Buzz Break: 2023 Topps Allen & Ginter X 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 X baseball cards
Checklist: N/A (base parallels regular A&G but not everything is in here)
Odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

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

Packs per box: 18
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 147 (yes extras)
Base set completion: 
119 of 300 (40 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, Mike Trout, Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth, Julio Rodriguez, Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, Ken Griffey Jr., Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Chipper Jones, Andre Dawson, Mark McGwire, Will Clark, Anna Leigh Waters, Ermsy, Kevin Hart, Chris Fowler, Dawn Staley, Bomani Jones, DMC, Timmy Trumpet, Olivia Pichardo

RC logo cards (32) – Notables include Corbin Carroll, Adley Ruschman, Jordan Walker, Triston Casas, Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Jordan Groshans, Riley Greene, Shintaro Fujinami

Insert cards: 27 (all in gallery below with some base)
Short-prints (9) – Jackie Robinson, Derek Jeter, Jim Thome, Pete Alonso, Fred Lynn, Mark Teixeira, Dontrelle Willis, Gary Sheffield, Wander Franco
Mini parallel (16) – Victor Wembanyama, Michael Harris II, Stan Musial, Will Levis, Casey Webb, Benny Wasserman, Max Fried, Shintaro Fujinami, Jordan Walker, Jose Abreu, Luis Robert, Tim Hudson, Sandy Alcantara, Cade Cavalli, Hunter Brown
Mini short-prints parallel (2) – Bucky Dent, Paul Konerko
Red Mini short-print parallel (1) – Sammy Sosa (/5)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Silver-framed mini baseball autographs (1) – Barry Zito (/50)

What's Buzz-worthy: This year was my first for essentially buying nothing for this long-running brand -- one and done with a later -- despite being a heavy buyer since its arrival in 2006. Ginter X? That's a different story and it's not an easy one, either, as it's a bit of a love-hate break with those black borders but it guarantees an autograph in every box with the potential for two (statistically) and has an original SRP at just above half of what a standard hobby box can typically command despite those not guaranteeing autographs. Sure, the overall lineup of inclusions here is smaller and a lot less quirky but autographs are autographs and when they are good ones they can't be topped. This one? Not that great but at least it's a low-volume card of a name who was popular at times in the past. The highlights here are the Carroll, the Wembayama mini and the Sosa Red which is one in 53 packs (three boxes). All in all? A good box but not an elite-level box but at least I got my shot with a pair of boxes here before it sold out via Topps. Why? I can't pass up the sure potential with whom one might land for the ink, knowing they're all pretty low-volume here. Hobby boxes? Most don't pack autos and the big ones are likely tougher finds based on overall volume made vs. this one. Will I do more for Ginter in general this year beyond my other box? Maybe ... but it's not a shelf-clearing priority for me like it was in its first few years. Most of that's just me but some of that is the autographs being delivered and the overall lineup. There's good potential here for sure and that's part of the appeal.

Product Grade: A- (for Ginter X ... only because it guarantees ink combined with a low SRP)
Box Grade: A- (rare mini and some good finds but it can still be topped easily)
Fun Grade: B

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