2016 Donruss First (and last) Look

Somebody must like Donruss or Panini wouldn't have trotted it out for a third year. I have the same complaints about 2016 Donruss that I've had for the last two years. The design is unattractive, The photography is uninspiring, no team logos, and the backs are terrible. I bought a single 30-card pack (same as last year) because I can't reach my stated (and impossible) goal of owning at least one of every type of card purchased if I don't buy something of everything I see. These are the cards going into my reference book.

The 2014 set had blue backs, last year they had orange backs (which were very difficult to scan), and this year they have this color. What color is this?

I'll grudgingly admit that I like the Diamond King subset this year. Panini is supposed to be issuing a Diamond Kings set later in April.

There are some retired players in the set. Topps is probably afraid they'd lose their MLB license if they made a Pete Rose card but Panini doesn't have to worry about that.

I managed to pull the entire Phillies set from the pack (both of them) but got no Astros (5 in the set).


I pulled some inserts as well.

Studio used to be one of my favorite sets each year. This incarnation isn't bad.

This guy had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and doesn't seem to be making much progress. He only pitched 6.2 innings in spring training this year.

Compare this to the Rated Rookie subset above. The photos appear to have been taken within milliseconds of each other.

I guess Panini has had the contract with USA Baseball for a few years now.