Random Wax: 2022 Gypsy Queen Blaster

2022 Gypsy Queen:  Goldy is having a tough season but he's had an excellent career.  At 36 his best years are behind him, but I don't doubt he plays another season or two.

This isn't my favorite Gypsy Queen design, but GQ is always fun.  Max Fried has had better seasons but it was another really good year for Max who finished with a sub-four ERA.

Connor Wong and Josh Lowe have developed into good hitters while Detmers has had some good seasons but unfortunately 2024 hasn't been one of them.  

GQ Gems mini.  I'm not a fan of minis but I like the design.

Two of my seven Green Parallels and my Turquoise Parallel #/199 which is a great Reynolds pull.  

Jarren Duran on a diecut See the Future insert. He's having an excellent year for the Bosox.  Feels like Matt Chapman hasn't been with the A's for a very long time.  The current San Francisco Giant just signed a six-year $151M extension.  Good on him.  Gypsy Queen is always fun.

BREAKDOWN:
49 – Total Cards
11 – RC
1 – Crystal Gazing
7 – Green Parallel
1 – GQ Gems Minis
1 – Turquoise #/199

2021 Gypsy Queen Hobby Pack

2021 Gypsy Queen:  I like this Gypsy Queen offering.  A bit more color adding to the appeal.  Vlad is struggling this year.  I'd like to see him and the Blue Jays get to the playoffs but that is a big ask right now.  They have some nice young players and it would be fun to see them see some success.

Neither of these two are still in the league.  Ryan Braun outpaced Michael Brantley, barely, for his career with a .296 average and 1963 hits.

I always liked Jackie Bradley Jr. but he just never could find his hitting stroke.  Kyle Wright is a Royal now and started the season on the 60-day IL but a won a championship ring with the Atlanta Braves in 2021.

I had one Bazooka Gum Back parallel.  Fun pack of cards I picked up in early 2021.  Probably something I threw in with an online purchase.  Still have hope Vlad can turn his season around.

BREAKDOWN:
8 – Total Cards
2 - RC
1 – Bazooka Gum Back

Random Wax: 2021 Gypsy Queen Blaster

 

2021 GQ: This is the second of the two blasters of Gypsy Queen I purchased in 2021.  And yes, I'm just getting it posted.  That's part of the fun and randomness.  Bryce Harper has been limited due to injuries this season and not found his power stroke yet but you have to figure it'll come.

I enjoy this Gypsy Queen design.  We look at Rendon and Grandal a lot differently than we did two years ago.  It's really a shame with Rendon.  It was a big swing by the Angels and it's really hurt them as he's battled injuries the last three seasons, doesn't hit like he did with the Nationals and maybe his career is about over.  

Good looking Musial card and it is a base short print.  That Matt Chapman is a Tarot of the Diamond insert which isn't that special and the last is a Missing Nameplate parallel.

Kyle Lewis is now with Arizona but still struggling.  Chapman, who signed a one-year contract with the Royals, was recently traded to the Texas Rangers who are having a good year.

Fun box of cards.  I like the design and I had a really good pull.  

BREAKDOWN:

49 – Total Cards

7 – Green Parallel

1 – SP

1 – Captain Mini

1 – Tarot of the Diamond

1 – Missing Nameplate Parallel

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

2021 Gypsy Queen Blaster

 2021 Gypsy Queen: I picked up the one and only blasters on the shelf.  It was likely left there due to damage to the box.  There was some slight damage to different cards but nothing too major.  We'll kick it off with my recent PC addition Fernando Tatis Jr.

I like this years design specifically some of the coloring and tones.  The photos also look good to me.

Tons of Rookie Cards in this box - 23 of the 49 cards.  I don't remember the ratio being so high in years past.

Here we have a Green Parallel, Captains Minis, and Turquoise Parallel #/199.  I like that the mini is at least the same height as the standard cards.  

The backs are fairly basic and I have no real opinion one way or the other.  I think this was a good box of cards.  I like the design and think my pull overall was good.  Not sure I'll get another shot at these in the wild but I will pick up more if I get the chance.

