2019 Topps Update Series (3) Hobby Jumbo Box Break!

Why can't we just call it Series 3?

Someone on the Twitter mentioned that sorting a bunch of Topps Update Series (3) became tedious on the eyes, given the "US" prefix to the card numbers on the back. In the comments thread that followed, I made the above comment. It's something that's bothered me for the near 20 years that Topps has adopted this method of marketing their flagship product. Two series (of 350 cards) for the main set, and another 300 cards coming out at the end of the season.

Series 3? 

No, this is the Update Series.

Despite looking exactly like the previously released Series 1 and Series 2.

After all, 50 years ago, Topps sets typically included up to five series in order to fully cover the sport. And those cards just kept the consecutive numbering going...

Replies to my Twitter question generally brought back the same response. By calling the last 300 cards "Update" instead of "Series 3", Topps doesn't have to include them in their retail factory "Complete Sets". The ones sold at the Targets and the Walmarts for $50 a piece. Labelled as complete, but only including Series 1 and 2 base cards. Complete for those two only... It's a valid argument, and one I agree with. Despite not believing in it.

Besides, adding another 300 cards means these sets couldn't come out until October instead of July. 

Topps would charge a lot more...

And they'd need a bigger box...

2019 Topps Update Series (3) was released in mid-October. Just as I'd done with Series 1 (in February) and Series 2 (in June), I picked up a Hobby box of Jumbo packs from the LCS. Typically you'd get a complete set from a Jumbo box, multiples of many, the three advertised hits, and a butt load of lesser insert cards. Some good, some pointless.

When Series 3 came out, I still hadn't gotten around to sorting the boxes of 1 and 2, so I didn't know for certain that I had a complete set to that point. I've since sorted all three Jumbo boxes and indeed, I have a full set of 2019 Topps. Series 1, 2 and 3.

So, that's good...

But that's getting ahead of what I'm doing here. After buying the previous Hobby Jumbo boxes, I posted the "box break" up here. Just my personal highlights from the 10 packs that came inside each Jumbo box.

You can read the Series 1 break here.

Or the Series 2 break here.

And now, you can read the Update Series (3) box break right here!

Just as I've done with the previous two, I'm not listing every card that came in each pack. I don't have that kind of time or energy or attention span. So each pack gets 9 cards to show off favorite and/or notable cards that I feel like talking about.

Pack One

The first card from 2019 Topps Update Series (3) that I got from the first pack was...

Brandon Brennan! 

I'm not familiar with this guy who has two very 1990's first names, but I do like the color on this card. From the green Mariners jersey to the background purple. Sometimes Topps tends to wash out their color in sets (2017 being a great example), but the last 2 years have been quite vibrant.

I've been a big fan of LeMahieu from his days as the Colorado Rockies second baseman. Poor budgetary decisions caused those Rockies to lose one their most underrated and valuable players of the last decade. The tens of millions of dollars given out to underperforming relief pitching meant there wasn't enough to give DJ his fair share. Their loss was unfortunately the Yankees gain...

Even newcomers like Tapia couldn't drag the Rockies out of disappointment... 

Hi, Coors Field! I miss you!

Oh, and the gold 150 years stamped parallel cards are back...

Hasn't been often where the year's top rookie draw plays for the Blue Jays of all teams. But here he is! Vladimir Guerrero Sr.'s son, Jr.! Topps pulled a major Topps with Series 2. Including a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rookie card, but not putting a number on the back, so it's technically not part of the set. (And not included in the Targets and Walmarts "complete" set either!)

Very deceptive Topps!

So his first 2019 Topps card is not part of the complete set. But neither is Series 3 because it's an Update, not a number. But that series HAS a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rookie card as part of it's set. Oh, Topps... Can't you recognize the beauty of simplicity? I know, it's not as beautiful as money...

Yasmani?!

This quickly became one of my favorite cards in the set. I've always liked fielding catcher cards. They usually show some good action, or at the very least feature some nice colorful catching gear. Can't do much better than the Brewers blue and yellow equipment over a retro uniform!

