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.

Panini Card Of The Week: 2014 Donruss Dave Parker Donruss Signatures

Brand: Donruss

Card Number:DP

Card Type:Autograph

Yard Sale Find: # 14

We recently posted about a Yard Sale we went to and picked up a bunch of sports cards at (mostly baseball). We thought it would be fun to take you on the journey with us to discover what is inside of every box, every single we got picking out the best ones along the way to show. We hope you enjoy the trip and comments are always welcomed.

 

Looks like Raghib Ismail had some fun back in the day along with Brien Taylor (I know you guys who loaded up on his rookies are shuttering with that name) and Russell Maryland.

 

 

A ton of these were found. Most average a value of $1. Jeff Bagwell comes in as most valuable at $3.

 

 

These were interesting....

 

A card set I didn't know about or have any of..now I do. I was at one point a HUGE Clemens fan..then came the steroid accusations....

 

 

Since I found these in the middle of the box, thought I would post them about in the middle. Not much in terms of big names here, but I like old school football. Years range in the 70's.

 

A lot of Baseball Heroes and Classic Baseball finds.

 

My man! KGJR! 

 

I thought this card was pretty cool. I know Pro Cards aren't usually worth diddly,  But I like finding cards of players at the beginning of their careers.

 

I don't know who this person was trying to sell this card to but wow. Big price difference now.

 

I like older Marvel card finds.

 

Complete set!

 

You just gotta love what Upper Deck brought to baseball cards. Especially the photography. One thing I have found out from this Yard Sale find is how popular Upper Deck baseball cards were for this person. And I can't argue with that. I used to collect mainly them as well. If only we can go back in time and change the licensing agreements.

 

These are not at all worth $4.50 each. Prices for these must have been worth more back then. You are lucky to get $4.50 for all of them. However, I must note, I have always been a fan of Gwynns. He never got much spotlight for being the incredible hitter he was. Playing in San Diego probably didn't help.

 

I really like this card. And the full set is here as well. Frank Thomas was one of the greats.

 

I wish companies, especially Upper Deck, would dig back into holograms.They are just fun.

 

Complete sets of each. From what I read about these, cause I hadn't heard of them, they were produced in the 80's and 90's and had action shots, full bleed color photos but no true licensing by a real company. I guess they somewhat flooded the market back then. They also have blank backs.

 

Interesting to see this guy in a Soccer set.

 

Anyone want a Canseco base for $10? Or how about a Deion Sanders for $10? Both have a BV of $1

 

Overall, not bad finds here. Some interesting ones buried within. Such as the football cards and Marvel ones. I like the small insert sets and the Frank Thomas set is probably my favorite of the group. And of course the Griffey Jr's and 90's inserts are nice additions as well.

It did crack me up to see the prices this person must have tried to sell or maybe they bought them for the at one point. Cause now-a-days, you probably can't even get a 10th of that value.

Let us know what you think on this find.

Flashback Product! 1984 Donruss Baseball Wax Box

 
This is still one of the hardest products to find.Very short printed!!

36 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
Key Rookies: Don Mattingly, Joe Carter, Tony Fernandez

Boxes cost: $210