Random Wax: 2019-2020 Chronicles Box Break (Pelicans)

2019-2020 Chronicles Basketball:  This is another team I grabbed in one of Ben's breaks.  Check him out if you haven't.  This brand is all about different designs across Panini's portfolio and all about the youngsters.  I got the Pelicans as part of a random break and snagged 16 Zion cards.  I showed those off here and today I'll look at some the rest.

Neither of these guys have really found their footing in the NBA yet.  Alexander-Walker is averaging 13 points per game but hasn't found his shooting touch yet.

Plenty of different designs as is the case with Chronicles.  Makes for some fun cards.

Since the emphasis is on rookies you won't find many veterans.  Brandon Ingram is the only Pelicans vet in the checklist and I didn't pull him.  

Plenty of parallel possibility options like this Hayes Playbook card.  That Donruss Melli is the only card of his I pulled.  He's now a member of the Mavericks and struggling to gain traction.

While these guys might not get anyone very excited the Zion cards definitely did.  I enjoy Chronicles and the variety it gives ya.  Just wish there were more veterans in this set.  Again check out what Ben is doing over at his place.  Good breaks and prices.

BREAKDOWN:
21 – Total Cards
4 – Donruss
4 – Playbook
3 – Panini
3 – Luminance
2 – Marquee
2 – Essentials
1 – Classic
1 – Rookies & Stars
1 – XR Pink Parallel
1 – Recon Green Parallel
1 – Playbook Teal Parallel
1 – Luminance Teal Parallel
1 – Essentials Bronze Parallel
1 – Luminance Bronze Parallel

Random Wax: 2020 Absolute Football (5 Dollar Tree Packs)

2020 Absolute Football: Von Miller still hasn't registered a sack for his new team, the Rams, but you have to think on that defensive front he'll get his shots at the quarterback.  These Dollar Tree packs came with one yellow parallel per pack.  This design overall is one I like with the lace prominent in the look.

Nice to see Matthew Stafford who is also on the Rams now and has the Rams in the playoff mix.  The Vikings may only be 6-7 this year but it isn't because Kirk Cousins is sloppy throwing the football.  He's thrown 27 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions.  

Both of these guys have had off years after starring in previous seasons.

That Jonathan Taylor yellow parallel looks a lot different this year with the monster season he is having.  He's leading the league with over 1300 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns on the ground.  Some fun football to kick of NFL Sunday. 

BREAKDOWN:
25 – Total cards
13 – RC
5 – Yellow Parallel

Random Wax: 1991-1992 SkyBox Basketball

 1991-1992 SkyBox:  SkyBox is always fun.  This pack may not have had the star power you hope for but it was still enjoyable.  Brad Daugherty is a five-time all-star but his career was cut short after only eight seasons due to injury.  He had really good hands for a big man and is now a co-owner of NASCAR team as well as a television analyst in the sport.  He average 19 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game for his career.

I was a big fan of Kelly Tripucka.  Mostly a score first small forward he averaged 20+ points a game in five seasons.  And always had great hair which this photo doesn't help show off.

The backs are a big part of these with plenty of non-traditional shots.  They only went with the player's first name which is a bit different.

Dying of cancer in 2009 Wayman Tisdale was a jazz bass player after his playing days were over.  RIP. A fun pack of cards.  I like the design and all the memories.

BREAKDOWN:
15 – Total Cards
1 – All-Rookie

Random Wax: 2021 Chronicles Draft Picks Football

 2021 Chronicles Draft Picks:  Here's a pack of Chronicles Draft Picks I grabbed back in August.  Zach Wilson has struggled as a rookie for the New York Jets but dude is only 22 years-old.  I hope he can develop into a good quarterback someday but quarterbacks with the Jets of late don't have a great track record.

I do like the Chronicles brand and all the different designs it includes.  These Score and Illusions are favorites of mine with that retro Score look being the one I like best.  Kyle Pitts was the #4 pick of the draft and has shown why as the #1 tight end/receiver for the Atlanta Falcons.  

I like the Playbook design overall.  Ja'Marr Chase has emerged as Joe Burrow's favorite target in Cincy.  They played together at LSU which obviously helped that chemistry develop.

Both of these guys are having very good rookie seasons.  Najee Harris as the running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers while Micah Parsons has excelled as a pass rusher for the Dallas Cowboys.

A fun pack of cards.  I prefer the Chronicles regular set which contains veterans but I still like the variety this shows off. 

