Opening a 2026 Topps Update Series Pack

2026 Topps Update Retail Jumbo Pack

So...

Update Series. 

As of right now, here is the total card count for what I've purchased:

• 400 cards from the Jumbo box
• 396 cards from the eleven jumbo packs
• 295 cards from the five blaster boxes
• 72 cards from the retail box
• 24 cards from the two Hobby packs

That's 1187 cards.

And I have not opened a single box or pack yet.

Why?

Work is the number one reason. Then there were family parties, a belated Sweetest Day/Night dinner, another night out with my daughter and her husband. So...yeah...

But on Monday I had the day off, and as much as I wanted to just tear everything apart, I needed to update my Certified Pharmacy Technician License (due at the end of October...thanks Covid). To do this, I needed to take 10 classes, 20 credits. No problem. PowerPak has the classes, and it's a 30 minute read (if the jargon was a bit more challenging, 45 minutes) before taking a test to earn the credits. And you can even review the questions before taking the test. So I had done that...

Then the dentist appointment...

Then it was a conference call with the coordinators for the Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society (one of the things that we became during the blog hiatus)...

And now it's Wednesday.

So why not open one now?

Here is the deep dive.

The first card in this pack (and my first card of Update Series) is of...

Sam Antonacci of the Chicago White Sox!!!

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2026 Topps Update #US301.
• Player Name, position, team: Sam Antonacci, outfielder, Chicago White Sox.
• Major League Debut: April 15, 2026.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2025 stats (Minor League Statistics for ACL White Sox, Winston Salem, and Birmingham): 116 G, 406 AB, 78 R, 118 H, 21 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 57 RBI, 48 SB, 69 BB, .409 SLG .842 OPS .291 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the White Sox in the #5th round, July, 2024 Bats: left. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 1. This is his first Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Having grown up three hours south of Rate Field in the Illinois capital of Springfield, Sam had extra excitement when he made his White Sox debut at home on April 15, 2026. Family and friends who made the drive got rewarded in the second inning, when Antonacci singled in his maiden at bat. He'd earned his call with a .445 OBP over three MiLB seasons."
• Commentary: And what a year Antonacci had for the Pale Hose. A .277 average with 8 home runs, 48 rbi's, 20 stolen bases, and a slash line of .370/.396/.766 (that's OBP/SLG/OPS). He was the team's primary left fielder this past season, and is part of a young core of players that should put the White Sox back to relevance after 3 previous seasons of 100-losses.
• Beckett value: n/a.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 2 cards.

The breakdown of the pack included:

• 31 base cards, including two more White Sox players, 1 Cub, 1 Cub combo card, a Payton Tolle Rookie Debut card and two other rookie debut cards
• 1 Topps Gold card (Peter Lambert #0524/2026)
• 1 Topps All-Star Game card (CJ Abrams of the Nationals)
• 1 Topps 1991 card (Mike Trout)
• 2 Stars of MLB cards (Ben Rice and Travis Bazzana)

It's an average pack of cards. No earth shattering "Hobby Rookie" darlings (at least not the Konnor Griffin or Kazuma Okamoto variety) but a good start for anyone who builds sets. The four insert cards reduces my wantlist, and...

What's this??!

Someone at the TCDB is sending me a trade request??! Okay, so it's for Stars of MLB. And I'll probably wind up getting these cards anyway in the packs.

But it's a five-for-five. I'm going to go for it. It's been a hot moment since I was at the post office anyway.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Oh Wait...Allen & Ginter's Is Out Also??!

A blaster box and retail pack of 2026 Topps Allen & Ginter's

In between the hype of Update Series (and a Rays/Brewers World Series), I forgot (somehow) that 2026 Allen & Ginter's went live earlier this month.

Yes, I saw the Topps Ripped post. Yes I know that release day was October 7. But my distraction of and getting my All-Star Teams posted on the blog and it slipped my mind.

But not for long.

