Buzz Break: 2018 Topps Series 1 MLB cards (hobby box + silver pack)

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 baseball cards 
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 36 (plus one silver Chrome pack)
Cards per pack: 10 (four in Chrome)
Cards in this box: 365
Base set completion: 
322 of 350 (92 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, Alex Bregman, Bryce Harper, Jose Altuve, Dansby Swanson, Giancarlo Stanton, Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, Manny Machado, Miguel Cabrera, Buster Posey, Carlos Correa

Rookie Cards (40) – Rhys Hoskins, Rafael Devers, Victor Robles, Amed Rosario, Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar, Garrett Cooper, J.P. Crawford, Max Fried, Lucas Sims, Luiz Gohara, Ozzie Albies, Jackson Stephens, Greg Allen, Richard Urena, Austin Hays, Jimmie Sherfy, Raudy Read, J.D. Davis, Andrew Stevenson, Chris Rowley, Willie Calhoun, Dillon Peters, Zack Granite, Nicky Delmonico, Harrison Bader, Luis Santos, Dominic Smith, Ryan McMahon, Cam Gallagher, Aaron Slegers, Brandon Woodruff, Alex Verdugo, Francisco Mejia, Nick Williams, Brian Anderson, Walker Buehler, Tyler Mahle, Erick Fedde, Jack Flaherty

First Buzz: 2018 Panini Diamond Kings baseball cards

What: 2018 Panini Diamond Kings baseball cards
Arrives: April 11
Box basics: Two autographs or memorabilia cards per 12-pack box (24 boxes per case via two inners)

What’s buzz-worthy: Diamond Kings returns for another season with the legends of yesterday and the stars of today with an artistic approach and nods to the rich past of DK baseball cards.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Topps offers new details on promo packs with 2018 Topps Series 1

We’re just a week away from the arrival of 2018 Topps Series 1 baseball cards and Topps has revealed the bonus promo packs’ content for those buying via hobby shops and via BlowoutCards.com.

Its a Chromed 1983 Topps homage with some modern touches that will arrive along with the hobby’s flagship product next Wednesday.

Keep reading for the full details.

First Buzz: 2018 Panini Diamond Kings baseball (early retail details)

What: 2018 Panini Diamond Kings baseball cards
Arrives: March 28
Box basics: Three retail-exclusive insert cards per seven-pack blaster box (20 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: We’ve got early word on what’s coming to the retail aisle from Panini America in 2018, and it’s the newest crop of Diamond Kings will be the second set to arrive next March.

Keep reading for more info.

Buzz Break: 2017 Bowman Chrome Mini baseball (set & bonus packs)

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 Bowman Chrome Mini baseball (factory set & bonus packs)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 3
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 303 (273 cards in set, 30 bonus parallels)
Base set completion: 
273 of 273 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger (2), Kevin Maitan, Yoan Moncada, Nick Senzel, Alex Bregman, Rhys Hoskins, Ronald Acuna, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Mickey Moniak, Rafael Devers, Gleyber Torres, Andrew Benintendi,, Eloy Jimenez, Dansby Swanson … and nearly all other rookies and prospects from 2017 Bowman and 2017 Bowman Chrome

Black November Wave 4 is here … and here are five deals to consider

If you hadn’t noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices right now over on the mothership as BlowoutCards.com is in the midst its Black November sales now.

Wave 4 is here and many of the discounts were dramatic enough that Buzz had to sit down and ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases — and here are five boxes/cases that caught this collector’s eye.

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball hobby box
You may not recognize the uniforms here but they’re creative — and wearing them are names you should know with guys like Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Rhys Hoskins on the checklist. The crop of players here is pretty strong and so is the signers list in a product that takes the 1967 Topps design back to the minor leagues. Atop the signers list that includes Dansby Swanson, Andrew Benintendi, Alex Bregman, Bryce Harper and Mike Trout for starters, they’re all on-card autographs here. A couple of boxes should get you a basic base set and a number of the inserts that this one includes. It’s a simple but fun break and you can see a sample box here.

Keep reading for four more picks …

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Trinity baseball cards

What: 2017 Leaf Trinity baseball cards
Arrives: January
Box basics: Six autographed cards per box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: This one returns with what Leaf says is the “strongest checklist in Trinity baseball history” with new draft picks and notable prospects that the company says will be “chasing the face of professional baseball for years to come.”

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.

Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Heritage Minor League baseball (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 Heritage Minor League baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 18
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 140
Base set completion: 
121 of 200 (61 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Amed Rosario, Mickey Moniak, Nick Senzel, Blake Rutherford, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ozzie Albies, Eloy Jimenez, Michael Kopech, Rhys Hoskins, Austin Riley, Bo Bichette, Rafael Devers

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Metal Draft baseball cards

What: 2017 Leaf Metal Draft baseball cards
Arrives: November
Box basics: Six on-card autographs per box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf Trading Cards’ Metal brand returns with a revamped “incredibly short print run” and it’s “the most-packed lineup of players for any Metal baseball release ever,” according to the company.

Keep reading for more.

Japan star Shohei Otani sets sights on MLB in 2018 — and 2017 Bowman Mega Boxes are hitting Target again

Fans who watch the global game know the name Shohei Otani and now that he’s firmly set his sights on MLB — as soon as next year — collectors once again have a reason to seek out his cards.

And their shot at some American cardboard of the pitcher-slugger is coming once again.

His only American-made cardboard was mistakenly released in 2017 Bowman Mega Boxes that were only found at Target stores for a brief time early this year. He was originally set to appear on a World Baseball Classic card in 2017 Bowman but when he didn’t play, the card was pulled from the product.

Rhys Hoskins’ first game-used memorabilia cards hit in new Topps Now MLB Players Weekend set

MLB Players Weekend has come and gone, but the colorful nickname uniforms can now be found in a new batch of Topps Now cards.

And it’s an assortment that includes the first game-used memorabilia cards for the Philadelphia Phillies’ hard-hitting rookie Rhys Hoskins.

These are being sold more like they’re in pack form as the standard cards and all five of their parallels are up for grabs for one price for each of six players.

Rhys Hoskins’ powerful arrival sparks big interest in his few baseball cards

There’s a new hard-hitting powerful rookie in MLB this season but you’ll have to wait for his first Rookie Cards and battle if you have your sights on his few certified autographs.

His name is Rhys Hoskins and he’s a member of the Philadelphia Phillies — and he’s got a record 11 home runs in his first 18 games. That’s an MLB record for a hot start as well as a team rookie record for the month — with a few games to go. He’s also homered in his last five games, adding to the attention that comes with such a torrid pace.

Now, about that cardboard?

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Aug. 27)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Floyd Mayweather’s big win over Conor Mcgregor, Julian Edelman’s season-ending injury, Rhys Hoskins’ power surge, Elgin Baylor ink and big NFL pulls.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Aug. 26)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Mayweather vs. McGregor chatter, Rhys Hoskins, James Harden autographs, big pulls & more.

Topps teases rookies to come in 2018 Topps Series 1 baseball packs

We don’t yet have 2017 Topps Update yet, but we know a few rookies who won’t make the cut because Topps has begun teasing its inclusions in next year’s set.

Eight rookies — and one promotional nugget of news — were released by the company on Monday.

Among the rookies will be New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier, who has 27 hits in his first 28 games along with 17 RBI since his debut. Who else will we expect to find in 2018 Topps Series 1?