Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Update 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 Topps Update baseball cards (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 366
Base set completion: 
300 of 300 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 20

Base cards of note – Cody Bellinger, Andrew Benintendi, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Corey Seager, Giancarlo Stanton, Francisco Lindor, George Springer, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Stephen Strasburg, Ichiro Suzuki, Mookie Betts, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Buster Posey, Yu Darvish, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve

Rookie Cards (118) – Notables include Cody Bellinger (4), Andrew Benintendi, Aaron Judge (5), Yoan Moncada (3), Jose DeLeon, Bradley Zimmer (2), Ian Happ (3), Alex Bregman, Jordan Montgomery, Ryon Healy, Brett Phillips, Lewis Brinson, Tyler Glasnow, Franklin Barreto, Dansby Swanson, Yulieski Gurriel

New wave of MLB Network stars arrives in 2017 Topps Update

Collectors who rip into packs of 2017 Topps Update, which officially arrives tomorrow, will find the third series of MLB Network personalities.

These nine cards are a continuation of the 2017 Topps MLB Network set that began in Series 1 and continued in Series 2 — and all of them can be seen in the gallery here.

Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Series 2 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: 2017 Topps Series 2 baseball cards 
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Packs per box: 11 (10 standard plus one Independence Day MLB logo card)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 102
Base set completion: 
76 of 350 (22 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Yu Darvish, Nolan Arenado, Jake Arrieta, Michael Conforto, Buster Posey, Justin Verlander

Rookie Cards (6) – Manny Margot, Roman Quinn, Adalberto Mejia, Jorge Alfaro, Jharel Cotton, Hunter Renfroe

New wave of MLB Network stars arrives in 2017 Topps Series 2

Collectors who rip into packs of 2017 Topps Series 2, which officially arrives today, will find a new series of MLB Network personalities.

These 10 cards are a continuation of the 2017 Topps MLB Network set that began in Series 1 and this one includes the hosts of Intentional Talk, Hall of Fame honoree Peter Gammons and even a little ¡PLAKATA! from former big-leaguer Carlos Pena.

NL MVP Kris Bryant lands card No. 1 honor for 2017 Topps (updated)

Update: Kris Bryant is card No. 1 in the 2017 Topps set as revealed on the show. He was chosen via a collector vote.

“It’s a huge honor to be chosen as Card No. 1 since it has depicted so many legends before me,” Bryant said in a prepared release. “It’s very humbling and nice to know it came from the fans.”

“Kris Bryant is an outstanding player with an infectious personality,” said David Leiner, Topps’ GM & VP of North American Sports & Entertainment. “He’s done so much in his career and has created fans throughout baseball regardless of team loyalties. He’s the perfect pick.”

—

Want a first look at the MLB Network baseball cards to be found a week from today in packs of 2017 Topps Series 1?

Watch the Network on Thursday and it should happen — and we’re betting card No. 1 will be unveiled, too.

Although we can see the John Smoltz autograph here, the cardboard news — whatever it is — will come on Network’s Hot Stove morning show tomorrow between 9-11 a.m. Eastern.

Surprises in 2017 Topps include MLB Network, Stephen Colbert’s first pitch, Cubs World Series cards

Although the MLB Network has its share of Hall of Famers like John Smoltz, “Rookie Cards” for some of the other names who bring you the highlights begin arriving on Feb. 1 in packs of 2017 Topps Series 1 baseball cards.

A 10-card release begins a set that will continue in Series 2 and Update later this year and this series will include Lauren Shehadi (RC), Kevin Millar, Mike Lowell, Greg Amsinger (RC), Ryan Dempster, Sean Casey, Harold Reynolds, Dan Plesac and Smoltz as well as an MLB Tonight card.

A number of that crew’s members already have cards as players (click to view a Buzz archives piece) — but there will be several debuts in the forthcoming releases. Meanwhile, a number of them haven’t had many autographs and all nine found in Series 1 will have ink.

Harry Caray’s Restaurant gives fans chance to collect namesake

If you know a Chicago Cubs fan and haven’t finished your holiday shopping, this is your post.

If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball and collecting its legends, this is your post.

A nice piece of mail — something Buzz found online and ordered this weekend — arrived on Wednesday with a surprise inside. What you see here is an oversized pair of plastic glasses — an apparent jovial bonus this holiday season with any purchase of $49 or more from 33 West Kinzie Street in Chicago.

Not familiar with the location? That’s the home of Harry Caray’s Restaurant. And, while it’s funny, this simple gift to me can’t touch what I bought.

Bryzzo Souvenir Co. … authenticated with their bats

Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are going into the memorabilia business (sort of) with the Bryzzo Souvenir Co.

Click here to check out their video from the MLB Network. Buzz figured a collector or two might enjoy — and there’s got to be come potential real-world marketing memorabilia — Bryzzobilia? — to come here.

Right?

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com.

Can you collect MLB Network talents’ autographs? Yes and no …

Buzz has spent a lot of the off-season watching MLB Network because there’s plenty going on when it comes to transactions, baseball chatter and there’s always time for documentaries.

And there’s Intentional Talk, too.

But watching a lot of the Network also got Buzz wondering about autographs of many of the people on the air bringing the news to us. Many are former players who have certified autographs that were placed into packs of baseball cards — but there are some who have far fewer cards than others. Who might cost you the most between Billy Ripken, Kevin Millar, Sean Casey and Peter Gammons? It might be surprising — but the first challenge is to just find a signed card from some of them.

It’s surprising that a card company hasn’t attempted some type of card set focusing on the Network (signed or not). An unsigned set would immediately become a favorite of through-the-mail autograph seekers — and probably a good piece of marketing for MLB, too.

Keep reading for a rundown of the MLB Network roster when it comes to certified autos …