As a Hall-of-Famer here at APTBNL (read: mild sarcasm), I pride myself in my posting of the epic, weird, stupid, gross, and exciting pack breaks.
Every year I buy a few boxes of Topps Archives Signature Series: Retired Player Edition. Each box has 1 autographed card, in a one-touch magnetic sealed case. Each card is a buyback, serial numbered and signed on-card by a retired player.
I have pulled everyone from Mike Lieberthal and Jose Rijo to Reggie Jackson and Bob Gibson through the years.
Now, I thought, I could just open one box for you. But then you would have just one card, and that would be kind of dull. There are no packs, just boxes with a single card in each.
It wouldn't really be a "pack break" if I did 3 boxes.
So I decided, for YOU, our readers, to sacrifice my hard earned money and buy a CASE of this product. (And definitely not because I have been itching to do it for years or anything)
So here's 20 cards, 20 boxes, 20 packs, of 2022 Topps Archives Signature Series: Retired Player Edition Baseball. A Case To Be Named Later.
(Yes, I scanned this myself. It wasn't easy)
So, what shall we find? 20 Steve Balbonis? A dual auto of bloodied Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura?
Box 1:
Starting off of a Bill Mazeroski Auto, capturing his most famous moment, one of the most famous walk-off home runs in baseball... so famous, in fact, that it wasn't even called it a walk-off home run yet. This is a 2012 Topps Buyback, 24/46
Box 2:
Another Pirate! This one, the legendary leadoff catcher Jason Kendall. This is a 1998 Topps Buyback, 28/42.
Dave Magadan, perhaps a modest career as a player but had a big role in the 2007 Red Sox World Series win as a coach. This is a 1992 Topps Buyback, 02/81.
Here we have Andrew Jones, one of the great Superstation-era Braves. This is a 2005 Topps Updates Highlights Buyback, 01/34.
Next up is Steve Finley of the Arizona Diamondbacks as depicted on a 2004 Topps Cracker Jack Buyback, 21/32.
And here we have BBHOF Braves Legend Orlando Cepeda. This is on a 2016 Allen & Ginter Buyback, 09/31.
Moving the clock ahead, here is Rafael Furcal on 2010 Topps Update Buyback. 02/73.
A man who will likely enter the BBHOF as a Manager, Dusty Baker. Back in 1982 his PPE was a flapless batting helmet. Nowadays you can see him sporting a New-Era mask. This is a 1982 Topps Buyback 05/25.
Here is my first 1/1, Scott Rolen on a 2006 Allen & Ginter Buyback. Nice Card.
Shawn Green appears on this 2007 Bowman Buyback, our 2nd 1/1 today.
Angels HOFer Garret Anderson appears here on this 2002 Topps Gallery Buyback Auto, 10/15.
Twins Fan-Favorite Justin Morneau appears on a 2012 Allen & Ginter Buyback, 01/47.
Here we have Shannon Stewart's 1996 Topps Rookie Card Buyback, 29/99.
Just a few more... More HOFers? Balboni? Don Mossi? Stomper? What are we gonna get?
Ah, a nice 1985 Topps Buyback featuring the legendary Tommy John, albeit in a uniform you aren't used to seeing him in. 02/53.
Next up is Ken Griffey (Sr.) in action, 1982 Topps Buyback. 51/99. I liked that we got a lot of 1982 Topps, given that it has been exactly 40 years since that set came out.
One of my all-time faves, should be in Cooperstown, Luis Tiant, in a completely unusual uniform. "Pirate" is not how one typically imagines El Tiante. This is a 1982 Topps Buyback 43/99.
Whether he ends up in the Hall or not is about politics not achievements, and Gary Sheffield had a Hall of Fame career. This 2006 Topps Heritage Buyback is numbered 12/18.
And another (newer) BBHOFer, Jim Kaat, depicted here on a 1982 Topps Buyback 66/99.
I feel like I have been chasing Fergie forever with no luck. Here is his 1983 Topps Buyback 09/14. Gorgeous card.
And finally...
A 1983 Topps All-Star Set Buyback of Oriole Legend and BBHOFer Jim Palmer. 13/19.
This was a fun case break. What do you think?
