2023 Topps Series 1 Blaster Pack

Greetings!

Hope everyone is doing well.  It's Leap Day and APTBNL is 4 for 4 when it comes to posting on this day!  You gotta have goals, right?

Yes, 2024 Topps is out, and yes, I found some rack packs after the part time Target gig last week.  But here's a blaster pack of 2023 Topps.

Wal-Mart has put blasters of recent product on clearance in recent months.  Obviously some are more popular than others.  I popped in a couple of weeks ago and found a few Series 1 blasters for 15 bucks each. 

This leads to a dilemma of immediate gratification.  Do you want to pay $25 for a blaster now or $15 for it a year later?  Logically you'd wait but if you see it now, why not?  And who knows if for sure they'll be on clearance a year later?

7 packs with 14 cards in a pack, plus 1 manupatch card equals 99 cards.  Here's the pack with the "Commemorative Patch Card":

#91 - Josh Naylor

#108 - Alex Cobb

The 2023 design isn't bad, but it ain't no 2024.

#252 - Austin Meadows 

#260 - Matt Chapman

Chapman is still unsigned.  After the Cubs finally resigned Cody Belllinger, he's the biggest bat still available.  It doesn't help that his agent (like Bellinger) is Scott Boras.

#165 - Jeter Downs (RC)

#221 - Rhys Hoskins

Hoskins signed with the Brewers over the off-season, while Downs is now a minor leaguer with the Yankees.

#322 - Luis Urías

#101 - Tyler Mahle

As you all know, there's 330 cards in Series 1.  Here's the checklist if you still need it.

#SMLB-24 - Pete Alonso (Stars of MLB)

#12P-18 Justin Verlander / Gerrit Cole (One-Two Punch)

As usual, the Stars of MLB come in every pack.  The One-Two Punch insert comes 1 in every 16 packs.  Gerritt is in the set twice, here with the Astros and then with his new team, the Yankees. 

#TLP-BB - Bo Bichette (Team Logo Commemorative Patch)

Here's the Patch card.  At first glance I was a bit annoyed that the logo isn't straight, but then I flipped the card over...

This ain't no regular Team Logo Patch.  The Black parallel is numbered to 299 (this is #173/299) and the pack odds are 1 in 484 packs.  Not bad.

After the initial joy of getting a parallel died down, I was still annoyed Mr. Blue Jay was looking up.

#247 - Gavin Lux

#180 - Dominic Leone

Gavin is back after missing last year with a torn ACL.  Dominic spent 2023 with the Mets, Angels, and Mariners, but not with the Giants.

#38 - Jorge Mateo

#223 - Eli Morgan 

Holy crap, only 1 rookie in the pack!

Here are the backs because discounts:

Anyway, that's the pack.  We'll get 2024 Topps up here soon enough.

Enjoy the rest of Leap Day, and thanks for reading!