We made it to another MLB regular season! Tomorrow, there will be 14 regular season games being played. To celebrate, we go back six years and rip some 2019 Topps Opening Day Baseball.

It has a 200 card base set, essentially duplicates of a selection of cards featured in 2019 Topps Series 1 and 2. The only difference is the Opening Day logo on the card front. That is where the duplication ends, however, as all the parallels and inserts are different from those you’ll see in regular Topps. 

“Hits” are very hard to come by in Opening Day. Autographs, including Mascot Autographs, are found just once in every almost 1,000 packs. Even better than pulling an autograph or relic in this set, though, are some of the inserts with fun photos. Rally Time, Sock it to Me, and Dugout Peeks all have fun images and are extremely tough pulls. Many still hold some solid value. To me, those are better than pulling many of the autographs on the checklist.

2019 Topps Opening Day Box Break

Cards per pack: 7
Packs per box: 36
Price paid: $35

Shop for 2019 Topps Opening Day Baseball boxes on eBay.

Pack 1 highlights:

Anthony Rendon, Aaron Judge, Trevor Story & Pedro Martinez 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

The 150 Years of Fun insert set includes 25 cards, with most showing some fun photos.

 

Pack 2:

Freddie Freeman, Miguel Andujar & Phillie Phanatic Mascots (1:4 packs)

Pack 3:

Christian Yelich, Evan Longoria & Ichiro 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 4:

Dansby Swanson & New York Mets Opening Day (1:7 packs)

Pack 5:

Blake Snell, J.D. Martinez, Andrew Benintendi, Alex Bregman, Bryce Harper & Cal Ripken, Jr. 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Sure, being a Sox fan makes me a little biased here, but the Benintendi shot is one of the best in the set.

Pack 6:

Yusei Kikuchi RC, Charlie Blackmon, Matt Chapman & Billy the Marlin Mascots (1:4 packs)

Pack 7:

Michael Conforto, Carlos Santana, Jim Palmer 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs) & Xander Bogaerts Opening Day Edition (1:13 packs)

Pack 8:

Aaron Nola, David Peralta, Edwin Diaz, Mookie Betts & Chicago White Sox Team Traditions & Celebrations (1:10 packs)

Pack 9:

Masahiro Tanaka, Javier Baez & Sandy Koufax 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Tanaka made his second All-Star appearance in 2019. He would pitch just one more season, returning to Japan after the 2020 season. 

Pack 10:

Corey Kluber, Lorenzo Cain & Sluggerrr Mascots (1:4 packs)

Pack 11:

Mike Trout & Ronald Acuna, Jr. 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 12:

Kenley Jansen & Kansas City Royals Team Traditions & Celebrations (1:10 packs)

Pack 13:

Starling Marte, Ramon Laureano RC & Ernie Banks 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

It looks like Laureano will make the Orioles out of Spring Training this year. 

Pack 14:

Jose Altuve & Mariner Moose Mascots (1:4 packs)

Pack 15:

Matt Carpenter, Luis Urias RC & Ted Williams 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 16:

Shohei Ohtani, Trevor Bauer & Oakland A’s Opening Day (1:7 packs)

Pack 17:

Justin Turner, Robinson Cano & Mike Trout 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

I think we can all agree and say it would be great for Trout to stay healthy all season, right?

Pack 18:

Juan Soto, Jacob deGrom, Michael Kopech RC & Oriole Mascots (1:4 packs)

Pack 19:

Anthony Rizzo, Mitch Haniger, Buster Posey, Tom Seaver 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs) & Dereck Rodriguez Opening Day Edition (1:13 packs)

Pack 20:

Scooter Gennett & Jackie Robinson 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 21:

Jon Lester, Gerrit Cole & Swinging Friar Mascots (1:4 packs)

Cole missing the entire season is devastating to the Yankees rotation.

Pack 22:

Ronald Acuna, Jr., Gleyber Torres & Derek Jeter 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 23:

Yoan Moncada, Corey Seager, Jeff McNeil RC & Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day (1:7 packs)

Pack 24:

J.T. Realmuto, Noah Syndergaard, Jameson Taillon & Frank Thomas 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 25:

David Price, Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, Aaron Judge & Pirate Parrot Mascots (1:4 packs)

The mascots make for some fun additions to my team card section of my binders.

Pack 26:

Nolan Arenado, Stephen Strasburg & Hank Aaron 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 27:

Freddie Freeman & Kansas City Royals Opening Day (1:7 packs)

Pack 28:

Clayton Kershaw & Gary Carter 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 29:

Andrew Benintendi & Blue Jays Mascots (1:4 packs)

Pack 30:

Kris Bryant, Khris Davis, Alex Bregman, Nolan Ryan 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs) & Carlos Rodon Opening Day Edition (1:13 packs)

Opening Day Edition cards are supposedly limited to just 2,019 copies each. They are not serial numbered.

Pack 31:

Paul Goldschmidt, Rhys Hoskins, Yusei Kikuchi RC, Charlie Blackmon & Philadelphia Phillies Team Traditions & Celebrations (1:10 packs)

Pack 32:

Wil Myers & Ty Cobb 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Pack 33:

Willson Contreras, Harrison Bader & Paws Mascots (1:4 packs)

Pack 34:

Carlos Carrasco & David Ortiz 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Carrasco has pitched really well this spring and finds himself in the Yankees rotation to start the season.

 

Pack 35:

Tyler Glasnow, Lorenzo Cain & Texas Rangers Opening Day (1:7 packs)

Pack 36:

Salvador Perez & Ozzie Smith 150 Years of Fun (1:2 packs)

Lastly, the Sal Perez card back. 

None of the tough pulls in this box, unfortunately. It was still a fun rip and I do enjoy the 150 Years of Fun inserts, especially the legends.

Baseball season is finally here.

Shop for 2019 Topps Opening Day Baseball cards on:

• Beckett Marketplace
• eBay

Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.