Random Wax: 2024 Topps Stadium Club Blaster

Stadium Club 2024:   We like us some Stadium Club photos and it's hard not to like Jose Ramirez.  He is struggling this year but he's a 6X Silver Slugger and has a career batting average of .277 with 1700+ hits and 295 home runs.  And it's hard not to like this photo.

So many excellent photos and we get Austin Martin on a Red Parallel.  Love the Trident the Mariners use as part of celebrations.

Mike Yastrzemski laying out.

I think of Stadium Club as having an old school feel, so these inserts feel a bit out of place for me.  Still, there are some good looks here.  Here we have Chief Fantasy Professionals, Chrome Triumvirates (diecut) and Special Forces.

Sepia Parallel.

This is Steven Kwan's 5th season with the Guardians and in his career, and he already has 4 Gold Gloves and a career .280 batting average.

The backs are good.  Lots of color, a different photo and player info even if we don't get career stats.

Another of my 4 Chrome Parallels from the blaster.  Ozzie knows a thing or two about Gold Gloves with 13 in his Hall of Fame career.

Mariner greats.  Enough said.  Great box of cards and lots of fun.

BREAKDOWN:

40 – Total Cards

16 - RC

6 – Red Foil Parallels

4 – Chrome

3 – Retired Greats

1 - Triumvirates

1 – Sepia Parallel

1 – Chief Fantasy Parallels

Random Wax: 2025-2026 Topps Basketball

25-26 Topps:   Kevin Durant is nothing short of amazing.  One of the best scorers in his era, if not the best, he could shoot from anywhere on the court and is just a baller.  So happy I was able to see this guy play and he ain't done yet.  He was 37 years old last season but still scored 26 points per game while shooting 41% from deep.  He's led the league in scoring 4X in his 18-year career.

Happy Tyrese Haliburton will return from injury this year.  Last time we saw him, he was hurt in the 2025 NBA Finals against the Thunder.  He only played 7 minutes in game 7 before getting hurt.  Man, we wanted to see that game with a healthy Haliburton.

Walter Clayton Jr. averages 7 points and 4 assists per game for the Utah Jazz.  The Jazz have made plenty of moves and look to make a big move this next season.  Should be fun to watch.

Everyone's excited about Dylan Harper and the San Antonio Spurs who made it to the NBA Finals this year.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is one of those new pieces in Utah meant to take them to the next level.  

Nice Checklist card.  Neither Zaccharie Risacher (Mavericks) nor Trae Young (Wizards) are still with the Hawks as have both been traded.

Big man Alex Sarr took a step forward this year averaging 16 and 7 for the Wizards in 2025-2026.

My other Checklist.

Guard love.  One of the all-time greats in Chris Paul, shooter Trey Murphy and Kyrie who can do so much.

All-time greats!  Always a favorite of mine.  Nice pull with KG and Dirk Nowitzki.

8-Bit Ballers is an okay insert.  Not really my thing but Topps is doing a retro thing which is fine.  Great pack of cards.

BREAKDOWN:
36 – Total Cards
4 – Retired Greats
3 – RC
2 - Checklist
2 – Generation Now
1 – 8-Bit Ballers

Random Wax: 2021 Prestige Football

2021 Prestige: Myles Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams during this offseason.  He had 23 sacks during the 2025 season at age 30.  This guy is a beast, and the Rams D just got a lot better.

Not a huge fan of all that white on these cards.  This pack was bought in 2021!  Just now showing it off.  Sounds like Tyreke Hill's injury was pretty nasty, and we may not see him this season.  Tough for such a good player.

Prestigious Pros is a good-looking insert.  Ben Roethlisberger would go 9-7 and make the playoffs in his final season with Pittsburgh in 2021.

Zach Wilson is the only player of these three who is still in the league.

I like the photo on this Highlight Reel insert.  And crazy we are talking about Justin Herbert's debut.  Six years ago already.

Xtra Points Parallels and a Time Stamped insert.  These aren't bad cards and I like that Jonathan Taylor pull.  He recently got a nice contract extension.  I'm a big fan of his.

Seasons Greetings inserts are good looking cards.  I like how they did these.  Fun pack of cards.  Enjoy today's first slate of Sunday games!

BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Card
4 – RC
2 – XTRA Points Parallels
1 – Time Stamped
1 – Highlight Reel
1 – Seasons Greetings
1 – Prestigious Pros

 

2026 Topps Football Hanger Box

2026 Topps:   Jaxon Smith-Njigba is not only a stud wide receiver with a new record-breaking contract, but also a world champion thanks the Seahawks' surprising Super Bowl run.

