Back to Back Triples!

A good idea is worth doing twice! Matt from Bob Walk the Plank also had a box of 2018 Diamond Kings for the Transatlantic Triple Break. I picked AL West and AL Central for Kevin's break (shown in yesterday's post) so this time I went with NL West and the AL East.

Past and Present was a new insert for me - I think Lynn is a good comp for Benintendi, not just because they both played for Boston.

Just like yesterday, it's the best of today and the best of yesteryear.

My personal faves from the batch - Catchers always get the most interesting cards in these sets.

The only Twin? The Killer in a 500 HR Club insert set.

I was also the lucky guy to get the hit this time - Clayton Kershaw! My Dodger luck continues, I pulled a Bellinger relic from Diamond Kings last year.

Matt included some extras as well! I had a fever, the only prescription was more KUBEL!

Buxton wound up on the Disabled list again, now in AAA, for a wrist strain. There was concern early on that he may have broken a bone in his hand, so a strain is much better news. Sano was promoted back to AAA tonight too, both guys will be knocking on the door soon.

Purple Eddie Murray! This is serial numbered to just 99.

Probably impossible to see the imprint, but this card is stamped on Larry's right arm with "2002 National" for the annual card convention.

The card was just one of five stamped and handed out at the card collector's convention.

Thanks again for the break Matt!

A Panini Press Triple Break!

The hype train is making stops at Arbitrary Nation thanks to another Triple Break, headed up this time by Kevin from The Card Papoy. Kevin shared 2018 Diamond Kings and also tossed in a box of 2016 Donruss Optic.

Diamond Kings has found a comfortable niche with their inserts-  each one exploring elements of different art movements - It would be cool to see them take that even further like some of the older 90s Topps Gallery sets, for instance. Now that Topps brought back Gallery, however, it might be a missed opportunity. The texture of Diamond Kings cards has a canvas-like feel. I think the Aurora insert is my favorite style.

The base cards again alternate between all-time greats and current players, including a handful of rookies. They seem to have a steady checklist from year to year now, Luke Appling fans rejoice! Jokes aside, it is refreshing to see some of the lesser known Hall of Famers in new sets.

Just one Twin in the bunch, but he's a good one!

On to Optic! Panini's answer to Chrome.

I do like the vibrant colors on these parallels. Fielder is numbered to /299 and Sale to just /99.

Beyond the base cards, Optic has the same inserts as the regular set. I was happy to get the Juan Gonzalez card, he was one of my favorite players of the 90s.

These were the most interesting base cards in the bunch - It's not just that the logos are gone, but it seems like Panini is reluctant to even show the player's faces on most cards! Escobar and Perez were the only position players that weren't shown in the batter's box.

Optic was much kinder on the Twins, however! There were 10 total, including a Purple Dozier parallel. Overall, Panini does a decent job of making the most of a difficult situation.

Thanks for the break, Kevin!