2024 Baseball Whatever act 4 - 2024 Baseball Card Review

I've already stated that I bought far less cards in 2024 than any year since 2017. That included zero hobby boxes. I spent a much larger percentage on singles, which I felt was a better use of my reduced card budget. I wasn't spending $200 on a box and getting less than 10 cards that I liked. Plus a "hit" that sells for less than $5 on the ebays.

So the only unopened product I bought all year, came from retail stores. And I passed up buying cards more often then adding them to my household supplies purchases. They were still a nice reward for dealing with the awfuls of a WalMarts or Targets run. Too many screaming toddlers and slow moving side-by-side aisle cloggers can usually be eased by some disappointing Topps blaster.

Welcome to act 4 of the great 2024 Baseball Whatever. This final installment will cover my thoughts of the 2024 baseball card releases that I took part in. Each set will be ranked by my overall "like" of it. 

Requirements for the 2024 Baseball Card Whatever are as follows:

1. I had to buy at least one pack of each product in order to qualify.

2. The set had to have hit shelves after January 1, 2024.

3. "Whatever" rules apply to each set.

And the Whatever rules are simple. Everything is weighted in the direction of how much I like it. Be it card or set. Insert or player. Rookie or Legend.

2024 Topps Big League - Sean Murphy

Teams I don't like will rank lower than... 

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Tim Raines

Teams I do like. 

Photography is a key factor as well.

2024 Stadium Club - Nick Loftin

I want an interesting picture on my cards.

2024 Topps - Kris Bryant

Not something that is redundant and boring after seeing 200 of the same picture wearing different uniforms. 

The scale can be tipped heavily depending on the design of the card itself.

2024 Topps Heritage - Brent Rooker

Nicely laid out cards score higher than designs that never should have left the thumbnail stage.

2024 Topps Big League - Big Leaguers - Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa in chains?

REALLY?

The plan is to Whatever the sets, then Whatever the cards I chose to show from them. So it's a Whatever of Whatevers! Sprinkle in a Random Top Loader card that gained a little value this season. Something I've had sitting around, and the featured player did something notable in 2024.

Leading off the Whatever, we have a couple of Honorable Mentions. Two sets that were given an incomplete grade for buying singles, but no unopened packs/boxes.

******

2024 Finest

******

Didn't buy any unopened 2024 Finest. It's a Hobby-only product that doesn't appear in big box department stores. Happened to be at a card shop that had some 2024 Finest in the quarter boxes, shortly after the set came out, and pulled out the Twins. So this isn't an accurate representation of the set at all. Especially since I don't have any of the inserts. I have mixed feelings on the design. I don't hate it, but I think it's a bit much.

2024 Finest - Royce Lewis - Refractor

Topps pretty much neutered the Refractors, with the intrusive background. They don't look all that different from the base cards. Which is very disappointing. Without the brilliants colored Refractors, these just look like tacky inserts from the late 1990's.

2024 Finest - Austin Martin - Uncommon

This was my first Austin Martin MLB Rookie Card. So I bought all three of them.

2024 Finest - Carlos Correa - Common - Uncommon - Rare

Confused that I saw three different versions of Carlos Correa's card at first, then I flipped them over.

Oh... Topps reverted back to that Finest card tier gimmick they used in the mid 1990's.

Didn't like it then either.

Instead of printing three different cards of the same player, why not use the short print gimmick better? No duplicates, use the Uncommons and Rares as some of the bigger chase cards. Top rookies and superstars should get those spots, which would make for a hotter product. It would also drive up the prices on the secondary market. Making many boxes nearly worthless once opened, since you got base commons instead of stars...

Look at me! Making rules I hate, for a product I will never buy!

2024 Finest - Carlos Correa - XFractor

XFractors look better than the regular Refractors.

But this design really doesn't lend itself to Finest's signature Refractor series, at all.

2024 Finest - Aaron Judge - XFractor

However, the Aaron Judge spoke to me. $2 for it was fine by me. And I don't even collect Aaron Judge.

Judging from what I've seen from these singles, I can't ever see myself buying any unopened 2024 Finest. Not at the prices of unopened product. Far better to buy singles, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to look for too many more of them.

******

2024 Topps Pristine

******

Never bought any unopened Topps Pristine either. Main contributing factor being that I never saw any. Wouldn't have bought it if I saw a box anyways. Just nowhere near my price point for a hobby box, where you get so few cards.

2024 Topps Pristine - Kirby Puckett

I like the design. Looks very much like Finest.

Or at least like Finest usually does...

Perhaps the two should have swapped designs?

2024 Topps Pristine - Royce Lewis

And it works with Refractors as well!

I only bought 4 cards from this set (Sonny Gray All Star card being the other). But I like them enough that I'd buy players/teams I collect, if I found them for a decent price. Especially the Refractors. Just no boxes. I could probably buy every Refractor I wanted from the set, for less than a quarter of what a hobby box would cost. Then I could spend another quarter of that Hobby box's price tag, on an autographed hit from them set. 

My best version of a hobby box, at half the price!

Now I need to put in the work to actually do all this...

Look! We're finally to the first officially ranked set in the Top 13 2024 Baseball Sets Whatever! 

******

#13 - 2023 Leaf Trinity

******

2023 Leaf Trinity Mega Box

Just to see what these were about, as there hadn't been much else on the shelves over the summer.

2023 Leaf Trinity - Benny Montgomery

Not too wild about the design. It's not horrible, but it implies cheap masquerading as fancy. At $2.50 per card, you'd expect a little more. At least Montgomery is a Rockies prospect. Who hasn't exactly lit the world on fire.

2023 Leaf Trinity - Michael Phelps

I can't ever look at Michael Phelps and not hear this classic Greg Giraldo bit...

I love pillows!

2023 Leaf Trinity - Joey Chestnut

Would you pay $2.50 for a card of a guy holding a big tray of wieners? I wouldn't... At least not this particular card. Perhaps if it looked nicer? I might even pay more for a card of a guy holding a big tray of wieners, if it sparkled.

2023 Leaf Trinity Rookie Relics - Myles Naylor

My box promised relic card. At least it's not a boring piece of white napkin. Who knows, maybe Myles will turn out better than Josh or Bo? Maybe we could get all three of them on the same team at some point? 

2023 Leaf Trinity Steel - Arjun Nimmala

Hmmm... I do like the Steel parallels. Though, I was hoping they were actually made of metal... Arjun Nimmala was one of my follow players from the 2023 MLB Draft. Taken 20th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays, he did put up a .807 OPS, as an 18 year old in the Florida State League. I learned during the draft that Nimmala's parents immigrated from India. Arjun often spent his summers in India, and played Cricket as a kid. So yeah, I'm interested to see how he turns out, given the unique back story.

2023 Leaf Trinity Steel - Pete Rose - Blue

Pete's a Blue Parallel. (I mean, isn't it OBVIOUS?!?!) It's serial numbered to a digit that I forgot, and don't feel like looking up. So that's cool.

2020 Leaf Charlie Hustle - Pete Rose - Autograph

Sadly, former Montreal Expos legend, Pete Rose, died earlier this year. He never did make the Hall of Fame. Rose had the most base hits of anyone in MLB history. His accomplishments in the game cannot be understated. Even today, Pete Rose still influences the younger players coming up in the game...