If there is another set that I enjoy collecting (hoarding) from Topps, it's Allen & Ginter's. I know Topps calls it "Allen & Ginter" but that's only half the name. It's really Allen & Ginter's World Champions, or N43 in Jefferson Burdick's classification. I have every set that has come out since 2006, so that's 20-year's worth of sets, basic insert sets, mini sets (when I can find them...not a priority, but always nice to have), and anything related to the Philippines (there is one mini card this year from the 50 Ways to Say Hello set...I may try for the whole set, but definitely want the Kumusta card below).

2026 Topps Allen & Ginter's 50 Ways to Say Hello "Kumusta" #WTSH-25

2026 Topps Allen & Ginter's 50 Ways to Say Hello "Kumusta" #WTSH-25

But as most of you know, patience, when it comes to the Hobby, is NOT one of my virtues. As much as I would love to devote time and money to build this set from scratch, base and insert cards...let's just say that I'd prefer to get this set in one fell swoop. So off to the Bay I went, and found a master set for $150. So while the cards are coming in the mail (unless they already...oh...they arrived), I went to the local big box store and, bought the last pack and one retail box of this year's edition, just to see what these cards look like up close. 

I'll get to the results in a moment, but first, let me tell you some of my gripes about this year's edition.

First, the base set, which has been a standard 350 cards (300 base, and 50 SP - found 1 in every 2 packs) since 2006 has now been reduced to 300 base cards with no SP's. There are card #'s 301 through 350, but they are just minis now. 

In 2025, there were no non-baseball insert sets, just two baseball-themed ones (Sweet Victories, and Wicked Curves). This seems to be the case again this year, with three baseball-themed insert sets: N43, Career 250, and Wicked Power, which I guess is the hitter's version of last year's Wicked Curves. Again, I like the 50 Ways to Say Hello mini set, and the Musical Methods mini set does fit the bill for a unique set that should be included in this product, but that's all regarding non-baseball sets. It kind of defeats the purpose of what the set is (at least to me) that there aren't more. 

But I get it. 

For many years, collectors complained about how there were "too many" non-baseball subjects in this set. What was the point again of Allen & Ginter's? Cards used as backing for soft cigarette packs featuring subjects that would have been a staple of 1800's ephemera (birds, flags, animals, athletes, and historical figures). Others who understood the concept would blast those who didn't by saying this is not a regular baseball card product. Yet here I am complaining that there are too few. 

So here I am, sitting at my desk, and I've decided to open the one pack of A&G that I've bought. What's in it?

 

• #47 Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox
• #196 Ben Rice, Yankees
• #129 Mark McGwire, Athletics
• #39 Bob Nightengale, Sports Journalist
• #273 Bryan Buxton, Twins
• #201 Pete Alonso, Orioles
• #228 Ryan Ritter, Rockies
• #169 Manny Machado, Padres
• #23 Hunter Barco, Pirates
• #194 Jerry Seinfeld, Comedian, Actor, Writer (that's what it says on the back)

• #182 Logan Gilbert, Mariners Mini
• #RDV-15 Carson Williams, Rays Rookie Debut Variant Mini (in the style of 2006 Topps A&G)
• #CR-7 Ty Cobb, Tigers Career 250 Insert
• #N43-7 Julio Rodriguez, Mariners N43

Thoughts on the design: It has a very dark look to it. Not ominous, but a lot of browns and uneven shadows. The pictures appear to be on top of a stack of old craft papers, and this reminds me of a diary project from 8th grade (Johnny Tremain) where we had to write entries in paper that was "aged" (realistically, they were paper bag material cut out and burned along the edges...carefully...to appear old, faded, possibly found in a fire...I don't really remember the details). The ribbons on the corners add a bit of depth to the stack. 

The inserts look great, and I think, eventually, that the full set will look great in a 2-inch binder.

Now I just have to open the retail box. 

Maybe...

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

A Series 2 Super Box on the Third of July Finishes the Retail Breaks

 

2026 Topps Series 2 Super Box

I finally opened the Super Box yesterday. It consists of 10 fourteen-card packs of Series 2 Topps, along with a bonus 5-card pack of foilboard parallel cards (see below), an exclusive jumbo card, the header (which I will be using for the 6-inch binder) and a Funko mini (and if you remember my post about the series 1 box), you will know how I feel about this.

