Buzz Break: 2023 SportKings Volume 4 (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: 2023 SportKings Volume 4 sports cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: Click here

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

Packs per box: 6 (five standard, one hit pack)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 51
Base set completion: 20 of 30 (67 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Ric Flair, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Rice, Larry Bird, Carl Eller, Joseph Ruud, Grant Holloway, Erriyon Knighton, Dallas Seavey, Amy Van Dyken, Greg Louganis, Efren Reyes, Cal Ripken Jr., Kerri Strug, Sir Garfield Sobers, Ma Long, Kurt Warner, Fred Taylor, J.R. Celski, Sergey Bubka

Insert cards: 30 (everything from box in gallery below)
Mini (15) – Ric Flair, Greg Louganis, Matti Nykanan, Efren Reyes, Fred Taylor, Sergey Bubka, Jerry West, Jerry Rice, Kerri Strug, Nolan Ryan, Ole Einar Bjorndalen, Ma Long, Grant Holloway, Frank Górę, Erriyon Knighton
Silver parallels (10) – Kurt Warner, Greg Louganis, Cal Ripken Jr., Amy Van Dyken, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sergey Bubka, Victor Espinoza, Matti Nykanan, Fred Taylor, Juan Manuel Fangio
Blue parallels (5) – Babe Ruth, Matti Nykanan, Fred Taylor, Sir Garfield Sobers, Juan Manuel Fangio

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
SK Legends Memorabilia (1) – Pete Sampras

What's Buzz-worthy: With tennis on some fans' minds with the U.S. Open, I figured I'd present my last one of these as the hit here is a five-time U.S. Open champ. Not a super-flashy card, but it's not a bad find for a box that was around $12 on sale awhile back -- and at that price with a guaranteed hit that could be an autograph I think these are worth the look/rip (I did a few poke around in the archives). Even at their standard price ($19.99) they are also worth a shot as there are some premium kinds of cards that could make their way into the bonus packs here, too. The link above presently has them priced somewhere in between. ... These boxes are also bigger than past releases of this brand with 20 guaranteed base cards and the hit and atop that, you get 15 mini parallels and two colors of base parallels, which are a big upgrade from past versions that might have a card or two of this type in a blaster. The overall mix here can be collected pretty easily -- it's just 30 base cards with the two parallels and a mini version for each. The hits packs can include on-card auto cards, memorabilia cards, cut autos, 1/1 sketch cards, a Grand Patch card or a Jared Kelley 1/1 painted art card. ... Some stars have a couple of different cards -- not variations as they have different card numbers -- so that adds a little more for fans of those names. (There is at least one inconsistency in color between a parallel and a mini here, too, so there may be more to watch for ... or perhaps they went un-corrected.) The hit pack is an easy reason to rip here along with the surprise factor and there's big potential here, too, with Hall of Famer ink in traditional sports and stuff for some who don't have a lot of other cards. Over time, I think the non-traditional stuff like this could surprise you as there should be cards here (hits, parallels) that aren't as easy to find as the mass-produced flagship-style releases. And, again, some names here might not have any other cards.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: B+ (a unique name to find for the hit)
Fun Grade: B+ (parallels alone add a ton more to these boxes)

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