2021 Panini Mosiac - Tucupito Marcano - Prizm - Autograph

Such as young Tucapito Marcano. Following in the footsteps of fellow former second baseman, Pete Rose, Tucupita got himself suspended for life, from Major League Baseball. You can't bet on games you're playing in...

Even Pete was smarter than that...

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2020 Panini Chronicles Spectra - Tyrone Taylor - Auto Jersey

Taylor likely isn't going to break Pete Rose's all time hits record, but this card got a little more life with his role on the New York Mets. Not a superstar, but he helped them almost reach the World Series. Always liked this card since I pulled it from one of the few boxes of 2020 Panini Chronicles, I bought. They were such a fun rip.

******

#12 - 2024 Donruss

******

This is an image of the 2024 Donruss Hobby Blaster. Which I did not buy. Since I only bought 4 retail jumbo packs of 2024 Donruss, I didn't have an image to use for the product. Googles searches brought all sorts of the pictures I expected, and a couple of these. Much prefer this to the loud, splashy, Skenesy 2024 Donruss packaging of regular hobby and retail boxes. This reminds me a lot of how 1992 Donruss boxes looked in comparison to 1991 Donruss boxes.

2024 Donruss - Don Mattingly & Mark McGwire

Yup... The cards look exactly like I was expecting them to. Under Panini, Donruss cards have all looked so similar that it's hard to tell them apart. Especially when you feature stars of the 80's and 90's on cards that look like they're from the 80's and 90's. 

2024 Donruss - Thomas White & Lazaro Montes

Thanks to MLB/Fanatics, Panini can only make sets that are hybrids of legends and prospects. Which I don't really mind. But it's kind of a small niche, that is somewhat looked down upon by the more investor side of the hobby. The unlicensed and logoless cards don't have near the resale value of Topps products. But for a fun rip, I have no problem buying a Panini product every now and then.

2024 Donruss - Colson Montgomery - Red White & Blue Foil

The multitude of different foil parallels make the dull base more interesting.

2024 Donruss - Austin Wells - Green

This could almost pass for a Topps parallel...

Catchers are good for Panini!

2024 Donruss - Johan Santana

This is cool. Usually Twins legends are represented by the same slate of Hall of Famers (Puckett, Mauer, Killebrew, Carew and Oliva), so it's nice to see Johan Santana getting some appreciation. His 2002-2007 run with the Twins was pretty special.

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2022 Leaf Draft - Brayan Rocchio - Autograph

Rocchio stepped in and played a great defensive shortstop for the Cleveland Guardians. He didn't hit for much of an average in the regular season, but broke out in the 2024 playoffs against the Tigers and the Yankees. Rocchio will only be 24 next season, so if he can continue developing as he has, Cleveland could have a really good shortstop for a long time.

******

#11 - 2024 Topps Big League

******

New BL baaaaauaaaaa…

2024 Topps Big League Wrapper

Something Fanatics did that I actually liked was killing off the long running and incredibly pointless, Topps Opening Day set, in favor of Topps Big League. The hobby never needed a cheap parallel to the Topps flagship set, with an additional logo on the front. If you want to market a set to kids, make a separate set that is geared towards a younger audience. But make it something different so there’s actually something worth a few dollars of your time. Opening Day lasted from 1999 to 2022, with very few notable cards in that run. 

2024 Topps Big League - Juan Soto & Chris Sale

Topps moved quick to fire up their Photoshop to draw new uniforms on Juan Soto and Chris Sale. Looks like they had an easier time converting a Red Sox uniform in to the Braves, compared to the mess they made of a San Diego Padres road uniform. A Yankees jersey is pretty basic (especially since Nike axed the white double stitching for 2024), but there’s a lot that should have been cleaned up before this went to press.

2024 Topps Big League - Trey Cabbage & Chris Vallimont

Here’s a couple of former Twins minor leaguers that surprised me in getting cards in this set. Trey Cabbage was a 4th round draft pick of the Twins, in 2015. He spent the 2024 season with the Houston Astros, but had moved onto Pittsburgh after the season. Then a few weeks later, the Pirates released him so he could sign with the Yomiuri Giants, in the NPBL.

Vallimont was a Marlins draft pick in 2018. A year later, he was sent to the Twins along with Sergio Romo, in what turned out to be a pretty decent trade for Minnesota. Vallimont was a fringe prospect that didn’t move up the ladder very far. The Twins lost him via waiver claim to the Baltimore Orioles, in May 2022. He managed to pitch two thirds of an inning for Baltimore, then signed with Cleveland for 2023. Despite this card looking like he did, Vallimont never appeared in a single Guardians game. He signed with the Dodgers for 2024, but was released mid-season.

No World Series ring for you!

2024 Topps Big League - Dansby Swanson - Uncommon Foil

Guess it’s helpful that Topps spelled out the rarity of the foil parallels, on the front of the card.

Dansby Swanson is just Uncommon…

2024 Topps Big League - Luis Arraez - Super Rare Foil

While Luis Arraez is Super Rare!

2024 Topps Big League Mascots - Clark

The team mascot insert set has moved from the cancelled Opening Day, to smoothly transition into Big League. Where they really fit with the overall theme of the set.

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2021 Bowman’s Best - Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Wasn’t only Luis Arraez that was freed from his sentence in Miami, during the 2024 season. Jazz Chisholm Jr. found himself amongst the Yankees as the season wound down. Depending on who New York signs (that won’t be named Juan Soto) over the rest of the winter, Jazz could be either the Yankees second or third basemen, in 2025.

Either way, his cards have more potential with the Evil Empire, than they ever did as a fish.

******

#10 - 2024 Panini Crusade

******

2024 Panini Crusade Mega Box

Saw this online before I ever did in person. But the card preview inspired me to take a look at the card aisle of the Walmart’s, when I stopped by for a bag of frozen pre-cooked pork sausage patties. (They make for great breakfast bagel sammiches!) For whatever reason, the Great Value brand has been my long time favorite frozen pre-cooked pork sausage patties. Clueing me into this development is still the second best thing my ex-girlfriend ever brought to my life. (my former cat, Gracie, being the other.)

But this is about 2024 Panini Crusade. Not ex-girlfriends and Walmarts wares…

2024 Panini Crusade - Chuck Knoblauch

And any 2024 card set that is still willing to devote precious cardboard space to Chuck Knoblauch, is a-okay with me!

So this is the base Crusade card. Alternating panels of white and the team color.

2024 Panini Crusade - Noah Schultz - Silver

Then the barley less scare than base, Silver parallel. With alternating panels of grey and the team color.

2024 Panini Crusade - Brooks Robinson - Purple

And a serial numbered 9/99 Purple parallel. With, you guessed it, alternating panels of purple and the team color. Nothing against Brooks Robinson, hell of a player, but that purple and orange combo is atrocious on the eyes. Wish this would have been a Colorado Rockies player. Purple on purple of say, Larry Walker?

I could get behind that...

2024 Panini Crusade Juggernauts - Kyle Teel

One of several similar insert sets in packs. Wanted to like Teel heading into the 2023 MLB Draft. Then he was picked by the Boston Red Sox (booooooooo!), so I lost interest. Since he was recently traded to the Chicago White Sox, I'll pay a little bit more attention. Not that I like the White Sox, but I don't like the White Sox less than I really don't like the Red Sox. 

