2020 Topps Series 2 Hobby Jumbo Box Break

When I bought most of a Hobby Jumbo box last February, I was completely unimpressed by 2020 Topps Series 1. (Man does last February feel like several lifetimes ago...) A couple of weeks ago, I saw an online ad for the LCS, announcing that 2020 Topps Series 2 was in house, and decided I needed to pick one up. Not that I’m trying to complete a set (I’m not), but since I’ve established a history of reviewing these Hobby Jumbo boxes up here, I’m almost compelled to keep it going.

Besides, I needed a new Monster Box for all the singles I’ve finally gotten around to sorting, this Spring.

When I entered the store, I was handed an empty box of 1987 Donruss, with a Jeff Reardon Expos card on the bottom. He thought it would be something I'd like. Actually, I’d never seen this card before, and am happy to add it to the Expos collection! So, I will be cutting it from the box. Same with that Jose Canseco card. I remember seeing that one for sale at shows back in the late 1980’s. I liked the (Hardees?) star behind him, and this will find a home in the 1987 binder. Even if the right side of it is completely bent and no longer “mint” condition.

After I was given the empty box, I was told that a bunch of Expos had been added to the singles bins. So even if I was disappointed by the 2020 Topps Series 2 Hobby Jumbo box that I was about to buy, I could probably enhance my overall happiness with some new Expos cards!

And what a haul I found! Over 40 new Expos singles! From the least represented era of their history in my collection, 2000-2004!

Onto the Topps packs. As I usually do, I’ll present my top 9 favorite cards in each pack. Because 9 cards fits in a page, with fits on the scanner. It’s just easier to do it like this. Obviously my favorites are going to skew heavier towards Twins and Rockies, then inserts that I like, then photos/players that I like.

That being said, with most of the packs, I was struggling to find 9 cards that I even liked enough to scan and write about...

So here we go!. 

Pack One

Keston Huira

The first 2020 Topps Series 2 card I would see is Keston Huira of the Milwaukee Brewers. Good color. I like the retro Brewers home uniform, and I'm always a sucker for that Topps All Star Rookie cup. The simple addition of that will make me keep almost any card in my collection, that wouldn't otherwise have a home.

Kolby Allard

Atlanta traded top prospect Allard to the Texas Rangers about a year ago. For a 22 year old left handed pitcher, who was a recent top draft pick, it seemed odd that Atlanta only got a 33 year old right handed relief pitcher in return. Definition of a win-now move for the Braves. Yet they didn't win! Atlanta losing always makes me feel better.

What is that in the corner of the card?

Enhance!

Topps included a special Texas Stadium Logo on all Rangers cards. That's kind of cool. I feel bad that the Rangers built such a turd of a ballpark that it couldn't even survive for 30 years before being so obsolete that it had to be replaced. Everything's bigger in Texas... Including wastes of taxpayer money!

Randy Johnson - Decades' Best

The Decades' Best insert set is back from series 1. And I'll certainly agree that Randy Johnson was one of the best pitchers of the 2000's. Looking past his disastrous stint with the New York Yankees. Talk about not being a fit...

Mike Trout 2030

I really liked these one per pack inserts. Didn't hurt that I got a bunch of decent players instead of redundant mediocre Red Sox. How many Xander Bogaerts does one need or want?

Nick Castellanos

Castellanos was a late sign over the offseason, so I'm inclined to think this wasn't a Spring Training image. Looks like Topps is about to commit Photoshoppery on a grand scale. So good job Topps! Cards that I'm already not impressed with, are going to start annoying me until I pick them apart.

Byron Buxton

Topps always finds good pictures of Buxton to feature on the cards. Imagine how many more great photos they'd have to choose from if Buxton could play a whole season! Since we're about to start a 60 game season, my over/under on Buxton's games missed is at 25. Hoping for 55!

Lamonte Wade Jr.

While I doubt he's viewed as anything more than a fourth outfielder, Wade has an incredible eye at the plate. I'd like to see what he could with extended playing time. Which he'll probably get when Buxton misses a significant chunk due to injury.

Rich Hill

An acceptable Photoshop job. Interested to see what Hill does this year.

Bomba Brothers

Here's Topps winning major brownie points with me. This card is just awesome!

