Buzz Break: 2023 Topps Update baseball cards (hanger)

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 Update baseball cards (hanger)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby/jumbo)
First Buzz preview, odds & checklist: Click here

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

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 59
Base set completion: 
49 of 330 (15 percent)
Duplicates: 1

Notables on base cards – Jacob deGrom, Christopher Morel, Brandon Crawford, Gerrit Cole, Bobby Witt Jr., Braxton Garrett ... a rough run of base here.

RC logo/Rookie Combo cards (13) – Anthony Volpe, Brett Baty, Dermis Garcia, Jake Bird, Elier Hernandez, Nelson Velazquez, Cody Bolton, Andrew Nardi, Braden Shewmake, Xavier Edwards, Caleb Hamilton, Taj Bradley, Matt Gage, Cesar Salazar

Insert/short-print cards: 9 (all in gallery below with some base)
Stars of MLB (4) – Corey Seager, Dansby Swanson, Michael Busch, Miguel Vargas
1988 Topps (1) – Masataka Yoshida
Blue parallel (1) – Miguel Amaya
Ranbow Foil parallel (1) – Brenton Doyle
Action Stars (1) – Bo Bichette
Action Stars Black (1) – Gunnar Henderson (/299)

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: I've dabbled with next to nothing from flagship this year and this, too, likely will be a one-and-done release for me at least until the bargain bins and this one make acquaintances. Update hangers include fewer cards per pack and this time that was even more apparent when the run of base was, well, tediously lean on star power with really only the Volpe helping out. The rookie presence was generally just as dry, too, save for that Gold Glove winner's card in this one. What was the pack's saving grace here was the numbered Gunnar Henderson Black parallel insert that's one in 143 packs ... a "big" find that almost paid for the pack. (Asking prices are higher but actual sales prices are just under pack cost.) Over the long term, this may end up being a better card.) Jumbo boxes are the way to go here with guaranteed ink, two more hits beyond that and then more volume of everything and, in turn, more shots at those key names popping up in all those insert and parallel spots. If I open something else for this one, I'll offer up more thoughts then. Statistically, the Henderson makes this one a win ... but a different box I picked up out in the retail wild along with this one was the more-satisfying break for not substantially more cost-wise.

Product Grade: B
Box Grade: A- (thanks to a couple of inserts ... one being rarer and a top rookie)
Fun Grade: C+ (run of base here was quite rough beyond one rookie)

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