The Grady Chronicles: Da Hits!

Grady not only sends the shiny and fun inserts, but he sometimes will throw in a few surprises. I have found items from games he has gone to, pamphlets relating to the Giants, etc.

I also occasionally find a couple of hits in my boxes.

The first hit was this Luis Severino relic card with pinstripe. Pinstripes from the team known for pinstripes are always nice adds.

My second find was this John Flaherty autograph. Finding autographs of players you don't see every day is fun

Two more parts left to my Grady mail day, what remains left to post, well you will have to come back and see the final two days.

Cardboard Review:2021 Topps Archives

70 years of Topps was the theme in 2021 Topps Archives this year.

Archives incorporated one design from each previous decade that Topps has been making baseball cards from the 1950s to the 2010s. Which are the following designs,1957, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1991, 2001 and 2011 designs.

So let's check it out!

In each box of 2021 Topps Archives it comes with 24 packs of 8 cards. Boxes run $120 and come with 2 autographs.

There is also one move poster per box as well.

How cool is this??

BASE:

The base set is 300 cards deep with players from the past, present and future.

PARALLELS:

The following parallels can be found in Archives,

Rainbow Foil /150, Green /125, Silver /99, Red /75, Red Hot Foil /50, Blue Foil /25, Orange Hot Foil /15 and FoilFractor 1/1.

Red Hot foil. I am not a Red Sox fan, but man this card is stunning with team colors.

INSERTS:

Falling at 1:24 packs, is the 1994 Draft Pick design featuring rookies from this year.

1963 Topps Peel Offs fall 1:6 packs and have 15 to collect.

Movie Poster cards fall 1:6 packs with 15 cards to collect.

Bazooka is back..except these packs had no gum but had this 15 card insert set that falls 1:6 packs.

HITS:

2 autographs to find...I have never had any luck pulling big names, but what I will say about Archives is that they include fun names. The guys you don't see in every product.

Jason Kendell

Bazooka Silver border falls 1:1105 packs.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

This was a fun break. I enjoy the throwback designs, the on card autographs and the solid checklist of rookies, veterans and legends.

The box topper movie poster really jumped out at me then the rest was great from there and for some reason or another, I have not gotten tired of seeing that overused photo of Cutch.

I am not sure what the other parallels look like either, but that Devers was quite stunning and I like the fact the product isn't over run with them per box. Makes them more valuable and it's all about the chase!

Your thoughts on Archives is welcomed below!

These Are Fun

 

I haven't opened much in terms of product in 2020, the biggest reason being the pandemic with crazy flippers and not doing reviews because of it, so when I get to see newer products its because of others.

I am very 50/50 on how I feel about products like Topps Archives when a companies take old designs and bring them back by putting newer players on them.

This years 2020 Archives was no different. It included Topps base card designs of 1955,1974 and 2002.

The one thing though that set this years apart from past years, is a subset known as Nickname Poster Cards.

When I found these in my box of goodies from Sport Card Collector reader Grady M, I was hooked. This is the kind of creativity I have been waiting for from Topps.

And calling them Poster cards is perfect.

 

I can picture going to a movie theater and seeing a movie poster hung up with the words, The Conductor starring Chris Sale.

Or one that says, Big Papi. One man's mission to over slug Fenway.

This is just a couple of the 14 card subset. Once again, a subset is a set within a base set. I just wanted to be clear these are not inserts.

Grady sent along a good portion of the subset and I was completely infatuated with them.

There are a few missing from the set and I hope to finish up the missing pieces. I want to get these updated on here soon.

Panini does a nickname parallel for their Donruss baseball but are not even close to as cool as these. I think this would make a great insert set and maybe a chromed version or foil would bring these even more to the next level.

I will say though, these seem like an odd fit for this product or at least part of the base set that built upon Topps history. As far as I know, I could definitely be wrong, I don't know of any nickname cards in 1955,1974 or 2002 Topps base sets.

What do you guys think of these? Cool? Nah? Ugly as sin? Mind blowing?

