Buzz Break: 2021 Panini Absolute Baseball (blaster box)

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 box: 2021 Panini Absolute Baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for this one.

Packs per box: 5
Cards per pack: 8
Cards per box: 40
Base set completion: 
19 of 100 (19 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Gil Hodges

Insert/short-print cards: 20 (all in gallery below with some base)
Green parallels (5) – Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brandon Lowe, Jeff McNeil, Christian Yelich, Jose Ramirez
Extreme Team (1) – Ronald Acuña Jr.
Green Extreme Team (1) – Trea Turner
Icons (1) – Aaron Judge
Green Icons (1) – George Brett
Power (2) – Cody Bellinger, Chipper Jones
Green Power (1) – Chipper Jones
Prospects (1) – Drew Waters
Green Prospects (1) – Adley Rutschman
Rookie Class (3) – Jo Adell, Jake Cronenworth, Ke'Bryan Hayes
Statistically Speaking (1) – Mookie Betts
Green Statistically Speaking (1) – Shane Bieber
Unsung Heroes (1) – Ketel Marte

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Rookie Threads (1) – Ryan Weathers

What's Buzz-worthy: This is one I didn't rip a lot of -- likely because I figured more might be coming but it dried up faster than I thought -- but I revisited this recently and still was impressed by the crispness and variety of designs here. If this one was an MLB release, it would be an A+ in my book. As it is now, it's not far off. Just as I noted last time, the mix of parallels and inserts here was strong -- that might get it an A alone. Historically, I'm a pretty big fan of this brand but I'll admit I haven't been as big on it in its recent run -- but this one makes it hard not to like. ... These blasters are a pretty dramatic re-vamp vs. the previous year and the volume of inserts alone is double what you got in a full box a year before. ... If you bust with some volume (a few blasters) it might really surprise. Your best bet, of course, is hobby where you will have guaranteed hits -- two autos and two memorabilia -- with more potential but actually fewer cards than you find here. All in all, I like this one as a collector.

Product Grade: A- (hits in hobby get it here)
Box Grade: A- (good mix of names in inserts and parallels and a rarer auto hit)
Fun Grade: A- (boes deliver a pretty consistent volume of inserts -- and that's appealing)

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy MLB cards on BlowoutCards.com