2016 Topps Update Chrome

While looking for 2017 Topps at Target I found a "Megabox" of 2016 Topps Update. I didn't really need any more of that product but there were 2 packs of Topps Update Chrome in the box, which I hadn't seen.

By the way, my dictionary defines "mega" as an adjective meaning very large or huge. This box only had 7 packs in it for a total of 48 cards. This is not even as many cards as are in a normal blaster.

The set is a 50-card parallel of 2016 Topps Update using the extra-sparkly Chrome finish Topps has used on the past several years of Update Chrome. I'm pretty happy with what I got. There were 4 base cards, 3 rookies and one insert.

Why the card numbers are prefixed with "HMT" is unknown to me. Topps didn't number last year's Update Chrome with a special prefix.

Here's one of the rookie cards. This looks pretty cool with the chrome effect.

Doug Fister is the only Astro in the set. He was 12-13 with the Astros last year in 32 starts.

Velasquez is one of three Phillies in the set. This is one of only 2 cards for which I also have the base Topps Update card.

It's clearly the same photo but the smoke pattern is different.

There are only 3 inserts in the set, and only one of them is a non-relic and therefore likely to be in the megabox.

Henderson not only got his 3,000 hit in 2001 with the Padres, he also set the career record with his 2,063rd walk. He has 2,190 walks for his career but has been passed by Barry Bonds who has 2,558. Here are the 2002 Topps cards commemorating Henderson's 2001 achievements, in real time, so to speak.

2015 Topps Chrome

Although I really like the Topps flagship design this year I feel like I'm getting a bit weary of it. We've had Series 1, Opening Day, Series 2, and now Topps Chrome. And we still got Topps Update to go. So I only bought a single 3-pack of Topps Chrome. That gives me three 4-card packs and 3 Pink Refractors.

2015 Topps Chrome #68 Masahiro Tanaka

Same design, just shiner.  I have the regular Topps version of this card. The Chrome card features a slightly different photo. At first I thought it was just differently cropped but it's an entirely different photo. Plus the regular card has the "Future Stars" designation.

Oh, and before I forget to mention it, the cards aren't too warped this year.

2015 Topps Chrome #174 Sam Tuivailala

2015 Topps Chrome #179 Buster Posey

I only bought 15 cards but at least I got everything I need for my Reference Book, a base card of a decent player, a Rookie Cup card and a rookie card. I did not get any inserts or serial numbered parallel cards. The set has a bunch of parallels, as usual.

2015 Topps Chrome Pink Refractors #96 Archie Bradley

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't think we need pink-bordered baseball cards.  Here's another one.

2015 Topps Chrome Pink Refractors #191 Justin Verlander

These two are for the Reference Book. The third pink card was unfortunately not a Rookie Cup. Too much to ask for I guess.

2015 Topps Chrome Prism Refractors #61 Russell Martin

Note the pattern in the background of the card. This year, Topps decided not to label the refractors as refractors. I think the Pink Refractors are hard to tell that they are refractors. This Martin card is, I believe a Prism Refractor, something new. Topps has appeared to have dropped the X-Fractor cards. 

2015 Topps Chrome Prism Refractors #112 Kris Bryant

 I didn't get any regular refractor cards but pulled two of the Prisms. And both go into the Reference Book.

7 of the 12 cards go into my Reference Book which is a pretty good percentage. So it was a good pack, even though there were no Phillies or Astros and not many really big names.