REVIEW:2018 Topps Archives Baseball

The fun, the memories and the nostalgia all sums up the Topps Archives brand. Well and The Sandlot.

If that doesn't sound interesting to you, check it out by reading on!

In every box of 2018 Topps Archives baseball, there are 24 packs per box with 8 cards per pack. You will also find 2 autographs per box as well and boxes currently run $80.

The base set captures the designs from 1959, 1977 and 1981 Topps. The base set has rookies, veterans and legends involved as well.

 

There are also throwback subsets in the base set as well.

 

Overall there are 300 cards to collect in the base set. With the subsets adding on as cards 301-320.

There are also base card short prints. None that I pulled or found in my break. Here are the CMP code breakdowns.

Base Cards:

• 1959  ends in #307
• 1977 ends in #314
• 1981 ends in #320

Variations

• 1959 ends in #326
• 1977 ends in #326
• 1981 ends in #326

Parallels are found in every product and not different here.  Parallels include, Purple /175, Silver /99, Blue /25, and Gold Foil 1/1.

Silver Cano:

Purple Hicks:

 Inserts that can be found in Topps Archives include,

Topps Rookie History. There are 25 cards to collect with 5 short prints. There are also foil parallels and those include, Purple /150, Green /99, Blue /50, Red /10, and Gold 1/1.

1993 Coming Attractions showcasing all of those rookies in 1993 classic design. There are 20 cards to collect.

 

1981 Future Stars throwback insert. 10 cards to collect.

The Sandlot has 11 cards to collect. I got three just need to hunt down the other 8 now.

Now onto the autographs.

There are different forms of autographs to find. Fan Favorites like this Orlando Merced captures those names you collected back then and wanted to see a return of now.

And this Topps Rookie History autograph of Roberto Alomar captured in his rookie card design. This card is numbered to 99.

I really wished to pull a Sandlots autograph for my non sport PC, but can't be picky. It's just the way my breaks have gone this year.

Other hits not found in my box but could be in yours includes,

1. The Sandlot Autographs
2. Coming Attractions Autographs
3. 1993 Topps All Star Dual Autographs
4. Topps Originals Autographs

OVERALL: If you have liked Archives in the past, this years won't change your feelings on it. There is a lot of fun to find in here,  like those Sandlot autographs I dream of. The throwback vibe designs and some of the names in the autograph sets bring back those warm feels and that's what this product is truly about.

Sometimes a product just isn't about the money.

Please make sure to take a minute out to thank Topps for providing this box for me to review and to be able to add cards to a future promo.  Follow Topps on all social media sites and visit their SITE, as well.  

REVIEW:2017 Topps Archives Signature Series Postseason Edition Baseball

Every October a team or player steps up big in the playoffs and leads their team to a World Series title. This year it was George Springer and past years have many, many October heroes.

Those heroes both big name and small can be found in today's product review with an autograph. Let's check out which hero I landed.

In every box of 2017 Topps Archives Signature Series Postseason Edition Baseball you will find one encased autograph card. Players from the 80's,90's and 2000's can be found on the checklist and from the card brand selections. Boxes can be had much cheaper than the Active Players falling at $40 per.

The players are all retired as opposed to the Archives Signature Series active players edition and the players in the set have multiple cards and multiple print runs. The Postseason version is like the Archives brand we have come to enjoy every year. It features some long ago forgot about players who once played a big role for their teams.

One of those players is the one that I pulled in Keith Foulke. This one is numbered to 39 and is signed on one of my favorite Stadium Club designs of all time.

 

Foulke is among a mixed set of players on the checklist. You can find the checklist for this product right, HERE.

Other hits not found in my box are dual autographs and relic autographs.

OVERALL, I think it's fun to find signed cards of players of the past, which is why I enjoy the Archives brand, but unlike the base product this one can be a bit of a gamble since you are basically banking on the one card. However, the gamble isn't as big as it was with the Active Players edition. 

For the collectors, this is a fun one looking for those players you may not find too often in products. The key as always for Archives.

