Buzz Break: 2017 Donruss baseball cards (hobby box)

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: 2017 Donruss baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
128 of 195 (66 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Short-prints (Nos. 1-45; Diamond Kings & Rated Rookies) (9) –  Paul Goldschmidt, Jackie Bradley Jr., Christian Yelich, Noah Syndergaard, Maikel Franco, Madison Bumgarner, Dansby Swanson, Tyler Glasnow, Aaron Judge

Notables on base cards – Manny Machado, Mookie Betts, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber, Francisco Lindor, Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Correa, Albert Pujols, Corey Seager, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, Bryce Harper, Cal Ripken Jr., Johnny Bench, Kirby Puckett, Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose

>>> For a variation gallery, click here
>>> For a checklist & general gallery, click here

Rookie Cards (3) – Dansby Swanson, Tyler Glasnow, Aaron Judge

Insert cards: 60 (all inserts in gallery below)
Retro 1983 (36) – Notables include Mookie Betts, Kris Bryant, Francisco Lindor, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Corey Seager, Mike Piazza, Harmon Killebrew
Variations (5) – Mike Trout (sliding), Miguel Cabrera, Kris Bryant, Corey Seager, Daniel Murphy
Retro 1983 Magenta Back (1) – Rougned Odor
Retro 1983 Pink (1) – Craig Biggio (/25)
Magenta Back (1) – Yasmany Tomas
The Prospects Cyan Back (1) – Victor Robles
The Prospects (3) – Victor Robles, Anderson Espinoza, Brendan Rodgers
The Rookies (3) – Jose De Leon, Josh Bell, Jeff Hoffman
The Rookies Gold Press Proof (1) – Yoan Moncada (/99)
The Elite Series (1) – Ian Kinsler (/999)
The Elite Series Blue (1) – Mike Trout (/249)
All-Stars Silver (1) – Bryce Harper (/349)
Dominator (1) – Brian Dozier (/999)
Career Stat Line (2) – Christian Yelich (/293), Jose Abreu (/515)
Season Stat Line (1) – Chris Davis (/459)
American Pride Red (1) – Evan Skoug (/149)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 4
Recollection Collection Buybacks (1) – Curt Schilling 1989 Donruss RC (/40)
New Breed (1) – Daniel Robertson
Promising Pros Materials Gold (1) – Mallex Smith (/99)
Diamond Collection (1) – Kirk Gibson

What’s Buzz-worthy: It’s no secret that Panini has to work smarter to get around the lack of MLB logos in its MLBPA-approved baseball sets but all one has to do to know that happened is to rip a box. Consider the price, the number of hits, the number of numbered cards and the crop of players found here and you can see where this one delivers well on its value, the variety, the chase, the collectability and, well, about any other variable. There are short-prints, there are inserts, there are rare parallels, there are variations, there are multiple hits. The lone drawback here is a tiny (195-card) base set (maybe paving the way for a second series again?) but that helps ensure that you get more star power in each pack. It’s also a set that’s light on Rookie Cards but makes up for it with rookie/prospect-minded inserts. The checklist is familiarly formatted with Diamond Kings and Rated Rookies leading off the set and then base cards are grouped by team until some Hall of Famers and other retired greats cap the set. (Curiously, two active players are added onto the end.) Also in big play here? More San Diego Chicken autographs and memorabilia cards that can add some seriously unique things to a box. He wasn’t found here but Buzz will own one. This box delivered very well with a buyback RC auto of Curt Schilling (way before he was on Twitter) and three other hits along with some key names on rarer parallels. Donruss has been fun in its return in recent years and this one is right there with those releases.

Product Grade: A
Box Grade: A+
Fun Grade: A

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