2024 Topps Fat Packs Opening

The first cards of 2024! Ok, well, the first cards of the 2024 baseball brand year. You get the idea. It's 2024 Topps! There’s nothing quite like opening the first back of a new base set. I really love the design of the 2024 Topps set. It has a more vintage feel, as opposed to going space age like several of the past releases. I know that "neon" may not scream "vintage" to prople, but I was getting tired of all the geometric shapes in gray steel. This has an older, simpler, feel to it. Even with the neon. It’s also nice that I haven’t read up on the checklist very much, so there were some fun surprises included. I had no idea there would be Grffey inserts, for instance.

How did the packs go? I'm glad you asked.

Here are the packs. If you're super observant, you'll see that they've already been opened. You'll just have to excuse my forgetfulness and trust that they are the right packs. 36 cards in each of these packs, which is obviously the perfect number.

The first Red Sox card of 2024! Kenley Jansen gets the honor this time. Jansen has been showing up on this blog a lot lately. I guess as last year's only all-star that's allowable.

A super shiny card of Enmanuel Valdez! No idea what parallel this is, but when a card is this shiny it's good to flip it over.

There we go, numbered to 199. Always nice to pull a card like this because I doubt I'd ever acquire it another way.

And there you have it. Out of the 72 cards, I pulled two Red Sox. Not bad, I suppose. I'm sure I'll be opening plenty more of this as the year goes along.

If you want to see the rest of the packs, go check out the opening on my YouTube video. And feel free to like/subscribe while you're there.

Open any of this yet?

2023 Topps Archives Blaster Opening!

I really like the Topps Archives brand. It’s a nice way to add variety to a set, both in design and player selection. You can get stars from years ago like Carl Yastrzemski, and the hottest rookies like Triston Casas. And the milti-design aspect to the base set means you’re never bored flipping through the packs. Just look at all the designs we had in this one blaster. I do wish the designs weren’t repeated quite so often year to year and brand to brand. I always thought Topps should have a system. Heritage keeps plugging along. The base set can have inserts sets of designs celebrating their 70th, 50th, and 30th anniversary. Archives can have 60th, 20th, and 10th anniversary. That way, a set wouldn’t be repeated for ten years, but every set gets to play along.

How did this blaster go? I'm glad you asked...

Here's the box, in case you're curious.

Here's a nice looking Devers. But, this is what I was talking about. Topps just did the '65 design as an insert set. Do we really need to see it again so soon in the Archives set? With so many designs to choose from?

The best card in the set, obviously. Hard to complain about Casas in the '56 design. But, still, '56 again?

The 2003 design is fairly rare, and so is Yaz himself. So, this one works for me.

Another '56. But, I mean, it's Nomar. Nothing wrong with this card.

So, all in all a pretty good haul. Lots of Red Sox representatives covering 60 years of Sox stars. Can't ask for much more.

If you want to see the rest of the box, go check out the opening on my YouTube video. And feel free to like/subscribe while you're there.

How did your box go?

Go Red! 2014 Topps Red Hot Foil Jake Peavy

February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Peavy was a midseason pick-up for the Sox during their run to the 2013 World Series. He put up a 4-1 record for the Sox, which was just what they needed as a way to solidify the team down the stretch. He did the same during the playoffs, doing just what the team needed him to do to ear the duckboat parade after the season. He easily became one of the fan favorites after he purchased the duckboat he rode on to keep as a souvenir of the season's success. Can't ask for much more from a player when it comes to adopting a new fan base.

The card itself...lets just say sometimes less is more. It's hard enough to read the names on regular cards since Topps keeps insisting on writing them in foil. Now, the whole card is also shimmery foil? Talk about overdoing it. But, I suppose it does add interest to a collection.

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I'm sure you all remember Miss District of Columbia Jude Maboné from her interview with us. Her "heart health" community service initiative is, obviously, quite relevant this month. As such, she's supporting the Simon's Heart campaign this month (and every month). I highly recommend you join her efforts with a donation if you are able. You can find the link here.

Support her efforts, and Go Red!

2023 Topps Chrome Update Blaster Opening!

Unlike the "Sonic" box from last time, I both understand and enjoy this product. As a fan of the Topps Chrome brand, this is a fun box to open. I like how Topps has taken the “Update” series and really found its niche. In addition to the new players on new trams concept, they’ve added in the “rookie debut” cards as well as all stars and combos. So, what was one a set made up of players you’ve never heard of and an occasional star that changed teams has become absolutely stuffed with stars and key rookies. In this case, I was able to get both.

How did this box go? I'm glad you asked.

Here's the box.

With a very shiny Kenley Jansen card. A card that special must be numbered, right?

Yup. Out of only 250. Nice pull of a Red Sox All-Star.

Unfortunately, that was the only Sox card from the box. At least it was a good hit. Can't complain about that.

If you want to see the rest of the box, go check out the opening on my YouTube video. And feel free to like/subscribe while you're there.

How did your box go?

Go Red! 2023 Topps Heritage High Number Kenley Jansen

February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month.

Let's talk about this card...

Kenley Jansen was an all-star closer for the Red Sox in 2023. It will be interesting to see what his role will be moving forward. Whether it's in a modified closer role, or with another team. It's always hard to take public comments from management at face value. But, it seems like Breslow wouldn't object to the "closer by committee" approach. Whether tht would only apply if Jansen is dealt first remains to be seen. But, either way it will be an interesting season for Jansen. 

The card itself is on the bland side. The blurry player name certainly doesn't help. But, the red is really forced into the design. With all the different colored parallels Topps produces, it's probably hard to make sure every one workes with every individual card design. But, this one misses the mark for me.

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I'm sure you all remember Miss District of Columbia Jude Maboné from her interview with us. Her "heart health" community service initiative is, obviously, quite relevant this month. As such, she's supporting the Simon's Heart campaign this month (and every month). I highly recommend you join her efforts with a donation if you are able. You can find the link here.

Support her efforts, and Go Red!