For those looking to hit it big, well, this may not be completely up your alley even though there are some big names on the checklist like Aaron and Ripken and of course, Jeter.

Please make sure to take a minute out to thank Topps for providing this box for me to review. Some of the above hits will be found in future contest promos I will run on here time to time. PLEASE Follow Topps on all social media sites and visit their SITE, as well  

Hampton Archived

Not all of my remaining Rodney Hampton needs are these rare inserts, some are simply just base cards I haven't hunted down yet.

Today's card is a simple example of that. A 2013 Topps Archives base that was throwing it back to 1993 Topps.

 

A big thanks to Jammin JD Sports Cards for the help on getting this one off my list.

REVIEW:2017 Topps Archives Signature Series Active Player Edition Baseball Cards

As the 2017 MLB season comes to an end, we are also coming to the end of 2017 baseball card releases. I know it's a sad time.

Today's featured product is part one of the Topps Archives Signature series as the Postseason Edition comes out later on. Both products look very intriguing.

This years 2017 Topps Archives Signature Active Player Series mixes things up from last years release. Unlike last year, which focused on players of the past, this years focuses on active players around the MLB.

So why don't we take a dive in and see what's in this one card box.

Every box of 2017 Topps Archives Signature Series Active Player Edition Baseball Cards comes with one card. That card will be signed on-card of an active player and is encased. Boxes run $70 per.  This is also a limited release.

Each card in the product is encased original cards from a Topps or Bowman product of active MLB ballplayers. These buyback cards have been signed on-card by the player and each card is numbered and contains an gold Archives stamp.

The checklist has a mixed choice of players from superstars to low-end collector favorites. I assume like the rest of the 2017 baseball card season there will be a focus on landing Aaron Judge.

My pull from this box was Sonny Gray /99.

 

The Gray is an Opening Day base card from 2016.

You can find the overall player checklist, HERE.

OVERALL, Personally, I am not a fan of one hit boxes and finding Sonny Gray in a $70 box for my one hit is a big reason why. I know many collectors like to roll the dice, I am just not one of those type.

I do like the approach Topps is trying with this product but I just wished it had all strong names in it but I also know we can't have that either or the prices would really soar. Like with any product however, there is always a risk involved no matter if it's one card or three hundred.

Please make sure to take a minute out to thank Topps for providing this box for me to review as they help provide prizes for me to giveaway in the MLB Pick Em Promotion! Follow Topps on all social media sites and visit their SITE, as well 

REVIEW:2017 Archives Baseball

To me, Topps Archives plays the hobby role of "Things We Wished That Were But Weren't Until Now".

I mean who doesn't like seeing older iconic designs with players of today on them. It adds an extra special fun aspect and of course a nostalgic one to busting open packs.

This years product features the 1960, 1982, and 1992 Topps designs.

In every box of 2017 Topps Archives baseball you will find 24 Packs Per Box with 8 Cards Per Pack. There are two on-card autographs per box as well. Boxes currently are running a bit high at about $115, but it's a fresh new hot release so it's expected.

Like I said earlier, the base card designs are based off from the 1960, 1982, and 1992 Topps designs and is a 300 deep checklist that splits 100/100/100 for each design.

The base set is also built up of players past, present, future and Jeter. That's right, Derek is back in base sets! One thing I found intriguing is teams that were chosen for former players who played for multiples. They seemed to had chosen their beginning teams and I dig it. I really liked seeing Big Unit in an Expos uni. How often do we see that in base sets today???

I put a few images up for the base to give you an idea of what you will find.

Key Rookies to find in the product are Aaron Judge, Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, Dansby Swanson, Yulieski Gurriel, Alex Bregman, Tyler Glasnow.  I surprisingly didn't land many of these names. I was also really hoping Judge would be found for my new growing PC but not in this box.

 

 

 

There is also 20 tough to find base card variations as well. 

 

Just like with past Topps releases, you can easily define the variations using them. They are located on the back at the base of the card.

• Base Code ends in #2782
• Variation Code ends in #2799

The parallels in are easy to find in packs which is always a big help.