Anyway...not counting the 140 base and basic inserts (nothing to write home about, so I'll save you the agony)...here are the bonus items:

Mini Funko Robert Acuña Jr.

The mini Funko was of Robert Acuña, Jr. He's going to be a great addition to the Mike Trout Funko from S1. 

2026 Topps Oversize Kyle Schwarber #650

The oversized card is of Kyle Schwarber, but there was no "companion card." So either it was missing or they decided that adding a regular-sized card that could easily be damaged when the packages shift was a bad idea to include.

The Bonus Pack of Foilboard cards

So what was in the pack of foilboards?

• #660 Edouard Julien, second baseman, Colorado Rockies
• #662 Jeff McNeil, second baseman, Athletics
• #364 Luis Garcia, Jr., second baseman, Washington Nationals
• #428 Kris Bryant, outfielder, Colorado Rockies
• #375 Denzel Clark, outfielder, Athletics

Will always have a soft spot for Kris Bryant, but it's weird seeing him listed as an outfielder instead of a third baseman. He's really never been the same since he was traded off in 2021. Can't believe it's been five years, and it's a shame that injuries derailed such a promising career. 

But now that all of the retail packs and boxes have been opened (except for one of the first two jumbo packs...did buy another one later), let's see how well I did with the cards. The breakdown consisted of the cards in the packages included below:

• 392 cards from the two mega boxes
• 145 cards from the Super box
• 118 cards from the two blasters
• 72 cards from the retail box
• 72 cards from the two jumbo packs
• 70 cards from the five retail packs

That's 869 total cards, base set and basic inserts. There were 739 base cards and 130 insert cards. None were relics or autos. Of the 739 base cards, I have 307 of the 350 cards needed to complete Series 2. So I am, as of this moment (because I haven't opened the Jumbo box...will do that today when I'm with family for the 4th of July), 43 cards short of a full set. 

The best card that I got from the 869 retail cards is this Babe Ruth card, #'d 41/99:

2026 Topps 1991 S2 Babe Ruth Green Parallel #91B2-50 

(Interrupted writing this post so I can post images of the Ruth and Schwarber cards to the TCDB).

I'll be bringing the jumbo box to my sister's house today and will be opening packs after we eat. I'll post pictures of the cards within and we'll see if I will get all 43 missing cards to complete the S2 set or if I will need to post wantlists for base cards.

Now...

It's a very special day here in the US. It's the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. That one document changed the course of history and established the colonies as independent from the Kingdom of England. 

So Happy Birthday America!!! Enjoy your special day!!!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

A Series 2 Box Break Before Fireworks.

Yesterday brought another Target run, and this time, although all the Super Boxes were gone, the store had two of these 2026 Topps Series 2 Mega Boxes. These contain 14 packs with 14 cards in each pack. Also bought 1 Jumbo pack and two retail packs (had to follow store policy), otherwise, I would have cleaned them out. There were 4 regular retail packs left by the time I went to checkout.

Tonight, my wife, son and I are hanging out at Oakton College, waiting for the sun to set and watch fireworks. With a bag of Popeyes Chicken nearby, and one of the Mega Boxes in hand, why not do a box break and see if these are worth the money.

Update: 8:14 pm

Popeyes good as always. Now it's time to open packs. The sun won't set for another 20 minutes or so. Better open some packs now.

Pack 1 included 11 base, a White Sox parallel, the Ichiro All-Star card, and a Freddie Freeman Titans card. Off to a rousing start.

Pack 2 had 13 base and a Bryce Eldridge Stars of MLB card.

Pack 3 drew 12 base cards, an Ichiro Crooked Numbers card, and a Tarik Skubal Titans card.

Pack 4, now we're talking. A Ryne Sandberg Glove Works card...that's it. That's the pack. Anything else need to be said???

Pack 5 brings us back to the base cards, plus a Pedro Martinez 1991 All-Star Crackle parallel. 

Pack 6 has a current Cub at the pole position and a former Cub bringing up the rear.

One more pack before it gets too dark to continue pictures.

Pack 7 has a 1991 Crackle Spencer Steer, the Cade Horton ASRT card...and 11 more base cards.

