Buzz Break: 2023 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (blaster)

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The box: 2023 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview, odds & checklist: Click here

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

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 14 (one with extra manufactured Relic card inside)
Cards in this box: 99
Base set completion: 
84 of 330 (25 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Dansby Swanson, Willson Contreras, Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Nimmo, Bryce Harper

RC logo cards (13) – Max Meyer, Bryce Johnson, Michael Toglia, Bailey Falter, Tyler Freeman, Brendon Davis, Israel Pineda, Alec Burleson, Bubba Thompson, Conner Capel, Drew Waters, Nate Eaton, Jose Butto

Insert/short-print cards: 15 (all in gallery below with some base)
Home Run Challenge (1) – Carlos Correa
Stars of MLB (7) – Shohei Ohtani, Christopher Morel, Kyle Schwarber, Yordan Alvarez, Salvador Perez, Xander Bogaerts, Josh Jung
World Baseball Classic (1) – Harry Ford
1988 Topps (1) – Mike Trout
1988 Topps All-Stars (1) – Mariano Rivera
Foil parallel (1) – Chad Kuhl
Blue parallel (1) – Michael Conforto
Gold parallel (1) – Detroit Tigers (/2,023)
Father's Day Commemorative Team Logo Patch Card (1) – Mookie Betts

Autographs/Memorabilia: None (manufactured Relic)

What's Buzz-worthy: I waited to do this one but then got this box as a gift and, well, it was a rough one save for appearances from Trout and Ohtani, though neither of those cards will be big deals over the long run. This one is the home to a few key names among the newcomers -- Masataka Yoshida, Corbin Carroll, Anthony Volpe and Jordan Walker -- but my crop is perhaps among the "wait and see" variety and that will happen with a larger-size set. The insert presence here is mostly led by the retail Stars of MLB cards, which are nice but flow so often they can be annoying unless a big name is attached. I beat the odds with a Gold parallel (looks like one in three blasters based on the odds ... I think) but all of my parallels were pretty weak sauce in terms of who I found so that really kind of canceled out any plus vibes there. I like the look of the patch card this time as all that blue looks solid in a simple design. ... Just like I said for the first series, this one does have a busier design than some recent years but I think it feels tighter and more cleanly printed than some flagship sets. It wasn't perfect but nothing dramatically rough in terms of centering and stock -- and that has been an issue at times off and on of late. The array of inclusions here is good -- and jumbo boxes break with a lot more color and flash than hobby with guaranteed ink and more -- and about the only other thing I'd want to see would be a little more insert/parallel power in every pack in both hobby and here. That doesn't add cost ... just got to add to lineup to add some value here for boxes where the names aren't popping. If you like this one, rip hobby boxes. If you're really a fan, spring for the jumbos where you get guaranteed ink and more every time ... that likely has the best potential. This one is likely a one-and-done for me (I said that for Series 1 and have only done two blasters this year ... an all-time low) unless I spot a sale or something emerges as a need or something I'd want to chase. Key newcomers I might just grab a slabbed single or two if the flippers go heavy there and prices dip.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: C (really only saved by a couple of key names among the inserts ... my Gold was a wash)
Fun Grade: D+ (rookies and base here was quite rough)

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