BREAKDOWN:
49 – Total Cards
23 – RC
7 – Green Parallel
1 – Captains Minis
1 – Tarot of the Diamond
1 – Turquoise Parallel #/199

Random Wax: 2020 Gypsy Queen

 2020 Topps Gypsy Queen:  This is a pack I picked up last year.  It is a Fortune Teller hot pack of sorts with two of these minis.  Both are pretty good names as well which never hurts and both are off to good starts this season.

I do like this design.  The base cards didn't have the biggest names but overall a good pack.  

Five green parallels in this pack.  Abreu is off to a slow start but has been so good for the White Sox in his career.

Pretty good pack though not spectacular and a good way to start the weekend.  

BREAKDOWN: 
24 – Total Cards
5 – Green Parallel
4 – RC
2 – Fortune Teller

2020 Topps Gypsy Queen Blaster

2020 Topps Gypsy Queen:  Gypsy Queen is always a good retro look for cards.  This year's design is one I really like.  There's some color and the overall aesthetic does appeal to me.  There is a base 300 card set as well as an extended base set that has 20 retired greats.  I'll definitely chase some of those.  Pulled this Mike Trout right off the bat which made for a fun start.  And I really like the retro jersey he is wearing.  

Plenty of star power.  I like the photo on that Harper card. 

  The backs have a simple write-up but I'm OK with that with this brand.

That is a missing nameplate Ryan McMahon parallel and the Springer is one of the five green parallels that come in a blaster.  

Didn't seem to be a lot of great pitchers in the box but these two are definitely worth showing off here.

A The World insert as well as a Fernando Tatis Jr. mini Fortune Teller insert.  I'm not a fan of the minis but pulling a Tatis lessens the sting a bit.  It is not a parallel as orange is the base color.  This was a fun box.  I like the design and think it delivered pretty well.  I'm sure I'll grab more over the summer at some point.  Stay safe and be positive.  

BREAKDOWN:

47 – Total Cards
5 – Green Parallel
4 – RC
1 – The World
1 – Mini Fortune Teller
1 – Missing Nameplate Variation

Random Wax: 2019 Gypsy Queen Baseball

Time to get back to some baseball cards.  This is my second pack of the 2019 Topps Gypsy Queen and I'm still pretty high on these.  This base SP of Ivan Rodriguez was a great pull.  I like the photo and enjoy seeing Rodriguez on new wax.

  A pretty good pull in this pack though Franco is off to a slow start and not helping my fantasy baseball team much.  These are three of the five green parallels I pulled.  I actually pulled a duplicate green parallel which was a bit odd.

Bellinger has been nothing short of spectacular having already broken the record for most RBI's before the 1st of May.  L.A. is also looking good early and like they can compete with anyone in the N.L.

The odd sized cards aren't my thing and pulling Nola didn't sway me any.  Fun pack, duplicate and all.  I'll definitely pick up more of these as I get the chance.  

BREAKDOWN:

23 – Total Cards

5 – Green Parallel

1 – Base SP

1 – Fortune Teller

2019 Gypsy Queen Value Pack

The 2019 Gypsy Queen value packs come with three packs of six cards each and a pack of five green parallels for $9.99.  I've always liked Gypsy Queen and they did a good job again this year.  This was a really cool Rhys Hoskins card.  I thought it may be a variation, of which there are some cool ones, but it is not.  Still I really like the photo.

A Brave, Red Sox, and green parallel of a PC guy so I can't complain.  This set has more color than years past.  While not bright it does the trick.  The retro feel on these cards is always appealing and they did a good job leaving plenty of room for the photos to shine.

That Dylan Bundy is a logo swap variation.  Base versions like this one are found 1:29 packs.  The backs are OK for what they are.  Simple and clean.

You'll get to see players in their new unis as well like Andrew McCutchen and Robinson Cano.  I don't care if these are photo shopped or not - and I really don't know - but I like them.  They look  good to me.  I'll definitely pick up more of these as I get a chance.

I don't go in for different sized cards though I know many do.  Just not my thing.  If I have to pull one a reigning MVP and all-around great player is the way to go though.

BREAKDOWN:

23 – Total Cards
5 – Green Parallels
1 – Logo Swap Variation