2017 Topps Fire Hobby Box Break

I am going to start doing something new.  I have always believed that Yankees cards are seeded in packs at a higher rate than any other team.  I honestly do not know if that is merely because I dislike pulling Yankees cards so much that I notice when I get more of them than Red Sox cards.  It just seems like I pull a lot more of them than the Red Sox.  So I wanted to start counting them when I open packs.  But I am not going to stop there, I am going to count every team from now on to get an idea of what I have.  I will also scan cards.  I will be open to trading any card that is not a Red Sox card of course, so this will make it easier to hold trades.  You will know what I have.

Topps Fire is the most 1990's set to not come out of the 1990's ever.  Featuring bright colors and crazy insert sets, it calls to mind sets like Circa and Metal Universe.  This box is 20 packs with six cards per pack (unless there is a relic in it).  There will be 118 to 120 cards total.  There should be two hits.  I bought it because I did not yet have a single Red Sox card from the set, so any Red Sox should be new.

These are the Red Sox from my wantlist that I am hoping to make a dent in:

2017 Topps Fire: Andrew Benintendi, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Johnny Damon, Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Henry Owens, Dustin Pedroia, Drew Pomeranz, David Price, Chris Sale, Ted Williams, Steven Wright, Carl Yastrzemski

2017 Topps Fire Flamethrowers: Craig Kimbrel, Chris Sale

2017 Topps Fire Golden Grabs: Andrew Benintendi, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts

2017 Topps Fire Monikers: Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Bill Lee, David Ortiz, Carl Yastrzemski

Of particular note is the Monikers card of Bill Lee.  If I had to pick one card I wanted above any other card from this set, that would be it.

So without further ado, let's break into the packs:

PACK 1:

Steve Carlton (Phillies: 1)
Roberto Clemente (Pirates: 1)
Roberto Osuna Red Flame (Blue Jays: 1)
Rougned Odor (Rangers: 1)
Jose Abreu (White Sox: 1)
Steven Wright (Red Sox: 1)

These cards are definitely colorful.  This was not a truly exciting pack, but I am happy about the Steven Wright card.  He is one of my favorite players as long as he is healthy, notwithstanding his earlier issues this year.

PACK 2:

Aaron Judge (Yankees: 1)
Lou Brock (Cardinals: 1)
Gary Carter Monikers (Expos/Nationals: 1)
Kyle Seager (Mariners: 1)
Aroldis Chapman (Yankees: 2)
Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies: 1)

And this is what I am talking about.  Two Yankees out of a six-card pack, including an Aaron Judge RC.  We also get the first Monikers card.  I am holding out hope for the Lee card at some point.

PACK 3:

Andrew Miller (Indians: 1)
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates: 2)
Billy Hamilton Golden Grabs (Reds: 1)
Michael Fulmer (Tigers: 1)
Didi Gregorius (Yankees: 3)
Evan Longoria (Rays: 1)

I like the Golden Grabs insert.  I wish I could see what was going on a little bit better though.

PACK 4:

Babe Ruth (Yankees: 4)
Ivan Rodriguez (Rangers: 2)
Jharel Cotton Green (Athletics: 1)
Miguel Cabrera (Tigers: 2)
Sean Newcomb (Braves: 1)
Noah Syndergaard (Mets: 1)

PACK 5:

Phil Niekro (Braves: 2)
Ernie Banks (Cubs: 1)
Chris Sale Flamethrowers (Red Sox: 2)
Mookie Betts (Red Sox: 3)
Maikel Franco (Phillies: 2)
Nolan Arenado (Rockies: 2)

Here we go: two Red Sox cards including a nice Chris Sale insert.  Mookie Betts makes an obligatory appearance.

PACK 6:

Yulieski Gurriel (Astros: 1)
Alex Bregman (Astros: 2)
Fergie Jenkins (Cubs: 2)
Addison Russell Orange (Cubs: 3)
Ichiro (Marlins: 1)
Kyle Hendricks (Cubs: 4)

PACK 7:

JaCoby Jones (Tigers: 3)
David Ortiz (Red Sox: 4)
Tony Perez (Reds: 2)
Kris Bryant Fired Up (Cubs: 5)
Seung-Hwan Oh (Cardinals: 2)
Stephen Strasburg (Expos/Nationals: 2)

PACK 8:

George Brett (Royals: 1)
Aledmys Diaz (Cardinals: 3)
Jonathan Villar Purple (Brewers: 1)
Yoenis Cespedes (Mets: 2)
David Price (Red Sox: 5)
Gregory Polanco (Pirates: 3)

PACK 9:

Omar Vizquel (Indians: 2)
Trey Mancini (Orioles: 1)
Carlos Correa Red Flame (Astros: 3)
Roberto Osuna (Blue Jays: 2)
Carlos Correa (Astros: 4)
Jonathan Villar (Brewers: 2)

PACK 10:

David Dahl (Rockies: 2)
Jackie Robinson (Dodgers: 1)
Jeff Hoffman (Rockies: 3)
Jharel Cotton Orange (Athletics: 2)
Luis Severino (Yankees: 5)
Daniel Murphy (Expos/Nationals: 3)

PACK 11:

Manny Margot (Padres: 1)
Dennis Eckersley (Athletics: 3)
Nelson Cruz Monikers (Mariners: 2)
Lorenzo Cain (Royals: 2)
Gary Sanchez (Yankees: 6)
Kenta Maeda (Dodgers: 2)

Here is another Monikers card.  I had no idea Nelson Cruz had a nickname.

