Random Wax: 2023 Score Football

2023 Score:  Free agency starts today and we'll kick it off with Hall of Famer LT.  This is a good-looking card and good photo.  I'm also a fan of the older Charger unis that were dark blue.  LT was involved in a big trade that helped shape the futures of both the Chargers and Falcons in different ways.

April 20, 2001: Traded by Falcons as 2001 1st round pick (5th overall) with 2001 3rd round pick (67th overall, Tay Cody), 2002 2nd round pick (48th overall, Reche Caldwell) and Tim Dwight to Chargers for 2001 1st round pick (1st overall, Michael Vick)

Nice Josh Allen pull.  No clue how to grade the Bills offseason until after the draft next month.  They have cap issues and really haven't added the impact players us fans always hope for.

The Sack Attack cards are good looking cards.  Score nailed it going horizontal to help catch the moment better.

Plenty of youngsters including these 2003 Rookie Throwback and Protential inserts as well as a base card Zay Flowers.

The Celebration inserts are also a fun card I like.

I do like the design of 2023 Score.  Here we have a Red Parallel of D'Onta Foreman.

I do like the Huddle Up. Design is a bit different I like this photo.

Not the best pack I've opened but I do like this set.  The design, inserts and retired greats always make it fun.

BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Cards
7 – RC
3 - Protential
3 – Red Parallel
2 - Celebration
2 – Sack Attack
1 – Huddle Up
1 – Retired Great
1 – 2003 Throwback Rookie

Random Wax: 2022 Fleer Ultra Avengers Blaster

2022 Fleer Ultra:  This set is one I like.  This Mockingbird photo stood out to me.  In the comics she was tied closely to Clint Barton (Hawkeye) and were even married.

The art is strong on these cards.  Some classic looks as well as updated versions of many of the favorite characters.

Medallion, First Appearance and Ultra-Stars inserts.  First Appearances are pretty cool.  Wish the photo was a bit bigger.  That grey background on each side feels unneeded and the bottom area is clunky.  Stature is the daughter of Scott (Ant-Man) and Maggie Lang.  First I've heard of her. 

Jim Cheung Artist Spotlight card.  I like his art.  Another card where it feels like the photos could take up more of the card.

Silver Age Avengers inserts along with more ladies going deep into Avengers lore. I like adding the classic look for team members.

That War Machine looks like a Red Parallel but it is an Orange Parallel #/549.  Wonder Man is a Green Parallel.  My only complaints about this set is the ultra thick card stock and price point.

Another Green Parallel of one of the great comic artists, George Perez.  We'll end it with an Ultra Power Thanos insert.  The name feels very appropriate.  These cards are always fun.  I like Marvel as much as the next guy.  The grandsons will enjoy these as well once they see them.

BREAKDOWN:

3 – Green Parallel

2 – Artist Spotlight

1 – Medallion

1 – Ultra Stars

1 – Ultra Power

1 – First Appearances

1 – Silver Age Avengers

1 – Orange Foil Parallel #/549

Random Wax: 2023 Topps Archives Blaster

2023 Archives:  We'll keep it going with more baseball as games kicked off around the league yesterday.  Admittedly more of a fan after the fact with Kirby Puckett but I am all in on the man.  He's one of the best right-handed hitters that we've seen in the modern era. I like this 1965 Topps base design and it fits Kirby well.

First look of the 1956 Topps design.  I'm a fan of Robin Yount as well.  Love all the retired greats in this set.

Not a fan per se of the 2003 design.  The blue borders feel out of place.  Overall I'm okay with them but I'm still figuring it out.  Great pull though including new teammates Shohei and Mookie.

Spencer Strider was the opening day pitcher for the Braves this year.

Vaughn Grissom was traded to the Red Sox for Chris Sale.  I really hope that works out for both teams and players.  Always appreciate seeing Roger Clemons as a Blue Jay.

Love Freddie so this is 1969 Topps Single Player Foil Rainbow is a nice pull.  That is a 1957 Topps Hits All-Star Jose Ramirez card while Justin Verlander is gracing a 1989 Topps Doubleheader (Max Scherzer is on the back).

Holy cow was Warren Spahn good.  Led the league in wins eight times including five times in a row.  Love looking at card backs like this.  The stats alone are worth it but I do like the color and logo as well.

