Random Wax: 2021 Topps Basetball

2021 Topps Baseball: Seems like I had a hard time finding fat packs of Topps baseball last year.  Lots of these smaller packs.  Can't ever go wrong with Mookie so we'll start there.  This was a pack I picked up last February.

Gerrit Cole is having another good year.  He is just so consistent and so good.

I'm still waiting on Bobby Dalbec to hit consistently.  He just isn't there yet.  Jo Adell is younger at only 23 and is still trying find his hitting groove at the Major League level as well.

These small packs can be hit or miss but this one was good.  Some veteran stars and younger players like Adell and Joey Bart, on the '52 Redux, who are projected as future stars in the league.

BREAKDOWN:

16 – Total Cards

3 – RC

1 – World Series

1 – 1952 Topps Redux

 

Random Wax: 2020-2021 Hoops Basketball

2020-2021 Hoops Basketball:  Some great basketball playoffs this year.  This guy feels like a one man band in Dallas.  You have to think that if he ever gets some real help around him maybe they can make a deep run in the playoffs.  Not saying I'm giving up on this team as constructed but it seems like a stretch to see them get past the Suns.

Pretty good pull in this pack.  Giannis is having another great post season while Harris and the 76ers are in a dogfight with the Heat in their series.

Seven RC cards in this pack.

The top two from the 2019 draft.  I'm not a Zion guy but would like to see him back on the court and proving me wrong.  Ja is a beast.  I hope his injury from the weekend isn't that bad.  The series with the Warriors has been fun to watch.  These jersey swap inserts are pretty cool.

Good pack of cards and we'll finish it off with this Steph Curry Slam insert.  Love the Slam cards.  

BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Cards
7 – RC
1 – Jersey Swap
1 – Class of 2020
1 – Teal Explosion
1 – Slam Magazine

2021 Contenders Football

2021 Contenders Football: These were a happy surprise to see in the store.  Contenders is a brand I like so I always look forward to these even when delayed.  This year's design gives more room for the photo but overall, I like last year's better.   

The veteran checklist is 100 cards while the rookies, of which I pulled none, make up 42 cards.

A nice Tom Brady pull.  Winning Ticket cards are a bit campy but I like them.  I also like the MVP Contenders while the jury is still out on the Chain Movers inserts.

I love these cards.  So many great moments from past playoffs could be used for these.  That said there are only 15 cards in the set.  Still there are a few I'll want to chase.

The backs are pretty colorful and give you another chance to look at the front photo with more background.  

Good cards.  Maybe not the best Contenders design out there but I'm okay with it.  I did grab some more packs which I'll show off throughout the year.  

BREAKDOWN:  
22 – Total Cards
1 – MVP
1 – Playoff Ticket
1 – Chain Movers
1 – Retired Great
1 – Winning Ticket

 

2021 Topps Big League Baseball Blaster

2021 Topps Big League:  I'm a big fan of cheap cards and Big League falls right into that category.  Doesn't mean their design is always a hit.  This year's is growing on me.  This is my first box or pack and at first I wasn't sold at all.

The base checklist is good sized at 300 cards with 55 of those coming in subsets.  A good size to ensure you can get some stars while also pulling plenty of complimentary and young players.  These three help any pull with Altuve and Moline being PC guys for me.  Altuve is a blue parallel.

I really like the backs.  Nice color, not too hard to read and lots of information.  Some how I never found any of the 2020 Big League Baseball.

Plenty of young players.  Cardboard Connection stated these have a 80s/90s vibe to them and I won't argue that.

Decent mix of inserts.  I like the colors and design on the Defensive Wizards cards.  The Art of the Game cards have some hit or miss art but I like the inclusion here.  Wanted is a pretty good looking card as well.

League Leaders are always good.  Another fun way to look at top players while also reminding us who was best at their craft that season.  I'm always surprised when I look back.  "Oh yeah that guy did well..."

Looking at the League Leaders and Award Winner cards are good at reminding you this set is a year late in coming out.  Crazy.  Souvenir inserts are okay but it seems like something is missing.  Highlights are good as well.

These cards are not extremely thin like some past Big League sets.  Decent sized card stock.  That Arozarena is a Black & White parallel #/50. 

One of my orange parallels comes in the form of a Stephen Strasburg card.

Can't tell you how many times I had to remind myself these represent the 2020 season like when I read the back of this Freddie Freeman Award Winner.  A fun box of cards that had a nice pull and decent variety.  I'll grab more of these if I see them.

BREAKDOWN:
105 – Total Cards
20 – RC
10 – Orange Parallel
6 – League Leaders
5 – Blue Parallel
5 – Award Winners
3 – Art of the Game
3 – Defensive Wizards
2 – Wanted
2 – Souvenirs
2 - Highlights
1 – Black & White Parallel #/50

Wrecker Star Wars The Black Series 6" Figure

 Wrecker Black Series Figure: May the 4th be with you...  I love Star Wars and I love this line of action figures.  Wrecker is part of The Bad Batch who, as we found out in their animated series, are clones with genetic mutations.  It is a great show which I highly recommend.  Wrecker is the lovable muscle of the team.

Wrecker comes with a blaster as well as a knife which fits nicely in a lower leg sheath.

This guy was pretty easy to pose which made it really fun to snap photos of him.

The Bad Batch have such cool looks and Wrecker has that distinctive cool helmet.

Plenty of great detail on these figures.  Being a fan of the show makes these that much more fun.

The grandsons love this guy.  I had to buy another one to keep them from fighting over him.  I don't blame them.  Pappy wants one too.

Random Wax: 2020-2021 Upper Deck Hockey

2020-2021 Upper Deck Hockey:  The NHL playoffs start today so let's do some Upper Deck.  These Canvas inserts are always a highlight of Upper Deck hockey.

Really good photos are a staple of Upper Deck and they didn't disappoint.

Again more good photos though a photo like that Patrice Bergeron would have looked good in a horizontal offering.  The backs are pretty nice as well.

Upper Deck hockey is always fun. Should be some fun matchups in the playoffs this year.  I'll be rooting for Calgary and Boston but would also like to see Toronto do well.

BREAKDOWN:
26 – Total Cards
1 – Canvas
1 – Upper Deck

 

Carl Yastrzemski 1997 Donruss Significant Signatures Autograph

1997 Donruss Signature Significant Signatures:  There have been players who have passed away and I thought why didn't I grab an autograph while they were still alive.  A weird thought I know but that got me to chasing a Yaz auto.  He's my favorite Red Sox player and #2 overall of my favorite players.  Trying to choose one auto amongst all his was tough but my budget helped narrow it down and I decided on this one.  I like the photo and look of the card.  I didn't want just any auto.  Had to be a card I liked visually.  The cards in this subset aren't that expensive but the Yaz auto trended higher than the others so I settled in and figured patience would be my best option.  I grabbed this one at $55 ($65 w/shipping and taxes) which made me very happy.  It was exciting and tough at the same time to wait this out but I'm very happy. Happy Friday!