From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.
The box: 2016 Topps Finest baseball cards (mini box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 30
Base set completion:
22 of 100 (22 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Notable players on base cards – Carlos Correa, David Ortiz, Joc Pederson, Josh Donaldson, Yu Darvish, Bryce Harper
Rookie Cards (3) – Kyle Schwarber, Corey Seager, Peter O’Brien
Insert cards: 7
1996 Finest Intimidators (1) – Yu Darvish
Franchise Finest (2) – Josh Donaldson, Miguel Cabrera
Refractors (2) – Evan Longoria, Maikel Franco
Blue Refractors (1) – George Springer (/150)
Purple Refractors (1) – Dellin Betances (/250)
Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Buyback autograph (1) – 2000 Finest John Smoltz (/20)
What’s Buzz-worthy: Much has been said about this one between its design and its non-traditional distribution, but when in-hand this year’s Finest design looks pretty solid and this mini box delivered with a buyback auto. The color of the Refractors is bold and obvious, unlike last year, and the small 100-card base set seems packed with value names. The mini-box format makes this a fast rip, so it may not be as fun for some. Perhaps that could be alleviated with a couple more insert sets? The printing and cutting on these was clean and crisp so no disappointments there. Finest has always been a higher-priced version of Chrome but this year’s version feels like one that might justify it with all of its colorful autos, printing plates and surprises like this buyback, which we want to be yours.
CONTEST: How can the Smoltz autograph be yours? Tell us who your top Braves pitcher is in a comment. We’ll randomly select a winner from all entries received before June 1. (Note: Comments are held for moderation before publishing, so don’t worry if your comment does not show up immediately.)
Product Grade: A
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: B
Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.
I like Smoltz as my top Braves pitcher all time followed by Warren Spahn
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Warren Spahn
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Have to go with Greg Maddux. No one has frustrated hitters as bad as him.
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Gotta be Maddux. Never overpowering but outsmarting the batter.
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Greg Maddux
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Smoltz!!
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Have to go with Greg Maddux. With Smoltz being a close second!
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Oh man growing up as a kid I loved the Braves. The pitching combo of Maddox/Smoltz/Glavine was unreal. I’d have to go with Maddox as my favorite Braves pitcher.
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Warren Spahn IMO
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Maddux all the way
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Greg Maddux, no question!
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Best Braves pitcher has to be Maddux.
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Greg Maddux. He was an artist. His changing speeds really made hitters look silly. He could and would paint the corners at will. He should be in the dictionary when you look up “pitcher”
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My top Braves pitcher is John Smoltz.
Thanks for the contest!
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Smoltz..He did it all!!! Closed and started…great talent…
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Has to be Maddux
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I like all the Braves pitchers, but Smoltzie will always stand out to me because not only was he a dominate starting pitcher, he also became a dominate closer.
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Maddux without question. He’s Top 5 all time pitchers. Impressive to be that dominant while barely touching 90 mph. Control like none other.
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Probably John Rocker, just that stare he gave was enough.
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John Smoltz
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Greg Maddux
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As a lifelong cubs fan…wish Maddux had never left. for sure the greatest brave pitcher of all time
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Greg Maddux. A two-hitter from Maddux was more impressive than a two-hitter from Randy Johnson.
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Gotta go with Smolt!
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Maddux FTW
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Smoltz, dominated starting and closing later on. Great to watch too.
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Greg Maddux.
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Mr. Greg Maddux. Dominate pitcher and pitched for my team in Chicago!
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I’m a Maddox guy myself . No one can match his patients and poisje on the mound .
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It was and always will be Warren Spahn. Growing up in Milwaukee, and getting to watch him pitch was always a thrill.
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Greg Maddux – dominant pitcher who didn’t throw hard and was economical with his pitches
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Greg Maddux for me. An amazing pitcher with class flowing out of his ears!
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Greg Maddux
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i definitely have to go with Spahn here. Seems like a lot of people forget about him.
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Greg Maddux 🙂
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Maddux, dude was was a magician, remember like yesterday him, Glavine and Smoltz killing batters. Am, was and will always be a Braves fan!
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Greg Maddux
He started off with my beloved Cubs, winning a Cy Young then rung up another three as soon as he moved to Atlanta. The premier command/control pitcher of his era. And he studied the game like no other.
