In my last post, I declared that hobby boxes were too expensive. So why am I posting about buying two boxes of 2021 Stadium Club not even one week later? I swear I’m not an unreliable narrator– but Stadium Club is typically my favorite set of the year, and one that still doesn’t break the bank. The reason for this is the absence of prospecting candidates – which is fine since its all about that base for me. I decided to treat myself to a belated birthday present this weekend and picked up two boxes of Stadium Club (plus a single jumbo pack of 2020 Bowman Draft… ok, maybe I’m a little unreliable).
The draw to Stadium Club has always been the photography. Even in the era of overproduction this was a set which distinguished itself from the competition through the use of unique action shots, crisp portraits full of personality, and an artistic vision that shined through without being too gimmicky. These are a few of my favorite shots from the cards I pulled this weekend – with Trout and Acuña leading the pack portrait-wise. Some of the action shots (Martinez & Cruz, for instance) highlight what Topps is missing in their zoomed-in treatment of photography in recent editions of their flagship set. clearly a lot can be gained by simply stepping back and showing some atmosphere.
One of my favorite aspects of the set is the annual appearance of retired players. There’s been a few instances of re-hashed photos recently (2015 and 2019 Dale Murphy spring to mind) however I’d never seen any of these – I particularly like the cloud of dust surrounding my all-time favorite, Rickey Henderson, and I can practically feel the flannel uniforms featured in the Aaron and Robinson shots.
Like I said earlier, this is a set I chase nearly every year, so I don’t expect to get great hits out of Stadium Club boxes – let alone a 1/1 of one of my favorite active players. However box #2 offered up this Beam Team Gold Rainbow, with odds listed at 1:70,117. It stood out enough while rifling through the pack that I actually grabbed my camera – I don’t care that it outs me as a complete dork.
But that wasn’t all – this box also held a Triston McKenzie Photographer’s Proof (stated odds 1:513) and a Javier Baez Orange Chrome Refractor (1:201) – which means I also got a case pull and a two-per-case pull out of this box, in addition to the stated two autographs. So what was in the first box, you ask?
Aside from this spectacular nouveau-airbrushed Andrew Benintendi, we won’t talk about box #1… I hope you had a spectacular 4th of July – here’s to at least another 245 years of independence.
I was looking through the 18 stadium club and noticed an airbrushed card for Lorenzo Cain. They should just let it be in stadium club. That’s the purpose. So for your next post I challenge you to identify 2-3 SC cards through the years that are your favorite.