PACK 12:

Ryne Sandberg (Cubs: 6)
Willie Stargell (Pirates: 4)
Randy Johnson (Mariners: 3)
Andrew Benintendi Golden Grabs (Red Sox: 6)
Henry Owens (Red Sox: 7)
Julio Urias (Dodgers: 3)

Two Red Sox in a pack again, including a Golden Grabs.  I initially assumed this was from the Rays game in Tampa Bay in which Benintendi almost tumbled over the wall robbing a home run, but that looks like Fenway in the background, maybe.

PACK 13:

Willie McCovey (Giants: 1)
Harmon Killebrew (Twins: 1)
Rickey Henderson (Athletics: 4)
Andrew Miller Red Flame (Indians: 3)
Manny Machado/Chris Davis Dual Autographs (Orioles: 2)
Javier Baez (Cubs: 7)

The Machado/Davis is the first hit and is unlikely to be beaten as the best card in the break.  This is serial-numbered to 20.  I'm going to hold it out for something really big for the Red Sox.  Two Andrew Miller cards now, which is two more cards than he has showing him with the Red Sox.  I'm pretty bitter about that.

PACK 14:

Robert Gsellman (Mets: 3)
Tyler Austin (Yankees: 7)
Edgar Renteria (Cardinals: 4)
Max Scherzer Orange (Expos/Nationals: 4)
Wade Davis (Cubs: 8)
Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox: 8)

Shockingly, Xander Bogaerts makes an appearance.  I think I pull fewer Bogaerts cards than any other Red Sox card.

PACK 15:

Alex Reyes (Cardinals: 5)
Hank Aaron (Brewers: 3)
Bo Jackson (Royals: 3)
Carl Yastrzemski Monikers (Red Sox: 9)
Edwin Encarnacion (Indians: 4)
Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins: 2)

Red Sox Monikers card, but not Lee.  Now I am thinking I will not pull it.  What are the odds I get two Red Sox Monikers cards in the same break?

PACK 16:

Mark McGwire (Athletics: 5)
Jim Edmonds (Cardinals: 6)
Paul Konerko (White Sox: 2)
Bill Lee Monikers (Red Sox: 10)
Jackie Bradley Jr. (Red Sox: 11)
Yu Darvish (Rangers: 3)

Apparently, really damn good.  I am thrilled to pull this card.  It was absolutely the one card I really wanted from this break.  Also, Jackie Bradley Jr. makes an appearance, because of course he does.  The Red Sox are way ahead of any other team in the break.

PACK 17:

Adrian Beltre (Rangers: 4)
Jonathan Villar Red Flame (Brewers: 4)
Noah Syndergaard Fire Relics (Mets: 4)
Willson Contreras (Cubs: 9)
Max Scherzer (Expos/Nationals: 5)

Here is the other hit.  Nothing terribly exciting.  This is my second Mets hit of the year after pulling a Darryl Strawberry auto recently.  Jonathan Villar is at three cards from the break.  There are several TEAMS that are not that high.  And they are all different cards too, no duplicates.

PACK 18:

Addison Russell (Cubs: 10)
Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays: 3)
Felix Hernandez Flame Throwers (Mariners: 4)
Andrew Miller (Indians: 5)
Robinson Cano (Mariners: 5)
Kyle Schwarber (Cubs: 11)

Andrew Miller makes it three cards.  Of course two are the same base card.  The Cubs come back and tie the Red Sox for most cards in the break.

PACK 19:

Jharel Cotton (Athletics: 6)
Tom Glavine (Braves: 3)
Yoan Moncada (White Sox: 3)
Carlos Correa Walk it Off (Astros: 5)
Francisco Lindor (Indians: 6)
Zach Britton (Orioles: 3)

Jharel Cotton ties Jonathan Villar and Andrew Miller for most cards in the break oddly.  Again, lots of teams are not that high and the Diamondbacks and Angels have yet to show up at all.  I love the Walk it Off insert.

PACK 20:

Lou Gehrig (Yankees: 8)
Frank Thomas (White Sox: 4)
Dan Vogelbach (Mariners: 6)
Andrew McCutchen Red Flame (Pirates: 5)
Dellin Betances (Yankees: 9)
Jon Lester (Cubs: 12)

Closing things out, the Yankees pull into third with two cards, and the Cubs pull into first.  The Angels and Diamondbacks get shut out.

So here is the team breakdown:
Chicago Cubs: 12
Boston Red Sox: 11 (four inserts)
New York Yankees: 9
Cleveland Indians: 6 (three Andrew Miller cards)
Oakland Athletics: 6 (three Jharel Cotton cards)
Seattle Mariners: 6
St. Louis Cardinals: 6
Houston Astros: 5
Pittsburgh Pirates: 5
Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos: 5 (one Expo, four Nationals)
Chicago White Sox: 4
Colorado Rockies: 4
Milwaukee Brewers: 4 (three Jonathan Villar cards)
New York Mets: 4
Texas Rangers: 4
Atlanta Braves: 3
Baltimore Orioles: 3 (one very big dual auto card)
Kansas City Royals: 3
Detroit Tigers: 3
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3
Toronto Blue Jays: 3
Cincinnati Reds: 2
Miami Marlins: 2
Philadelphia Phillies: 2
Minnesota Twins: 1
San Diego Padres: 1
San Francisco Giants: 1
Tampa Bay Rays: 1
Arizona Diamondbacks: 0
Los Angeles Angels: 0 (no Mike Trout cards is weird)

So that is the break.  I am thrilled with the Lee card which is my favorite card from the break.  I am willing to trade anything here other than the Red Sox of course.  The dual auto is going to be held out for something big though.  The Red Sox finish second highest in the break, so it was an incredibly successful one.  Surprisingly, the Yankees finished third.