Let’s see what Pack Two has to offer…

Rev'd Up

Honoring the Nationals dugout routine that gained notoriety during last years’ postseason. That’s cool, but Topps should have done something with the Baby Shark gimmick that Gerardo Parra showed off. Just so I never have to hear that song again...

Mookie Betts

Another Photoshopped action shot for Mookie. That LA on his hat seems a bit off, but an ok job.

Gio Gonzalez

And then there’s the Photoshop job done to Gio Gonzalez. I’m on board with what they did here EXCEPT for the 47 on his back. Ridiculously small and off centered, the more I look at that the more it makes me want to laugh. We know Topps has next to zero quality control when it comes to packaging their cards, but whomever was in charge at the art department, dropped the ball big time on this laughable effort.

Nomar Mazara 

However, Topps has become old pros at Photoshopping Mazara pictures, dating back to Series 1.

Matt Olson 1985 Anniversary

During one of my other box break posts (I think it was 2020 Bowman), Rob mentioned that he preferred Matt Olson to Matt Chapman. But that box had only Chapman, as this box had only Olson. That's how collation works... This card makes Rob happy.

Right, Rob?

It's nice when everyone agrees!

Shohei Ohtani 2030

It will be interesting to see how Ohtani fares in a shortened season. Which should lend itself to his Tommy John Surgery recovery. Over 60 games, he certainly wouldn’t be asked to throw 120+ innings this year. And he can still DH 5-6 games a week.

Luis Arraez

Very interested in seeing how Arraez's sophomore season plays out. I think he’s a great contact hitter, which is a piece that fits this Twins lineup very well. Arraez wasn’t a top prospect coming into 2019, but overachieved and had a great season. Can that be sustained?

Raimel Tapia

Great Coors Field shot, which really makes me miss Coors Field. Tapia needs a breakout season, but I don’t know how possible that is given his rather weak hitting reputation. If he could learn to take a few more walks it would really help his career. That being said, I’m hoping he gets into a good chunk of the 60 game season to further develop. There are worse players the Rocks could trot out there…

Just as I was disappointed with 2020 Topps Series 1, I was even more let down by Series 2. The non-stop barrage of action shots wore me out. I’d like to see some variety in a set this large. When you have a 700 card set (including both series 1 and 2) and every card is an action shot, it gets a little old. I’d love to see some mug shots or posed dugout shots mixed in with these endless action photos. This was a reason why I couldn’t get behind Score as a brand in the late 1980’s After a while, I just got tired of seeing the same thing.

Coincidentally, I was tired of 2020 Topps Series 2 before I was finished looking at the second pack. 

So let’s look at some Expos!

1975 Topps Balor Moore

Not a new card in the Expos box at the LCS, this off-centered Balor Moore has been turned down by me for months before I decided that I should buy it. 

1982 Donruss Gary Carter

Two 1982 Donruss Gary Carter’s that are both new to my collection! That makes me happy!

2001 Topps American Pie

My first card from the 2001 Topps American Pie set.

Kinda like these, I may have to look for some more.

Four more Expos... Two I had (Bergeron and Vidro), and two I didn’t. I needed a duplicate of Bergeron, due to that batting cage. Another new Vladimir Guerrero is always a good thing, and then you have future Florida Marlin, New York Yankee, Minnesota Twin, Cleveland Indian and Alyssa Milano’s ex-boyfriend, Carl Pavano, That’s worth 50 cents, no matter who you are!

Let’s see if I can get as excited about 2020 Topps.

Pack Three

Milwaukee Braves - Decades’ Best

It’s the Braves, but this card helps...

Kyle Freeland

The Colorado Rockies biggest pitching question mark going into 2020. If he melts down again, at least it won’t take a full season... But I want the Cy Young Award candidate Freeland from 2018. We need that guy!

Charlie Blackmon 1985 Anniversary

Chuck Nazty needs that guy too!

Albert Pujols

As an Albert Pujols fan, I'll never complain about getting his cards. Also like the trend in recent years of teams including elaborate socks in their uniform combinations. Since stirrups are outdated, the new knee highs are a really nice look. Much better than the baggy sweat pants look that have been the trend for the last 15-20 years.

Mike Trout Stats

Mike Trout puts up significant statistics. That is indisputable. Topps recognizes this. 

But I couldn't begin to explain what xISO is or means. 

And I don't really care that I can't.

