichardo

RC logo cards (10) – Shea Langeliers, Mark Vientos, D.L. Hall, Tyler Freeman, Brett Baty, Riley Greene, Jordan Groshans, Shintaro Fujinami, Luis Ortiz, Matthew Liberatore

Insert cards: 20 (all in gallery below with some base)
Short-prints (Nos. 301-400) (4) – Prince Fielder, Bucky Dent, Jim Edmonds, Paul Konerko
Mini parallel (1) – Dylan Cease
Mini A&G backs parallel (2) – Ted Williams, Joey Votto
Mini A&G backs short-prints parallel (1) – Jose Reyes
Mini Black parallel (1) – Oswaldo Cabrera
Mini Rookie Variation (1) – Francisco Alvarez
Save Room For Dessert (1) – Chocolate mousse
The World Of Wonder (1) – Historic Centre of Cordoba
Fun In The Sun (2) – Piña Colada, beach soccer
Music To Your Ears (1) – Bongos
Spotless Spans (4) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Justin Verlander, George Kirby, Reid Detmers
Talonted (1) – Vulture

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: My first and only blaster of this one that I opened last year coughed up Victor Wembanyama, Bryce Young and Anthony Volpe ... but, this second one? Well, it was a bit back to reality despite coughing up the RC logo 10 times compared to just two last time (this time, not that many players of note) and it did include a mini SP and some better names among the minis ... and that probably helped this one from being an average box this time. That said, this was still a pretty dull rip despite the eccentric finds and oddities in Ginter, a brand I have regularly explored since its 2006 revival but less and less every year. (Last year was my absolute lowest ripping here ... as in I barely did.) ... As I noted last time, a new take on the 1880s tobacco card aesthetic works for some segments of the baseball collecting crowd, but I'm not sure a lot of the pop culture throw-ins here really make sense on that style as much as they might for a Finest set or something that has a lot of razzle/dazzle Refractor feel to it. It just feels off ... and I don't think this retro, Victorian-style look is a good mainstreaming feel to draw non-collectors into new cards, either. It just feels off. The color palette on the signed cards also just seems drab though perhaps it's a nod to some of the gold-ink styles for old tobacco sets. Hobby boxes once again include three hits -- sometimes that will be three Relics -- and then some cases have delivered a lot more ink than others and that could make for some fun breaks if you go there. I, myself, would rather have some consistency and for a more-premium price for these boxes these days I'll play the broken record and note that this brand really does need an auto in every hobby box. (A lot of the names can't be pricey signers to land, either.) The big draws, as usual, are in there and the quirks are, too, but in this 18th edition I've not really spotted more than a couple I'd want to chase -- and I like the quirky and non-traditional stuff. Yet, at the same time some genres of signers here feel like they could anchor an A&G non-sports set -- or a new pop-culture brand with a feel for the here and now -- better than one that's supposed to be MLB with a lot of other quirky retro nods added in like it's from the 1800s. This one was basically a one and done for me while in-year -- I'll maybe open a few more as this one hits the bargain bin -- and that's in part because the main draws here feel like they are too rare to expect to land when ripping a box or two or three (not a development exclusive to this brand at all) but because a brand that used to be known for serious surprises, big names and big chases feels like it just needs more or at least some real differently feeling inclusions. That said, if you're sold or want to chase some big autos ... hit that link up top as the case prices here have been pretty strong lately.

Product Grade: B 
Box Grade: B- (some better-name minis helped this one avoid average status)
Fun Grade: C+

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