Thursday, September 12, 2019

2019 Topps Chrome Baseball Review | Autographs, Refractors, Paralells, Inserts, Checklist

Fans of Topps releases have eagerly waited for 2019 Topps Chrome Baseball’s release to see this year’s prized rookies decked out in a chromium finish. With 2019 Topps Chrome Baseball offering two autographs per box in a variety of serial-numbered colored parallels, the set is poised to be in demand throughout the season.

2019 Topps Chrome Baseball Vladimir Guerrero Jr. / Topps

2019 Topps Chrome Baseball Base Set, Parallels, and Checklist

The 204-card set, while designed in the mold of the flagship set, is a condensed version highlighted by the inclusion of Major League Baseball’s four top rookies, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Eloy Jimenez. Collectors will have to pay attention to the image variations, as there are 25 different players with a variation, including top stars such as Mike Trout, Javy Baez, and Christian Yelich. These are indicated with #409 as the last three digits on the back of the card. Click here to view a complete checklist.

2019 Topps Chrome Baseball / Topps

Topps Chrome Baseball exceeds expectations this year with their colored refractor parallels. In the box provided for this review, we hit a Jacob deGrom Orange parallel #/25. The images are sharper and cleaner on the colored parallels, making them a desirable chase for collectors, especially the rookies. A guide is below to identify the different refractors.

REFRACTOR PARALLELS: Base Refractor, Prism, Sepia (Blaster), Pink (Value Pack), Negative, Purple #/299, Blue #/150, Green #/99, Green Wave #/99 (Hobby/Jumbo), Blue Wave #/75 (Hobby/Jumbo), Gold #/50, Gold Wave #/50 (Hobby/Jumbo), Orange #/25 (Hobby), Orange Wave #/25 (Hobby/Jumbo), Red #/5, Red Wave #/5 (Hobby/Jumbo), SuperFractor 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1.

2019 Topps Chrome Orange Refractor / Topps

2019 Topps Chrome Baseball Inserts

Collectors will enjoy seeing the 1984 Topps designs in a chromium finish as one of the 2019 Topps Chrome Baseball insert sets. The diversely designed Freshman Flash and classic Future Stars insert sets are attractive rewards for fans diving into packs and boxes, while the Greatness Returns series is a solid nod to baseball’s rich historical connections.

2019 Topps Chrome Baseball Inserts / Topps

2019 Topps Chrome Baseball Autographs

REFRACTOR PARALLELS: Base Refractor #/499, Purple #/250, Blue #/150, Blue Wave #/150, Green #/99 (Retail), Gold #/50, Gold Wave #/50 (Hobby/Jumbo), Orange #/25 (Hobby), Orange Wave #/25 (Hobby/Jumbo), Red #/5, Red Wave #/5 (Hobby/Jumbo), SuperFractor 1/1 (Hobby/Jumbo), Printing Plates 1/1.

The guarantee of two hard-signed baseball cards is a strong selling point of 2019 Topps Chrome Baseball. With a loaded rookie class, this year’s release has sold quickly, as hobby enthusiasts are hoping to land this year’s Rookie of the Year candidates. The box provided for this review yielded a Kevin Kramer base autograph, and a Jeffrey Springs Gold autograph #/50.

2019 Topps Chrome Autographs / Topps

2019 Topps Chrome Baseball Box Break and Final Thoughts

With 2019 Topps Chrome Baseball arriving in the second half of the season, fans and collectors have a clearer view of the 2019 Rookie of the Year contenders. Their Topps Chrome rookies and autographs have been historically amongst the most desired in the hobby. Now that the set is finally on the market, collectors have a release they can places their bets on for some short-term fun and long-term investing.






Saturday, September 7, 2019

Jose Moreno | Former New York Mets Infielder Dies At 61

Jose Moreno, former utility player for the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and California Angels, died September 6, 2019 in Santo Domingo due to pulmonary complications. He was 61.


Moreno broke in with the Mets in 1980. His shining moment in Queens came on August 26, 1980, against the San Diego Padres. Pinch-hitting for pitcher Mark Bomback in the 5th inning, Moreno hit a two-run homer that was part of an epic 18-inning marathon. He was used exclusively as a pinch-hitter for the remainder of the season, and in December, he was traded ironically to the Padres for former Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones.

He is the only player in the history of the Dominican Winter League to achieve a 30-30-30 season (RBIs, runs scored, and stolen bases). He played 14 seasons in the Dominican from 1974-75 through 1989-90 that included three championships with Escogido.


Sunday, September 1, 2019

Baseball Happenings Podcast | Onyx Authenticated President Lance Fischer's Quest For Baseball's Next Top Prospects

Onyx Authenticated president Lance Fischer joined the Baseball Happenings Podcast to discuss how their company is making an exciting push for collector's in search of baseball's next top prospects. In the 20-minute interview, Fischer explains their careful prospect selection process, why they only use on-card autographs, and their new Unique Baseball Prospects and Legends set done together with the Futera brand.


You can click here to listen and subscribe to the Baseball Happenings Podcast on your favorite platform.




Saturday, August 31, 2019

Hal Naragon, one of the Cleveland Indians last 1954 World Series links dies at 90

Hal Naragon, a catcher on the Cleveland Indians 1954 World Series team, died Saturday, August 31, 2019 in a statement the Indians released. He was 90.


We had Naragon as a guest earlier this year on the Baseball Happenings Podcast, where he spent over 40 minutes discussing his lengthy major league career. Naragon signed with the Indians in 1947 and debuted in 1951.

“I know it was a chilly day and they called me in from the bullpen,” he said. “Naturally I was a little nervous, but usually by the time you get to the plate you get yourself together and do what you can do.”

He spent the next two years in serving in the Marines during the Korean War and returned for good in 1954. He came back right in time to help the Indians to the 1954 World Series. Serving as a reliable backup catcher, Naragon looked back 65 years later at his lone series appearance as a major thrill.

“You know, I was hoping that I would get in one,” he said. “When I was called up out of the bullpen to come in, I, of course, felt a little on edge at first but then I kinda settled down. I liked to be able to play in a World Series.”



He played in the majors until 1962, spending time with the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins, before moving into coaching. He was a member of the Twins' coaching staff during their 1965 World Series appearance, and he finally won his ring as a coach with the 1968 Detroit Tigers.

“That was a good team,” he said. “They would hit in the clutch … they got hits when it really counts, they were good defensive players, and they always had a lot of fun.”

Naragon left coaching after the 1969 season to take over a local sporting goods store in his hometown of Barberton, Ohio. He ran the store from 1974 until his 1990 retirement. The town paid a massive tribute to their native son when they named Barberton High School’s baseball field Naragon Field in his honor in 2006.

You can listen to Hal Naragon's Baseball Happenings Podcast interview below, as well as subscribe to future episodes.


Click here to listen on Stitcher


Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Baseball Happenings Podcast | Author Gaylon White Pays Tribute To Tom Jordan, Oldest Living MLB Alum

On the latest episode of the Baseball Happenings Podcast, author Gaylon White discusses the life and career of former major league catcher Tom Jordan, who died August 26th, 2019 in Roswell, New Mexico. Jordan was just ten days shy of his 100th birthday, and at the time was the oldest living former Major League Baseball player. Jordan played parts of three seasons from 1944-1948 with the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, and St. Louis Browns.

Tom Jordan as a member of the Cleveland Indians

White spent an extensive amount of time with Jordan in preparation for his book, "Left On Base In The Bush Leagues." The two formed a close relationship which White proudly explains on the Baseball Happenings Podcast. Click here to listen and subscribe on your favorite platform.