We're about to round the halfway point of this box, and so far it's been pretty nice, with good, satisfying pulls of updated base cards of traded players, which is the whole point of the set. Yes, it still suffers from being a modern Topps set, but that's a minor quibble.
Onto another 9 packs, immediately starting with a rant:
Pack 19-
So...aside from the cool Ramirez ASG base, this pack brings me one of the most disappointing hits I've encountered in a while.
Solely because this...is not a hit.
I know, you can do what Topps did and go with the Webster's definition of a hit, which is an unexpected relic of added value that is inserted more rarely than base or inserts, but...let's examine this. This is a manupatch, a shiny, plastic manupatch, of Eric Hosmer from the 2015 postseason. It was created specifically for this product, meaning they didn't get an actual 2015 WS patch or anything. And...it's the kind of manupatch that has been featured in blasters of S1 and S2 as box toppers. They're not worth anything, because they're not game-used, and they're barely a relic. They're simply a needless add-on, put in to dupe inexperienced collectors into thinking they've earned something.
This does not belong in hobby packs of Update. Topps can pride itself all it wants on giving collectors one hit in every hobby box, but this isn't a hit. This is a blaster insert that Topps clearly produced too many copies of, and inserted into Update as a way of A.) saving money on producing actual hits, and B.) saving time and energy of going further to third-party autograph or game used jersey sellers.
In short: Topps is too lazy to actually give me a hit, so I got this piece of shit. Rant over.
Pack 20-
2018 Playoffs: 2/10
NL East: 4/10
Some notable cards here: a needed card of Danny Farqhuar, who was given hero status after surviving a medical issue, plus great photography for Tyler O'Neill and Craig Kimbrel.
Plus, more great photography with a nice ASG lunge from Jose Abreu, and Jay Bruce happy to be back in Queens.
Mark Reynolds and Tommy Pham both had great seasons post-trade. Freddie Freeman had one of his best seasons to date. And Tim Raines' Legends card is a pretty nice one, especially considering that liking Raines is now back in style.
To make up for my lack of a hit, I did get this cool Jean Segura Hot Pink parallel, which is numbered to 50. So a /50 card of a guy who's one of the best raw hitters in the game. Not too bad.
Pack 21-
2018 Playoffs: 7/10
2018 World Series: 1/10
Cards of Moments That Made me Smile This Year: 1/10
Josh Hader looks ferocious on his card, and David Bote has his second awesome card of the year. This gold card, #'d to 2018, is of Jaime Garcia, who was traded to Chicago after press.
Jeremy Hellickson and Junior Guerra had great late pushes for their teams, Sean Manaea's card commemorates his no-hit over Boston (THANK YOU SEAN), Javier Baez' ASG card is cool, and the Don't Blink card is of a guy I always love pulling cards of, Jackie Robinson.
Pack 22-
2018 Playoffs: 4/10
Phillies: 2/10
Kingery's RD is, while slightly misplaced, welcome. Marco Gonzales looks great on his breakout card, and ASG cards for Brad Hand and Lorenzo Cain are nicely done.
This is my third Miles Mikolas card of the box. This must be my revenge for getting through a Stadium Club blaster with no Cardinals earlier this year.
Jeurys Familia and Nate Eovaldi look ferocious in their new uniforms, as does Aaron Nola, though I hope he never wears a uniform that isn't a Phillies one.
Pack 23-
2018 Playoffs: 5/10
2018 World Series: 1/10
2017 World Series: 2/10
2006 World Series: 2/10
Some truly great landscapes here, with Justin Verlander's standing out, though the swing on Aguilar's is pretty fantastic. And this gold, #'d to 2017, is a pretty nice rookie card for Austin Meadows, whose Pittsburgh numbers spell a fine 2019 for the guy in Tampa.
Assorted bit-players of 2018, plus a highlight checklist of Pujols' 3000th hit, and a really nice diving shot of Marcell Ozuna in St. Louis.
Pack 24-
Highlight Cards of AL West Pitchers: 2/10
2018 Playoffs: 6/10
Lucchesi and Hicks had alright rookie years, Paxton's no-no was a classic, and that Rajai Davis card is pretty fantastic. Lots of subdued emotion there.
Brad Boxberger has some nice detail here in his comeback year, Acuna's rookie is a nice one, and that Verlander 2,5000 card is pretty cool.
Those two ASG cards definitely standout. Schwarber's is a cool HRD one, where he excelled (as expected). And the shiny one is a Jose Altuve ASG base card.
Pack 25-
2018 Playoffs: 6/10
People famous for getting hit in the head with a ball: 1/10
[OSUNA JOKE REDACTED]
Osuna did manage to have a good second half, while McCarthy ended his career with a consistent, but still injury-prone, year.
Kingham's RD card is a great use of 70s Pirates throwbacks. Torres' RD is a great use of awesome Topps photographers. And Kluber's is just awesome, because he's Corey Kluber.
These two ASG cards are kinda standard, but Blackmon's beard does make it a bit more interesting.
And this is proof that Torii Hunter has ascended into Legends status for Topps, which is nice, I guess.
Pack 26-
2018 Playoffs: 4/10
Insane Rays Rookies: 2/10
Rare Injuries: 2/10
Rookies of Franmil Reyes, Austin Meadows and Willy Adames, and a standard ASG shot of Max Scherzer.
Ryu and Martin missed substantial parts of the 2018 season due to big-time injuries. Shiny Archie Bradley's sitting in the middle.
Gerrit Cole's ASG card is awesome, but Giancarlo Stanton's first base card as a Yankee is more awesome. And I appreciate that Topps threw Will Clark (AS A CARDINAL!) into their Storybook Endings set.
Pack 27-
Awesome Catchers: 2/10
2013 World Series: 2/10
Two sharp 2018 rookies, and a TRULY awesome photo of Bryce Harper. Considering that Topps doesn't know how many Bryce Harper Nats cards are left to make, they sure are making this one count.
Tommy Kanhle had a down year in the Bronx, but Clay Buchholz had a comeback year in Phoenix. So...net loss.
Two legendary catchers get ASG cards.
The Hoffman 83, already pretty nice, is a blue parallel. It's not numbered, but it looks cool. And that Christian Yelich is a nice ASG shot to end on.
Rant notwithstanding, this box has been pretty nice. If I boiled every box down to its hits, I'd be a lot matter, but I got this card mostly for base updates, so I'm alright with it.
Tomorrow (or, like, soon) the last part will go up.