Phone battery is now at 15%. It is getting cooler out, and darker out. So I will stop here. I will let you know what else was in the box. If something exciting shows up, you will be notified. 

Time for fireworks. 

Sincerely, 

JayBee Anama

Beating the Odds with Vladimir Guerrero

Last night I opened the remaining four regular Hobby packs purchased at Au Sports. If you recall (or if you even read my previous post...don't know what the heck is happening but my posts aren't showing up in feeds), these were the last five packs in the last Hobby box the shop had available. Under normal circumstances, this would mean that the chances of getting a card beyond the regular base and basic inserts are slim to none at best. 

As we all (should) know by now, each regular Hobby box contains just one...ONE...autograph or relic card. This has been the case in recent years, as I think the only major change was the reduction of the number of these cards in the Jumbo box, and not the regular one. And because it was Father's Day, and I was pretty sure I wouldn't be coming back towards the store for quite some time, I decided to buy the last five packs, just to help build up the base set.

I posted the first pack results yesterday. Packs 2 and 3 were okay, got a Glove Works insert card, even pulled card #500 (Shohei). But it was pack 4 that made the purchase totally worth it. Because it led me to this below:

2026 Topps Major League Materials Vladimir Guerrero Auto/Relic Gold Parallel #MLM2-VG

Not only is this an autograph card. 

Not only is this a relic card.

But it's a GOLD parallel autograph and relic card. There are only 50 cards like this in existence, and one of them is in my hands right now (brought it to work as a good luck charm...yes I threw it in a thick-card penny sleeve and toploader). I have card #32/50.

I normally don't get lucky with these kinds of "hits." I went on the Bay earlier this morning to see if anyone has already put the card up. And yes, of course, someone did. It's up as a BIN for $77.99 plus $6.50 for shipping. 

I am guaranteed (supposedly) two auto or relic cards in the Jumbo box. I'll post later the results. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the win and say that the 600-card chase is off to a good start.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

And So It Begins. My First Dive Into 2026 Topps Series 2

The full Father's Day Haul of 2026 Topps Series 2

I had a very good Father's Day yesterday. Not entirely because of the above. Between a very nice Father's Day breakfast and a fantastic home-cooked steak dinner, I went to Target to see if there was any 2026 Topps Series 2 items left. Yes, there barely was. Two blaster boxes, two jumbo packs, and two retail packs. I'll get to the Jumbo packs in a moment.

Then it was off to Au Sports to get a Jumbo box of 2026 Topps Series 2...along with some other things they had (the retail box) and five packs of regular Hobby. It was the store's last 5 packs, with more coming next week. A second trip to Target yielded the Super Box and one last retail pack. 

The total card count:

• 400 cards from the Jumbo box
• 145 cards from the Super box (with one mini Funko)
• 118 cards from the two blasters
• 72 cards from the retail box
• 72 cards from the two jumbo packs
• 60 cards from the five Hobby packs
• 42 cards from the three retail packs

That's 909 total cards. If I can't even manage the 350 card base set from this, I will probably scream.

I'll post what I get from each of these packages soon. Today, I took one Hobby pack with me to open during my lunch break at the office. Let's see...should I go for the Jif Ramen again or Nashville Hot Chicken at the cafe...decisions, decisions, decisions...

Wasn't kidding about the Jif Ramen...

Anyway...

Okay, so this is not the actual pack...camera is not the greatest...we've already established this...

So what's in this pack? 

The first card in this pack (and my first card of Series 2) is of...

Brooks Baldwin of the Chicago White Sox!!!

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2026 Topps #619.
• Player Name, position, team: Brooks Baldwin, second baseman, Chicago White Sox.
• Major League Debut: July 19, 2024.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2025 stats (White Sox): 103 G, 300 AB, 32 R, 72 H, 15 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 5 SB, 21 BB, .407 SLG .697 OPS .240 AVG, -0.6 WAR.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the White Sox in the #12th round, July, 2022 Bats: both. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 2. This is his second Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Brooks played every non-battery position except first base for the 2025 White Sox, with most of his action coming in the outfield. He finished the year strong, registering an .824 OPS over his last 32 games."
• Commentary: So if Brooks played more games in the outfield (79 between the three positions), why is he listed on this card as the second baseman??! He hasn't played a game this season, being placed on the DL and is out for the entire 2026 campaign due to a UCL tear in his right elbow.
• Beckett value: n/a.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 2 cards.

