Random Wax: 2021 Donruss Baseball

2021 Donruss: Not a big fan of this design but I did pick it up when it came out.  Let's start with a nickname variation.  Quite a few variations in this set so you have to be on your toes. Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros have been so dominant in recent years and picked up their second championship last year.

I've had better pulls before but the retired greats helped this pack out.  I'll show those off later.  No offense to Miggy who'll be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

The Diamond Kings don't really thrill me but they feel better than some of the other offerings in recent years.  Dominators isn't bad.  That Tim Anderson is a red parallel.

Here we have a career stat line variation on a Retro 1987 design.  Bohm isn't showing off much power yet but has shown he can hit.

These are all fun pulls.  Love retired greats.  I will say John Smoltz looks like he was playing for the White Sox with those colors.  It really looks black and gray.

Again not a design I like but I can take some joy from the retired greats.  And Rickey really falls into that category.  Dude was fun on and off the field.

 BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Cards
6 – Retro 1987
3 – Rated Rookie
3 – Red Parallels
3 – Diamond Kings
1 – Duplicate
1 – Nickname
1 – Dominators
1 – Career Stat Line

Random Wax: 2021 Donruss Baseball

2021 Donruss:  I don't seem to pull many cards of Ohtani pitching so this one is a nice pickup. Hoping he can have another MVP performance this year.  He is so good and fun to watch.

This set is not a favorite of mine.  The design is lackluster, and the no logo thing is still a sticking point with me.  

This throwback to '87 didn't work for me with the white borders.  Give me the black borders if we are doing this.  Big Puma for the nickname variation.  I do love seeing retired greats in the set.

I do like the Independence Day variations.  Gives the cards some pizzaz.

No complaints about my pull though.

The Diamond Kings and that purple can go.  That Harper is one of my red parallels.  Good pull in this pack.  I'll be happy with that.  Just not a design I'll go search out.

BREAKDOWN: 
30 – Total Cards
6 – Retro 1987
4 – Rated Rookie
4 – Diamond Kings
3 – Red Parallel
1 - Highlights
1 – Nickname
1 – Photo Variation
1 – Independence Day 

 

Random Wax: 2021 Donruss Baseball

 2021 Donruss Baseball: All-Star game tonight?  Love me some All-Star games and this guy personifies all-star even if he is injured this year.  This card works for Donruss since the glasses and shirt obscure the fact there are no logos.  

As I stated in my first post about these the single color seems to dominate the card a bit much for me.

The Retro '87 cards are great especially seeing retired greats on them.  The Big Unit played in 10 all-star games while Fergie only three, surprisingly, and Paul Molitor seven.

meh

The Elite Series cards show a little life here even if it is a Yankee.  That said Cole is a likable guy and a stud on the mound.  The Independence Day parallels also have a good look to them.  It is also a nickname variation.

This was a fun pack.  Some star power and variety with the inserts and retired greats.  PC guy Yadi will play in his 10th All-Star game tonight as an injury replacement. 

BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Cards
5 – Retro 1987
3 – Rated Rookie
3 – Red Parallel
2 – City Nickname Variation
1 – Elite Series
1 – Photo Variation
1 – Independence Day
1 – Player Nickname Variation

2021 Donruss Baseball

 2021 Donruss Baseball:  Was able to grab multiple packs of these at the same time I snared the Prizm basketball I showed off Friday.  I, like many, am not a big fan of the lack of logos so this is always a tough sell for me.  Doesn't mean there aren't cards I like but I sigh a lot thinking how much better it'd be with logos.  I did grab a relic in this pack and it was a star player so big bonus there.  

The design is a little different this year but I don't mind different.  The photos are good and I like the color but it seems to missing something (other than the logo).  Almost too much of the primary color.  Maybe something to break it up.

We have a couple nickname variations here on the first two cards.  The backs are the pretty standard and boring backs we expect from Donruss.  Doesn't seem like the different variations are as hard to pull as you see with Topps.  The list (and photos) of the various variations can be found here.

I do enjoy the inclusion of retired greats on these Retro 1987 inserts.  There are three red parallels per pack.

The Diamond Kings aren't doing it for me.  I'm okay with purple but it doesn't seem to work here in my opinion.  The Dominators are nice inserts.  And of course we have the Rated Rookies to show of the young players.

Just showing off the back of one of the Retro 1987 inserts.  I would have preferred career stats but that is asking a lot.  Even without the team logos this was a fun pack.  I'll show off the others I picked up throughout the year. 

BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Cards
6 – Retro 1987
3 – Rated Rookie
3 – Diamond Kings
3 – Holo Red Parallel
2 – Player Nickname Variation
1 – Dominators
1 – Retro 1987 Materials