Got it?

So that's the base of 2024 Panini Crusade, but the real point of interest are the Crusades parallels. A subtle tweak in name, but a drastically different card. Crusades are given the Chrome Refractor treatment, to use a familiar term, borrowing from their competition. Sorry Panini, Topps was first. You're using their innovation.

2024 Panini Crusades - Aaron Judge & Dylan Crews

Hmmm... Aaron Judge is in the set? How did he (and others) get around the MLB Players Union agreement with Fanatics? I'd be curious to find that out. Bobby Witt Jr. was featured in all of Panini's 2023 baseball releases, so he was an exception last year. Shohei Ohtani also appears in 2024 Panini products as well. Gotta say, if Panini figured out a way to continue printing cards of the top stars in MLB, just without logos, it does give the company a small place in the hobby. At least until Fanatics crushes them.

Oh, and Dylan Crews. 

My waaaaaay too early pick for 2025 National League Rookie of the Year.

2024 Panini Crusades - Randy Johnson

I grabbed the right box off the shelf. This is my favorite Panini card I pulled in 2024.

Nothing else even comes close.

Not even a card of a guy holding a big tray of wieners.

2024 Panini Crusades - Jett Williams - Cracked Ice

Cracked Ice are Panini Crusades lowest level parallel, and fall 4 per Mega Box. Topps used to call these, Atomic Refractors. I wish both companies would clearly list what parallel I'm looking at, on the back of the card. 

Of course, if I wasn't writing these, I wouldn't need to care...

2024 Panini Crusade Apprentice Signatures - Bryan Ramos

Here was my Mega Box hit. (Secondary to Randy Johnson.) Ramos is decent prospect, who already got into a few games with the White Sox. Ramos was signed out of Cuba in 2019, and made a slow, but steady pace through the minor leagues. His minor league numbers suggest he could be a regular at third base for the White Sox if his hitting develops. He takes walks and doesn't strike out a whole lot. At 22, he could be a future building block.

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2023 Panini Obsidian - Elly De La Cruz

De La Cruz showed his 2023 rookie season wasn't a fluke. There's still room for improvement, and how he develops his game over the next few years will tell if he's the next $500 million player. As some have obnoxiously predicted. He has a significant way to go before he's at that level.

Obsidian were one of the pieces of the Panini Chronicles package, that stood out. I've kept all of the Obsidian cards I've pulled from packs over the years because they're just really cool looking. I don't know if there's going to be a 2024 Panini Chronicles release, and if not, I'll miss it.

******

#9 - 2024 Topps Heritage

******

My pick for most disappointing set of the year, 2024 Topps Heritage. 

Topps gave me the middle finger not even halfway into the first pack I opened. 

2024 Topps Heritage Zoo's Who - Catfish

Yeah Topps, you Catfished me.

After years of anticipating the Topps Heritage series to reach the 1975 set...

You decided to blur the backgrounds to ridiculous degrees.

2024 Topps Heritage - Lars Nootbaar

Is Lars Nootbaar preparing to take his hacks inside of a 6 year old's watercolor painting?

Unaccaptable.

2024 Topps Heritage - Shohei Ohtani

1975 Topps didn't do this. To make a 1975 tribute set and do this to the photos is just wrong. I'm not talking about the photoshoppery to get an Ohtani Dodgers card into the set, before the regular season starts.

2024 Topps Heritage - Seth Lugo & Mike Moustakas

A great deal of the charm of the 1975 set is picking out interesting things in the background of photos. I really wanted to collect the set for cards like this. Overlooked veterans on new teams, as well as aging veterans on teams you don't remember them playing for. With Lugo's resurgence and Moustakas winding down, these should be nice cards. but that horrible filter ruins these cards.

And who decided that 2024 Topps Heritage Short Printed Base Cards, now needed to be at the BEGINNING of the set? Hey Topps, you sell this set with the selling point of it being for set collectors. What method of storage do a great majority of these set collectors use for sets? Card pages and 3 ring binders. When you put the Short Printed Base Cards at the front of the set, it ruins the visual appeal of the first 11 pages being filled with gaps, because you insisted making the damn Short Prints in the first place! 

And another thing! The tradition of short prints being at the end of the set was to mimic the tradition that later series were always harder to find than early series. That kind of thing makes sense. This is just some jackass in Marketing coming up with this stupid idea, and not being convinced just how dumb and pointless it was. 

Thought you were actual FANS over there at Fanatics...

2024 Topps Heritage - Mike Trout

That means this here Mike Trout card, number 70-something in the set, is a short print.

Stuff like this is just so disappointing that I bought very little 2024 Topps Heritage.

After all the years I looked forward to this set, I just don't want to look at it.

2024 Topps Heritage - Byron Buxton

Oh and another thing that really ruined this set for me... The Minnesota Twins only received 10 cards in the set. Two of those are to honor Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau for their MVP seasons. Reducing the current team set to 8 cards. An additional 3 of those 8 cards are in the 100 card Short Prints at the BEGINNING of the set. So the "base" Twins teams set is a meager 5 cards. 

Heritage is a 500 card set and there are 30 Major League Baseball teams. That should average out to each team getting 16.6 cards in the set. Obviously that will fluctuate on either side depending on the team. (The New York Yankees get 27 cards!!) But the Twins did win a playoff series in 2023. They have enough decent players that should warrant more than 8 current players represented. Minnesota isn't Miami, Pittsburgh or Oakland...

Just another factor in me not buying 2024 Topps Heritage.

And since my feelings on Topps sets from 1976-1980, being overall apathetic, I don't see a whole lot of Topps Heritage coming my way until 2031 at the earliest. 

And who knows how I'll feel about cards in six years, given my declining feelings about them today. I'm sure 2031 Topps Heritage will likely run close to $400 a box, the way Fanatics is running things. 

Breakers gotta break...

2024 Topps Heritage Baseball & News Flashbacks - Hank Aaron & Busch Gardens

Flashbacks are still cool. Always love the News Flashbacks cards.

I've been to Busch Gardens!

2024 Topps Heritage Chrome - Giancarlo Stanton

Heritage Chrome are always cool. Less horrible than the base, although why there for the serial numbering?

And I really didn't like the red/orange combo on this particular card.

2024 Topps Heritage Chrome - Riley Greene - Blue Sparkle

Now I really do like this!

2024 Topps Heritage - Junior Caminero - Real Ones Autograph

L 7 signed this for inclusion in the Mega Box I bought back in March (or was it April?). Caminero hasn't yet figured things out. He hasn't been terrible (.708 OPS in 213 career MLB plate appearances), but he certainly hasn't become an instant superstar. 

2024 Topps Heritage Baseball Sensations - Bryce Harper - Gold Foil

This was also in the same Mega Box as L 7. It's a parallel of an insert. I think they're fairly rare. After looking up the number of Twins cards vs Yankees cards in the set, I closed the site. And I'm so angry with 2024 Topps Heritage that it's not going to get another Googles search to answer that question. I like Bryce Harper, so it goes in a Top Loader with the rest of the Phillies, in Top Loader Box number 4.

