Card of the Day: Andrew McCutchen 2020 Topps Series 2 SP Photo Variation #467

(2) 2020 Onyx Vintage Baseball Hobby Box Break & Review

Onyx Vintage Baseball makes it’s return for a second year in a row.  The 2020 version packs even a bigger punch compared to the 2019 set.  Upon viewing the checklist you’ll notice the main focus is on rookies and prospects.  But current stars, retired players, and even Hall of Famers can be found.

Packaged inside each hobby box is (1) pack.  That (1) pack contains (4) cards – (2) on-card autographs and (2) base.  Very quick and to the point.

The base set consists of (32) cards – Wander Franco, Gleyber Torres, Nolan Ryan, etc…

Autographs come in a variety of parallels – Base Blue Ink #’ed/200, Green Ink #’ed/50, Red Ink #’ed/25, and Black Ink #’ed/5.  I think its important to note that these cards don’t have the actual serial numbers stamped on them.  Please be aware of the signature’s ink color before selling, trading, or buying.

Ichiro Suzuki, Randy Johnson, and Nolan Ryan are each Blue Ink Autograph Short Prints.

Ornate-looking prospect and rookie autographs offer a more difficult pull.  Blue Ink versions of these are #’ed/30.  Parallels include Green Ink #’ed/15, Red Ink #’ed/5, and Black Ink #’ed 1/1.

(24) boxes come in a case.  As an interesting case-hit, one of those boxes will contain a redemption for a graded rookie card from the past.  So far I’ve seen rookies pulled of Randy Johnson, Kirby Puckett, Tony Gwynn, and Bert Blyleven.

Only about $50 per box.

A high-end version called Onyx Premium Vintage is scheduled to release this summer.  Thicker card stock.  More on-card autographs.  New signers.

In 2019 Onyx teamed-up with Futera to bring collectors Onyx/Futera Unique Prospects & Legends.  Collaborations like this don’t happen very often in the hobby today.  2020 sees Onyx working with Super Break.  Inside Super Break’s 2020 Deluxe Edition Baseball there are special Onyx Vintage autograph parallels.  Wander Franco, Gleyber Torres, and Ronald Acuña Jr. are the autograph subjects.  Each has a version #’ed/10, #’ed/5, and a 1/1.

Here is what I pulled:

Autos

• Mason Martin Green Ink #’ed/50
• Ronny Mauricio Blue Ink #’ed/200
• Jean Casanova Blue Ink #’ed/200

Case Hit

• 1989 Upper Deck BGS Graded Randy Johnson Rookie Redemption

Base

• Ichiro Suzuki
• Ronny Mauricio
• Gavin Lux
• Alek Manoah

The 2020 Topps 582 Montgomery Club – Set #2

Members of the Topps 582 Montgomery Club have begun to receive their second set for 2020.  This 20-sticker set is modeled after the 1968 Topps Baseball Action Stickers test issue.  The original 1968 Topps Baseball Action Stickers set consists of (16) stickers.  Being a test issue they didn’t “stick” around very long.  Now they are highly sought after by vintage collectors.

The 1968 Topps Baseball Action Stickers are an odd size.  Strips measure 15.75″ x 3.25″.  Pulled apart the panels measure 3.25″ x 5.25″.  Storing them can be difficult.  Given how condition sensitive they are damage can be done very easily.

I’m happy to announce the set made for Topps 582 Montgomery Club members features stickers that are the normal card size.  No difficulty in storing these.

Here’s the checklist:

• Yordan Alvarez RC #1
• Cody Bellinger #2
• Harmon Killebrew #3
• Bo Bichette RC #4
• Bob Gibson #5
• Stephen Stasburg #6
• Ivan Rodriguez #7
• Cal Ripken Jr. #8
• Ted Williams #9
• Luis Robert RC #10
• Javier Baez #11
• Roberto Alomar #12
• Gavin Lux RC #13
• Wade Boggs #14
• Alex Bregman #15
• Tom Glavine #16
• Nico Hoerner RC #17
• Mike Piazza #18
• Mookie Betts #19
• Willie Mays #20

BIRDS OF PREY – Official Trailer #2

The Mandalorian – Official Trailer #2

Rambo: Last Blood – Trailer #2

Guess The Set – August 2, 2019

Can you Guess The Set?  This evening I’ll post the correct answer in the comment section and on Twitter.  Good luck!

Hint – @#$%! Face.

Cubs ’19 Topps Series 2 Relic Contest Winner Announced

Congrats to Stadium Fantasium on being the lucky winner of the Jason Heyward 2019 Topps Series 2 Major League Material Relic 150th Anniversary Parallel #’ed/150.  Once Stadium Fantasium sends me their mailing address, I will ship this card ASAP.  Thanks!

Cubs ’19 Topps Series 2 Relic Contest! – NOW CLOSED

This contest is for a Jason Heyward 2019 Topps Series 2 Major League Material Relic 150th Anniversary Parallel #’ed/150.  Good luck!!!

Contest Details:

• This contest will end Friday, July 5, 2019 @ 8:00 p.m. EST.
• To enter, please leave a comment in this post.
• You can enter once per day.
• The winner will be selected at random.
• Please provide a valid e-mail address when entering.
• The winner will receive an e-mail when the contest is over.
• The winner has one week to send me their contact information or the contest will be held again.
• Once the contest is over, I will need the winner’s mailing address so I can ship them this card for FREE!!!

