Breakin Wax: 2013 Topps Chrome Baseball 12 Rack Pack

For Christmas, my wife surprised me with a 12-pack lot of 2013 Topps Chrome rack packs that she got from dacardworld for a great price. She knew I would be super-stoked because of my love of Chrome. But, I was also excited because that meant rookie cards of Puig and Machado too.

Without further delay, let's get this rip party started!

In each rack pack, there are three Topps Chrome packs plus a three-card pack of Orange Refractors. With a pack lot of 12, that meant 36 Orange Refractors and a shot at a bunch of other great stuff.

I skipped over the base card pics this time because the rookies have the same design. Not that the base doesn't matter, because to me, every card matters especially when it's covered in chrome.

Cole and Myers rookies here

And the two I really wanted in Puig and Machado here

Now the regular refractors I pulled. These fall 1:3 packs.

X-Factors.1:6 packs.

And now the gallery of Orange refractors. Pulled some great ones including this Puig.

Yankee PC adds here. Loved the Jeter and Rivera add.

1972 Topps inserts that fall 1:12

And finally the die-cut inserts. I love the design of these as well. I wished that Topps put this kinda effort into the rest of their inserts.

Dynamic die-cuts fall 1:24 packs while Chrome Connections die-cuts fall 1:12 packs.

Overall, another great Chrome break. Tons of color, Yankee adds, Rookie adds and more. Chrome continues to be the leader in return value vs what you pay and the leader of total awesomeness.

With 2014 Topps Chrome Baseball Out, Why Not Bust A 2013 Blaster

With the recent release of 2014 Topps Chrome baseball and the fact that I couldn't find any out where I am, I said, hey, why not bust a 2013 one instead! I found it at a great price as well.

Topps Chrome is my FAVORITE RELEASES year in and year out. I buy it for both baseball and football and have since 1996. Why such a fascination with the product? Well, first off, its chromed cards. I mean, come on, who's going to argue with that statement alone. Secondly, I like shiny things and this product has plenty with its multiple colored refractors. Third, you never have to worry about losing money with this product. Whether it's a blaster or a hobby box, Chrome pretty much guarantees your money back and a lot of fun along the way. You can't say that for many products especially for retail.

The blaster that I opened alone proves all of my points above, so let's take a look at why.

Great rookie finds in dominant pitcher Fernandez, Garcia and Zunino.

Refractors.....

Wow!! Pulled a Puig refractor rookie! Oh yeah!

Bonus pack that contains four purple refractors

Loving the die-cut inserts in last years Chrome. This years is even better from what I have seen and heard

Overall, this is what I call a great retail break. I looked forward to opening each pack and this is the kind of product that isn't all about the hits. You find yourself looking at each card and enjoying each one.

Topps Chrome is simple and fun, that's what I like most about it.

Puig! From The Pack Gambler Mail Day # 1

I recently got a 5 Card Mail Day from The Pack Gambler. One of which I spoke about with my last mail day post from him. All of the cards are from his storefront that you can locate HERE. There are many items and spectacular cards to find there such as the ones I am about to show off.

 

Being a collector of usually only "TRUE" Rookie Cards this one at first didn't catch my attention. But,with his rookies as hot as they are right not, adding any form of cardboard with his name on it is a great addition. Glad to also now own his Prizm Rookie Card too. He is a rising star, despite myself not caring much for his attitude and the way he may react on the field sometimes, he could help carry the Dodgers to the World Series so it's a must have.

Let me know your thoughts on this recent addition.

Review: Panini Prizm Baseball 2013

First off, I would like to say thanks to the WONDERFUL people at Panini America for providing us with this box to review. Here are many places you can find Panini America: official site, blog, Twitter, and Facebook. If you don't follow them at all..you should! They talk to you on Twitter, have contests on their blog and Facebook and the site is also fun to visit!

 Box Break Down:

• 20 Packs Per Box, 6 Cards Per Pack
• Two Autograph Cards Per Box
• Three Prizm Cards Per Box
• One Top Prospects Card Per Box
• $90-$95 a box

  

 

 

BASE CARDS: Panini's very popular Prizm returned to baseball for the 2013 with some improvements in the overall product. The base cards still have the right amount of thickness which will cut down on the bending, the design and technology is the same, the checklist of veterans, legends and rookies (1-2 per pack) returns as well. But NEW to this year is an added colored background behind the player which helps the player stand out more. I like this addition. Last years base cards seemed a little TOO much silver. Nice job by Panini on these. Now if only we can get Panini an MLB license to help with the non-logos.

You must also take note here I FINALLY landed a Yasiel Puig.

 

 

 

 

INSERTS: My biggest complaint about this product last year was it's lack of design in the insert department. This year they took my advice (least I like to think they did) and added much needed color and design to them. One of my favorite inserts in this product in terms of design is the Fearless insert. Something about the fiery flames and the baseball on the cards really standout. I like the improvements they made here.

