Buzz Break: 2016 Bowman Platinum baseball cards (blaster 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: 2016 Bowman Platinum baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Initially only available via Walmart.

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard packs plus one Ice parallel pack)
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 32
Base set completion: 
16 of 100 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mookie Betts, Jose Abreu, Josh Donaldson, Noah Syndergaard, Giancarlo Stanton

Rookie Cards (5) – Rob Refsnyder, Seung-hwan Oh, Aaron Nola, Hector Olivera, Kyle Schwarber

Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Stadium Club 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: 2016 Topps Stadium Club baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 16
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 128
Base set completion: 
110 of 300 (37 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Jake Arrieta, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Yu Darvish, Nomar Garciaparra, Addison Russell, Willie Mays, Greg Maddux, Hank Aaron, Willie Stargell, Mike Trout, Carlos Correa

Rookie Cards (13) – Nomar Mazara, Trevor Story, Corey Seager, Blake Snell, Tyler White, Hector Olivera, Luke Jackson, Zach Lee, Luis Severino, Michael Reed, Ketel Marte, Max Kepler, Colin Rea

Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Tribute baseball cards

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 Tribute baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 3
Cards in this box: 19
Base set completion: 
11 of 90 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Randy Johnson, Eddie Mathews, Larry Doby, Paul Molitor, Cal Ripken Jr., David Ortiz, Chris Sale, Billy Williams, Jacob deGrom, George Brett, Whitey Ford

Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster 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: 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 47
Base set completion: 
26 of 300 (9 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Tom Glavine, Robinson Cano, Monica Abbott, Jacob deGrom, Michelle Steele

Rookie Cards (9) – Nomar Mazara, Stephen Piscotty, Aaron Nola, Guido Knudson, Zach Lee, Dustin Garneau, Hector Olivera, Raul Mondesi, Richie Shaffer

Buzz Break: 2016 Donruss baseball cards (blaster 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: 2016 Donruss baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 
29 of 195 (15 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Henry Owens (Rated Rookie), Andrew McCutchen (Diamond Kings), Ichiro Suzuki, Ken Griffey Jr., Rickey Henderson, Pete Rose, Josh Donaldson, Nolan Arenado, Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw, Steven Matz, Bo Jackson

Could strong spring mean hot cards for Braves rookie Hector Olivera?

He’s already joined the Topps Authentics team as one of the top players on the radar of the company’s memorabilia division, but a hot start this spring just might have him on the radar of more collectors soon.

He’s Hector Olivera, and he’s hit .438 (14-for-32) with just a single strikeout in 11 games this spring for the Atlanta Braves, where he’s likely to be in left field on Opening Day.

“We’ve seen him juice some balls, but we don’t know if this guy is going to be a nine-home-run guy or a 15-18 home run guy. We might not know that until later this year,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He doesn’t take things for granted. There’s nobody that works harder than him. He’s here early, he works, and as coaches, that’s what you want to see and what he gives us.”

Whose spring training numbers impress you so far this season?

There are two ways to look at spring training stats — they can offer glimpses of reality to come or they can provide false hope.

We’re a good ways into this year’s slate of spring games and the MLB stat sheet so far shows some hobby-friendly names among the leaders in home runs.

As of today, Maikel Franco and Steven Moya are tops in homers with four apiece — both good signs as they are young players with star potential who have plenty of cardboard for collectors to chase.

Other established guys like Colorado’s Nolan Arenado (.556 average; 10-for-18) have impressive starts as well. Philadelphia’s Darin Ruf might get some attention as well, though he’s not exactly popular compared to back when he arrived. (Is he a potential bargain to stash? We’ll see.)
Sort the stat sheet a different way, and you’ll see Atlanta’s Hector Olivera with 13 hits and a .433 average, while Detroit’s Ian Kinsler has 12 RBI in eight games.

Cleveland Indians’ Francisco Lindor signs on with Topps Authentics

Topps Authentics is clearly hoarding top young shortstops.

Cleveland Indians star Francisco Lindor is the latest player to sign on exclusively with Topps’ autographed memorabilia line after a rookie season that included a .313 average, 12 homers and 51 RBI in just 99 games last year. He finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year race to fellow shortstop and Topps Authentics player Carlos Correa.

His autographs will be found on oversized Chrome cards, jerseys, balls and bats as part of the deal and he joins a group that also includes Yankees pitcher Luis Severino, Red Sox pitcher Henry Owens and Braves third baseman Hector Olivera.

Atlanta Braves rookie Hector Olivera joins Topps Authentics squad

Topps Authentics has itself an Atlanta Brave.

Third baseman Hector Olivera was revealed as the next player who has signed an exclusive deal with Topps’ memorabilia division. His signed jerseys, balls, bats, oversized Chrome cards and more will only be found on Topps.com as part of the deal.

“I am so happy to be working with Topps,” Olivera said in a prepared release. “I’m honored that they wanted me to part of the Topps family. It’s a great opportunity and I look forward to seeing the excitement on baseball fans’ faces.”