2019 Topps Series 2 Baseball Hobby Box Break & Review

We’re at the halfway point of the 2019 MLB season.  Things started off really well for my Phillies, but recently they have sunk into second place behind the Braves.  Pitching is the Phillies’ biggest problem.  They just don’t have it.  If I had to pick their best pitcher, I’d go with Zach Eflin.  That Jake Arrieta has become so incredibly difficult to watch.  I believe he reached his pinnacle when winning the World Series with the Cubs.  Since then its been downhill.  What bothers me the most is how much praise I keep hearing about their pitching.  No sooner does the game end, Phillies lose, and all you hear about is how great the pitching was.  Sometimes I think they’re in complete pitching denial.

Ok.  That’s enough about me complaining about the Phillies’ pitching.  Being almost halfway through the MLB season means the next addition to the classic flagship set is upon us once again.  I’m talking about 2019 Topps Series 2.  In a few more months we will be welcomed with 2019 Topps Updates.

Flagship sets such as this are made for major set collectors.  Products like Series 2 come with (24) packs per box, and guarantee (1) autograph or relic per hobby box.  More affordable retail options are always available.  If you feel like spending a bit more, jumbo boxes offer more hits.

2019 Topps Series 2 picks up right where Series 1 left off.  The base set ranges from card #351 to #700.  Parallels include Purple (Meijer), 150th Anniversary, Rainbow Foil, Gold #’ed/2,019, Advanced Stats #’ed/150, Vintage Stock #’ed/99, Independence Day #’ed/76, Black #’ed/67 (Hobby/Jumbo), Mother’s Day Pink #’ed/50, Father’s Day Blue #’ed/50, Memorial Day Camo #’ed/25, Base Clear #’ed/10, Platinum #’ed 1/1, and Printing Plates #’ed 1/1.

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. made it into the set as a Short Print.

You can’t have a flagship set without photo variations.  And there are plenty of them to look for.  The CMP codes can help:

• Base – #962
• SP Variation – #031
• SSP Variation – #032

The Advanced Stat parallel also has a different CMP code which ends in #968.  The easiest way to identify these is to just look at the back as they are #’ed/150.

Unless you get extremely lucky, your hit for the most part will be a basic one-color relic.  There are plenty of big cards to find, but that shouldn’t be your main goal with this type of product.  Its vital that you check everything.  That autograph or relic may not have been a big dollar hit, but a photo variation or parallel could easily end up being the highlight.  The photos Topps picked, especially for the SSP variations, are really interesting.

The Home Run Challenge inserts continue to be my favorite.  None of the dates I’ve picked have been correct.  Anything that can keep collectors thinking about the product once its been opened is ok in my book.  Especially in a time when there are lots of products to choose from.

Gary Vaynerchuk a.k.a. Gary Vee, is featured on his own insert set, and even has some autographs.  Gary Vee is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, investor, and internet personality.  I’ve talked a bit about him before.  Earlier this year Gary Vee appeared on The Rich Eisen Show, and mentioned some of the sports cards he’s been investing in.  Trading cards is one of the areas he started in many years ago.

I think its great to see Gary Vee using his platform to talk about cards.  The general public listening though shouldn’t misinterpret what a successful, wealthy person like Gary Vee does for a hobby as a new guaranteed can’t lose source of income.  A lot of people will interpret what he says in that type of manner.  Its not meant to be received that way.  Just be smart, and enjoy the show.  His insert set highlights top entrepreneurs in baseball.

Set collectors get the most enjoyment out of Series 2.  Bring on Topps Chrome and Updates!

Complete Checklist

Here is what I pulled:

Relic

• Jason Heyward Major League Material Relic 150th Anniversary #’ed/150

SP Photo Variation

• Joe Morgan #374

Parallels

• Evolution – Radio Broadcast – Black #’ed/299
• Tyler O’Neill Independence Day #’ed/76
• Chris Owings 150th Anniversary
• Billy McKinney Rainbow Foil
• Patrick Corbin Rainbow Foil
• Ronald Torreyes Gold #’ed/2019
• Hyun-Jin Ryu Gold #’ed/2019
• Ender Inciarte Gold #’ed/2019
• David Dahl Gold #’ed/2019

Inserts

• Carlos Correa Home Run Challenge
• Byron Buxton Significant Statistics
• Trevor Story Significant Statistics
• Derek Jeter Gary Vee’s Top Entrepreneurs In Baseball
• Chris Iannetta Gary Vee’s Top Entrepreneurs In Baseball
• Johnny Bench 150 Years of Baseball
• Honus Wagner 150 Years of Baseball
• Jackie Robinson Iconic Card Reprints
• Ernie Banks Iconic Card Reprints
• Dale Murphy Iconic Card Reprints
• Javier Baez 1984 Topps Baseball Rookies & All-Stars
• Mark McGwire 1984 Topps Baseball Rookies & All-Stars
• Max Scherzer 1984 Topps Baseball Rookies & All-Stars
• Francisco Lindor 1984 Topps Baseball Rookies & All-Stars
• Chris Sale 1984 Topps Baseball Rookies & All-Stars
• Jose Altuve 1984 Topps Baseball Rookies & All-Stars