2019 Topps Tier One Baseball Box Break & Review

Why mess with a winning formula?  Topps Tier One has and probably always will be a quick-thrill break.  Some people enjoy ripping pack after pack, while others want to go straight to the hits.  Trust me.  This one goes right to the good stuff.

Packaged inside every box is one pack.  Inside that pack you should find three cards – (2) autographs, and (1) relic.  I’ve noticed that some breakers have been known to get lucky and pull an additional fourth hit.  Its not something that happens all of the time, but a possibility.

The major elements that draw collectors to this brand so much are the vast majority of on-card autographs and jumbo patches.  To be fair, there are some sticker signatures in here like when it comes to the Autographed Tier One Relics.  But for the most part, on-card autographs are what you’re going to pull.

Cards that you can find include Tier One Autographs, Break Out Autographs, Mystery Break Out Autographs Redemption, Clear One Autographs, Clear One Dual Autographs, Prime Performers Autographs, Tier One Talent Autographs, Dual Autographs, Triple Autographs, Cut Signatures, Autographed Tier One Relics, Dual Autographed Tier One Relic Books, Autographed Prodigious Patches, Autographed Tier One All-Star Patches, Autographed Tier One Bat Knobs, Autographed Tier One Limited Lumber, Autographed Tier One Uniform Button Relics, Signature Tools Autographs Relics, Cut Signature Relics, Tier One Relics, Tier One Legends Relics, Prodigious Patches, Tier One All-Star Patches, Tier One Bat Knobs, Tier One Limited Lumber, and Tier One Uniform Button Relics.

As a Phillies fan, I’d like to see the Chase Utley Bat Knob Relic.  Those Bat Knob and Limited Lumber bat barrel cards have always been eye catchers.  Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera has a nice big signature that stands out on these cards too.

Making your money back and/or striking it rich should never be your #1 goal when opening modern day boxes of cards.  Have fun!  If a box is too expensive, pickup some singles for your collection.

Complete Checklist

Here is what I pulled:

Autos

• Andruw Jones Tier One Talent Auto #’ed/299
• Franklin Barreto Tier One Talent Auto #’ed/299

Relic

• Alex Rodriguez Tier One Legends Relic #’ed/175

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Guess The Set – May 24, 2019

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

Hint – These cards come with holes in them.

2019 Leaf In The Game Used Sports Set To Arrive In Time For The National

Earlier this week I was excited to announce that Leaf In The Game Used Sports is making it’s return in 2019.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, the 2018 version of this product was just loaded with one low-numbered hit after another.  I never had a bad box.

Leaf has released the official sales sheet for 2019 Leaf In The Game Used Sports.  As is the case with a lot of sales sheets, some of these autographs and patches could change between now and the time it actually comes out.

The configuration looks similar to last year – (12) boxes per case, and (5) hits per box.  July 31, 2019 is the set release date.  I’m sure it will be one of the eligible products that you can use for Leaf’s wrapper redemption program during the National Sports Collector’s Convention.

Leaf In The Game Used Sports Returns For 2019

Good luck trying to find a sealed box of 2018 Leaf In The Game Used Sports.  Its almost impossible.  Released on August 1, 2018 (the first day of the National), this product was a huge hit at the show.  If you couldn’t make it to Cleveland, various dealers carried it.  But their stock didn’t last very long.  Its been months since I’ve seen a sealed box surface.

What made this product so popular?  Boxes are loaded with low-numbered hits.  Five to be exact.  At an initial cost of $160-$165 per box, collectors quickly realized they were getting quite the deal.  Most boxes were solid, and delivered value that was equal to the box price.  Lots of times the value was much more.  Not mass-produced.  Low case production.  I think Leaf configured it this way because they knew it would draw people in.  As collectors began to catch on, the price of a single box began to grow.  The last time I saw a box listed for sale it cost $269.  I was lucky to get my hands on three boxes last year.  You can see what I pulled here and here.

I’m happy to announce that Leaf plans to bring back In The Game Used Sports for 2019.  While we don’t have a release date, box/case price, configuration details, and/or print run yet, Leaf did let a few images slip out.  These pictures are of cards from their “The Chosen Few” collection.  Randomly inserted are redemptions for some heavy-duty high-end cards.  If you pull one, Leaf will allow you to pick a card from their “The Chosen Few” inventory.  Obviously the sooner one is pulled, the more selection you will have.  More details to come.

Guess The Set – May 17, 2019

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

Hint – The redemption for this player’s rookie autograph is long expired.

Guess The Set – May 10, 2019

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

Hint – No gum.  Cookie instead.

