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 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 24 (plus one box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion:
173 of 300 (58 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Notables on base cards – Addison Russell, Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Albert Pujols, Max Scherzer, Kyle Hendricks, Trevor Story, Francisco Lindor, Manny Machado, Kenta Maeda, Josh Donaldson, Jake Arrieta, Giancarlo Stanton, Yu Darvish, David Ortiz, Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Correa
Rookie Cards (21) – Jharel Cotton, Alex Bregman, Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, Orlando Arcia, Alex Reyes, Tyler Glasnow, Robert Gsellman, Tyler Austin, Matt Olson, Manny Margot, Trey Mancini, Teoscar Hernandez, JaCoby Jones, Carson Fulmer, Gavin Cecchini, David Dahl, Joe Musgrove, Hunter Renfroe, Ryon Healy, Bruce Maxwell
Insert cards: 18 (all inserts and some base in gallery below)
Short-prints (Nos. 301-320) (1) – Sandy Koufax
Fortune Teller (4) – Alex Bregman, Cole Hamels, Jon Lester, Madison Bumgarner
Portrait Art Reproduction (3) – Manny Machado, Barry Larkin, Roger Clemens
Purple parallel (2) – Justin Upton, Joc Pederson (/250)
Missing Black plate parallel (3) – Mookie Betts, Chris Carter, Alex Colome
Missing Nameplate parallel (2) – Alex Bregman, Mike Napoli
Green Back parallel (1) – Robert Gsellman
Black & White parallel (1) – Hunter Renfroe (/50)
Glassworks (1) – David Price (jumbo box-topper)
Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Autographs (2) – Tyler Austin, Joe Musgrove
What’s Buzz-worthy: Like this collector said in a blaster break here, this brand has been revamped with more color, no minis and a lot of simplification — a few types of parallels applied to everything — and you do, indeed, see those positives a lot more clearly on the hobby side. This box delivered well with a no-nameplate Bregman and two parallels not found in every box (Green Back and Black & White) along with the prerequisite two autos. It was much more of an entertaining break than I had expected based on the previous blaster break here on The Buzz. The Black & White cards (and the auto versions) are very striking and crisply printed — a real highlight. But there’s one thing that is lacking for me — the tobacco-sized minis. Now that may not be make or break for some collectors but seeing a GQ box without them did make me realize more that those are why I bought GQ heavily in the past. Why? I don’t know. The hobby box was a break with variety — that’s the way to go with this brand — and there’s plenty of potential with ink and various variations that add to the fun. With some luck this one can pay off pretty well. If you miss the minis, then that’s one more reason to dig into Allen & Ginter later this year.
Product Grade: B+
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: B+
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