Category Archives: Box Break

2017 Topps Archives Hobby Box Break

I have a love/hate relationship with Topps Archives. I like the theory of using throwback designs, but it’s much better executed in Heritage. It can be nice to see the more recent vintage designs, without the almost 50 year lag time, though. That shine can be easily lost a bit when recent designs like 1982 get overused. This year’s set features 1960, 1982, and 1992.

One improvement in this year’s release, is the lack of regular short prints as part of the set. There are alternative image short prints, as well as various parallels. In the past, Archives has offered insert sets like cards from the motion picture Major League. This year, their pop culture references involve autographs of people like “Bald Vinny”, who seems to have limited appeal outside of Yankee stadium, and a baseball collector that most are not able to name. I’m not sure I would exactly call that an improvement.

A box advertises 24 packs of 8 cards, including two autographs per box.

This box contained:

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2017 Topps WWE Hobby Box Break

The 2017 edition of Topps WWE follows the recent pattern, using the same design as the flagship baseball set. The set is grouped by teams, if you will, as the wrestlers are separated by Raw, Smackdown, NXT, and Legends. These are all available in various parallels, as well as a handful with alternative images.

There are a few inserts sets included, as well. The main inserts sets all seem to share a similar design, which I’m not particularly a fan of. It’s a shame, as the content of those sets is interesting, just not the layout.

Each box contains 24 packs of 7 cards, and advertises two hits. The hits once again include Mat relics, shirt relics, manufactured championship belts, and autographs. `

This box contained:
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2016 Topps Star Wars Rogue One Series 1 Hobby Box Break

A new Star Wars movie release means a new Topps Star Wars trading card release. These cards are being released along side the new movie, featuring scenes and characters from Rogue One. It’s an interesting card design, and also offers a standard assortment of parallel versions, along with some well known insert sets.

The set features 90 base cards, although 19 was left off the checklist. The hobby box advertises 24 packs of 8 cards, with two hits per box. Looking at the checklist, there is a limited assortment of autographs, and quite a few manufactured relics.

This box contained:

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2016 Topps Star Wars The Force Awakens Chrome Hobby Box

The Chrome releases are a staple for Topps. As usual, it features the same design as the original release, with a much thicker and glossy card stock. It also shows different images while keeping similar insert sets. The box advertises 24 packs of 6 cards, with 1 hit per box.

This box contained:

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2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever Hobby Box Break

This is a new release for Topps WWE. While it is labeled Topps WWE Then Now Forever, it is essentially a second series of the flagship release. It continues after the base set numbering with 101-200, as well as a few of the insert sets that began in other WWE releases during the year. The exception to that is the NXT Prospects set, numbering beginning at 1 again, and the various autographs and relics which are not numbered to begin with. The set features many of the same stars as the original release, but it has a mix of new superstars recently called up and others who were not in the company in time for the original release.

This box advertises 24 packs with 7 cards in each pack, including two hits. With the various parallels and inserts, you might get very close to a set, but not necessarily the whole way there.

This box contained:

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