Random Wax: 2020-2021 Chronicles Basketball Hanger Box

2020-2021 Chronicles Basketball:  The NBA draft is tonight and you have to expect some wheeling and dealing as well as teams hoping they grab the next big player.  Kawhi was drafted with the 15th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.  By the Pacers no less before being traded by Indiana with Dāvis Bertāns and Erazem Lorbek to the San Antonio Spurs for George Hill.

I really enjoy looking back at past drafts to see who was selected where and what players were selected ahead of them.  II also enjoyed looking at my pull in this box.  Great player after great player.

Hopefully the Blazers can build a contender around Dame.  They've already traded for PF Jerami Grant which is a nice pickup.  A lot of work to still do though.  The Hawks are also expected to make changes to be more competitive after struggling this season, one year after making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Plenty of different designs in Chronicles to like and not to like but the variety is a big part of the appeal. 

Some nice rookie pulls with Ball and Pritchard.  There are rumors Charlotte is interested in Russell Westbrook but that makes zero sense.  But it makes zero sense for anyone to be interested in Westbrook at this point in his career with that contract.

Didn't even notice I featured two "Tyrese" in this photo.

Definitely a fun box.  We'll end it with one of my favorites, Anthony Edwards, who had a good sophomore year at just age 20.  Minnesota has to feel like they can be really good with the right roster moves.

BREAKDOWN:

30 – Total Cards

18 – RC

6 - Chronicles

4 – Panini

4 – Classic

3 - Playbook

3 – Luminance

3 – Green Parallel

2 – XR

2 – Threads

2 - Prestige

1 – Donruss

1 - Crusade

1 - Marquee

1 – Essentials

2022 Diamond Kings Baseball with Autograph

2022 Diamond Kings:  This pack delivered well including an auto.  We'll start off with Juan Soto who is struggling a bit this year but he's still only 23 and has had some great seasons already as well as a championship on his resume.  He needs to stay healthy, but he is great to watch at the plate.

Again a nice pull in this pack to include the base cards.  Not a bad design but as always the lack of team logo is annoying.

The rookie cards have different designs which is okay but they aren't all hits like the Shane Baz take.

My auto was a nice surprise.  McCormick is getting some regular at bats with the Astros but he is struggling at the plate this year.  He's 27 so hopefully he can get things going.

Here we have an Artist Proof parallel which I never understand.  A parallel with the only difference being something stamped on it.  The Frame cards are kind of cool.  Gallery of Stars are alright but I'd rather have a true "Diamond Kings" card.

I'd like a little less color for an old-timer like Bob Feller.  Still I like this one.  Not looking for black and white but maybe some muted tones.

Nice to see some retired greats.  Good pack of cards and while I nit pick some these are good for what they are.  I doubt I'll pick up more but still fun.

BREAKDOWN:
20 – Total Cards
6 – RC
1 – SP
1 – Gray Frame
1 – Aficionado
1 – Artist’s Proof
1 – Gallery of Stars
1 – DK Signatures #/75

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Donruss Basketball

21-22 Donruss Basketball:  Been a great NBA Finals with Boston and Golden State trading blows.  Maybe it will get closed out tonight?  Jaylen Brown has played well for the Celtics this series.

Jimmy Butler did everything possible he could in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston but Miami still fell short.  Just not his fault.  KD and the Nets struggled in the playoffs and regular season and it'll be interesting to see what happens in the offseason and how Ben Simmons fits with this team moving forward.

Plenty of rookie representation.  Bones Hyland and Evan Mobley both had good rookie campaigns while Trey Murphey III is still finding himself with the Pelicans.

Good looking photo on this Franchise Features insert.  Booker and Suns came up short against Golden State in the Western Conference Finals and now have to figure out what to do with Deandre Ayton this offseason.  Is Trey Young trying to get the beer guy's attention?

Steven Adams has been a great fit with Memphis this year.  Myles Turner will the paint to himself next season with the Pacers with fellow big man Sabonis traded to the Kings.

Anthony Edwards, Georgia Bulldog alum, and PC guys making an appearance.  Really good pack.  Plenty of stars.  Still not a fan of the design but I still find myself grabbing these.  We'll end it with Kawhi Leonard.  Can't wait to see a healthy version of him for a full season.

BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Cards
4 – Rated Rookie
1 – Franchise Players
1 – Great X-Pectations
1 – Green and Yellow Laser Parallel

2021-2022 Upper Deck Hockey

 

21-22 Upper Deck Hockey: Hard to believe but this is my first pack of these this year.  Probably due to delays.  Stanley Cup Finals start tonight so it's a great time to break this one out.  We'll kick it off with three-time Stanley Cup winner Sidney Crosby who highlighted this pack.

Show off one of my Calgary Flames.  Calgary had a great season winning the Pacific Division but was ousted in the second round of the playoffs by Edmonton.

Upper Deck always brings it with their quality photos.  This season is no different.  Showing some goalie love here but not much in the way of action.

Some horizontal goodness.  Wouldn't mind seeing a few more of these in packs.

I like the design this year.  At first glance I wasn't so sure but it is a good looking design in hand.