Speaking of...

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2020 Topps Silver Pack - Dylan Cease

Cease had a great 2024 season. All it took was getting out of Chicago. He'd already proven his mustache wasn't enough to keep the team afloat. Of course San Diego has spent money stupidly (Cronenworth, Tatis and Bogearts, among others), handcuffing the franchise to where they'll likely have to trade Cease this winter, to free up payroll. 

Not a good look, San Diego...

How angry was I over 2024 Topps Heritage?

Enough that I put an unlicensed Panini set above it on the Whatever!

******

#8 - 2024 Panini Prizm

******

2024 Panini Prizm Blaster

Prizm came out so late in the year, I'd assumed there wasn't going to be a Panini Prizm set in 2024. And they look exactly like every year's Panini Prizm release. Which is comforting in a way. Sure, in last couple of years, its not a been a Major League set. But the mix of legends and prospects is fun. And it's a cheap way to add some nice looking cards to my player/team collections.

2024 Panini Prizm - Kirby Puckett

For example, here's a new Kirby Puckett to add to the Twins binders.

It's not very interesting, but it's a new Kirby Puckett, nonetheless.

2024 Panini Prizm - Chase Petty

Former Twins first round draft pick (2021) has developed enough as a prospect to now get cards in sets like Prizm. Not far fetched to think he could show up in Cincinnati at some point next season.

2024 Panini Prizm Top Tier - Spencer Jones

Top Tier is one of the basic insert sets in Prizm. The Yankees have put a high value on Jones. I don't see anything in his minor league stats that scream top prospect. Just a lot of holes in his game that are being exposed at the lower levels of the minors. But he's a Yankees prospect, so there's always hype. They've been reluctant to include him in trade talks, but I'd be reluctant to acquire him.

And why is his head so small compared to his body?

2024 Panini Prizm - Gary Carter - Silver Prizm

Silver Prizm's are pretty common, but Panini's Refractors are always nice looking. And with Gary Carter wearing his catching gear, it covers up the New York Mets logo across his jersey, so it doesn't look awkward.

2024 Panini Prizm - Starlyn Caba - Aqua Prizm

They come in Aqua flavor as well.

I'd never heard of Starlyn Caba before pulling this card. A week later, he was traded to the Miami Marlins. Caba is a skilled defensive prospect at shortstop, with plus speed and a developing bat. He has little power, but a great strikeout to walk ratio, for an 18 year old. 

2024 Panini Prizm - Tony Oliva - Blue Ice

Another visually appealing parallel, helps to be a Twins Hall of Famer,  that come 4 per Blaster.

2024 Panini Prizm - Yu-Min Lin - Dotty Looking Wavey Prizm

Lin would be my Blaster "box hit". I don't know -or care- what it's called. Looks cool and is serial numbered to 75.

2024 Panini Prizm was exactly what I expected it to be. Which is comforting. With Topps continually trying to out-Topps themselves, I know what I'm going to get with Prizm. Unflashy flash. Probably the best way I can sum up this set.

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2021 Bowman Chrome - Coby Mayo - Autograph

Coby Mayo was my "box hit" from the first hobby box of 2021 Bowman I bought. Meaning that I have to follow his career. That's the (my) rules... At least Mayo has become a serious prospect since signing with the Orioles. He's posted a composite .912 OPS in 390 career minor league games, despite looking lost during a 17 game cup of coffee with Baltimore, in 2024.

I hate mayonnaise, but I'll support Coby Mayo.

******

#7 - 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter

******

Found my first 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter Blaster at the Targets. I had stopped by the one near my job after work, and saw three of them, on my way to buy my sister a birfday card. Allen & Ginter isn't a line I buy a whole lot of. I like it, but the repetitive design and photos quickly grow old. That doesn't apply to the non-sports stuff that appears. Though I wish they'd cut back on some of the lame "celebrities" in the base set. Be famous for accomplishing something. Not hosting a podcast about cheese or whatever.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Kirby Puckett

Another new Puckett for the Twins binders...

I like the framed look to this years set. Though I would have made the colored background a shade or two lighter, to make the player stand out a little more. The player name is a little hard to read at a quick glance. Small black type over a dark background isn't the greatest idea...

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini - Pablo Lopez

See, knocking the text out in white is a much better option.

And I know that what I'm seeing online, the rumors of "The Twins are listening to offers on Pablo Lopez" is just for clicks. That is what those are? Right? You guys aren't so stupid (and cheap) that you'd trade away one of the most important pitchers on the team, just to save a few million bucks?

Man, that thought is depressing... Quick! Send some Expos to cheer me up!

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Andre Dawson

Now that's more like it!

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Bartolo Colon

And here's my favorite card in the 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter set. Recognizing Big Sexy for his 17 game run with the 2002 Montreal Expos, will always get my attention. This was a late arrival, so it gets a picture from my phone, instead of a scan. Saw a few jumbo packs hanging in the Targets card aisle last week. Don't know what was in the other two packs, but I know I grabbed the right one.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter Chrome - Jordan Adams - Refractor

Allen & Ginter Chrome isn't going to be its own stand alone set (for the best...) so there's an increased amount of Chrome insert cards. Which of course means Refractor cards. This is the Refractor I got. A former first round pick, who never learned to hit, and was let go by the Angels at the end of the season.

Couldn't you have given me a Bartolo Colon Chrome Refractor instead?

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter Chrome Mini - Jose Altuve

How about a better Chrome Mini than Jose Altuve?

Really tired of pulling Altuve hits.

Can he get traded to the KBO?

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Ericka Thompson

It wouldn't be Allen & Ginter without pulling cards of people that make you question: "Who is this?" 

Well, flipping the card over tells you this is Ericka Thompson. She's a professional beekeeper.

Cool.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Buzzin - Sweat Bee

A little later in my Blaster packs, I figured out why Ericka Thompson is relevant to this year's Allen & Ginter set. One of the insert sets is 15 cards of different bees. Beads? (Nevermind...) So this particular be is attracted to human sweat. Which they like for moisture and salt. Kind of an odd fetish for an insect, but why not? We already live in a comic book.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Ballpark Bites - Cheese Curds

Wouldn't be Allen & Ginter without an insert set dedicated to food. This year is a tribute to ballpark food. 

Out of context line from the card back: "Fried in aromatic batter and concealing a fresh tang within..."

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Stars of the Show - Tommy

Stars of the Show salutes different dogs from the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Tommy was a Valor Service Dog. So you have to pay him to hump your leg.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - 50 States - Nebraska

Not really a big fan of Nebraska. Can I have a different one of 50 States?

They may be "independent", but they sure wear a lot of Red Hats...

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Sister Sister - Las Vegas & Phucket

Sister Sister is an interesting concept. Two sister cities, side by side. Liked the accidental humor of putting Las Vegas next to Phucket, using the immediate pronunciation my brain assigned the word Phucket. Being a city in Thailand, I'm positive their language doesn't recognize "Ph" as making an "F" sound.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Dude Dad

Dad? Please... You're maybe half my age. And if you're a dad, time to grow up and turn the hat around. You're not Ken Griffey Jr. So I flip the card over and read that he's a guy who makes YouTube videos under the moniker "Dude Dad". Hooray... Remember what I was saying about cutting back on the lame "celebrities" in the base set? 

