Random Wax: 2021 Topps Series 2

2021 Topps:  Spring Training starts in two weeks.  This pack is from July, 2021 and never been shared.  Fernando Tatis Jr. had a good year but still has a ways to go to get back to pre-PED suspension form.

Jose Berrios is now a Blue Jay while Kenley Jansen is still bringing but now with the Boston Red Sox.  Always liked Eric Hosmer who was very good in his prime and won a championship with the 2015 Royals.

I feel for Giancarlo.  He just can't stay healthy.  Way too many guys like that in major league baseball.

The great Nick Markakis.  2388 hits batting .288 over 15 seasons. Wasn't a power guy but he could hit and get on base.  

Love photos like this.  Not to mention the fun throwback unis.  Nice 1965 Topps Redux Lindor.  Small pack but still fun.

BREAKDOWN:

16 – Total Cards

1 – Checklist

1 – 1965 Topps Redux

1 – Significant Statistics

1 – Topps Rookie Cup/RC

Random Wax: 2020 Topps Baseball Hanger Box

 2020 Topps Baseball:  Not a huge fan of this years flagship deisgn but I do like these 1985 Topps 35th Anniversary cards.  Don Mattingly got his surprising Miami Marlins to the playoffs.  This was their first season with a winning record since 2009 so fans had something to cheer for even if they were slept by Atlanta in the playoffs.  

I've had this box for a while now but it's very appropriate with all the Dodgers I pulled.  

Both of these are fun cards.  Gotta love that hair!

I'm not a fan of the Turkey Red but I am a fan of Khris Davis and you can never complain about a Yelich even if he had a very off year.   Those Decade's Best inserts are nice.

I can't complain about my pull that's for sure.  

I like Joey Votto.  He isan on base machine!  He's struggled a bit the last two years and is in the twilight of his career.  He didn't put up Hall of Fame numbers but he'll be remembered for being an excellent hitter on some not so good Reds teams.  This was a fun box and so was the 2020 season that will never be forgotten.

BREAKDOWN:

72 – Total Cards

8 – RC

4 – Team Card

4 – Turkey Red

3 – Checklist

2 – Hoskins Highlights

1 – League Leaders

1 – Rainbow Parallel

1 – Decade’s Best Teams

1 - 1985 Topps 35th Anniversary

Random Wax: 2020 Topps Baseball

 

2020 Topps Baseball:  Not Topps' best design but while this was on the shelf it was still hard to pass up.  This was one of those smaller packs.  Anthony Rendon is a good place to start with this pack.  He's having an excellent season with the Angels but the team is struggling mightily.  

Mike Clevinger made news with his trade to the San Diego Padres who are all in on 2020.  Clevinger was also one of two Indians pitchers who broke team rules when he and a teammate visited friends while on the road.  Clevinger then didn't tell the team and flew on their next flight.  This seems like a big win for San Diego.  Clevinger is very good and under control for a few years.  

Three excellent pictures here.  Nice pulls.

A fun pack and a fun season.  While its been a bit crazy at times the short season means anything can happen.  Conventional wisdom says Los Angeles is the team to beat but there are still some very good and very fun teams like San Diego out there to contend with.  Go Braves!

BREAKDOWN:

16 – Cards

1 – League Leaders

1 – Turkey Red

1 – Chrome Turkey Red

1 – Decade’s Best

Random Wax: 2020 Topps Baseball

2020 Topps Baseball:  This is one of the smaller 16 card packs.  I really like this Marte for its action as well as that great uni.  They were playing game 5 of the '79 Pirates-Orioles game on TV the other night.  It was pretty awesome to watch some of the "We are Family" Pirates in action.  Pittsburgh was down 3 games to 1 going into that game and were down early but came back to win game 5 as well as games 6 and 7 to take the series in dramatic fashion.  Seeing old games replayed in their entirety has definitely been fun.  I can only remember so much of games 40+ years in the past.  And wow was the pace of the game much quicker.

Not the most start studded pack but it could have been worse.

Some good photos on both of these cards.

Still not feeling the Turkey Reds.  The Topps Now cards seem like throwaways.  I enjoyed this pack overall even if the star power wasn't as strong as in some of the other packs I've busted.  I really like these '85 35th Anniversary inserts. 

BREAKDOWN:

16 – Cards
1 – Topps Now
1 – Team Card
1 – Turkey Red
1 - 1985 Topps 35th Anniversary

2020 Topps Opening Day Hobby Box

2020 Topps Opening Day:  Been under the weather this week so I'm happy to finally get back to some cards.  I know Opening Day isn't a brand everyone cares for but I'm a big fan.  I like the logo and set.  With a smaller set size you get plenty of stars.  There are also some different insert sets and photo variations.  Hobby boxes do come with the chance for autos and relics.  I did not pull any this year.  This is my third year of buying a Opening Day hobby box and so far one auto.  A Kyle Freeland from last year.  Again hits aren't guaranteed...just nice bonuses.