Wish we'd see more action in the shots.  It's consistently guys skating around.  We need more cross check, passing and shooting photos.  I know those are harder to get but still, this is what hockey photographers do.  Maybe just have other guys share the photos somehow to give us variety.

The orange parallel Dazzlers is my insert in this pack.  Orange and green are found in retail packs.  Could use another insert or two in each pack to help break them up.  Fun pack of cards.  Enjoy the back of that Crosby card which may be better than the front as you get to see what a crazy great career he's had.  I think I'll root for the Lightning in the series but no issues if the Avalanche take home the Cup.

BREAKDOWN:
26 – Total Cards
1 – Dazzlers Orange Parallel

Random Wax: 2021 Chronicles Draft Picks Football

 2021 Chronicles Draft Picks; Definitely a mixed bag with Chronicles but it is one of those brands that gives you lots of variety.  We'll kick it off with Atlanta Falcon rookie extraordinaire Kyle Pitts.  He didn't win Rookie of the Year but still finished the season with 68 receptions, 1026 yards and one touchdown.  He gives the Falcons hope and they need it as most of the roster does not inspire us fans.

 

Always happy to show off the maize and blue of the great Michigan Wolverines unis.  Evans only had 77 yards rush for the Bengals but that is understandable with Joe Mixon as their starter.  Bateman had a good year with 515 yards on 46 receptions for Baltimore while Chuba had 612 yards rushing and five touchdowns for the Panthers.  Many have thought he's gives Carolina a good reason to trade Christian McCaffrey.  Love that Score design.

Mac Jones and Ja'Marr Chase had really good starts to their careers while Trey Lance was mostly on the sideline last year.  Chase not only pulled in 81 receptions and 1455 yards with 13 touchdowns but also helped get Cincy to the Super Bowl.

Fun pack of cards.  Even more fun to look back and see how these guys panned out.  The variety alone is worth a look.  Najee Harris had a great rookie season rushing for 1200 yards and seven touchdowns as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

BREAKDOWN:

15 – Total Cards

5 – Playbook

3 – Donruss

1 - XR

1 – Flux

1 – Score

1 - Select

1 – Prestige

1 - Illusions

1 - Chronicles

2022 Gypsy Queen Blaster with Autograph

2022 Gypsy Queen:  I normally enjoy Gypsy Queen so I was happy to see this in the wild.  We'll kick it off with Clayton Kershaw.  At age 34 he was having a great start to the season before hitting the IL. (4-0, 1.80 ERA, 30 IP).

Decent pull in this box though the stars are Dodger heavy.

Young players including a green parallel.  There is one green parallel per pack for a total of seven in the box.

I like the wood border parallels though they aren't necessarily better looking than the base cards.  Luis Campusano is 23 and only has around 50 total at bats in the majors so he has a long ways to being a bonefied major leaguer.

This GQ Gems are decent looking cards but I can't say I'd search out more.

My biggest beef with this design is how they do the name.  In hand it is hard to read.  I know the Kershaw scan makes it look clear as a bell but those lines in between the letters are very distracting.  The light blue around the team name seems out of place as well with this retro color scheme.

A fun box with some nice pulls.  Will I pick up more?  Still to be determined.

BREAKDOWN: 
49 – Total Cards
7 – Green Parallel
5 – RC
1 – Wood Border
1 – GQ Gems Mini
1 – Gypsy Queen Autograph

Random Wax: 2021 Chronicles NASCAR

2021 Chronicles NASCAR:  Pop and I will be at the NASCAR race here just outside St. Louis today.  Can't wait for the first time NASCAR races here at the highest level.  Danica didn't fair too well in NASCAR but was still a great example for women getting into the sport.

Chronicles is a fun brand.  Lots of variety.  You won't get bored and should be able to find a design you like from all the options.

That Sam Mayer is #/99.  He is currently sixth in the Xfinity series. Plenty of young drivers in Chronicles.

Love the Crusade cards.  That design and brand has been a favorite for some time.

One of my favorite drivers in the sport today I wouldn't mind if Chase Elliott won today.  A past champion and one of the great young drivers in the sport.

I like the Chronicles "base" cards as well as the Abolute design.  The Score design is a bit bland but really isn't that bad.  Lots of room for the photo.

"The King" Richard Petty.  Legend and cowboy hat extraordinaire.  Brittney Zamor didn't have much success in the lower tiers of NASCAR and is no longer driving but I've seen her on social media still busy within the sport.

I enjoy Contenders and probably would have been happier with a non-Optic version of this Kurty Busch card but I'm still happy.  He's a past champion as his brother, two-time champion Kyle Busch who happens to be my favorite current driver.  Should be a great day.  Can't wait to let folks know how it went.

BREAKDOWN:

25 – Total Cards

3 – Titan

3 – Retired Greats

2 – Score

2 – Select

2 – Pinnacle

2 – Absolute

2 – Green Parallel

2 – Contenders Optic

2 – Gold Standard Red #/99

1 – Black

1 – Zenith

1 – Limited

1 – Crusade

1 – Phoenix

1 – Obsidian

1 – Chronicles

1 – Pedal to the Metal

1 – Chronicles Swatches

1 – Spectra Celestial Blue #/99