Randy Dobnak

Hopefully for Dobnak's sake, he is able to shake off the Yankee Stadium ALDS start last year. A bunch of egotistic Yankee fans chanting "UBER" at him couldn't have been fun. It's probably not a bad off-season job for a fringe minor leaguer, but hopefully he pitches well and doesn't need to worry about part time work.

Plus there is always that Fu Manchu to fall back on...

Jake Cave

Another very useful part for the 2020 Minnesota Twins.

Rick Porcello Foil

After a decade of Tigers and Red Sox cards, it's strange to see Porcello wearing Mets colors.

In FOIL form!

Ronald Acuna Jr. 2030

Yeah, Acuna Jr. will likely be playing in 2030. But if it's still for the Braves, I wont have any interest.

Atlanta Braves cards always leave a fowl taste in my mouth... 

So let's look at the partial 2000 Metal Montreal Expos team set, I bought that day.

How do you feel about 2000 Metal, Rob?

Rock out dood!

2000 Metal Vladimir Guerrero & Rondell White

Two of the Expos biggest stars of 2000. Although Rondell was about to be traded, because he crossed that "Expos University" 4 years service time barrier. White actually had 6 years of service time when traded. Unfortunately, he was struck by injuries often throughout his career, which spanned 1993-2007. Had he remained healthy, his numbers would be borderline Hall of Very Good. 

Even though these cards have a foil coating, they scan better than cards printed on foil. 

2000 Metal Chris Widger & Michael Barrett

For a limited size team set of 9 cards (3 of which are short printed rookies), it seemed strange that both sides of the Expos catching platoon are featured.

2000 Metal Trace Coquillette

You can't get a more Montreal name for an Expos player than Coquillette. I think this may be the first card I have of his. Drafted by the Expos in 1993, Coquillette bounced around the minor leagues until 2005, but got into 51 games for the Expos in 1999 and 2000. He batted only .231/.306/.324 over 122 plate appearances.

Let's get back to this decade...

Pack Four

Mike Trout - Player of the Decade

See! It's like I was continuing a theme!

Dylan Bundy

Trout's new teammate and former Orioles hurler, in his fresh Photoshopped duds. The Angels patches are so much brighter than the altered red jersey, They appear to be floating in that sea of red. Not to mention that Angels cap almost glows in it's fake redness. While not on the levels of Topps hilarious airbrushing of the late 1970's, this one's still pretty awful.

Anthony Rendon 1985 Anniversary

Yet this is decidedly NOT a Topps Photoshoppery job. Something Topps forgot to include was that damn Nike swoosh that HAS to appear on the chest of each teams' jerseys. Why couldn't the sleeve have been good enough for Nike? Why pollute the Major League Baseball uniform with their logo feces? Rawlings didn't have to broadcast their presence from the front. Majestic didn't have to take billing above the team name. Why would Manfred allow Nike to do this? 

I HATE Nike.

Corey Kluber

Oh man... That sleeve patch...

Cole Hamels Foil

The foil distracts from the Photoshop. That A is way too big. And the Atlanta is way too small...

Since the cards were boring me, it became more fun to point out the bad copy and pasting of team logos. 

Marcus Semien SP

This isn't a gripe about bad Photoshoppery, just a letdown of preconceived expectations. I was hoping the Short-Printed card in the box would have been one of those cool old photos of Hall of Famers, or a wacky shot of a current star. Instead it was just a boring alternate photo. The slide into home is cool, but not cool enough for Topps typical short print gimmick.

Though it is infinitely better than a low-res Snoopy floating on a Joe Mauer card...

Francisco Lindor 2030

He certainly wont be playing for the Indians in 2030...

Yonathan Daza

Great action photo. I was bummed when I saw the Rockies ditched the home pinstripes for 2019. 

Those pants look incomplete.

Ryan McMahon

This seems like just about every Topps Ryan McMahon card I've ever seen.

Oh, and of course I bought a few Rockies singles that day!

2020 Select Charlie Blackmon & Jonathan Gray

My first cards from the 2020 Select brand. These scan all crappy, but are very nice looking for logoless cards. The high per-pack price put these out of my normal card budget, so I'll look for singles. On a subsequent visit to the same LCS, I added a Nolan Arenado to this twosome. I also did break down and buy a pack of 2020 Select for my 2008 hourly wage. Obviously hoping for a shiny autographed sticker affixed on a card, I was satisfied with a Miguel Cabrera Paninifractor, numbered 3/50. 

