Random Wax: 2021 Topps Baseball

2021 Topps: A good looking Ronald Acuna Jr. 1952 Topps Redux insert.  The Braves have had a horrible start and Acuna's delayed return from injury hasn't helped.  It'll be good when he gets back on the field.  And baseball is just more fun with him healthy.

Chris Archer had some good years in what felt like was a too short career.  He went 63-89 with a 3.93 ERA over 10 seasons.

This design is one I like and bought a lot of when it came out.  I think this is my 13th post of 2021 Topps packs and boxes I picked up.  Joey Bart was such a huge catching prospect but couldn't put it together in San Francisco.  He's trying to get his career back on track in Pittsburgh.  Carlson had one good season with the Cardinals but hasn't been able to duplicate it since.

Flaherty has played on three teams since his time in St Louis and won a championship with LA last season after being traded there from Detroit.

Kyle Lewis, on a 70 Years of Topps Baseball throwback to 1986, isn't even in the majors anymore. Fun pack of cards.  Plenty of memories from just a few years ago.

BREAKDOWN:

16 – Total Cards

1 – RC

1 – Team Card

1 – 1952 Topps Redux

1 - 70 Years of Topps Baseball

Random Wax: 2021 Topps Baseball Blaster

2021 Topps:  A lull in the offseason is all the more reason to look at baseball cards.  This Tatis 1952 Topps Redux is a design I like.  Pulled plenty of these since these came out and I never tire of them.

Anothter Tatis appearance which I'm okay with.  I really like him.  When I purchased this blaster in February, 2021 I had no idea Matt Olsen would be an Atlanta Brave starting in 2022 and breaking team records.  Mike Trout is my favorite player in the league today.  Off to a great start here.

Piazza looking tough on this 1986 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary insert.  Good photo.  I think I pulled 100 of that Acuna/Guerrero card but I'm happy every time I do.  Tatis hot box I guess.

Nice looking horizonal photo of Juan Soto.  I'd like to see him stay in San Diego but I can see them trading him to save some money and maybe get some pitching help in return.

Daulton Varsho has had a good start to his career but was part of the trade with Toronto that sent Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno to Arizona.  Both were big reasons the team made it to the World Series.

Flaherty recently signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent.

Platinum Players Die-Cut

More 1952 Topps Redux.

Team Card

This Jeter relic is pretty cool and was part of a relic lot I sold on eBay.  Fun box of cards.  Goo amount of variety and a really good pull.

BREAKDOWN:

99 – Total Cards

14 – RC

7 – 1952 Topps Redux

5 – Future Stars

4 – League Leaders

4 – Team Cards

2 – Royal Blue Parallel

1 – Rookie Cup  

1 – Rainbow Foil

1 – RC/Rookie Cup

1 – History of Topps

1 – Home Run Challenge

1 – 70th Anniversary Patch

1 - Platinum Players Die-Cuts

1 - 1986 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary

Random Wax: 2021 Topps Baseball

2021 Topps: Ronald Acuna Jr. is having a great year.  The Braves are as well.  Hope they can both keep it going.  Acuna is highlighted here on Topps 70 Years of Baseball insert.

Bryce Harper has dealt with injuries again this season but seems on track now hitting .291 in 44 games.

Great photo.  Glad Topps gives us photos like this on the Team cards.

This was a small 16 card pack but my pull was strong.  Vlad is healthy again and the Blue Jays will need his big bat if they are to make the playoffs.

BREAKDOWN:
16 – Total Cards
1 – RC
1 – Team Card
1 – 1952 Topps Redux
1 - 70 Years of Topps Baseball

 

Random Wax: 2021 Topps Baseball

2021 Topps:  Freddie may no longer be on the Braves but he's still raking like he was.  Hard not to like this dude and wish Atlanta had kept him.  He recently went 5 for 14 against the Braves in the Dodgers last series against his former team.

This is a design I like and been pretty happy with even over time.  This was a pack I picked up at a Dollar General in 2021.  No issues with any of these stars of the game.

Only six youngsters in this pack overall.

Team card.  Plenty of different photographic opportunities with these cards.

I really like all these throwbacks.  '52 Redux, 1986 Topps 35th Anniversary and 70 Years of Topps Baseball.

Stars in Service seems a bit out of place with the look but still a good card.  This Jeter is #/10 which is a nice pull.  I really enjoy the World Series cards.

Nice card and nod to the pandemic.  Fun cards, a nice pull and a great look back.  I enjoyed this pack.

BREAKDOWN:
40 – Total Cards
4 - RC
2 – Team Cards
2 – League Leaders
1 – Checklist
1 – Future Stars
1 – World Series
1 – 1952 Topps Redux
1 – Topps All-Rookie Cup
1 – 70 Years of Topps Baseball
1 – Stars in Service Red Parallel #/10
1 - 1986 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary

Random Wax: 2021 Topps Baseball Series 2

2021 Topps:  Getting close to the start of the season.  We'll kick it off with one-time all-star and career long Phillie Aaron Nola.  He only had 11 wins last season but did have a 3.25 ERA in over 200 innings.  Philadelphia made a surprise run to the World Series last year before losing to the Houston Astros.  The 1986 Topps designs look good on new cardboard.

Mark Melancon has led the league in saves twice in his career (2015 and 2021).  Vazquez is now with the Twins while Mancini is with the Cubs.  Both won rings with the Houston Astros last year.

Sean Murphy is now an Atlanta Brave.  A gold glover with some pop I'm hoping he'll behind the plate for Atlanta for years to come.  McClanahan has had a really good two years with Tampa Bay pitching to a 2.92 ERA.  

It felt like Wil Myers was going to be traded by the San Diego Padres for a decade now.  Not true but still.  He did make it to Cincy in the offseason as a free agent.  Christian Walker had 36 home runs for the D-Backs last season.  The '65 Redux inserts are fun and are a good design.  Fun pack of cards. 

BREAKDOWN:
16 – Total Cards
3 – RC
1 – Rookie Cup
1 – Future Stars
1 – 1965 Topps Redux
1 - 1986 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary

Random Wax: 2021 Topps Baseball Mike Trout Tin

2021 Topps:  Surprised I hadn't shown this one off yet.  I'm a sucker for these sometimes and this was one I picked up two years ago.  My second Mike Trout tin as I also picked up his 2020 Topps Tin.  I also grabbed a 2021 Ronald Acuna Jr. tin which I showed off here.

This 1952 Topps Redux is the highlight of the pack. I like this design and of course having Ohtani on it always helps.  I'd love to see him stay with the Angels but no matter how hard they try in L.A. the team still struggles.  Will be interesting to see how that plays out as this is his last year under contract.

There were big hopes for Jo Adell two years ago.  he can still turn it around but so far his career has not lived up to expectations.

Machado has done well for the Padres since arriving in San Diego via trade in 2018.  Rumor is he'll opt out of his contract after 2023.  He'll be 30 at that time but will probably get more than the $32M per year he is on contract for now.

Never cared for the '86 card design but somehow I like it in these newer sets.  Nice Trout pull too.

Another Ohtani!  I'm digging my pull.

Fun team card.

A couple of greats from the game.  Never get tired of pulling either of these guys.

I really hope Tatis Jr. can bounce back from his suspension and get back on the good side of the baseball gods.  I became of fan of his when he was mic'd up during an all-star game a few years back.  He screwed up, no doubt, but I'm still rooting for him.  Same for Mookie even in a Dodger uni.

That Devers is a 70 Years of Topps Blue Parallel.

Anderson had no idea he'd be a World Champion by year's end.  He had a down year last season but was really good in '20 and '21 including the playoffs.

I paid $14.99 for this tin in '21 and I think it's a good deal.  Can't say I really know what to do with teh tins after the fact but hey I'll figure it out. Happy Friday!

BREAKDOWN:

75 – Cards

10 – RC

6 – 1952 Redux

3 – League Leaders

1 – Team

1 – Chrome

1 – Future Stars

1 – World Series

1 – Chrome 1952 Redux

1 – Chrome 70 Years of Topps

1 – 70 Years of Topps Blue Parallel

1 - 1986 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary