Yesterday I posted a hanger box of 2018 Topps S1. it was pretty good. Today I have a blaster. It will probably also be pretty good, seeing as the base cards are designed WAY MORE thoughtfully than they have in years, despite more disappointing inserts.
Each box comes with a commemorative patch card, celebrating Players Weekend. I pulled one of Nolan Arenado, which is nice, but it would have been better if there was semblance of the Player's Weekend uni on there, like the cool purple-and-gray combo.
Pack 1-
348- Hisashi Iwakuma. I pulled a foil parallel of this guy last box, but this is actually the only dupe in this box.
153- Scooter Gennett, he of the 4-homer game.
285- Trey Mancini. Not sure if he's at 'savior of the Orioles' status yet, but nice little player.
Superstar Sensations insert of Max Scherzer. Pretty boilerplate insert, but I dig the player. One of the best pitchers in the game right now.
245- Willie Calhoun rookie...Foil parallel. Hopefully he'll have good numbers next year.
Corey Dickerson Home Run Challenge. This is similar to You Crash the Game, only you are given the player, and you have to choose the game where he'll hit a home run. It's not a given series. Not bad, but...Dickerson's a less-sure shot for this year.
110- Carlos Gonzalez, a great shot from a not-so-great season
23- Jordy Mercer, who should not still be getting a starting gig.
208- Andrew Cashner, who had a weird season last year, having good numbers but not many strikeouts.
72- Cheslor Cuthbert
Pack 2-
165- Ty Blach
280- Jose Abreu. The photography is more zoomed-out this time, but not obnoxiously so.
327- Jason Vargas LEADERS. I doubt that whoever signs him will have an especially strong result from him.
Salute of Ryan McMahon. Topps needs to stop doing these for players who've only played 8 or 9 games. They'll GRADUATE to deserving inserts eventually.
Jeter Highlights- First Hit
Opening Day insert of Paul Goldschmidt. I don't like this insert.
61- Keon Broxton. Great card of a guy who won't be factoring into the Brewers' outfield this year.
67- Aledmys Diaz. Great shot, but he's on the Blue Jays now.
238- Jose Bautista. Will anyone sign him this year? Does anyone WANT to?
264- Carlos Rodon, who'll be trusted to be the ace in Chicago this year, which...is a gamble.
Pack 3-
201- Gregory Polanco. Now one of the few reasons to go to Bucs games. Lot of green on this card.
190- Justin Upton, as an Angel, which is a new sight on cardboard, and one that will keep being a sight for a little while.
28- Jayson Werth. Nice that they gave him his Uniform # for the card number, as this is probably the last we'll see of him on cards, unless someone signs him.
115- Zack Granite. Staten Islander. My cousin knows him.
Legends in the Making of Manny Machado.
Opening Day of Carlos Correa.
39- 2017 WS Game 5- Alex Bregman
60- Starling Marte. Nice to see him in a bucs throwback uniform.
171- John Lackey. This might be HIS last card as well, as i don't think anybody will want to sign him.
197- Maikel Franco. Great photo. Now all that remains is for him to learn to hit.
Pack 4-
332- Alex Colome, closer extraordinare.
304- Whit Merrifield and his long reach, who will be in a sparser Royals lineup.
306- Nicky Delmonico
299- Luis Santos
83T of Carlos Martinez, who isn't especially my favorite.
Freddie Freeman- Opening Day insert. I still don't like these.
88- Michael Conforto. The Mets will be hoping he can be their star player.
126- Who's On First- Rizzarper CL. Silly little combo.
152- Matt Barnes
236- CC Sabathia. The best. Glad he's coming back to the Bronx.
Pack 5-
74- Roberto Osuna, who will be one of the few supreme assets in Toronto this year, at least until July.
162- Matt Shoemaker. If he stays healthy this year, the Angels will be dangerous.
6- Dominic Smith RC. I imagine he'll either be benched for a bit, or will start and be mentored by Adrian Gonzalez.
196- Orlando Arcia. Surprisingly the Future Star thing works in this one. Graphically.
Silver Slugger of Marcell Ozuna. I already pulled this one...
Jeter Highlights- 2000 WS MVP.
257- JD Martinez on the Diamondbacks. And a great card at that. Let's see where he goes next, though..
239- Indians TC
343- Kevin Gausman
228- Zack Wheeler. Maybe he'll actually give some good numbers this year.
Pack 6-
157- ICHIRO. IN AN AWESOME POSE. ALRIGHT. Not sure if he'll sign anywhere this year, but a great one to go out on if this is it.
295- Zack Godley
217- Erick Fedde
Salute of JD Davis
Jeter Highlights- 2000 ASG MVP
Opening Day insert of Manny Machado.
121- Rich Hill, in a cool sideways shot
135- Braves TC
282- Ender Inciarte, who might be lifting a better Braves squad this year.
188- Matt Harvey. Second pack in a row where I pull a Mets starter coming off a disappointing season. Then again, for Harvey, every season since 2013 has been disappointing.
Pack 7-
202- Brett Phillips. WHO?
3- Dylan Bundy
129- Chris Sale LEADERS. He can't not make a cool card in this set.
233- Stephen Strasburg. More of the StrasBeard!
Legends in the Making of Jacob deGrom, the only Mets starter NOT coming off a disappointing season.
Opening Day of Andrew Benintendi
344- Wilmer Flores. Still playing mostly bench work for the Mets.
166- Victor Robles RC. Might be in for a great full-rookie season this year.
46- Cam Bedrosian.
132- Marcell Ozuna, in a great shot, but sadly he's now with the Cardinals.
Pack 8-
109- Starlin Castro, in a great send-off shot as a Yankee. Will probably be playing the Marlins this year.
172- Willson Contreras. Will be the starting catcher in Chicago this year...if he stays healthy.
18- Rafael Devers. Will be an unstoppable force this year in Boston.
83T Justin Turner, which looks great.
83T of Michael Fulmer...BLUE BORDER, 1 in 203 packs. Nice, but unnumbered.
Opening Day of Andrew Benintendi. A dupe insert. Great.
116- Ariel Miranda
30- Carlos Correa. A truly cool base card for a guy that's gonna be getting a ton of love this year.
338- Andrew Benintendi. Cool card. Will be suiting up for the Braves this year.
137- Michael Lorenzen
Pack 9-
308- Cameron Rupp, a great catcher, but one that might be losing playing time to Jorge Alfaro this year.
68- Billy Hamilton. Great card. Not sure what else he'll be doing in Cincinnati, but still.
284- Jose Pirela
276- Ozzie Albies, who will hopefully do better than Dansby Swanson in his first full season as a starting infielder in Atlanta.
Superstar Sensations of Yoenis Cespedes
Legends in the Making BLUE of Robinson Cano, still one of my favorites.
203- Odubel Herrera, still a Phillies star.
281- Alex Verdugo
97- Dinelson Lamet
38- Danny Salazar, who will hopefully still be a part of a league-leading rotation this year.
Pack 10-
10- Francisco Lindor. Still a fantastic player.
143- James Paxton
139- Zach Davies LEADERS. I did not know he was one.
Zack Granite Salute.
Jeter Highlights- last game
Opening Day of Kris Bryant
292- Orioles TC
321- Edwin Diaz in a cool 90s throwback.
85- Antonio Senzatela
158- Stephen Piscotty, now in Oakland.
So, that was a good enough blaster, though the new-set-goggles wore off partway through. I still like the set, but its flaws are a bit clearer. Still worth it though.
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