Buzz Break: 2024 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hobby box)

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The box: 2024 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Packs per box: 21 (20 standard, one four-card Silver Chrome box-topper)
Cards per pack: 12
Cards in this box: 244
Base set completion: 
222 of 350 (63 percent)
Duplicates: 1

Notables on base cards – Michael Harris II, Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Julio Rodriguez, Matt Olson, Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper, Masataka Yoshida, Anthony Volpe, Christopher Morel, Adley Rutschman, Seiya Suzuki, Yordan Alvarez, Adolis Garcia, Joey Votto, Brandon Nimmo, Corbin Carroll (2), Spencer Strider, Elly De La Cruz, Anthony Rizzo, Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani, Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Walker Buehler

RC logo cards (43) – Notables include Elly de la Cruz, Evan Carter, Andrew Abbott, Henry Davis, Sal Frelick, Marco Luciano

Insert/short-print cards: 20 (all in gallery below with some base)
Rainbow foil parallel (2) – Max Muncy, Jacob deGrom
Gold parallel (1) – Bo Naylor (/2,024)
Celebration of The Kid (1) – Ken Griffey Jr.
Superstar Blueprint (1) – Julio Rodriguez
Home Run Challenge (1) – Rafael Devers
Grand Gamers (1) – George Brett
All-Topps Team (1) – Gerrit Cole
2023 Greatest Hits (2) – Shohei Ohtani, Royce Lewis
1989 Topps (5) – Willie Mays, Mookie Betts, Carlos Correa, Tyler Soderstrom, Paul Goldschmidt
1989 Topps Black (1) – Gavin Williams (/299)
1989 Topps Chrome (4) – Don Mattingly, Christian Yelich, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yordan Alvarez

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1 (manufactured Relic)
1989 Topps Autographs (1) – Victor Mederos

The neon frames being foilboarded really makes them pop on every base card.

What's Buzz-worthy: This box included a few cards that wouldn't necessarily be found in every box with the auto as a hit (one in seven boxes) and the Black 1989 (one in 39 boxes) but, frankly, neither one was among the better cards in this box beyond scarcity. Inserts here had some decent variety but ultimately only a couple names were of slightly better names in terms of value/star power over time. The real star here? The simplicity of touches in the base set, which is printed with a foil effect that makes the neon highlights here pop -- it's like it's on foilboard but not for the whole image like those parallels -- and the printing here is crisp and sharp, arguably cleaner than flagship sets have been in a while. (Those black corners will still be hit and miss for grading but everything else here looks sharp.) So, ultimately, this one just comes down to who you find. I landed the top rookie, Elly de la Cruz, and added an Evan Carter but the rest of the crop was lean in this box, despite getting more than one rookie per pack on average. The design is non-traditional but it works -- it's a win -- with this one evoking touches of 1980, the early 2000s and perhaps other times in a totally new package. I think the key here, over time, will be some of the parallel sets with stars there being key singles over time -- especially if some diehards opt to chase sets -- atop that, there are all of the other variations in play (see checklist) that can add chase and value but I didn't see them here. Oddly, I pulled a pair of Corbin Carroll cards here but had no dupes otherwise -- that made me think I had something different but I don't think so -- so, really, the only question I have here with such a big set and a meaty print run is whether there should be more to chase inside a box. This one beat the odds with two cards but really wasn't that fun ... but this time the base cards stole the show in my book so I'll leave my additional thoughts for if I rip more (not sure) or for a later series.

Product Grade: A (improved overall vs. last few years)
Box Grade: B+ (beat odds a few times for a box -- but basics were more interesting than those cards)
Fun Grade: B- (long odds on stuff that doesn't feel like it should be that rare ... so rip jumbo as you should land more of everything to help fun factor)

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