I have been pretty stoked about Bowman Chrome for a while now, mostly because of the Futures Game inserts, particularly Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi (former Naturals) and Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt (Rangers prospects). I was fortunate enough to go to the Futures game this year, so I thought it would be cool to get a set of cards based on that game.
My enthusiasm dipped a little when I got out to my truck and began opening the box. It was at this time that I saw that each pack contained: three cards. Three. Measly. Cards. Topps Chrome and Bowman Platinum with 4 each was bad enough, but a $20 blaster with only 24 cards in it? Almost $1 a card?
It was too late at that point for buyers remorse as I'd ripped the plastic off the box. So I opened the first pack. It included no one of interest to me. However, all three cards were refractors. Hmm.
I opened the second pack. Again, all three cards were refractors, and this time I got one of my favorite players:
I should take a step back and make sure my assumption of the definition of a "hot box" is correct. A hot box is a box that is heavy loaded with goodies (parallels, hits, etc.), correct? According to the stated odds on the box, refractors are inserted 1 per 4 packs. So far I have 100% refractors. Is this a hot box, or a mistake on Topps part?
So 3 packs into the blaster, with the realization I've likely hit a hot box, I'm now not so bummed about my purchase anymore. What kind of huge hit was in store for me? Come on Darvish auto!
Pack 4 held my first Futures game card (and two more refractors):
Pack 5 contained all refractors, but of no one I cared about.
Pack 6 contained all refractors, but of no one I cared about.
However, pack 7 held an auto (and 2 refractors of no one I cared about)! Yea!
Pack 8 contains 3 more refractors of dudes I don't care about and my hot box ends with a whimper.
If you would have told me ahead of time I was getting a hot box and an auto, I would have been doing cartwheels into Walmart and gladly handing over my $20.
Except.... what a dud.
5 comments:
3 packs of refractors, though. That's crazy talk.
What was the upc on the box? The hot boxes will probably have a different one than normal ones will.
No, all 8 packs were refractors ! I'll update the post to clarify.
Congratulations on finding a hot box! Your situation reminds me of when I pulled a gold refractor out of the 1995/96 Finest hockey product.
I was stoked because at the time, Topps claimed to have produced only 150 of each card... which was pretty rare for the era. Anyways... I'll get to my point.
I didn't pull the Gretzky or Lemieux. Which case hit did I pull? Yep, you guessed it. The gold refractor checklist! At least it was a gold refractor.
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