   That Matt Olsen photo is great.  There's definitely a fun story there and I wouldn't knowing what it is.

More cool photos.  The Freeman for the nice throwbacks and another great A's action photo as well as a nice emotional shot from Gurriel.

The young stars of course get their chance to shine in the set.  Alvarez there with the not so common RC/Rookie Cup combo.

Inserts include Spring Has Sprung, which include all-time greats, and Dugout Peeks.

That Albies is a blue foil parallel.  There are 2020 copies of each but they aren't numbered.  But why not?  May's hair has to be tops for the year so far.

Team Traditions and Celebrations inserts.  That is a cool bat chandelier.

Mascots are a staple of Opening Day.  You'll also find stickers like this Bellinger.

You see some photoshop goodness on some cards like this Cole card.  Still getting used to the vertical styling on this year's design though.

Opening Day inserts showcase opening day moments from each team.

Plenty more stars.  I also Pulled Trout and Kershaw but they'd been shown in early 2020 Topps posts.  This was a fun box.  For the price and enjoyment I call it a win.  I get the Opening Day logo and plenty of stars as well as the main up and coming stars.

This is really one of the great photos in the set.  The emotion, headband, and classic uni make this a winner.

BREAKDOWN:

252 – Total Cards
17 – RC
16 – Opening Day
11 – Rookie Cup
7 – Mascot
5 – Spring Has Sprung
4 - Stickers
4 – Team Traditions and Celebrations
3 – Blue Foil Parallels
1 – Dugout Peeks
1 – RC/Rookie Cup

Mike Trout Tin - 2020 Topps

2020 Topps Baseball:  I'd been hoping these tins would hit my local Wal-Mart and they finally did yesterday. The only one I wanted was Mike Trout...and there was one left all the way in the back.  Phew.  Not interested in the others especially with Mookie Betts now a Dodger.  The tins come with an exclusive Chrome Decades' Best insert.  Appropriately I pulled these two Mike Trout cards which is great way to start.  I'm not a big Turkey Red fan but I will be holding on to this one.

  Can't complain about my rookie pulls led by Bo Bichette and Fernado Tatis Jr.

Plenty of star veterans as well.

The Marte Turkey Red and Warren Spahn Decades' Best are both chrome.

A Red Sox Team Card and Padres Checklist card.

The Tyler O'Neill is a rainbow foil parallel.

Hoskins Highlight, 1985 Topps 35th Anniversary, and another Turkey Red.

Topps likes their horizontal in this set and these are some nice photos.

Just a few more to show off including a great Sean Doolittle photo.  I was so excited to pick one of these tins up and not have to resort to the secondary market.  Plenty of good cards as well.

BREAKDOWN: 

75 – Total Cards

5 – Turkey Red
4 – RC
4 – League Leaders
2 – Checklists
2 – Team Cards
2 – Hoskins Highlights
1 – World Series
1 – Rainbow Foil
1 – Decades’ Best
1 – Turkey Red Chrome
1 – Decades’ Best Chrome
1 – Gold Parallel #/2020
1 – Topps All-Star Rookie Cup
1 - 1985 Topps 35th Anniversary Set

Random Wax: 2020 Topps Baseball

2020 Topps Baseball:  This is a fun Washington Nationals heavy pack.  

Brings back plenty of memories of a fun World Series.

I'm not that big a Ripken guy but that really is a cool looking card.  Of course the 80's are my jam so maybe that is it.  That's a gold #/2020 parallel Sandy Alcantara card.  Hoskins seems like an odd choice for a highlights set.  He is good, especially at getting on base, but for a guy who hit .226 (.236 career) last year it seems like there are plenty of players who may be better suited for something like this.

I'll be curious how David Price does in L.A. this year.  Wish him the best.  Judge is just too good  not to include here even if he is a Yankee.

As always there are plenty of nice horizontal cards as well as nice team cards.  While it isn't what is happening, it sure looks like some guy just put his hand on Soria's backside.  Just saying...

Nice Mallex Smith photo.  One of those speedsters I like.  

A fun pack with all the Nationals in it.  Plenty of other great  cards as well.  It's a long baseball season so there will be plenty more Topps as the season goes along.

One more National...

BREAKDOWN:

34 – Cards
4 – RC
2 – World Series
2 – Team Card
2 – Turkey Red
1 – Decade’s Best
1 – League Leaders
1 – Hoskins Highlight
1 – Gold Parallel #/2020