Sorry Dude Dad, you might be a great guy, but I'd rather have a card of an egg.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - Tim Anderson

REALLY strange seeing longtime Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, wearing a Marlins uniform.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter - X-Rayd - Bobcat

Now this is cool! A 20 card set of animal X-rays, taken by the Oregon Zoo!

Topps missed the chance for the ultimate Allen & Ginter card... Just have the Oregon Zoo X-ray Dude Dad! Make it an autographed Chome mini Refractor and you've got gold!

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2019 Bowman's Best - Luis Gil - Autograph

Gil came out of nowhere to win the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year award. The Minnesota Twins traded a very young Luis Gil to the New York Yankees, for outfielder Jake Cave, in early 2018. Cave was generally ok as a 4th or 5th outfielder, with some power. Gil looked like he was going to flame out. Arm problems and inconsistencies plagued his trip through the minor leagues. I'm not convinced he'll be a solid pitcher for years going forward, but he played a key role on a team that made it to the World Series. 

I'd say this card I pulled from a 2019 Bowman's Best hobby box has significantly more value, from when I first placed it in a Top Loader. Close to 4 years ago.

******

#5 - 2024 Topps

******

2024 Topps Series 2 - Hanger Box

I covered my thoughts on 2024 Topps Series 1 (It's mixed amongst all the Montreal Expos and Todd Zeile stuff), back in early March. It's mixed in with a bunch of other stuff, so if you're really curious, knock yourself out. Subsequent releases of Series 2 and Series 3 (Update. I know...) didn't change overall thoughts on Topps 2024 flagship design. I liked it. 

2024 Topps - Aaron Nola & Randy Arozarena

Unique without being obnoxious about it. The subtle use of team colored foil was a really nice touch. Topps. Photo selection was a little better overall as well.

2024 Topps - Joe Ryan

At least it's a chance for some of the Twins non-major stars to appear in the set.

2024 Topps 1989 35th Anniversary - Carlos Correa

And insert sets.

2024 Topps Silver Pack - Sonny Gray

And parallels of insert sets.

Of players no longer with the team, once they're too expensive to re-sign.

2024 Topps 2023 Greatest Hits - Royce Lewis

Recognition for a pretty interesting baseball accomplishment. Doesn't seem like we're getting too many Twins cards for baseball accomplishments. I don't know if that's because Topps doesn't really care too much about making extra Twins cards, or if it's because we really aren't accomplishing much.

2024 Topps Home Run Challenge - Aaron Judge

I never take part of these. Perhaps I should?

2024 Topps - Mason Miller (Yellow) & Jesus Luzardo (Blue)

Topps loaded their 2024 product with a ridiculous amount of parallels. Various colors, patterns, images, logos, cartoons, It was just too much. Here's two I did like. Miller looks great on yellow. Really kind of shame they wont put "Sacramento" on the jerseys. You're just using the city like a cheap motel, Fisher. The least you could do is acknowledge your rest stop.

Fisher's former employee, The Jesus Lizard, looks great in the 1993 throwbacks, on a Royal Blue parallel. He's so traded by Opening Day... Hopefully to Arizona, so he can be reunited with the 7 Foot Hippie, for the third time. They should always be teammates.

Less than 10 hours after I wrote that, The Jesus Lizard was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. For Starlyn Caba, who I was talking about earlier.

2024 Topps Stars of MLB Chrome - Shohei Ohtani

He's pretty good.

2024 Topps - Connor Joe & Justin Turner

I just really like Connor Joe. I've never really liked Justin Turner, but since he was only in Toronto for half of a season, I don't see him getting a whole lot of Blue Jays cards.

2024 Topps - Trevor Larnach - Sun Foil (?)

You know what Topps? I just don't care anymore... These parallels are overproduced, meaningless and stupid. 

When everything is special, nothing is special.

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2023 Topps Tier One - Mark Vientos - Silver Autograph

Picked this up from Pal's during their last weeks of business. Serial numbered 7/10. With a price tag of $4 on it. I don't care who it is. I'll strongly consider just about any player/team for an autographed of 10. Not a Mets fan, but I figured Vientos still had a shot at playing time in New York. If he does anything, this is so much more than a $4 card. 

Well, Vientos posted a .266/.322./.518 line, with 27 home runs, in 2024. Outplaying his third base competition, Brett Baty, for the starting job, and guaranteeing him a spot in the 2025 lineup. Which Baty no longer has.

******

#6 - 2024 Topps Update

******

2024 Topps Update isn't ranked higher than the first two series of flagship Topps for any measurable reason. It's all the same except for the players featured. Chronological being the biggest factor in relation to the Whatever.

2024 Topps Update - Luis Arraez & Ben Rordtvedt

Being what Topps considers it's update set, you see more traded players and injured or bench riders that suddenly see more playing time. If they didn't make the first two series, they may show up in Update.

2024 Topps Update - Tyler Black - Rookie Debut

Great photo for a base card. The Rookie Debut subset has swelled to ridiculous levels. First showing up around 15 years ago, it was an excuse to run an additional card of the biggest name prospects to reach the major leagues. Now just about every rookie gets a second card, to honor their debut. I'm a fan of Twins rookie Austin Martin. But as soon as I saw that even he had an additional Rookie Debut card, it was just too much. Austin Martin, much as I like him, doesn't need a Rookie Debut card.

2024 Topps Update - Ildemaro Vargas

Those alternate Nationals jerseys are terrible. 

Vargas is a the prototypical player for Topps Update. Longtime minor leaguer that bounces between organizations, while getting a few shots with major league teams. He had a brief run with the 2020, but did not get a Twins card before departing for the Chicago Cubs after the season. Take Arraez & Rordtvedt for example, I do enjoy seeing cards of former Twins, featured with teams I never expected to see them with...

2024 Topps Update - Miguel Sano

Case in point.

2024 Topps Update - Jack Leiter

Of course there's all of the new rookies that made their debuts before the arbitrary date set by MLB. All of those coming afterward have to wait for next years Topps set, for their first cards.

2024 Topps Update Mystical - Jackson Holliday

And of course inserts for all of those new rookies...

2024 Topps Update - Stars of Baseball - Paul Skenes & Jackson Chourio (Chrome)

Topps continues the running Stars of Baseball insert series in Update. Both in regular and Chrome parallel. Which marked the first non-Bowman Paul Skenes card I pulled. Unlike many online, I did not fare very well in the great 2024 Skenes Derby.

2024 Topps Update - Josh Gibson

Here's something I didn't expect to see...

2024 Topps Update - Ken Griffey Jr. Tribute

The Ken Griffey Jr. Tribute continued on in Update. I would have liked to care, but that didn't happen. Of course when you take an interesting photo, like this, and then blur out the background, I'm not going to care. 

Topps really put in extra effort to ruin photos in 2024.

2024 Topps Update All Class - Greg Maddux

I like this card.

Still hate the Braves.

2024 Topps Update - Paul Skenes and Yasmani Grandal

Did he give him a Dutch Oven in the bullpen?

Whatever... That's more than enough about 2024 Topps.

Not even going to begin about this blatant cash grab...