There is

• Peach Parallel numbered to 199 fall 1:14 packs
• Blue Parallel numbered to 75 and fall 1:37 packs
• Red Parallel numbered to 25 and fall 1:110 packs
• Black Parallel: numbered 1/1 fall 1:2763 packs

I was fortunate to pull a red in my break but not the best of players. I also got 2 peaches which is a unique parallel and a blue.

 

Other parallels include 1960 Grey Back  (has a grey back)/ 1982 Blackless (they remove the signature)/ 1992 Gold "Winner" Parallels. The Gold Winner parallels are pretty easy to spot with the gold foil on them just like the good ole days and the word winner.  The odds of pulling any of these are a tough 1:110 packs.

There are not a lot of inserts in Archives, but I think the ones that are in do count and fit the theme.

The excitement for Derek Jeter's cardboard return is defintely shown in this product with DEREK JETER RETROSPECTIVE INSERTS that fall 1:12 packs. There are usually two per box and that's what I got.

There are 21 cards in the set celebrating Derek in Topps designs from 1993-2015.

 

For those of you who like inclusions like these or you are a Derek Jeter fan or Yankees fan, the Jeters also have fun chases as well with Sp's and parallels.

Parallels for the set include:

• Blue foil numbered to 150
• Green foil numbered to 99
• Gold foil numbered to 50
• Red foil numbered to 10
• Black foil numbered 1/1

There are also 3 tougher Sp finds that fall 1 per case besides the easier 21. The three include the 1993 Topps Draft Pick card, the 2015 Topps card, and the 2007 that had the Mantle/Bush on it. These have parallels as well.

• Green foil numbered to 99
• Gold foil numbered to 50
• Red foil numbered to 10
• Black foil numbered 1/1

I must also toss in the fact there are Jeter autographs of these as well!

 

Well, now that we are done discussing Jeter's role in 2017 Archives, let's discuss the other inserts.

 

2016 Retro Design. These fall 1:12 packs.

 

1959 Bazooka baseball inserts that has active and retired stars. These fall 1:6 packs.

 

And finally, 1960 Rookie Star insert that includes rookies of today.  Was hoping for Judge, but Moncada not terrible.

Now onto the main event.....THE AUTOGRAPHS!

We already discussed the Jeter autographs, so let's move on to the Fan Favorite autos featuring players and personalities you don't see everyday signing cards anymore.

My first was Kevin Seitzer. I like the added Bible verse.

 

And a peach parallel /150 of Terry Mulholland

 

 

Other parallels include:

• Peach Parallel numbered 150
• Blue Parallel numbered to 75
• Red Parallel numbered to 25
• Gold Parallel numbered 1/1

Other hits not found in my box besides Jeter,
1959 Bazooka Baseball Autographs, 1960 Rookie Star Autographs and Topps Originals Autographs.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Well, my hits were not the best in the break for the price. My overall break was a little weak from base to rookies to parallels to hits but I would not let that push you away from giving it a go. I have also seen many really solid breaks. If you also don't feel like pouring out the money for a hobby box, you could go check out retail blasters. You could pull an auto but if not, you will at the very least get some cool coins that are a throwback to the early 90's.

You could also check out some box breaks like the ones at Top Shelf Breaks.

I feel the nostalgia factor is also a draw-in here for those of us who enjoyed these designs. There is also a solid autograph checklist for the offerings.

 

I like how they did the Jeter inclusions in the product, but I bet many Red Sox fans won't. #GoYankees.

To finish my review, I must say everyday there has also been a lot of chatter on Twitter with the autograph additions of Zack Hample and Skip Bayless in the product that many collectors are bashing and complaining about. What are my thoughts on this, well, when do we get blogger ones?? That would be a dream come true. Can you imagine, Topp(s) Bloggers subset and autographed ones.....

 

Please make sure to take a minute out to thank Topps for providing this box for me to review and to be able to add cards to the MLB Pick Em promotion. Follow Topps on all social media sites and visit their site, as well.  Look for one of these autographs to be July's prize!