The look on Ted Williams face in the inset photo?  hmmm.  Carlton Fisk's inset photo is great with the mask on the head, eye black and look.

Another Shohei appearance on this 1979 Topps Comics insert.  Archives is always fun.  Lots of retired greats and variety.

BREAKDOWN:

56 – Total Cards

19 – 1956

18 – 1965

17 – 2003

13 – Retired Greats

11 - RC

3 - 1969 Topps Single Player Foil Rainbow

1 – 1979 Topps Comics

1 – 1957 Topps Hit Stars

1 - 1989 Topps Doubleheaders

1 – Rainbow Foil Parallel #/199

2024 Topps Baseball Hanger Box

2024 Topps:  Looks like Hunter Greene is looking forward to the start of the season today just like the rest of us. I kick it off with this Golden Mirror Variation.  Not the first year for these variations and I wasn't expecting this in my first pull of 2024 baseball cards.

I like this year's design.  I know some won't care for the color in the borders, but I like the blending of color with the more normal white borders.

Youngsters get their time as Future Stars, RC cards as well as Rookie All-Star Cup cards (didn't pull one).  All three of these players have had good starts to their career.

Team card.

The neon looking outline within the card front works for me as well.  These are all blue but there are different colors used for the outline.

The backs have all the stats which is the way to do it. Simple back but it hits all the marks for me.  And wow what a career for Verlander.

Rainbow Foil Parallel, 1989 Topps Baseball insert, and Superstar Blueprint insert.  I really like the Blueprint insert.  Not sure why but I'm liking it.

I like League Leaders cards.  Not sure why other companies don't do these with the other sports.  Seems like a lost opportunity.

The League Leaders backs are just as fun.  I enjoy looking back at seeing who was atop the different categories.  Always some fun surprises.  Again, simple but it works.

The Yellow Parallels are hanger box exclusives (two per box).

Checklist

Stars of MLB are nice again this year.  Definitely an insert I like.

Horizontal offerings as well.

The backs of the Team Cards provide a good recap of the 2023 season.

I enjoyed this box of cards.  The design is good and we get a good amount of variety.  Really looking forward to the new season and Topps baseball really help build up the anticipation.  Enjoy Opening Day!

BREAKDOWN:
59 – Total Cards
12 – RC
4 – Stars of MLB
3 – Team Cards
2 – Future Stars
2 – Yellow Parallel
2 – League Leaders
1 – Checklist
1 – Rainbow Foil
1 – Superstar Blueprint
1 – 1989 Topps Baseball
1 – Golden Mirror Variation

Random Wax: 2021 Topps Big League Baseball

2021 Big League Baseball:  Opening week is always fun so I'll try to get the hype going with baseball this week.  This is a favorite photo of mine.  Nolan Arenado is already a favorite player of mine but something about this picture really works for me.  The look on his face, the eye black, the uni...it just really is one I like.

I like the Topps Big League baseball brands.  I've liked this one's design more as time has gone on.  Big League Baseball is a "cheaper" option for cards.  I think I'll pick up a hobby box of this.  We'll see.  No guaranteed autos in those.  I'm waffling a bit.

League Leader cards are always good but I would have liked it if they had added the player's names somewhere.

The photos are similar to the flagship Topps self but feel like they are cropped differently.  Not complaining.  Just a different feel.

Robert had that breakout power season hitting 38 home runs which was more than this first three seasons combined.  The background of this Defensive Wizards doesn't seem to fit but I like the look of the card.  Robert has won one Gold Glove.

Great Mookie Betts photo.  He'll be the Dodgers' shortstop this year?  One thing to be a great hitter but he's had to be very versatile defensively in his career.  I do like the Wanted inserts (6X Gold Glove winner).  Souvenirs are okay but really don't tell a story with the design.

2024 will be the first time in 18 season Waino won't be on the field for the St. Louis Cardinals.  Unfortunately the backs don't have the complete career stats of the players.

These are fun.  I'm looking forward to opening some 2024 Big League Baseball cards.  Seem like they only show up at Target nowadays.  We'll see.  Two more days until the season starts!

BREAKDOWN:
36 – Total Cards
6 – RC
3 – League Leaders
3 – Orange Parallel
1 – Wanted
1 – Souvenirs
1 - Highlights
1 – Defensive Wizards