How Mahomes comes back from injury will be a big story this year and help shape how the AFC plays out.  I'm rooting for him to make a good comeback.  We've already seen this design with the 2026 Topps baseball release.  I like the design and it works here as well too.

The backs lack the career stats we see with baseball.  I don't know why that is and it's very disappointing. 

Plenty of youngsters to go around.

Team card and its back.  I'd rather have team stats and team leaders here but it's hard to argue with the starting lineups.  But still, I want to see numbers.

Here we have 2 Diamante Parallels, exclusive to hanger boxes, and a Holo Foil Parallel.  I'm a fan of the Diamante parallels so I tend to pick up hanger boxes.  You get 2 in a box.

Horizontal offering.  Not enough of these in the set for my taste.  Football looks good in horizontal photos.  There are 400 cards in the base set.

James Cook ran for over 1600 yards and for 12 touchdowns last season.

I really like League Leaders cards and these look good.

Another QB coming off injury, Daniel Jones' play will determine how the Colts do this year.  They were 8-5 with him starting but lost the last 4 games, and last 6 overall, to miss out on the playoffs.  Was last season a fluke for Jones or is he the real deal?

Combo Cards always highlight some type of combo or duo.

Inserts in this box included Greatest Hits, All-Topps Team, 35th Anniversary and Pressure Cookers.  I like all of these.  Not a big fan of 1991 Topps but the tweaks here help.  I like the contrast on the Greatest Hits, and I've always been a fan of "All-Topps" teams.  Enjoy day 1 of the NFL football season!

BREAKDOWN:
59 – Total Cards
15 – RC
2 – Diamante Parallel
2 – Topps 35th Anniversary
1 – Team Card
1 – Combo Card
1 – Greatest Hits
1 – League Leaders
1 – Holo Foil Parallel
1 – Pressure Cookers
1 – 2025 All Topps Team
1 – Topps All-Rookie Team

2026 Atlanta Falcons Preview

There were some positives for the 2025 Atlanta Falcons but the fact that they came out of the season without a true #1 quarterback was huge.  Michael Penix was hurt and went 3-6 in the nine games he started.  Kirk Cousins wasn't the answer.  They could rush the ball and were able to get interceptions.  Outside of those two areas, they struggled and went 8-9 in a weak division.  

They brought in Tua Tagovaila but he doesn't inspire confidence moving forward.  There are some weapons on offense in Bijan Robinson and Drake London but without a stable and good quarterback they'll go to waste.  Kyle Pitts had an excellent year and received a big contract.  Atlanta was in a tough spot.  He hadn't performed before 2025.  It was either give him the extension or let him go.  

I do think there is talent on the roster.  Unfortunately, it hasn't equated to wins.  Unless Tua or Penix step up, I don't think they get back to 8 wins.  The schedule is tough as they'll have to face the AFC North.  Receiver Johan Dotsan was maybe their flashiest move in free agency and doesn't move the needle.  Unless the team makes major advances at QB and on defense, it could be a miserable season. 

2026 Buffalo Bills Preview

 The 2025 Buffalo Bills were good.  Like really good.  The offense was 4th in points scored though the defense was 12th in points given up.  They could stop the pass but not the run.  And again, couldn't get over the playoff hump losing to the Broncos 33-30 in the Divisional round.   This led them to fire coach Sean McDermott who went 98 and 50 with the Bills.  They made it to two Conference Finals during his tenure.  Ownership gets the need to succeed during the now 30-year-old quarterback's time with the Team.

Offensive coordinator Joe Brady is the new coach.  I think this is risky.  The offense is so good.  DJ Moore was the big acquisition on offense.  I'm pretty "meh" about picking him up.  The team needed a top receiver, but I see him more as a #2 guy.  They added help along the defensive line and in the secondary but not many more impact moves.  Buffalo is also changing defensive schemes.

To me this all just means a lot of unknowns.  It feels like they'll be relying on Josh Allen again whatever success they have.  The AFC has seen Denver and New England ascend and you have to think Baltimore and Cincy are better this season.  Just a lot of unknowns.  It could work out for the better, and I'm assuming they get to 12 wins again.  Maybe with some luck they win more.  I know it's easy for me to sound doom and gloom but there is hope the new coaching staff get Buffalo over the hump.  As long as Josh Allen is healthy, they will be good.  They just need to make the right tweaks and be better enough to get to the Super Bowl or the team and fans will once again be disappointed.

And Buffalo is moving into a new stadium this year.

The Penguin

The Penguin: I received this on DVD for Christmas.  I enjoyed it.  It's not even close to a superhero - villain tale.  This is all about The Penguin and what he does in Gotham's underworld which pits him against the Falcone family.  In the same vane as The Batman, it's very gritty and dark though with a different take.  If you are at all interested, give it watch.