REVIEW: 2016 Donruss Baseball

One of my favorite revives Panini has done, Donruss baseball comes packed with surprises at a reasonable price. Why do I feel this way, well, you are gonna have to read on!

In every box of 2016 Donruss baseball are 24 Packs with 8 Cards Per Pack. You should find Three Autographs or Memorabilia Cards Per Box with a chance at finding the rare San Diego Chicken relic and autograph cards. Boxes run about $65.

You should also find in every box,
- 1 BASE STAT LINE PARALLEL
- 1 BASE PINK BORDER
- 2 BASE CHECKLISTS
- 24 BASE 1982
- 2 THE PROSPECTS
- 2 THE ROOKIES
- 4 RATED ROOKIES
- 4 DIAMOND KINGS
- 2 POWER ALLEY
- 4 USA COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM
- 2 MASTERS OF THE GAME
- 1 ELITE DOMINATORS
- 1 ELITE SERIES
- 3 OTHER PARALLELS

There are 150 base cards in the set. The base set is a bit bland in design, but I think it's because Panini can't use logos. In that case, I would love some throwback designs instead of using the throwbacks for inserts. Sort of like Heritage does.

The checklist is built of stars of today and yesterday. Find names like Pedro..

And my boy Ken Griffey Jr!

There are base card Sp's as well. I pulled this one of MVP Josh Donaldson. Not sure the odds on these but I found a visual showcase of them on Cardboard Connection, HERE.

Every pack you should find a Rated Rookie, 1982 Design and possibly an insert or parallel.

Rated Rookies bring top talent from the 2016 rookie class including Kyle Schwarber. You can also find new parallels to 2016 with the addition Black Borders, Pink Borders, Test Proofs of one-of-one Printing Plates. I found Corey Seager in my box. My first rookie of him.

Other fun Donruss inserts you can find. Diamond Kings, Masters Of The Game, The Rookies and The Prospects.

Here are a couple of the base card parallels. Ripken is a black /199 and Rizzo is an unnumbered pink. I even found a blue border parallel from the USA baseball set.

Returning after a 10-year hiatus, the iconic Power Alley insert. Find the games top power hitters at two per
box, on average! My other in this box, Josh Donaldson.

Last year Panini highlighted 1981 Donruss and this year we turn to 1982. Find veteran and retired players in

striking poses at one per pack. Look for new Holometric and Holoflow parallels! I pulled a regular and pink one of Cal.

Here was one of my bigger pulls of the box, a black/white Test Proof /25 of Kris Bryant. This is a tough pull from the research I have done. These are just base cards turned a color in all reality. There are many versions of these with different numbering.

Two iconic Donruss inserts in Elite Series and Elite Dominator. Both add sparkle and shine to the product. Both are numbered as well.

More base card parallels. The Frazier is a silver one numbered to 35. All of these have different numbering.

And card number 151 in the set is of The Famous San Diego Chicken. Totally dig this tribute card of him in the product. Unique find.

Now onto the hits, which to me, I had fun without them. But I know it today's hobby most can't live without them.

Up first is a Back To The Future jersey card of Jeff Samardzija . These jersey cards take a look back at players in a former uniform. You can't tell from here, there is a nice size swatch involved.

Up next, an Ichiro Bat card. Nice looking card and is numbered to 49.

My lone autograph is Donruss Signature Series which takes me back to the late 90's. Nice looking card all around.

 

Overall, you would be INSANE if you didn't give this product a try. So much value packed in here for a such little cost. I would take this one over Topps flagship any day. Look at a box break of that for about the same cost of this one. Huge difference. I guess what turns people away is the fact there are no logos. If you can push yourself past that, you will be very happy. If not, you are really missing out on a winner here.

All I know is, it left me wanting more.