The rest of the pack included:

• #594 Lucas Gil, pitcher, New York Yankees
• #635 Edgar Quero, catcher, Chicago White Sox Future Stars
• #555 Cade Povich, pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
• #533 Jasson Domínguez, outfielder, New York Yankees
• #374 Kevin Alcántara, outfielder, Chicago Cubs Future Stars
• #370 Brayan Rocchio, shortstop, Cleveland Guardians
• #660 Edouard Julien, second baseman, Colorado Rockies
• #473 Bo Bichette, third baseman, New York Mets
• #528 Jared Triolo, third baseman, Pittsburgh Pirates Foil Parallel
• #483 Logan O'Hoppe, catcher, Los Angeles Angels
• #366 Isaac Paredes, third baseman, Houston Astros

Eleven base cards off the wantlist. At least there was one Cub card in it. Disappointed that the "insert" was a parallel card, but this was one of five packs at the bottom of the box, so I can't be totally disappointed.

Now, as promised earlier, the story about the last two jumbo packs from my first Target run.

As I mentioned at the beginning, these were among the last packs at the first Target I went to on Sunday. If you've been to Target and have been buying cards, you know that there is now a two per item limit for everything. So you can only buy two jumbo packs, two regular packs, etc. These were the last two Jumbo packs. As I was in the car, I noticed that you can actually see the card on the front of the pack. With all the white, it's hard to miss. What wasn't hard to miss is that both packs have the same card on the front. And that player is...

Everybody sing...to the tune of the chorus of the Battle Hymn of the Republic...

2026 Topps Munetaka Murakami #503

His truth is marching...on...

So I posted on what once was Twitter and also on Threads:

Finally found some 2026 @topps Series 2 @target. Bought 2 of each (got the last two blasters, jumbo, and small packs as well). Both Jumbo packs have Munetaka Murakami on the front of the pack (how did people miss this?!) Question for the group: open 1 & hold 1 or open both??!

Leave your suggestions below. 

Next time I am able, I'll have an Adventure in Trading post (yes, the trading is coming back). I'll let you know what's leaving and what's coming in.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama 

A Super Box Break. Ummm...

With a complete 2026 Topps Series 1 set already in hand, plus only needing 56 cards to complete the "master set" (until Celebration arrives...that's another post for another day), I'm not really expecting to add much to the collection from the Super Box I bought last week. But since it's still sitting here and I would LOVE to use the oversized header card as part of the binder (which I haven't ordered yet, but will soon...) I decided to open this and hope for the best.

But first things first...

The very tiny Funko Pop! included here is what replaces the ceramic pin that came with every Super Box since 2023. It's a nice change of pace, and there are five subjects. Who do I get as mine?

Yeah, the picture is fuzzy (I swear I'm buying a new phone), but it's Mike Trout. Funny. The Funko item itself is way way smaller than I thought it would be. I mean, where it's placed in the box (lower right corner), I would have thought it'd be BIGGER. But beggars can't be choosers. I don't plan on getting all five of these, and my daughter, who was the big collector of Funkos before she got married, might not really want this.

Moving on.

Now let's see what's in this bonus pack, exclusive to the Super Box:

In case the picture isn't any clearer, the five cards that were in this pack are:

• #92 Jackson Holliday, second baseman, Baltimore Orioles
• #186 Quinn Priester, pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers
• #39 Matt Olson, first baseman, Atlanta Braves
• #94 Yu Darvish, pitcher, San Diego Padres
• #112 Carson Seymour, pitcher, San Francisco Giants

Now, let's see who's behind the curtain...

 

It's Mike Trout...

AGAIN!!!

With a Francisco Lindo companion card. Was PCA part of the checklist for these jumbo cards? Just looked...he is. Not that I need it, but both my 2024 and 2025 binders have a Cubs player as the Jumbo card (Shota for 2024, Cade Horton for 2025). I just might have to try and find one for 2026. Maybe at the Chicagoland Sports Spectacular, which I will be able to go to on Friday and/or Saturday (I was able to get someone to cover for me).