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2020 Elite Extra Edition - Bobby Witt Jr. - Laundry Tag

Pulled this from a 2020 Elite Extra Edition hobby box, back in the fall of that year. To date, it's the only Laundry tag card I've ever pulled. Not complaining, but I always wondered why Panini didn't have these autographed. I bet Panini was just too embarrassed to show Bobby the picture they chose for a card this rare. Either way, numbered 4/7 is pretty cool on its own. 

And you really can't have a first three years in the league, like Bobby Witt Jr. has turned in for Kansas City.

******

#4 - 2024 Topps Chrome

******

2024 Topps Chrome

I'll still pick up retail Blasters of Topps Chrome. Not because I like the set, just because I like the inserts. 

2024 Topps Chrome - Wade Meckler

The base set has become to bloated over the years with too many rookie cards. A good deal of them will make their initial appearances, then never be heard from again. Wade Meckler became somewhat of a poster boy for that sentiment, in relation to Topps Chrome. He developed quite the cult following on Reddit. And I'm all for people having fun with stuff like this. Even Meckler himself got in on the game, taking part in a Q & A session on the SubReddit, r/baseballcards. 

So that's cool, but what I'm here for is all of the dazzling Refractor parallels!

2024 Topps Chrome - Edouard Julien - Refractor 

From the abundant base Refractor...

2024 Topps Chrome - JJ Bleday - PrismFractor

To the common PrismFractor...

2024 Topps Chrome - Shane McClanahan - Wavey Fractor

And whatever this Wavey Fractor looking thing is...

2024 Topps Chrome - Eury Perez - Logofractor 

Even a gimmicked up Logofractor, if you're willing to shell out even more money for a special box...

(Forgot to scan this card, that I picked up for a quarter at that really cool card show in October. Have a crappy digital photo, instead!)

The driving force behind Topps Chrome isn't just the 31 Flavors of Refractors, it's the 31 Flavors of Refractors that are also autographed...

2024 Topps Chrome - Alex Jacob - Purple Speckley Autograph

Like this striking Alex Jacob Purple Speckley Autograph, I found inside the only 2024 Topps Chrome Mega Box I bought. The rest of my 2024 Topps Chrome came from retail blasters. They don't give you the greatest odds for autographs or some of the rarest Refractor parallels, but you still get a nice selection of base insert cards. Which again, are some of the nicest cards you can get at this price point.

2024 Topps Chrome 1989 35th Anniversary - Masyn Winn

Wish I could have shown these to a 14 year old Captain Honkass, who was incredibly bored by 1989 Topps baseball.

"Someday, when you're almost 50, you'll get card like this in a pack..."

Would've blown my mind...

2024 Topps Chrome Future Stars - Michael Harris II

These are really nice looking. Good insert idea as a variation on the Future Stars subset that showed up on late 1980's Topps sets.

2024 Topps Chrome All Etch - Byron Buxton

Not sure what Topps meant by "All Etch", but these cards are really nice too. And it's always a good thing to pull the insert cards from your team, so you don't have to look for them later.

2024 Topps Chrome Strokes - Junior Caminero

Caminero got a lot of cards in 2024. Tampa's top prospect going into the season didn't really establish himself. Which sucks because I liked a lot of the cards I pulled from L 7.

2024 Topps Chrome - Shohei Ohtani

Topps started a promotion a few years ago where you could sell the Topps Chrome cards of whomever won the league MVP awards, to participating card stores, for a predetermined amount. This base Ohtani could have been exchanged for $20, if I wanted to do that.

I chose not to.

But speaking of Shohei Ohtani, Topps... 

2022 Topps Update All Star Stitch - Shohei Ohtani - Autograph Redemption

It's now been over two years... Where is my Shohei Ohtani 2022 Topps Update All Star Stitch card?

Seeing all sorts of newer Topps Ohtani autographs hitting the market every week, so where is this particular card?

And I don't want a "fair value" exchange. I want this particular Shohei Ohtani autograph!

2019 Topps Heritage Real Ones Autograph - Shohei Ohtani

My 2019 Topps Heritage Real One is getting lonely, and needs a companion Shohei scribble, to keep it company!

You're on notice Topps... Fork over the Ohtani, or I'll be forced to say even more nasty things about what Fanatics is doing to the hobby!

Whatever...

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2021 Mosiac - Garrett Crochet - Autograph

Crochet was the lone bright spot for the 2024 Chicago White Sox, on their way to setting the modern record for 121 losses in a season. Taking the 1962 expansion New York Mets off the futility hook. So of course the White Sox traded him away for prospects. Crochet will be knitting sox of a more reddish color in 2025. Walking in the footsteps of former White Sox lefty, Chris Sale, Boston will take another of Chicago's dominant young left-handed starters, and hope for similar results.

******

#3 - 2024 Bowman

******

Since I didn't have half of a paycheck to spare on a hobby box of 2024 Bowman, I chose to spend my Bowman budget on retail blasters, over the course of several months. Stretched out fun, instead of a half hour of great expense, followed by guilt and disappointment. 

2024 Bowman - Juan Soto & George Lombard Jr.

Standard base veteran and base prospect card. A design that is pretty much a helping of leftovers, stewed together from the 2021 and 2022 designs. Last year's circular anomaly was left where it belongs. in the Mac OS Recycling Bin.

2024 Bowman - Walker Jenkins

1st Bowman card of the Twins 2023 first round draft pick and top prospect, Walker Jenkins. 

Still need to pick up the 1st Bowman card of the Twins 2024 first round draft pick...

2024 Bowman - Gabriel Gonzalez

Not too long before 2024 Bowman was released, Gabriel Gonzalez was traded to Minnesota, as part of the return in the snakebit Jorge Polonco trade. Anthony DeSclafani got even more hurt and missed the season, reliever Justin Topa got hurt and missed all but 5 games of the season, prospect what's his name, underperformed in high A. Gabriel Gonzalez himself underperformed in AA, and his stock fell rapidly from preseason projections. Polanco didn't fare any better with Seattle. All 5 players involved in this trade, had terrible (or injured) seasons. 

2024 Bowman Chrome Mega Box - Ronald Acuna Jr.

I don't know how many blasters I bought, but I do know the total money spent on them (and one Mega Box) was nowhere close to what a hobby box would have set me back. This route brought on a whole lot more base and insert cards, then that overpriced hobby box would have.

Ultimately, that's what I wanted more.

2024 Bowman Chrome - Jackson Merrill - Lunar Glow Refractor

Like the retail exclusive Lunar Glow Refractor, featuring the guy who absolutely should have been 2024 National League Rookie of the Year.

2024 Bowman Chrome - Tre Morgan - Lava Fractor

Similar to the Wavey Fractor, the Lava Fractor is more of a Bowman thing. I'm not entirely sure if that's what they're even called, and I care even less. It looks cool. It's serial numbered. It goes in a Top Loader and into a box.

Now buying multiple retail blasters, instead of a hobby box, will typically decrease your odds of pulling a massive hit. 

2024 Bowman - Yoshinobu Yamamoto - Red (4/5)

Much to my absolute shock, this was in the first blaster I bought. Making every pack of 2024 Bowman I opened, a default disappointment. When you get something like this, right away from a product, nothing else will live up to it.

But as I said, I was really happy to get all the extra inserts. They may not have tremendous value, but they are very nice looking cards.

2024 Bowman Chrome Top 100 - Jared Jones

The Top 100 inserts have been a long running favorite of mine. Although Bowman's methods of ranking prospects doesn't seem to follow any official scouting organization. Not that I have the patience or capital to make it happen, something really cool to own would be complete sets of each years Bowman Top 100. They'd be fun to look back on.

2024 Bowman Chrome AI - Paul Skenes

When I was opening my first 2024 Stadium Club packs, I got a card of Babe Ruth and it didn't look quite right. Made me wonder if Topps was already using Artificial Intelligence to generate images for cards. And if they aren't doing it, how soon will that become common? Developing these sets would go from: "We need to find a game action photo of Walter Johnson, from between 1912 and 1914..." to "Hey Googles... Make a picture of Walter Johnson pitching in 1913..."

And how many of us will be able to tell the difference?

2024 Bowman Chrome Prospect Power Up - Ethan Salas

Really like the pinball machine backdrop for these cards. 

2024 Bowman Chrome Rising Inferno - Junior Caminero

My favorite insert of 2024 Bowman. This didn't come from a pack I bought, but as a single from the card shop in Golden Valley, last Spring. Didn't find any more of these cards in any retail I opened, so I'm wondering if they were a Hobby exclusive.

You know, these type things are very easy to look up...

Yeah, but I don't care enough to do it...

And if you buy enough retail, the odds are in your favor to eventually get that autographed Bowman Chrome prospect card. The same ones that you pay for a guarantee inside a hobby box.

2024 Bowman Chrome - John Cruz - Autograph

The more I look at John Cruz's signature, the more I'm fascinated by it. His name is all one word, with his last name connected and lower case. The capital J is rather ornate, and could be confused as a P or an F. John actually did write each letter of his name, which is an absolute rarity with signatures today. But the best part is John Cruz pulls a Billy Madison writing out "Rizzuto", and completely improvises the z. Looks like he forgot how to draw the letter, said screw it and plopped a number 4 on top of it. And a random dot at the end.

I don't know what you were doing here, but you killed it!

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2019 Bowman Chrome - Michael King - Autograph

I have a tendency to pull autographs of New York Yankees prospects from Bowman products. Back in 2019, this was the guaranteed autograph I found inside my Bowman hobby box. Was kind of disappointed by it. Great, another overhyped future middle reliever... I put it in a Top Loader, then in the Yankees part of the box and forgot about it.  

Several years later, Michael King is a relief pitcher for the Yankees... I still don't remember having this card, until he's traded to the San Diego Padres (for Juan Soto). The Padres considered King a key piece to the trade package, and names him to the starting rotation. King has a pretty good year and shined in the playoffs.

I guess I was wrong about my 2019 Bowman guaranteed hit...

******

Honorable Mention - 2024 Bowman Draft

******

2024 Bowman Draft Chrome - Kaelen Culpepper - Autograph

While picking up a few Xmess gifts online, I thought I'd look to see what Kaelen Culpepper autographs were going for, from the newly released 2024 Bowman Draft set that I wasn't going to buy. Most copies of his base Chrome 1st Bowman autograph were between $40-$50. Then I found one for $25 + $4 shipping. Jumped on the buy it now. Had I seen it in a card store for $30, I wouldn't have thought twice before buying it. Now I don't have to spend $18,724 on an unopened pack, hoping this Culpepper would be inside.

I hate what the hobby has done to Bowman.

******

#2 - 2024 Stadium Club

******

Likely due to the on-card autographs, we seem to wait longer and longer each year for Stadium Club's release. After finding out the set was finally hitting retail shelves in mid-November of this year, I made a post work WalMarts run and found a limited supply in stock. Opted for 2 Blasters and 2 retail jumbo packs, for my first encounter.

2024 Stadium Club - Reggie Jackson & Nolan Ryan

Blasters are down to 40 cards per box now. When you subtract the 4 Chrome and 2 Insert cards per box, you're down to 34 base cards. Now subtract another 8 cards for the one-per-pack Foil parallels, and you're down to just 26 cards. And for a product like Stadium Club, I'm sorry, but that is way too few base cards. 

2024 Stadium Club - Cal Raleigh

The Big Dumper is about to have a big Gatorade dump rain over his head.

Sure, for a lot of today's collectors, who cares about fewer base cards? After all, if there isn't fresh Skenes in the box, you might as well throw the whole worthless thing away. But for me, I buy Stadium Club for the photography. The lack of competition in the baseball card market has really hurt the unique photo selection side of the hobby. Not like Panini can use a photo that loses it's greatness without team logos.

2024 Stadium Club - Larry Walker

And while I have seen this particular Larry Walker photo before (likely in the Rocky Mountain News, the morning after that game was played), I love that it's been immortalized on a card.

But I'm not that wild about this years card design. The best Stadium Club sets have been very minimal, beyond the full bleed photo. I could live with the last name hexagon with smaller position hexagon and half in/half out, first name. It's the line and fade out below it that bothers me. Not only is it completely unnecessary, but it actively takes away from the photo.

2024 Stadium Club - Joey Votto

I'm glad that Joey Votto will have his 2024 Spring Training appearances as a Toronto Blue Jay first baseman recorded for posterity. After 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, I was really hoping to see a final run with his hometown team. An injury just 2 games into his Spring Training eventually led to him retiring in August, while attempting to come back in AAA Buffalo. 

Votto absolutely should receive serious Hall of Fame consideration, once he's eligible. Don't know if he'll get in, but he'd get my vote. If I had one.

2024 Stadium Club - Davis Schneider

Wrote about Davis Schneider in act 2 of the 2024 Baseball Whatever, but I didn't have this card when I posted it. This one is a lot better than the Topps Stars of MLB card I used. But with a mustache that grand, he deserves another mention.

2024 Stadium Club Chrome - Julio Rodriguez & Heston Kjerstad - Refractor

Kind of liked Stadium Club Chrome as its own stand alone set. Of course if it was still a thing, it would just be another ridiculously expensive hobby box that I wouldn't buy today.

2024 Stadium Club - Mike Trout - Red Foil & David Ortiz - Sepia Foil

Foil parallels featuring a full tint of the shade, are nice improvement this year. But there's still far too many. Cut back on the parallels and replace with base. 1 red per pack is overkill, when the pack only has 6 cards. With another of those cards being a Chrome parallel. Sepia's are slightly rarer, but not enough so. Are there any collectors that really go nuts for these parallel sets?

You know Fanatics, there are people who like buying cards to actually get cards! 

2024 Stadium Club - Joe Mauer - Black Foil

Took several looks to even notice this was a Black parallel, given the content of the card. The next pack I opened had a base Mauer inside, so I could compare. This didn't look all that different. So why do the parallel?

2024 Stadium Club - Hanger Wrapper

The Hanger packs have their own Pink Foil parallels. But what stood out to me is the photo of Mr. Seager... While it's not uncommon to see a baseball photo where the batter is caught holding the bat in a rather... Uh... Phallic position. When you combine this with the overwhelming expression of joy on Corey's face. You get some great unintentional humor....

And Fanatics put this on all of the packaging!