Yasmani has a short printed variation card in the set, showing him running the bases in the dark navy blue non-retro Brewers uniform. I pulled that card out of this box as well. But the photo was so straightforward and non-eye catching, I breezed right past it. Personally, I would have reversed the two images and made this one the short print, since it's a much cooler photo. But I'm glad Topps didn't do that. In this case...

This is a great photo.

Happy retirement, hell of a career, C.C.!

This one's cool as well. 

The first pack also contained the first hit. 

A plain white jersey swatch from Rays lefty hurler Blake Snell.

Plain and boring, but I'm okay with that. 

I like Snell. He should be on the Twins. They could use him.

While most were anticipating Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s rookie card appearing in 2019 Topps Update Series (3), this was the rookie card I was waiting for. Arraez came up to the Twins and never stopped hitting. Giving Minnesota a very young and high quality player at second base for years to come. Arraez was not rated as a top prospect going into 2019. The Twins had hoped former first round draft pick (2014), Nick Gordon, would develop into their future second baseman. Unexpectedly, Arraez blew past him and looks like a future All Star at the position.

Gordon looks like yet another failed Terry Ryan draft pick. 

Almost as bad as Tyler Jay...

Pack Two

Oh look, it's another Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rookie card... 

But why is his uniform a different shade of white than his Blue Jays teammates?

And a Nationals top prospect with a cartoon last name!

And some Gracie fur on top of a pitcher picture that I like a lot.

A couple more Colorado Rockies. Josh Fuentes plays third base for the Colorado Rockies. Just like his cousin, Nolan Arenado. Somehow I don't see Fuentes booting his cousin off his position. That's gotta make Thanksgiving uncomfortable... Another Rockies rookie in Peter Lambert shows up to soft toss a 7.25 ERA for Colorado. Hopefully that number can improve, Colorado needs a lot of help in the pitching department. 

Speaking of soft-tossing rookie hurlers, Harper came out of nowhere with his dazzling array of slow curveballs to bring needed stability to the Twins bullpen during much of the season. A 30 year old rookie in 2019, making his Major League debut was a nice story.

This was also a Pete Alonso hot pack of sorts. These three insert cards were all back to back to back in the Jumbo Pack. Glad he had an incredible rookie season. If I'm now loading up on his cards, I could do worse... (Like all of those Ian Desmond cards I keep pulling from 2019 Archives...)

Pack Three

The third pack in the box had a nice selection of Twins. Both base cards and parallel. 

Like Martin Perez...

For the first 10 or so starts of 2019, Perez pitched like a Cy Young candidate. After that, he pitched like a guy that would be non-tendered after the season. Which he was... Not even a 150 Years gold foil stamp could save his Twins career.

Gonzalez was a late sign with the Twins, coming at the beginning of 2019 Spring Training camp. Signed as insurance for an injury rehabbing Miguel Sano, he would become a very valuable piece to the team.Getting solid production at the plate, while playing all over the field, filling in capably for whichever other Twins regular was hurt or needed a day off.

Crafty lefty starter came to Minnesota from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2018 Brian Dozier trade. Smeltzer showed some promise in a handful of appearances over the Summer of 2019. I'm interested to see what he can do with a larger opportunity in 2020. Helps to get the serial numbered (out of 2019) gold version of his rookie card!

Colorado's top prospect at second base finally made his Major League debut last spring, and didn't hit very much. Then he got hurt and missed the rest of the season. Hopefully 2020 goes better for Rodgers. A prospect I've been high on since his early first round pick in 2015.

Justus Sheffield needs to become an ace for Seattle. I just want that to happen.

Chavis showed up to Boston and became a budding star. But no one wants to see Boston having yet another star come up.

So let's move on...

I'd rather root for a guy named Skye Bolt! 

A name so cool, I bought his 2019 Topps Update Series (3) 1984 Anniversary autographed card!