The ten packs yielded the proper amount of base cards, which I do plan on sorting. Will I get a second set? Who knows. I did not hit any of the short-prints, autos, relics...anything significant really. But not only did I manage to get some cards for trade bait, but I was also able to pull three insert cards that I needed to check off the wantlist:

• #TP-18 Aaron Judge Topps Profiles
• #GH-18 Bobby Witt Jr. 2025 Topps Greatest Hits
• #BTP-6 Corbin Carroll Big Ticket Players

I think I'll stop with the trade requests until after the show. While I'm hoping my usual haunts at the CSS will have a good chunk of insert cards I need, I am keeping my expectations low. 

The chase goes on.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

First 2026 Topps Purchase

Okay, I need a new camera...

Went to the closest big box store on my way to work. Normally after the first day or two after the release of a product, it's pretty much hit or miss as to if the store has product on the shelf. Then you add all the scalpers, resellers, and other synonyms that I won't be using (family blog after all), who grab as much as they can, I wasn't getting my hopes up.

But then...the doors opened, and there was no mad line (do you miss those COVID days???). No riots in the store. And as I was walking in, seeing red-colored packs, I thought to myself, "they still have a lot of 2025 Update Series." As I got closer, I realized I was wrong. 

They had plenty of blaster boxes, one hanger box left (which as you can see, I took), and two pegs worth of 36-cards retail packs. I took the plunge and grabbed what you see above.

Thanks to recent events (you know, fights, scalpers, etc), Target has now managed to limit what you can buy when you go to pay at the self-checkouts (and I'm sure this is being enforced at the registers). I could only buy up to two of the same item. That means while I was able to ring up the two blasters, and the one hanger, after scanning the third pack, the register flashed, saying that I could only buy up to two of the same item. It's about time they did this. Who is going to want to stand in front of the same self-checkout (with the camera aimed right at you) trying to buy pack after pack after pack? So I made my first purchase, bought two more with a second transaction, and left. I am not greedy, I will be more than happy to leave cards for others to buy.

I still am planning on going to the card shop later this afternoon (no pharmacy tonight) to buy a box. Note to self: remember to call the shop to get prices.

So here I am, waiting for my lunch break to open at least one or two packs of 2026 Topps? I'll update with a picture of my first card of 2026 shortly. I can't wait.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Two Weeks Later...

The official Opening Day of Baseball Card Season was Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

I would have been out there with the rest of the collecting world. Celebrating. Opening packs. Watching videos of box breaks. Reading Twitter feeds (you can follow me @bdj610) to see the first cards they opened from a pack. Catching the Bay to see what master sets were initially going for.

But I live in the Chicago area. And...the temperatures here reached -27 below Fahrenheit at one point. I wasn't going to go out. Heck, if the Chicago Public Schools decided to close for the day, you know it's trouble. In fact, it was so cold, and I'm sure you saw video of this, but they set the train tracks on fire.

Courtesy of WGN-TV. 

The reason behind this is, according to news.com.au, "Snow and ice can clog the points used to keep the train rolling, so the gas-fuelled flames — which technically run alongside the tracks — keep the switch points warm so they don’t get clogged. It’s actually not uncommon for Metra to resort to the practice when the mercury drops below zero."

Okay, back to the point.

On Friday, February 2, after making the trek to work and logging in some hours at the office, I made my way to a card shop, Target, and Walmart (in that order) and bought a few packs from each location (okay, the Walmart didn't have them yet, but I had to check). So now, I was in the game. After dinner, I opened my first pack.

And what a way to begin 2019!!! My first card of 2019 is CARD #1 of the eponymous set, Ronald Acuña, Jr!!!

The 2018 National League Rookie of the Year, and winner of the Card #1 vote, is my first card for 2019. What else showed up in this 14-card pack?