2024 Stadium Club - Honus Wagner - Pink Foil

Because when I want a great mid-1920's photo of an absolute baseball legend, I obviously want it fluorescent pink.

2024 Stadium Club - Bo Jackson - Rainbow Foil

I'm okay with this. If you're going to fill a set with completely unnecessary parallels, there has to be something significant mixed in. The Rainbow Foils are basically paper Refractors. Not as nice as they would be if they were printed on Chrome stock. Serial numbered to 25 is a nice touch as well. This was a few packs into my first blaster.

2024 Stadium Club - Special Forces - Aaron Judge & Power Packed - Elly De La Cruz

Appreciate the cut down on pointless insert sets in this year's product.  

Now if they could just calm down on the redundant parallels...

So far I've bought four 2024 Stadium Club blasters and the two hanger packs, for still less than the price of a Hobby Box. And I still got an (on card) autograph. With the amount of Hobby Boxes I've seen online that contain two autographed cards of never-will-be's, I'll continue going this route as I scale back my card purchasing.

2024 Stadium Club - Matt Williams - Autograph

Not a Giants fan, but he was a big time power hitter during the Junk Wax Era, and an autograph I would have loved then. I did buy an autographed Matt Williams years back from Pal's, for those very reasons. But it was an Arizona Diamondbacks card, that was gold foily and Refractory. I don't remember what year/set it's from, and I don't feel like looking for it. Anyway, a Matt Williams autographed Giants card feels more right.

2024 Stadium Club - Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

For reasons completely unrelated to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., this is my favorite card I've seen in the set.

Sorry Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki, this is THE story in MLB that I'm the most interested in. 

As Hurricane Milton ripped across Tampa/St. Petersburg, it ripped Tropicana Field's roof completely apart. The domed stadium was not built for use without a roof. There is no drainage system for rainwater, and none of the interior equipment is set up for outdoor use. You can't use this stadium, unless it has a roof on it. Inspectors found enough damage that it would take a year to make it functional again. Complicating matters is a new Rays stadium was to be built in the parking lot next door. Slated to open in 2028. Tropicana Field would then be demolished. So is it worth the expense of repairing a domed stadium that only has three years of life left? 

I wont even try to cover the complete unsolved drama and questions surrounding the Tampa Bay Rays ownership and Pinellas County. In a nutshell, the stadium cannot be used for at least 2025. The Rays will play in the New York Yankees Spring Training complex, in Tampa, FL, for the 2025 season. Then they have to find a new home. Due to the hurricane, there were delays in a final stadium funding vote, and the Rays ownership threw a tantrum. Vaguely threatening to move the team unless they get a new agreement. (With more money attached...) No work has been started on repairing Tropicana Field, which will continue to deteriorate as it sits exposed to the elements. No agreement has been made on building a new Rays stadium either. They have to find somewhere to play in 2026, and no one knows where that will be.

The clock is ticking on this franchise.

Sure looks like Rays ownership has become fed up with their whole situation in the area, and would like to leave town. They've kind of acted in bad faith with the city and county since the hurricane, getting some VERY cold feet regarding their previous agreement. County officials are now asking for MLB to force a sale of the franchise, to stay in the city.

With his mishandling of the whole John Fisher, Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas debacle, Rob Manfred now has an even worse stadium situation on his hands. 

So what are you going to do about this Manfred? 

This is YOUR Montreal Expos. 

Random Top Loader Alert!!

2020 Panini Prizm Draft Picks - Tarik Skubal - Gold Autograph

Skubal entered my radar with 2020 Bowman. With a name like Tarik Skubal, I'm going to follow your career. This was one of my autographs in the 2020 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Hobby Box I picked up in late 2020. For a card numbered to only 10, I would have expected something a little flashier than this. And could Panini have put any LESS effort into the card backs?

Couldn't find anything at all to put in that empty white space?

Seems like I've been writing about 2024 Baseball nearly forever. I'm kind of tired of it. For much of the last week I've been ignoring finishing this story, because I've been working on my nex story. Which has nothing to do with baseball. 

So in the spirit of getting this finished, We're finally at number 1!

******

#1 - 2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary

******

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Blaster

First started seeing these at the Targets and Walmarts, in March. Immediately falling in love with the product, and probably buying more of it than any other release this year. It's 1954 Topps, but it's today!

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Drew Maggi

Nice to see Maggi getting a card. After a decade toiling in the minor leagues, the Twins called Maggi up to the Major Leagues for the first time in 2021. Then didn't put him in a game, before sending him back to AAA St. Paul, three days later. Thought that was a real shitty thing to do. He signed with Pittsburgh, and eventually made it to the Pirates. Going 2 for 6, with a double, in 3 Major League games, in 2023.

Lightning round!

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Honus Wagner & Willie Mays

Show these to someone in 1954 and see what happens...

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Carlos Santana - Refractor

Guess Minnesota needs a new first baseman for 2025...

I hear Pete Alonso is looking for work...

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Austin Hayes - Logofractor 92/499

Self indulgent Logofractors!

Why is the logo upside-down?

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Rogers Hornsby -Blue PrismFractor & Robin Roberts - PrismFractor

Common retail parallels. The Robin Roberts has some pretty incredible color, not just the scan.

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Jose Altuve - Speckle Fractor

Always with Altuve...

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Buster Posey - Blue Mini Diamonds Refractor

I don't even care what Topps wants to call these things anymore. I just like being able to buy a retail product for a reasonable price, that has cards that look like this.

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Paul Goldschmidt - Blue Shimmer 29/100

Goldschmidt as a Yankee? That'll be weird...

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - George Brett - Rose Refractor 43/75

Totally happy to pull a Brett like this.

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Riley Green - Autographed Blue SomethingFractor 95/99

My biggest hit from 2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary, which came from the Targets a few blocks from my house. Looking at what Hobby Boxes were going for, I know that all the blasters I bought did not total the price of one. So I got my "guaranteed" autograph anyways.

And it was my second, because I pulled a Matt Wallner base autograph shortly before this.

So this was my 2024 Baseball Card set of the year.

Which is a set from last year, that came out this year. Now we'll see what 2025 has in store for us.

How many more gimmicks can Fanatics cram into the product?

How much of it will I buy?

Will Panini even bother? 

Guess we will see. But for now, I'm going to write about something that's not baseball.

******

Happy X-mess to me!

During the company X-mess party, I won a TV! Meaning I could finally replace the TV/DVD combo I briefly had working in New Baseballcardland, earlier this year. That had to change when our living room Jumbotron went out, and I had to move my office TV up to the living room. Meaning the short lived New Baseballcardland 80's cartoon theater had to close down. My office simply needed a TV more.

But with my unexpected holiday winnings, this...

Has been turned into this!

Being able to watch old Transformers cartoons will absolute help assist in the ongoing big sorting project. Which really hasn't begun since I detailed it status way back in act 1.

And I'm done!

******

If you happened to miss any of the past 2024 Baseball Whatevers, here's where you can find the other three. 

2024 Baseball Whatever act 1 - ebay and Sorting

2024 Baseball Whatever act 2 - 2024 Twins Season

2024 Baseball Whatever act 3 - Only Card Show Whatever

And the recently assembled Baseball Story Index:

The Baseball Stories.