So when I saw some blasters at Walmart this week, I immediately snapped up a few. Some were Topps Gallery, which I have already reviewed. The other one was the 2021 Panini Elite Extra Edition, or EEE.
Actually, after ringing the blaster box up at the self-serve checkout line, my reaction was EEEK! It was $27.95 for a blaster that has five cards in one pack.
And while that seems steep, each pack does contain an autograph card and a relic. Plus, each base card is numbered to 999, and there is a parallel. In my case, I also received a die-cut card, so even though there was only one base card, it is not like I am trying to build the set.
If you do decide to build the set, there are 198 cards.
The design showcases a shiny surface, with a lot of slanted lines that frame the photograph of the player on the card front. Lots of black and bronze. The player’s name is on the bottom of the card in black block letters.
The card back features a truncated version of the photo on the front, with a six-line biography that summarizes a player’s career if they have put some statistics in the books.
If not, there is a generic description about the DPL.
So, here’s the rundown of what I pulled.
The base card I pulled was of DPL outfielder Josefrailin Alcantara, who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The card of Wande Torres was a Decade Die-Cut, also numbered to 999.
The hot cards started with an autograph card of Nick Nastrini, a Dodgers prospect who had a 1.93 ERA in 2021 for the low Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. The signature was on a sticker, which is always a disappointment.
The other hot card was a Future Threads uniform swatch of Cincinnati Reds prospect Nick Lodolo, a pitcher who went 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 2021 with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.
So, not a bad haul. I don’t mind having a taste of a set. This one was expensive, and maybe thee guys will become stars someday.