• #9 Ben Zobrist, 2B/OF, Cubs
• #111 Reynaldo Lopez, P, White Sox
• #237 Seth Lugo, P, Mets
• #263 Always Sonny, Checklist 109-144
• #317 Kevin Gausman, P, Braves
• #65 Derek Dietrich Gold, OF/1B, Marlins
• #294 Dynamic Duo, Checklist #73-108
• #158 Byron Buxton, OF, Twins
• #44 Jay Bruce, OF, Mets
• #45 Nick Pivetta, P, Phillies
• #207 Richard Bleier, P, Orioles
• #234 Austin Hedges, C, Padres
• #153, Hunter Strickland, P, Giants

Initial thoughts on this pack:

My second Cubs card is World Series hero Ben Zobrist. This makes this pack a winner. Third is a pitcher from that other team from Chicago, so that works out very well.

I am so happy that Topps listened to their customers as the card backs (very nice by the way) include COMPLETE YEAR STATISTICS!!! After two years of partial stats (nothing wrong with that...it's not as if it was a precedent and all...but still), we get complete MLB (and MiLB if it applies) statistics again. And for those who still wanted them, the Twitter and Instagram accounts for players who have them (Jay Bruce apparently has neither, so he gets a #TOPPSBASEBALL on his social media profile line).

Within the last two weeks, I have purchased five regular, two jumbo packs, & one hanger box, from Target, three regular packs from WalMart, and twelve Hobby packs. I have a lot of good insert cards (which I am willing to trade), a couple of Home Run Challenge cards, and one SP (Mookie Betts).

I also decided to take a different approach when it comes to acquiring a master set this year.

There are 12 insert sets with cards scattered in packs of 2019 Topps Series 1. Adding the 350 base set, there are 940 cards that comprise what I will consider a full master set.

On eBay, prices for auctions of master sets consisting of just the base plus seven Hobby insert sets (1984 Topps 35th Anniversary, Greatness Returns, Evolution, Revolution, Topps Now Top 10, Iconic Reprints, 150 Years) ranged from $499.99 to $1099.99 Buy It Now. The scary thing is that people were actually paying those prices. I get that regular Hobby and Jumbo boxes have less packs even if the number of cards per pack are up (you still get less cards overall). I get that the odds for insert cards are ridiculous. I also get that case breakers are having a hard time making full master sets. But this is overkill.

Now, if you have the money and bought a 770 card set for over $1000, more power to you. Cheers. 

But you're still missing five retail-exclusive master sets!!!

There was one auction that I saw that had 10 insert sets included (the seven Hobby sets plus the 2 Spring Training sets and the 100-card Superstars) for $1499, and SOMEBODY BOUGHT THAT!!! 

That's well and good, but that auction doesn't have the Ronald Acuña and Gleyber Torres Highlight sets. Yes, the Walmart (Acuña) and Target (Torres) exclusives. 

Of course, I'm going after all 12 sets, and as of this writing, I now have the 350-card set, plus the following complete insert sets:

• 1984 35th Anniversary set
• Greatness Returns
• Evolution
• Revolution
• Topps Now Top 10
• Gleyber Torres Highlights
• Cactus League Legends
• Grapefruit League Greats

Plus I am waiting on these two sets:

• Superstars of Baseball
• Ronald Acuña Highlights

With shipping, I have spent a grand total of $622.11. I am pretty sure if I wait it out a bit, I can acquire all 12 for under $900. The 150-card 150 Years of Professional Baseball set has been going anywhere from $350-500 BIN (with auctions currently at over $150.00) and the 50-card Iconic Reprints set goes for $125-$220. I might have to wait a bit for demand to die down because many collectors will be focusing their energies and money on Heritage. 

The prices on the Iconic Reprint set and for individual cards are, honestly, ridiculous. I mean, a number of these cards have been reprinted to death, and the last time Topps highlighted reprint cards of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, et.al, was in 2011. Regardless, I think I will play the patience route. Maybe wait until the Spring Collectibles show at the convention center down the street to build the sets.

In the meantime, there are two sets that are on my collecting radar. The 2019 Gypsy Queen, and, as tentative checklists were posted this past week, the 32 Topps Team Sets. 

This is already getting to be a very interesting, if not expensive, year Hobby-wise.

But I am always up for the challenge.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama