Random Wax: 2023 Topps Baseball Blaster

2023 Topps:   Vlad and the Blue Jays had a great season earning the #1 seed in the American League.  He "only" had 23 home runs and 84 RBIs, but he still hit .292 with a .381on base percentage.  Big part of why the Blue Jays were #1.  Great photo too.

Dodgers and Guardians had excellent seasons leading to playoff births.  Mets did not.  And boy was I rooting against them there at the end.

Plenty of rookie representation.

Kyle Schwarber led the league in homers again this season with 56.  Pete Alonso has already stated his intent to opt out of his contract.  Ouch.  He could still end up back in New York.  His market wasn't that great last offseason, and he might find the same issues this year.

I never ever complain about Ohtani and Freeman pulls.  I'm a fan of both.  Harper is okay too.  lol

Some greats in the twilight of their careers.  Crazy to think Albert might manage the Angels if the rumors are true.

Welcome to the Club (30/30), 1988 Topps and Aces inserts.  All good-looking cards.  30/30 is my favorite of these three.

Definitely a design I like.  I've posted quite a bit of this set.

Love seeing the Bobby Witt pull.

I never did the Home Run Challenge.  Greene only had 11 home runs that season so my odds would have been low.  I believe that is a Checklist card with the Tigers duo on it.

We get all the stats we want.  Alway fun.

That Team Logo Commemorative Patch insert is one my favorite relic pulls all-time.  I like Bichette and I really like the look of the card.  We also get a Stars of MLB Chrome and a Blue Parallel.

Nice photo on the team card.

Great box of cards.  I like the design and no way I can complain about the pull.

BREAKDOWN:
99 – Total Cards
12 – RC
8 – Stars of MLB
2 – 1988
2 – Future Stars
2 – Retired Greats
1 – All Aces
1 – Checklist
1 – Team Card
1 – League Leaders
1 – Topps Rookie Cup
1 – Royal Blue Parallel
1 – Home Run Challenge
1 – Stars of MLB Chrome
1 – Welcome to the Club (30/30)
1 - Team Logo Commemorative Patch

 

Random Wax: 2023 Topps Baseball

2023 Topps:  Mike Trout isn't having a typical Mike Trout year but he has been fairly healthy, knock on wood, and still has his power.

I've posted plenty of packs and blasters of this set, but I really do like the design.  The head shot, colorful team logo, and position look great all the while leaving plenty of room for a nice photo.

Plenty of youngsters.  Pasquantino is having another good season for KC.

Checklist cards are fun.

A couple Stars of MLB inserts as well as a Holo Foil Parallel.

We do need numbers on the fronts of these League Leader cards but otherwise I like them.

We get a Nolan Gorman 1988 Topps card.  Needs a logo but otherwise okay.

I like the Team Cards.

Excellent photo on this horizontal Josh Donaldson card.

Fun cards and more great photos.  Won't be the last of them you'll see on the blog.

BREAKDOWN:
36 – Total Cards
7 – RC
3 – Leaders
2 - Checklist
2 – Stars of MLB
1 – 1988
1 – Holo Foil
1 – Team Card
1 – RC/ Rookie Cup

Random Wax: 2023 Topps Baseball Hanger Box

2023 Topps:  Dodgers and Cubs kick off "Opening Day" today in Japan as they start a two-day series.  Freddie Freeman has 2267 hits entering 2025 at will be 35 this season.  Can he get to 3,000 hits?  Probably not but I love thinking that maybe he can do it.  

Acuna is coming off a knee injury and is supposedly 90-95% healthy.  Really want to see a full year from this guy.  Great pull in this box.  Pete Alonso resigned with the Mets and will get to play with new Met Juan Soto while Aaron Judge and the Yankees will see if they can get back to the World Series.  Opening Day for all teams will be Thursday, March 27.  

Excited for their trip to Japan on this checklist card?

Nice horizontal offering.

Youngsters.  Franco was still a thing when I scanned this hanger box of cards in March of 2023. 

Fun Texas Rangers Team Card.

More star power to add to my pull.

These One-Two Punch inserts are nice looking cards.

Stars of MLB which came four to a hanger box.

No numbers on these League Leader cards which is a fail, but we do see that in subsequent sets.

I do like the design of the 2023 set and we get some nice photos to go with it.

We need 2019 Acuna and him playing a full season.  Still some fun stat lines to look at.

We'll end it with a 1988 Topps Baseball insert of another guy needing to play a full season.  Enjoy the first games of the season!

BREAKDOWN:
67 – Total Cards
8 – RC
4 – Team Cards
4 – Future Stars
4 – Stars of MLB
3 – Checklist
3 – RC/Topps Rookie Cup
1 - 1988
1 – League Leaders
1 – One-Two Punch

Random Wax: 2023 Topps Baseball

 2023 Topps: Mookie Betts recently won his third World Series ring.  He was also an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner as a super utility guy for the Dodgers.

The rest of my pull from this pack wasn't quite as exciting but it doesn't dampen my enthusiasm.  I do like this design.  Topps did a great job with the photos, logos and colors.

AJ Minter looking like a left-handed Craig Kimbrel with that stance and stare.

Cal Raleigh had 34 home runs in 2024 while Brady Singer won 9 games for Kansas City and posted a 3.71 ERA.  He was also recently traded to the Reds.

The Team Cards are good.  Topps does well giving us fun photos.

Checklist.  Again, a good job giving us a good photo.  Even if they are Mets.

The back of the Cubs Team Card.  Those team leaders have to have the actual numbers, right?  Why would Topps leave those off?  Otherwise I like these.

Fun cards.  That Stassi photo is a keeper.  Hopefully the offseason heats up with the winter meetings next week.