Speaking of Panini...

2018 Panini Cyber Monday David Dahl

Just $5 for my first David Dahl autograph?

Absolutely!

I'm glad no one collects Rockies!

2018 Panini Cyber Monday David Dahl

When I bought the card, I didn't know what set it was from. Later, I flipped it over and read the back. In order to remember the set name "Panini Cyber Monday", I took a picture of the back. Which is why it's blurrier than if I'd scanned it.

Back to 2020 Topps...

If I have to...

Pack Five

Colorado Rockies

Look! More Rockies!

Charlie Blackmon! Trevor Story! and... Garrett Hampson...

Andrew McCutchen

Nice retro Phillies uniform here, but McCutchen is the card I wanted the Short Print version of from this box. I saw a picture of the Short Prints in the set, McCutchen was photographed wearing the full burgundy Phillies alternate uniform from the 1973 season. With a great cheesy smile on his face. If I ever find that card, I will buy it.

Brusdar Graterol

So, Mookie gets multiple 2020 Topps Series 2 Photoshopped Dodgers cards. Alex Verdugo has a Dodger card in 2020 Topps Series 1, but no Red Sox Photoshopping in 2. Brusdar Graterol gets a TERRIBLE Photoshop job for Series 2, but no Kenta Maeda in a badly Photoshopped Twins uniform? I gotta wait for (Update) Series 3 for that?

Very disappointing Topps...

Martin Perez

Even former Twins pitcher, Martin Perez, gets some poorly pasted new letters on his blankened jersey. Perez was great in the first half last year, and absolutely awful in the second half. Seeing as 2020 will be just over a third of a season, Perez will either win the Cy Young Award, or finish the season pitching in the KBO.

Sergio Romo

Yeah, I was about this happy when the Twins traded for Romo last July.

Goose Gossage Decades' Best

I would have put Gossage in the 1970's, but that's just me...

Pete Alonso 2030

Don't see Alonso hitting 50 homers this year!

Edgar Martinez 1985 Anniversary Blue

A parallel that isn't numbered. That's fairly weak these days Topps...

David Peralta 1985 Anniversary Autograph

My expected box hit. I have zero problem with Peralta’s autograph. He’s a big enough star where I don’t feel let down, despite him being an Arizona Diamondback. My problem with the card is the card itself. Topps did a good job on reproducing the 1985 set design for this anniversary gimmick. They matched the team colors used back in 1985, and used the colors you’d expect for the teams that didn’t exist in 1985. 

EXCEPT for the Arizona D-Bags, who drew an ugly orange and green combination. Two colors that have never appeared in Arizona’s logo or uniform. Why didn’t Topps go with colors that are featured in the photo? Dark gray and that red color Arizona loves so much. That would have looked good. Hell, go with that teal, black, creme and purple mess they used for their first few seasons. But that orange and green is just awful. And it takes away from what could have been a nice card.

Next pack…

Pack Six

Josh Donaldson

Photoshopped Josh from a Twins home game at Atlanta’s Sun Trust Park? Even though they aren’t real Twins photos, it’s sure nice to see cards of the Twins big free agent signing. Hopefully, I can see him actually play for Minnesota soon!

Eddie Rosario

Great sliding into home plate action photo.

Luis Arraez - Whatever Parallel

At first I thought it was gold or bronze, since that’ the color it looks like. It’s serial numbered out of 50, which rules out a gold parallel, according to Topps wrapper odds (which I didn’t bother scanning this time). My best guess is it’s a pink parallel, because those are declared to be out of 50. But that color sure doesn’t look pink to me. Granted, I’m getting older and I notice my eyesight getting worse by the minute, so maybe it is pink...

Doesn’t really matter. I’m thrilled to have pulled this card for my Twins collection.

Boston Red Sox - Decades’ Best

Hate the Red Sox, but that’s a pretty cool card.

Kyle Garlick

I’d make a Tammy joke here, but very few people would get it.

Gavin Lux 2030

I guess the hot rookie going into 2020 is a good bet to be playing in 2030. 

Luis Robert Foil

And a foil parallel of another hot rookie going into 2020 has to be a good thing as well.

Jake Fraley

Seattle intends to give Fraley time in the outfield this season. The former 2nd round draft pick (2016) had a 12 game audition in the majors last year, batting .150/.171/.200 in 41 plate appearances. He improved those numbers to .231/.300/.538, over 30 plate appearances in the shortened 2020 Spring Training.

I liked the card so much that I decided to follow his 2020 season. Checking for his name in box scores and paying closer attention to mentions on MLB Network. Stuff like that.

Garrett Hampson

Light hitting, speed and contact guy who doesn't take a lot of walks. Comes with additional value by logging significant time at second base, shortstop and center field. There's value in a low cost utility player, with some upside. And a sweet throwing photo adds value to this card. To me. A Rockies collector. Probably no one else...

Speaking of cards that only I'm interested in...

Back to the Expos!

How about some 2002-2003 goodness of the Expos double play combination, Orlando Cabrera and Jose Vidro!

2002 Fleer Platinum Ron Calloway

Or this short print from a 2002 Fleer product that I never bought a pack of.

2002 Fleer Platinum Vladimir Guerrero

Or this Vladimir Guerrero insert from the same set. Only bought it because I need it for the Expos binder. Other than that, this is a really stupid looking card. For one thing, the cartoon gears are lame as hell. And another thing, this is a physical impossibility! the position of those gears would result in a complete stoppage, as each is obstructing each from turning!

No wonder Fleer went bankrupt...

Astute eyes will notice the dinged corner at the top left of the card. That is entirely my fault. I was trying to hold a stack of 40+ cards, some in Top Loaders, some in sleeves, but most were as naked as the day they were printed. I reached with my other hand for some 2020 Bowman packs. After taking those, then trying to adjust my grip on the loose cards and 9 packs, the singles -predictably- fell from my left hand to the floor. 

Ironically, I left the empty box of 1987 Donruss on the counter behind me, instead of putting everything into said box.

Which would have prevented the cards falling out of my hands. 

Yup...

Back to 2020 Topps.

Pack Seven

Gerrit Cole

As a Photoshop Yankee.

Avasial Garcia

As a Photoshop Brewer.

With his Rays teammates behind him, cheering him on!

At this point in the box, duplicates are piling up and I feel like I'm just slogging through the rest. I've become more interested in looking for bad photos than good photos.

Topps... You're boring me!

Kris Bryant

Bryant fielding instead of batting was a nice break from monotony.

Mookie Betts 1985 Anniversary

Photo from the neighborhood park. Betts looks thrilled to be here.

Ryan Zimmerman

Zimmerman recently decided to sit out the 2020 season. He'd been on the fence about playing all off-season, but with the pandemic really messing things up, he decided to stay home. Hard to blame the guy. He's already played for 14 years and capped it off by winning a World Series. He leaves coming back in 2021 open, but if he doesn't play again, he had a major league baseball career that few can approach. And I was at his last ever regular season game, in person!

When the Expos left Montreal for Washington, and Vladimir Guerrero having gone the year before, I needed a new star to follow with the Nationals. That option came in the 2005 draft, when the Nationals took Ryan Zimmerman, 4th overall in the first round. He made his major league debut a few months later.

I needed his 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Autographed card badly. 

In January 2006, I took my holiday overtime money and a 4 day weekend to drive from Denver to Minnesota to attend Twinsfest 2006. I had a list of 5 singles that I wanted to buy on the floor of the Metrodome: 

1984 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett

2002 Bowman Chrome Joe Mauer Autograph

2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Matt Garza Autograph

1975 Topps George Brett 

The aforementioned Zimmerman.

(Sure scanned crappy...)

I was able to buy four of the five. The only 1975 Brett I found on sale at TwinsFest 2006 was a little beat up, and a higher price than I wanted to pay for one in that condition. But four of five was a success in my book.

What was I talking about?

Oh yeah, 2020 Topps...

Alex Bregman WAR

I strongly dislike Alex Bregman. 

That's me being polite instead of saying that I hate Alex Bregman. 

Tony Wolters

Besides his advances behind the plate, the greatest development of the Rockies starting catcher has to be the porn star mustache Wolters grew last year.

Miguel Sano

He doesn't even have to suck in his cheeks to show off that he dropped a significant amount of weight from the 2018 season. With the way Sano hit after coming back from a pretty bad ankle injury, I was really hoping to see 150 games from him this year.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2030

Just as I wanted to see 150 games from him in 2020 and in 2030.

2002 Topps 206 Vladimir Guerrero

And there's his dad!

2002 Topps Ten

And there's more of his dad!

I'd never bought any Topps Ten cards before today. A set of cards that features the top ten players on the leader board for certain statistical achievements. Seems like a dumb concept for a set. You're going to end up with pretty much the same ten players for just about every offensive and pitching category. Just an excuse to include 16 different Barry Bonds cards, in a set with no commons.

Stupid money grab...

2000 Topps Chrome

I never bought any packs of regular 2000 Topps, let alone any Topps Chrome from that year. So getting a Brad Fullmer, Dustin Hermanson and Rondell White for less that the price of a pack of regular 2000 Topps was a coup for my Expos collection.

But the one from this set that warrants extra attention is…

2000 Topps Chrome Hideki Irabu

I wont get into the tragic full story of Hideki Irabu, that would need a full post by itself. After the high profile and complicated transaction that brought Irabu to the New York Yankees from Japan, via the San Diego Padres, Irabu flopped in New York. Former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner famously called Irabu a "fat pussy toad" during 1999 Spring Training. After the season, the Yankees dumped Irabu (and his fat toad contract) on the Montreal Expos for a package of prospects, including Jake Westbrook and Ted Lilly. Who would both go on to pitch in the major leagues for over ten seasons.

This was intended to be a franchise altering trade for the Expos. They had recently been purchased by New York City art dealer, Jeff Loria. Who arrived in Montreal with all sorts of ambitious statements. He was going to raise payroll considerably, then build a new stadium in downtown Montreal. (Then give up on the Expos completely, less than two years later...) Loria greenlit the trade of two top prospects for the floundering fat toad. Irabu got to Montreal and was absolutely terrible for two seasons. Getting hurt and ultimately released. While collecting millions of dollars from a team that sorely needed that money for players they used to have.

He signed with the Texas Rangers for the 2002 season, as a relief pitcher. After not finding success, he returned to Japan for a couple years, then back to Independent League baseball in America. After several alcohol related issues and arrests, Irabu committed suicide in 2011.

Cards of him in an Expos uniform are still strange to see.

Back to 2020 Topps, which are just boring to see...

Pack Eight

Hyun-Jin Ryu

I think my biggest problem with Topps Photoshop efforts boils down to the pasting of new letters and patches over the old ones. The lighting and angles are just wrong.

It's fun being critical!

Bo Bichette 2030

Will Dante's kid still be in Toronto in 2030?

Cody Bellinger 1985 Anniversary

Did all the Dodgers have to go to the local park for their photos?

Walker Buehler

Walker Buehler looks like he needs a sammich

Ozzie Albies

For some reason, I actually liked this card. Atlanta Brave and all.

Delino DeShields

And more of that poor cut and paste. Love how the "In" and part of the swoosh bend perfectly on the left side of the jersey bend perfectly, while the second "n" runs directly on top of the wrinkle unchanged. 

Think I'm being too critical...

Eddie Mathews WAR

I like this WAR insert a lot more than the Bregman. Does that mean I live the Braves more than the Astros? Or just a Braves Hall of Famer more than Alex Bregman? Probably the latter...

Justin Verlander NOW

Those WAR cards are fine, completely the opposite of these damn advertisements for Topps, masquerading as an insert set. How many collectors need nostalgia for a card that Topps printed less than a year ago, that most collectors don't have access to? I HATE these cards!

Brendan Rodgers

I hope Rodgers is a future star... Colorado needs him to be.

And I need more Expos!

2001 Topps Chrome Hideki Irabu & Orlando Cabrera

Our old friend Hideki, back for his second year with the Expos! A 2001 season which would see Hideki pitch in three whole games! 16 whopping innings! Cabrera lasted a few more years, even suiting up for the Twins in 2009.

2001 Topps Traded Chrome

And some Chrome Updates for new additions to the 2001 Expos! Fresh off a disappointing run for the Texas Rangers is Fernando Tatis Jr.'s father! Followed up by the longtime perspective replacement for Cal Ripken Jr. In case you were wondering how that turned out, Cal Ripken Jr. retired at the end of the 2001 season, an absolute legend and Hall of Famer. Minor also played his last major in 2001. His bat never developed, although he bounced around the several organizations and Independent League baseball, through the 2005 season..

2003 Topps Chrome

A couple of pitchers acquired in (separate) trades with the Boston Red Sox. The Expos gave up Pedro Martinez and Ugueth Urbina for them (and others). Unlike many Expos trades of the late 1990's and early 2000's, Montreal got decent value in return here. You can never replace Pedro Martinez. However, both Armas and Ohka stayed with the team through the move to Washington.

Oh, and Andres Galarraga. Returning to the team that drafted him for a (second to) final season. Why he had to sully that story by signing with the San Francisco Giants in 2003, is beyond me.

2004 Bowman

Late in 2003, Montreal got Johnson (and others) from the Yankees for Expos University graduate, Javier Vazquez. After their final season, he stayed with the Nationals until 2009. 

Benji DeQuin had left the Montreal organization before this card was printed. His last professional appearance took place around the time 2004 Bowman hit the stores. That came for the Brockton Rox of the independent Northeast League, where he pitched in only game. It was pretty terrible: One third of an inning, 3 walks, 1 hit batter and 3 wild pitches. He did record a strikeout. Unfortunately, 4 runs scored in the effort to record that out. Giving Benji DeQuin an ERA of 108.00.

DeQuin never pitched again.

But Topps put him in -not only- 2004 Bowman, but 2004 Topps Total as well. 

He's not in 2020 Topps though. 

At least not in...

Pack Nine

Charlie Blackmon

Cool! But I thought Blackmon was in Series 1... That was in February. With everything that has happened since I opened those Series 1 Jumbo Packs, no wonder I don't remember...

Trevor Story

Accidentally scanned Trevor Story's base card twice. As I mentioned, I was having trouble finding 9 cards in each pack that I wanted to write about. So when I talked about pack 2, I only showed 8 cards. 

And you didn't notice!

Seth Mejias-Brean

Speaking of having trouble finding 9 cards, I spent the longest time on this pack. I was stuck at 8. And this card was the best of the rest... The hyphenated name tipped the scales.

Giancarlo Stanton 1985 Anniversary Jersey

Yay... Yankee relic... 

Honestly, I kind of like the look of this one.

Luis Robert

The non-foil base card. That's cool.

Shogo Akiyama

I'm interested in seeing what Akiyama brings to the major leagues. 

Homer Bailey

Oh Topps... I was anxious for cards of the new players the Twins brought in over the offseason. And Series 2 had some that are just wrong. Obviously a painted over shot from Bailey's Kansas City Royals days. They forgot to darken the Royal Blue shoe! Sleeve patch is WAY too small, and the Minnesota doesn't line up at the button area gap. The darkened blue of the cap almost glows in how it was converted, but the did get the cap logo right. It's the right proportion, centered and bends the right way.

Willians Astudillo

I just love seeing Astudillo cards!

Minnesota Twins - Decades' Best

Topps ended this pack on a high note. I would have really wanted this card no matter what. 

About 17 years ago, I wrote that I dropped my stack of singles as I was grabbing some packs of 2020 Bowman.

I didn’t get anything from these packs particularly worth writing about. I didn’t bother scanning anything from these packs either. Zero Superfractors were found today. Some decent cards I'm happy to have, but nothing that I felt was worth scanning and tacking onto this already way too long Box Break story...

Sad to say, the market may have spoiled Bowman for me this year...

These didn't come from the packs, instead the Twins singles box.

2020 Bowman Brusdar Graterol Top 100

Nice to have this, just to remember how Topps felt about the future Dodger, when he was a current Twin. I do like this set.

2020 Bowman Alex Kirilloff base and 1990 Anniversary

The base card is a duplicate, but that Refractor is really nice.

Finally... It's the last one...

I'm so bored with 2020 Topps!

Pack Ten

Ehire Adrianza

Okay, that's good...

Jake Odorizzi

Bland photo...

Jonathan Schoop

Photoshopped phormer Twin...

Cal Quantrill

Strange to say the poop and mustard browns are growing on me...

That's probably a sentence that has never been said before in the history of the English language.

Shun Yamaguchi

I officially love this card!

Toronto Blue Jays Decades' Best

This is a great one too. Joe Carter and Rickey Henderson hoisting the 1993 World Series trophy.

Rickey Henderson 1985 Anniversary

And a flashback to earlier in Old Man Henderson's career.

Old Man Henderson fan?

Absolutely!

Evan Longoria Relic

The third "hit" of the box would be the expected Topps homemade relic. Sometimes these are nice. Sometimes you get San Francisco Giants...

