Buzz Break: 2010 Topps Update baseball cards

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The packs: 2010 Topps Update baseball cards (two hobby)
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... BlowoutCards.com for other Retro Rips

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

Cards per pack: 10
Set completion: 14 of 330 (4 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Jason Giambi, Vladimir Guerrero, Miguel Cabrera, Josh Hamilton, Nick Swisher, Elvis Andrus, John Buck, Marlon Byrd, Jose Valverde, Mitch Maier, Kevin Gregg, Koyie Hill

RC logo cards (3) – J.P. Arencibia, Dayan Viciedo, Wilson Ramos

Insert/short-print cards: 6 (all cards in gallery below)
Topps Attax (2) – Andrew McCutchen, Ike Davis
Turkey Red (1) – Jason Heyward
Cards Your Mom Threw Out (1) – Barry Larkin (1987 Topps reprint)
Vintage Legends (1) – Ty Cobb (1971 Topps design)
Gold parallel (1) – Ivan Rodriguez (/2,010)

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: Time flies ... this one will be 15 years old this October and with a lot of chatter about the changes to the cardboard world in recent years, well, I decided to do a throwback. Why? Because these two packs presented themselves on the cheap. Back then, names like Jason Heyward, Buster Posey and the injured Stephen Strasburg were on minds as they ripped here along with pie-faced photo variations and legends that could be found here a lot more easily than in the first two series -- heck, even I landed some. This time? A whole lot of All-Star Game and Home Run Derby highlights -- including a card of my player I probably have 25-plus times if not more (the benefit of ripping cheap packs). These packs were still pretty affordable today ($5 total), though hobby will cost more than other formats as that one is perhaps the one that will vanish first. There are hits possible, though they were only one per hobby box and likely Relics, while inserts flowed pretty well back then as you can see here. You never know what might pop out of an old pack and this duo included a Gold of a Hall of Famer. Those were one in six hobby packs -- six per box -- if you're wondering about one way to compare now and then ... beyond the suggested retail price. The design here is a unique one and pretty low-key, helping it service the photos -- and that's a plus -- but the timing of releases vs. the season (this one arrived in October that year ... one more difference) perhaps didn't help its inclusions. All in all, I like Update a lot vs. regular flagship because of all of the newcomers and All-Stars ... but these two packs were very heavy on those and since I ripped a lot of this one back in the day really only the inserts stand out a little more to me now.

Product Grade: B
Lot Grade: B+ (Gold of a Hall of Famer is a win ... this one is better ripped by the box but I wouldn't over-spend)
Fun Grade: B (relatively dull set but three inserts per pack keeps it above average)

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