But once again in terms of inserts for this product and maybe the product overall, it's about the Prizms. Which we also take note that Panini this year added the work "Prizm" to the backs of the parallels just below the card number. So for those who might not notice their rainbow glow will now know if they have one or not. Panini also upped the amount of Prizm's you find in a box from two to three. This box must have been a rare one pounding out 5 base Prizms and a orange die cut.

Every box should include these for inserts:

- Two USA BASEBALL
- Three Fearless
- One Rookie Challengers
- One Top Prospects
- One Band of Brothers

Other Prizms you can get are Gold Prizms (serial numbered to 10), and Black Finite Prizms (serial numbered to One). Also find ALL NEW HOBBY ONLY Orange Die Cut Prizms (serial numbered to 50). Which is what you see above and these seem to be landing one per box.

 

AUTOGRAPHS: The autographed cards in this product are just the base cards with autos on them. So design is the same. The only issue I have with the autographs is due to the large checklist of autos in the product, you might not always or at all land a top tier player in your box. But I guess that's how it works with any product. And the assumption has to be named that some of the big ones are short printed.

Though not a big namer, we did luck out and pull a Prizm auto numbered to 25 of Peter Bourjos.

There will be three levels of the autograph cards in this product, an unnumbered base version, a Prizm version numbered to 25 and a Finite version serial numbered one of one. The checklist is also new from last year.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS: N/A though I think a nice swatch or patch on this technology with or without an auto would make them BOOM!

OVERALL THOUGHTS: I like the improvements to this years product overall. The design is nice. The parallels are fun chases and the inserts are improved.  I also like how the base cards don't bend. If only Panini had that MLB license for the logo's..man this would be HUGER than it already is and could possibly take down it's competitor!

My First Yasiel Puig "Rookie" Card

With recent non success in pulling a Yasiel Puig rookie card, by far this years hottest rookie sensation, I was hoping for another way to possess at least a card of his. Buying wasn't an option. Prices for his cards are through the roof.  And they could only get hotter if he helps carry the Dodgers to a World Series victory.  Not to mention, quite frankly, though he is talented, I don't want to invest too much into a guy that could bomb next year. So I find buying a pack or two now and then to try and pull him that way is the best.

However, a few days ago my latest issue of Sports Illustrated For Kids arrived and BOOM look who's card was found inside....

Now most probably wouldn't recognize this as a rookie or probably even as a card. But if you check out prices on these they are already going for over $10 as collectors try to add this guy to their collections anyway possible. So for now, it's my only Puig "Rookie" Card.

Ever since the Tiger Woods 1996 Sports Illustrated "Rookie" Card was discovered I believe it helped put these cards on the market and possibly making them not only Rookie Cards, but legitimate cards.

Let me know your thoughts on what you would call these "cards". Do you collect them?

Topps Unveils 2014 Flagship Baseball Design

 

Here is next years Topps base card design for 2014 for their flagship baseball product. I like the fact they brought back Future Stars subset, but it to me appears they used the same base card design year in and year out. I would have liked to seen something differently personally. This is very similar to last years.

Let me know your thoughts on this design.

Rookie Card Reveal For Panini's 2013 National Set

Another day, another Panini preview of their 2013 National Sports Collectors Convention cards.This time they did a sneak peek of the numbered Rookie Cards that are included for the show that begins on July 31st with some big name talent to brag about as well in the checklist. Not to mention, some well done designs on these rookie cards as well.

  

Top QB pick in the draft. Not a bad have for any fan.

 

Bright future ahead for Nail and for the Oilers.

 

This guy has looked great so far in the Summer League. Grabbing and finding anything with his name on it for cardboard is a must. I like how Panini included some of this years top picks into the lineup.

 

This pitching beast as well!

And of course this guy....

 

Each of the base 2013 National Rookie Cards from the four sports will be numbered to 499. There will also be scarce Cracked Ice versions and Progressions cards limited to just five copies of four different colors.

Let us know your thoughts on these cards and if you're going to the 2013 National Convetion

Yasiel Puig making more cardboard appearances

I don't blame card companies for rushing into getting this guy immediately onto cardboard and Panini did just that by getting him into their 2013 Pinnacle and Prizm products. Topps has also announced they are getting him into products as well. Yasiel Puig, the 22-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder, has been on a tear so far this season. He has hit .421, 4 HR's and 10 RBI's in 4 games (last updated yesterday and doesn't have his play from last night). Collectors are racing to eBay and into their collections to try and find any piece of cardboard with his name on it. I already did...but came up empty handed. So far only Bowman Chrome minis, Bowman Chrome Bowman 100, Bowman Lucky Redemption #4 and Leaf products contain the player.

What I am going to make sure of however is that I grab some 2013 Pinnacle when it releases to try and get a rookie of this hot hitter into my collection. I may have to wait til July, but it will be worth it. The Prizm release comes out in late August and I can guarantee is this guy continues to slug like this those Prizm parallels are going to burn holes into collectors pockets.

Here is a peek at the Pinnacle Rookie Card:

   

What are your thoughts on Yasiel Puig? And did you dig through your collection to find some?