BREAKDOWN: 
15 – Total Cards
5 – Playbook
2 - Score
2 – Donruss
1 - XR
1 – Flux
1 - Optic
1 – Prestige
1 - Illusions
1 – Chronicles

2021 Topps Archives Blaster

 2021 Topps Archives: I really enjoy Topps Archives and this year brings back one of my all-time favorite designs that is 2011 Topps.  Add Rickey Henderson to that and this card is a winner in my book.  Love the circle with the logo.  The colors.  It all works for me.

A ton to show off here and I'll just go by design year.  They did a futures design with these from "2091".  Not bad looking cards actually but no logo?  Really? 

Loving these 2011 cards which have plenty of retired greats.  I'll definitely being picking off singles of these.

These are Topps Big Foil cards. I'm okay with them but nothing to write home about.  Perez is such a beast at catcher!

2001 Topps is not one I remember much about as I was out of the hobby at the time.  Decent design and seeing Carew and Murph is always a plus.

Here you have the mostly forgettable 1991 design (though I like that Marte card with all the A's green), a floating head, and a Bazooka Shining Star.  

I'm a fan of the 1983 design as well.  I like that double photo look.  

The 1973 design is not my thing but many of the classic Topps designs fall into that category for me.

This 1962 design falls into the same category but it is still fun seeing current players on some of these looks from years past.

I like this one a big better.  Great seeing Joe Carter included here.

Love these movie poster cards.  Uncle Larry is a must have and you can't go wrong with the swag of those great Oakland A's teams.  There are plenty of other cool posters in this set I'll be chasing.  This was a really fun blaster.  My pull was great and while I'm not a huge fan of every design year the variety of what I love.  We'll end it with Red great Johnny Bench and his Red Hot Foil Parallel #/50.  Perfect color for this legend.

BREAKDOWN:

56 – Total Cards

24 – Retired Greats

9 – 1957

9 – 1962

8 – 1983

7 - RC

6 – 1973

6 – 2011

6 - 2091

5 - 2001

3 – 1989 Topps Big Foil

2 – 1991

2 – Movie Poster

2 – Floating Heads

1 – Red Hot Foil Parallel #/50

1 – Bazooka Shining Stars (1:6)

2021 Topps Update Hanger Box

2021 Topps Update:  Had to pick some of this up.  This nod to 1992 isn't my favorite design but a logo could change my mind on that.  Still I like this Bryce Harper photo so we'll kick it off with the recently named 2021 National League MVP.

Had to get that great throwback uni from the World Champion Braves in there.  It'll be interesting to see where Marcus Semien goes after a monster year for the Blue Jays.

This is a foil parallel but no clue what kind.  It isn't numbered.

As you'd expect there are plenty of rookies included in this set to include Rookie Debut cards.

This is the back of Ian Anderson's debut card.  In addition to his impressive first start he also had a great start for the Braves during Atlanta's win over the Astros in the World Series.

Not the best Yadi photo.  I do like the 1986 inserts as part of their 35th Anniversary.  While it is a somewhat boring design it looks better on modern cardboard.

The Reds and Padres cards are checklist cards while the Kevin Pillar card is a orange foil parallel #/299.  Not a bad box. I prefer the inserts over all the rookies and players on new teams but other collectors are fans of that I know.

BREAKDOWN:
67 – Total Cards
21 – RC
4 - 1992
4 – Rookie Debut
2 - Checklist
1 - 1986
1 – Foil Parallel
1 – 70 Years of Topps
1 – Orange Foil Parallel #/299
1 – RC/Rookie Debut/Topps All-Star Rookie

2021 Absolute Football

 2021 Absolute Football: Found these at a Target when I was out of town.  I've liked some of the past releases and the strings being incorporated in the design works for me.  We'll kick it off with Stefon Diggs of my Bills.  Hope the win against the Saints on Thursday can get him and the offense back on track.  

This year's design is one I like as well.  Hits all the marks sans the player's position.  I initially thought there was two much white but nope - the mix of white and color works for me.

Plenty of youngsters as nine of the 20 cards are rookies.  You'll see them in both their team or college unis.  These cards are also silver foil which is why they scan so dark. 

The backs are okay considering they have the bare minimum stats.  That James Robinson is a Red Squares parallel #/499.  Not a bad pack of cards.  I might get more if I see them on the shelves based on the design.  Would like to see more than 20 cards in a pack though.  Enjoy your football day.

BREAKDOWN:
20 – Total Cards
9 – RC
3 – Green Parallel
1 – Red Zone
1 – Star Gazing
1 – Red Squares Parallel #/499