2019 Bowman Baseball Hobby Box Break & Review

Prospecting is never ending.  There will always be a group of people looking to pour thousands of dollars into players that have yet to make their major league debut.  Its very entertaining to watch.  I wish people didn’t use modern day cards as investments.  Cards made today are meant to be for fun.  I’ve seen people get way too stressed over how their “investment” hasn’t panned out.  In my personal opinion, if you pull a rare card of a minor league prospect who has convinced the world they’re the next Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, or Babe Ruth, move it as soon as possible.  Take that money and put it in the stock market.  I believe in the long run you’ll be much happier.

There are three key prospecting prospects released each year – Bowman, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Draft.  Whenever any of them come out the prospecting community gets a big surge of excitement.  2019 Bowman saw this right away.  Collectors and prospectors quickly began picking up the latest cards of Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Wander Franco, Joey Bart, and Ronny Mauricio.  As of this writing, a Wander Franco Chrome Orange Refractor Auto sold for $9,000 according to eBay.  Someone is obviously looking to take a massive risk.  That’s assuming the transaction went through.  Its nothing compared to his Superfractor Auto #’ed 1/1.  Not only has that card been pulled, but its been sold privately for $60,000 to $100,000.

A hobby box will yield (24) packs, with (10) cards per pack.  (1) autograph per box.  The main base set consists of (101) cards.  Why (101) cards you may ask?  That’s because there are two card number 3’s.  Joey Wendle is featured on card #3 the most.  But if you get lucky that card #3 you pulled also has a chance to be of Bryce Harper.  This is the first pack-inserted card to feature Bryce Harper in a Phillies uniform.  Its a Short Print, and has parallels just like the rest of the set.  In addition to the 101-card main base set, there is also a 150-card Base Paper Prospect, and 150-card Base Chrome Prospect set.

Low numbered parallels and/or autographs is the heart and soul of this brand.  I have a feeling it always will be.  30 years ago Topps revived the Bowman brand.  I distinctly remember those green wax packs labeled “The Comeback Edition”.  My favorite part of 2019 Bowman is the tribute made to that set from 1989.  Old-school Topps designs on chrome stock is a nice look.  These 30th Anniversary cards have various autographs and parallels.  Redemption cards for original Buyback Autographs from ’89 Bowman have been thrown in too.  Those Griffey, Jr. rookies I’m sure will look cool.

I will reiterate what I said earlier.  Please open prospect focused sets such as this for the FUN.  Buy singles for the FUN.  Please don’t do it for the money.  Too many people buy into the hype, and do what they see and hear others doing.  On The Rich Eisen Show recently a wealthy entrepreneur named Gary Vaynerchuk talked about sports cards making a comeback.  I think its awesome to see sports cards mentioned on a platform like that.  But when a rich guy talks to the public as if there’s going to be a big sports card boom, people may interpret that incorrectly.  All of a sudden if Gary Vaynerchuk says he’s buying rookie cards of a certain player, other people start to do the same.  You can’t think like that.  Following that model is a dead end.  Its like taking stock advice from CNBC.  By the time it reaches T.V., its way too late to get in on it.  FYI – Gary Vaynerchuk has been attempting to recruit bloggers to pump-up players and cards he’s purchased.  Lots of people answered the call, but not me.

Another prospecting season is upon us.  Time to check Baseball America on a weekly basis to see if you’ve got any cards of the players on their Hot List.  Good luck, but remember to think and have fun first.  Collect what you like and can afford.

Here is what I pulled:

Auto

• Genesis Cabrera Bowman Chrome Refractor Auto #’ed/499

Parallels

• Beau Burrows Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor #’ed/25
• Noelvi Marte Bowman Chrome Atomic Refractor
• Nolan Gorman Bowman Sky Blue #’ed/499

Inserts

• Mike Trout Bowman Sterling Continuity
• Colton Welker/Roberto Ramos/Brendan Rodgers Talent Pipeline
• Bryan Mata/Bobby Dalbec/Josh Ockimey Talent Pipeline
• Casey Mize 30th Anniversary
• Jacob deGrom 30th Anniversary
• Jose Altuve 30th Anniversary
• Kyle Wright Rookie Of The Year Favorites
• Danny Jansen Rookie Of The Year Favorites
• Chris Shaw Rookie Of The Year Favorites
• Yordan Alvarez Ready For The Show
• Brendan Rodgers Ready For The Show
• Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Ready For The Show
• Brendan McKay Ready For The Show
• Sean Murphy Bowman Scouts’ Top 100
• Leody Taveras Bowman Scouts’ Top 100
• Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Bowman Scouts’ Top 100
• Brandon Marsh Bowman Scouts’ Top 100
• Jason Groome Bowman Scouts’ Top 100
• Jackson Kowar Bowman Scouts’ Top 100