With 2020 Series 2, Topps changed the way the cards are placed in packs. Instead of a block of inserts and hits in the middle of 2 sets of base cards, with the jumbo packs, the inserts were all on the bottom of the stack. Bottom if you opened them from the back anyways. I don't know how that applies to other 2020 Topps packaging.

Cole Tucker - Foil

Cole Tucker has gotten a lot of coverage on my pages lately. Guess that means I have to start following his career. And I really like how this card scanned red.

Fernando Tatis Jr. 2030

I can't complain about the player selection of 2030 cards I got. I really did like these cards, and might buy some other singles if I find more players I feel like adding to the future 2020 binder.

But more important, I'm finally finished with 2020 Topps! 

Oh wait, there are the bonus packs...

Oh wait, there's some more Expos!

2003 Topps 205 Jose Vidro & Javier Vazquez

Not a fan of this product. I get what Topps was going for in replicating old tobacco cards of the early 1900’s, but for today, they are visually unappealing. 

2003 Topps 205 Livan & Orlando Hernandez

I forgot the Expos had both of the Hernandez brothers in 2003. That was easy to forget because Orlando never never pitched an inning for the Expos. The Chicago White Sox sent a package of prospects and Orlando, to Montreal for Bartolo Colon. Orlando was included just to offset cost. His contract was just being dumped on Montreal because that’s how Major League Baseball ran the Expos from 2002-2004. Livan however pitched well in 2003 and 2004, before moving with the team to Washington in 2005.

Livan Hernandez is one of only five players to play in the major leagues for the Expos, Twins and Rockies.

2003 Topps 205 Brad Wilkerson Mini

Wilkerson looked like a potential superstar during his time in Montreal. However, once the team left for Washington, Wilkerson dropped off quickly and last played in the major leagues in 2008. He was out of baseball by 2011.

Before I finish off the 2020 Topps Series 2 Hobby Jumbo box, I have to mention the bonus packs.

Topps is now up to three packs of bonus stuff inside the Hobby box. Two packs of 1985 Anniversary Chrome Refractors, and a new 2 card pack of Decades’ Best Chrome.

We’ll start with the 1985 stuff…

1985 Anniversary Chrome Giancarlo Stanton, Joey Votto, Jorge Soler and Ketel Marte

These are nice looking. I love the Monarchs jersey on Soler. 

And I have to get a Votto insert in every box I buy. Green and Orange D-Bags... Baaaaaaaauaaaaa....

1985 Anniversary Chrome Tony Gwynn

Of all the Gwynn photos Topps could have chosen, why go for one whose colors don’t match the borders of the card. There has to be plenty of pictures of Gwynn wearing the poop and mustard, over the subpar navy blues.

1985 Anniversary Chrome Abraham Toro & Justin Dunn

A couple of rookies that may pan out. Although, I don’t know where Toro will play with hated Alex Bregman around. Justin Dunn has a good shot at seeing significant time in Seattle’s rotation.

1985 Anniversary Chrome A.J. Puk

I didn’t get the 7 Foot Hippie in a pack, but opted to buy it from the singles box. As 2020 has unfolded, I haven’t turned down too many chances to buy his cards. I know Rob would approve, so I’m not even going to ask…

1985 Anniversary Chrome Nick Solak Autograph

Cool! A bonus autograph!

The Bonus packs had an advertisement for Baseball Card Day. I’m going to have to try and remember to drop by that day. I’m sure finding something to buy won’t be a problem.

Decade's Best Chrome

These were mildly disappointing. Not an Orioles or Reds fan, although that look on George Foster’s face is pretty damn intimidating. And why aren’t these cards all sorts of Refractory? I’m guessing that gimmick is being saved for 2020 Topps Chrome. Which I’m not all that interested in buying at this point.

So yeah... There’s my 2020 Topps Series 2 Hobby Jumbo box break story. There was some stuff I liked, but for the most part, the product bored the crap out of me.

Perhaps it’s just the lack of a baseball season going on. It’s hard to get excited about new baseball cards when there is no new baseball season. Will interest pick up in a few weeks once the games get going? Or will this pandemic (which shows no signs of slowing down) wipe out the seasons before -or just shortly after- it starts?

Instead of this type product, I may just stick to the older stuff…

After all, there are always Fairfield Repacks at the Walgreens!

Will I do a similar box break for 2020 Topps (Update) Series 3?

Probably...

These are fun to write.