How do you feel about Skye Bolt, Rob?

Yeah, me too...

Why exactly did Topps feel the need to put their All Star Rookie Cup logo on a card that isn't Acuna's base card? This is just a needless fluff card made to commemorate his appearance in the Home Run Derby. And if the Cup really needs to be on this card, why not shift it to the left side, under his swinging bat. This way the cup wont be recklessly dented as Acuna smashes it with his bat.

Bonus points for blowing a bubble while trying to speed hit home runs.

Just a mention of a traded veteran player, showcasing the vastly improved Marlins uniforms.

So far I'm pretty pleased with how the box is breaking, though I'm already starting to see some doubles. I forgot at the time that 2019 Topps Update Series (3) was only 300 base cards. Instead of the 350 that Series 1 & 2 counted.

Let's keep going!

Pack Four

2019 Topps Update Series (3) is all about cramming in rookie cards. As many rookie cards as legally allowed (by weird regulations I can't even begin to explain from Major League Baseball). And multiples of some of those rookie cards, just in case we can't remember the name of that second generation star playing in Toronto and/or San Diego. Duplantier isn't one of the widely chased 2019 rookies, but I just liked the looks of this card.

And I hate the D-Bags...

Rookies featured 2 up on the same card is a trademark of Topps Update Series (3), regardless of the year, as long as it's after 2015. This pair doesn't inspire visions of high dollar resale, but I like the name Parker Markel a lot. It sounds like it should rhyme, but it just doesn't!

The nephew of long time Milwaukee Brewers (and a few other teams) reliever Dan. I want Cleveland to lose, a lot, but I'll root for the relative of one my favorite MLB Network analysts. As long as he isn't pitching against Minnesota. Go ahead and beat the Yankees and Red Sox all you want...

Too bad Al Leiter's son chose not to sign after getting drafted by the Yankees this year.

Cal's dad Paul also pitched for many teams during my time as a card collector. 

And his son's rookie card showed up in serial numbered gold form!

That All Star Game logo is so lame it hurts... If you didn't know what it meant, what would you think ASG stands for? I can think of many things, most of them tasteless... Why didn't Topps use the actual guitar shaped 2019 All Star Game logo on these All Star cards? It's far superior! Judge for yourself, the real logo appears on Arenado's left sleeve.

At one point in the 2019 season, I heard someone say the C.J. Cron had hit more home runs in his half season than Joe Mauer (the "superstar" he was signed to replace) hit in the last three combined. I may have that number wrong, but the point was the Twins were finally receiving some real power production at first base, for about 1/5th the price of paying Mauer (to plink soft liners to shortstop).

Speaking of the Twins... 

Entering Spring Training 2018, the Twins invited Sanchez to camp on a minor league deal. Coming off a few seasons of noticeable decline with the Tigers, this was about the best offer Sanchez could get. He was cut loose by Minnesota before the 2018 season began, after the Twins signed Lance Lynn (and we all know how that worked out...). Sanchez went to Atlanta and reinvented himself, earning a nice bounce back contract for 2019 with Washington. Again pitching well in 2019, Sanchez came up big in the postseason and was a key in bringing a World Championship to Washington.

Makes me wonder what would've happened if Minnesota had said no to an out of shape Lance Lynn, and tried to salvage Sanchez's career instead...

Rounding out pack 4 with a couple of 1984 35th Anniversary insert cards. Nice old photo of new Hall of Famer Roy Halladay, in those terrible Blue Jays vests. Kerry Wood has a classier uniform on, in addition to that 150 Years gold foil stamp. In this case, it means the card is serial numbered out of 150. But I don't remember the number.

Topps was really all over the place with the significance of the 150 Years gold foil stamp.

Pack Five

As I said, it seems like Topps Update Series (3) exists for the sole reason of cramming as many duplicate rookie cards as they can in the set. With unneeded redundant copies just because they know collectors want them.

So here's even more sons of former (Expos) players...

And someone that Cincinnati hopes will develop into a star...

And a wacky name, looking back at 1984...

And a Dodger catcher named after a Fresh Prince...

I bet that I'm the first person to ever make that joke in the entire history of people named Will Smith!

Call me old fashioned, but I get a bigger thrill from seeing veteran players who I've associated with one team for years, suddenly showing up in foreign clothing, on a late season "traded" set.

Oh how I miss buying these...

Thanks to Steel City Collectibles for having a picture of the 1982 set I used to have.

Complete with the yellowed tape seal!

Each year, you'd anticipate getting cards that look like the ones you looked at all year, and finally seeing the right team on that photo. In their current uniform! 

Losing those box sets took some fun out of the hobby...

Because you'd often react to several cards with some degree of huh?

I'm used to Donaldson the Blue Jay. Not Donaldson the Brave...

Still a sucker for cards of retired players that feature photos I haven't seen before. 

Like Tony Perez posing at a rather new Shea Stadium.

And it's time for hit #2 of the Hobby Jumbo box...

Now in their (at least) 10th year of Topps making their own relics to add to cards, then counting them as box hits. I still have mixed feelings about their legitimacy. If I get a player I like, I don't mind them so much...

If I get Giancarlo Stanton, I feel cheated.

No offense Mr. Stanton. I just have more Yankees in my collection than I'll ever want. Combine that with a worthless piece of aluminum that has no significance to any game, event or player, and I really don't know what I want to do with this card. Can I swap this for a plain white jersey chunk of any player ever? At least that will have a tie to an actual baseball event...

Let move on...

Pack Six

Ex-Rockies, New Yankees... Extra special thanks to LeMahieu for being in the proper throwing position to include both advertising for Geico and Progressive Insurance. Both companies ask that in the future, LeMahieu try to throw the ball from a position that doesn't block so much of their advertising. Public awareness of their respective brands is in jeopardy of losing exposure.

And could Flo and the lizard stand behind you while you bat?

At this point in ripping the box, doubles, triples and even quadruples of base cards were being found. 

Coming up with a Top 9 out of 46 for each pack, was getting more difficult.

I've liked him as a Philly and a Padre. This being his first card as a Blue Jay is cool enough.

Hate to say it Mets, but Jerry DiPoto won this trade handily. 

This card only makes the cut for the great throwback inspired uniforms. 

Nice photo. Still glad there wont be a 2019 version of it in 2020 Topps!

Cheaters.

Redundant rookies is boring Topps.

Multiple base cards of the same rookie player at the expense of players who didn't get a card, but should have, is nothing less than irritating. 

Last but not least, we have a pair of Twins to attempt to save this from being the most boringest pack of the box. That said, neither card is all that exciting, but will slot into the 2019 Twins binder pages without complaint or praise. And I REALLY hate that knockoff All Star Game logo!

Hopefully...

Pack Seven

Has something better to offer...

Not-Justin wielding the full size glass bat trophy for the ASG MVP. 

Okay, that's pretty cool... Being hometown and all and stuff and things...

Here's Gleyber Torres just about the smash the snot out of his Topps All Star Rookie trophy. 

At least he's doing it at the ASG...

Coupla Rockies at the ASG...

A Twin pitching in the ASG...

And Nelson Cruz being awesome on the 35th Anniversary of 1984!

When unlike most players in today's game, Cruz was actually alive in 1984...

This one jumped out at me for that sweet mish-mash of numbers and word fragments. 

Almost makes me forget he's a former Cleveland Indian playing for the Houston Astros.

Dick Lovelady?!?!?

Thank you Topps for making this card for me!

Okay, pack seven was more like it. Some nice stuff, yet far to many from the ASG team, but that sweet Cruz and Dick Lovelady pushed it over the top!

Pack Eight

Interesting photo... And one I can't wait to see on Baseball Card Vandals!

Interesting angle... 

Wonder when the first "drone cam" innovation in broadcasting becomes the first home run turned into a ground rule double takes place? I'm calling mid-May, 2024.

Craig's son is a Blue Jay.

For 150 Years!

Not going to make the expected lame Hammertime joke. Because JD hammered his way right through the 1980's, going all the way into the late 70's with those glasses and wavy mullet combined with the retro uniform. Dig it!

More rookies... 

The Reds get honored with their own insert set in 2019 Topps Update Series (3)! That's cool! I like that Topps is honoring lesser collected teams with insert sets of retired stars. Obviously, I'm overjoyed by the Expos inclusion in Archives. This is a trend I hope they continue in years going forward. One request.. Just get to the sets dedicated to the Yankees soon. I don't think they get their fair share of limited insert sets. It's always the Rays and the Pirates hogging the spotlight, never giving the Yankees any time to shine...

Trout representing teammate Tyler Skaggs at the ASG, by wearing his number, was truly heartwarming. Less so after the official cause of death was released, and the serious issues regarding opioids and alcohol abuse among pro athletes that sprung up immediately afterward.

More Pete Alonso!

That is a great photo for the Derby winner. At least I like him more than Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. The main culprits of Topps last couple years of rookie card checklist overkill.

Pack Nine

Good thing I like Alonso, since an unexpected box hit came in pack 9...

A Retro Topps Logo parallel, numbered out of 99! I don't remember what number! 

Better Alonso than a middle reliever for the Texas Rangers. 

With a lot of people predicting a dramatic decrease in home runs next year, it will be interesting to see how a Rookie Sensation such as Alonso will fair over his career. Including the effect it will have on the hobby. While not following the story too close, news came out that the stitches in balls used during the 2019 season were significantly less raised than those in the past. Causing the ball to fly further with less resistance. The weight and size was the same from previous years. For baseballs used in the postseason, the laces weren't pulled as tight. Home runs were down in the postseason in comparison.

At least the Minnesota Twins will have the team record for most home runs hit. Be even better if they could keep it for a few seasons...

Here's another top Rookie card in the set. Lesser heralded than those on Alonso's level, but one with a bright future projected. And he's an Atlanta Brave, so I'm not going to cheer for him!

It was a nice feel good story when Mike caught the ceremonial first pitch from his grandfather, Carl. Coincidentally, the Giants happened to be playing an interleague game at Fenway to make that happen. Even I thought it was cool, despite hating both the Giants and the Red Sox.

Really Topps?

Really?

Jake Odorizzi has my favorite photo in the ASG subset this year.

Coupla more Twins... Pineda pitched nicely for us, before getting popped for a PED violation in September. Blake Parker didn't pitch very nicely and was released earlier in the summer. He then signed on with the Phillies, but has no Topps Update Series (3) card to celebrate that.

Oberg came out of nowhere to become a productive piece in the 2019 Colorado Rockies bullpen. 

Which gave them exactly one productive piece.

I wouldn't have expected Garrett Hampson to be featured in the 1984 35th Anniversary set. Pretty obscure pick there Topps. Though I doubt there are more a handful of people beyond me, that would be interested in collecting the 3rd string second baseman for the Rockies.

Last pack coming up...

I have yet to pull the guaranteed autograph, so the anticipation has been properly built.

When I picked up the Hobby Jumbo box of 2019 Topps Update Series (3) from my Pals at Pal's, I picked up some "skunk protection", in case my guaranteed autograph was a 3rd string second baseman for the Detroit Tigers. Since I'd gone 9 of the 10 packs without finding the autograph, where would it end up placing on my baseball card hit scale?

(Represented by the singles I picked up that day...)

An upper tier Hall of Famer from a team I collect and a set I really like...

Lower tier Hall of Famer on a team I collect...

(I guess there isn't really a lot of space between the top 2 spots.)

Fan favorite from a team I collect...

Okay these spots in my rankings don't really work. They're too close together. 

These three cards had just walked in to the store before me that day. They were part of a box of singles being priced for sale. I was offered first shot at them and said I'd take all three.

The fourth card on the scale provides a little more definition.

A fan favorite type on a team that I don't actively dislike.

Lieberthal was a player whose career I followed since he was a first round draft pick (3rd overall) in 1990. He went on to a very solid 14 years in the majors, 13 with the Philadelphia Phillies. This purple parallel from the 2019 Topps Archives Fan Favorites autograph set is numbered out of 150. For $4, I will gladly pick up an autograph of this type of player every chance I can.

So where will my 2019 Topps Update Series (3) autograph fall on this scale?

Well, I'm about to find out...

Pack Ten

Starting off with some Rockies isn't bad... The Rainbow Foil parallel of Mark Reynolds is nice. Will also be his last as a Rockie. Much like the Twins handling of Blake Parker, Reynolds underperformed and was released over the summer. I've already talked about Brendan Rodgers. So, good luck next season!

Blackmon playing for the ASG's in a nice action photo.

Gonna rush through these three even though I shouldn't...

Up first is Dozier. The former Twin got a World Series ring this year, so good for him. He also got to run around the World Series parade ceremony without a shirt. He can be happy. Laura and I however, were let down when we found the Washington Nationals had merchandise for nearly every player except for Brian Dozier, on sale at Nationals Park. But it's not like he was even starting for the Nationals anymore...

Next we have Current Twin Marwin Gonzalez, doing whatever it is he is doing with former teammate George Springer. Springer himself could have been a Twin. Minnesota drafted him in 2008, but he didn't sign. Opting to attend college instead.

Then there's Trevor May. He's pretty good.

By the summer, the 2019 Twins bullpen needed more help, so they got on the phone to Miami at the trade deadline, and ordered up a Sergio Romo for delivery. Unfortunately Topps didn't know this... But there's the vastly improved 2019 Marlins alternate jersey! I'd like to see Romo back in Minnesota next year.

Another veteran player with his new team. 

His old team was the Baltimore Orioles...

Where he was a teammate of this guy...

So my guaranteed autographed card from 2019 Topps Update Series (3) is Trey Mancini. 

Nothing against Mancini, but this card ranks decidedly lower than Mike Lieberthal to me...

But we're not done yet!

With every purchase of a 2019 Topps Update Series (3) Hobby Jumbo Box, you get two 4 card bonus packs, with the exclusive Parquet Flooringfactors of the 1984 35th Anniversary cards!

Like a retro card of Jeff Bagwell in a retro Astros jersey.

Kerry Wood.

Which seems totally appropriate for a Parquet Flooringfactor card...

Never a bad thing to pull Trout cards, even if the Angels are a team that inspires indifference from me.

Paddack is predicted to become a top level pitcher for the Padres. 

I hope so. They need to develop pitching to go with all that young offensive talent.

He would make a good template to follow...

Younger brother of Twins first baseman, C.J..

This is probably a good card to have, if you can forgive it's reeking of Braveiness...

The big hit of the bonus packs, a purple Parquet Flooringfactor parallel of a very poor defensive Yankees catcher. Good thing he can hit home runs (and not a whole lot else) so he can be overrated because he wears an N Y on his cap.

Last up in the bonus packs is a promo card advertising 2020 Topps. 

I'm not a fan of that design. Once again Topps clutters it's cards with completely unnecessary shapes to block a good chunk of the photo. Looking at this now, I don't think I will bother in trying to build a complete set. First impressions lead me to think of a few retail packs here and there, plus cherry picking the singles I like.

On the scale of recent Topps sets, it's slightly better than 2017.

A set I really hated.

But I liked 2019 Topps. 

It wasn't nearly as good as 2018 Topps, but much better than 2016 and 2017 Topps. I'm glad to have finished the full set of all 3 series. But I don't think it's going to go in an album. Those are reserved for my all time favorite sets.

And this isn't one of them.

2018 Topps got an album.

2019 Topps gets a box.

2016 and 2017 Topps didn't get collected.

And 2020 Topps probably wont either...

I'm tired...