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: 2018 Topps Series 1 (Walmart blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (all formats)
Packs per box: 11 (10 plus patch pack)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 101
Base set completion:
76 of 350 (22 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Base cards of note – Cody Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, Andrew Benintendi, George Springer (World Series)
Rookie Cards (10) – Rafael Devers, Ozzie Albies, J.P. Crawford, Miguel Andujar, Anthony Banda, Brian Anderson, Nick Williams, Erick Fedde, Dominic Smith, Luis Santos
Insert/short-print cards: 25 (all in gallery below with some base)
Photo variation (1) – Willie Calhoun (RC)
Superstar Sensations (2) – Buster Posey, Evan Longoria
Rainbow Foil parallel (1) – Ian Happ
1983 Topps (3) – Jose Altuve, Craig Kimbrel, Byron Buxton
MLB Awards (1) – Jose Altuve
Salute (2) – Miguel Sano, Brandon Woodruff
Kris Bryant Highlights (2) – 2016 World Series Champion, Sets Cubs Rookie Home Run Record
Kris Bryant Highlights Blue (1) – World Series Game 6
Legends in the Making (3) – Aaron Judge, Robinson Cano, Francisco Lindor
Legends in the Making Black (1) – Carlos Correa
Opening Day (5) – Yadier Molina, Evan Longoria, Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson, Adrian Beltre
Opening Day Black (1) – Cody Bellinger
Opening Day Blue (1) – Adrian Beltre
MLB Players Weekend Patch (1) – “El Mago” Javier Baez
Autographs/Memorabilia: None
What’s Buzz-worthy: While we previously busted a hobby box here, this was our first look at what’s offered up at retail and it seemed to have a lot more variety in the inserts — or that a few of the retail-only inserts that feel quite different than the rest. This particular box included a short-printed photo variation (0ne in 54 packs) along with the manufactured Relic that replicates the logo from MLB Players Weekend along with a number of Opening Day inserts (and a parallel I barely noticed until I sorted them) and then three Kris Bryants and some Legends in the Making. Each of those are only found here with Derek Jeter replacing the Bryants at Target stores. The names were there for these insert sets, too, with appearances from Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, while the rest of the box also included big names from last season among the inserts. The stars in the base set weren’t as plentiful but the overall assortment felt pretty good given some of the Rookie Cards that were pulled. If you’re on the fence about the different design for the flagship this year — I think it might look better with a narrow border, myself — then try a blaster box. You might like it better than you expect. I actually did. Autographed versions of the Players Weekend cards are one of the possibilities here (one in 748 boxes), while there also are autographs of the retail-only inserts with long odds there, too.
Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: A
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