Buzz Break: Boston Red Sox Mystery Publications Grab Bag

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: Boston Red Sox Mystery Publications Grab Bag
Where to buy: Via Red Sox on MLB.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and a gallery of what was in this box. (Yes, it was a box and not a bag ... but that's their image.)

Programs/magazines in this box: 11
Official Yearbooks: 1991, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2014
Game Programs: April 2021, June 2021
Other: 2004 Red Sox Magazine (second edition), 2008 Maple Street Press Red Sox Annual, 2018 Harvard-Yale at Fenway Park

Notable names on covers: Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Rafael Devers, Josh Beckett, Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, Mo Vaughn, Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra, Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek and others

What's Buzz-worthy: I picked up one of these late last year since they're so cheap (only $15 direct from the Red Sox on MLB.com) and I decided to do it one more time since a new season is here. Generally, the conditions of these publications are very strong (other than some surface wear) and the star power is pretty strong, too. ... As I said last time, this is advertised as a mystery bag but the box was pretty impressive when it arrived as the yearbooks are heavy and thicker media guides full of colorful content for this legendary franchise. The mystery box listing is a little lean on the MLB mothership, simply promising "eight to 12 different publications that can be from the 1980s to current day" with the thought that "you never know what you'll get" but they had me at mystery. I got a little less volume than last time and I only dipped back to the 1990s this time, but overall it was a mix still more from the highlight years vs. lesser times for the team. (I suspect they printed more pubs when there was more to show off and more people were watching ... one example being the first image in the gallery.) There's got to be modest if not decent break-up potential here if one is patient or if the mix gets a little more exotic or key to certain championship teams or players. Also, while magazine-grading is a ton more complicated than card-grading -- and it's not fast or all that cheap -- it's certainly a bit more untapped than cards. A nice piece in a nice grade from never-handled pick-ups like these where they have sat in storage untouched with the team could lead to some gems. All in all, for something different, this one hit the spot -- I just wish I could find the same for other teams. There's very little downside to a cheap, different "break" like this from time to time.

Product Grade: A- (good volume and value)
Box Grade: A- (some nice surprises in this mix)
Fun Grade: B (not cards and can have damage)

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