“Mad Dog” never seemed as appropriate a nickname as “The Professor”. But either way, he was always my favorite pitcher of the 90s.
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There were some pretty dominant names in braves history but I would go with Greg Maddux!
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Gotta be Greg Maddux. Thanks for the contest!
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John Smoltz of course! Amazing pull, thank you for the contest!
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The great Greg Maddux
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Rick Camp is my favorite Braves Pitcher for his HR in extra innings on July 4th into 5th in 1985, I remember staying up to watch my Mets and Dad getting up for work @4AM and game was still going on. Goodtimes.
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Greg Maddux
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Smoltz, best of both worlds (starter and closer)!
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Greg Maddux
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Bud Norris
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As a Braves fan, as much as I want to say Maddux, I have to give the slight edge to Smoltz because of his prowess at both starting and closing. He was dominant at both, which is largely unparalleled in baseball history. Thanks for the contest!
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So many greats of the 90s. You can make a case for any of them. Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz were a 3 headed monster. But will give Smoltz the slight edge cause of his bullpen presence too
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Tom Glavine was my favorite.
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Maddux for sure
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Jair Jurrjens
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In my opinion Greg Maddux was my favorite to watch, but Tom Glavine was the best pitcher of their modern era. Dude wad money, and was one the best pitchers in all of baseball.
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Tom Glavine is my favorite Braves pitcher. Played black jack with him in the Bahamas at Atlantis. Very nice guy!
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John Smoltz! I just won an autographed baseball by him at my LCS. He’s a great golfer too
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Phil Niekro, “knucksie” dominated with a pitch that didn’t leave a bruise.. Good contest and the cards look great.
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Greg Maddux
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The Professor, Greg Maddux. He even played for my Padres for a bit. Plus, he’s a Vegas guy.
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No one dominated October like John Smoltz!
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My favorite Braves pitcher is Greg Maddux! Loved him as a Cub and as a Brave. 🙂
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Smoltz happens to be my fave!
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Greg Maddux is my favorite Braves pitcher. He didn’t need overpowering stuff to dominate hitters.
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Greg Maddux
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Maddox for sure but smoltz is right behind him
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John smoltz
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Maddux stands alone for me. Very closely intertwined group behind him though.
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My boy Tom glavine
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Right now, I would say Teheran based on fantasy implications. Maddux has a special place in my heart because I had some cool inserts of his when I first started collecting when I was maybe 8. Thanks for the contest BO!
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For me probably Smoltz. I had to have reconstructive knee surgery when I was 15 and had the opportunity to meet Mr Smoltz. He had just has his first shouldn’t surgery and talked to me about mine. Definitely something I will remember forever.
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Has to be Greg Maddux.
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Greg Maddux
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John Smoltz! My all-time favorite pitcher! Go Braves!
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John Smoltz was my favorite Braves pitcher. Nobody could command a starting role and then transition into being one of the games most dominant closers like him.
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Warren Spahn of course. 356 wins and served in WWII.
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Greg Maddux
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“Spahn and Sain; then pray for rain.”
Warren Spahn was the greatest pitcher of all time for the Braves. More so than Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, or anyone else. Had it not been for WWII, he might’ve been statistically one of the few 400 game winners.
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John Smoltz.
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Greg Maddux
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Favorite Brave pitcher would be Greg Maddux.. Wasn’t a very hard thrower but had the greatest accuracy.
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Tim Hudson, my all time favorite player, was with the Braves for a good portion of his career. Thanks for the contest!
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Grad Maddux is the man him and Smooth were the nastiest tag team for the Braves
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I’m going with Smooth he threw fire and with accuracy. Reminds me of Verlander
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The top Braves pitcher is Greg Maddux.
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Greg Maddux. The cerebral nature of his pitching was unreal
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Greg Maddux. He flummoxed hitters
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Phil Niekro is my favorite, dude played for a long time at a high level.
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I’ll go with Steve Avery.
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Smoltz is my all time favorite Braves pitcher. I mean a full time starter AND a full time reliever? Wow
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Maddux for sure. So much fun to watch- thanks for the chance!
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My top Braves pitcher of all time has to be Greg Maddux! He was so dominant during those years! Multiple Cy Young awards should prove that!
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Smooth always brought the flames. Completely overpowered hitters on a regular basis
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Tom Glavine. My all time favorite lefty, whose cards are undervalued. Smoltz is number two as he can do it all from start to close.
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